Overlord: The Wandering Sorcerer Chapter 8 — Blue Rose
The road back to E-Rantel was quiet.
Momonga preferred it that way.
He had too many things to think about.
Clementine.
The missing adventurers.
The strange symbol on the letter.
The possibility that someone was watching them.
And, increasingly, the question he had been trying not to ask himself.
How long could they continue pretending to be ordinary adventurers?
He walked with his hands behind his back.
Nabe followed a step behind.
After several minutes, Momonga spoke.
“Nabe.”
“Yes?”
“How strong am I?”
Nabe looked at him.
“Very.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“You are stronger than nearly every being we have encountered.”
“Nearly?”
“There are unknown entities in this world.”
Momonga nodded.
“That’s what worries me.”
Nabe was silent.
“I know what I could do in YGGDRASIL.”
Momonga looked toward the horizon.
“But this isn’t YGGDRASIL.”
“No.”
“I don’t know the limits of the world.”
“Neither do I.”
“And I don’t want to find them by accidentally destroying a city.”
Nabe considered that.
“That would be inconvenient.”
Momonga laughed.
“Exactly.”
They entered E-Rantel shortly before sunset.
This time, the guards barely paid attention to them.
Momonga was beginning to appreciate the advantages of becoming familiar.
He walked through the gate without being stopped.
Nabe followed.
They were almost at the Adventurer’s Guild when someone called out.
“Mommon!”
Momonga turned.
Climb was approaching.
The young warrior looked relieved.
“I’ve been looking for you.”
“Why?”
Climb slowed.
“There was a request from Carne Village.”
Momonga’s expression changed.
“You know about it?”
“Yes.”
“What do you know?”
Climb glanced around.
“Can we talk somewhere private?”
Momonga nodded.
They found a quiet corner of a tavern.
Climb sat across from Momonga.
Nabe stood behind him.
Momonga noticed that Climb kept glancing at her.
“She doesn’t bite.”
Nabe looked at him.
“I could.”
Momonga sighed.
“Please don’t.”
Climb laughed nervously.
“I heard that the six missing adventurers were found.”
“They were.”
“Dead?”
“Yes.”
Climb lowered his gaze.
“I see.”
Momonga watched him.
“You knew them?”
“No.”
“Then why are you upset?”
Climb hesitated.
“Because they were adventurers.”
Momonga smiled faintly.
“I understand.”
Climb looked at him.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
Momonga leaned back.
“We’re all taking risks.”
Climb nodded.
“That’s why I wanted to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Will you investigate what happened?”
Momonga looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think it was a normal monster attack.”
Momonga’s interest sharpened.
“What makes you think that?”
“There were no bodies at first.”
“We found them.”
“Yes.
But before that, the guild sent another group.”
“Who?”
“Blue Rose.”
Momonga froze.
Nabe noticed immediately.
“Blue Rose?”
Climb nodded.
“They were already investigating strange monster activity around the area.”
Momonga’s mind raced.
Blue Rose.
One of the most famous adamantite-ranked teams in the Kingdom.
And among them…
Evileye.
The strange figure Momonga had seen from the distant hill suddenly came to mind.
Blue hair.
Golden eyes.
He had not been certain.
Now he was.
“Where are they?”
Climb shook his head.
“I don’t know.”
Momonga stood.
“Nabe.”
“Yes.”
“We’re going.”
“Where?”
“To find Blue Rose.”
They didn’t have to search for long.
The Adventurer’s Guild knew where the team had been operating.
A tavern.
A name.
A contact.
By the time Momonga reached the building, the sun had already disappeared.
He entered.
The atmosphere changed immediately.
Several adventurers turned toward him.
Momonga ignored them.
He looked around.
Then he saw her.
A small figure sitting alone at a table.
Blue hair.
A mask covering part of her face.
She was drinking something.
Momonga stopped.
The woman looked up.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then her gaze moved to Nabe.
Back to Momonga.
She stood.
“You.”
Momonga smiled.
“Hello.”
She walked closer.
“I saw you.”
“Where?”
“Outside Carne Village.”
Momonga nodded.
“I thought so.”
Her expression became suspicious.
“You knew I was there?”
“No.”
“Then how?”
“I noticed someone watching us.”
She stared. New chapters come out on g.com first.
“You sensed me?”
“Yes.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“That’s impossible.”
Momonga smiled.
“People tell me that a lot.”
She didn’t smile.
“Who are you?”
“Mommon.”
“I know that.”
“Then you have an advantage.”
“You’re undead.”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn’t be here.”
Momonga tilted his head.
“That’s an interesting opinion.”
She stared at him.
“You’re too strong.”
Momonga was silent.
She continued.
“I watched you in the forest.”
“How much?”
“Enough.”
“Then you know I didn’t use my full strength.”
Her eyes narrowed further.
“That’s what worries me.”
Momonga looked at her carefully.
She was powerful.
Very powerful.
But not overwhelmingly so.
Her presence was nothing like Narbe’s.
Still…
There was something unusual about her.
Something Momonga couldn’t identify.
He decided to ask directly.
“You’re Evileye, aren’t you?”
Her expression changed.
“How do you know my name?”
“I’ve heard of you.”
“From whom?”
“People.”
She stared.
“You sound like Clementine.”
Momonga’s expression became serious.
“You know Clementine?”
Evileye’s eyes hardened.
“Unfortunately.”
“She was in the forest.”
Evileye immediately became alert.
“What?”
“She approached us.”
“Did she attack you?”
“Yes.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
Evileye stared at him.
“You’re telling the truth?”
“Yes.”
“And you let her go?”
“Yes.”
Evileye’s expression became almost incredulous.
“Why?”
Momonga shrugged.
“I wanted information.”
“You don’t understand what she is.”
“I understand enough.”
“No.”
Evileye stepped closer.
“You don’t.”
Momonga’s voice became calm.
“Then tell me.”
Evileye hesitated.
She glanced toward Nabe.
“I don’t know who you are.”
“That’s fair.”
“But if Clementine has taken an interest in you…”
She paused.
“Then you should leave E-Rantel.”
Momonga was silent.
“Why?”
“Because she doesn’t stop.”
“Neither do I.”
Evileye stared at him.
Then, unexpectedly, she laughed.
It was quiet.
Almost surprised.
“You really are strange.”
Momonga smiled.
“I’ve heard that too.”
Evileye sat down.
Momonga and Nabe joined her.
For the first time, the three of them were together.
Momonga found the situation oddly amusing.
In another life, he might have been commanding an army.
Here he was sitting in a tavern with a mysterious undead woman and his battle maid.
He liked this version of his life considerably more.
Evileye removed her mask.
Momonga looked at her.
She looked younger than he expected.
But there was something old in her eyes.
Very old.
Momonga knew immediately.
“You’re not human.”
Evileye’s expression became guarded.
“No.”
“What are you?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
“Fair enough.”
She blinked.
“You’re not going to ask?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t like answering questions I don’t want to answer.”
Evileye looked at him.
Then laughed again.
“You’re surprisingly reasonable for an undead.”
Momonga smiled.
“I’m trying.”
Nabe spoke.
“You are a vampire.”
Evileye’s expression froze.
Momonga slowly turned toward Nabe.
“Nabe.”
“Yes?”
“You could have waited.”
“Why?”
Momonga sighed.
Evileye stared at Nabe.
“How did you know?”
Nabe’s expression remained completely neutral.
“You smell like one.”
Evileye’s face became offended.
“I do not smell.”
Momonga covered his face with one hand.
“Please don’t start.”
Evileye glared at Nabe.
Nabe glared back.
Momonga suddenly understood that this was going to become a problem.
Eventually, they returned to the subject of Clementine.
Evileye explained what she knew.
Clementine was dangerous.
Unstable.
Obsessed with strong opponents.
And, most importantly, she had connections to the Slane Theocracy.
Momonga listened carefully.
“The Slane Theocracy.”
“Yes.”
“Why would they want her?”
“They don’t.”
Evileye paused.
“She left them.”
“Then why are you concerned about the Theocracy?”
“Because if she’s working alone, she’s dangerous.”
“And if she’s working with them?”
Evileye’s expression darkened.
“Then she’s much worse.”
Momonga nodded.
He had already suspected something similar.
“So the disappearances may be connected.”
“Possibly.”
“Do you know what she’s looking for?”
Evileye shook her head.
“No.”
Momonga looked toward the window.
Then back at her. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
“I think she’s looking for me.”
Evileye stared.
“Why?”
“Because I’m an undead.”
“That doesn’t explain it.”
“No.”
Momonga’s voice became quieter.
“I think there’s something else.”
“What?”
“I don’t know yet.”
Evileye watched him.
“You really intend to investigate.”
“Yes.”
“Even if it’s dangerous?”
“Especially if it’s dangerous.”
Evileye smiled faintly.
“You’re an idiot.”
Momonga laughed.
“Probably.”
The tavern door opened.
Several women entered.
Momonga immediately recognized them.
Blue Rose.
Gagaran.
Tia.
Tina.
Lakyus.
And behind them…
Evileye’s companions.
The group stopped when they saw Momonga.
Gagaran’s eyes widened.
“Who’s the skeleton?”
Momonga raised a hand.
“Hello.”
Gagaran stared.
Then laughed.
“You’re Mommon!”
Momonga blinked.
“That sounds ominous.”
Lakyus approached.
“I’m Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra.”
Momonga knew the name.
One of the most famous adventurers in the Re-Estize Kingdom.
She was polite.
Composed.
A natural leader.
Momonga bowed slightly.
“Mommon.”
“Nabe.”
Lakyus glanced at Nabe.
Then at Momonga.
“You are the undead adventurer everyone has been talking about.”
“Apparently.”
Gagaran leaned closer.
“You’re really an undead?”
“Yes.”
“Can I touch you?”
Momonga paused.
“Why?”
“I’ve never touched an undead who could talk.”
Nabe immediately stepped forward.
“No.”
Gagaran laughed.
“Protective, isn’t she?”
Momonga smiled.
“Very.”
Evileye stood.
“He’s helping investigate the disappearances.”
Lakyus looked at Momonga.
“Then perhaps we should cooperate.”
Momonga nodded.
“I’d like that.”
Lakyus smiled.
“Good.”
The meeting had been unexpectedly easy.
Too easy.
Momonga had expected suspicion.
Instead, Blue Rose seemed almost curious.
Then Gagaran asked the question that immediately ruined the atmosphere.
“So…”
She looked at Momonga.
“Are you two married?”
Silence.
Momonga stared at her.
Nabe stared at Gagaran.
Evileye nearly choked on her drink.
Lakyus closed her eyes.
“Tia.”
“Yes?”
“Please control her.”
“I’m trying.”
Gagaran laughed.
“I’m only asking!”
Momonga looked at Nabe.
Nabe looked back.
“Should I answer?”
Momonga sighed.
“No.”
“Understood.”
Evileye covered her face.
“I already regret this.”
Momonga laughed.
For the first time since arriving in the New World, he laughed with other people.
Not because they were NPCs.
Not because they were guildmates.
Because they were simply people.
And somehow, that felt more valuable.
Later that night, Momonga and Nabe returned to their inn.
Momonga sat on the edge of his bed.
He was quiet.
Nabe stood by the window.
“You enjoyed yourself.”
Momonga smiled.
“Yes.”
“Even though Gagaran insulted you.”
“She didn’t.”
“She asked if we were married.”
“That’s not an insult.”
Nabe looked at him.
“Would you object?”
Momonga froze.
“Nabe.”
“Yes?”
“Where did that come from?”
“You appeared uncomfortable.”
“I was surprised.”
“Would you object?”
Momonga didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at the ceiling.
“Nabe…”
“Yes?”
“We’ve only been here for a short time.”
“I know.”
“We’re adventurers.”
“Yes.”
“We don’t even have a permanent home.”
“Correct.”
“So…”
He paused.
“I think we should concentrate on surviving before discussing marriage.”
Nabe nodded.
“Understood.”
Momonga exhaled.
Then smiled.
“Although…”
Nabe looked at him.
“Although?”
Momonga stood.
“You’re probably the closest thing I have to family in this world.”
Nabe’s expression softened.
“I am honored.”
Momonga nodded.
“Good.”
He walked toward the window.
Outside, E-Rantel was quiet.
But somewhere in the city, Clementine was still moving.
And somewhere beyond the city walls, something else was watching.
Momonga had come to the New World wanting adventure.
He was getting it.
Perhaps too much of it.
But for the first time in a very long time…
He was not alone.
And that made all the difference.