“That’s right. Nobody would hand out such an item without a good reason, let alone to a mundane girl! I could accept it if she were a top-class adventurer or magic caster. But she says she’s just a village girl! It’s far too suspicious!”
That much the soldiers understood. Exceptional people would tend to gather exceptional items to themselves. In the past, both the great men of good and evil persuasions were known for their acquisition of powerful equipment. It was their destiny, and it was inevitable.
“No, really, I’m just a simple village girl…”
“And, I’ve never heard of any Ainz Ooal Gown fellow. At least, he’s not part of our Association, nor have I ever heard of an adventurer by that name.”
“The Warrior-Captain knows Gown-sama!”
“The Kingdom’s Warrior-Captain, Gazef Stronoff-dono? …You must be uttering nonsense. How would a simple village girl know of such things?”
“Because he came to our village! It’s true! Go ask him and you’ll know!”
It would be impossible to communicate with the Warrior-Captain, who resided in the Royal Capital, from E-Rantel. More to the point, if she really was a simple village girl, it was unlikely that she would stay in the Warrior-Captain’s memory, so proving her identity would be hard.
“So what do we do?”
“Detain her for now, then investigate further. Given that she didn’t conceal that item, and was planning to take it into the city openly, she might not be a spy or a terrorist, but that is no guarantee.”
Enri looked around in a panic.
She looked just like a normal village girl. If this was an act, she must have been a very good actor.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers watching the perimeter exclaimed in surprise. At the same moment, a voice that Enri couldn’t quite remember rang out.
“I wish to enter the city, but… what’s going on?”
As they turned towards the voice, they saw a man wearing jet-black plate armor.
“Uooh!”
The soldiers and magic casters exclaimed in surprise. Everyone in E-Rantel knew the man who wore that armor. The adamantite plate which swayed over his chest was the conclusive proof of his identity. A living legend, a man who made the impossible possible, the ultimate warrior.
Momon from ‘Darkness’.
“I-It’s Momon-sama! My sincerest apologies!”
“Now, what’s going on here… hm? This girl is…”
“Yes! Because of this girl, we spent a bit of time checking up on her. I apologize for any inconvenience we’ve caused Momon-sa―”
“―Enri, is it? Enri Emmot?”
The air in the room seemed to freeze over. Why would a legendary adventurer know a village girl’s name?
“That, you are… ah, yes. That, that time, you were the adventurer who came with Enfi. Although I don’t think I spoke to you… did you learn my name from Nfirea?”
Momon put his hand on his chin, as though he were thinking. Afterward, he gestured to the magic caster and they exited the blockhouse. Although the soldiers wanted to follow, they couldn’t leave Enri alone.
Only the magic caster, now calmed down, returned to the room.
“Let her go. That great man, Momon the Black, has vouched for her with his status as an adamantite-ranked adventurer. I think there’s no point in keeping her here. What do you think?”
“That’s an obvious decision… but, is it really all right?”
“Is it really all right to doubt him, of all people?”
“O-Of course not! I get it. We’ll grant her passage. Enri Emmot of Carne Village, you are allowed to enter the city. You may go.”
“Ah, yes. Thank you very much.”
After bowing quickly to them, Enri left the blockhouse. As her back receded into the distance, the soldier turned to the magic caster.
“What about Momon-sama?”
“He left first.”
“Then… what connection would that hero have with that village girl?”
“Hell if I know. Momon-dono told me what I told you, he vouched for her and asked that we let her go.”
“Then, another question. That Enri Emmot girl. Do you really think she’s just a village girl?”
“Certainly not. There’s no way she could be a simple village girl, otherwise why would a great hero like him help her? And it wasn’t a coincidence she was carrying that item… Could it have something to do with the Theocracy?”
“That Ainz Somethingorother fellow. If he’s from the Theocracy, shouldn’t we let the brass know?”
“Frankly speaking, I don’t know. After all, Momon-dono already vouched for her. If we let the people on top know… well, you would be just doing your job, but do you really want to upset Momon-dono?”
The soldier’s face twisted.
The exploits of Momon the Dark Hero in the graveyards of E-Rantel were a common conversation topic when the soldiers gathered.
There was nobody whose blood wouldn’t be boiling after hearing the legend of how a hero destroyed a horde of tens of thousands of undead. Even those who simply watched from afar could feel the overwhelming pressure of his heroic swordplay. The man who could make a mighty magical beast kneel before him and offer to serve as his mount set the soldiers’ hearts ablaze.
Just as women would have a crush on strong men, many men were admirers of Momon the Dark Hero, and it could be said that most of the armed forces of E-Rantel were his fans.
This soldier was one of them.
As a fan of Momon, just being patted on the shoulder by his idol was enough for him to boast about it to everyone he met. As such, he had no intention of upsetting the man he worshiped.
“There is that. Well, since Momon-sama vouched for her, I guess it’ll be fine.”
“I think so too. If we treat a friend of Momon-dono poorly, I don’t think it’ll turn out well. I guess all we can do is avoid rocking the boat. Now then… I guess I’ll go back to standing by.”
“Ayup. I’m heading back to my post too.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Enri drove the wagon with her back to the gate of E-Rantel’s city gate, wondering what on earth had just happened. That man in the jet-black armor ― the adventurer who had come with Nfirea to Carne Village to pick herbs ― he had helped her out of a tight spot.
By right, she should have immediately gone to thank him, but unfortunately she’d lost sight of him once she entered the city.