It had been a quiet two weeks for the group. Once they returned to the capital and had Filo's transforming dress made, they went straight to becoming traveling merchants. They traveled from town to town, offering healing wares and basic services, such as escorting travelers or items to the next town.

During this time, Ainz opted to wear his Momon armor whenever he could without using Demiurge's ring. This was so he could fight monsters without repeating the ruined cave incident but still enjoy food in towns and villages.

After some experiments with the ring, he found that certain spells could bypass his innate resistances by targeting his summoned human body's sensations. The ring was meant to let him experience things he couldn't as an Overlord, like eating, but that seemed to include illusions.

Besides that, Ainz followed Naofumi and others' lead and continued his normal routine while traveling Melromarc with them. As they were on the road, he was reviewing texts centered around this world's magic system.

"I see someone ahead!" Filo called back to the wagon.

"I'm coming." Raphtalia climbed up to the driver's seat and took the reins to keep up the appearance of normal merchants.

As they approached the traveler, the man turned his head and waved to them.

"Hello there! It's a fine day today, is it not?" Raphatlia slowed the cart to a halt as he greeted her.

"It is. Was there something you needed?" He looked in amazement at Filo before nodding his head.

"Oh, yes. Could I trouble you by escorting me to the next town? I'll pay for the service, of course."

"That shouldn't be a problem. We're heading that way ourselves. Here, I'll help you up." Raphtalia helped the merchant get on the wagon with his case and continued down the road.

"Oh, wow… To think that I'm getting a ride from the cart of the bird-god. What a treat!"

"Bird-god?" The merchant looked back at Naofumi.

"Oh, haven't you heard? You're famous within the local area. They say a bird-god is pulling a cart that spreads healing miracles everywhere it goes. And if this is truly the cart, then…" He scanned the back of the cart until he spotted Ainz.

"So, you're the shadow of the bird-god…" Ainz looked up to meet his gaze, making him tense up.

'Shadow of what now? I've done nothing for the past two weeks to make myself known. Naofumi wanted us to act as normal merchants, so I made sure to take off my armor whenever we stayed in any of the towns or villages we visited. How did I get a reputation?'

"Wait, Momon has a reputation, too?"

"Yeah, they've come up with names for all of you. They call you the holy merchant, or saint, and the lady next to me is the guide of the bird-god. Someone I met crafted quite the tale, actually." The merchant cleared his throat as he recounted what he had heard.

"The bird-god travels the world to heal the weak. But to protect it during its journey is a watchful dark knight. The knight manifests from the bird god's own shadow to protect its cart from the frightful night. Its shadow does not speak nor move unless spurred by the holy man or his demi-human guide." Raphtalia and Filo began listening to the story as he continued.

"However, when surrounded by those in need, the shadow's power recedes to let healing light shine. But the shadow is not gone; it only changes once more. For he takes the form of a wise elderly man. He still helps where he can and spreads his wisdom to those who listen. Until the bird-god must travel, and he must serve once more." He chuckled as he finished the story.

"I heard this from an aspiring bard who was inspired by your travels around the area. He said he was still working on it, but maybe if his stories get popular, they'll be etched into local folklore. Haha." Ainz could only roll his eyes in disbelief at how the local area spun his image.

'Maybe I should just go around in a mask and a robe. If anyone sees my real face or body, I'll act like it's normal for my race. That would probably get me less attention than what I'm doing now... Heheh.'

Having a reputation wasn't really an issue, per se. Naofumi wanted them to keep a low profile, and Ainz even found the story quite entertaining. But still, to travel without people staring at him with amazement, fear, or religious zeal was nice.

Ainz shook his head as he returned his focus to his book.

The merchant and Naofumi continued talking for a while on a few topics, primarily trading-related ones. Ainz didn't find them all that interesting, so he tuned them out to focus on his reading. But right as he was about to finish the book, the cart suddenly stopped, and he heard a commotion.

"Hey! Hand over all your valuables and the merchant! If you do, we might let you leave here alive. And don't play dumb. We know he's in there."

"I thought you said you didn't have anything valuable on you."

"I'm not… With the exception of one item…" As Naofumi began interrogating the jeweler, Ainz decided to see who was surrounding them.

He peeked out the wagon's side to see a group of bandits waiting for them. He should've seen this coming. The jeweler was traveling alone and had visited some of the local villages, so it would make sense for bandits to eventually hear about it and track him down.

But, judging by their mixed equipment, they were second-rate bandits. Even if there were a lot of them, Naofumi and the others shouldn't have a problem. He returned to finish the book as Naofumi jumped out to defend the wagon.

"Momon, you wanna join?" Naofumi looked back as the bandits continued to jeer at them.

"I don't see any of them that should be a problem for you guys. I'll stay here and defend the jeweler. Save you from worrying about him while you fight."

"Sounds good. Raphtalia, Filo. Let's deal with them." Naofumi switched his shield, making the jeweler's eyes widen, realizing who he was.

"So, he's the shield hero…" Ainz glanced over to the jeweler, pondering on this new information.

"He prefers to go incognito most of the time. Allows him to sell his wares more easily." The jeweler looked over at him, but he was already back to his book.

"That makes sense, but… Are the rumors about him true?" Ainz chuckled without looking up from his book.

"Heh, no. He's not a saint spreading miracles, nor is he a violent rapist that'll kill you if you look at him wrong. He's just a guy who was chosen to be a hero."

"But, If… If the rumors aren't true, then what kind of person is he?"

"I'm not sure. I see a kid who was drafted for a war he doesn't want to fight. He resents the world he's forced to fight for and just wants to go home. But that's just my opinion." Ainz glanced up.

"People are complex. Don't let me or anyone else tell you who he is. Speak with him, observe his actions, and make your own judgment of his character. Even if you're wrong, it's better than judging someone second-hand." The jeweler seemed conflicted as he went in thought.

The time went by quickly, and the fighting outside sounded one-sided. There was a moment when Ainz thought they were making a comeback. However, he knew it was over when the bandits started yelling and panicking. That was before one of them yelled out to the others.

"Don't bother with the Shield Hero! Just grab the merchant and his shit, and let's go!" One of the bandits opened the flaps of the wagon, making the jeweler jump from his seat.

"There you are! Maybe this will all be worth it in the end." The bandit smirked as he entered the wagon.

"Heiiii!" The jeweler screeched as the bandit got closer.

"Now, get over-Shhkkk." Ainz thrust his blade through the bandit's head and kicked him out.

"Ah…." The jeweler looked horrified by what Ainz had done, breathing heavily. Ainz casually closed the book he had in his free hand and sighed.

"I'm surprised it took them this long to try and kidnap you. They really are just dumb bandits trying to steal from a hero. Heh." He looked over to see the jeweler slightly pale.

"You alright?" The jeweler shook himself out of his stupor and closed his eyes, regaining his composure.

"Y-Yeah, I'm alright. It's just… been a while since I've seen someone die so close…" Ainz wiped his blade and rose from his seat.

"You can stay here if you'd like. I'm fairly certain the fight is coming to its conclusion." He shook his head.

"No, I'm fine now. I may not be comfortable with it, but it's not the first time dealing with bandits." Ainz nodded as they stepped outside.

As Ainz suspected, the fight was completely one-sided. Bandits littered the ground, most of them just injured, but he did spot a few that didn't make it. Filo was rounding up the ones that were fleeing, as Naofumi and Raphtalia watched over the ones that surrendered.

Filo ran back with two bandits' arms in her beak and tossed them in with the rest.

"That's the last of them master!"

"Hm, good work"

"Hehe." Filo perked up as Naofumi praised her.

Momon and the jeweler walked over to them as they tied up the bandits Filo had brought over.

"Did they give you trouble?" Naofumi shrugged.

"One guy did, some bodyguard, but Raphtalia took care of him. Now I'm just trying to decide what to do with them."

"Hey, accessories dealer, do you think we'd be rewarded for turning them in? They're probably the group that I heard was raiding local traders." The jeweler pondered for a moment.

"I doubt you'd get much. This area hasn't been doing financially well lately. But giving them to the guards would help." Naofumi sighed as he continued to think about it.

Ainz noticed the bandits smirking, overhearing their idea. It was clear that they thought it wouldn't work, or they'd be able to escape once captured. He pulled out his blades and faced the bandit leader.

"If there's no reward in turning them in, let's just kill them. No point of keeping them around otherwise." The bandits' faces went pale as he stepped closer. The bandit's leader looked over to Naofumi in a panic.

"Shield Hero! Y-You can't let him kill us! You're the miracle spreading merchant! You can't have one of your party members kill us in cold blood!" Naofumi smirked seeing this as the perfect opportunity.

"You're right, it would be bad if someone found your bodies in the road…" Hope flashed before the bandits' eyes.

"Good thing I have a giant monster that could eat all of you without leaving a single bone behind. Right, Filo?" He patted her side as she locked eyes with the bandit leader.

"Food?" Filo cocked her head to one side as drool went down her beak.

Ainz watched in amusement. He knew Naofumi was just playing them for fools and wouldn't feed them to Filo... probably. But, even so, he might as well play his role in this charade.

"I'll make sure to chop whoever she doesn't eat and take it with us. She'd appreciate a snack when we're on the road."

The bandits watched in horror as Filo looked at them like samples of exotic food, with Ainz sharpening his blades together, ready to butcher them all. The two loomed over them, making the bandits scream helplessly or faint in fear.

"Aaahh! Please, spare us! We'll do anything!" Naofumi knelt down to the bandit leader.

"I think I could convince them to spare you, but I'll need something in return." He smiled as the bandits started offering whatever he wanted.

After Naofumi robbed the bandits for all they were worth, including the armor on their backs, the jeweler decided to join their party for a few days. He continued to teach Naofumi about trading and item crafting, before parting ways.

They were currently traveling through a mountainous region where reports of a disease spread throughout the area. Even before they entered the area, they noticed a putrid smell in the air. The wind seemed to carry the disease, affecting every village and monster living nearby.

Naofumi pulled out a rag to cover his face, handing one off to Raphtalia and Filo as well.

"Momon. Do you have something under your helmet to help with the air?" He nodded.

"Don't worry about me. My helmet's enchanted to resist poison and disease."

"Eh, should've guessed. But don't forget to put something on if you take it off. It's supposed to get worse the closer we get to the village."

Naofumi noticed Raphtalia fidgeting when he mentioned the village. She seemed to want to say something but was holding back for some reason.

"Raphtalia? What's wrong?" She jumped at his sudden question.

"Oh, I…" She looked over to Momon.

"Momon, do you think Akumu is behind this disease? The rumors made it seem like it came out of nowhere. And we haven't seen him ever since Lute village."

As much as he hated thinking about it, Naofumi had the same thought. They had heard rumors of people claiming shadows were haunting them at night and other weird things going on, but that's it. He felt like this whole thing was a trap meant to lure him in with the promise of business.

Momon shook his head to Raphtalia.

"While I can't say for certain, I highly doubt this was him. I've dealt with him many times and he's never used a disease to terrorize an area before. This method of killing is not his style."

"The only other time I'd see him use a different tactic is if he was ordered by his master or taking advantage of a pre-existing disaster. As his name suggests, Akumu thrives on spreading nightmares and fear before he attacks. Think of it as his signature."

"Hold on. Akumu's name means nightmare? Where'd you hear that?"

Naofumi may not know many things about this world, but the one thing he did was that his culture and language were not here. He overheard the other heroes mention areas with Japanese architecture, but that's it. This couldn't be a coincidence.

"Oh, my lord mentioned it when we first fought against him. He said it translated from a language he depicted in a ruin he discovered. Is there something wrong?" Naofumi hesitated, before waving it aside.

"Ah, nevermind. It's nothing. Forget I said anything." Naofumi returned to mixing his potions, slightly frustrated.

Naofumi still wanted to know more about Momon and his country but knew he should leave him be. The guy was strong, quiet, and helpful but wouldn't hesitate to leave if he felt he needed to; a complete contrast from Filo and Raphtalia. That realistic mentality was refreshing in a way.

However, the one thing he did want from Momon was an escort or invitation to his country. For whatever reason, he had not found a single shield with the Yggdrasil tag since the Wraith Shield. It was his most unique shield ability by far. After understanding its drawbacks, he considered it his ace in the hole.

The other shields had nice buffs but only a few gave him abilities he could use in combat. It made finding more of those shields a strong secondary priority to earning money for the waves.

'Hah, if only I was able to harvest that Death Knight in Lute. What would its ability even be? Would it focus on defense or maybe it'd give me that negative energy attack that it used…'

As he began thinking of all the overpowered abilities he could have, Filo called out to him.

"Master, I see a village." He cleared his head as he climbed up to the reins.

As they entered the village, they could immediately feel the despair around them. The village seemed completely empty with only the sounds of coughing echoing through the streets. Naofumi could see their cemetery, with a new grave being filled.

Eventually, a sick villager walked up to them coughing as he did.

"You should leave… A disease has swept through the village from the mountains… Whatever you came here for, it's best you forget it and leave." He struggled to catch his breath as he gave his warning.

"We know that already. We're here to sell medicine." His eyes lit up as he noticed Filo.

"The carriage of the bird-god… We're saved!"

The man gathered the townsfolk, everyone begging for medicine. He worried that medicine might not be enough to cure them all. Before long, a healthy man dispersed the crowd and waved them over.

"Everyone, please give them some room. I will ensure the medicine is properly dispensed to the families in the quarantine area. If you'd follow me, Beloved Saint."

The man led him to a building filled with the sickest villagers. Naofumi grabbed what medicine he had and got to work. Even with his healing abilities, administering the medicines took him quite a while. And yet, while the medicine helped suppress the symptoms, the villagers remained sick.

"Thank you so much, Saint. I doubt they would've lasted much longer without you."

"Don't thank me yet. Their symptoms are better, but they aren't cured." Naofumi picked up his remaining potions and faced the village leader.

"Do you know how this started? The rumors I've heard didn't seem to know, thinking it came out of nowhere. So, did a traveler spread it or was it something else?" The leader furrowed his brow.

"I think it's best you speak with the doctor. I've meant to ask him about it, but certain… issues have kept me preoccupied. Nothing you need to worry over, Saint. I assure you."

Naofumi shrugged, not giving much thought to what he said as he went to the doctor's office. The entire way there, people thanked him and called out to him. Raphtalia and Filo were also surrounded, selling medicine and other wares to the townsfolk.

He was glad the medicine worked but didn't need all this extra attention. When he walked into the doctor's lab, he saw Momon and the doctor deep in conversation.

"So, you're saying if we don't take care of it soon, it could make this entire region inhabitable?"

"If the disease seeps into the soil, it will prevent any new plant life from thriving. It's good this area is in a drought as it will have a harder time reaching the roots of plants without much water. But if it does reach the roots, it could linger for decades." Nafoumi walked further into the room before being spotted by the doctor.

"Ah, hello Saint." Momon looked over, giving Naofumi a welcoming nod.

"Momon? Surprised to see you not in the wagon reading like you usually do when we visit a village."

"The Shadow- Erm, sorry. Momon here has been quite interested in the disease spreading through the area and has provided great insight into the issue."

"Really? I came here to see if you knew where this all started. I distributed some medicine to those in the sick area, but it wasn't enough to cure them." The doctor furrowed his brow.

"That's unfortunate… I'm partly to blame. I should've seen and prepared for the disease weeks ago…" Naofumi crossed his arms.

"Oh, right. About a month ago, the Sword Hero came to this region to slay a dragon resting farther up the mountain. He succeeded, which was a great boon to the area. The village got much needed income from adventurers who wanted to see it themselves and collect its materials."

Naofumi couldn't help but feel jealous. Dragon materials were rare and would've unlocked some nice shields for him. The meat of it might've even kept Filo fed for a few days.

"However, it began to rot after some time, spreading the disease down the mountain. Momon suspects it may turn into an undead any day now." Momon stepped forward.

"Naofumi. You were right about the disease being in the air, but there's something else as well. That feeling you get in cemeteries and sick bays is not just a feeling, it's negative energy. Left unchecked, undead can rise without a summoner." The doctor nodded along.

"Indeed. Your companion is quite knowledgeable, Shield Hero. I've never heard of negative energy before, but it made so much sense when he explained it to me." Naofumi sighed.

Once again, Momon has something that he nor anyone else in the country knows about. What kind of country did he come from, where they're so magically advanced? His country seemed better in every way compared to the other countries he heard of. A realization hit him.

Would they know how to send him back home?

After all, they have materials that a master smith has never seen before, and if they've translated Japanese, they have at least a basic understanding of Japan. It wouldn't be a long shot to say they may know if it is possible to return without defeating the Waves.

He needed to see it for himself.

"Beloved Saint?" He focused back to the doctor.

"Hm? What is it?"

"Well… The village leader sent a request to the crown to help deal with the dragon's corpse, but Momon indicates that it would take them far too long before the dragon arises again. I was hoping… could we hire you to get rid of the dragon, before it becomes undead? We'll gladly cancel the payment to the crown and grant it to you as payment." Naofumi glanced over at Momon.

'He must've already spoken with the doctor about the payment. Well, played. It must be quite the sum if it was going to those greedy knights in the capital.'

"Sure, we'll take care of the dragon's remains. I'll expect the payment to be ready when we come back."

"Oh, thank you, Beloved Saint!" Naofumi nodded as he and Momon left.

On their way back to the wagon, Naofumi sighed as he tried to muster the will to ask Momon for a favor. He'd tried to keep Momon at arm's length, but it began to feel like a waste of time. His country was unknown in this world, and he had a perfect opportunity to monopolize it before the other heroes could. Yet, he's been squandering it because of his unwillingness to trust him.

Momon could leave at any time, whether by choice or because he needs to pursue Akumu in another country. If he doesn't ask now, he may not get another chance. Naofumi squashed his ego down and turned to Momon.

"Hey, Momon."

"Hmm?"

"Could you set up a meeting with your lord or whoever you report to? I'd like to see if I couldn't get invited to your country." Momon looked over at him befuddled.

"…Why the sudden interest?"

"You may not talk about it much, but I can tell your home is nothing like the countries around here. It has unique monsters, better weapons, and knowledge about things these people have never heard of. It sounds like a perfect place to get stronger. But you won't, or can't, tell me where it is, so I'd like you to set up a meeting with someone who can."

Momon kept his gaze forward as they continued walking.

"…"

After a while, Naofumi just figured that this was his way of saying no. It was annoying, but he knew it was a long shot and wasn't surprised. However, as he was about to tell him to forget about it, he spoke up.

"Naofumi, understand that my lord is unlike other kings. When you meet, you must withhold judgment until after you've spoken with him. Many have made rash decisions based on his appearance alone. Promise that you will keep calm and have an open mind when you meet him. If you do, I'll see what I can do about a meeting."

"Wait really?" Momon frowned at Naofumi's surprise.

"Yeah, okay, I get it. I won't do anything rash when I meet him. I know how to show respect." Momon shot him a doubtful look.

"Don't look at me like that! I can be a 'nice guy' when I need to. The people in this country have had it out for me since I was summoned."

"Fair enough." Momon seemed to drift into thought as they approached the wagon.

Besides the ominous warning Momon gave him, this was the best outcome he could've hoped for. Even if they didn't know how to send him back home, their resources would help him not only survive but get stronger than he ever could in Melromarc. A connection with his lord might allow him to leave Melromarc for good.

'Hmm, I better not get ahead of myself. I should just focus on surviving the next Wave. The meeting won't help me if I'm dead." Naofumi looked over at Filo and Raphtalia, who were preparing to leave. He couldn't help but smile.

'Things are finally looking up.'

Author's Note:

I know the last few chapters have been somewhat short, the reason being I kinda lost my passion for this story. But now that we're heading toward the second wave, I'm getting back into it. I'm hoping that I can continue pushing out longer chapters or at least compensate with a shorter wait between chapters. But, my passion is fickle, so we'll have to wait and see.

As always, I appreciate the comments and I hope you enjoyed. I'll see you in the next one.