The Last Defender of the Way adventure party sat around a table, savoring their breakfast with slow, deliberate bites.
On the table sat oatmeal porridge mixed with scrambled eggs, stacks of sliced grilled sausages on platters, oyster meat pies glistening with lemon juice, and a dish of Brussels sprouts roasted in olive oil. The tempting aroma filled the air, whetting everyone's appetite.
Yesterday, EeDechi had brought back the commission fee that Princess Renner had withdrawn from her private vault and distributed it to her three teammates. She also settled the wages she'd promised and paid out their salaries.
This was no small fortune. Sean immediately said he could buy back his family's estate and even build a water mill. Stella was so excited she didn't sleep all night; she said she wanted to make good use of the money to help her sister open a tailor shop in the capital of Baharuth.
After breakfast, EeDechi gathered her teammates together for a "morning meeting."
The adventurer captain cleared her throat lightly and said, "Next, we're leaving Re-Estize for the Slane Theocracy. Any objections? If not, pack your bags—we depart the day after tomorrow."
She was just about to say "meeting adjourned" when she saw Sean raise his hand. Stella was looking at her anxiously, as if she wanted to speak but held back.
It was surprising that someone wanted to voice an objection in the team's "meeting"—that was pretty rare. After all, they'd been together long enough to know that no matter how many suggestions they made, EeDechi wouldn't listen, so it was better not to waste their breath.
EeDechi asked, "Young man, what's your opinion?"
Sean and Stella exchanged a glance, then held hands, their cheeks flushing red and hot, like a young couple mustering the courage to meet the parents.
After going through that kidnapping last time, where they danced with death on the cliff's edge, the young archer confessed his feelings to the cleric girl, and the two quickly fell into a hot romance.
EeDechi raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm not against dating, but don't let relationship stuff hold up our adventures. Also, when you get married, you'll need to submit a marriage application form."
"Captain, Stella and I have something to tell you—hope you won't get mad," Sean said cautiously.
Stella gripped his hand tight, as if that could channel huge energy to him, building up the guts to face EeDechi.
"What's up? Spill it—I'm a pretty open-minded person, as long as it's not knocking someone up before tying the knot."
Sean mumbled for a bit, his eyes dodging around. Finally, he steeled himself and said firmly, "Stella Famillion and I aren't going to be adventurers anymore."
"If you don't want to, then don't..." EeDechi's words caught in her throat. She got it—if this pair of lovebirds were done with adventuring, that meant they were quitting her adventurer team too.
"Are you guys quitting adventuring altogether, or just bailing on my squad?" EeDechi stared them down, her tone turning sour.
Stella said nervously, "We're quitting adventuring—we both have a ton of respect for you, Captain."
Sean jumped in to explain, "We're sick of the rootless, wandering life. Thinking long-term, we want to settle down in Baharuth."
EeDechi fell silent, not saying a word. The quiet stretched on, a long, terrifying silence.
Stella and Sean's palms were sweating, but they held hands even tighter, like little squirrels huddling and shivering together in front of a ferocious tiger. Barrett watched the three of them in silence, guessing how EeDechi would react.
Teammates joining, leaving, or quitting—it's all par for the course in the adventuring game. After all, most folks can't stand living on the knife's edge, never knowing if they'll live to see another dawn.
Adventuring is like gambling—who knows if the next quest will fill your pockets to overflowing, with so much gold you could bathe in it like a tub full of coins? But more often, you'll lose a limb, or even your whole life, in the bargain.
Most adventurers make the same call as Sean and Stella: once they've scraped together enough cash, and before they gamble away their lives, they hightail it out of this blood-soaked arena of steel and shadows.
Only a handful—with fire in their blood and no peace in their souls—cling to their blades, blind to any escape route, charging into battle time after time until they can't lift a sword anymore, or they leave their bones on the trail of adventure.
Barrett was one of those types. For them, adventuring was the ultimate thrill in the world, a vital spark of life itself. A quiet existence was like water laced with bitterroot—unbearable—while only the heady brew of sweet nectar mixed with deadly poison was a drink worth savoring in this life.
People band together as comrades for all sorts of reasons, and when one wants to bail, adventurers don't twist arms to make them stay. After all, in this world, everyone's got their own path to walk, their own notions in their head.
EeDechi stayed silent, clenching her right fist tight. Sean and Stella trembled like leaves in a gale, scared out of their wits.
Finally, the adventurer captain sighed and said, "Fine, I approve."
The young archer and cleric girl felt like they'd been granted a royal pardon, bowing to EeDechi over and over. "Thank you, Captain!"
EeDechi asked, "When are you heading out?"
"We plan to leave this afternoon. We don't have much luggage anyway—it won't take long to pack, then we'll hire a long-distance carriage."
EeDechi frowned and said, "I'll wrap up some loose ends, and the day after tomorrow, I'm leaving the capital for the Slane Theocracy too. It's on the way, so hold off a bit, and we'll travel together."
She turned to ask Barrett, "It is on the way, right?"
Barrett shook his head. "Not exactly. The Slane Theocracy is east of Re-Estize, Baharuth to the south—different directions."
"Uh..." EeDechi said, "Don't worry about that. We'll go together anyway. We've been adventuring side by side for so long; let's hang out these last few days."
"Sure, sure." Sean and Stella nodded quickly. They didn't dare defy the captain's will.
"Oh right," EeDechi pulled out two sheets of parchment, a quill pen, and an inkwell from her spatial ring, and said:
"I've drafted a template—you two fill out the team resignation forms later. Be detailed: explain why you're quitting the Last Defender of the Way adventure party, what you'll do after leaving, and your take on the captain. No copying on the resignation apps, and don't slack off or do a half-hearted job filling them out, or it'll be null and void!"
...
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, tenth floor, Throne.
Beneath the grand dome, Princess Renner knelt prostrate on the iron-blue stone floor, her golden hair spilling loose. Her robes were a mess, big drops of cold sweat beading on her forehead, her head bowed low.
Behind her, a humanoid creature in a top hat, its body sprouting tentacles all over, extended octopus-like tendrils, tracing eerie arcs near her head.
And before her, on the lavish throne, sat the ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick—Ainz Ooal Gown, posture straight and alert.
Ainz Ooal Gown gripped a staff, the whole thing pure gold, like two golden bands twisted and woven together, its edges jagged and fierce, the top shaped like a bowl and studded with gems of various colors. An indescribable aura of power radiated from the staff's core.
Ainz asked, "Kyouhukou, is the information Renner provided true?"
The creature known as "Kyouhukou" bowed deeply. "Reporting to the Supreme Overlord—it's true beyond doubt!"
"Heh heh, how intriguing." Ainz tightened his skeletal palm around the staff. "Renner, speak—as an exchange, what do you want?"
Princess Renner pressed her body lower, her forehead brushing the icy floor, and whispered:
"I want to become the king of Re-Estize!"
"From this moment, you are the king of Re-Estize."
Princess Renner's head dipped even lower. "Thank you, Supreme Overlord, for your gracious gift."
Ainz rose from the throne, the red glow in his skeletal eye sockets blazing like the sun. Staff in hand, he issued a command to the Great Tomb of Nazarick: "Halt the war against the dragonborn immediately! Recall all level 100 guardians who can make it back in time!"