Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz)

EeDechi glared fiercely at Ainz, her eyes sharp enough to pierce through his armor.

Ainz silently steeled himself. No way, I can't let my guard down now. 

They'd poured countless resources—manpower, money, everything—into months of searching, only to come up empty-handed. Now, here she was, right in front of him. Talk about finding a needle in a haystack without even trying. This was their golden chance, and he had to keep EeDechi pinned down—no way was he letting her slip away again!

"Hey, you Justice Value -500 punk, I'm talking to you. How'd you know I'm an adventurer? Do you know me or what?"

EeDechi took a step closer, her hand already gripping the hilt of her giant sword. Her outfit was plain—black shirt, black pants—not the usual adventurer getup loaded with pockets and gear.

In Re-Estize, wanted posters for EeDechi plastered every street corner; she was a household name. But here in the Slane Theocracy, hardly anyone knew her. And at the edge of the Eight Greed Kings' desert, how the hell did this masked, armored warrior peg her as an adventurer?

Ainz, or rather, the adventurer Momon, forced himself to stay calm. EeDechi had somehow seen right through his Justice Value, and it was making her seriously wary. Ainz knew he had to say something—anything—to gain her trust, and fast.

He waved a hand and said, "I come from Re-Estize. Back there, I heard about your deeds—how you stood up against the evil overlord Ainz Ooal Gown and got hunted by the Sorcerer Kingdom for it. Relax, we're not in cahoots with those bastards from the Sorcerer Kingdom. I hate Ainz's guts, that smug demon king lounging on his throne."

I insult myself. Ainz thought, mentally rolling his eyes. Trashing himself wasn't fun, but setting up a common enemy was the fastest way to build trust and keep EeDechi from bolting. Desperate times, desperate measures.

Nearby, Nabe instinctively drew her sword, its edge glinting with raw killing intent, ready to gut this jerk for insulting Lord Ainz. But she caught herself just in time and shoved the blade back into its sheath.

Ainz caught her little slip and sighed inwardly. Nabe, your acting skills need serious work.

EeDechi coldly sized up the adventurer Momon, her gaze locked on the -500 Justice Value hovering over his head, ready to smite evil at a moment's notice.

"We're adamantite-level adventurers," Momon said, holding up his gleaming Adamantite badge. "This proves we've slain monsters, protected folks, and kept the peace. I'm Momon, and this is my companion, Nabe."

"Is that so?" EeDechi had vaguely heard of the adamantite-level adventurer Momon. They were one of Re-Estize's three elite adamantite teams, and word was, they had a pretty solid rep.

"Maybe there's some misunderstanding here, but adventurers like us should stick together. Let's talk, get to know each other," Momon said, laying on the charm with a load of bullshit.

Barrett strolled over, water skin in hand, and sensed the tension. "What's going on?" he asked EeDechi quickly.

"I've got two lowlife scum with Justice Values in the gutter," EeDechi whispered back. "I'm thinking about whether to take them out."

"They're adamantite-level adventurers," Barrett said, eyeing their badges with a hint of shock.

Adamantite-level adventurers weren't just heavy hitters; they had connections and fame to match. Any fight involving them would spread like wildfire through the adventurer grapevine, becoming the talk of the town in no time.

Barrett leaned in and murmured to EeDechi, "We're already on the run from the Great Tomb of Nazarick. We need to keep a low profile and avoid stirring up trouble out here."

EeDechi mulled it over and figured Barrett had a point. She decided to keep an eye on these two for now. Aside from their Justice Values being suspiciously rock-bottom, these adamantite adventurers hadn't done anything too shady yet.

…

Twilight slowly darkened the land, maybe because the sky was choked with dust, night fell faster than usual. A yellow sandstorm loomed in the distance, blotting out the horizon. EeDechi gazed out, a flicker of worry crossing her mind.

But soon Barrett returned with good news. After chatting with the locals, he learned the sandstorm would die down by morning, and the wild surges of magical energy would calm too. Then they could cross the Eight Greed Kings' desert and venture deeper into its heart.

The night was deep, but Moonstone Hollow's nightlife was anything but dull. The enchanted crystal by the water pool could turn sand into endless drops of water—a magical marvel that gave the village a serious edge, making life for the locals pretty damn comfortable.

Grease torches blazed everywhere, lighting the place up like a festival. Bonfires roared in several spots around the village, with folks grilling lamb skewers and roasting whole sheep, chugging freshly brewed sweet fruit wine. They held hands, singing and dancing around the fires, the air buzzing with energy.

"Nabe, let's join the party, have a drink, and cozy up to EeDechi," Ainz said from the shadows, pointing to a bonfire outside the inn.

By the roaring flames, the Last Defender of the Way adventuring crew sat cross-legged around the fire, chowing down on bowls of stir-fried lamb with desert chives, washing it down with sweet plum wine. Their laughter rang out, the flickering firelight dancing on their faces, the vibe warm and lively.

For some reason, Ainz felt a pang of envy. Do I have real companions? he asked himself. No, just loyal subordinates.

"Lord Momon," Nabe said, pulling her cloak tight, her face twisted with disgust. "Sitting with those filthy bugs makes my skin crawl. I can't help but show how much I hate it. What if EeDechi picks up on that?"

Nabe had always despised humans, seeing them as nothing but insects, sneering at their weakness. Calling them "bugs" was her go-to habit.

She cautiously asked Ainz, "Lord Momon, why don't we just call the other guardians, have everyone teleport in, and nab EeDechi?"

"I want to talk to EeDechi, get a read on what kind of person she is," Ainz said with a quiet sigh. "After all, she's the only other living soul who crossed over like me.

"Besides, EeDechi's already in the bag. Now that we've got her coordinates, I can decide her fate whenever I want. Might as well let her breathe a few more hours."

Adventurer Momon and his follower Nabe trudged through the sandy path, joining the crowd around the bonfire. The three adventurers, the dragonborn Draevor, and a few villagers shuffled over, making room for two more seats.

Momon plopped down without taking off his armor, all casual and carefree. Nabe sat on the ground, arms wrapped tightly around her knees, looking like she'd rather sink into the dirt than be anywhere near these humans.

EeDechi eyed them both warily, her gaze practically screaming—Don't try anything stupid. It made striking up a conversation a bit tricky for Ainz.

Looking up at the pitch-black sky, a golden moon hung high overhead, a sure sign the sandstorm was about to fade. The moonlight was pure and radiant, its soft glow draping the land like a delicate veil.

Under the moonlight, the bonfire blazed bright and warm, its playful flames dancing like ballerinas. Above the fire, a long metal rod held a roasting whole lamb, the flames licking its glistening, golden-red skin, sizzling with popping oil bubbles.

A kindly old man with snow-white hair and beard tended the roast, brushing oyster sauce over it now and then, sprinkling fennel, pepper powder, and rosemary. When one side turned crisp and golden, he leisurely turned the spit, roasting the other side.

The lamb had been marinated, seasoned, and pre-cooked to near perfection in an oven, so after ten minutes or so, the tender, juicy meat was ready to come off the fire, a feast for the hungry crowd.

With a long, gleaming silver knife, the old man sliced off chunks of the lamb, the mouthwatering aroma hitting like a wave. The carved meat was piled onto white porcelain plates, passed around the circle of people by the fire.

Barrett took a plate from EeDechi and handed it to Momon, who sat beside him. "Here, want some?"

Ainz stared at the glistening, golden-fatty lamb on the plate, silent for a moment before letting out a soft sigh.

"Nah, I'm good."