Overlord: The Wandering Sorcerer Chapter 2 — Two Adventurers
The first problem with becoming an adventurer was that Momonga had absolutely no idea how adventurers actually lived.
The second problem was Narbe.
The third problem was that Narbe apparently considered both problems irrelevant.
They had been walking for most of the day when Momonga finally stopped beneath a large tree.
“Nabe.”
“Yes, Mommon?”
“How much longer until we find a road?”
“I do not know.”
“A village?”
“I do not know.”
“A town?”
“I do not know.”
Momonga stared at her.
Narbe stared back.
“You’re remarkably unhelpful.”
“I apologize.”
“You don’t sound sorry.”
“I am not.”
Momonga sighed.
He was beginning to understand something important.
Having only one NPC with him was going to be very different from having all of Nazarick.
There would be no Demiurge to formulate plans.
No Sebas to gather information.
No Aura to track their surroundings.
No Mare to alter the terrain.
No Albedo to organize everything.
No Pandora’s Actor to perform increasingly absurd administrative miracles.
And, perhaps most importantly, no one else to absorb Narbe’s personality.
He looked at her.
She looked back.
“Do you remember anything about this world?”
“Only what I was programmed to know.”
“Which means?”
“Human societies.
Several known races.
Basic geography.
Adventurer classifications.
Magic.
The existence of the Slane Theocracy.
The Baharuth Empire.
The Re-Estize Kingdom.”
Momonga straightened.
“Wait.”
Narbe stopped.
“Adventurer classifications?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know that?”
“I was given knowledge concerning this world.”
Momonga’s eyes narrowed.
That was interesting.
Very interesting.
“So the NPC settings included information about this world?”
“Apparently.”
“How much?”
“I cannot say.”
“You cannot?”
“I know what I know.”
Momonga thought about that.
It was frustrating.
But useful.
“Then let’s start with the adventurers.”
Narbe nodded.
“Adventurers are individuals who accept requests for money.”
“I know what adventurers are.”
“Do you?”
Momonga paused.
“…Not really.”
Narbe continued.
“They are generally categorized by rank.
Copper, iron, silver, gold, platinum, mithril, orichalcum, and adamantite.”
Momonga smiled.
“That sounds familiar.”
“It is also important that you do not reveal your true abilities.”
“I was already planning on that.”
Narbe looked at him.
“Why?”
Momonga raised a skeletal finger.
“Because I have no idea what the power structure of this world looks like.”
He raised another.
“Because I don’t know whether there are other players.”
Another.
“And because if everyone learns that an undead creature capable of casting tenth-tier magic has appeared out of nowhere, someone will probably become nervous.”
Narbe nodded.
“That is logical.”
“Good.”
Momonga lowered his hand.
“So we’re going to become adventurers.”
“Yes.”
“Low-profile adventurers.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll earn money, gather information, and travel.”
“Yes.”
“We’ll avoid unnecessary conflicts.”
“Yes.”
Momonga smiled.
“Excellent.”
Narbe waited.
“Was there something else?”
Momonga looked at her.
“Yes.”
He pointed toward the horizon.
“We need to find the road first.”
They found it just before sunset.
It was barely more than a dirt path.
Two wagon tracks cut through the grass, disappearing into the distance.
Momonga stood beside it.
He felt absurdly pleased.
“We found civilization.”
Narbe glanced down the road.
“Possibly.”
Momonga looked at her.
“Why do you always have to ruin these moments?”
“I am merely being accurate.”
“Yes.
I noticed.”
They began following the road.
It took another hour before they saw the first sign of human habitation.
Smoke.
Momonga stopped.
“Narbe.”
“I see it.”
“How many?”
“Approximately twelve people.”
“Any monsters?”
“No.”
“Any soldiers?”
“Three.”
“Then it’s probably a village.”
They continued.
A small settlement eventually appeared between the trees.
It was nothing impressive.
A few dozen houses.
A wooden fence.
A well.
Some livestock.
Children running between buildings.
Momonga stopped before the entrance.
For some reason, he felt nervous.
This was ridiculous.
He had fought monsters that could destroy cities.
He had commanded armies.
He had defeated guilds.
He had faced beings that could cast super-tier magic.
And yet walking into a tiny village filled him with uncertainty.
Narbe noticed.
“Are you nervous?”
“No.”
“You are.”
“I am not.”
“You have been standing in the same place for twenty-seven seconds.”
Momonga sighed.
“Fine.”
He looked toward the village.
“I don’t know how people will react.”
“To you?”
“To us.”
Narbe’s golden eyes narrowed.
“If they attack you, I will eliminate them.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because we’re adventurers.”
“I fail to see the connection.”
Momonga rubbed the bridge of his nonexistent nose.
“Adventurers don’t slaughter villagers.”
“Noted.”
“And please try to look less threatening.”
Narbe looked at herself.
“I’m wearing a maid uniform.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
They entered the village.
A few people immediately looked at them.
Then more.
A child pointed at Momonga.
His mother quickly pulled the child closer.
Momonga noticed.
Of course.
He looked terrifying.
An undead skeleton wearing black robes.
He probably wasn’t going to make a good first impression.
Narbe, on the other hand, looked like an elegant young woman.
That should have helped.
Except she was staring at everyone with an expression that could freeze water.
Momonga leaned toward her.
“Smile.”
Narbe looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because we’re friendly.”
“I am friendly.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I am friendly toward you.”
“That’s not enough.”
She attempted a smile.
Momonga stared.
Narbe’s mouth curved upward.
The result was terrifying.
“Stop.”
She stopped.
“Perhaps simply don’t talk.”
“Understood.”
A man approached them.
He was middle-aged, dressed in simple clothing, and carried a wooden spear.
“Are you adventurers?”
Momonga smiled.
“Yes.”
The man looked at his skeletal face.
His hand tightened around the spear.
Momonga immediately understood.
He had made a mistake.
“Ah.”
He raised both hands.
“Please don’t worry.
I’m not hostile.”
The man remained tense.
Narbe stepped forward.
Momonga immediately put a hand in front of her.
“Let me.”
He turned back toward the villager.
“My name is Mommon.”
He gestured toward Narbe.
“This is Nabe.”
The man hesitated.
“I’m the village headman.”
“Pleasure to meet you.”
The headman glanced toward the road.
“Where are you headed?”
Momonga considered the question.
“Honestly?”
The man looked confused.
“We don’t know yet.”
Narbe nodded.
Momonga continued.
“We’re looking for a town where we can register as adventurers.”
The man’s expression changed.
“Then you should head west.”
“How far?”
“Half a day by wagon.”
Momonga felt relief.
Finally.
A destination.
“Thank you.”
The headman hesitated.
Then he looked at the sky.
“You won’t make it before dark.”
Momonga looked upward.
The sun was already disappearing.
“Do you have an inn?”
The headman laughed.
“Not exactly.”
Momonga glanced around.
The village had perhaps thirty houses.
Of course there was no inn.
“We can sleep outside.”
The headman’s expression became uncomfortable.
“There are monsters in the forest.”
Momonga looked at Narbe.
Narbe looked back.
Momonga smiled.
“I think we’ll be fine.”
They were not fine.
At least, not in the way the villagers expected.
The monsters attacked shortly after midnight.
Momonga had been sitting beneath a tree, staring at the stars.
He had never appreciated the night sky in YGGDRASIL quite like this.
It was enormous.
The stars seemed almost impossibly distant.
Narbe sat nearby.
She hadn’t complained once about sleeping outside.
Then Momonga heard something.
A branch breaking.
He turned.
“Narbe.”
“I know.”
Several pairs of eyes appeared between the trees.
Wolves.
Large ones.
Far larger than ordinary wolves.
The villagers’ guards began shouting.
Children cried.
People rushed out of their homes.
Momonga stood.
“How many?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Level?”
“Between five and eight.”
Momonga almost laughed.
After everything he had faced in YGGDRASIL, these creatures were barely worth mentioning.
But for the villagers…
They were terrifying.
The wolves charged.
Narbe moved.
Momonga didn’t even see her draw her weapon.
A flash of silver.
The first wolf fell.
The second.
The third.
Narbe moved through the pack like a dancer.
Momonga watched.
She was holding back.
He could tell.
Even so, the battle was over within seconds.
The remaining wolves fled.
Silence returned.
The villagers stared.
Momonga looked at Narbe.
“That was subtle.”
“I used less than one percent of my physical ability.”
“I meant subtle socially.”
“Oh.”
Narbe looked genuinely puzzled.
Momonga sighed.
He approached the villagers.
“Is everyone all right?”
No one answered.
The headman finally stepped forward.
“You…”
He stared at Narbe.
“Who are you?”
Momonga smiled.
“Adventurers.”
The headman looked at the dead wolves.
Then at Momonga.
Then at Narbe.
“I’ve never seen adventurers like you.”
Momonga chuckled.
“Neither have I.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
The following morning, the village refused to accept payment for their lodging.
Momonga suspected it had more to do with fear than gratitude.
Still, he accepted the food they offered.
That was another strange experience.
Bread.
Cheese.
Soup.
He could taste them.
He could actually taste them.
Momonga stared at the bowl in his hands.
“Nabe.”
“Yes?”
“I can taste this.”
Narbe looked at the soup.
“That is unusual.”
“I know.”
He took another spoonful.
It wasn’t particularly good.
It was too salty.
The vegetables were overcooked.
The bread was stale.
It was wonderful.
Momonga suddenly realized that he couldn’t remember the last time he had eaten something that wasn’t merely a game mechanic.
He continued eating.
Narbe watched him.
“You seem pleased.”
“I am.”
“Then I am pleased as well.”
Momonga looked at her.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then he smiled.
“Thanks.”
Narbe nodded.
By noon, they were back on the road.
The village disappeared behind them.
Momonga walked with his hands behind his back.
“Nabe.”
“Yes?”
“Do you know what I want?”
“What?”
“An adventure.”
Narbe looked at him.
“That is what we are doing.”
“No.”
Momonga shook his head.
“I mean a real one.”
He looked toward the distant horizon.
“I want to see this world.”
Narbe remained silent.
“I want to visit cities.
Meet people.
See monsters.
Explore ruins.”
He laughed softly.
“Maybe even find some treasure.”
“You are an undead Overlord.”
“Yes.”
“You possess enough power to conquer most of the known world.”
“I know.”
“And you wish to search for treasure?”
“Yes.”
Narbe considered this.
“That sounds inefficient.”
Momonga laughed.
“Exactly.”
For a while, they walked in silence.
Then Narbe asked:
“Do you still wish to find the other Supreme Beings?”
Momonga stopped.
The question hung in the air.
He looked toward the road.
His former guildmates.
His friends.
People he had spent years with.
People who had left one by one.
For a moment, he felt that old ache.
“Yes.”
He looked at Narbe.
“But not only that.”
“Then what else?”
Momonga looked toward the distant mountains.
“I want to find out what happened to us.”
He continued walking.
“And if there are others like us…”
His voice became quieter.
“I want to meet them.”
Narbe followed.
“Even if they are enemies?”
Momonga thought about it.
“Even then.”
He paused.
“Unless they try to kill us.”
Narbe nodded.
“In that case?”
Momonga smiled.
“Then we’ll deal with it.”
Two figures continued down the road.
One was an undead magic caster who had once been a salaryman.
The other was a battle maid who had once been nothing more than data.
Neither knew that somewhere far beyond the horizon, the world was already moving.
Kingdoms were fighting.
Theocracy was watching.
Adventurers were taking quests.
Monsters were hunting.
And ancient powers were sleeping.
For now, however, none of that mattered.
Because Mommon and Nabe had a much more immediate problem.
They had to reach the city before nightfall.
And neither of them had any money.
Three hours later, Momonga discovered that becoming an adventurer would be more complicated than expected.
They had reached a fork in the road.
A wooden sign pointed in two directions.
E-Rantel — West
Carne Village — East
Momonga stared at it.
“Well.”
Narbe looked at the sign.
“West.”
“I can read.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you say it?”
“Because you have been staring at the sign for thirty-two seconds.”
Momonga sighed.
“West it is.”
He turned toward the western road.
Then stopped.
“Narbe.”
“Yes?”
“Do we have any money?”
“No.”
“Do you?”
“No.”
“Do I?”
“No.”
Momonga looked toward E-Rantel.
The city was still far away.
He looked back at the village behind them.
Then toward the forest.
Finally, he looked at Narbe.
“We need to get a job.”
Narbe’s expression remained perfectly calm.
“What kind?”
Momonga smiled.
“Any kind.”
And so their first real adventure began.
Not with a dragon.
Not with a demon.
Not with a legendary artifact.
But with the desperate search for their first paying quest.