With the help of these three small-time crooks, the Last Defender of the Way adventure team made contact with the Thieves' Guild.
Under Barrett's barrage of bribes, and after EeDechi demonstrated her strength by smashing three Adamantite warriors with a single punch, the Thieves' Guild's master obeyed every instruction from EeDechi's group of three people and one cat, and quickly arranged the teleportation circle to E-Rantel.
...
Eight Greed Kings Desert, the City of Remnants, underground temple.
The tall Albedo stood in the underground city, crossed the moat heaped with gold, silver, and jewels, passed through the magnificent city gate, and stepped onto the lift platform.
She had originally been leading the supreme conquest team in excavating ruins in the Eight Greed Kings Desert. After Demiurge's presence vanished, she had rushed to the City of Remnants without stopping to rest.
Thirty level-100 guardians sat upon the throne, their voices unified and booming. "We have already told you of the eight emperors' great deeds in surpassing level 100. But we cannot provide a way to reach the Godfall Lands. The last skyship has been given to the previous guest—you have come too late."
Albedo nodded slightly, showing she didn't mind.
"Guest, do you have any other requests?"
Albedo straightened her back, her fair face unusually serious. "I wish to know about a matter of great importance. I have pursued this secret for years, yet found nothing. Even so, I have not given up, because I believe the book's author would not lie to me."
The thirty level-100 guardians exchanged glances and spoke in unison. "Speak freely. The thirty of us have inherited the empire's glory. We know all that there is to know, and can surely give you an answer."
Albedo was over the moon, her eyes sparkling with endless delight as she beamed, "I want to know, how can a level-100 undead skeleton grow a dick?"
"..."
The thirty level-100 guardians all fell silent.
Silence...
A long, drawn-out silence...
Finally, one wizard guardian spoke up, breaking the stillness of the temple. "Little nympho, we don't have an answer either—we can only offer a line of thought.
"As everyone knows, dirt cannot be set into gold. The body of a level-100 undead is gold, while ordinary flesh is dirt. If you want to make your wish come true, you must find material equal to gold, forge the dick from it, and set it in place.
"In other words, you need flesh material that is level 100, or close to it."
Albedo furrowed her brow and sighed in defeat. "That's not how it's written in the book."
"What book? Some magic tome?" a bunny-eared guardian asked curiously.
Albedo pouted, and a thick red book with gold embossing appeared in her hand. "This one."
The thirty guardians fixed their eyes on it and nearly choked—Albedo's book was The Extraordinary Demon Lord's Exclusive Love for the Proud Princess. It was just a romance novel!
...
The Sorcerer Kingdom's directly administered city, E-Rantel.
EeDechi and her group stepped out of the teleportation array hall, only to find the area ahead covered in scorch marks, as if someone had wantonly set fire to the place. The Dragon Zoo was empty too, all the original giant dragon specimens gone.
EeDechi stretched lazily, ignoring the patrolling death knights nearby. "Let's go, to Baharuth!"
The three wandered around the square for a while, pulling out a map to discuss which way to head next.
After roaming aimlessly through E-Rantel a few times, they bought supplies and weapons, then exchanged their gold bars for several bags of gold coins issued by the Sorcerer Kingdom. Before long, through the glass wall of a cafe, they spotted an old acquaintance sitting inside.
William Scott sat upright in the cafe, his posture straight and formal, his red hair still as messy as a bird's nest.
Across from him, a slender young girl sat on a bamboo chair, her face flushed with shyness as she nervously stirred her coffee.
William looked solemn, saying something in a serious and proper manner, and the hopeful expression on the girl's face instantly faded. She bit her lip lightly, struggling to hold back her tears, then covered her face and ran out of the cafe.
Once the girl was gone, William sat alone in the cafe for a while, then walked out the door with a blank look on his face.
The moment he stepped outside, he ran straight into EeDechi's group of three people and one cat.
"Kid, how'd you manage to drive off a pretty girl like that? Keep it up and you'll be alone for life," Barrett teased.
"Lady Hero!" William's expression filled with surprise. He immediately grew alert, scanning the street to his left and right, and only after confirming there were no suspicious people nearby did he relax and greet EeDechi with a smile.
The group went into the cafe, settling down in a quiet corner to chat about recent amusing events.
"What's the deal with that girl?" Barrett asked with a smile, ready to enlighten William a little on love and romance like a wise old mentor.
"She's my junior. She asked me out, confessed her feelings, and I turned her down." William's voice was perfectly calm.
"You don't like her?" Barrett asked. He remembered the girl was exceptionally beautiful, with the air of some noble's pampered daughter.
"Why?" Franco cut in, completely baffled. "She's gorgeous. Even if you don't like her, you could just say yes for now, tumble in the sheets, bang her quick, and it's no skin off your nose."
"No, I do like her." William shook his head. "But if I accept her confession, I have to take responsibility for her. My path is destined to be a lonely one—I can't drag anyone else into it."
EeDechi's heart suddenly clenched. William still kept the enemy who had murdered his father and brother etched in his mind, never forgetting his revenge for even a moment.
But his enemy was the ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the king of the Sorcerer Kingdom, the level-100 demon god—Ainz Ooal Gown.
William gave a detailed account of what he had experienced during this period. He was still attending the racial integration school in E-Rantel, where his grades were excellent and his performance outstanding. He had even been elected student council president.
Thanks to his Innate Talent for using any magic item, even without any magical aptitude, he had distinguished himself in the academy's combat tournaments and received high praise from the teachers dispatched by the Sorcerer Kingdom.
Even when Ainz Ooal Gown came to inspect the school's situation, William had been chosen as the representative and received a commendation from Ainz himself.
That was the closest William had ever come to the enemy who had killed his father and brother. Thinking back to how he had once knelt less than five meters(16.404 feet) away from Ainz, a smile appeared at the corner of William's mouth, carrying a deep and unreadable meaning.
"You still insist on taking revenge?" EeDechi stirred her coffee, a faint trace of worry in her eyes. To EeDechi, William's resolve was certainly firm, but his strength was far too weak. Even with his Innate Talent, it could not increase his power by much.
What he was attempting was no different from throwing himself into certain death. It was like a moth flying into the flame, or an ant challenging an elephant—a road with no return.
"Lady Hero, there is no need to worry. I am moving toward my target step by step, aren't I? In Ainz's eyes, I may still be nothing more than an insignificant ant, but I have already gained his trust. His arrogance and conceit are the perfect cover for me."
William looked steadily at EeDechi, his gaze firm and sharp.
Even a small stone should sharpen its edges, so that those who dare to step on it will come to regret it.
EeDechi thought back to the words she had once said, and couldn't help feeling moved. The seed of defiance she had planted in the boy's heart had finally taken root, sprouted, and grown into a towering tree.
"You can't kill him. The difference in strength is too vast." EeDechi tried to persuade William to give up this impossible goal.
"I know." William gave a slight nod. "But I will make him feel pain. I will make him repent for his crimes!"