Carne Village
The next morning
Momonga made sure that his armor was properly adjusted and that his helmet was straight. His guildmates and CZ Delta were likewise doing the same, nodding to him when they were ready to go out into the wider village.
Opening the door, the quartet stepped out into the middle of another bustling day for the villagers of Carne. Young and old, man and woman, magic and not, everyone was heading one way or another to deal with some sort of project that needed to be done in the village.
The skeletal Overlord turned to his friends. "We should split up into two pairs, create a buddy-system for translation purposes. Ariel can accompany me while CZ goes with Rasputin. We cover each other's backs while we make sure everything is as it seems."
"We have to make sure the Sunlight Scripture isn't breaking their pact with the villagers, right?" Ariel asked.
"That's correct. We'll meet back up together at noon, but until then, just explore and act natural. Speak with villagers and mages alike. I plan to try and meet with the Goblin Troop at least once."
Ra Ra Rasputin held up a finger. "I remember Enri mentioning they had problems with the mages. Want me to go and explain things to her, in case she starts to wonder?"
"If that so pleases you," Momonga said, "I trust in your judgment. See you all soon, and remember, we're just gathering information, so no need to start interrogating people if they're hesitant to share something."
Having established those parameters, they parted ways. Ra Ra Rasputin and CZ Delta went in the direction of the village longhouse while Momonga and Ariel headed towards where he remembered seeing the Goblin Troop's barracks.
"I know I wasn't there when this place got attacked the first time, but at a first glance, the Sunlight Scripture seems like they're making an earnest effort to earn forgiveness," Ariel said to him over a private [Message].
"I agree, but it never hurts to double check. We can't expect Nubo to do all the work now, can we?" Momonga half-joked.
They passed one of the former scripture members summoning a pair of Archangel Flames in front of a dilapidated house. The summons moved swiftly, carrying heavy amounts of building materials and setting them into the proper places for the workers surrounding the house to get to work.
The men gave quiet thanks to the mage, who bowed his head in thanks. This was a good thing, as an equal amount of the workers spit at the mage's shoes and even the hood he wore.
An elderly man intently watched over them all, hunched over a cane. He shook his head in disappointment at his fellow villagers, or at least Momonga assumed so.
Along their way they passed more scripture members who were walking to other houses or building projects that were in progress. Many of them had ditched their old uniforms, wearing clothing that closely mirrored Carne's residents. Those who still wore their robes had the same image of the Mask of Envy painted on the front, proudly displayed for all to see.
"Excuse me, good sir, might I speak with you for a moment?" Momonga asked, pointing towards a random mage who bore the symbol.
He was a younger man of no real defining features, someone who could easily disappear into a crowd if need be. "How might I help you, adventurer?"
"We noticed some of you people have this weird face painted on the front of your robes. What does it mean exactly?" Ariel inquired, Momonga translating for her.
"Oh, you noticed the mask, yes? Some of us painted this mask as a reminder of our defeat and of our promise to make amends. We wear it everyday, and it's also the reason we haven't gotten rid of our old clothes," the young man spoke in a nasally voice.
"I heard about that. Wasn't there three of those people though? Why not paint the other's face on your robes?" Momonga mentioned.
"Because the one who wore the mask seemed the leader, yes? The other two were his companions, but they listened to that Sir of Ainz Ooal Gown. You do not paint a general with all his soldiers, yes?"
"...I suppose you're right. Apologies for bothering you."
The former scripture member departed then, catching up with his brethren. As they walked away, Ariel leaned in close like she was going to whisper to Momonga.
"That was a bit of a weird way for him to talk, yes?" she teased lightly, "In all seriousness though, I didn't think you guys would develop a fan club just by beating them so thoroughly."
"Strength seems to be the name of the game in this world. And you're one to talk, given how we're communicating right now," he teased right back.
Ariel silently laughed and they continued on their way. In only a few minutes, they reached their desired destination. Though, they were accosted somewhat by star-struck villagers and respectful mages.
Taking in their surroundings, they noted there were a few mages who stood outside their own barracks talking to one another. They spoke in hushed tones, sneaking glares at the goblins who were likewise enjoying some time off from manual labor.
Given the barracks of each respective group was right across from each other, that meant a Cold War between both species was constantly brewing, as both sides stole angry and downright hateful glances towards their neighbors.
Off a few buildings down, there was a house that had a single Sunlight Scripture member utilizing his summon to lift heavy building material. A goblin wearing leather armor was hammering away on the framework of the house, being directed by an older couple who stood off to the side.
Surprisingly enough, they found Peter and Ninya standing there and already talking with some of the Goblin Troop. Peter was the first to spot the pair of guildmates, looking up from his conversation with Jugem the leader and waving them over.
"Hey, you two! We were wondering when you'd come out of your house. Come on over, join us for a bit," Peter called with a friendly smile.
"Always a pleasure to see you, Peter and Ninya," Momonga greeted, "What brings you out over here? Where are Lukrut and Dyne?"
"We came across Roger and Cerise while we were exploring. They told us they were on their way to speak with Miss Enri and that you guys were on your way to meet with the Goblin Troop. We figured we'd come and meet up with you guys," Ninya explained.
Jugem, the goblin they were speaking to, glanced Momonga and Ariel up and down, sizing them up. "I don't think we really got a proper introduction the other day. In case I didn't say it already, my name is Jugem, and I'm Miss Enri's goblin leader."
He stuck out a hand, which the disguised Overlord took and very gently shook. Even holding back, Jugem winced.
"That's a hell of a grip you have there. You must be a real serious adventurer if you're that strong."
"Believe it or not, they're actually new to it all," Ninya chipped in, "They only started yesterday, and this was their first ever quest."
"You're kidding!"
Peter chuckled proudly. "It's completely true. They're a lot more powerful than we would've thought, since they were able to help us take down the Wise King's Killer."
"Yes, which is all well and good, thank you Peter," Momonga coughed, lowering his voice a bit. "However, there is something else I would like to discuss with you."
Sensing the change in mood, Jugem's face fell, becoming professional. "Yeah, I figured you might. Let me guess, you want to make sure that things are alright in the village, right?"
"I take it Peter and Ninya already filled you in?"
The silver plate adventurers' faces were likewise pensive. Peter grunted in acknowledgement. "Cerise and Roger told us everything. If we're going to do this, we should be doing everything we can to help these people."
"So is everything going well for Carne, Mister Jugem? Has the Sunlight Scripture been… unsavory at all?" the guild leader asked in a calm manner.
In the span of a few seconds, the goblin leader seemed to age ten years, looking weary. Being that he was a summon, Momonga imagined it shouldn't be possible for him to age at all, but the stress might be getting to him.
"I… Look, these mage guys, it can be tough to deal with them on some days because if it weren't for them, we wouldn't exist. The unfortunate matter of the truth is that we exist to make sure they don't hurt our summoner, which means to understand better what we're dealing with, Miss Enri told us what happened for them to be here."
Momonga stroked his chin in thought. "She explained in full the details of their arrival?"
"Yeah, she did. We owe our existence to Miss Enri, and she treats us pretty good, so we want to make sure we do everything we can to repay that. Just knowing these people killed her parents and hurt her people, it's enough to make our blood boil, you know?"
"You don't mean to tell us YOU'RE the one instigating fights with the Sunlight Scripture?" Ariel asked, which Momonga related to Jugem.
"Oh, of course not!" Jugem said quickly, shaking his head. "Well… sometimes a fight or two does break out, but it's usually because some belligerent mage gets a little smart-mouthed and tries to get physical with us. We defend ourselves, and we keep everyone else out of the crossfire."
The goblins present made noises of agreement, which prompted one to chime in. "They give us all sorts of fun nicknames. 'Green skin', 'basement pest', 'forest pillager', 'kiddie eater', and a few other ones to boot."
"Some of the really aggressive mages talk about all the goblins they killed out in the field as an intimidation tactic," another piped up, "Like we'd have anything to do with those savages."
"This one mage wondered out loud how many travelers I mugged, and whether I kept their scalps after I was done killing them."
"Had one try to see if I would be spooked by fire, basically waved a torch in front of my face all day."
"One of those bozos kept asking if I was gonna make a bridge leading out of the village and start charging people to cross it. That one didn't even make sense!"
Soon enough, every goblin that was at their barracks was in an uproar, listing off the types of insults they were forced to endure and how many times they got close to snapping and doing something they would regret.
The noise became great enough that Momonga almost missed the shouting that came from elsewhere, to which he held up a hand to quiet down the members of the goblin troop. Ariel, Ninya, and Peter gave him confused looks, to which they then heard the same thing he was paying attention to.
His gaze swept back to where he originally saw the in-progress house, seeing that the goblin and scripture mage working on it were practically at each other's throats, nose to nose and hurling obscenities.
Momonga's feet were already marching when he saw the goblin's fist fly and crack the human across the cheek. Being thinner, the man crumbled, but he grabbed the goblin's forearm and dragged him down for a brawl.
Due to his enhanced speed, the disguised Overlord was there in the blink of an eye, dragging both combatants away effortlessly. Gales of wind followed in his wake, a sign of his undisputable power as a Player.
All the noise attracted more villagers, drawing in a sizable crowd that watched with a mixture of disappointment and indignant fury.
"Alright, you two, that's enough," Momonga said, "Now, why don't we settle down and discuss this rationally, like adults, hmm? Surely we can accomplish that much together."
"Like HELL I'll ever do anything together with this jackass again! Only reason I deal with him is because Miss Enri's asks us to help with village repairs with these guys!" the goblin cried, his face flush with anger.
The Slane Theocracy magic caster was just as quick to blow up. "The whole point of this atonement is to help human villagers rebuild their home after the damage we caused! I ain't got a problem with that, but why should I be forced to work with measly green-skins when they're nothing but ticking time bombs?!"
"I'll show YOU a ticking time bomb you damn bucket-head!" Goblin and human thrashed in Momonga's adamantine grip, the Player not-so-much as budging in their childish attempts at escaping.
Though he lacked flesh and blood, he swore he could feel a blood vessel throbbing on his forehead, only for the force that repressed his emotions to activate and suppress that feeling as well.
Jugem, Ariel, Ninya, and Peter caught up with him, the goblin leader gritting his teeth as he glared at his subordinate in Momonga's left hand.
"Goddammit, Kuunel! I was just telling the adventurer here we don't start fights! What the hell's the matter with you?!"
The offending goblin had the decency to look ashamed, unable to meet his leader's eyes. The human was much more brazen, scoffing rudely in his direction.
"If it were up to me, I'd rather none of you be involved in these matters whatsoever," the mage said, "These are human affairs you're involved in, and they should remain that way, no offense to Miss Enri."
Surprisingly, it was Ninya who got in the mage's face, his boyish features contorted into a deep frown. "You're supposed to be better than this. You should focus on using your magic to help people, not picking fist fights with goblins! I heard the story of how you got here in the first place, so don't you have any shame?"
Now that he was being addressed by someone human, the mage's smug facade cracked a bit. It reinforced itself quickly enough, indifferent to Ninya's words.
"You're an adventurer, aren't you? I'm certain that you've had your fair share of run-ins with goblin kind. How can you stand here and ask me, with a straight face, if I have no shame when you're willingly defending a goblin. They are monsters, and it's only a matter of time before they turn on everyone in this village and hurt somebody."
"And what's to say you won't do the same?" Momonga asked, deathly calm, raising the mage up to eye level. The way he was holding the puny human reminded him of a newborn kitten being picked up by the scruff of its neck, dangling in its mother's jaws. It was almost comical, if not for the context in which he was doing it.
At the same time, he lowered the goblin enough that he could stand on his own two feet, but he kept a tight grip on his leather jerkin's collar. He wouldn't chance letting go and accidently giving Kuunel a free swing or two.
"For all I know, you could be intentionally creating hostility to justify attacking the goblins, and therefore leaving the people of Carne defenseless against you and your comrades. What would the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown think if they somehow caught wind of this? What if the villagers told them about such a scheme the next time they were back in this village?"
Momonga recognized the irony in his statement, but it had the effect he wanted. When he subtly glanced around, he noticed that the villagers that came to watch were having moments of realization, their glares steadily growing heated the longer they stared at the mage.
By giving power to the villagers by saying they could just as easily rat the Sunlight Scripture out for unscrupulous behavior, he hoped it would discourage further arguments and brawls from breaking out in the future.
It was not unlike a tactic he employed when dealing with feuding guildmates, playing up on their desires to be seen in a positive position by their friends. It may be underhanded, and he may be lacking in some leadership skills, but he recognized it as one of his better methods of dealing with conflict.
Which also meant, as expected, that the mage was beginning to crack under the pressure. His "righteously" outraged expression at working with goblins was crumbling, and now his eyes darted around looking for support.
There were even a few fellow scripture members in the crowd, who Momonga recognized by the patches of the Mask of Envy sewn onto their worker's overalls. They shook their heads in disappointment at their antagonistic co-worker.
"Thank you, sir adventurer. You can set down Caleb now, I'll take it from here."
Momonga looked up and saw the crowd part around a tall and muscular figure striding through. He bore the confidence and air of a field commander, with gray, buzz-cut hair and a mustache of a matching color.
His left eye held an impressive scar running down it, leaving it dull. His mouth was curved in a fearsome snarl, ready to hurl all sorts of threats towards the man in Momonga's grip.
Oh! I recognize him. That must be Rowan, which means this poor guy is about to receive a whole world of hurt in a few moments.
He relinquished his hold on the mage, who stood with a bowed head in front of his commander. Momonga watched the man's shoulder slump.
"Commander Rowan, sir," the one named Caleb started, "I swear, I didn't do anything-"
There was never any chance to finish, as the grizzled veteran stood eye-to-eye with the man. Rowan's expression never changed, but the aura he exuded was so smothering, so deadly, that it would be able to suffocate a dragon.
"If I hear another word out of you, I'm assigning you to manual labor in the warehouse, directly under Aeliana," Rowan said calmly, "Get your ass back to the barracks. NOW."
Caleb practically tripped over himself trying to do as he was told. The villagers which created a circle around the incident begrudgingly parted ways, glaring at the younger man all the way back to his barracks.
Rowan watched to make sure his subordinate truly did as he was told, sighing tiredly once he saw the door to the barracks slam shut. He turned to face the adventurers and Goblin Troop assembled.
"I apologize for the lack of respect my man displayed towards you. I promise you, he will be disciplined to the highest order possible for this infraction. I will also make a better effort to teach my other comrades the importance of respect towards those different from us, to atone for my failure today."
In a surprising move, he half-bowed before them all, something that Momonga recognized as a formal apology from back in Japan. He used to see it all the time from high level executives who would "apologize" for the shady practices of their corporations, should they ever be released to the general public.
Were the Great Six Gods actually Japanese Players? Momonga speculated. Because if so, I guess some of the customs bled over into the Theocracy's culture… it's kinda nice, actually, to have this kind of proper respect here.
Peter and Ninya were taken aback, and Ariel's eyes gained an intrigued glint beneath her wolf-skull helmet. Given that Momonga and Ariel were both Japanese, they responded accordingly, bowing back to Rowan in a similar manner.
"Thank you, Commander Rowan, for your understanding. We see you're being quite proactive in making sure your men understand the consequences of your actions," Momonga said, standing back up.
"Yeah, not a lot of people would do that for someone. They would just place all the blame on their worker, or shift it to the other side of the argument only," Ariel commented, to which Momonga relayed this to the now-standing scripture leader.
"I only do what I can to produce the most peace," Rowan said humbly, "That being said, old habits die hard, and while my people are trying to do better, they find themselves circling back to square one."
"Like goading my own men to start throwing punches because they're sick of all the verbal abuse," Jugem stated heatedly.
The veteran man winced at that. "Yes, though I assure you, I have rounded up all the offenders. Caleb happens to be the last one, so once I'm through with them you'll never have to worry about this again."
"I'll believe it when I see it, commander. I will be telling Miss Enri about this too, she has a right to know."
With those words, Jugem walked off, his Goblin Troop trailing after him. Kuunel followed as well, though he paused when he passed Rowan. He looked up to the taller man, wearing a contemplative expression.
"Thanks for the apology. Sorry I threw the first punch too, even if the guy did deserve it," he said, then continued to catch up with his group.
The villagers began to disperse as well, going back to what they were originally doing before the fight broke out. Unlike with Caleb, many of the villagers showed greater respect for Rowan, giving him pats on the pack or a genuinely happy greeting.
Momonga hummed. "You appear well respected by the villagers, Commander Rowan. I'd say that the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown would be well pleased by your efforts."
"I wish some of my comrades would follow my example more closely. I can only do so much by leading, now it's up to some of them if they wish to follow," Rowan picked at the patch of the Mask of Envy.
"I'm sure you're doing just fine. Your soldiers still listen to your orders, even if they're not acting like their best," Ariel comforted, to which Momonga translated into spoken word.
Rowan gave the pair an appraising nod. "You're very in tune with one another, if the black armored gentleman can so easily read your thoughts, Miss…"
"Oh, this is Aria! And this is Sir Momon! I don't think you got to meet us at the longhouse when we got to the village, but they're new adventurers that came with us!" Ninya butted in excitedly. He squeezed herself between both heteromorphs, almost like introducing new friends to his parents.
Peter had to gently nudge the boy out of there. "Ninya, that was a bit rude. They should be able to introduce themselves."
Ninya's subsequent pout was so adorable that Momonga couldn't help but to good-naturedly chuckle, Ariel silently laughing alongside him. Out of reflex, the disguised Overlord ruffled the hair of the much younger adventurer.
That caused Ninya to blush up a storm, which prompted Momonga to laugh a little harder.
Ninya almost seems like a little girl when he blushes like that. Ah well, he's still young, so I'm sure he'll grow out of the more girlish aspects of himself.
"We don't mind in the slightest. It's our privilege to have our good friend introduce us. Also, to answer your question, Commander Rowan, Aria and I have known each other for many years, alongside our other friends, Cerise and Roger. We've been through thick and thin, and there's no-one more dependable than them."
"I'm sure, given you managed to capture such a fearsome creature like what's in the barn," Rowan complimented, "If it so pleases you, might I show off some of the work my Scripture is doing? I would be happy to give you a tour of our barracks as well, afterwards."
"Sounds good to us, lead the way," Peter agreed.
The others likewise agreed to the idea, and they followed Rowan to some of the places he had in mind.
One of the first places the grizzled veteran took them was a collection of open-air buildings that were cheaply but sturdily put together. Inside, they could see some members of the Sunlight Scripture hunched over various tables, tending to sick and injured villagers laying on them.
Those men and women were dressed in their old uniforms, and if they weren't working on tending to the ill, they were mixing together potions at spare tables.
"A temporary clinic, though once we finish up with some of the injured villagers, we plan to fully furnish this building and convert it into a pharmacy," Rowan explained.
He gestured to another building that was closed off, a chimney billowed with smoke and a horrendous smell wafted from there. If Momonga were still able, he would've gagged.
Unfortunately, Peter and Ninya were not immune to the smells, the latter turning green. "Blegh! Is that where you mix the ingredients?"
"Unfortunately, it's not a pretty business, but my comrades do well with the work. We're not actual pharmacists, mind you, but what we make is passable."
"Maybe you should send word to E-Rantel. You might be able to commission the pharmacist there to help you guys out," Peter waved a hand in front of his face.
"We'll take that under consideration, thank you for the suggestion."
Deciding the smell would become too overpowering, Rowan quickly moved them away from the temporary clinic and towards a series of warehouses instead.
Here, activity was at its highest in the village so far. Sunlight Scripture mages, villagers, and even goblins were coming in and out, either depositing raw materials needed for village repairs or picking up materials to take them to their final destination.
There was an attractive woman expertly directing everyone to their places, dictating where items were set and where they would go. In one hand she held a massive book, the warehouse catalogue, which she continuously marked in.
When Momonga looked closely, he noticed she was the one that Peter danced with the other night, and the one who assisted the apothecary in tending to his injuries after the fight with Mekongawa.
She was a blond-haired, green-eyed lady who looked to be in her mid twenties. Rather than robes, she was wearing casual villager attire, which showed off impressively-sculpted arms.
"Aeliana, if you have a moment, I'd like you to meet some adventurers that passed by. They're the ones that brought in the massive chimera!" Rowan called out to the woman.
"Wait, you know what Mek–I mean, the Wise King's Killer's species is?" Momonga turned to face the commander in slight shock.
"Well, it's more an educated guess based on some reports we received about the Beast Kingdoms to the east. Apparently, there is a beastman that bears a striking resemblance, and which the natives call a chimera. Figured if they look similar, the name would fit."
Before the Overlord could think to ask more questions, the woman named Aeliana marched up to them, raising her hand to greet them.
"Commander, wasn't expecting you to drop by today, or to bring guests. Still, it's an honor to meet you," Aeliana shook Momonga's hand, and then proceeded to do the same with everyone else.
"Sorry if it was sudden, but I wished to give these four a proper look at the work we're doing here, to show them we're doing as the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown intended. Why don't you explain a bit what you do?"
Aeliana's eyes turned to refocus on the quartet, their striking shade of emerald mesmerizing to look at. They were absolutely beautiful, shining with a light that would make jewels lackluster in comparison.
At the same time, there was a certain intensity behind them, as if Aeliana was staring at them not as people but intricately crafted mechanisms.
Despite knowing the power he had and what he himself was capable of, Momonga felt like he wanted to squirm, feeling like pieces of himself were being taken apart and combed over for every last detail.
That's a really invasive gaze for someone who manages a warehouse. I wonder what her purpose in the Sunlight Scripture was before my friends and I dismantled them.
"I'm Aeliana, and I help to manage all the inventory that this village needs to remain sustainable," she stated indifferently, as if talking about the weather. "Anything that passes through this quaint little place, I know about it, every last scrap of wood and every morsel of food. My job is to make sure we not only have just enough for our projects, but to double and even triple our inventory as needed. Only one better at this job than me, is me."
She said this all with a sort of confidence that belied years of experience. It was a relatively minor explanation, but the way she went about it already instilled the notion that Momonga could trust no one else with such a task.
"Does that mean you handle stuff like the big wall that was made around the village?" Ninya poked out from behind Momonga, his bulk unintentionally obscuring the smaller human.
"That's right. I'm the one who made sure every log was in place, and that they're strapped together so tightly a troll couldn't bust it down."
After saying this, Aeliana frowned. She got closer to Ninya, whipping out a comb from her pocket.
"Your hair's a bit messy, kid. Though you've been out in the field a bit, you should always make sure to take care of yourself," she said, lightly combing out Ninya's short, somewhat wild hair.
The younger boy blushed up another storm. "Wait, that's okay! I, uh, I didn't even think–"
"Best to just let her do this for the moment, she tends to be a bit obsessive like that," Rowan advised, lightly smiling.
"Everything has its place, commander, especially if you're working. Which reminds me…"
Aeliana pulled out a smaller bottle of a clear fluid, tossing it to Momonga. He caught it easily, holding it up to the sun to see it more clearly.
"And what is this exactly?" he asked. He would appraise it, but he didn't want to have to cast [Item Appraisal] in front of the others and give away his identity.
"Just some magic polish. It'll help with cleaning up the nicks you got in your armor. It'll also make it shine just as brightly as the day you bought it."
Satisfied, she put away the comb and went up to Ariel, giving her a look-over from top to bottom. "You… seem to be handling yourself pretty well, but here's some advice: If you're ever looking for some more skulls to make into helmets, I hear that the wolves in the Forest of Tob can become massive. If you can bring down that monster in the barn, you should handle those just fine."
Ariel's eyes widened with surprise, but she slowly nodded in understanding. Aeliana finished off her small spree with Peter. She poked him playfully in the chest, smiling radiantly.
"You definitely need dance lessons. Next time you're back here and I'm off duty, I'll teach you… that sound good?"
The silver-plate adventurer's mouth gaped like a fish, but he managed to squeak out a compliant "yes". His face was currently rivaling Ninya's ability to blush, though he cooled down some when the older woman pulled away.
"Sorry about this commander, but I have to get back to it. I hope the rest of you enjoy your day," she waved goodbye while already walking back to her original position, rushing to catch a couple pieces of wood plank that one overburdened worker was about to drop.
Once she left, the air of intensity faded away, and it took Momonga until that moment to realize he'd been on edge the whole time. She didn't seem dangerous, but rather had a force of will that could easily subdue lesser ones.
Damn. I didn't think I'd have to meet with someone like that outside of the guild. The way she carried herself and is in control of everything, she almost reminds me of Ancient One.
"Just in case she accidentally offended you, I do want to apologize for my second-in-command's eccentricities. She can give off a bad impression at times, but she means well," Rowan said.
"I think we're alright, thank you. Please, let us continue," Momonga gestured to the rest of the village, eager to see what else was in store for him and his friends.
They were led to a variety of places that, while not entirely out of place in a village, were definitely recent additions as a result of the Sunlight Scripture now living there.
A small clearing had been set aside where the skeleton of a church was being built. There were pews already set up, and at the back of the building where a priest would stand while giving a sermon was a set of six statues that mostly the mages prayed at.
Building's not even finished and they're already holding services–wait. Are those some of the villagers sitting in the pews?
Sure enough, a few of Carne's people were attending services alongside members of the Sunlight Scripture. Their heads were bowed, lips mumbling along with the mantras of the mage who was leading them that day.
Rowan looked over and smiled. "Despite the circumstances, a few of the villagers have taken to our doctrine of the Six. I know a few of them follow the teachings of the Four Gods, but all are welcome among us."
Close to where the church was, an open field was set up where scripture mages were practicing their magic. Several scorch marks blackened the grass from previous spell usage. Unlike with the church, there were only magic users present.
There were all manner of spells being used at the field, ranging from offensive [Fire Bolts] and defensive [Lesser Wards]. There were some pairs, where the people trained their abilities in one-on-one sparring matches.
Others went off their own ways, preferring to study and strengthen their natural talents without needing another to help. Regardless of their status, everyone was utilizing magic in one way or another.
Off at the borders of the field where the fence was set up, curious children and adolescents watched with wide eyes. Almost as if to entertain them, there were some extravagant shows of magic, fire shot out like fireworks, and rune circles glowing like spotlights.
Rowan pointed proudly towards his comrades. "This is a new addition of ours. A safe place separate from the village where we can hone our skills and make sure we remain as sharp as ever."
"Oh! Maybe I should come over here sometime and practice with the rest of you guys. It might be helpful to learn some new spells from veterans!" Ninya noted, rushing over to watch them before the rest of the group arrived.
"You're always welcome to come by and visit, at least I think Miss Enri would be happy to have you. We'd be happy to raise you to your fullest potential. However, I should say if you want proper training, come and find me or Aeliana, as some of the Sunlight Scripture can be a bit… rough to newcomers."
"You mean to say they would haze Ninya?" Ariel crossed her arms.
When Momonga relayed this, the commander rubbed the back of his neck. "Not exactly. Granted, they'd try to make her perform spells she doesn't know, but in terms of any physical harm, we have the professional courtesy not to hurt our recruits."
"W-wait! I have a team already, so while I'm sure you could teach me a lot under your wing, I'm not looking to join anyone else!" Ninya waved her arms erratically, trying to politely but firmly decline the apparent offer.
"Ha! Don't worry, young man. I'm sure you have some potential, but to try and join our ranks is a long and arduous vetting process. You need to have an impressive military record before you join us, or any scripture for that matter… except for the Black Scripture, of course."
A Black Scripture? They sound like they're important, but just how many scriptures are there that exist in this Slane Theocracy? I do think I remember some mention of them, but it would help to have a reminder for my friends and I.
Trying to act as casually as possible, Momonga leaned against the fence. "Ah, the Black Scripture you say? Tell me, what makes these individuals so much more special than the other scriptures you have?"
For a brief moment, Rowan hesitated, looking uncertain for the first time since the skeletal Overlord had met the man. It was brief enough that he thought he imagined it when it disappeared in an instant.
"They are the strongest scripture that my country has at its disposal. Though the scriptures tend to share information with each other, the Black Scripture has no such obligations to us," the older man finally said.
"Unlike other scriptures, which have members picked on their extraordinary abilities and service records, the Black Scripture has its members picked based on their heritage. The cardinals tend to keep most of their background a secret, so even us scriptures don't know much."
"They sound like they were spec-ops. Real under-the-table, covert mission types. Is that something we should be worried about?" A new voice sounded off over the private messenger that Momonga and Ariel shared.
Both guildmates turned to see that Ra Ra Rasputin and CZ Delta were walking up, Dyne and Lukrat right behind them.
"Dyne? Lukrut? How did you guys know to come and find us over here?" Peter asked, surprised to see his teammates so soon already.
"We asked around the village after exploring for a bit if they saw you guys. They mentioned you were heading this direction," Dyne said, "What is this place, a sparring ground?"
Momonga zoned out as Rowan began to describe the area they were currently at, which gave him a chance to speak privately with his guildmates and the pleiade.
"What did you guys find? Did you tell Enri what we planned to do, and did she tell you anything differently from yesterday?"
Rasputin and CZ shared a contemplative look, the former staring his guild leader in the eye. "We did. We made sure we were alone so that way she didn't feel pressured to tell us one thing but mean another."
"So what did you manage to get out of her? Please don't tell me the situation is actually worse than it is. I'd hate to have to get the rest of the guild involved if that were the case."
"Lord Momonga, if I may?" CZ Delta interjected, as calm as always.
"Go ahead. Did you want to say something in particular?"
"Miss Enri's report on the actions of the Sunlight Scripture were of a rather neutral nature. However, the inflections of her tone seemed to indicate a personal bias against them due to the role they played in the death of her parents, as well as the assault on her home."
"That's not exactly major news, but I understand your point. You don't think she may be in the right state of mind to make an accurate assessment?"
"Well… CZ tells you this to provide context for what she ACTUALLY said, because despite her misgivings, she's actually given some glowing reviews about Rowan's management," Rasputin said, "Despite everything else CZ found as having bias, everything with Rowan and some girl named Aeliana have been absolutely glowing, no bias whatsoever."
Ariel grabbed her chin under her helmet in thought. "That doesn't surprise me. I haven't even known the guy for a full day, but he hasn't given me a reason to doubt him yet. Aeliana was a little odd, but she struck me as reliable."
"Even still, that doesn't excuse the rest of the scripture's antics," Momonga reminded them, "Just don't lose sight of what they've done to be here. However, I will take what you say into consideration when I tell the others what we learned here."
"Hey, guys? What do you all say to showing off your skills and abilities?" Peter's voice suddenly called out, drawing the quartet out of their group [Message].
"Showing off our abilities?" The skeletal Overlord asked.
"Yeah! We're all here at this sparring field, so why not get in some extra practice?" Lukrut said, showing off his trademark smirk. "It would be a good way for the ladies to keep themselves in fine shape."
Choosing to ignore the comment, CZ stepped forward. "Did you have something in mind? Lady Aria and Lord Roger would like to know."
"Just some simple one-on-one matches! A little something to pass the time until lunch, so what do you say?"
"I don't think I would mind personally, but what about you guys? That something you want to do?" The automaton gunslinger cocked his head inquisitively.
Ariel shrugged her shoulders. "We kinda rushed our timetable anyway. Might as well do something to last us until noon."
"I think I'm good. I'd rather just sit back and watch if that's what you want to do," Momonga said to his friends first, then he turned his attention to the adventurers and mages who watched him with expectant eyes.
"My friends desire to partake, but I myself wish to stand by and watch. You may find them more entertaining than I could offer."
He made his way over to the fence, where the others stood, and leaned against it. His heavy bulk caused the feeble fence to groan under his weight, but it held him well enough.
Both Ariel and Ra Ra Rasputin walked through a nearby gate and found a mostly empty spot in the expansive field. Mages that were previously training paused to see the two new arrivals. Those closest to them gave them distance, creating a rough circle for them to spar in.
Ninya was bouncing next to Momonga, his face alight with delight. "Seeing Aria wield her magic is so cool! I've never seen a shaman of her level before."
Rowan was situated on his opposite side. "I got that impression from her clothing, but now I'm curious to see the proficiency of someone who can take down such a fearsome monster like the Wise King's Killer."
"Oh. You'll most definitely be in for a surprise," the disguised undead assured them, "There is no-one else like them in this world."
The Swords of Darkness took up the same side that Ninya stood on, while Rowan and CZ Delta stood on. The result was that Momonga was effectively sandwiched between the two groups.
I know us fighting with Mekongawa for our big "show" technically counted as sparring, but this is more to fill our time than anything else. Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder how this might go down, given Rasputin's and Ariel's builds.
Ariel's build as a Player was focused on summoning spirits to help her in fights, which meant she played more of a support role in terms of big team battles. However, she was more than capable of fighting on the front lines if need be, but not for long due to her relatively low health among competitive Players.
Because of her species as a fey, her skill, [Will o'the Wisp] gave her an edge over other mages of a similar build. Usually spells would have to be spoken aloud as part of a somatic element as well as picking them directly from a menu in-game. In this way, it acted as an automatic [Silent Magic].
Ra Ra Rasputin, on the other hand, was almost strictly a distance fighter. His pistols allowed him to strike from lengthy distances, practically rivaling traditional spell rifles of a similar caliber. His race as an automaton also granted him a resistance to offensive spells up to Tier six, a useful quality when battling mages.
His body also possessed an excellent potential for augments and upgrades, allowing him to store all manner of weaponry and armor if need be. The process to switch out said upgrades and augments could be a lengthy one, so it was best saved for in-between fights.
"First one incapacitated is the loser! Please don't do anything that will get you seriously hurt otherwise!" Momonga made sure to call out, "Otherwise, start when you're ready."
Both guildmates stood opposite each other, staring one another down. They appeared lax, but Momonga noted how they both exuded an energy like scrunched-up springs, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see who would make the first move. Rasputin and Ariel were so still they may as well be statues. Ninya's bouncing next to Momonga only increased.
One. Two. Three–
BANG! BANG!
Faster than lightning, Rasputin drew both pistols and fired off his rubber bullets. Just as quickly, Ariel raised a spectral shield that completely blocked the barrage that came her way.
She retaliated with a large blast of ectoplasm fired from the tip of her staff, which sailed towards her friend and took the shape of an eagle, talons outstretched.
Bullets flew and tore the spirit to shreds, only for another blast of ghostly energy to lunge at his feet in the form of three wolves, Ariel following closely behind and pulling a spirit sword seemingly from her bare palm.
Rasputin holstered his left pistol and drew his own blade, slashing through two of the wolves and parrying the fey shaman all in one move. The third wolf was promptly shot through the head, dissipating with a pathetic whine into nothingness.
They pushed against each other, Rasputin releasing pangs of amusement over the group [Message]. His rapier was thin but strong, perfect for sword-locks.
Were it any other Player outside of the guild, Rasputin would have brought his spare gun up to their head and promptly killed them. Back in Yggdrasil, the automaton had that habit of luring in others while fighting just so he could get a close range headshot.
…only this wasn't an enemy he was facing, but one of his dear friends. Momonga felt that internal struggle, Rasputin holding his gun down because even at close range, rubber bullets would seriously injure the physically smaller and weaker fey.
All three guildmates knew this, especially Ariel herself.
Though her skull helmet obscured her face, Momonga could sense Ariel's thoughts churning as she adapted a new tactic. Her staff glowed again, but rather than spawning more ectoplasm, a pillar of rock erupted next to the automaton's right foot.
Momonga recognized the pillar as being one of Ariel's elemental totems, specifically a [Rock Prison Totem]. He could see the dirt beneath Rasputin's feet rumble and start crawling up his leg, solidifying into a granite shell that held him fast.
It continued to make its way up his leg, all the way up to his waist and then encasing his other leg. In his distracted state, the gunslinger failed to react in time. He aimed his pistol towards the rock and fired, but the higher Tier spell's power resisted the damage and instead made the rubber bullet bounce harmlessly off.
That gave Ariel the opening she needed to shove Rasputin's rapier away and hold her sword under his chin. He titled his head, and then lowered it in submission.
"Not bad, not bad at all. Got right into my weak spot and held me here long enough to trap me. Match goes to you."
It took Momonga a moment to realize, due to being entrenched by the fluidity and skill of his friends, that the overall spar only lasted around a minute or so.
They hadn't even utilized their Player-enhanced speed. They were so attuned to one another that even when fighting each other, they knew what the other would do, and swiftly moved to counteract.
"Despite all these years, we still got it."
He allowed that thought to bleed over the [Message], fey and automaton giving him their version of a bashful smile.
Those who watched clapped for the duo, though Ninya actively cheered. All around them, Momonga could hear the whispers of the mages around them. It reminded him of chattering birds sitting in the branches of trees, but he picked out a few of the things they were saying.
"...did you see how fast they moved? What speed and agility!"
"...never seen a shaman use elemental totems like that before, I wonder what…"
"...these guys must be rich, the man in the mask has two hand cannons!"
"...are they really just beginners? Those skills and equipment tell me…"
The Swords of Darkness were not so loud, given they witnessed first hand the abilities of the guildmates while they were out fighting Mekongawa. Not that they weren't impressed, but they were used to what those of Ainz Ooal Gown were capable of.
Curiously, Rowan himself was silent. When the Overlord subtly glanced over to gauge his reaction, he was surprised to see the older man so… serious. His eyes were cold, calculating, and intently staring at Ariel and Rasputin.
For a brief moment, he wondered if something had upset the scripture commander, until he recognized the look as being almost indistinguishable from that of Ancient One, the Aminuzu Seer.
Before he could really contemplate further on it, a distant ringing echoed in the distance, catching everyone's attention.
The intense gaze faded from Rowan's eyes. "Ah, that must be the lunch bell. I've heard you and your party are practicing fasting as part of religious services, but come, let us sit down and get to know each other better in more casual circumstances."
Momonga briefly paused. "That sounds delightful. Come, let us be off."
He allowed his senior to lead the way. He tried to focus on just following the veteran man, but the look in his eyes bothered him for some reason the entire way there, even when they got to sit down at a table and had the villagers fawning over them.
—-
The Swords of Darkness and the guildmates of Ainz Ooal Gown would spend the rest of the day at the village of Carne, enjoying all the rustic luxuries that the townspeople had to offer. Momonga found himself hardly wanting to go, but before he knew it, both adventuring groups stood before the large gates of the village as two angel summons arduously dragged them open.
Behind the two parties were three wagons laden high with necessary supplies and goods, surrounding one very grumpy Mekongawa, who had been rebound in his ethereal confinement.
"It felt good to be out of those damnable chains for a bit, I was starting to feel cramped," Mekongawa chuckled. "Aura let me out sometime last night, and we went back to Nazarick. I came back just in time for the mages to be opening the damn doors."
"Which does remind me; what the hell were they doing to you yesterday?" Momonga asked.
"They poked and prodded at me with their silly little needles, which all broke. One of them started to go… broadside, then I hit him with Lenny's venom." He chuckled, "The guy froze instantly and fell flat on his face!"
"...you named your tail Lenny?"
"Ah ah! Not important! I finally got them to leave me alone when I promised to give them some of my venom, and at least my name, and what I did to be there. After that, it was all sunshine and rainbows from then on."
Momonga shuddered from the chimera's description, taking the first step out of the gates and back into the greater world. His friends and the Swords of Darkness all had a bounce to their gait, and they relaxed to such a degree Momonga half-expected them to fall over.
Lukrut's brows furrowed as he seemed to remember something. "Hey, where's that little girl from the other day? Isn't she coming with us?"
"I think I saw her with one of the older women of the village," Ninya confirmed. "I don't doubt she already got adopted. She's just so cute, and she wasn't exactly fond of having to travel constantly, from what I observed."
The Swords of Darkness grunted in agreement, Ariel activating levitation spells in order to drag the extremely heavy wagons they now had. Mekongawa was given the same treatment, and as he floated by, he growled playfully to the Swords of Darkness.
"Well met, little humans," the chimera said, baring his fangs in a fearsome smile. "We did not get the chance to properly meet, but after your performance the other day, I was… satisfied."
Mekongawa continued to float by them, Ra Ra Rasputin tapping the beastmaster's snout with the barrel of his revolver as he dragged him along by a chain. The Swords of Darkness wore mystified expressions, though Ninya's eyes glowed especially bright.
"We'd better get moving," Peter said, pulling out a map he had acquired from the villagers. "It's already getting kinda late, and I don't want to get caught out in the dark. If we have things like the Usurper here lurking about, I don't even want to think about what else could be hiding in the trees."
The bearded druid nodded. "Agreed."
"The answer is 'NOTHING', humans!" Mekongawa answered. "That stupid, overgrown gerbil kept a decent territory, before I ripped it from his puny dead claws!" He chuckled, as if reliving a fond memory.
"...noted," Peter replied.
They set out in earnest, the late afternoon sun beating upon their backs as they marched back to the city of E-Rantel. Momonga stared ahead, his cloak gently flowed in the light breeze behind him.
Peter joined his right hand side, and the two leaders said nothing to one another. Instead, they allowed the silence to speak for them, or at least as much silence as their respective teams would allow.
It was a peaceful walk, one which still took them several hours to complete, even with the help of levitation magic to alleviate the burden of having to drag the heavy wagons and the form of Mekongawa.
By the time the city came back into view, nightfall had arrived, and Ariel had to employ a [Magelight] to light their path. The Swords of Darkness gained a new spring to their step, Ninya taking the lead as he no longer had to drive a wagon.
"I can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces when we get home! He may be no Wise King, but I think something that could kill him is even better!"
Lukrut shook his head and laughed. "That sounds a little morbid when you put it that way, Ninya. Sure you're not secretly a sadist?"
Ninya turned light red in the cheeks, his teammates chortling and clapping the young man on the shoulder. Momonga joined in the stead of his friends, who huddled closer towards the lead wagon.
Mekongawa snarled. "I'm not a SOMETHING, puny caster! I have a name! You and your friends have bested me in combat, but I shall only tell you if you ask me, warrior to warrior!"
"Actually," Dyne started, "I was thinking to wait until we actually got back to the city, that way everybody could–"
"FINE! I shall tell you now, as I am, but only because your ceaseless prattling annoys me," the chimera said, puffing his chest up as much as he could.
"I...am MEKONGAWA!" the beastmaster said ominously, "The Beast King! Warrior! Brawler! Beauty incarnate! In older days, I wrestled my Lions of Nemea with my bare hands to win their loyalty. I am the pinnacle of strength, and none outside my kind have bested me in combat! Until now…"
Mekongawa closed his ember eyes and bowed his head. "Never has anyone beaten me in combat with the strength of their own fists, nor wrestled my lions as I have. For that, you have my respect."
The Swords of Darkness were silent, their expressions unreadable as they studied the chimera. Momonga couldn't help but internally groan at how dramatic his friend was. It also didn't help that he could practically feel Ariel's eyes rolling out of her skull and Ra Ra Rasputin lowering the brim of his hat over his optics.
Only CZ Delta seemed to beam, giving a small smile to the beast king at his novel performance.
"I gotta admit, even if Peter was the one who landed the final blow, you were still an epic fight. You and your lions," Lukrut finally said.
"Not to mention that the lions turning into gauntlets was very unexpected," Ninya said as well, a sense of wonder coming from his boyish features.
"I would also say that your feat in usurping the old Wise King of the Forest is rather impressive, considering how many adventurers it's managed to fend off all these years," Dyne added.
Mekongawa bared his fangs in a beastial grin. "I take it, then, that I have earned your respect as well? Warrior to warrior, you proved yourself in the arena of battle. Were I a lesser being, I'd even say that I was inspired by your performance."
Peter let out an airy laugh at that. "Well, you were a pretty awesome sight. Soon as we get you to the guild, we'll make sure that nobody tries to touch you in spots they shouldn't, and maybe then–"
"Not to interrupt," Momonga said, tearing himself away from the conversation to gaze upon the city, "But is there any particular reason why E-Rantel would be having such a large bonfire so late at night?"
The Swords of Darkness whirled around, their eyes bugging out of their skulls as they caught the sight of the city completely engulfed in flames. The breeze carried the smoke all the way to their position, the smell of charred wood and seared flesh reaching them all.
Momonga's gut churned when he felt a presence of familiar energy wash over him, one he himself was constantly immersed in.
"You sensed it too, didn't you?" Ariel said, the smaller shaman crowding closer to her guild leader as her staff crackled to life.
"I smell death," Mekongawa rumbled, "and not the good, honorable kind."
Ra Ra Rasputin and CZ Delta activated their targeting systems, reloading their weapons with live rounds as they too felt what Ariel and Momonga felt.
"It seems like getting that fame and fortune is gonna go on hold for the moment," the gunslinger said, his optics flashing with numerous strings of data.
Dyne stepped forward, his brows nearly touching. "All I can sense coming from the city…"
"Is negative energy," Ninya finished, wringing the grip of his staff.
The younger mage's statement was punctuated by a raspy, drawn-out roar, as something gargantuan hovered over the blistering fires of the city. Its eyes glowed the same flickering red as Momonga's, a body composed from the shards of thousands of what looked to be bones. Mighty, ragged wings buffeted the city, allowing the fire to spread to the outer walls.
The screams of every civilian could be heard for miles, as well as the gurgles of what Momonga could amount to only an equal amount of skeletons and zombies.
Momonga unsheathed both his broadswords, his eyes literally smoldering through his helmet.
"It seems to me we've come home at a bad time. I think we should rectify that, wouldn't you agree, Peter?"
"You read my mind, Momon," Peter said, drawing his sword.
Both adventuring groups stood in a line, watching the city burn as the screams got louder. A single thought crossed Momonga's mind, and he imagined everybody else's:
Whatever happens tonight, there won't be anything left.