A mixture of undigested food and a cocktail of wine and champagne splashed against the cobbled walk of the nearby alleyway. Once she had expelled everything, she wiped her mouth with the back of her gloved hand and leaned against the pristine, white stone of Ganesha's Headquarters. Through heaving breaths, her mind raced.
The Goddess of Beauty had ducked out of the banquet the moment the newcomers entered. Normally, the arrival of a new Deity in Gekai was nothing with which to be concerned. However, this time she had been so overwhelmed by their presences that she just needed to leave; to escape. Her stomach threatened to wretch again as her head spun from the confusion. Her overloaded senses bombarded her mind, making her dizzy and throwing her off balance.
She had not expected to see such amazing creatures appear before her.
Just the act of remembering their auras gave her such pleasure that it was too much for her to bear.
The sinister smile and condescending gaze of the man in the orange suit appeared just as evil on the outside as he did on the inside. His aura was as black as night, and the horror radiated from him in waves of atrocious screams coming from the mouths of what lied within his soul. Countless bulges of darkness rose, fell, and surged throughout his body, each a soul with their own aura, power, and consciousness. The only way for Freya to understand what she saw was to assume the man was actually made up of multiple creatures, each more evil than the next. She had never laid eyes on anything like it, even during her time as the Arbiter of Souls; and she had seen an innumerable amount.
The small, pale girl who preceded the man would set the teeth of anyone who saw her on edge. Like the others, her aura was black, but there was something else. A deep, ancient, crimson-colored hole nearly sucked the Goddess of Beauty's will out through her eyes. It was perpetually empty; an abyss of constant hunger and starvation. The voracity she felt from the girl made her believe that nothing could fill the void. Her permanent state of hunger would never be satisfied. Everything she ate, she wholly devoured toward a pointless end, for it would never fill that emptiness.
The color of her aura was not the only detail about the girl that gave Freya a rare cause for concern. As just about everyone knew about her, Freya's eyes were special. Her ability to see the color and quality of a soul's aura was used in congruence with her job as Arbiter. It was common knowledge, but few knew what the ability could do in regards to an Adventurer's level. Freya could see not only a person's disposition, but also their potential and general ability. She couldn't see specifics, like statistics or skills, but she could gauge someone's power quite easily. Her Ottar was unmatched when it came to his power. His brightness and intensity dwarfed everyone she had ever judged.
And that, at least, had still held true tonight. However, something seemed off about her. Despite her aura being bright and full, it was dulled significantly by… something. It was as if Freya was looking through a curtain, trying to discern the attributes of what lied underneath. Whatever strength the Child had, if that was what she was, it was being hidden from view. She could only trust her gut feeling that if Ottar were to go against her, the goddess would fear for the Boaz's life. All she knew was that she needed to remain guarded when it came to moving against the newcomers, which did not sit well with her.
Her focus then went to the first two people who entered the banquet hall. If not for the others, they would have caused her to be stricken blind, deaf, and dumb. Their auras were black like the other two, but the tall skeleton and the horned woman had less of an impact.
It wasn't that they were less impressive; far from it. It was that she had seen them before. She was surprised that those two presences appeared tonight, but she was even more caught off guard by the fact that two others followed behind them.
When she saw the two people, the man in black armor and the mauve-colored, horned warrior marching down West Main, their auras burned into her brain, leaving a permanent scar of desire. She remembered them, obsessed over them. She wanted them so much that she yearned for them every moment since then. She thought that since Ottar had yet to return, she would need to wait even longer before they became hers, but here they were, parading right in front of her eyes. And now there were more of whom she desired. She believed the excitement she felt just days ago was the highest rush she would feel for many years to come. Now, even that had been topped.
She wanted nothing more than to have them. Even if they refused to work for her, she would accept them. She just wanted to fill the gap left in her heart by the searing darkness emitted by their souls. She wanted to shower them in her love, and have them love her in return; that last part was not a requirement in her book, however. She wanted to bask in their colors, feel the thrumming and vibrations of their power, and drown herself in the passion that was sure to come. Just thinking about it made her dizzy. She felt both cold and hot, unsure what to do with either sensation.
But to think the Silent Swordsman was actually a Deity…
Freya almost couldn't believe her eyes when the creature entered the room. The aura she painstakingly chiseled into her mind's eye appeared before her tonight, sans black armor and blades. It was the same. She was sure of it. Such a scandal had never occurred; a Deity posing as an Adventurer… or was it the other way around? The skeleton lacked a certain glow that was indicative of her kind, but his power was immeasurable, and, like the pale girl in purple, hidden from her sight. Even if he was an Adventurer masquerading as a god, he could certainly give many of them a run for their money.
"Interesting," her hot breath passed through her cherry lips, the sigh of longing following shortly after.
She was the only one who knew. She was the only one who could see. The Silent Swordsman and this new "Deity" were one and the same. Her heart began to race. The objects of her desire were unknowingly approaching her outstretched hands. However, like a frightened animal incapable of taking the initiative, she needed a way to coax them into her grasp. This was her "way in." She needed to get closer without them realizing, and a dangerous secret was how she would do it.
Movement caught her eye. The figures sporting black auras filed into the alleyway opposite her own. She approached the street, peeking across into the darkness. There was a small flash of light. Against the murky curtain of night, a purplish window appeared like a tear in reality. Her mouth fell agape as they all disappeared through it, the window also fading away with a light pop.
Teleport Magic…
The use of holy magic, save for a select few spells, was forbidden by the rules put in place by the Deities themselves. Breaking the rules, or adhering to them. Chained or unchained. Nothing mattered to Freya anymore, even if she was tossed out of the game. Even if she was forced to return to Tenkai. Simply having them was enough.
Her face contorted in an uncharacteristic grin. Her lips were pulled taut, her teeth were fully bared, and her eyes were bulging from their sockets. Her desire got the better of her in a rare lapse of control. She couldn't stop the ominous chuckle from leaving her throat.
They would be hers. She was so close, she could taste it. Collecting herself, the Goddess of Beauty sauntered back to her home in the tower. Her unsuspecting Children were unaware of the fiery passion that was about to descend upon them.
Bell was wrapped in the comfortable cushions of a loveseat in the office of a goddess. However, it wasn't the office of his own goddess; she didn't even have one. His hands were folded in his lap and his gaze was cast to the carpeted floor. He tried his best to be as small as possible, which wasn't difficult for the white rabbit. The only problem was that there were several pairs of eyes trained on him as it was.
Shortly after Aiz Wallenstein's duel, he had been dragged through the streets of Orario toward the Twilight Manor, which served as Loki Familia's Headquarters. They had traveled all the way up North Main, nearly reaching the wall. Bell was surprised when he laid eyes upon what looked like a castle. The main building and surrounding spires were made of white stone, and were impeccably clean. The red tiling of the roof and cone-shaped caps on the watchtowers popped against the pristine bricks.
He was hurried through the gates with blatant disregard to the calls coming from the watchmen charged with preventing intruders; Aiz cast them an icy glare, causing them to turn tail without another word. Sensing just how strange she was acting, the others were trying to convince her that letting Bell in was a bad idea, but she shot them down one by one, only bringing up just how important it would be for him to be present.
The rest of their trip through the halls of the Twilight Manor was a blur to the boy, as he was tossed, like usual, onto the sofa, bringing him to his current situation. He glanced up from the floor only to see the top tier Adventurers from Loki Familia staring down at him from different parts of the room. Their names were some of the few personal details Bell knew of them, as many of the stories about their adventures were public knowledge.
The captain of Loki Familia, second only to Loki herself, the pallum Finn Deimne. The vice-captain of Loki Familia, the elf Reveria Ljos Alf. The first-class Adventurers who put Loki Familia on the map, the dwarf Gareth Landrock, the twin Amazons Tione and Tiona Hiryute, the werewolf Bete Loga, and finally, the Sword Princess Aiz Wallenstein.
Most of them regarded him with interest, though Bete appeared to be snarling under his breath, clucking his tongue every few moments to show his distaste for the white rabbit. None of them knew why Aiz had brought him along. In their heads, there was no way anything could be so important that it excused allowing him entry into the Headquarters. It was a serious taboo to allow those of other Familias into the home base of your own. Many secrets just lied around unattended, and people could accidentally divulge important, sensitive information. Bell being there was a one-in-a-million happenstance, and something he never expected to happen again.
Strangely, the only person from whom he would have adored receiving attention didn't even look his way. Aiz Wallenstein stood near the empty wooden desk with her arms crossed, the tip of her foot impatiently tapping against the carpet. The muffled rustling of the fabric was the only noise in the room, worrying Bell that they might even start hearing the sound of him sweating bullets.
After what felt like ages, someone finally broke the silence. True to form, the captain stepped up, "As I am sure, those of us present are rather confused about these particular circumstances. Aiz, I understand that there is something you know that you may not necessarily be capable of explaining to us at the moment, but is it really so important that you needed to drag in an outsider?"
The blond pallum leveled a cautionary look at the other blonde in the room. Aiz turned her head away, her expression still even and calm, but it was evident that she was struggling with the secrets she had been hiding. With a sigh, she answered, "I am under strict instructions from Loki-sama to keep everything about this topic a secret. I cannot reveal anything without her expressed permission."
Bell's eyes widened. Even with his fear addled mind, he could put the pieces of the puzzle together. Without a process of thought that involved keeping his mouth shut, he asked, "Is this about what I think it's about?"
All eyes flew back to him again, nearly drawing a yelp straight from his mouth. This time though, the eyes he wanted on him the whole time finally glanced his way, sending a shiver up his spine. Aiz said nothing else, and simply gave him a curt nod. Her peers' confusion deepened to almost frustrating levels. The older members were able to hide their thoughts, but the younger crowd failed to mask their emotions. With pouts and gnashing teeth, they grumbled angrily.
Before any of them could voice their vexation, a loud shout echoed from down the hall, easily piercing the closed door. It sounded far away, but was steadily growing louder as the people approached.
"I don't even know why you're here!" the feminine, yet gruff voice blared into their ears. "You know how wrong it is for a Deity to enter another's home!"
"I'm just following Hephaestus! She and I still have unfinished business!" another female screamed. Bell's ears perked up when he heard it.
"And I already told you," the deeper, yet also female voice responded, the exasperation clear in her words, "I am not going to help you anymore! You need to start fending for yourself."
"You hear that, Itty Bitty? You can leave now!"
"I'm not going anywhere until I convince Hephaestus to help me!"
A sigh came from right outside the door as the owners of the voices stood in front of it. "Like I just told you…"
The door was brusquely opened and three figures walked in, only to freeze in the doorway. The three goddesses still dressed for a banquet blinked at the reception. None of them had expected to run into several first-class Adventurers and—
"Bell-kun?!" the black haired Deity rushed forward. "What are you doing here?!" Her eyes then settled on the blonde swordswoman. Like a scurrying animal, Hestia stepped between Bell and Aiz, even though they were several feet apart. "Was it you, Wallen-whatsit?! Are you after my Bell-kun?!"
With a dog-like growl that could even put Bete to shame, the Goddess of the Hearth glowered at her blonde rival. Aiz's head tilted with wonder, unsure why she would think something like that.
"I don't know what you mean, but I did bring him here, yes," she replied, completely disregarding the tension.
"Just as I thought!" Hestia grabbed one of her black twintails and started chewing on it. Then she began grumbling nonsensically, "How could you make a move while I was away?! Mu~ mu~ mu~—!"
Bell watched quizzically as his goddess threw a tantrum. She had told him that she would be away for a few days, but he did not expect to see her so soon. The other two goddesses, as well as the other Adventurers present had also been watching. A red haired blur flew behind Aiz and stuck her head over the swordswoman's shoulder. Loki peered down at Hestia with anger from behind her prized Adventurer.
"How dare you accuse my Aizu-tan of taking your Child!" she appeared genuinely offended that Hestia would even consider the notion. However, that expression quickly faltered and morphed into a lascivious one. A pair of hands shot out from either side of the Sword Princess and threatened to wrap around her. "I mean, to think someone with a chest like this could be a kidnapper! Perish the thought!"
The wriggling fingers closed in, but never reached their marks. With a strike so quick and fierce, one of Aiz's fists flew over her shoulder and smashed into Loki's face. The goddess staggered backward, spun, and crashed into the desk. Bumping the edge with her hips, she flopped forward and lied on the desktop in a daze. She let out a soft sound like a "murgle" and a groan of pain. Eventually, it devolved into girlish giggles.
"First I'm complimented, and then my Aizu-tan bends me over my own desk… fufufufufu," the chuckles continued. "Tonight was a good night."
"Loki-sama…"
The Sword Princess' eyes twitched as she uttered those words of warning. Like ice, Loki's emotions were instantly cooled. She straightened herself and looked back at Aiz with a small pout.
"I know that tone. Something happened, didn't it?" she inquired, though the nods from her Children merely confirmed her suspicions. She sighed, then walked around her desk and sat in the chair, her black skirt billowing out around the armrests. With her elbows on the wood and her head resting on the backs of her gloved hands, she assumed a listening position, "So, what happened?"
The Adventurers looked to Aiz. Her fellow Familia members didn't know anything and their patience was beginning to run thin. Stepping forward, she placed her ruined sword on the desk and spoke, "I think it's time we told them everything."
Loki's eyes cracked open slightly, glancing down at the sword before her. The blade was in its sheath, but it was easy to see that it had been through hell. She lifted her gaze to the Sword Princess with uncertainty, "I suppose it is time, but what does that have to do with your weapon?"
Aiz lifted the blade from the desk, grabbed the broken hilt and drew it from its sheath. She struggled to release the sword from its protector, but with a little muscle, it came free. Normally, one would have expected a sword to sparkle in the light, but the sheen on this weapon was dull and scuffed. Scrapes and deep scratches peppered the metal's surface. It was completely bent out of shape and there were divots all along the edge. Even an inexperienced Adventurer like Bell could tell that no amount of sharpening would return the edge to its original state. To make matters worse, the blade was fractured down the center of the fuller. One more strike, and the sword would have shattered.
A single strike was how close she was to defeat, Bell thought hard, glancing at the Sword Princess. And yet she never lost her cool. He gazed at her with awe, seemingly dazzled by her courage. The fact that she had been ready to escalate that duel to dangerous levels, despite her weapon being in such a terrible state sent chills up and down his back.
Loki, on the other hand, wore an expression of worry as she rubbed the back of her head, "Oh, man! You were supposed to take it easy until Desperate got fixed! That was a loaner blade, you know?! It was no special sword, but it was still expensive! The Gnomes are gonna be so pissed!
"I thought you were just going out to dinner while I was out. What, did you get drunk and decide to go into the dungeon? Do you understand how irresponsible that is?!"
A normal person in a typical situation would have appeared sheepish, but Aiz was having none of it. She took the blade in her hands and, with a single twist, snapped it in half. Screeching metal filled their ears when the sword pathetically gave way. The goddesses each had unique reactions; Hestia flinched, Hephaestus clucked her tongue, while Loki's mouth hanged agape. If the Trickster Goddess didn't like Aiz so much, she may have flown off the handle and punished her.
"Have you lost your mind?! It's unsalvageable now!"
"We didn't go into the dungeon," she calmly explained. Loki's eyes implored her to continue. "We had a run in with Ainz Ooal Gown Familia."
The goddesses froze. Although Hestia and Hephaestus were merely surprised that the prospective members of the newest Deity bumped into Loki's Children on the same night as his introduction, Loki's expression was that of an anxious child who was about to get into trouble with her parents. Staring down at the shards of steel that littered her desktop, she let out a grumble of thought. Her eyes then trailed up to the white haired boy sitting comfortably on the sofa, though his muscles seemed to be painfully taut.
In apparent frustration, she inquired, "I take it that's why Itty Bitty's Child is here?"
Aiz nodded and turned to Bell, causing him to shoot out of his seat like a bolt of lightning. "Yes, I believe they have become aware of the Guild Report I submitted, and that Bell Cranell was documented as the only witness."
"Guild Report?" Reveria was the first to speak, surprise laced in her words. The serious elf tossed a narrowed glance in Bell's direction, thinking that he may reveal something simply by being present. Shaking her head lightly, she turned to Aiz, "Whom did you report? And for what?"
Aiz gave a cursory glance at Loki, who nodded with acceptance, urging her onward. Taking a breath, the Sword Princess stated, "I reported an Adventurer named Momonga. He himself stated that he was a member of Ainz Ooal Gown Familia, but you all may know him as the Silent Swordsman."
Everyone's eyes widened as they took in the information. As first-class Adventurers, they were privy to the latest notifications and rumors of the dungeon. Part of an Adventurer's job was to be prepared and up-to-date on the latest goings on in the dungeon. If they were ignorant of things to avoid or dangerous monsters lurking outside of their usual stomping grounds, the next corner they turned could lead to their untimely demises. The Silent Swordsman was one such rumor that had been making the rounds as of late.
All the stories were the same. The massive man in black armor traveled from floor to floor, killing any monster that crossed his path. If he ever met any Adventurers, he would stand aside with his arms crossed, waiting for them to pass before he continued on his merry way, killing every monster he saw. As with any rumor, there were those who believed it and those who didn't. However, as the sightings became more numerous, people were forced to accept the fact that there was a strange person wandering the dungeon.
This scared quite a few people, but there were those who thought he was doing them all a service; at least until they realized there were no more monsters for them to hunt.
"You're talking about that guy, right?" asked the large-chested Amazon Tione. "If anything, he's been making it a hell of a lot easier on us. We can get deeper into the dungeon much faster now that we don't need to deal with all the Level One monsters. Why would you report him?"
"Bell-kun! Why didn't you tell me you put your name on a Guild Report?!" Hestia was railing into the boy, her pointer finger wagging in front of his face. "And you, Wallen-whatsit! How could you drag my Child into this?!"
They sounded like words of accusation, but Aiz had her reasons. To cool the rising tempers, Loki spoke up, "Because the Silent Swordsman is a poacher. He is not a member of any official Familia, yet he has been dungeon diving for weeks now."
Aiz expounded on her first interaction with Momonga several days prior. Even though Bell was present, there wasn't anything more he could add since he left before the bulk of the conversation took place. She even broached on all of the research she did at the Guild that came up short.
Hestia chewed on her lip in frustration, "I knew something was wrong with this situation! And this Ainz Ooal Goon is to blame!"
"Please hold a moment," the blond pallum stepped forward. Finn crossed his thin arms and assumed a thoughtful pose, trying to put the information in order inside his own head. "So this Silent Swordsman is a poacher working under a Deity named Ainz Ooal Gown. Knowing this, Aiz put forth a Guild Report about the incident with Cranell-kun as the witness. I take it you had enough evidence to support such a claim, yes?"
Aiz nodded, "I even had one of the Guild Employees draw it up. She said that there was no Adventurer by the name of Momonga in the Guild's records. When I asked him what Familia he belonged to, he said 'Ainz Ooal Gown.' Since that Familia didn't exist either, that was sufficient evidence to bring him up on charges."
"Though the odds of any of those charges sticking are very slim," Loki piped up again, crossing her gloved arms. Everyone looked at her questioningly, but the goddesses already knew why. With a sigh, Loki rubbed her forehead, "Why don't you tell us what happened tonight? I want to hear it."
Putting the discussion on hold, Bell stepped forward and told his side of the story. A female werewolf approached him at the bar where he was eating and struck up a conversation with him. He recanted as many of the topics as he could, save for anything that caused Bell some embarrassment. Once he got to the part when Loki Familia entered the Benevolent Mistress, Aiz took over. She went into detail about how Lupusregina joined the argument regarding Bete's attitude.
"When she introduced herself, I had no choice but to step in," Aiz sighed while shaking her head. "They had no idea who she was, or how dangerous going against her would have been."
"That was pretty stupid," Loki admonished her star Adventurer, but gave her a proud grin nonetheless. "But you did the right thing. So what happened next?"
She went over the duel, and how much of a difficult fight it was against the werewolf. They had only traded a few blows, but it was enough to destroy Aiz's blade. She then explained the other two people who arrived, the blonde maid and the butler also from Ainz Ooal Gown Familia. They came and disciplined the werewolf before apologizing for the trouble and leaving. After that, she decided to bring Bell along to the Headquarters to bring more information to the table.
"There are three more?" Loki placed her thumb and forefinger on her chin, her eyes creased shut in thought. "With the three we met tonight, that's six altogether."
The Sword Princess' eyes widened when she heard her goddess' mumblings. When Loki caught sight of her expression, she crossed her arms again. "I find it strange that you had an encounter with the Familia members while we met the Deity ourselves at the banquet tonight. Also, he brought along even more potential Familia members."
Many of the Adventurers present tilted their heads in confusion, but Aiz was completely caught off guard. Her hands were clenched into fists. Her voice left her throat in a rare show of urgency, "There are even more?!"
Loki nodded and began telling them what had happened at the banquet. The arrival of the Deity known as Ainz Ooal Gown on the scene was a momentous event, especially since so many powerful beings were allying themselves under him. He had three others escorting him, who she described in detail. One of them stood out in Aiz's mind.
"The Orange Man was there?" she mused. "I had never come across the other two before."
"He called himself Demiurge," Loki answered, folding her hands on her desktop. "You've never seen the horned woman, or the silver haired girl?"
Aiz shook her head. Everyone else was quickly becoming lost as she and Loki traded information. It was the brown haired dwarf's deep, gravelly voice that broke them out of their exchange, "It seems there's something you haven't told us. Something has been nagging at me after listening to all of this. If your first meeting with the Adventurer Momonga was just a verbal exchange, how did you know the maid would be that strong? And what of the other members you've mentioned?"
For a second time, Aiz glanced at Loki, wondering if it was right to divulge the rest of their secret. The goddess could tell that the Sword Princess was nervous. If she told them and they refused to believe it, then they would underestimate their enemies. If Ainz Ooal Gown Familia went against their own Familia, her family would get destroyed. She wanted to tell them, but dreaded it all the same.
Rather than leave it all up to Aiz, Loki decided to set the mood by warning her Children, "Now you all better listen well," she pointed to each of them. Her first-class Adventurers were so surprised by the seriousness and sudden gravity of her words that they instantly jumped to attention. "What Aizu is about to tell you is an unbelievable story. It is something I never would have thought possible. However, with all the rumors floating around and the new Deity who appeared tonight, I am forced to trust her words.
"Even if you choose to disregard the story, know that you are to proceed with caution if there is any situation in which you cross paths with Ainz Ooal Gown Familia."
With an encouraging nod, Loki motioned for Aiz to begin. When all eyes fell on her, she gulped. This was her family; well, most of them were. There was no reason to be apprehensive. Whether or not they believed her was their choice. She would stand firm by her own memories and experiences. She would stand by the emotion that was beaten into her soul when Momonga first appeared in the Boss Room; she wanted them to know the fear they instilled in her.
"It was the last night of our recent dungeon expedition," she began, recalling the events from that day. "It was just after dinner and everyone was beginning to settle down. I was slated for the night watch, so I set out to patrol the perimeter. It wasn't more than an hour later that I saw several shadows enter the staircase to the Boss Room."
Finn's head tilted with wonder, his arms still crossed. "We had defeated the Monster Rex on our way down. By the time we were headed back, it should have been enough time for it to respawn."
"Exactly," she inclined her head thankfully before she continued. "I wasn't sure how long that party had been in the dungeon, or even if they were aware of how long it had been since the Monster Rex was disposed, but since a sufficient amount of time had passed, Goliath could have returned by then. I did my best to catch up to them, but they were moving pretty quickly."
"Sounds to me like they were being cautious, right?" Tione shrugged. "Smaller parties tended to run through that room before the Boss could emerge from the crystal wall. That's just about the only time it's slow, or even considered remotely vulnerable."
"Normally, yes," Aiz crossed her arms, seemingly holding herself for comfort. "But this party didn't bother escaping. They toyed with it."
Everyone around the room was blinking. The Sword Princess couldn't tell what it was that she said that caused the confusion; was it the fact that a party so small decided to fight the Monster Rex, or the fact that they not only had an easy time of it, but they decided to play with their prey?
"There was a female mage with long, black hair, and she seemed to be wearing some sort of metal maid uniform," even as the words left her mouth, she knew it sounded strange. She could tell she was beginning to lose them. She decided to soldier on anyway, "Her magic was incredibly powerful. It only took her a single ice spell to encase the entire Monster Rex in a block so thick that it couldn't break free."
"That sounds impossible," Reveria pursed her lips. When she looked up and saw everyone's gaze turned to her, she clarified, "I mean to say that magic like that can exist, but if there was someone capable of such a feat, I believe we would know who she was."
"True," Gareth grumbled with a nod. "Someone who can do that is mostly likely a middle-class Adventurer."
"I would even put them in first-class range," Reveria corrected her comrade.
"Even if that is the case, the fact that we have never heard of her, and yet she is that powerful, means something is amiss," Finn joined in with the other veterans of Loki Familia.
"What's worse is that there's more," Aiz sighed. She had thought of all of this already, but she came up with nothing at the Guild. Though, this wasn't the time to voice her shortcomings. "Even the most dangerous attack the Monster Rex has didn't have any effect. The one known as Momonga, or the Silent Swordsman, took two Howls at pointblank. He wasn't hurt at all. There were no scratches or abrasions on his armor; he wasn't even pushed back. Not even his cape was torn."
They were stunned into silence. The Monster Rex Goliath was a powerful Boss monster that marked the entrance to the first "safe area" of the dungeon. In comparison to other monsters that roam the floors around it, it was stronger than any of them. It was confined to that room, so anyone who didn't wish to battle it could dash through the room as fast as they could, or just not descend to that floor. Large groups of low-class, or a specialized group of first-class Adventurers were recommended for its disposal.
Aiz and Loki Familia have fought Goliath many times. They knew its strength, abilities, and skills inside and out. They knew how it acted in certain situations, and even how its mannerisms changed when it was near defeat. One aspect of the fight that they knew more than any other was how dangerous the beast's Howl ability was. It was powerful, destructive, and nearly impossible to survive if anyone had been hit directly; they might have pulled through if a healer was nearby to administer immediate first aid. Even a graze from a Howl could result in the loss of a limb. It didn't matter how strong the Adventurer was; taking a hit from that was almost certain death.
Yet the Sword Princess was saying she saw someone take not one, but two Howls from mere feet away, and came out completely unscathed.
"Sounds like bullshit to me," the gray werewolf scoffed, while plucking his teeth with his fingernail, though no one could miss a nervous chuckle escaping him.
"Are you calling Aiz a liar?!" the smaller Amazon Tiona confronted him. "Sure, it sounds weird, but why would she lie about something like this?!"
Bete rubbed the back of his head, sighing with exasperation. "I don't mean to say she made it all up. It just sounds so… so…"
"Unbelievable," Loki finished for him. He turned his baffled expression to his goddess. "It sounds impossible, I know. But if she is going to make something up, then she is smart enough to describe something that doesn't belong in a fantasy."
The older members glanced at each other, but they kept their opinions to themselves. However, the youngest one in the room went stark white. If there were people who were that strong just walking around, he might feel like he was being crushed by the anxiety. Someone like he who can barely lift his own knife against a Minotaur wouldn't stand a chance against them. He wasn't sure if he could even be in the same room.
Though Lupu-san wasn't a bad person, he still had no idea why she was there…
"After that, the maid subdued the Monster Rex with more ice," she shook her head, not wanting to go on. The next part was a shameful moment for the courageous Adventurer, but they needed to know. "Momonga and the Orange Man… Demiurge spoke about taking it with them.
"I don't know what happened after that, because the fear got the better of me and I hid against the wall. Even though I worked up enough courage to look around the corner, the last thing I saw was Momonga disappearing into a portal of some kind, and the Orange Man staring in my direction with a smile that filled me with dread. He didn't do anything though, he just followed after them."
They were gone, and I left, were the last words she spoke before averting her gaze. Everyone knew she felt ashamed for not doing anything, but none of them could blame her. If they had seen what she had, then what would they have done? According to Aiz's story, if she had fought, she would have died. When their family was on the line, their pride as Adventurers was put on hold; that was just the way Loki Familia worked.
"I'm not sure I get all of this…" Tione mumbled, putting on her best puzzled expression. "What would they want with a Monster Rex, anyway? The thing is violent at the best of times. Keeping it as a pet would just get them killed."
"That's what you got from this?! A trip to the pet store?!" Bete couldn't keep himself from shouting. "Loki-sama, did this Ainz guy say anything about it?"
"I didn't ask him outright," she shook her head. "I was also a bit… er… distracted."
Hephaestus wore a knowing smile as she chuckled to herself. Hestia made a rather obscene noise with her mouth while rolling her eyes. In the face of her peers' reactions, Loki couldn't prevent a blush from settling high on her cheeks.
"W-well he did say one thing!" she turned her head away with a pout and her hands on her hips. Everyone knew she was just trying to change the subject. "He mentioned something about gathering information about his specimen. I can only assume he meant the Monster Rex. He also said he would contact us if they found anything interesting."
"Why would he do that?" the Sword Princess tilted her head, her eyes narrowed. "He would gain nothing from telling us anything regarding a 'stolen' Monster Rex."
"Correct," Finn held his chin in thought. "Even if they did find something out about the Monster Rex, they couldn't make an official addition to the Guild information concerning the Goliath on the 17th Floor. If anything, their reputation could take a hit. Let's face it, they already don't appear trustworthy to many of the Deities and Adventurers."
"Whatever the reason," Loki breathed, relaxing in her seat, "this Ainz Ooal Gown seems to have a significant interest in the dungeon. That is both an admirable and dangerous interest to have."
"Momonga said his reasons for entering the dungeon was money," replied Aiz, shifting her weight to her other leg and holding her arms. "His Deity's reason for researching monsters can't be much better."
"You're saying their aim might be the money?" Reveria glanced down with realization and allowed her thoughts to flow. "The more information they have, the more with which they can bargain. Even if the data on the monsters isn't official, Familias will devour it. They will pay whatever they can to get it. Preparedness is the game of the dungeon, after all."
"An untapped source of information in the hands of a Familia that has no qualms about breaking the rules," Loki's eyes cracked open. "With every Deity in Orario as a potential buyer, the smaller Familias won't be capable of keeping up with the higher ranked ones. Then there will be a bidding war. Whoever can pay the most will receive the information, as well as an advantage in the dungeon over everyone else. This could potentially become chaotic."
It sounded as if a plot was unfolding, and they were helpless to stop it. The information itself wasn't dangerous; far from it. Any new data on the Monster Rex would be beneficial to every Adventurer in Orario. However, if only the most lucrative Familias could have access to it, the smaller Familias would be driven into a corner. They would do anything they could in order to get their hands on that information.
Many would think they would resort to espionage. If they could steal it, or draw it out of someone through other means, they could reap the benefits for free. Nevertheless, facing the facts was a difficult thing to do for many. The truth was that the Deities would have this information on lockdown. There was no way to get it out of a Deity, unless the other gods and goddesses could come to an agreement.
Such as paying with something other than money…
Talent was hard to find when it came to Adventurers. For Deities to take on those who simply didn't have the penchant for becoming an Adventurer, it would have been a waste of time to feed them, clothe them, teach them, rear them, and grow them into worthwhile members of their Familia. It simply wasn't financially possible. However, if talent itself became a form of currency, there was a chance that Adventurers themselves could become bargaining chips for information.
Smaller Familias with little money, but impressive Children, would be forced to trade their own for a chance to grow larger than ever. Even if the Deities were forced to part with Children for whom they cared deeply, it may still be worth it in the long run.
It was a sad thought.
This may have been Ainz Ooal Gown's objective from the start. With all of the incredible talent following him before even giving them his Blessing, it may be what he treasured most.
He was very similar to Freya in that regard.
And another Freya wasn't necessarily a good thing.
"This is a lot to take in," Gareth sighed. "It's too much plotting for me."
Loki glanced at the ornate clock on the wall. It was quickly approaching midnight, and it had been such an eventful night that even she was growing tired. Plucking the hairclip from her head, her crimson hair fell to her shoulders as she sighed wearily, "We might as well sleep on it. All of this thinking might make us jump to conclusions. The last thing we need is to see things that aren't there and make false assumptions. Off to bed, kiddies!"
She waved them off playfully with her hands. The Adventurers present scanned the room for each other's eyes, wondering if this was the right place to end the discussion. Even with a little thought, they could only come to two conclusions: they knew a lot and they knew next to nothing. They felt that there was more to work out with what information they had. Unfortunately, since they didn't know the motives of this unknown Familia, there was no way to come up with anything concrete; all of their thoughts and conclusions would end up being fabrications based on circumstantial evidence.
With nods of acquiescence, they all began filing out through the door. Bell stood next to his goddess, but was suddenly tugged halfway across the room in an instant. With wide eyes, he followed the hand on his arm to the source. The golden haired girl had him in her grasp yet again.
He could get used to this… at least if his heart didn't threaten to leap from his chest.
"You're staying here for now," she squeezed slightly, sensing he might jump away.
"Oh…" he uttered in shock when the words failed to penetrate his brain. It took a few moments before the message finally sank into his fragile state of mind, shattering what was left of his little world. "EH?!"
"We're still unsure whether or not Ainz Ooal Gown Familia knows about your involvement with the Guild Report," her golden orbs pierced him, body and soul. "Letting you return to an empty home would be irresponsible."
"Wait! You can't be serious!" he was shouting with confusion.
"Sorry, Usagi-kun," Loki looked on with disdain, but nodded matter-of-factly. "It's safer here than in that rundown church where you live. Just keep your eyes down and your mouth shut. If any of our secrets get revealed, you will be the first one who pays for it."
He tried to plead, but was unceremoniously dragged away and out of the room. "Kami-samaaaaaaa~!"
The door slammed shut before Hestia could stop them. With a growl and a snarl, she marched up to Loki's desk and slammed her fists into it. "What do you think you're doing?! What do you want with my Bell-kun?!"
"Come now, Itty Bitty," Loki smirked like the trickster she was. "You know for a fact that we can't let that kid go home alone, especially since you have something to ask of Hephaestus, right?"
"Hey, I said no!" the Goddess of the Forge blinked incredulously.
The toothy grin the Trickster Goddess was flashing the twin tailed goddess caused her to turn as red as a beet with hot anger. With her tiny fists clenched, she was about ready to explode when she was hit with the realization that Loki was right. Hestia had no choice but to agree that their home just wasn't secure. With Bell in that small room all alone with monsters outside the dungeon looking for his cute little behind, she wouldn't be able to feel at ease unless she was with him at all times.
But that couldn't happen at the moment.
She still needed that favor.
"Please, Hephaestus," Hestia turned to her friend. The tears of anger in the corners of her eyes were now turning into those of desperation. "Bell-kun is in trouble, and I can't protect him unless I break the rules. He's too weak as he is right now. I need to give him every advantage I can, because if they come for him, something terrible might happen. I don't know what I would do if… if…"
Hestia wilted at the thought of something happening to her Child. Hephaestus watched as her friend begged and pleaded for help. This was different than the usual "begging" that Hestia did in the past. There was sincerity and desperation in her voice. She knew she was being unreasonable, and would even understand if Hephaestus still refused to do her a favor. What scared the Goddess of Smithing most wasn't that their friendship was on the line, but the years trust between them.
For Hestia, Hephaestus was taking an inordinate amount of time to come up with an answer. With shaky fingers, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the small, leather purse she had received earlier. She presented it to the taller goddess with both hands like she was making a religious offering. The tears flowed freely down her face.
"Please, take this as the first installment," she thrust it into her unsuspecting hands. Hephaestus stared down at the small goddess with a baffled expression. "I'll do anything! I don't care how much I need to pay, or how long I will be in debt to you, but Bell-kun needs this! I need this!"
The forge goddess' single eye glanced down at the purse. Ainz Ooal Gown said the contents could fetch one hundred twenty thousand Valis; that was only one-three thousandth of how much a custom weapon would cost, give or take a few million. It wouldn't even cover the ten percent down payment they required for orders this expensive. However, for someone as poor as Hestia, this was a fortune, and the only thing she had to offer.
She is willing to give everything for her Child.
Gripping the pouch in her hand, she nodded, "Okay, I will accept this as the down payment for a custom weapon." Hestia's head jerked up with her eyes swimming with tears. "But understand this, you will pay back every Valis, no matter how long it takes, even if it's a thousand years."
Hestia nodded thankfully, unable to form words. The tears flew in all directions every time her head moved. "Secondly," Hephaestus continued, "you will work in any of my shops that need help that day. This ensures that even if I don't get spendable money, I still get some value back in the form of unpaid employment. Finally, you're going to help in forging it. I'll slash the price a little for your assistance."
That was practically slavery. No one in their right mind would accept those terms, but Hestia was desperate. It was partially why Hephaestus left out the part about the frilly uniform she was planning on making Hestia wear. Even though this was serious business, she still liked dressing up her cute, doll-like friend. Also, since the weapon she had in mind was probably the worst thing she could create for someone who makes a living creating weapons, she felt she could take a few liberties. She wanted to get as much out of the deal as possible, since Hestia wouldn't need her business again.
Hestia's tears were flowing like waterfalls, and her nose was starting to run. With sniffles and whimpering, she leaped for the crimson haired goddess and latched her arms around her waist.
"THANK YOU! HEPHAESTUS!"
"Yeah, yeah, you're welcome… wait, DON'T WIPE YOUR NOSE ON ME!"
"YOU'RE MY FAVORITE!"
"IT'S GROSS! NO!"
"Hah… please stop making so much noise," Loki quirked her eyebrow while folding her hands. "You realize how late it is, right?"
Hestia separated from Hephaestus reluctantly. The smaller goddess wiped her face repeatedly with the sleeve of her dinner jacket, leaving wet streaks in the fabric. The one-eyed goddess looked down at the stains on her red dress that nearly perfectly resembled Hestia's face. She was particularly put off by the area in the center where her nose had been.
Snickering like a mischievous child, Loki started removing her gloves as she spoke, "There is something else we need to discuss, so I will cut right to the chase: Were those really Thor's gauntlets?"
Hephaestus was quickly pulled away from the thought of how much it would cost to clean her dress. She recalled the scene from the banquet earlier; the feel of the iron beneath her fingers and the well of strength that lied within them. She folded her arms and grumbled, "They certainly looked the same, and even had a similar effect. If you put the two pairs side by side, I don't think you would be able to tell them apart."
"So, you're saying…" the trickster tried to lead her toward a conclusion.
"I can't say for sure," she shook her head, disappointing Loki. "There are a number of equipment and weapons made with magic that either impersonate or copy Divine Treasures. They may not have the full effects, but they make for decent replicas.
"If what Ainz Ooal Gown said is true, and he has invented a new way of creating Magic Weapons and enchanted equipment, then there's a possibility that more potent enchantments could be worked into the items. With Mages involved, they might be more capable than someone with the Mystery development skill."
"Hm…" Loki groaned. This wasn't in her wheelhouse, especially the more intricate stuff that Hephaestus dealt with when it came to keeping track of her Children's skills in blacksmithing. "What about your Crozzo boy? Would his weapons be stronger than something the skeleton could come up with?"
"I don't know yet. Unless I know the process, I couldn't even wager a guess."
"I see…"
The conversation stopped there. They had hit a dead end. There was no more information regarding the new Deity and his Familia. He had made an appearance. He had met with many of the Deities who have gathered in Orario, and yet they knew next to nothing.
So they needed to keep digging.
"He said he wanted to meet with you, right?" Loki pointed at Hephaestus lazily, seemingly running out of steam. When she nodded in response, Loki continued, "There's still a lot we don't know, and the notion of more powerful equipment is a cause for concern. I say you meet with him when you can. Invite him yourself, even! The sooner we learn more, the better. I will do the same."
There were so many questions without answers. It was faster to ask the man directly.
"It's the only way, I guess," the one-eyed goddess sighed dejectedly. "He kind of creeps me out, but if he is truly onto something, he might make a decent ally."
"We still need to learn more. Only after we learn that he isn't hostile can we discuss anything remotely similar to an alliance," Loki nodded in agreement, but her tone told them it was tentative. "He's caused us enough problems already."
The three goddesses nodded, accepting that until they knew more, Ainz Ooal Gown will go on the list of Familias for which others should be on the lookout. They all wanted to have powerful allies, and Ainz Ooal Gown fit the bill. However, it all depended on their intentions. What did they want? What did they want to do? Where did they plan to go? How did they plan to get there? All of these questions were causing the goddesses to worry their bottom lips as they chewed in frustration.
Hephaestus and Hestia left together, as they had quite a bit of work to do. Loki sat in her chair, staring at the desk in front of her. So much had happened tonight that she almost couldn't process it all. The fact that her Children ran into one of the Ainz Ooal Gown members was quite shocking. She believed that Aiz made the correct decision; though she would have told her to turn down the invitation for a duel. This Lupusregina sounded like a real piece of work. Being a maid, un-Blessed, and still capable of holding her own against her prized Aizu-tan was a combination she never thought she would see.
It was even more concerning that Momonga was still just as big a mystery. There was still a secret Loki kept; she even told Aiz that it had to remain secret. No matter what, she couldn't tell anyone, even if she was allowed to reveal everything.
That was the use of the words "Supreme Being." Aiz mentioned that Demiurge called Momonga a Supreme Being the night they absconded with the Monster Rex. However, the Orange Man regarded Ainz Ooal Gown in the same manner right in front of Loki's eyes not two hours ago. What did it mean?
Talk of an unchained Deity was a serious accusation. It could bring Divine Punishment down on the world in highly populated areas. No one would win in that event. It would lead to a pointless loss of life. It was best to keep a lid on things that would cause too much trouble.
It wasn't in our nature to pry, either.
Loki leaned back and rested her head on the leather backing of her seat. Staring at the ceiling, she remembered the banquet and how she and the newest Deity stared at each other for much of the time. She was wary of him before she even met him. She needed to ask Odin and Thor whether or not the Jarngreipr were missing. She doubted it, but it didn't cost her anything to be cautious; just her time. They could inquire about them if they are in fact gone.
A God of Death, though, eh? I wonder if he knows Hel… Loki's sister was also a Deity that dealt with death. There were quite a few, to the point that it might be the most populated of the denominations. So many gods existed that it was impossible to know them all. There were so many that even Loki, who lived in Tenkai since the beginning of time hadn't met them all, or even heard of all of them. Takemikazuchi had introduced Loki to Izanami in the past, though she probably didn't know anyone, as she was a recluse. It wasn't a surprise that she didn't know Ainz Ooal Gown, especially if he was associated with death.
Freya may have known him, as she too handles death in a way. Even Odin handled the souls of dead warriors, so he could possibly shine some light on Ainz Ooal Gown. Loki needed to do everything she could to get information on him and his Children.
At the moment, it was the most important thing to her. She told herself it was for her own Children. She wanted to care for her family, and protect everything that they had built. This home she had helped create was the only thing that kept her grounded in Gekai. Without it, she would have nothing; no reason to exist. Because of this, she wanted to know more. She wanted to learn about the man who had consumed her mind since he first spoke to her. It was all for her Familia.
That was what she told herself. The dull throbbing in her chest as she uttered his name over and over in her head told her otherwise. With each swell of her emotions, her interest grew. There was a sense of panic that ran through her. Her skin flushed almost as red as her hair when his name unintentionally passed through her lips.
For the Trickster Goddess realized someone had tricked their way into her heart.
"Denied," the male elf answered as he threw the report down onto his desk. He flashed a poorly veiled glare at the woman standing in the center of his office.
She appeared dumbfounded that her motion had been refused. "But Mardeel-sama," she implored in an attempt to change his mind. "There is bountiful evidence that this person was spotted in the dungeon at a time during which he was unregistered with the Guild. There are two witnesses, one of which is the Sword Princess of Loki Familia."
Eina tried her best to make her case to her boss, Royman Mardeel. The portly male elf with white hair and green eyes merely stared at her with disdain. It was well established that he was prejudiced against just about every race other than the highest of elves and the various Deities. He especially did not like half-elves, but he at least respected the work she did, even if he felt that he was touching something dirty whenever she handed him her reports.
Eina Tulle didn't care that her boss was a jerk. The two rarely interacted, and he paid her, so that was enough.
She dreaded the current moment, but she needed to ensure that Guild Law was upheld. Aiz Wallenstein entrusted her with drawing up the documents for the Guild Report against the "Adventurer" known as Momonga for poaching in the dungeon. According to her testimony, Momonga admitted himself that he was acquiring funds through the slaying of monsters. He also mentioned being a member of a Familia that was later determined to be unregistered. The report also contained an account and signature of another Adventurer as a second witness to the events; namely, Bell Cranell. He doesn't quite add credence to the report because of his lack of a reputation, but it corroborates Miss Wallenstein's account well enough.
That was, of course, if Roymond allowed the Guild Report to be brought before the courts.
"Tulle-kun," his beady eyes bored into her. His tone took on an edge of warning. "Remember that there are protocols to follow in cases such as this. You are going to need more than two witnesses who have seen much more than just a verbal admittance of guilt. Poaching is a serious offense, and the laws require irrefutable evidence of the crime. Hearsay will not be admissible to the courts."
"Sir, there have been countless witnesses! This man has been in the dungeon for weeks. I am sure you have heard of the rumors of the Silent Swordsman, correct? People have been spreading rumors about him for some time. There are a number of sightings!" Eina rambled, trying to push her report forward.
But Roymond was having none of it. Slamming his hands on the desk, his large body jiggled as he shouted, "And you want me to force an entire case and court proceedings on baseless rumors from idiotic Adventurers?! Have you lost your mind?!"
The half-elf's jaw clenched, but she continued with what little information she had left, "I had an investigator look into the Magic Stone dealer in Rivira on the 18th Floor. It seems he has had a lot of traffic as of late. One client in particular has brought a steady number of Magic Stones to him every week. He has also been grossly overcharging them."
"And?" Royman's brow twisted into a glower. He opened the drawer of his desk and slid the Guild Report into it. He threw the drawer shut with a clatter and folded his hands. "Tulle-kun, why are the poaching laws in place?"
"I beg your pardon?" caught off guard, she tilted her head in confusion.
"The poaching laws are in place so people who evade paying the Guild fees and taxes are punished in accordance with Guild Law," he sighed angrily, wanting this meeting to be over. "Why would I bring a man up on charges when his debt has already been paid?"
Eina blinked, the quizzical look drawing a thin, evil smirk on her boss' face. Her mouth flapped open and shut, trying to make any noise that sounded even remotely like words. "E-excuse me. I don't understand…"
"This Momonga you mentioned in your report," he shrugged his shoulders, though not enough to cause a wrinkle in his expensive suit. "His Deity, Ainz Ooal Gown, already came to meet with me. He informed me of the situation and reported Momonga's earnings from the dungeon. Not only did he pay the appropriate taxes on the money earned, he also paid the penalty for violating Guild Law. It was an amount that was decided at that time, and it was quite steep, but it was paid in full.
"In light of this, I see no reason to trash the reputation of an up-and-coming Adventurer with a criminal record that had already been expunged."
Eina was speechless. Her eyes were widened to their limits, her ears drooped lower than they ever had, and her shoulder shook from the shock of the news. He beat us to it? If she understood Roymond's explanation, he was telling her that Ainz Ooal Gown had approached the Guild himself, even admitted to the crimes of his subordinate, and then paid off the charges.
"If anything, the one you should be investigating is that Monster Stone peddler," he glanced down at his fingernails, admiring their sheen. "If he made as much as you believe on those illegal sales of Monster Stones, then I am sure he owes an obscene amount in back taxes to the Guild. Rather than having you work on useless assignments like destructive rumors, I would prefer you investigated things that would actually benefit the Guild."
Roymond Mardeel loved money to no end. Eina wouldn't have been surprised if some of that steep penalty went straight into his pocket. She nearly crushed the papers wrapped in her hands with frustration.
With a sneer, he waved her away dismissively, "Now off you go. I expect a report on that matter next week."
Eina slipped out of the office as quickly as she could. She marched back to the lobby of the Guild, nearly pausing in the hallways to tear her hair out. Her ears twitched with fury. She had spent so many hours on that Guild Report, but it was just tossed into a desk drawer. All of her hard work was completely routed by a cheating Deity and his criminal Child. Then her boss chewed her out for looking into the wrong man, even though he knew for a fact that what she was doing was the right thing to do.
It made Eina feel frustrated, angry, anxious, and fearful; all of these emotions weighed on her. She didn't want to be the one to break the news to Wallenstein-san. She knew the Adventurer was in control of her emotions, but after having seen how irritated she had been recently, Eina believed it would be best to tell her in a well populated area.
With an exasperated sigh, she entered the staff room and sat at one of the round tables. Slouching in her seat, she held her head in her hands with her elbows squarely planted on the tabletop. No one approached because of her grumbling, but that worked for her. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with anyone. She was struggling to handle her emotions. If she wasn't so annoyed, she might have been worried that someone was working behind the scenes and making sure not to draw attention to themselves.
If I had known this, I would have slept last night instead of pulling that all-nighter in preparation…
The door to the room crashed open, and Eina's friend, the pink haired, pink eyed human woman named Misha Flott collapsed onto the floor. Her comical antics were quite common, so the other Guild Employees gave her a cursory glance before returning to their own conversations. Like a caterpillar, Misha squirmed toward Eina and climbed up onto the chair opposite her. Sitting herself down and practically melting onto the table, she blasted out a sigh so powerful, Eina thought it to be a death rattle.
With narrowed eyes and a frown, Eina inquired, "Having a tough day, I suppose?"
Misha rolled her head to the side, her lifeless eyes turning in their sockets to regard Eina with misplaced vexation. "There are so many people registering with the Guild right now, I have been working nonstop for three hours."
Eina watched as what seemed to be a tiny white spirit escaped the pink haired girl's mouth. Furrowing her brow, Eina leaned forward, "It's not so strange. We get influxes of Adventurers from time to time. Tomorrow, there will be practically no one registering."
It was a common occurrence for the Guild. People came from all over the world to become an Adventurer in Orario. It was impossible to predict people's plans for travel, but they tended to arrive during warmer months, as it was easier to travel when the weather was agreeable and there wasn't snow on the ground. It was already the peak travel season, so it isn't surprising that so many people showed up to be an Adventurer.
"That's true, but," Misha rolled her head again, planting her forehead flat against the polished wood of the table. Her voice was somewhat muffled, "It's strange that they are all registering for the same Familia."
That… was indeed strange. People as well as Deities had different tastes and standards. Many people wanted to be part of a lucrative Familia, like Loki's or Hephaestus'. Some preferred a more laid back Familia, so a smaller one with fewer people would suit them better. However, what they wanted had no bearing on whether or not the Deity would take them into their Familia. The chances of so many people getting what they wanted from a single Deity was highly improbable.
"So, who is the Deity?" asked Eina curiously. She wore an expression of indifference, but it was something that would cause her to believe that this was an "interesting day at work."
Misha sighed again, the sheen of the table clouding with the condensation from her breath. "Some god named Ainz Ooal Gown. I don't know why they would want to join the Familia of a God of Death—
Eina was already out the door and dashing down the hall toward the lobby. She burst out to see lines of people in varying states of dress queued up in front of the desk. The employees worked furiously to register them all, stamping papers strongly with the Guild's seal. A number of people were dressed in suits and maid outfits, while several were covered from head-to-toe in elaborate, and seemingly expensive armor sets.
Many appeared to be human, but there were some who were obviously different. Some races she recognized. Others, however, she couldn't pinpoint their heritage. Two dark skinned elves in a suit and dress stood in front of a fully armored person in a distinctly female, mauve bodice with horns on her helm. A man in an orange suit with an evil smile and what looked like a spiked tail swinging from side to side. A short, pale girl in blood red armor and holding a massive lance that was too large for her stature tapped her foot against the marble floor with impatience. A sharply dressed butler with huge muscles and an agreeable expression waited good-naturedly with his arms behind his back.
Their numbers were skewed distinctly toward females. There were so many maids that Eina wondered just how large their dwelling must have been if it called for so much help.
The half-elf scanned the people, but couldn't find the person for whom she searched. She was about to reenter the back room when the doors swung open. In walked a tall man in full black armor with gold and silver etchings. A red cape was draped over one of his shoulders and two massive great swords were worn on his back. The other Adventurers who were waiting to be helped turned to stare as he took his place at the end of the line and crossed his arms.
Eina assumed he was also going to register for Ainz Ooal Gown Familia.
The rumors were true, every one of them. He said nothing to anyone, not even the others in line. He merely stood there in silence, his arms crossed, and his imposing posture. His presence alone could bring people to their knees, but there was a feeling of safety as well; as if he wasn't someone to fear.
But the fear that flooded her chest contradicted anything the man made her feel. She knew this was the Silent Swordsman; this was Momonga. If she understood anything about him, even having never met him, she knew he was a criminal with no regard for the rules.
Eina gulped, swallowing the lump in her throat. She wanted nothing to do with this, but it was her job as a Guild Employee.
The half-elf stepped up to the counter and called over the next in line.
She wrote the name of the maid into the book.
She filled in the required field indicating her Familia…
Ainz Ooal Gown…
***CHAPTER 4 END***
*~-PLE PLE PLEIADES INFORMATION CORNER-~*
"Hello everyone! Lupusregina Beta here for the next installment of the Ple Ple Pleiades Information Corner!"
No one stands on the stage. Even though the lights are flashing and the pyrotechnics are firing in every direction, Lupusregina is nowhere to be found.
"Hm? I can hear her, but where is she?" Momonga sits in his seat in confusion. There are more explosions and fireworks this time. "Did the budget increase, or something?"
"Well, this segment is so helpful that I decided to toss a bit more money into it. The readers need to know all the information they can get their hands on," Albedo replies with a smile. "As for Lupusregina…"
Albedo presses a big red button on a remote and something drops from the rafters above the stage. The werewolf falls sharply before the rope holding her jerks up. The moment the line goes taut, she lets out a sweet moan.
"Ahn~!"
"Is that… is that a tortoise style bondage web?" Momonga's mouth is agape.
"Lupusregina is currently being punished for her insubordination. Shalltear believed this would be sufficient," Albedo glares off to the side at the Vampire who seems to be completely enraptured by the werewolf's condition.
"Hah~… Hah~… HAH~!" Shalltear pants with a beet red face.
"Albedo, I think I would prefer to come up with the punishments from now on…"
"Now let's get this show on the road! Since I am indisposed at the moment, I will bring a helper out onto the stage! Everybody give it up for Yuri Alpha!"
Everyone applauds as the prim and proper maid walks out on the stage, her hands folded in front of her. Lupusregina slowly spins in the air with her arms and legs tied together.
"Welcome to the Ple Ple Pleiades Information Corner. I am Yuri Alpha, and I am your cohost this evening."
"Pretty sure it's still light out, Yuri-nee."
"Albedo-sama."
At Yuri's cue, Albedo presses the button again.
Lupusregina launches into the air.
"UWAAA!"
The werewolf disappears along with her screams.
"Tonight's discussion shall touch upon several points that many have brought up in the review section. The first topic shall be that of the level spread. The author has taken your thoughts and views into account, and has come to the conclusion that you are correct. According to his level spread, the Danmachi characters come out much stronger than they really are. So, their overall strength in comparison to Overlord characters shall be lowered.
"On a similar note, he also believes you are all psychopaths who just want to torture the poor, unsuspecting Danmachi characters. We of Nazarick are grateful for the opportunity."
She bows.
"This is going a lot more smoothly without Lupusregina," Momonga holds his chin in thought. "How did she get the job again?"
"She has the personality for it," Albedo nods. "Also, no one else wanted to do it. Our readers are filthy humans after all."
"Next in line is the forward motion of the story. There were a few things that needed to happen in this chapter for the story to move along, such as meeting the Deities of Orario and increasing Bell's relationship with Loki Familia prematurely. However, the foremost is Nazarick's acquisition of the Falna.
"The author was required to take some creative liberty, as there isn't much information on how the Falna is bestowed. As there are god artifacts that Momonga-sama can use, using them in concurrence with creating the Falna should have a similar effect. He believes he made a decent stab at it, even if it is later proven false. Since the workings of Dark Wisdom are still obscured, things will have to carry on like this."
The screams return as Lupusregina falls back toward the stage.
The rope pulls taut.
"OW! OWOWOWOWOW! It's digging in!"
"Lupusregina, care to take the next topic?"
"S-s-sure! The next topic is Bell. He may seem a bit out of character this time around, but since things are moving faster in this story than in canon Danmachi, his growth shall be moving along faster as well. In the future, he can still pose a threat because of this accelerated growth and the fact that the quality of excelia at each level goes up. That is the cause of the disparity between each level among Danmachi Adventurers.
"Argonaut can also pose an issue, but that is a ways away.
"Next on the list, the light novel translates Loki's lines into a distorted version of English because she is supposed to be speaking in the Japanese Kansai dialect. The author finds it tedious to write, so he has chosen to ignore it. You can imagine it if you like, but that's on you."
Lupusregina catches sight of the evil smirk on Albedo's face.
"No, please!"
The button is pressed.
"I didn't do anythi-UGYAAAAA!"
She disappears.
"Finally, chapter length and time between chapters," Yuri takes over again. "This chapter is very long. It is also part of the reason it took so long to get written. Just a quick reminder that the story is not abandoned until the author says it is so. He asks that you not lose heart if there is a longer wait than usual.
"With all of that out of the way, the next chapter is Monsterphilia! The author has been planning it out for some time, even since the first chapter of the story. It could run quite long as well, but it will be a fun ride.
"Notable appearances are Lefiya of Loki Familia and even an introduction into Liliruca Arde. Starting them this early on will be important in the long run, especially if some story from Sword Oratoria will be mixed in as well.
"Thank you for reading, and we graciously await your return in the next chapter."
Yuri bows as the crowd applauds.
*Yes, we bought the "applause" sign…*
"SAVE ME!"
Lupusregina falls.
The rope pulls taut.
The rope snaps.
The werewolf smashes through the stage. The pyrotechnics go off prematurely, setting everything nearby on fire.
*Aaaaaaand it's gone…*