There are too many handsome men and pretty girls in this world. The features of the people walking on the streets are great. After coming here, the way I feel about my own face has dropped by two grades.
“Appearance aside, Lukeluther is right. People known as heroes will of course be beyond the realm of common folks. I feel that way too.”
“No, you flatter me. Calling me a hero… is too great an honor for me.”
Ainz answered Ninya, pretending to be shy while stopping himself from breathing a sigh of relief.
“If it is convenient, would you like to meet my teacher? Teacher’s innate talent can appraise the magic power of others, if you have the potential for magic, it will be sensed. Teacher can even categorize the tier of magic for Sorcery based Magic Casters.”
“I’ve always wanted to … That’s the same innate talent as that of the best magician in the empire right?”
“Yes, it’s the same innate talent.”
Since he couldn’t miss this information, he carried on asking.
“… What kind of ability is that?”
“Ah, according to teacher, we Magic Casters have something like an aura around us. The better the magic ability, the more aura there is. My teacher’s ability allows the perception of this aura.”
“Oh…. oh.”
Ainz restrained the low moan of surprise that leaked out instantly. In order to avoid the suspicion of others, he grunt in acknowledgement in a normal tone.
“Teacher uses this method to gather talented children and teach them.”
I was picked up by teacher too— Ninya continued. Ainz tried playing it off as he cursed in his heart. This was bad, someone had such a troubling innate talent.
“What’s the first step to take in order to learn magic?”
“You need to find a good teacher.”
“…. Like Ninya-san?”
“Hmmm— It’s better to look for someone stronger than me. But the kingdom mostly teaches through private tutoring, unrelated personnel won’t be able to enter a magic guild. Those who do get in without relations are small kids who are still immature. For someone the age of Momon-san, it is hard to enter without special recommendations. As for that, the Empire has a good magic academy, the magic education of the Theocracy is also at a very high standard, but only for Faith-based magic.”
“I see, so I can enroll in the Empire’s magic academy?”
“I think that would be difficult. The magic academy is a state-owned education institution, so only citizens of the Empire can study there…”
“I see…”
“As for studying under me, I’m sorry. I have things I need to do and have no time to spare teaching others.”
Ninya’s expression darkens. He seemed to be full of intense negative emotions, his hostility was clear for all to see.
Don’t get too deep into this. I don’t think I will get anything good out of it.
When Ainz made this judgement, Lukeluther interrupted Ainz’s thought with a light tone:
“Hey— sorry for butting into your conversation, but the food is ready. Can you help me to gather the other three?”
“Momon-san, let me do that.”
“Hmmm— Nabel-chan is going? Not staying here to cook with me, creating our memories of love?”
“Die, lower life form (House centipede). I will pour boiling oil down your throat to stop you from saying nonsense, alright?”
“Stop that Nabel. Let’s go together.”
“Yes! Understood!”
After thanking Ninya, Ainz walked towards the two men working silently a short distance from the tent.
Peter and Dyne were focused on maintaining the weapon they used, applying oil to prevent rust, checking it’s alignment and other things.
The armor had fresh dents and the swords had cracks after clashing with the weapons of the goblins. There was a need to repair these as fast as possible, and Ainz was hesitant about breaking their concentration. He needed to inform the two of them, as well as Nfirea who was taking care of the horses, that dinner was ready.
The sun set beyond the horizon, the group dined with the blood red sunlight as background.
Everyone’s bowl was filled with bisque seasoned by bacon, toast, dried figs and walnuts. This was the dinner tonight.
Ainz stared at the salty looking bisque in his hands. He couldn’t feel the warmth while wearing his gauntlets, but seeing everyone eating heartily without waiting for it to cool, the temperature should be just right.
Well, What should I do?
Ainz was an undead and therefore unable to eat. He disguised his appearance with an illusion spell but he would be exposed if he ate the bisque with his skeleton body and mouth.
He couldn’t allow anyone to see his true appearance.
An unknown world with unknown food. It might be just a few simple dishes, but Ainz still felt it was a pity that he was unable to eat it.
Although he no longer had any desire for food, he still felt discontent about his inability to eat when delicious and curious dishes appeared before him.
For the first time since coming to this world, Ainz regretted having an undead body.
“Ah— Is there something you don’t dare to eat?”
Lukeluther asked while looking at Ainz, who wasn’t digging in.
“No, it’s a personal reason.”
“Is that so? Don’t force yourself alright? But it’s chow time now, you can take the helmet off right?”
“… It’s because of religious reasons. On the days when I kill, five or more people can’t dine together.”
“Oh… Momon-san had a strange religion. But since the world is big, it’s not surprising for such a religion to exist.”
Everyone’s suspicious gaze softens when they heard it was related to religion.
Maybe religion is a complicated matter in this world.
Ainz offered thanks to the gods he didn’t believe in for successfully fudging it. To change the topic, he asked Peter:
“You call yourself the ‘Sword of Darkness’, but it seems none of you are using one?
As for the main weapon of the members, Peter used a normal magically enchanted longsword, Lukeluther used a bow, Dyne used a mace and Ninya had a staff. No one wielded a black sword. Peter main- and Lukeluther’s support-weapons were swords, but their colour was anything but ‘darkness’’.
There was a technique that changed the color of metal by applying a special powder, so it wasn’t hard to forge a black-colored sword. Or rather, it seemed unnatural that nobody used a black sword.
“Ah, it’s that question.”
Lukeluther smiled sheepishly, the smile of someone digging up his shameful past. Especially Ninya whose face turned bright red, different from the reflection of the camp fire.
“That was the sword Ninya was after.”
“Don’t bring it up, I was young back then.”
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of! Having a grand dream is important!”
“Spare me Dyne, seriously.”
The Sword of Darkness group laughed heartily as they mocked Ninya who felt embarrassed enough that he wanted to find a hole and hide in it. The name ‘Sword of Darkness’ seemed to be an inside secret among members.