It's time for a new chapter! Enjoy!
Overlord: The Power of Two
Book 1
Chapter 5. The Adventurers
Blade and Narberal were walking through the bustling city, they discovered that it was much larger than they had initially thought. Something that really left the disguised Vampire very amazed inside, as well as he could identify by looking at the clothes of the civilians, that economically speaking it was better than the Carne Village.
Although he could also see that there was a serious problem, he could not read the written language. He knew it when he saw a sign, but he did not know what it said.
"This is bad. Neglect that part," Blade thinks to himself, "I guess that problem is one at a time," he said to himself. Surely something will occur to him in these minutes.
Luckily for him, it was not difficult to find the Adventurer's Guild for different reasons; It was located near the center of the city, it was a striking building, as well as there were several people that he could distinguish as adventurers arriving, entering, and leaving the same building.
"Before entering, I have a question for you, Narberal," Blade said in a low voice, "Do you think that humans are inferior beings?"
"... Calling them inferior beings is too generous for what they are. They are useless," Narberal answers firmly in her words.
"Why did we have to write these codes in their bibliographies?..." Blade thinks to himself.
Being a member of the legendary Guild, each of its members like Momonga, it is not surprising that several of his former friends made each of the NPCs of the Tomb of Nazarick detest humans. Especially since the enemy guilds that had the audacity to invade them, were made up of more of that type.
"Hm. I see, I won't tell you to change your mindset, but you must suppress any hostile intent. We're in a human city; it would be a problem if your killing intent leaks out and scares everyone..." Blade said.
"...As you command, Lord Vlad..." the Pleiades replied with a bow.
"I already told you, now call me Badre." That's the name I'll use as an Adventurer. And your name will be Nabe."
"Yes, Lord Badre."
"...We'll have to practice that," Blade sighs tiredly.
Their conversation over, the duo entered the building. The place was packed with people, all wearing different armor and clothing: Some wearing loose leather and metal gear, while others wore looser robes, most of the people inside were gathered in groups of four. As well as all wearing metal of different material and color hanging around their necks.
The most prominent thing of all was a large notice board, which surely had the available jobs there. And there were two women behind a counter, which the adventurers would come and go with them. There are also stairs that lead to the second floor.
Blade begins to walk to one of the women, who surely works at the Guild.
"Greetings, my partner and I are new to this city and we wish to enlist as adventurers, could you help us?" Blade asks.
"Of course, Please head to the waiting room on your left, a guild representative will be with you shortly."
"I appreciate it,"
The duo sat down on one of the rows of wooden benches that were in the place. As they did so, Blade could notice that a couple of adventurers looked at them for a few moments, but then continued with their own thing.
"It really is lucky that I used a height reduction spell. Plus I have this armor that I used when I was a rookie," the Vampire spoke in his thoughts.
Despite many of Nazarick asking him to wear clothing and armor more appropriate to his status, he refused. He wanted to feel a bit of the thrill of being an adventurer, starting with this armor and as he gained more reputation, he would improve his current equipment.
At that he noticed that Narberal's stoic expression was being replaced with a frown.
"Is something wrong?"
"It is unforgivable that lower life forms make a supreme being wait like this."
"It's okay, Nabe, patience is a virtue. Besides, it's only been six minutes."
Seconds after those words ended, the woman at the reception called them again. Where the duo led them to a small room on the first floor. There, someone who works at the guild was waiting for them, as well as a stack of papers.
Blade and Narberal had to be interviewed, along with the following hours they had to listen to a bit of the background history of the Guild, what the work of Adventurers consists of, the rules they have to follow, as well as the explanation of a pattern, which although it is not a written rule, the vast majority follows it.
That is, a group ends up being made up of Four People. Occasionally there are groups of five or even six people, and even groups with that amount, but there have always been cases where as the number increases, the more difficult it is to unite the opinions of the group, so an average leader, and the most advisable, would have a limit of four people, including.
This continued until the interviewer got to the part that Blade is most interested in: The Rank.
This depends on the various metals that are legally used in the adventurer's license plate, which is used as identification around the neck. In addition, everyone who registers with an adventurer's guild is given a nameplate-like plaque.
An adventurer's rank increases by passing a test of the Adventurer's Guild. The higher the adventurer's rank, the better income, rewards, and social position they will have.
The classification of the Ranks would be: Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, Orichalcum, Adamantite
Copper being the Rookie Rank. And the same one that the duo was going to start at. After signing a couple of documents, rules of protocol as well as dictating the fact that they knew the rules explained above, as well as being warned of the dangers of becoming Adventurers. The interviewer asked them to wait a few moments.
Five minutes later, he returned with their copper plates, which had their names written on them. They were now officially adventurers.
Once the whole process was over, which Blade felt was too tedious for a few moments, they began to leave the Guild. Before that, they were recommended an inn to stay at, which was apparently the perfect place for beginner adventurers.
Blade wanted to start a mission, but the Guild had a rule that the first request a newbie accepts must be during the day, and since it was about to get dark in an hour, he couldn't anymore.
With no other option, they began to walk to the inn. While Blade was searching, he could see that as they walked, the buildings began to deteriorate in value, meaning that they were walking through the slums of the city.
"Now we should be close to that inn that was recommended to us at the Adventurer's Guild. Can you see it?" Blade asked, looking in various directions trying to find the place. He could see shops, businesses, people working, but nothing about the place.
The Pleiades pointed in a direction, "There, Lord Vla…Badre."
"We're getting better," the aforementioned praised Naberal.
"I appreciate your words, Lord Badre."
The Vampire looked at her in silence for a few moments, then shook his head, walking to the inn. In a short time they arrived, opening the double doors of the inn. The first thought that ran through his mind to describe the place was: Disgusting.
Blade had expected the inn to be run down, probably because Copper adventurers don't have much money, but the place was even worse than he imagined.
Although at least despite the careless maintenance of the place, he noticed that several adventurers were in the place, noting that they are all made of copper or iron.
Walking through the place, with Narberal following closely, they arrived at the reception area. Which also served as a bar.
"We would like a room, please."
"The common room costs 5 copper coins per night. It includes cooked oatmeal with vegetables, but it will cost 1 more copper coin if you want meat."
"Common room?" Blade repeats.
"It's a room with two bunk beds that you share with other people. I also have a double room, which is just two beds, but it costs seven copper coins."
"Then you want the double," Blade declares.
The man in charge stopped cleaning a jar, to lean on the counter, looking at our disguised Vampire.
"Nine. That's how many inns serve exclusively Adventurers; mine is the worst. Do you have any idea why the Guild sent you here?" he asked seriously.
"Not really. It was simply recommended to me as being perfect for beginners."
Blade was actually surprised that the manager openly expressed that his establishment was quite bad.
"... Exactly. Most of the Adventurers who come here are of your same rank or a little higher, but they don't go beyond Iron. But even if they meet once, they could form a team if they are similar in strength levels, or recommend each other to other more advanced adventurers, that's what I mean. You can sleep in any room you want, but only in a common room can you find someone who could help you or both of you help each other. If you fail to form a team from the start, there is a risk of death. So I ask you again. The common one or the double?"
"Hm... we'll take the common one," Blade accepted the advice. Although it was mostly to avoid giving the impression to the rest of those who looked at him that he was a conceited oaf.
"He's also right about that very detail..." Blade thought mysteriously, awakening his interest in a certain part of the dialogue of the man in front of him.
The manager seemed calmer when he heard him, "Left corridor. The payment is 5 copper coins, per person."
Blade placed the exact amount of coins on the bar, "Room 6. Enjoy your stay," the man provided him with a key with the room number engraved on it.
Blade simply nodded his head in gratitude, while Narberal just stood back a little and remained silent at what she saw. The duo began to walk towards the hallway away from the reception/tavern and restaurant area, but then a foot blocked their path.
It belonged to a bald man at the nearest table. Blade looked at the bald man, who sent him a challenging look, his two friends sitting beside him with wide amused smiles.
"Absurd," Blade muttered at the pathetic way they wanted to bully him.
With his own foot, he gently moved the man's leg so he could pass. When he did, the bald man abruptly stood up, and stood in the way.
"Hey, hey, hey! That hurt me, you piece of shit," he claimed in a threatening tone, "What are you going to do about it, stupid?"
Blade saw that he had an Iron plate, and the aggressive way he behaved, and knew that he must be a troublemaker looking for a way to intimidate the rookies.
"I have a helmet on and this place is dark, so I didn't see you," the aforementioned justified himself without much interest.
The bald man growled at him, but when he saw the armored guy's side, he smiled widely.
"My leg hurts a lot, but since you have a pretty girl, maybe I could forgive you, and even speak well of you, if she accompanies me for a night," he finished by licking his lips lasciviously.
Narberal looked at him angrily, but neither she nor anyone else expected the next thing. In a fraction of a millisecond, Blade imprisoned the man's throat with one hand, then lifted him above his feet. Everyone in the inn was speechless because of the ease with which this man carried someone of his own size.
The bald man tried to free himself, but the hand that had him trapped seemed like an iron clamp.
"I can tolerate just a little bit of you looking for trouble with me, and even insulting me," Blade said, his voice sounding very cold as ice.
"But the fact that you speak like that about my partner, as if she were a tool or object for your pleasure, that…", with his other hand he grabbed the right wrist of the man, who tried to escape without success.
"…It makes me very angry," he said, and with a sudden movement, he bent the man's arm into an unnatural position. Hearing the heartbreaking sound of the bone breaking, and the man's scream.
The man began to moan miserably, "Don't appear before me again," Blade said before throwing him to the side, crashing into a table and breaking it, in addition to the sound of broken glass.
Blade gave the other two a look, who immediately ran away and ran towards their companion, the disguised Vampire continued his walk ignoring the gaze of everyone present, as well as Narberal, who had a slight smile of satisfaction.
Neither of them paid any importance or attention to a scream from a woman that came from the direction in which the guy was thrown.
Arriving at their shared room, the duo noticed that the two bunks on the left were available, as well as the top bunk on the right side. The bottom left bunk had a small cloth bag on it, as well as a sword in its sheath, a sign that someone else was already staying.
Blade sat on the bottom available bunk, thinking about how he let himself get carried away by his anger, "I have to know how to control myself," he thought to himself.
"Is it really necessary for you to stay in a place as dirty as this?" Narberal spoke up, analyzing the room they had acquired, clearly not affected by the display of violence.
Blade snapped out of his mind, "It will be fine for now. Naberal, do we understand our current objective?"
The Pleiades immediately kneels down, "We have to gain fame as adventurers so that we can gain information and knowledge in this New World, and thus spread the glorious names of you supreme beings."
"Wonderful. Although it wasn't necessary for you to bow," Blade muttered the last bit in embarrassment, he still couldn't get used to such actions.
"Although, forgive my questioning, but is it really necessary to stay here?" Narberal stated looking seriously at the belongings that don't belong to them.
"Indeed. We currently have no idea of this new World, save for what we've acquired in Carne Village, and at the Adventurer's Guild. If we want our mission to be successful, we have to keep a clear mind," Blade explained.
"Only in a common room can you find someone who could help you," the Vampire repeated the innkeeper's exact words in his head.
The door to the room began to open, Naberal immediately stood up, and was about to attack, but a tap on the head stopped her.
"Control yourself," Blade scolded.
"Excuse me."
Just then, the door opened completely. The one who had done it was a girl around 20 years old, blue eyes, messy red hair. Her arms had solid muscles.
The girl blinked to avoid her eyes deceiving her, when she realized that it was not an illusion, she simply made a gesture with her hand walking to her bed and sitting down slowly.
Blade could tell that the girl seemed intimidated, but at the same time she wanted to talk to him.
"Can I help you with something?" Blade asked.
Noticing that the one in front of her spoke to her, she gathered her courage, standing up.
"In the dining room... that guy you threw, he umm he threw my position," as much as she wanted to sound angry, she sounded like she was still insecure.
The Vampire assumed that those crystals he heard broke, one should have the position that he indicates. Also, the girl must have witnessed how he broke her arm as if nothing, it would be strange if she wasn't at least a little scared with his reaction.
"Potion?"
"Umm yes, I skipped drinks, several meals, for weeks, just so I could buy it today umm I want you to replace it or pay for it," the girl asks trying to be firmer.
Narberal, who was near the door, was starting to take out a dagger she was carrying, but stopped her action when Blade silently raised his hand to stop her.
Quickly and silently with his gaze he inspected the girl and her equipment she was carrying. On her arms with defined muscles and her hands full of calluses, it made it clear that she was an experienced warrior with the sword.
The sword looked like simple steel, her armor was mainly leather with some metal studs everywhere, the perfect definition would be that it is basic adventurer equipment.
And finally he inspected the plate that defined her rank as an adventurer, which is Iron.
"Yes, it can work," Blade thinks.
"How much did the potion cost you?"
"1 gold piece, and 10 silver pieces."
"Hm…, I can't pay for it. But I can give you one of my potions," Blade offers, "And as an act of apology for my imprudence and the inconvenience caused, allow me to pay for a bunch of food for dinner out of my own pocket."
The girl blinked, extremely confused. Not long ago she was on guard and nervous about the reaction the guy in the armor would have to her words, but she never expected that comment.
"Are you asking me… out on a date?"
"A romantic date? No. But if you mean a conversation over food, and asking you for a couple of tips as adventurers, then yes."
The girl thought for a few moments, although her stomach growling for food was enough of an answer for the disguised Vampire.
"...I suppose I'll accept it," the girl agreed.
Blade extended his hand, "I'm Badre. This is Nabe."
"Brita," the redhead said, somewhat hesitantly taking her hand and shaking it.
With the dark cloak in the City of E-Rantel, in the inn for the main adventurers many of them were in their dining area drinking various drinks, others chose to rest or others to chat.
That last was the case of those who were in room 6, the same that after the offer of the disguised Vampire, and that Naberal went for the food, that was the starting point of a long, but pleasant conversation. That together with Blade also took off his helmet, only that with his adventurer costume he looked like a man with light skin, hair cut a little wild, and light eyes.
Being in a better mood for dinner, Brita touched on topics about the maintenance of a sword, her advice to the two copper adventurers, and also a little about her adventures that she has had. While Blade was the one who spoke on behalf of the two, because it was evident that Naberal was not interested, especially because the most outstanding of the girl's missions was when she killed an Ogre alone.
At this point, Blade asked Naberal, telepathically, to leave the room, also ordering her to pay extra for the room. To which the Pleiades, inventing an excuse, left.
"Excuse her. She is usually so stoic."
"No problem," Brita replied.
"So, how long did it take you to go from copper to iron?"
"Not long, just two years."
"TWO YEARS?!" Blade shouted to himself.
"It's very difficult to find a team with trustworthy people. Adding also that I get to see people stronger than you... to be honest, I'll probably do a couple more missions and then I'll leave," Brita said with a resigned shrug.
"I see..."
The red-haired girl stretched her arms up, "I appreciate the dinner, and the chat was nice. But I have to sleep to rest. I have a mission with other adventurers to explore the roads around the City."
Brita stands up, and puts her hands on her hips, "So, do you have a potion…?".
"Sure, just give me a second," Blade said standing up. The aforementioned closes his eyelashes, and when he opens his eyes they changed from clear eyes to their original colors, blood red, looking directly into the girl's eyes.
She couldn't even react, when unexpectedly, her blue eyes turned a complete red hue, with a submissive lost expression on her face.
"Sit back down," Blade ordered, Brita without objection did so.
"Wonderful, I was afraid the mind control spell wouldn't work," he rejoices to himself.
It was well known that Vampires have mystical enchanting eyes, which are used to cast a spell on someone else. Usually the control of this was only limited to a few actions, and a short time.
But Blade, being the strongest class of the mentioned Undead, Vampire Master, a rank higher than that of Royal Vampire, could control someone immediately. Of course, he had his limitations, because after he cast a spell on someone, he could only do the same spell again after 1 month.
"But it's worth it," Blade said, "Now tell me, aside from the Trials, is there a faster method to climb the Ranks?"
"Yes, of course. If an Adventurer, or a group of them, achieves a major feat, it is possible to rank up several steps at once," the red-haired girl answers.
"That's not what they told me at the Guild," Blade mutters.
"That's because they'll only tell you when you advance to Iron. There have been cases where Copper adventurers trying to advance quickly, do stupid things, the worst cases causing lives to die," Brita explains automatically.
"I see…"
The next few minutes were Blade starting to interrogate Brita, getting all the knowledge out of her that the Vampire can get.
And boy did he really achieve his goal: He found out that the only two top-level adventurer groups were in Adamantite:
The first was the 'Red Drop' group, who operated near the northern border. The girl's knowledge of that group was very limited, and she even said that there are only very few who have seen them or know about them.
The second group was the 'Blue Rose' adventurers, which was made up exclusively of women, and operated in the capital.
Unlike the first group, Blade was able to get better information about Blue Rose, who was most interested in the news that the group frequently works alongside Princess Renner, the last daughter of the King of the Kingdom of Re-Estize.
And there are even rumors among the adventurers that the leader of Blue Rose, Lakyus, is a very close friend of the princess.
"So adventurers who reach Adamantite… can have exclusive access to the Royal Palace," Blade says, very interested.
"That's right," Brita answers automatically.
Blade was already starting to have his chances, and another reason to reach the top of the adventurer ranks. Her thoughts were interrupted when Naberal, who she had silently entered the room, and remaining silent, gave a few claps.
"Wonderful. I expected nothing less from one of the Supreme Beings," Naberal praises.
"It's not that big a deal," Blade answers modestly, "One last question, how many groups of Adventurers in Adamantite rank operate in the Baharuth Empire?"
"There are none. Because there is no such thing as an adventurer guild. Instead, there are Workers," Brita answers.
"Workers?" Blade repeats.
"They do the same as an adventurer, however, they receive and complete requests on their own, and receive no informational or administrative support. Many usually use them for illegal relationships. The risk of being a Worker is very high, as well as its rewards," the redhead explained.
"Hm, interesting," Blade said. He should definitely share all this information he obtained with Momonga.
Naberal stood behind Brita, "Sir, since you obtained everything you require, allow me to get rid of this human for you," he says with one hand taking his dagger.
"No! I already told you to control yourself," Blade claims, Naberal puts away his weapon, bowing in apology.
Blade rubbed his chin analyzing the girl in front of him, "...Now listen carefully to my last orders," he said seriously.
We don't hear what happens. Although it was noticeable that the Vampire was speaking to the still under control Brita, who only limited herself to nodding her head a little.
"...And my last order; Go rest, sleep, and when you wake up you will only remember that I gave you the potion. And when you ask why you have the headache in your head, it will be because you drank a little too much beer."
"Understood," Brita gets up automatically, takes off her boots, and lies down on her bed.
"I can really say that it has been a totally productive day," Blade admits with his fingers closed together. He was already looking forward to tomorrow.
END OF CHAPTER 5
We have reached the end of the chapter. Where our new Adventurers have officially registered in the Guild of the same. As well as a glimpse of our Vampire having plans for the future
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