02 – The Rumored
It's been a month, a whole month since she saw the Monster Rex get whisked away by that unknown party. That night, she went sleepless, unable to get the event out of her mind. She couldn't help but recall the incredible ice magic, the deep, black armor of the man who took those tremendous Howls from the Boss, and finally, the stare of the fiendish man in orange. The entire affair shook her to her very core.
She decided against a Guild Report. The odds were they never would have believed her anyway. Even if she could find the words to describe it all, it still would have been difficult to gather attention to it. She had absolutely no evidence, nothing other than her own account, and it was already such an insane notion that someone could capture a Monster Rex that the Guild would probably just laugh in her face.
Instead, she thought it would be better to inform her Goddess. If anyone would believe her, it was Loki. When she brought it up and explained everything, Loki acted incredulous, but took her words at face value. Honestly, that's all Aiz wanted. She needed someone to listen and take her words into account. Even if nothing comes of it, at least someone of high standing is aware of the information. It may not be much, but if they can identify them on sight from her description, they might be able to avoid an incident.
Aiz eventually got her vindication when a couple weeks after telling Loki, stories began emerging. A man in full black armor was seen in the dungeon with two great swords and killing monsters, even clearing whole floors. He was only ever seen at night and he has never been seen aboveground. He never speaks with the Adventurers that come across him. In fact, the man in black would allow them to pass if they were headed higher or deeper, all while never saying a single word. When Loki heard the first rumors, the look the Goddess gave her was enough for her to know that she believed Aiz's story. It's a telling sign when your Goddess' normally crinkled eyes widen in disbelief.
The stories eventually grew into ridiculous rumors, like the warrior living in the dungeon, or he is a humanoid monster that kills other monsters, or that he is protecting Adventurers. A few names have bounced around as well. People have been calling him the Silent Swordsman, and The Dark Protector, but Aiz already knew what to call him. He was the Black Warrior. He was stoic, powerful, and incredibly overwhelming. The terror he made her feel will forever be present in her mind. She promised herself that she would never forget how it felt.
She had been going into the dungeon every day with a small group of members from her Familia. It's not that she wanted to see him again, but she needed more information. Was he really as powerful as she thought he was? Why didn't he speak to anyone? Was he really doing this for the Adventurers? Aiz wanted to know his purpose. The fear he struck in her that night was not indicative of a person with good intentions. Any interaction with him, while undesirable, would give her an idea of whether or not they were a threat to her Familia.
"Aiz!" the voice of her ally, Reveria, snapped her out of her thoughts, "They're getting away!"
The emerald haired Elven mage in a white cloak pointed down the corridor near the stairs to the upper floors. Three huge Minotaurs were fleeing into the darkness, their muscular figures blocking out most of the light bleeding in from the floor above. On the fifteenth floor, Minotaurs were the bane of newly leveled up Adventurers, but for her Familia, they were fodder for training new recruits. The Loki Familia was very powerful, but when one of their aces wasn't paying attention, things like this happened.
Chiding herself, Aiz sprang into action. Dashing forward, she reached the first of the escapees. With a quick flick of her thin blade, she cut the tendons in the monster's right ankle. It fell to its knees with a yelp of pain, blood pouring from its leg. In a fit of rage, the Minotaur swiped sideways with its solid fist. Ducking beneath the blow, she slid along Minotaur's flank until she was in line with the beast's armpit. With a quick jab, the full length of her sword entered its ribcage. The hard plunk that vibrated her steel told her that she sliced through its Magic Stone. Like a marionette with its strings cut, the monster dropped to the floor, shaking their surroundings.
With one down, she moved onto her next victim. The second Minotaur abandoned fleeing altogether. It planted its hooved feet and pivoted, reaching out to a nearby stalagmite Landform. With its gathered momentum, the stone gives way with a great crack! The Landform's shape morphed into a rudimentary weapon before her eyes. The newly acquired club in its hands swung wide, berating Aiz with a gust of forceful wind, but she is not deterred. She charges headlong toward the rampant creature.
With a roar of desperate wrath, the monster swings its club over its head, smashing it straight down at her. She brought her sword up at an angle and braced, the club glancing off the steel in a shower of sparks. The stone tool crashed into the ground, cracking the hard rock floor into a splintered crater. Normally, a rapier blade this thin would be incapable of deflecting such a heavy blow, but this blade was special. It was called Desperate, and it was a high-class special weapon that could not be broken. Put this blade in the hands of the Sword Princess, and any monster would fall before her.
Stepping forward, she spun her body and brought her blade down on the Minotaur's outstretched arm. The monster's flesh offered no resistance as its arm was cleanly severed from its body. Showering its surroundings with torrents of blood, the creature whipped back with an excruciating shriek, cradling its tender stump for an arm. Aiz wasted no time, bringing her rapier across her body and cutting the Minotaur in half horizontally. Abdomen separated from torso. The pieces fell unceremoniously, the beast's pained breaths ceasing. Whipping her sword, a line of blood was shed from the stained steel.
One more. Aiz glanced up at the doorway to the floor above, only to see a horned silhouette disappearing up the staircase.
"Damn," she cursed under her breath. Her jaw clenched as she internally reprimanded herself. She should have been more present instead of letting her mind run wild during a dungeon excursion. If that Minotaur hurts someone, it will be her fault, and she would never forgive herself. With a resolute nod, she calls out, "I'm going after it."
Without even waiting for a reply, she dashed down the corridor and up the stairs. Despite the shouts from her friends, she couldn't allow it to get away.
"Why the hell is that thing here?!" the boy shouted in dismay as he fled through the corridors of the fifth floor.
It was quite a sight. Through the dungeon, a rabbit was being chased by a bull. The young man kicked up dust as he slid around the corner and bolted down the next passageway. His goal was the staircase to the next floor above. Maybe he could get some help from some other Adventurers; at least get this monster off of him for a little while. He felt horrible for thinking like that. The last thing he wanted was for someone to get hurt, but he was absolutely terrified. He was willing to do anything to get away.
Minotaurs were not meant to be on the fifth floor. From what Eina-san told him, Minotaurs spawned on the fifteenth floor, which is only accessible by those who were Level Two, or those accompanied by Level Two Adventurers. A pathetic Level One like himself could never hope to bring down a monster like that. Eina-san warned him specifically about Minotaurs; they were known for their strength and the fact that many Adventurers have died at their hands. That he had managed to meet one so high up in the dungeon made him curse his rotten luck.
He had only been an Adventurer for a few weeks. When he arrived in Orario, the first thing he did was head to the Adventurer's Guild. He wanted all the information he could get so that he could start his new life as a dungeon diver. They told him he needed to find a God or Goddess that would take him into their Familia. After that, he would be outfitted and given permission to enter the dungeon. He thought that once he did all of this, he could begin his climb to becoming a hero.
And get girls. His grandfather told him that heroes always get the ladies. It seemed like a natural course of action, right?
His dreams were dashed bit by bit, as each Familia turned him down. He went door to door, trying to find any God or Goddess that would give him a chance. Most of the time, he didn't even get to meet with them. The person at the door would look him up and down, then turn him away because he "looked weak." For their information, he didn't just look weak; he was weak. He was hoping that, with their guidance, he would become a powerful Adventurer. Unfortunately, no one could see the potential he had.
Who was he kidding? He wasn't even sure he had potential. Everything he knew about adventuring came from the stories his grandfather told him. All he wanted was to become like the heroes from those tales. If he could become just half the man the Argonaut was, he would be satisfied.
The problem was if he couldn't enter a Familia, he will never be able to become a hero. After a particularly loud tirade from a bald, muscular Adventurer about why he would never make it in this city, another door was slammed in his face. He fell dramatically to his knees and slammed his fists into the dirt, cursing his tiny stature. If only he looked the part. They would have taken him in no time if he looked even remotely capable. He couldn't go back home, and he had nowhere to go in Orario. There was nothing he could do but panic.
Then a shadow swept over him and blocked out the light of the setting sun. He looked up and gazed at the intruder. His eyes widened at her beauty.
"Are you looking to join a Familia?" she asked him hopefully. Her eyes crinkled with a wide, warming smile.
This was it. His saving grace. He reached out to grab her outstretched hand only for his vision to go completely black. He turned down another corner and raced for the staircase. He knew it was just around the bend. He supposed reliving one of his happiest memories would take his mind off things. Meeting his Goddess changed his life, but now that was all slipping through his fingers. His Goddess would have to learn about his death from someone from the Guild.
Wall. He skidded to a halt in front of a solid stone wall. Wasn't it right here? He couldn't have been mistaken! Did he take a wrong turn? How could he not remember a dead end being here? Rebuking himself, he kicked a pebble in defeat.
"I'm sorry, Kami-sama," he apologized to his Goddess, knowing full well what was about to happen.
Right on cue, the rumbling grew louder as a shiver ran up his spine. With a gulp, he slowly turned and saw his pursuer. It was eight feet tall, a pair of horns as thick as his arms, and biceps larger than his head. Its round hooves stamped the ground solid. A contented huff escaped its bovine lips. The Minotaur's eyes, as red as the blood moon, fixated on him with barely contained glee.
The monster was breathing heavily, so the young man felt some sort of consolation. At least he made it work for its food. He let out a mirthless chuckle, trying not to wet himself before the massive wall of flesh. When the beast took its first steps toward him, his hands began to shake. He had a knife, but that thing could barely cut a Goblin's leather armor, let alone muscle fibers as tough as granite. He could try to weasel his way out under the Minotaur's guard, but his legs wouldn't budge.
He couldn't fight his way out. He couldn't dodge and run away. His mind urged his body to move, to escape, but nothing responded. The beast slowly approached, seemingly savoring this moment. Its prey that had given it so much trouble just now was right before it, waiting to be eviscerated. Clenching its fists, its knuckles popped, causing the boy to jump with each crack. It relished each reaction it got out of him, its lips twisting into a deformed sneer.
The boy could do nothing. His body seemed to go into convulsions caused by fear. The image of the sight before him seemed to burn into his memory. Just moments ago, he was remembering a happy event, one that he will cherish forever. This, he will bury deep inside himself. It wasn't that he wanted to, but because it was worming its way into the very fiber of his being. Like a seed, the fear burrowed deeper and deeper into his mind.
With quaking bones and chattering teeth, he slammed his eyes shut in a desperate attempt to block it out. In a last ditch effort, he tried to will the beast away. Maybe if he stood very still, the monster would get bored and leave him be. If he wished really hard, someone, anyone, anything would come to his aid, but he knew. He knew full well he was being foolish. This was the moment he dreaded when he became an Adventurer. Fleets of fancy were his only hope now.
He could feel the beast's hot breath on his face. It looked down on him in more ways than one. The young man's spirit was nearly broken. He was sweating. The cold grasp of death was wrapping around him like a blanket. Time slowed to a crawl as he awaited his fate.
His icy skin was suddenly doused with a hot liquid. It started at his head and ran down his face to his shoulders. It quickly spread to the rest of his upper body until he was coated in a warm, viscous substance. His mind raced, wondering what it could be. He immediately believed the Minotaur coated him in saliva so that he would easily slide down the monster's throat. The pained grunt that he heard told him otherwise.
His eyes opened to two Minotaurs. Had his nightmare just gotten worse? Could the dungeon really be that cruel? He was already dead, but now he was going to be drawn and quartered. It just wasn't fair!
It didn't take long for him to notice that the second Minotaur had the same pair of legs. He also realized that the second one didn't have a head. Blinking, he wiped his face to clear the substance that had begun to invade his eyes. His skin was slippery as the liquid was shed from his body in copious amounts. Peering down at his hands, he saw that they were coated in thick red blood.
"Wait, blood? Is this my blood?" panic laced his voice as he pat himself for wounds.
Finding nothing, he glanced back up to his pursuer and saw the blood leaking from a fissure running down the entire length of the monster. From shoulder to hip, the beast split. The Minotaur was sliced in twain, the pieces falling to either side. He was left staring at the empty space that was left by the rent monster.
However, the space wasn't empty. Replacing the towering monster, a beautiful girl emerged from the darkness. His eyes widened as he took in her figure. She was slight with thin arms. She wore a black and white tunic and long, thigh high boots. Her armor was just a chest plate that only covered her ribs, dipping just a touch lower over her heart, a headpiece, and slabs of thin metal that covered her flanks and arms. Her long, golden hair fell to her lower back. Her golden eyes to match were half-lidded and intense, like she was studying him.
And she was studying him. Despite being covered in Minotaur blood, the boy appeared to be okay. She was glad that she had made it in time to kill the monster she had let escape. Having chased it for ten floors, she was beginning to think that her mistake would end in tragedy for an unsuspecting Level One Adventurer. She wasn't out of breath, but she wanted to sigh with relief. She had managed to prevent a terrible crisis and save an innocent life.
The boy's originally white hair was completely stained red with blood. His surprisingly red eyes were gawking at her, but she attributed it to shock. Despite his small stature, she found it interesting that he managed to outrun a notorious Level Two monster. She figured him for a new Adventurer, but he must have some decent statistics to get away from a Minotaur. Though, he probably wasn't going to last much longer.
Approaching him, she stepped between the dissected Minotaur and came face-to-face with him. She was only slightly taller than he was, but he felt that he was looking up at a mountain. His body had stopped shaking, but his mind was racing. He was stuck thinking about her insane strength that took down a Minotaur in a single blow, and her unmatched beauty that caused him to halt his breathing.
He had seen pictures of her before. There have been posters about her achievements in the Guild that described her successes and how new Adventurers can better prepare themselves by using her as an example. He never expected to meet a Level Five in person, at least not on the same floor. The moment he learned of her, he wanted to enter the dungeon so that he could try to catch up. He even dreamed of fighting alongside her, but because he was weak, he didn't bother getting his hopes up.
Aiz Wallenstein was considered the model Adventurer. She worked hard, followed the rules, looked out for others, kept her cool, and did it all by keeping up her image as a top-tier Adventurer. Bell Cranell idolized her, aspired to be like her, but had no idea how to reach that point. He had been diving into the dungeon for over two weeks now, and he still had no idea how to Level Up. He can't go further into the dungeon unless his statistics went up, but that has been too slow for his taste.
Now, one of the best was standing before him, and she saved his life. Moreover, she was staring right at him. Directly at him…
"Are you alright?" she asked him, her voice sounding so clear and lovely that his ears immediately went red. He blushed so suddenly that he nearly passed out from the blood rushing to his face. "Hm?" she hummed, tilting her head at his reaction.
His mouth opened and closed like a fish. He wanted to speak, he really did. He wanted to thank her. He wanted to tell her that she was his hero, but nothing would come out. Seeing his difficulty, she got even closer to him, her face mere inches from his. A floral scent filled his nostrils, causing him to get even redder. She smelled as good as she looked.
"That was kind of you, Aiz Wallenstein," a deep voice called out to them from the dark intersection.
Aiz whipped around with her sword drawn, still coated with the blood of Minotaurs. Bell watched her hair trace a golden arc and eventually settle on her shoulders. Entranced, he followed her gaze to the black figure hiding in the darkness of the dungeon. The person probably wasn't intending to remain cloaked by the dungeon's gloom, but the color of the armor he wore made it difficult to discern his true shape.
When Bell's eyes adjusted, he could make out a tall man wearing full, black plate armor with gold and silver markings and a red cape. The hilts of two massive swords peeked out from behind his shoulders. His eyes trailed down to see the blades poking out around his knees. They must be as long as Bell is tall. How can he even swing those around in here? How can he swing them at all?
Aiz was not being so inquisitive. This was the moment for which she had been waiting. She finally came across the Black Warrior.
"I had heard of your capabilities," the swordsman continued, crossing his arms. "I am glad to see that you have the integrity to match."
His voice was tinged with amusement. Her eyes hardened, her blade straightening in her grip. She wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he didn't seem to be showing aggression. She just wanted to discover his intentions. Whether or not he came to fight, she should at least give him the benefit of the doubt. His blades were still sheathed and she didn't sense any other presences nearby. Lowering her sword, she kept her gaze fixed on the Black Warrior.
"There are many stories about your accomplishments," he spoke again, this time sounding impressed. "I have enjoyed learning about them. Hearing about the monsters you've slain, I must say I look forward to the time I dive deeper into the dungeon with great anticipation."
She should have been flattered. She should have accepted his praise, but she was still wary. This man has been on her mind for weeks. Never has anything absorbed so much of her time as thinking about her encounter with them has. It unnerved her that this unknown, powerful person existed, and she knew absolutely nothing about him, other than what people have said. Well, there were some things she knew that others didn't.
Steeling herself, she narrowed her eyes, "There are many stories about your accomplishments as well," she breathed, preparing for what was to come, "Isn't that right, Silent Swordsman, or should I say, 'Momonga?'"
There was a clinking of steel. Aiz's narrow eyes widened a little. It was the first time she had heard his plate armor shift. A premonition of evil and darkness seeped from his shoulders, visibly obscuring the light leaking in from the adjacent corridor. The inky blackness she experienced when she first saw him began to fill her again. Her grip tightened on Desperate's hilt, ready to engage if he showed any indication of attacking.
She wasn't sure if she could win in a battle with the Black Warrior, but she didn't get to where she was now by running from seemingly impossible fights. The only reason she reached Level Five was that she always faced everything, no matter how disadvantageous things seemed for her. If she failed or lost her battles, things could go terribly wrong, even costing someone their life. However, if she did nothing, there was no chance of victory. It wasn't a difficult choice, at least that's what she believed.
Although Aiz was prepared to conquer her fear, Bell was just beginning to learn of the pressure exuded by the Black Warrior. If he thought the Minotaur was terrifying, then this encounter with the rumored Silent Swordsman, who Eina-san warned him about, must be how it feels to experience living death. His mind instantly shut down all forms of conscious thought. Instead, his instincts took over and spurred his legs into motion. Dashing past the Sword Princess, his screams echoed off the walls as he disappeared into the darkness.
"Er…" the Black Warrior's gaze followed the boy as he ran by covered from head-to-toe in monster blood. The armored man's hand was extended toward the scared boy, but he was long gone. Momonga's dark aura vanished, completely shattered by the unexpected development.
Aiz was in much the same state. She too tried to stop the boy, her body mirroring Momonga's. Whatever tension she was feeling was blown away. She was confused, but she was similarly let down. She didn't even get to apologize to him. It was her fault he was nearly killed. She even stained his clothes. She wanted to give him recompense, at least pay to have his outfit cleaned. She was plagued with worry that the boy was afraid of her. Being in the presence of the Black Warrior sent him over the edge, but maybe she was the one who drove him to that point.
Was she really that scary?
She was snapped out of her thoughts by Momonga clearing his throat. They both glanced at each other and sighed. This was a meeting for which they both seemed to be waiting, but disappointment was the mutual emotion at the moment.
"Why are you here?" she decided to ask, returning to her normal, half-lidded gaze.
Momonga's head tilted curiously. He appeared to be taking her in. This was the first time he had seen her up close, so perhaps he was sizing her up to determine whether the stories about her were true. After a few moments of scrutiny, the Black Warrior spoke, "I was informed of an out-of-place Minotaur and a blonde swordswoman chasing after it," he shrugged with his arms out wide. "It sounded interesting."
She hadn't noticed anyone. Who had seen her? How did they report it so quickly? In turn, how did Momonga sneak up on her without detection? As even more questions arose in her mind, she decided to stay on track. That answer wasn't exactly for what she was hoping. With a meaningful glare, she continued, "That isn't what I meant."
Momonga hummed with amusement, crossing his arms yet again. However, this time it was in thought. Going over his options, he answered nonchalantly, "The same reason you come into the dungeon. Money needs to come from somewhere."
Money? Could that really be it? True, the way he has been going about it would be the most lucrative way to make money. The rumors stated he had been clearing out entire floors, but the true reasons were less than the honorable explanations others had for his actions. It just meant that he was more like other Adventurers in that respect. The problem here was whether or not he was actually an Adventurer.
If he was an Adventurer, then he should be able to answer her next question. "Which Familia are you from?"
The question was actually a trap. Firstly, the Guild did not allow those who were unaffiliated with a Familia into the dungeon. The rule prevented unknown people from wreaking havoc down here, and ensured that each Familia paid their dues when it came to the Guild taxes. It also allows the Guild to monitor operations in the dungeon. Knowing exactly who is down here if anything were to go wrong was the only way to investigate accidents and possible crimes.
Adventurers needed to conduct themselves ethically. While there are those who don't always follow the rules, or even conduct business at the expense of others, just knowing that the Guild was watching was enough to keep most people in line.
Secondly, there was something that Aiz knew about the Black Warrior that he may not realize his subordinates had blabbed in the past. He must know she was watching that day, but he can't be sure how much she heard. She wasn't sure how much the orange man told him. Even if he had told Momonga everything, the orange man doesn't know what information she knows.
Finally, and she was hoping for this one, if he was in a Familia, the Guild would have a record of their Deity and members.
She still needed to be cautious. Even more so, now that what seemed to be a gleaming red light escaped the slit of the Black Warrior's helm. Silence reigned as he stared back at her. Aiz could feel the effect of his gaze crawling all over her. Disgust began bubbling up inside her, making her teeth clench. Her skin prickled every moment that passed without a word.
Now her anger was building. She usually tried to keep herself levelheaded, preventing emotion from compromising her judgement. However, with things the way they were, frustration was bleeding into her mannerisms. This person wasn't telling her what she needed to know. She had been trying to gather information since she began hearing the rumors, but trying to pry into the Black Warrior's intentions was like pulling teeth. Her knuckles turned white as her fist gripped Desperate's hilt even tighter.
"People who are unaffiliated with the Familia of a Deity are not allowed in the Dungeon!" she spouted the rule in a voice that was, to her displeasure, a bit louder than she expected. She didn't want him to see how he had affected her. The last thing she wanted was to appear weak in front of the Black Warrior, especially if he turns out to be an enemy. She took a deep breath and disguised it as a sigh. She needed to remain calm. Mustering more courage, she continued, "If the Guild deems it necessary, they will create a Quest to have Adventurers come down here and apprehend you."
Momonga chuckled, causing her hair to stand on end. Her brow furrowed at his dismissal of her rebuke. It wasn't a laughing matter when the Guild turned against you. They could detain people indefinitely, even shut down entire Familias. It was a terrible fate for a God. If the Guild shut down a Familia, they would seize the assets of the God and push them toward bankruptcy. If the God couldn't recover, they had two choices: garner assistance from other Deities, or return to Tenkai; either way, the Deity could never have a Familia ever again.
"Do you think they can?" he finally spoke, answering her question with a mocking one of his own.
Aiz couldn't help but sigh. "No…" she replied, trailing off. She was certain that, without the information she knew, the Guild would be unable to assemble a team capable of detaining Momonga or his subordinates. Even if her Familia were to mobilize, they would probably still get decimated. Her Familia was one of the more powerful ones in Orario. They were still small, but they have amassed a force of high-level Adventurers that most Familia's rarely see in a single generation.
Orario's Adventurers were, for the most part, Level One. Throwing them at this monster would be a one-sided slaughter.
Momonga's chin jerked back slightly before he let out a wistful groan. Unfolding his arms, he tilted his head toward the dark corridor, seemingly listening for any noises. "It seems your comrades are approaching. I apologize, but I must cut this meeting short."
The Black Warrior turned to leave, causing Aiz to falter. There was more information she needed. However, the questions she wanted to ask would divulge too much. Did she really want to ask if Momonga was really the "Supreme Being" that the orange man called him? Did she want to confront a Deity that may be defying the rules the other Deities placed upon themselves when they descended to Gekai? She didn't want to give away what she knew, or incur the wrath of an unchained God.
Instead, she remained silent. Leering at his back, she watched as the Black Warrior halted just at the edge of the darkness. A black and purple portal appeared in front of him, a slight tearing sound filling the air. He turned his head so he could see her over his shoulder. The giant blades on his back formed a great "X" across his body. Now that she got a good look at them, they were just as exquisite as his armor, the width of the swords were nearly as wide as her own head. She pondered which smith had forged blades like those.
"Our Familia," he mumbled almost too low for her to hear. She leaned forward with anticipation. "We belong to the Familia of 'Ainz Ooal Gown.'"
Without another word, he disappeared through the portal, which promptly faded away into the blackness of the dungeon. She was left there staring down into the empty corridor, feeling somewhat satisfied. "Ainz Ooal Gown." It was a name she had never heard before. There were many Deities in Orario. She hasn't met even a quarter of them, let alone knew the names of each one that descended from Tenkai. Having a God named Ainz Ooal Gown exist without her knowledge was completely possible.
She would need to consult the Guild about it. The Guild kept detailed files about Deities who started Familias that ventured into the dungeon. Their information was mostly specific to Adventurers, since the Guild offered loans of money and equipment for Adventurers looking to outfit themselves. It made it easier to keep track of all material loans so that they may contact their Familia for the debt settlement.
There wouldn't be much information on Ainz Ooal Gown explicitly, but it will still let Aiz know what she had been dreading; whether or not an unregistered Familia full of dauntingly powerful Adventurers was poaching in the dungeon. Just the idea sent a chill up her spine.
"Aiz!" the voice of Reveria filled her ears as the visage of the emerald-haired elf mage appeared from the same corridor Momonga disappeared through. "Are you alright?"
With rapier still in hand, she nodded slightly, regaining her emotionless mask, "Yes. I just took care of the Minotaur that escaped. Everything is fine now."
Reveria glanced around the intersection, her white cloak skirting just above the dirt floor. Her eyes finally settled on the cloven Minotaur lying behind Aiz. With a hum of interest, she peered into Aiz's eyes and asked, "Was there someone else here? I could have sworn I heard a male's voice a moment ago."
Aiz opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a hoarse, boisterous voice from the darkness, "That must have been that Tomato Boy! Man, that was hilarious!"
Behind Reveria, the other Familia members who had ventured into the dungeon with them emerged as well, including the owner of the voice. The male, gray-haired Werewolf named Bete was laughing raucously, elbowing one of the younger members. The young man didn't know whether to laugh with him or to ignore him. He settled for a nervous chuckle as the Werewolf walked forward and leaned on Reveria's shoulder.
"Was that your work, Aiz? I wish I was there to see it!" his wide smile betrayed his amusement. "He was screaming at the top of his lungs, blood spraying everywhere, I laughed so hard that I thought I was gonna puke."
Eyes drawn to the point where Bete was touching her, Reveria shot him a glare that could freeze blood. He instantly straightened, removing his elbow from her shoulder. Despite the daggers in her gaze, he immediately returned to his haughty self.
"There's no need to be such a jerk, Bete," the tan-skinned Amazoness known as Tione scolded the Werewolf. Her red armor, if it could be called that, left little to the imagination as several strips of cloth only covered her chest and legs. A tied, bundled, light brown robe draped over her shapely hips. It may not offer much protection, but she said it made it much easier for her to move around. With a flourish, she flipped her long black hair over her shoulder. "That young man must have been so scared."
"We're on the fifth floor!" Bete laughed again, his fangs glinting in the low light. "If he was scared on the fifth floor, maybe he shouldn't be down here in the first place!"
"Stop yelling," Tione's younger twin sister, Tiona, supplied a quick jab to Bete's ribs. With a guttural yelp, the Werewolf toppled, gasping for air and clutching his abdomen. She stood over him condescendingly, her messy, shoulder-length black hair nearly getting into her eyes. She was dressed similarly to her sister, only the cloth covering her modest chest was white with gold trim. With hands on her slender hips, she turned her nose up to the writhing Werewolf. "You don't even know the guy. There's no need to be rude… It was kind of funny though," she failed to hide her sudden giggle.
These people are her friends. Aiz spent every day with them; they ate together, trained together, as well as ventured into the dungeon as a party. They all knew how to play to each other's strengths, and cover for their weaknesses. The only ways to attain such a level of teamwork are practice and experience. They also have a friendship that goes beyond mere party members. Their trust in each other knows no bounds, rivaling that of a real family.
With a party like this, they could never lose. At least…
That was how she felt before.
Her mind was currently in a thousand places at once, trying to plan out how she was going to further investigate Momonga and the newly discovered Deity known as Ainz Ooal Gown. They were probably going to cut their dungeon dive here, so she wanted to spend some time at the Guild looking through the records. Hopefully, she will find something of substance. Also, reporting to Loki and asking her about any Deities that may fit the bill would be a good idea. The Gods mostly knew each other. There's no way one would slip through the cracks.
"Aiz, what happened to your sword?" Reveria asked, breaking Aiz out of her stupor yet again. Her eyes were drawn to Desperate's edge. "It looks like it took quite a beating."
To her dismay, the blade of Aiz's rapier was damaged. There was a significant nick in the blade, most likely caused by the blow she blocked from the Minotaur earlier. The rest of the edge was dulled in four inch intervals, and scratches appeared in the fuller. She had noticed that her strokes weren't cutting cleanly, but she hadn't realized how bad Desperate's condition was. It was her sword's one drawback; it may be unbreakable, but it could still dull. When it was damaged, it needed to be sent away to be refurbished, which required both large amounts of time and money.
Clucking her tongue, she added repairs to her list. She would tell Loki about it later. After her chat about Momonga.
They are called Adventurers. Many different humanoid species inhabited the city of Orario which sat above the only dungeon in the world. At the center of the city, the Adventurer's Guild sat atop the dungeon entrance. The purpose of the Guild was to ensure that Adventurers had an overseeing organization. It not only kept them in line, but also kept them informed. The Guild recorded many different things like the types of monsters and where they could be found, or the appearance of particularly dangerous monsters so they can be avoided. They also issued Quests at the behest of individuals or Familias.
Familias are somewhat like sub-guilds that Adventurers join in order to receive the Falna. From what I have managed to gather, Falna are blessings bestowed upon mortal beings by gods and goddesses who have descended from a place called "Tenkai." The blessing assigns values to the Adventurer's physical traits and gives them the ability to grow and develop these traits through usage and practice. They also gain skills, which are unique to each Adventurer; these too can grow through usage.
All of this is just so people can venture into the dungeon. When I learned about the existence of the dungeon, I wanted to immerse myself in it. When I was still in Yggdrasil, I read every bit of flavor text, every single book of lore, every word of the story that I possibly could. I learned about all of the spells, skills, items, attacks, everything was absorbed into my head. It was to be expected, since I had no family or relationships with which to fill my life. Outside of work, Yggdrasil was my pastime.
I knew every inch of that game. I relished every expansion pack, all of the updates that added so much more to the game I loved. However, when player count dropped over time, the developers stopped releasing new content. Eventually, there was nothing left to learn; nothing more to gain from spending so many hours of my time diving into the landscapes I knew so well. All that was left was keeping Nazarick functioning, and keeping the Guild's ranking from dropping too far down the leaderboard.
I was depressed about the Server Down, but when this brand new world appeared before my very eyes, I was ecstatic. Just thinking about a new world to explore, and new dungeon of unknown peril to conquer, more lore, history, books, stories, fairytales, skill trees, flavor text… OH, THE FLAVOR TEXT!
If I still had blood, it would be shooting from my nose in a spectacular fashion from all the excitement. If whatever force it is that keeps my emotions in check doesn't calm it first.
Adjusting to this world has been a stressful undertaking, but it will pass with time. The more I learn, the easier it will get.
A beeping sound in my mind signaled a call through the Message spell. After allowing the connection, I answered, "Yes?"
"It is Entoma, Momonga-sama," the Pleiades Maid's voice rang in my ears. "Was the information of use to you?"
Entoma had been the one who contacted me about a certain blonde-haired swordswoman chasing an out-of-place Minotaur. They had passed her by while she was working on the Seventh Floor and thought it would be interesting. I had no idea things would turn out as they did, but I had to be sure who it was.
"Yes, Entoma," I responded, laying on the praise. "It was extremely helpful. That person is of great interest to Nazarick. Thank you for your diligence."
"Your words are too kind," she accepts with a noticeable trill running through her voice.
The day we captured the Monster Rex, as they call it, it turns out we had an eavesdropper listening in on our conversation after the fact. Demiurge informed me that she saw us leave through the Gate. He was unsure just how much she had seen or heard, but he seemed keen on letting her go. I was feeling a bit paranoid about being discovered, so I had her tailed for a few hours until the morning. Since there wasn't a crowd of angry Adventurers gathering for a raid, screaming about a missing Monster Rex, I felt that this swordswoman wasn't going to speak lightly about what she had seen.
Despite the reassurance of her discretion, I was still somewhat paranoid. The tail remained on her for a few days. The reports that came back were less than comforting. It turned out that she was a rather famous person among the Adventurers. If she came out with the information about a powerful being capturing a Boss, people would be more inclined to believe her. We didn't want anyone looking into this, but if she went missing, people would know for sure.
As time went by, nothing had happened, so my fears were relieved to a degree.
I turned the corner to come face-to-face with the Pleiades Maid. Entoma's blank face squirmed slightly as she bowed in my presence while simultaneously cancelling the Message skill. It was the face stolen from a young and beautiful maiden by the insect that rested upon Entoma's true appearance. The hair that sat atop her head was actually the insect's body and legs, all the more accentuated by the pair of delicate antennae protruding from her supposed scalp.
Her maid attire was also unconventional by Pleiades standards. Her outfit was a maid-style kimono. The robe was folded in the traditional style, only a wide ribbon obi was tied in the front. White frills were sewn into the seams connecting very long, wide sleeves. Entoma's form was slight, but the sleeves were taut, almost bursting from fullness. If I had been meeting her for the first time, I would say she was a wonderful representation of the mixture of two cultural icons, the French Maid and the Traditional Japanese Woman.
But I knew what was hiding underneath. Entoma was an Arachnoid; a spider-human. The face was nothing more than a mask, her voice also stolen from one of her victims and put to use with a Mouth-Tongue Bug seated at her throat. With a truly shrill, inhuman voice and the face to match, anyone who met Entoma while she was in her true form would either be paralyzed with fear or expend all of their energy fleeing. The contrast between her two appearances was almost as jarring as Shalltear's… almost.
"Momonga-sama," her unnaturally vibrating voice failed to echo off the walls. "I have begun pheromone trials as instructed."
Shaking away my internal musings, I lean slightly to the side to peer behind the dutiful maid. In her wake, three "Killer Ants" stood at attention, awaiting orders from their new master. Their antennae moved in tandem with hers, seemingly receiving signals like some old radio from years past. My mind raced as the questions filled my head. I wanted to know how it worked, learn so much more about what she had accomplished.
"And?" I inquired, biting back every ounce of curiosity I had.
There were three things I came to learn about the NPCs of Ainz Ooal Gown over the few weeks I had been living in this world; everyone sees me as a God or a Supreme Being that is stronger than everyone and everything, my wishes are their commands, no questions asked, and finally, I am apparently infallible in their eyes. All of these things are horrifying for someone who is going by a follow-the-manual stereotype of an omniscient leader.
I've been trying to get some advice out of Albedo and Demiurge, but they elect to say nothing, since they think I have a better handle on things than they do.
I have no idea what I'm doing.
Lately, I have just decided to take an indignant approach. If they think I am an intelligent leader worthy of their undying respect, then I can play it off like I shouldn't be bothered explaining something so simple. They then readily share their ideas as if they are piecing together my own thoughts and plans. I then affirm their suspicions, thus taking the credit for their idea. Finally, I give them direction.
It was a rather despicable way of doing things, but I was left with no choice. I was just a salesman in real life… in my previous life? Leadership wasn't exactly part of the job description. I just needed to convince others that my agenda was the best and it should be followed, even if I have to make their agendas my own without them realizing it. Sometimes I felt that I was letting them down, but somehow, I don't think that's actually possible.
"At your request, I designed a pheromone that will bring the Killer Ants under our control," her unblinking, lifeless eyes stared up at me, her lips, if they could even be called that, permanently trapped in a faint smile. "The current results are promising, nevertheless, they are still not meeting expectations. Small groups, such as this, are easily tamed. However, if a group of more than five experience the same dosage, the pheromone is not nearly as effective. Increasing the dosage inspires no change."
"Hm," I put my lightly clenched hand to my chin in thought. There was still so much we didn't know about these monsters. The fact that Entoma was able to get this far in such a short span of time was impressive, but her failure to acquire complete control over the monsters wasn't that surprising. We just needed more information. The early stages were expected to fail, but progress had been made. "Well done, Entoma, I am pleased with these results."
"Thank you, Momonga-sama," she bowed again, glad for the praise.
"It is difficult to synthesize something that the Killer Ants simply don't have," I approach the creatures and peer down at their shimmering carapaces. They don't respond at all. There is no wariness in them, just complete obedience. "There is no Killer Ant Queen to our knowledge thus far. It must be some sort of hive mind; they become more capable with each additional member nearby."
"That seems to be the case," the maid nods daintily with her arm outstretched toward the dark corridor. In response to her beckoning, I head into the inky darkness, Entoma following closely behind.
"So, what will be your next test?" I inquired curiously, possibilities mounting in my mind. We turned a corner, coming to a staircase leading down to the eighth floor.
She hummed slightly before voicing her plans, "The next round of testing will involve the chemical response involved in the insects' bodies when they hear the cries of an injured comrade. Once we can isolate that chemical, we could simulate events of a similar nature."
That could be a very useful addition to our defenses. Mimicking the call of a fallen Killer Ant could summon a horde of an unknown number. Subsequently, they could be used to bolster our ranks in a pinch, as well as a shield, and even a means of escape. The only problem would be…
"The only issue involves control," Entoma announces, as if reading my mind. "Using this method would cause the Killer Ants to frenzy. They would attack indiscriminately. If we were to use them for a hasty retreat, we would need to secure our own route through the horde."
Which wouldn't be difficult, I think to myself. The Killer Ants were a low level monster. The reason they kill so many Adventurers was due to their "Cry" ability; if they can't slay the Adventurer one-on-one, they try to crush them with numbers. It wouldn't be a problem for us though, considering that Killer Ants roughly translate to level seven monsters from Yggdrasil. A small group of experienced, level one Adventurers could dispatch them.
"If that is the case, control will be a secondary objective. Prioritize the isolation of the chemical response. Once that is done, you can work on altering it to suit our needs," I order her as I draw one of the blades on my back. The shadow of a monster appears at the T-junction up ahead. "I'll take care of this."
"Understood, Momonga-sama," she replied, halting a ways behind me.
Four Needle Rabbits turn the corner and catch sight of us. They chitter dangerously, their small noses twitching. They point their tiny horns at me, ready to charge. I sighed.
I hope their Magic Stones are worth the trouble…
"Are you finished yet, Kami-sama?" the white haired boy asked. He was lying face down, shirtless, and flushed a deep shade of red. It was like this every time his stats were updated. When he first got his Falna, he nearly passed out. It had nothing to do with a surge of power coming from the mysterious glyphs inscribed on his back, or anything to do with the ritual at all. In actuality, it was the tiny goddess straddling him. The skin of her inner thighs brushed against his flanks, sending shivers up and down his spine. The only thing keeping his mind focused was the excitement of seeing his improved status.
"Now, Bell-kun," she rebuked him, ensuring that he could not turn his head and see her sly smile. These were her favorite moments. She took every opportunity to tease him and see his embarrassed expressions. "This is a very precise ritual. Please wait patiently. You should enjoy it when a wonderful beauty like me gives you so much attention."
She fought back a snicker; she knew exactly what she was doing, and she loved every minute of it. She would do anything to draw this out, even if she had to take her sweet time doing it. Not wanting this to end so soon, she urged, "Why don't you tell me about your day in the dungeon. It wasn't too dangerous, I hope."
Hestia expected to hear the young boy bombard her with details about his latest adventure. Ever since he joined her Familia, every little success and accomplishment filled her ears. It was endearing really, hearing all the things he was experiencing and the happy lilt in his voice. She was so proud of how well her Child was doing.
After an audible gulp, the red flush on the boy's skin disappeared, leaving behind a pale, clammy complexion. In just short of a whisper, the boy murmured, "I almost died today."
Hestia's mischievous smirk morphed into a grimace. Her hands paused on his back where she had been shamelessly copping a feel. Concerned by her silence, Bell shot her a backward glance. Quickly, she wiped her expression clean. She didn't want him to see how disturbed the news had made her. She almost had to stop herself from scraping her nails across his skin.
"Tell me about it," she continued to work on his Falna, hoping to hide her distress. However, as he voiced his story, she found it increasingly difficult to keep her emotions in check. Just imagining such a harrowing development happening to her only Child, a green Level One Adventurer. Minotaurs are known as the bane of new Adventurers for a reason.
Sometimes, people tended to overestimate their own abilities. The Falna was both a blessing of the gods, as well as a curse. The effect it has on the bodies of Adventurers can only be a positive thing; they get increased strength, speed, or magic, among other things. To their egos, on the other hand… If they try to surpass their limits before they are ready and venture too deep into the dungeon, it will chew them up and spit them out. Such was the dungeon's nature. It never let slip an opportunity to cause pain and sorrow.
Hestia was very close to comforting her little white rabbit. And she would do it most earnestly… however he likes it. She would have sealed the deal with her Child that night if a certain blonde swordswoman hadn't come up. The way he described her, her long silken hair, her slender limbs, and the strength she displayed in his time of need…
Now she was just getting pissed. How long did he ogle her?!
Who was this hussy getting in the way of their love?! She knew though… everybody knew who the blonde swordswoman was. Aiz Wallen-whatsit, something or other. Loki's pride and joy, as well as one of the most famous Adventurer in the city of Orario. To think someone so powerful and beautiful has caught Bell in her grubby clutches, it made Hestia want to clench her entire body in frustration.
Wait, she was clenching…
"K-K-KAMI-SAMA! IT HURTS!" she was pulled away from her vicious thoughts to find Bell thrashing beneath her, her fingers grasping his skin and twisting in a painful pinch. She quickly, but not too quickly, released her prey. With a groan, he whined, "Why did you do that?"
"Stay still," she ordered him with a huff. She continued her work on her Child's Falna, instantly forgetting how upset she was earlier.
Bell grumbled for a few moments, but told Hestia more about what happened. Apparently, being saved by Aiz Wallen-whatsit wasn't the end of the story. He told her of their run-in with the one they called the Silent Swordsman. He described his black armor, and his massive, dual blades. He also spoke, but Bell was too scared to even remember the conversation. All he could recall was being enveloped by a wave of "evil," after the supposed Silent Swordsman and Aiz exchanged words.
"I could feel his power, but I wasn't sure what to make of it," the boy mused. "It made me feel sick, almost like I should avoid it, but it wasn't malicious, like he would approach me with an extension of friendship. It was so sudden, I just fled… I feel like a weak idiot."
Hestia sighed, her tone becoming that of a caring mother, "Now, Bell-kun, you should always trust your instincts. If you felt you should have run, then that means you should have run. I don't want you second-guessing your natural feelings for the sake of blind courage and male stereotypes. It's not weak to want to stay alive."
Hestia's speech was well received, eliciting an affirmed grunt from the boy beneath her. However, her own feelings were in turmoil. She didn't want him to get hurt, or worse, but she didn't want to get in the way of his dreams of becoming an Adventurer.
Such was the struggle of a goddess in love.
Her worry was compounded when she reached the end of Bell's status update. To her surprise, a skill appeared, but as she read its effects, she became irate, as well as concerned.
Realis Phrase? What's that supposed to mean?! His growth increases with his feelings?
She wanted to get angry. She felt it was her right to shout at him, being his goddess. Why go for a lame, human girl when there was an immortal beauty so close nearby? She had the power to save him too!
Power she wasn't allowed to use, but it was there, nonetheless.
Swallowing her irritation, she placed the parchment over his back, she transcribed his status onto it, omitting the skill section. There was no need to show it to him.
It's to keep him safe. Yes… It had nothing to do with how annoyed she was.
Finally, she lifted herself from the boy and swung her legs over the side of the bed, "Finished. You've improved quite a bit today."
At her words, he swiped the paper from her grasp, missing the sour expression she put on just for him. With a bright smile, he exclaimed, "My agility went up a lot!"
"Getting chased will do that," she muttered below his ability to hear. With a small huff, she spoke up, "Listen, Bell-kun," she looked up at him. She laid it on really thick. The dough eyes tended to get him to listen to anything she said. This time, however, it was just to keep him alive. "If you see this Silent Swordsman again, just run. There have been rumors going around about him. They may seem great, but if you get the feeling that he can't be trusted, you stay away from him. Nothing good can even come from dungeon poachers. Got it?"
Bell kept her gaze, growing slightly sheepish as she pleaded with her dark eyes. A bat of her eyelashes was enough to push him over the edge. Lowering his head, Bell meekly agreed. With a smile, Hestia went off to prepare for bed.
Her mind was focused on the unknown entity "terrorizing" the dungeon as of late. This Silent Swordsman was something that happened from time to time. People see or hear something, and come up with their own explanations, spreading rumors about something that could easily be explained. The dungeon caused many phenomena that surprised even the gods on occasion. It wouldn't be strange to think that the dungeon popped out a rare monster that confused a newbie Adventurer.
But this chill she has felt for the past few weeks… Her gut was rarely wrong. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn't good. Even if it was nothing, little caution couldn't hurt.