Meeting

Re-Estize Kingdom, fortress city of E-Rantel.

As an important border region between the neighboring Baharuth Empire and Slane Theocracy, the Kingdom's primary enemy was the Empire, and no large-scale conflict had occurred here for quite some time.

It was another very peaceful day.

The weather was clear and the breeze gentle. Though it was still summer, the rain from the previous two days kept the heat from feeling oppressive.

Inside an inn.

Ainz Ooal Gown, disguised as the adventurer Momon, and Narberal Gamma, Nazarick's battle maid disguised as the ordinary adventurer Nabe, were staying here.

Having recently accomplished something that could be considered a great feat for ordinary people, they remained copper-ranked adventurers, but their growing fame had earned them some intelligence.

At the very least, they no longer had to stay in the lowest-grade rooms as they had in the beginning.

The two sat facing each other. Only after using a magic scroll to shield their conversation did Ainz speak, his voice carrying both excitement and unease.

"Recently, a divine magic caster wearing strange equipment has been asking around Carne Village and E-Rantel for information about 'Ainz Ooal Gown.'"

"That is correct, isn't it, Nabe?"

Nabe's expression was cold, her brows faintly furrowed. Yet beneath her flawless, expressionless face lay the slightest trace of anticipation.

The reason Lord Ainz had deliberately spread the name Ainz Ooal Gown was so it might reach the ears of the Supreme Beings who might have come to this world as well.

Although her creator, Nishikienrai, had left Nazarick long ago, she still hoped that the Supreme Being who had created her would return.

"Yes. They are said to be a divine magic caster with black hair and black eyes, wearing silver-white armor and carrying a spear."

"But..."

Nabe could not help wanting to say more, but Ainz interrupted her.

Of course, he knew that the description of this person asking about Ainz Ooal Gown did not match any of the companions he remembered. But since they had gone out of their way to seek information, perhaps they possessed something useful.

Even if there was only the slightest possibility, Ainz's heart, normally suppressed by his undead instincts, stirred with excitement. It took two consecutive activations of Forced Calm to repress his emotions.

Naturally, he could not completely rule out the possibility that this was an enemy's trap.

But compared to news of his companions, a little risk was not even worth considering.

"We'll go see them now."

Ainz slapped the table and made his decision.

As Ainz rose, his movement stirred a faint breeze. The barrier spread by the magic scroll within the room rippled in waves invisible to the naked eye.

Narberal rose as well and silently followed behind him, one hand already resting on the hilt of the shortsword at her waist.

The two walked down the inn's stairs one after the other, the wooden steps creaking softly beneath their feet.

A few groups of guests sat scattered throughout the lobby downstairs, most of them passing merchants or local residents enjoying a mug of ale during the afternoon lull.

The innkeeper behind the counter looked up. Upon seeing Ainz, he immediately broke into a broad smile and eagerly greeted him.

"Lord Momon, heading out again today?"

Ainz gave a slight nod, his deep, magnetic voice emerging from beneath his full-face helmet. "Yes. There are some matters to take care of."

The innkeeper responded repeatedly, his gaze filled with admiration and reverence.

Ever since this black-haired, black-armored heavy warrior and his beautiful yet aloof partner had resolved the case that had troubled the Adventurers' Guild for so long a few days ago, the name "Momon the Black Swordsman" had spread throughout this fortress city.

Though he was still only a copper-ranked adventurer, anyone with eyes could tell that it was only a matter of time before he rose to a higher rank.

The streets of E-Rantel bustled in the afternoon. Vendors' cries, children's laughter, and the rumble of carriages intertwined into a peaceful scene of city life.

Ainz's gaze swept over the crowd. His undead instincts allowed him to calmly assess the threat level of every person around him, but his mind was entirely elsewhere at the moment.

"Nabe," he lowered his voice, ensuring that only the maid behind him could hear, "the person's exact location?"

"The last confirmed report was yesterday evening, at a tavern near the Adventurers' Guild."

Narberal answered in an equally quiet voice, her tone steady.

"They did not appear to be deliberately concealing their movements, but neither were they being particularly conspicuous. According to witnesses, the person ordered an expensive drink without touching it, merely asking the tavern owner whether he knew where 'Ainz Ooal Gown' was."

"The tavern owner naturally did not know, but word quickly spread among the adventurers."

Ainz continued walking in silence, the crimson eyes beneath his helmet flickering faintly.

Seeking information openly rather than hiding—that behavior itself was somewhat curious.

If they truly were a companion, they should have been more cautious.

But if they were not a companion... then who were they?

He shook his head and temporarily pushed those distracting thoughts aside. No matter what, he could only make a judgment after seeing the person with his own eyes.

The tavern stood at the end of the street, a two-story building with a wooden sign bearing the image of a tavern hanging outside.

Just as Ainz reached the entrance, he saw a young receptionist rush out in a panic, nearly crashing straight into him.

"Ah! L-Lord Momon!"

The young receptionist hurriedly took two steps back, his face flushing red. "I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to—"

"It's fine."

Ainz waved a hand. "What happened?"

"Y-yes, it's like this..."

The receptionist swallowed, a trace of anxiety in his eyes. "That strange adventurer who's been asking around town for information lately is in the tavern right now. A few adventurers got into a conflict with him just now, and they're looking to cause him trouble."

He shook his head, temporarily suppressing those stray thoughts. No matter what, he could only make a judgment after seeing the other party with his own eyes.

Ainz paused, then strode through the tavern doors.

The tavern was even more crowded than it appeared from outside, and quite a few adventurers had gathered there.

Ainz immediately spotted the space cleared by overturned tables and chairs—

Several men in leather armor with swords at their waists lay there. Their leader was likely the brawny man with a face full of flesh, a gold-rank badge pinned to his chest.

Men who should have been considered "strong" could only clutch their legs and howl on the floor now.

From the moment the attendant left until he entered the tavern, the enemy had all been knocked to the ground in such a short time—

An absolute master among humans!

Could he really be a player?

Opposite them, a figure leaning lazily against the wall calmly watched everything before him.

He was a young man—at least, he looked like one.

His messy black hair hung over his forehead, while his black eyes were deep and tranquil, as if the provocation before him was nothing more than the irritating buzz of mosquitoes.

He wore a full suit of silver-white armor. Its surface bore no excessive ornamentation, its lines simple and smooth, yet the joints revealed extraordinarily precise craftsmanship. It was definitely not something an ordinary blacksmith's shop could forge.

A silver-white spear nearly two meters long rested at an angle against the wall beside him. Fine patterns were etched into its shaft, and its tip gleamed with a cold, icy light.

A low voice came from his mouth.

"I did say that information on Ainz Ooal Gown's location is worth ten gold coins to me. But I'll only pay after verifying it."

"You think you can get paid just by giving me some unconfirmed rumor about the royal capital of the Holy Kingdom?"

"Do you take me for an idiot?"