Chapter Text
"That is quiet the statement to make. What makes you think of something so, outlandish?" Ainz asked with a chuckle, making his tone sound as calm as possible.
In reality though Ainz was panicking. How did she discern such a thing? Had he messed up somewhere and made a blunder that revealed such a thing? Was it obvious to others? Was he in danger even now?
To his surprise though, Hara's response what not what she expected as it was a simple, "I observed it."
". . . . .oh?" Was all Ainz could manage to say in response. It was so telling, yet told him nothing whatsoever. It was actually rather impressive. "Would you care to explain?"
Hara nodded as she looked around and then sat down on the steps, rubbing her now crippled leg a bit as she spoke. "My family came from the lands to the east where Princess Knight Kaguya comes from. We ran a Silk farm, and because the Silk weavers tended to be ornery, I was taught that observing things was a skill that would always have use. When I was in the magician's guild I learned a lot from watching other people and seeing what did and did not work. After my uh, mistake . . . . after I was forced into knighthood, the only one who ever wanted to even speak to me was Melodie. She tried to teach me but is not a great teacher. She never has been. So I had to learn myself, again by observing what worked for others and using what I could see on my own."
"I see. So you have a history of observing those around you for information and knowledge on a causal and passive basis then. Sounds like I shall need to hear your full history at some point soon," Ainz said before letting out a chuckle. "It is an amusing idea, my not being alive, but one that is incorrect," Ainz said as he turned and looked down at the city. "If we are to leave tomorrow for your village we will need to gather a number of things for such a journey. First is your new clothing,"
"Yes, I am sorry um . . ." Hara stopped speaking as he stood up and looked at Ainz. "What . . . how should I refer to you?"
"Hmm? Ah, you mean in regards to the apprentice and master relationship, correct?"
"Yes. When I was in the Magicians Guild my teacher insisted on being called master, but . . . ."
"I take it that did not feel proper in some way?" Ainz asked earning a simple and slight nod in response. "I have no preference, so you may call me what you feel most comfortable."
Hara looked confounded for a moment before standing up shakily. "Thank you. I'll, try to figure that out," she said with a nod.
"Good, take your time, but for now we should head to a tailor of some sort to get you some proper clothing," Ainz said as he let out a thankful sigh that he had managed to shift the conversation away from his own life, or lack thereof.
"Right. I believe I know a place, but it will take a bit to get there,"
"Then please lead the way. You know the city better than I after all," Ainz said with another chuckle, expecting it to make the conversation lighter.
Instead Hara looked just as sullen as seemed to be her normal. "I know of a few places, but I cannot say I know the city well despite being here for years. I rarely left the military district unless it was for errands for others," Hara explained as the two of them continue down the steps to the city proper.
The city itself was substantially more than Ainz had expected from witnessing the village from days before and the castle itself for the last few days. The streets were made of solid cobblestones that were smoothed flat, while the vast majority of buildings appeared to be made of a combination of mortared stone, brick and wood. Wood seemed to make up the upper levels of the taller buildings if the frames were anything to go by, and the rooftops were covered by either wooden or stone shingles and tiles, with a few outlier buildings having simple layered thatch roofs. Wooden poles lined the middle of the streets with large metal framed lamps hanging to either side of them, and many building has similar lamps on their front porches. The city itself was like a generic fantasy city from many different mediums, but what was truly strange to him was the fact of how clean everything was. The roads were clear of most litter aside from bits of dirt and puddles between the cobbles, and the walls of buildings were clean as well. There was no filth or refuse anywhere that could be seen, and even the people on the streets were exceedingly clean
And it was easy to tell. While the men and women of various races in the streets did not wear clothing so outrageous as the knights or Princess knight herself, the common forms of clothing seemed to be far more ostentatious than he expected.
Men wore pants or shorts with boots or simple shoes as expected, but many wore simple vests or sleeveless shirts if anything at all over their upper bodies. Women of every race wore clothing one would expect of a fantasy world, but the clothes themselves were made to hide less it seemed. Nearly every woman had their arms or shoulders bare, showed some of their upper chest around their collarbone, and many wore dresses or skirts that were cut in ways that showed either long sections of their legs, or even sections of their thighs. Many also seemed to wear tops that showed off sections of their midriff's, though from just a casual glance Ainz noticed that the ones showing the most skin appeared to be the elves and a race of short people that were not as stocky as the dwarf he had met earlier. Perhaps they were gnomes or hobbits or something similar.
"For a land that seems mostly Temperate, it seems people show an awful lot of skin, don't they," Ainz asked as he walked just a step behind and to the side of Hara.
"This is normal. It's pretty warm all year round after all," Hara said simply as she kept moving at a slightly below regular pace, her leg clearly making it difficult yet not impossible.
"Ah, so Eos is primarily Sub Tropical then," Ainz said before humming in thought. "Ah, I now understand why none of the books I had read mentioned Snow."
"Snow is only by the mountains and to the east," Hara said as she stepped to the side to avoid a wagon, and looked back to see that Ainz had done the same. "You are standing out more really."
Ainz hazarded a glance around and saw that Hara was correct. Many people, from those wandering the streets, to the vendors of stalls and people looking out their windows were looking at him and not doing anything to hide the fact. Some few people had expressions of fear or revulsion, but most people were simply curious or wary. things to be expected considering his size and garb.
"There is little for it I suppose. How much further to this Tailor you know of?"
"Not much further, they are on the edge of the merchants district," Hara explained as she turned down a smaller side street and away from the masses of stares.
The side street, Ainz noticed, was not just less packed, but also seemed to strangely have more variety of stalls and shops. The main street had been filled with stalls and shops for food, weapons, armour, basic necessities and the like, while down the side street the shops seemed smaller and more focused in their sales. A small smithy that seemed to specialize in hammers and the like, a small bookstore, a tailor whose stock in the window made it clear they sold nothing but lingerie, the specialization was surprisingly varied. Finally Hara turned and stopped before a shop that was tucked around a corner of a large building and a wall. It had a sign out front with an image of a needle and shirt, but the text on it was indiscernible to Ainz. Hara wasted no time limping to the door, prompting Ainz to follow, and wedge himself into the doorway, both ducking and moving sideways to allow his body within the shops confines.
The inside of the building was entirely made of various types of wood. A few racks of clothing hung in the middle of the shop, while on the far right wall was a huge array of Bolts of cloth of many colors, as well as what appeared to be piles of various types and colors of leathers. At the back there was a large table, low set with a number of tools upon it, but there was no one else in sight.
"Did they forget to lock up perhaps?" Ainz offered as he looked around at the various cloths, finding that there was a surprising amount of variety to them. Cotton, hemp, satin, silk, even what looked not dissimilar to denim and canvas.
"No, the guy is just lazy," Hara said as she walked up to the table and grabbed and lifted it a bit, dropping it to the floor with a surprisingly loud knock that was no way from the table alone. "Hey, you have customers!"
"I can hear ya, don't be impatient!" Came an agitated and annoyed voice from beyond a doorway at the back of the store. A few seconds later a dwarf came out. He was garbed in just pants, but his chest and arms were covered in intricate dull orange tattoo's. His beard and head of long thick hair were meticulously braided in a way that told of commitment and skill. Even more surprising was the braids of his hair were then braided again over each other, forming a thick braided thrice ponytail that nearly reached the floor behind him. He stepped up to the opposite side of the table and looked at Hara and Ainz, his eyebrows rising as he spoke. "Well, what in the goddesses arse is this about then?"
"What, you don't recognize me without knight armor?" Hara asked.
The dwarf looked at her for a second before his eyes widened a bit. " Hara? Bloody Abyss girl, I hardly recognized ya between the sackcloth and you actually showing a semblance of emotion!"
"Not having an axe hanging over my head at all times helps," Hara replied, earning a chuckle from the dwarf.
"Ha, finally got outta that foolish persecution then, eh? Explains the sackcloth."
"Well, they didn't drop it exactly . . . the situation simply, changed," Hara said as she glanced back at Ainz, and then back at the dwarf. "This is Ainz Ooal Gown. A mercenary mage from a far distant land. He's the one who called that meteor that destroyed the dark army, and he is now my mentor."
The dwarf looked at Ainz for a solid minute without his gaze even twitching elsewhere before he simply nodded his head. "Well, that sounds like a barrel of goblins I want nothing to do with, but I'm happy the little girl is no longer being punished for accidents," He said as he patted himself in the chest. "Names Tavis Forostath, Tailor and Leatherworker."
"It is a pleasure," Ainz said with a nod, earning a chuckle from Tavis.
"I doubt that highly. If you're from another land then you have no idea who I am, but that's still fine and there's nothing wrong with that. Your clothing looks fine, if a bit big," he started as he turned to look at Hara. "I take it ya are here to get something better than that sackcloth those snobbish knights got you to wear, right?"
"Yes, I figured you would be the best person to go to for a full outfit good for magic, fighting, and traveling," Hara said seriously.
Tavis looked at her for a solid minute and then cracked a grin. "Big jump from fixing your few cloth garments as a knight. Do you have enough money for such an order? You know quality comes with the appropriate price after all, right?"
Ainz, feeling it was now the perfect time to speak up, took a step forward up to the table beside Hara and took out the bag of money he had been given by Klaus. "I assume this is more than enough, yes?"
Tavis took the pouch and dumped it onto the table. "This is a bit of coin for sure," He said as he looked to Hara. "You said you want it for combat and Travel aye?"
"If possible, yes," Hara said with a nod. "I don't have to wear that knight armor anymore, so if it could be more covering, but with a full range of motions and sturdy that would be perfect."
Tavis looked down at the coins and crossed his arms underneath his beard. "You got the money, I have the expertise. What about time. Making what you want will take a couple of hours at the least," he said as he looked at Ainz. "I'll need her here to take measurements and the like. Do you have something else to do for a while?"
"I do need to register as a mercenary still," Ainz said with a nod.
"No good then, you'll have to have Hara here with ya for that so she can be registered both as that, and as your apprentice if that is to be your intention," Tavis said with a huff as he uncrossed his arms and walked over to the right hand wall, taking a pair of bolts of cloth off of it and tossing the onto the table before picking up a pile of large leather sheets and carrying them over. "you will likely want to go to the magicians guild for the same reason, those guys can be addicted to such legislations. Sorry, but I guess you'll be stuck here for a while. There's a seat in that front corner."
"I understand, take your time," Ainz said as he turned around and, after a few seconds, noticed a short but sturdy looking bench against the front wall and went over and sat down.
"I will, don't you worry about that," Tavis said with a hearty chuckle as he brought more materials onto the table and then looked at Hara. "Come around the table and head on into the changing room girl. I'll need your measurements and that pathetic sackcloth will just get in the way,"
"Okay," Hara said simply as she complied without complaint
Ainz leaned back on the bench and sighed to himself. Time to think was not a bad thing in the least, and would give him some time to consider some possibilities.
The first possibility was magic. He still knew very little about it in reality, but even if Hara was rough in recalling her own what she said recall could prove invaluable. Seeing if she could learn magic from Yggdrasil would also be something of importance at some point.
Of course then there was the issue of Hara's leg. The limp itself was not crippling, but it did make her noticeably slower and would probably ruin her stance if she was in combat. The worst part was he couldn't do anything about it. The closest thing he could do to healing was removing poison from someone, but other than that he had no healing abilities or spells whatsoever, an Overlord simply could not learn healing magic, just as most undead could not.
"Ha, if only I had healing magic, or could create an item capable of healing, "Ainz muttered under his breath, perfectly inaudible to Hara or Tavis, both of whom seemed very focused on what they were doing.
Wait. Creation. He had the spells to create items. Everything from simple weapons and armor, to advanced magic items could be created through his magic, and he had the skills so that they would not simply disappear after a time. Of course this place seeming like a reality to its own made the idea of them not disappearing in the first place more likely, but still left him with a single thought.
Could he create his own, original, magic?
Ainz looked down at his gauntlet covered hand in thought. Some of the books he had read from Klaus's study, the ones that were not controlled in what information they held, spoke of magic like it was both a system set in stone, but also like drawing with a pencil, allowing ones imagination to take shape via the magic itself.
But what did that mean for him, wielding magic unheard of in this land? Did his magic obey its own rules he was unaware of, or did both systems of magic use the same rules, but with simply different ways of utilizing it for an end result?
There would need to be a huge amount of testing and preparations done. He needed to know the basics of his own magic and how it worked, he needed to know the same for the local magic and needed to know if they could work in tandem or if they resisted one another. And that was before even trying to begin attempting to conceive magic of his own.
How would it be done? Would it require research or simple trial and error? Would he be required to write it down or would it exist solely in his mind? Would he need to figure out game like statistic for it down to frame rate or-"
"Hey, ya mind not covering the wall in frost?"
Ainz looked up to see Tavis staring at him in what appeared to be mild annoyance and then looked down at his hand. The gauntlet was covered in a thin layer of frost, and looking behind he saw bits of frost forcing its way up the wall as well. Only something was wrong with it. It wasn't white, but a very off grey if his eyes were not tricking him. He shook his head and looked at Tavis. "I apologize, my mind began wandering to strange thoughts and it appears my magic went a bit out of control."
"Well that's pretty clear there. Just watch it," Tavis said as he turned back to doing something with some leather. "Should only be an hour or so more now, so don't let your impatience show too much."
Ainz simply nodded as he looked down at his gauntlet and brushed the ice off of it. Only to feel his nonexistent breath hitch as he felt an energy in the ice that he knew, but knew not how he knew.
The ice was necromantic. He had somehow siphoned life out of the air, causing the temperature to drop and for frost to form. It didn't make sense whatsoever, but even stranger was the fact he somehow innately knew what he had unconsciously done.
Did he perhaps know all of his magic innately, not as knowledge or as spells and abilities but as something more instinctual just from having memorized their names?
"Yet another thing I will have to test," Ainz said as he brushed the frost off his gauntlet and leaned back on the bench. That would come later, when he was not around someone that he could not easily make keep something secret.
Ainz wanted to sigh as that thought came back into his head. Secrets. How many could he trust Hara with? She was clearly intelligent and observant enough to note that something was off with his body. Even as he denied her suggestion of him not being alive it did not seem like she fully believe that she was incorrect, so knowing just how far he could trust her would be extremely important.
The problem was how to find such a thing out without resorting to less than tasteful means. His mind then went further, thinking off all possible ways he could test various things.
It was at that moment Ainz's attention was brought back as he felt something pushing against his face and found it was Tavis poking him with the handle of a long warhammer.
"Yes?"
"Was trying to get your attention. You don't respond to anything less than direct confrontation do ya?"
"I was deep in thought,"
"Ay, I noticed that," Tavis said with a light shake of his head as he stepped to side. "The Girls Armor be done, what do ya think of it?"
Ainz looked past Tavis and found Hara standing atop the work table as if on display. Pants of dull greenish brown material somewhere between leather and canvas that were split from the knee's down, a black undershirt, a short sleeved black vest of leather tight around her stomach, and a belt around her waist with what looked like built in loops around it at regular intervals. It was far less revealing that Ainz had expected and sort of looked like early Game armor from Yggdrasil, clearly designed for the setting, but still moderately realistic and looking like it could actually protect her to some extent.
Something the knights amour was severely lacking.
"More important than what I think of it, does it fit you well and will it serve you as hoped?" Ainz asked after a couple seconds of silence.
"It will," Hara said with a nod as she stepped forward and climbed off the table. "Tavis does good work. The leather will protect me from some injuries, but is light and mobile enough it will not affect me otherwise."
"That is good then. All we need is the rest of our supplies and . . . shoes?" Ainz asked as he noticed tht Hara was barefoot. Had she been earlier?
"There's a good Cobbler down the street, does good work and can get you better footwear than those scraps the knights gave you," Tavis said as he looked at Hara and shook his head.
"I take it you did not agree on Hara's situation then?" Ainz asked, hoping to perhaps get some information from the old dwarf.
"Ay, that I didn't. Everyone makes mistakes, and the church is too heavy handed, but it's not new I suppose," Tavis said as he held out the money pouch to Ainz. "I've taken my share from it, roughly a quarter. Hara explained what else you were likely going to go buy, and you should have enough if you do not splurge on wasted material or items of low quality."
"Such as the Cobbler down the street?" Ainz asked, causing Tavis to smile. "Good friend of mine, he does good work and doesn't skimp of proper workmanship."
Ainz nodded as he took the pouch. "Out of curiosity, may I ask your age?"
Tavis looked at his strangely for a second. "I'll be thirty nine this next cool season. Why?"
"Ah, I was simply curious as I figured you would be, older," Ainz responded as Hara came over.
"Now why would you think that of all things? I'm no Halfling or elf."
"Ah, it seems there are some, difference from what I am used to," Ainz said as he looked to see Hara clearly ready to go, now wearing the very haphazardly made shoes she must have had on earlier. "I thank you for your service. I take it there would be no issue if we were to come again if the need arose?"
"Of course. I'll always accept work for those that want it done proper," Tavis said with a nod as he turned and began walking for the doorway at the back of the store. "Just knock on the table if ya need me and I'm not here in the future,"
"Understood, thank you for your time," Ainz said before turning and slowly leaving the Tailors shop. A few seconds later when he and Hara were in the street, he stopped and turned to her. "I assume Dwarves have a similar lifespan to human in these lands?"
"They tend to outlive humans by a couple decades, about 90 years," Hara replied as she led the way down the street.
"I see. And the Elf's and Halflings, what sort of lifespans do they have?"
"Well, most elves live to around two hundred, but high elves and Halflings live for much longer."
Ainz let out a hum as he thought over the information. It was not entirely what he expected, but knowing that there was a sub species of elves could be potentially useful. Ultimately it meant that if he wanted to find information on what the lands history was like before the rise of the local alliance he would need to speak to an older high-elf or Halfling in all likelihood. Something that sounded like a genuinely bad idea for him at the current time for a variety of reasons.
Once we acquire some proper footwear for you, is there any other equipment you believe you will need?" Ainz asked. "A Staff or some form of weapon perhaps?"
"A staff for sure. A weapon would be nice too, but I don't think we'll have the money for that in addition to lodging fee's, food, and traveling gear and rations."
Ainz was silent for a moment before an answer came to mind, both to help increase their equipment without using money and test a spell or two. "Then we shall worry only about you shoes and then acquiring our travel gear and rations for yourself. Where would one acquire a staff in this city?"
"The Magicians Guild sells them,"
"Good. Then you can splurge on it or upon some other equipment if you chose. I will deal with acquiring you a weapon later."
Hara looked like she wanted to speak up but held her tongue as they arrived at the Cobbler and entered.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
After an hour at the Cobbler acquiring custom made, but very good quality, shoes for Hara, The two of them left and headed for the merchants guild, as it was apparently where one had to register as a mercenary. This turned out to be surprisingly simple as some preparations had already been made for them due to the Princess Knights decision earlier in the day. Going in a getting the paperwork done was a short matter and the two of them were in and out in under half an hour each with a small but polished medallion that marked them as being legal mercenaries in Eostia.
Unfortunately heading to the magicians guild for a staff for Hara would not be as simple, for as they left the merchant guild building and headed down the street Ainz noticed something a little strange.
"Hmm, that may be an issue,"
"Pardon?" Hara asked as they went down the street.
"We appear to beg getting followed by a few of the mercenaries that had been inside the gild building," Ainz said before suddenly sighing. "As well as a handful of people who had followed us for a few minutes before we had arrived there. They are on the roofs ahead of us."
Surprisingly Hara did not shift her head or slow her pace as she walked, simply looking with her eyes to give away nothing to anyone. "Is there some way we could lose them before reaching the magicians guild?
"Is there a need to lose them?" Ainz asked curiously. After all, he doubted they would try anything on a main road full of people.
"Um, I'd rather they not be around the Magicians Guild," Hara said awkwardly.
Ainz was silent for a moment as he thought about the possible reason and nodded. "I take it there is more at the Magician's Guild than just a staff you are after, correct?"
Hara was equally quiet as they walked, simply nodding after a few steps.
"Very well. Then the question becomes what we shall do. Lose them, defeat them, or perhaps interrogate them?"
"Um, I think losing them would be best," Hara said before gesturing to an approaching split in the road. "To get to the magicians guild we need to go off the main road. It twists a bit."
"I see," Ainz muttered as he began thinking through his available spells. He had a number that could be of use in this situation, it was just a matter of deciding of how serious he wanted to be. He suddenly stopped, causing Hara to stop as well after a few seconds and turn to face him. "Come here, I wish to see if a spell of mine will affect both of us, though I suppose I will need to carry you once more."
"Um, is that necessary when I am not wounded?" Hara asked as she looked to the side.
Ainz almost commented on how she would be unable to run with her limp, but held his tongue and knelt down. "If this works we will be fine, so . . . my shoulder then, come,"
Hara slowly nodded as she understood and walked over, using Ainz's lowered hand to raise her up and allow her to sit upon Ainz's Shoulder, giving her a surprisingly good view of their surroundings, including a number of nearby onlookers who stared in awe.
"Now then. . . Complete invisibility!" With Ainz's words came a small pulse of magic and an odd popping sound, and a few seconds later he made a happy noise and began walking down the street.
Hara opened her mouth, but stopped when she looked around to see a number of citizens looking around in shock and confusion, and then also noticed a few mercenaries run over to where they had just been looking around in confusion. "Are we, invisible?"
"To sight yes, but not to sound," Ainz replied quietly. "As long as you do not raise your voice, we should stay unnoticed and our location uncompromised."
"I wasn't . . . ." Hara stopped her words and let out an almost exaggerated sigh from atop Ainz's shoulder. "Your magic is unbelievable. I have never heard of invisibility that works so well or could affect multiple people." She shook her head and almost lost her balance. "Did you start casting it a while ago?"
"Did you not hear me cast it?"
"I did but . . . it was just those two words? No chanting or runes?"
"No."
Hara simply sat and stared at Ainz for a few seconds. "You, your magic might be more useful than the Goddess Reborns."
Ainz let out a slow hum before lightly chuckling. "I cannot say such a thing for sure without first knowing how magic in these lands works first."
"But, why would you want to learn our magic when yours seems so much more powerful?" Hara asked as they turned down a road she pointed to.
"To properly compare two things you must know about both of them. It is something I will require your assistance with. Both learning this lands magic, and seeing if perhaps you can learn of mine once you are back into form with your own."
Ainz couldn't see Hara's face form where she was sitting, but somehow he knew that she was beaming with delight at the possibilities of learning magic again, both her own and his.
The rest of the way to the Magicians Guild was uneventful and arriving was a surprise to Ainz. The Merchant's Guild had been a huge brick building ornately constructed and cleverly designed and kept up. The magician guild in comparison appeared to be a repurposed warehouse with extra stone and wood covering the walls alongside sheets of metal and arcane imagery and symbols. It also appeared to have no windows whatsoever.
"This, is the magicians guild?" Ainz asked as he looked around, expecting to maybe see other building perhaps marked or related to the one in front of him.
"Yes. It hasn't changed much since I was last here," Hara said casually before then realizing what Ainz was meaning. "Um, it is nicer inside. Magic not taught by the church is looked down on, so this is the best building they can have in the city."
Ainz was about to speak up on how he felt, but decided to hold his tongue. While a large warehouse did not look the best from outside he knew that one should not judge a book by its cover. Dropping the invisibility Ainz raised an arm and helped Hara down before they approached the main door and entered the warehouse.
Ainz was immediately happy he had not made any expectations of what would find inside, because they would have been blown away. The inside of the warehouse was greater than he had imagined. Immediately upon entering they found themselves in an area not unlike a public library with shelves of books and tomes and long tables with people at them studying. Further down he could see what appeared to be a practice area with classes going on teaching people how to cast magic, and the whole area was lit brightly with glowing crystals embedded into the ceiling. The building was clearly not custom made for their needs, but regardless it had been modified and altered until it did.
"Are you, here for classes?"
Ainz turned to find an elven woman in a long robe with an excessively deep plunging neckline standing to the side by a desk. The way she looked at him was strange, and it was clear she did not believe he own question but had asked anyway, marking her as a sort of secretary or front desk person of some sort.
"No, we're here for me, actually," Hara said as she came around from Ainz's side so she was visible to the women.
"Oh and you are?" She asked before her expression faltered slightly, her eyes squinting at her "No, wait . . . do I, no I do know you. . . Hara?"
Ainz noticed that, in the instant the elven woman said Hara's name, that the entire library areas ambience changed. The students doing studying seemed unaffected, but all of the older magicians and those who appeared to be teachers had inerrably stopped whatever they were doing to simply look and stare.
Hara nodded. "Yes, it's me and I am not dead. I'm here to speak to Marcion to return my property, and to get a staff if there are any available."
"um, I see. I, do not know if we have any staffs readily available, but Marcion is-"
"That is enough," Came a deep and old voice, pulling both the secretaries, and Hara and Ainzs gaze to where an old man was standing by a section of bookcases.
"H-headmaster!" the secretary said in surprise as she bowed her head.
"I will deal with these two," the headmaster said in a clear tone, causing most people in the library are to return to what they were doing. He then motioned at Hara and Ainz. " Come, follow me. We have much to discuss."
"Can he be trusted?" Ainz asked Hara simply as he watched the old man walk away toward the bookshelves.
"I believe so, yes,"
Ainz nodded as he and Hara followed the man around the bookcases to find they surrounded a set f stairs that climbed up to a second level. The second floor appeared to have only a small number of rooms with the one at the end of the hall with its door left ajar. Seeing it as an invitation Ainz headed forward and entering with Hara right behind him.
The room turned out to be an office with a single desk. The walls were covered in bookshelves, though some held other knick-knacks. The headmaster was already sitting behind his desk and gestured a hand toward them as they entered. "Please close the door behind you."
Hara did so silently and then took a place to Ainz's left due to the lack of chairs in the room.
"Thank you," the headmaster said with a drawn out, tired sigh. "I suppose proper introductions would be in order. I am the Headmaster of this Magicians guild location, Relin Tamryn. You are the one responsible for the Merchant's Guilds current confusion, and for destroying the army of the Dark Queen days ago, a foreign mage, correct?"
Ainz nodded as he took a half step forward. "That is correct. I am Ainz Ooal Gown, a Magic Caster from the Lands of Yyg."
"And a man capable of Bending the princess knight herself to your whims I have heard," the headmaster said with a long sigh. "I will be blunt sir, your magic unnerves me, and I do not believe you are being truthful to anyone in regards to your situation, but that is simply my gut feeling."
"That is your choice, though I am curious as to how you already know some of my exploits," Ainz responded, inwardly finding something about this man surprisingly personable.
"I am a Mage nearing the end of my short human lifespan, but that does not mean I do not have some tricks," Relin said with a wry grin. He then turned his gaze to Hara, his eyes turning quizzical at the same time. "Hara, I would know why you are here, and with this man?"
"I was saved by him, twice," Hara started. "I am his apprentice now."
"Answers some questions I suppose," the headmaster sighed. "I take it you returned here not to continue your teachings, but to speak to Marcion, correct?"
"That is correct. He has something of mine he promised to hold onto when I was, um, taken away," Hara stated.
"I know, you want your key back," the headmaster said as he opened a drawer on his desk and took out a dull iron key with a strange, almost cross-like end.
"What?! Why do you have it?" Hara asked in surprise and worry.
"Because, Marcion is dead."
"What? When?"
"Three years ago," Relin said simply. "He came to me and begged me to hold onto your sole piece of property, claiming he was in danger and it was important, yet would not tell me why. The next day he disappeared, and his body was found in a fountain the morning after with his limbs cut off and his eyes removed." Relin's eyes turned steely and serious as he looked at Hara, his grip on the key tightening. "Marcion was a strange man, but he was one of this city's best magic teachers. He died keeping this key of yours out of someone's hands but would not tell me who, or why. So you are going to. What is so important about this key?"
The office was dead silent. Relin simply gazed at Hara for an answer, while she looked uncomfortable, as if battling some inner argument of what to do. Ainz found it intriguing himself. He had felt that Hara was wanting something from this place, but to find out it was a key that had led to a man's death was unexpected.
Though it did perhaps explain those who had been following them.
"It's to a locked room, underneath my old family home," Hara finally said after a few more moments of silence.
"And what is in this locked room?" the headmaster asked.
"I don't know, not for sure."
"Surely you have an idea though, yes?"
Hara was silent for a moment before nodding. "I think . . . Melodie's family had trusted mine to keep the village's property deed safe. I think the deed to the village's land is inside.
Relin placed the key on the middle of the desk and let go it, slowly pulling his hand back as his gaze never left Hara's. "You realize the potential issues then, correct? You realize how dangerous this item is if that is true?"
"I do, yes."
"And I take it you intend to find out regardless of the potential danger?" Relin asked. When Hara nodded he let out a sigh. "I know you have been working as a knight, and despite the clearly fake rumors you have lasted despite others attempts to have you die on the field." Relin turned his gaze to Ainz. "Hara here was one of our most prominent students before she, found herself going down an incorrect avenue of self-learning. She had not been allowed to continue her studies while a knight however. I would hope this already be the case, but may I ask you do your best to both teach, and protect her while she is under your tutelage, Sir Gown?"
Ainz nodded his head before speaking up. "We were attempted to be followed earlier in this day. I assume that is related?"
"It is, probable," Relin said with a nod.
"Uh, headmaster, are there any staves for sale right now?" Hara spoke up as she took the key off the desk and carefully looked it over before putting in a pocket and making sure it would stay there by tying it shut.
"Sadly there are not. The Merchant's Guild has been steadily raising their prices to us, and efforts to circumvent it have proven less than effective. Some are claiming the Merchant's Guild is working with the Church to stamp us out again," Relin said with a sigh before looking at Ainz. "I would personally like to speak with you to learn of your magic sir, but unfortunately my schedule for now is booked full, and I take it you have business to attend to as well, yes?"
"Yes, that is true. It would not do to endanger a place of open learning such as this either so we shall take our leave," Ainz replied. "Thank you for your time."
"Yes, well, I hope you both stay safe. The Dark Queens armies and monster are not the only dangers here in Eostia, despite what the Knights and Nobles would have people think," Relin stated with a motion that clearly of dismissal.
Ainz and Hara both nodded and turned, leaving the room in silence that reigned until they reached the stairs. "I, take it you want an explanation?" Hara offered nervously.
"Yes, but when you are ready," Ainz said, much to Hara's visible surprise, telling him that further explanation to her would likely be in order. "It is clear to me from what I have heard and learned, that you have had little reason to trust many people in your life. There must be a reason you did not wish to speak of the key or more of your past, and until you are ready to speak of such things I see no reason to force you," Ainz explained as the two of them came down the stairs and up to the door to leave. "Ah, do you wish to acquire some books to help you recall your teachings?"
"Oh, uh, that, would be a good idea," Hara said, clearly caught off guard by both Ainz's words, and his sudden shift to the conversation..
"Then go find what books you require and buy them if you can," Ainz said as he took out the pouch of money and handed it to Hara. "I shall wait here."
"I . . Thank you!" Hara said as she took the money and ran off into the library.
"Thank you."
Ainz turned to see the secretary woman looking at him with a smile. "For?"
"Helping her. I'm not sure how you did it, saving her I mean. I was just out of my own apprentice when her, trial occurred, such as it was. Everyone considered it a mistake, not making it clearer to not attempt certain magic. She was extremely intelligent for her age, and a few of us have caught sight of her over the last years while he was a knight. She seems so much livelier than when she was a knight, so thank you."
Ainz looked at the elf and let out a short chuckle. "I simply did as I felt was right, and it was not like it was not for personal reason either."
"Still, I must thank you on behalf of everyone. No one could convince the church or princess knight otherwise back then, and it was only her friend who managed to give her a chance to survive. It is something none of us were able to do.," The elf said solemnly. "Right after you arrived a number of mercenaries and thugs appeared. They are waiting outside the building in the alleyways and in some broken buildings. We can have some mages prepare to help give a distraction for the both of you to leave unmolested and-"
"That will not be necessary," Ainz said as he held up hand. "I do not wish to see this get out of hand, and from the sound of it, this Guild is dealing with trouble enough at this time."
"Are, you sure? We have enough mages here to deal with them without killing them so-"
"If they attempt to attack myself, or my newly claimed apprentice, I will deal with them."
The elf looked like she wanted to continue pressing, but simply nodded and departed, heading over to the nearby counter where Hara now was standing patiently with two large leather bound tomes. After some back and forth conversation that looked like probably haggling Hara came back over with one book in her hands.
"The other book was their only copy, so it isn't for sale right now," Hara said in a slightly annoyed tone as she came over.
"That is understandable," Ainz responded as he turned to the door and opened it. "It that a beginners book?"
"A Mid-level spell primer. It gives an overview of the stuff I should already know and then goes further," Hara explained as the two of them left the magicians guild building.
And then promptly saw a number of thugs and other such characters in the alleyways with a couple walking toward them.
"Hand over the key and we'll let you walk!" one of them ordered with a grin as he held a hand axe in both hands.
"Hmm, and who are you then?" Ainz asked calmly as he noticed Hara step back a bit in concern.
"I said hand over the key!"
"Why?"
The man seemed stunned for a moment before getting angry. "Because I told you to! Because if you don't hand over that key we'll cut you like an animal and shatter your skull for it. You useless mages couldn't do a damn thing to stop us if we chose to, so hand it over or we kill ya!"
"And why do you want the key?" Ainz asked, curious as to how much information he could get out of the thug before him.
"Because we're being paid to get it, now hand it over! I won't ask again," the thug yelled as he swung own of his hand axes as if trying to be menacing.
Ainz waited a second before stepping forward and a bit in front of Hara, "Would you like to hear my answer?"
"YES! Just hand it over already you stupid-"
"Death," Ainz said grimly as he focused his power and felt it answer. In that same second the thug who was yelling suddenly fell forward onto his face. The one beside him looked down in shock and quickly checked him over. "He is dead. The same you all will be unless you leave us be."
"You bastard!" The closest thug roared as he got up and moved to draw a sword, clearly intent on attacking.
"Telekinisis," Ainz called out as he focused on the sword as it was drawn, and then imagined it being thrust back toward the man. His hand then obeyed, impaling himself on his own sword as it barely cleared it's sheathe. Ainz watched as the man fell to his knees in horrendous pain and then glanced around at the other around and raised a hand. He thought about forming a magic circle, just a generic one, to make it look like he had something ready, and to his surprise a glowing magic circle appeared before his hand. "Now then, who shall be next to step forward and die?"
Unsurprisingly the remaining thugs and those looking to join in saw that their target was likely not what they had been told and began backing off slowly. In a few minutes they were gone, leaving only the one who suddenly died, and the one who was still impaled on his own blade and trying to crawl away to little avail, making it clear he had likely been impaled somewhere important.
Seeing this Ainz waked over to where the man was laying on the cobbles. "Who ordered this?"
The man simply grunted in response as he shifted a bit.
Then stopped moving.
"Haaah, Goodness, perhaps I should have simply cut one of their legs off," Ainz muttered in annoyance, feeling that, perhaps, he had been too lenient in allowing them to leave.
"Um, sir. We may want to get what we need quickly," Hara spoke up as she stepped up behind Ainz. "If those guys end up being intelligent, they could try to report us to the local guards despite being the ones who attacked first."
"Let us hope they are not so intelligent then," Ainz stated before letting out a heavy sigh. "You do have a point, let us be off. We will acquire some final gear and provisions and leave the city," he decided before then muttering to himself under his breath. "And hope nothing else impedes us."