Makoto stood up, retrieved several gold coins from the adventurers, tossed them casually onto the counter, and gave the fallen men a dismissive kick.
“Consider this compensation for the broken tables and chairs.
If it’s not enough, take the rest from these pieces of trash.”
“Ah…
yes, yes, yes!”
The tavern owner scooped the gold coins into his arms, a brilliant smile breaking across his face.
With this much money, even after deducting the cost of the furniture, it was still equivalent to two or three months of his usual income.
Initially, seeing how strong Makoto was and knowing he couldn’t afford to offend those Gold-rank adventurers either, he had prepared to just accept the bad luck.
He never expected such a turn of events—he was actually going to make a profit!
He certainly had no objections.
“This is enough, more than enough!”
“What would you like to eat?
I’ll have someone prepare it for you right away.”
Makoto paid no mind to the tavern owner’s groveling.
He had noticed them earlier: the adventurer Momon in jet-black armor—who was actually the Bone King—and his subordinate Nabe.
The Master of Nazarick, the Overlord of Death, the original protagonist of the anime: Ainz Ooal Gown.
Although his target had appeared, Makoto didn’t choose to go up and strike up a conversation.
Desperation doesn’t make for a good deal.
Makoto picked up his long spear, tapped the floor with its butt, performed a flourish before resting it on his shoulder, and turned to leave.
“No need.
Just remember to keep an eye out for news regarding Ainz Ooal Gown for me.”
“Rest assured, if there’s real news, come find me directly.
I won’t short you a single copper of the reward.”
Having said that, he turned and walked away, seemingly without a hint of hesitation.
He had only taken a few steps when Ainz Ooal Gown’s voice came from behind him.
“My friend, I heard you are looking for Ainz Ooal Gown.
May I ask what business you have?”
“To be honest, I have a bit of a connection with him.”
Makoto paused, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
He’s hooked.
He slowly turned around.
His gaze beneath the helmet swept over the jet-black armored ‘Momon’ and then at the cold-looking Nabe behind him.
His tone was indifferent yet held a hint of playfulness.
“Oh?
A connection?”
Ainz—no, Momon at this moment—nodded slightly, his voice deep and steady.
“You could say we are old acquaintances.
If you have business with him, perhaps I can relay a message.”
Makoto didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he tapped the ground gently with the butt of his spear as if contemplating something.
“Old acquaintances, huh…”
He took two steps forward and leaned against a nearby pillar, his posture casual yet subtly scrutinizing.
“Then tell me, what does the name ‘Ainz Ooal Gown’ represent?”
Without waiting for Ainz to speak, Makoto offered some options in a breezy tone.
“Don’t say I’m bullying you.
I’ll give you a few choices.
If you pick the right one, I can give you the money directly.”
“First, the name of a certain human.
Second, a place name.
Third, the name of a certain item.”
“And the fourth…”
Makoto held out his hand, extending a finger for each option.
A smile played on his lips as he paused for a few seconds.
“…is the name of a certain guild.”
Ainz’s skeletal body stiffened slightly.
The detail was extremely subtle.
Had Makoto not been prepared, it would have been almost impossible to notice.
Undead do not breathe and have no heartbeat, but that subtle pause was exactly what betrayed his wariness.
“Shall we find another place to talk?”
Ainz’s voice remained steady, showing no sign of the inner turmoil or urgency he felt.
“This is not a convenient place for details.
Let’s find a quiet spot to talk properly, shall we?”
“Please rest assured, my goal is not gold coins.
As long as I can confirm you have no hostility toward Ainz Ooal Gown, you don’t need to give me any gold; I will arrange for you to meet.
How does that sound?”
“No problem.
I’ve rented a private courtyard nearby.
If you’re not afraid, follow me.”
After speaking, Makoto turned and left the tavern.
Ainz and Nabe exchanged a glance and followed him without hesitation.
Upon arriving at the courtyard, Makoto sat down boisterously on a sofa.
“And the answer?”
“Fourth.
Ainz Ooal Gown is the name of a guild.
Am I correct?”
After receiving the answer, Makoto stared at Ainz and Nabe for a couple of seconds.
Suddenly, he reached up and removed his helmet, revealing a young, handsome face with a bright smile like that of a friendly older brother.
“Congratulations, you got it right!”
“Alright, since you’re his acquaintance, I won’t beat around the bush.”
He planted his long spear into the ground and crossed his arms over his chest without any guard.
“Back when we played the game together, he clearly promised that once I became a working adult, he’d let me join Ainz Ooal Gown.
He even said he’d introduce me to his beautiful voice-actress sister, Bukubukuchagama.”
The smile on his face didn’t change, but his tone carried a hint of gritted-teeth frustration.
“As a result, after I turned down several classmates’ advances and finally became a member of society, that guy actually quit the game!”
A storm of shock surged within Ainz.
Bukubukuchagama.
Peroroncino.
How could he possibly not know those two names?
The former was the holder of the title ‘Slime Shield,’ and the latter was one of the top archers in the guild.
They were both founding members of the Ainz Ooal Gown guild, companions who had fought by his side for nine years in that game world.
And this person before him claimed to be their old friend?
“Peroroncino…”
Ainz spoke slowly, his voice tinged with a complex emotion he didn’t even realize was there.
“He wasn’t the type of person to just abandon a friend.”
“Ha!”
Makoto spread his hands exaggeratedly.
“You think so too, right?
That’s what I thought back then!
And the result?”
“He promised to wait two years for me, so we could play together in the Ainz Ooal Gown guild after I graduated.
Then he just quits?”
“Since you also know Peroroncino, it means that guy really transmigrated as well…
Forget it, never mind.
Just take me to him first; we can discuss the rest later.”
He stepped forward, looking at Ainz with burning eyes.
Nabe’s gaze turned cold, her hand already on the hilt of her sword.
But Ainz raised his hand slightly to stop her.
“So you’re looking for Ainz Ooal Gown just to ask about Peroroncino’s whereabouts?”
“Why else?”
Makoto looked at him as if he were being nonsensical.
“I’m not familiar with the others.
If I hadn’t accidentally heard the name Ainz Ooal Gown, I would have thought he hadn’t come to this world like I did.”
Ainz fell silent for a moment, his mind racing.
It wasn’t strange for this fellow calling himself Makoto to know the names of Bukubukuchagama and Peroroncino.
However, the man didn’t just mention the names; the details were incredibly precise—Bukubukuchagama was a female player, and Peroroncino was an archer of the Birdman race.
While this information wasn’t exactly top secret, the fact that Bukubukuchagama was a voice actress was definitely not something just anyone would know.
Most importantly, of course, was that he actually knew the two were siblings in real life—this was absolutely not something any enemy attacking Ainz Ooal Gown would be aware of.
Furthermore, Makoto’s tone, posture, and his nonchalant attitude toward ‘Ainz Ooal Gown’ didn’t seem like someone who harbored ulterior motives.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”