Outside E-Rantel, near the edge of the forest.
Unlike E-Rantel, which was illuminated by magical lights from Continual Light, the outskirts of the city were cloaked in darkness. It wasn't pitch black to the point of complete blindness, but it was clearly far from ideal for human activities.
In this shadowy area outside the city, a place glowed with firelight.
It was a wide campsite, roughly twenty meters across, with a carriage parked.
Within the campsite, tents were set up for resting, with wooden stakes driven into the ground around them and thin strings strung between the stakes, each hung with bells—clearly a warning setup meant to alert the people in the camp if anything approached.
In the center of the camp, a campfire blazed, serving as a source of light, and around it sat several armed adventurers, casually chatting while eating simple food.
From time to time, they glanced toward a man clad in full, pitch-black armor and a woman wearing a deep brown robe standing in a corner of the camp.
Needless to say, they were none other than Ainz and Narberal.
At this moment, Ainz was standing in a corner of the camp, his finger pressed against his temple as if he were meditating with his eyes closed, while Narberal watched him quietly, standing nearby without saying a word.
After a while, Ainz suddenly lowered his hand and spoke up.
"Hmm, all the Eight-Edge Assassins I sent to monitor him have been killed."
Ainz's voice was calm, showing no emotion as he spoke.
"All of them?" Narberal's delicate brows furrowed as she lowered her voice. "Was it that insect?"
"Umu." Ainz replied confidently. "Until the very end, the Eight-Edge Assassins maintained Message's connection, so I could hear them and knew they were fighting him."
Upon hearing this, Narberal was momentarily at a loss for words because this meant one thing.
"Riezel Brynhart… that man is definitely no ordinary person."
Ainz stated this conclusion calmly.
"From what we know, even for servants like the Eight-Edge Assassins, it should be tough for anyone in this world to deal with them."
"At least, in my eyes, there's no one publicly powerful enough to take down even one Eight-Edge Assassin in this kingdom."
"Yet, that man took them all down with ease by himself."
"Such strength... it's unlike any native we've encountered."
From the death of the four Eight-Edge Assassins, Ainz confirmed this fact.
What Riezel didn't know was that when the Eight-Edge Assassins were exposed and prepared to retreat, they sent one final report to Ainz, which had been part of his plan.
Ainz had ordered the Eight-Edge Assassins that the moment something felt off, they were to use a one-time item he had given them to report the situation to him.
Because of this, Ainz learned of the encounter almost as soon as the Eight-Edge Assassins were discovered by Riezel.
Ultimately, after some calm consideration, Ainz gave the Eight-Edge Assassins a single order—to confront Riezel and test his strength.
Following that order, the Eight-Edge Assassins stopped trying to escape and turned back to attack Riezel.
In the end, they sacrificed themselves, and Ainz managed to gauge part of Riezel's strength.
"So, that insect... is he a player?"
Knowing Ainz's plan, Narberal asked in a voice filled with caution.
Based on their understanding of this world, it seemed unlikely that any human, other than a player, could defeat four Level 49 Eight-Edge Assassins in such a short time.
At least, this was what Ainz and Narberal thought.
However, the true question was—
"If Riezel Brynhart is a player, then what exactly is his stance now?"
Ainz murmured, almost as if talking to himself.
"He sought us out not long after we first arrived in this world... Was that act planned beforehand?"
"And if it was, why did he dare to come alone? And how did he already know so much about this world before we did?"
"Could it be... he arrived in this world before us?"
"If he really did come here earlier, then how could he have known where Nazarick would appear?"
Instead of clearing things up, the questions only multiplied.
Ainz couldn't make sense of Riezel's previous actions.
What was Riezel really aiming for?
Since their meeting, Riezel hadn't brought up YGGDRASIL even once. Instead, he had shared information about this world and, in exchange, had taken knowledge of some magic that had little value back in YGGDRASIL.
Did any of that really have a point?
What had Riezel been thinking at that time?
Ainz felt as if he might drown under the weight of these endless questions.
Moreover, if Riezel was indeed a player from YGGDRASIL, then why were there no traces of YGGDRASIL on him?
'He had almost no equipment on him, just a pendant the first time we met, and it didn't seem to be an item from YGGDRASIL either.'
'Several days later, when we met again in E-Rantel, he had added a ring on his finger and a sword at his waist, but I'd never seen either of those in YGGDRASIL either…'
'And the name Riezel Brynhart… I've never heard of any player by that name either.'
'Could it be he hid his real name, like I did, for some purpose?'
'Damn it… there are just too many things I don't understand.'
Ainz rubbed his helmet, feeling a headache that technically shouldn't have existed.
He couldn't help but feel preoccupied with the man named Riezel Brynhart, who seemed to have many secrets surrounding him, many potentially tied to the Great Tomb of Nazarick. If he didn't uncover these secrets, he couldn't be sure whether Nazarick might be in danger.
"No, it won't do… we still don't have enough information..." Ainz muttered helplessly. "Looks like I'll need to find a way to get closer to him..."
Upon hearing this, Narberal immediately offered a suggestion.
"Should we deploy the Floor Guardians?"
"No."
Ainz rejected Narberal's suggestion without a second thought.
"They are Nazarick's strongest line of defense. Until we confirm that Riezel Brynhart is a threat to Nazarick, I don't want him getting anywhere near them. We can't risk anything happening."
"For now, it's best not to provoke him. If we can maintain a friendly relationship, that would be the best. Once we've gathered enough information and understand his motives, we can decide how to deal with him."
"Understood..." Narberal replied reluctantly. "And what should we do about the Eight-Edge Assassins he killed?"
At this question, the nonexistent eyes under Ainz's helmet seemed to light up.
As the base of the guild known as Ainz Ooal Gown, the Great Tomb of Nazarick was not only home to the forty-one guild members, known as Supreme Beings, but also to other NPCs.
Currently, the Great Tomb of Nazarick held only Ainz as a player, while the rest were now merely servant NPCs brought to life.
However, among these NPCs, there were distinctions.
As previously mentioned, the game called YGGDRASIL had an incredibly high degree of freedom, not limited to aspects like job classes, magic, races, and various equipped items—it extended into many other areas as well.
For example, when a guild had a base ranked high enough, members of that guild could access several special privileges.
One such privilege was the ability to have NPCs protect their base.
In YGGDRASIL, there were two types of NPCs.
One type would respawn automatically after a set time with no cost required, even if the NPCs were destroyed completely—meaning these NPCs would simply refresh on their own.
As for the other type, they were entirely original and custom NPCs, designed by the players themselves from scratch.
Compared to the former, these custom NPCs could not only be created at a higher level but also be equipped with items chosen by the players. With enough attention to detail, a player-created NPC would almost certainly outclass any automatically respawning NPC by a significant margin.
Needless to say, the NPCs of the Great Tomb of Nazarick were created this way, and after accompanying Ainz to this world, they came to life.
Naturally, the NPCs created by the forty-one Supreme Beings held a status and value far above that of the automatically respawning NPCs.
NPCs like Albedo, Demiurge, and Narberal belonged to this elite category, each meticulously designed by a guild member of Ainz Ooal Gown.
For Ainz, they represented the efforts of his former guild companions, the crystallization of their thoughts and care—or, in a sense, their children.
By comparison, the automatically respawning NPCs in the Great Tomb of Nazarick were little more than irrelevant NPCs, nowhere near the status of the guild members' creations.
Since the Eight-Edge Assassins were not custom NPCs created by Ainz Ooal Gown's guild members, even if they were killed, Ainz wouldn't be upset.
However—
"Even if they're just servants, they're still servants of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, not something to be casually killed by just anyone."
A red glow, carrying an unidentifiable emotion, gleamed from within the eye sockets of Ainz's helmet.
"If there's ever a chance, I'll make sure he pays for this."
Upon hearing this, Narberal had no further objections and merely nodded.
"Let's go back to everyone now."
Ainz turned toward the campfire.
"Don't forget, we're adventurers Momon and Nabe right now, not Ainz Ooal Gown and Narberal Gamma. We have to complete the quest we were hired for."
"Yes, Lord Ai—"
"Hm?"
"Ah, no, I mean... Mr. Momon."
"Good."
With that, the two returned to the campfire, joining the other adventurers.
===
At the same time, in a vast area near the outer walls of E-Rantel, there was an exceptionally large cemetery.
E-Rantel was known as the Fortress City, the Re-Estize Kingdom's frontline against the Baharuth Empire and the Slane Theocracy, making it the city closest to these neighboring countries.
As a city so close to the battlefield, E-Rantel saw soldiers fall regularly, creating the need for a cemetery large enough to lay the dead to rest and prevent them from becoming undead.
Naturally, this cemetery was where E-Rantel placed its numerous fallen, with a temple-like mausoleum at its center that exuded a chilling, eerie atmosphere at night.
Shortly after the fierce battle in E-Rantel, which had stirred up quite a commotion, someone appeared at this place.
"Oh my, how creepy~"
A female voice suddenly rang out, carrying a hint of ferocity, like a carnivorous beast.
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In front of the temple-like mausoleum at E-Rantel's cemetery, a woman appeared silently.
Looking around twenty years old, with well-defined features and short, messy blonde hair, she draped herself in a cloak, wearing a chain mail outfit underneath that protected her rather voluptuous figure.
A few dagger-like blades, known as stilettos, were strapped to her lower back, and an almost predatory grin, like that of a carnivore, spread across her face.
If one were to describe her, she gave the impression of a ravenous beast, ready to pounce at any moment, to bite and tear into someone—looking dangerous.
"Something interesting seems to be happening in the city. Let's go check it out, shall we?"
With an attitude as if she were setting out for a picnic, the woman took a step forward, ready to leave the cemetery and head toward the city.
However, as soon as she moved, a raspy voice stopped her.
"Didn't I tell you not to act rashly until I finish preparing?"
A figure slowly emerged from the mausoleum.
It was a skinny, old man with sunken eyes and a pale complexion that looked almost lifeless, with no hair at all—not even eyebrows or lashes.
He wore a long, dark red robe, with a necklace made of small animal skulls hanging around his neck, while his hands were so thin they looked like skin and bones.
Frankly, he looked more like an undead than a human—some kind of zombie.
In one hand, he held a black staff, and in the other, he carried a gravel-like pearl with a rough, round shape.
Such an appearance, if topped with a tall hat, would make him look exactly like a wizard.
Seeing the old man, the woman flashed a carefree, playful grin.
"Oh my, caught already? Didn't think you'd come out, Khaj! Or were you secretly watching me the whole time? Iyaa! Pervert!"
Her playful taunt made the old man feel disgusted.
"As if I wouldn't watch you! I know exactly how reckless you are!"
The old man yelled at the woman with an irritated expression.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Clementine. Right now, you're still being hunted by the Windflower Scripture. If you go wandering around again and get caught, what's waiting for you will be worse than death."
"After all, you're a traitor—the former Ninth Seat in the Black Scripture, Windstride."
At the old man's words, the woman, known as Clementine, kept her predatory grin, and if anything, she seemed even more excited.
"Khaj, those Windflower guys have already pulled out, you know~" Clementine said with glee.
"Don't call me Khaj! My name is Khajiit!"
Making another irritated expression, the old man, known as Khajiit, first yelled at Clementine, then frowned.
"They left? Why?"
He knew that the Windflower Scripture had been sent to capture Clementine, who had betrayed the Slane Theocracy and deserted the Black Scripture. Given the theocracy's ways, it seemed impossible they would just let a traitor like her go.
Clementine had been hunted since her betrayal, never given a moment's rest, so why were they suddenly ignoring her?
It didn't make sense.
"Why? I think I might have a guess!"
Clementine chuckled, ignoring the way Khajiit frowned and struggled to think.
"I heard the Sunlight Scripture recently came to this kingdom on a secret mission. I don't know what the mission is since I already betrayed the theocracy, but the way those Windflower guys suddenly panicked and ran off—it's gotta be connected to the Sunlight Scripture, right?"
"Maybe something happened to the Sunlight Scripture, which is why the theocracy called those guys back?"
"If so, this is getting interesting! Maybe even my old friends will get involved this time! Should I go pay them a little visit?"
As Clementine spoke, her face lit up with excitement, as if she were about to jump in and put her words into action.
"Aren't you worried you might run into the Captain of the Black Scripture or the Extra Seat?" Khajiit asked, his tone cold. "Or do you think you can take them on?"
Upon hearing this, Clementine's expression froze, and the excitement drained from her face in an instant.
"You're so annoying, Khaj!"
Clementine puffed out her cheeks, looking kind of cute, but her gaze fixed on Khajiit had a dangerous glint—a look that said she was seriously considering killing him for bringing up something she didn't like.
Khajiit, however, wasn't afraid in the slightest.
"Hmph, you should be grateful that I'm stopping you from marching to your death, Clementine."
Khajiit sneered as he spoke.
"Anyway, until I'm fully prepared, you'd better not act on your own. E-Rantel hasn't been calm lately—it's not the playground you're used to messing around in."
"Just a few days ago, Gazef Stronoff showed his face here, and the adventurer who supposedly saved him has been active lately too. I heard that even a group of Platinum Adventurers got crushed by that adventurer with ease. They say his strength is at least at Orichalcum, maybe even at Adamantite."
"If you mess things up, it's not just my plan you'll ruin; you'll be putting yourself in danger too."
Upon hearing this, Clementine looked astonished at first, but then she laughed—laughed so loudly and mockingly.
"C'mon, Khaj, do you even know who you're talking to?"
Clementine's grin stretched almost to her ears, and her tone turned vicious.
"I was once the Ninth Seat in the Black Scripture and someone who had already reached the Realm of Heroes. Even without the equipment I had back in the theocracy, no mere Adamantite Adventurer could threaten me."
"Even if Gazef Stronoff came at me fully armed with those so-called kingdom treasures, it'd still just be a fun fight. I'd at least need those annoying Blue Roses brats to make it interesting."
"As for that new adventurer? Even if he really is an Adamantite Adventurer, who cares? Adamantite Adventurers who haven't reached the Realm of Heroes are just my toys, no matter how impressive they seem."
"Now that you've mentioned him, you're just making me wanna go find that adventurer now and have some fun with him, Khaj~"
Clementine's tone grew darker and more menacing the longer she spoke, making Khajiit click his tongue in annoyance.
"If you dare interfere with my plans, I won't let you off."
While speaking, a pair of red lights—or rather, a pair of glowing red eyes, began to flicker behind Khajiit.
In the next second, two massive silhouettes appeared behind Khajiit, their massive shadows looming and swaying with a decayed aura, half visible in front of Clementine.
"I'm going to perform a ritual in E-Rantel and turn this city into an undead city. No one is going to get in my way, not even you, Clementine."
Upon hearing Khajiit's deep, threatening voice and seeing the two massive silhouettes behind him, Clementine's face twisted briefly, showing a hint of fear.
However, she quickly regained her usual composure.
"Uwah, scary, scary~"
Clementine raised her hands in a lazy gesture of surrender while smirking.
"Alright, since those Windflower guys already retreated, I don't have to worry about being chased anymore. And whatever you're up to sounds pretty interesting anyway, so I'll leave you and your undead buddies to your little love fest, yeah?"
"But…"
Clementine suddenly licked her lips and then grinned.
"The adventurer you just mentioned… once you officially make your move, hand him over to me, will ya?"
Upon hearing this, Khajiit knew right away that Clementine's old habits had returned.
"What are you planning?"
Khajiit asked in a flat, emotionless tone, which only made Clementine's grin grow wider.
"What am I planning? I just wanna have a bit of fun with him~"
While speaking, Clementine's cloak shifted slightly, causing a faint clink of metal to echo from within.
A closer look revealed rows of metal plates—silver, gold, platinum, and even mithril—all hanging beneath her cloak, hidden from view.
After showing off her trophies, Clementine's voice rang out again.
"High-ranking adventurers, the kind who think they're invincible and love to flaunt it... the look on their faces when I grind them into the dirt, there's nothing quite like it~"
"I wonder what kind of face that adventurer who saved Gazef Stronoff will make?"
"How many bones will I need to break, how many muscles to tear apart, before he starts begging for mercy?"
"Aah~ I can't wait to find out~"
"Hehehe... Hehehehe..."
Clementine's delighted laughter echoed over the cemetery, lingering in the air.
She had no idea that, at this very moment, Riezel was also thinking about her and already deciding whether or not to deal with her once and for all.
===
Time rewound back to several minutes ago.
Tonight, E-Rantel was anything but peaceful.
Not only had the Shining Golden Pavilion nearly burned to the ground in a huge fire, frightening numerous distinguished guests, but a sudden storm swept in, only to vanish just as quickly.
All of this, one way or another, was clearly impossible to ignore.
As a result, even in the middle of the night, word spread fast, and before long, the name of the one behind it all, Riezel Brynhart, was once again the talk of the city.
In the end, the guild master of the Adventurer's Guild summoned Riezel immediately and listened as he explained the entire sequence of events.
Upon hearing that Riezel had been forced to fight to eliminate monsters sneaking into the city and then seeing the corpse of one of the Eight-Edge Assassins, the guild master could only helplessly admit that none of this was Riezel's fault.
Regardless, Riezel offered to compensate for all damages and then left the Adventurer's Guild.
However, as Riezel walked down the road, he suddenly remembered something important.
'Come to think of it, isn't there supposed to be a big event happening soon in E-Rantel? Maybe... I should go and look for those two?'
Riezel fell into deep thought, contemplating what he should do next.
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