Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz)

E-Rantel, the fortress city, had once been a vital border stronghold of the Re-Estize Kingdom. But after the war between the Sorcerer Kingdom and Re-Estize, E-Rantel and its surrounding lands were completely annexed by the Great Tomb of Nazarick, becoming a directly governed city of the Sorcerer Kingdom.

Along their journey, EeDeChi and her companions had heard countless rumors. Whispers spoke of how low-level undead toiled in the fields, relieving humans of backbreaking farm labor; how free food rations were distributed every month; and how the Sorcerer Kingdom had poured resources into restoring and refurbishing every home at its own expense.

Most astonishing of all was the Sorcerer Kingdom's grand vision: a utopia where all races could coexist in harmony and equality.

According to the stories, in E-Rantel, Ogres constructed city walls and buildings, Wyverns soared through the skies delivering goods, and Death Knights patrolled the streets as law enforcers. Lizardmen, humans, elves, satyrs, kobolds—creatures of all kinds lived together, forging a shared future in this extraordinary city.

But rumors were just rumors. To uncover the truth of E-Rantel, the three adventurers would have to see it with their own eyes.

After a grueling month of nonstop travel, the trio and their feline companion finally arrived at the outskirts of E-Rantel. Along the way, they had barely encountered any Dark Undead Knights from the Sorcerer Kingdom. With the kingdom's forces scattered in all directions, the heart of the land seemed eerily empty.

EeDeChi's jet-black hair had once again been dyed golden by Barrett. A wide-brimmed felt hat shielded most of it from view, while a woolen scarf concealed the lower half of her face. Barrett and Franco had also made subtle alterations to their appearances, taking extra precautions to avoid recognition.

In the town of Colmar, they slowed their pace and stepped into a small tavern to catch their breath. Not far in the distance, the towering circular walls of E-Rantel's inner city loomed, a stark reminder that their destination was close at hand.

The moment EeDeChi entered the tavern, her gaze landed on a massive, gold-framed portrait of Ainz Ooal Gown mounted on the wall. Oddly enough, the chairs and tables surrounding the painting were completely vacant, as if no one dared to sit in its presence.

Signs of "harmonious coexistence between different races" were beginning to take shape. Behind the counter stood the tavern's owner—a yuan-ti abomination. His two muscular arms moved with practiced ease, but his elongated neck and head bore the unmistakable features of a greenish-blue python. Instead of legs, his lower body coiled into a thick, powerful tail. As he spoke, his forked tongue flickered, weaving a faint, hissing undertone into his words.

The tavern buzzed with a mix of different races. Among the patrons, there were only a few humans—most of the crowd consisted of gray dwarves no taller than the tables, half-dragons exhaling hot mist through their nostrils, and orcs flashing their sharp, brutal-looking fangs…

A gray dwarf had a massive spiked warhammer resting beside his boots, nearly as large as his own head. If he could actually swing that thing, he'd be the last person anyone would want to cross.

An orc with crooked, yellowed teeth shot a venomous glare at the three adventurers. Under normal circumstances, had they met anywhere else, swords would have been drawn in a heartbeat, and the fight wouldn't have ended until someone's head rolled across the floor. But now, with the Sorcerer Kingdom cracking down with its so-called "order," even the crude, bloodthirsty orcs had no choice but to sit still, sip from delicate teacups, and fumble awkwardly with knives and forks—playing pretend at civility.

Barrett let his sword slide just a fraction from its sheath, the cold gleam catching in the orc's eyes. He wasn't fooled. Orcs didn't change. The Sorcerer Kingdom might have beaten them into submission, but brute force alone couldn't turn savages into gentlemen.

The three of them ordered a bottle of wine. As it slid over their tongues, a strange, tingling numbness spread through their mouths—an unsettling sensation that left an unpleasant aftertaste.

Barrett wasn't entirely sure if the yuan-ti tavern owner had slipped venom into their wine. He had heard that yuan-ti had a tradition of mixing fresh venom into their brews, claiming it enhanced the flavor. The non-human patrons drank it down with ease, but for the adventurers, even a single sip left them wary.

A hooded young woman entered the tavern, moving hesitantly. The oversized hood draped over her face, concealing her features. She treaded carefully, choosing a quiet seat in the corner, as if hoping to disappear into the shadows.

Then, suddenly—

A golden, key-shaped emblem ignited on the back of her hand.

Her breath hitched as she instinctively clutched at it, but the brilliant light poured between her fingers, spilling like liquid gold.

All eyes in the tavern turned to her. Some of the non-human patrons, upon glimpsing the golden key, stared at her with a mix of admiration and deep envy.

Then—thud. Thud.

Two towering Death Knights strode into the tavern, their armored boots striking the wooden floor like a war drum. Eerie blue flames burned within the voids of their eyes, and the black plating of their armor gleamed with the insignia of the Sorcerer Kingdom.

A suffocating silence fell over the room. Even the loudest of the gray dwarves dared not make a sound, while the yuan-ti bartender subtly dipped his head.

One of the Death Knights turned its chilling gaze toward the girl in the corner and spoke, its voice a hollow rasp, like wind whistling through a broken bellows:

"Honorary Citizen, you are not permitted to leave E-Rantel without authorization."

The second Death Knight flicked its wrist, sending a glowing, enchanted rope whipping through the air. The thick cord, pulsing with eerie green light, slithered like a serpent, coiling around the girl in tight loops before dragging her straight into the Death Knight's grasp. Without hesitation, the two armored figures hauled her away.

"No! I don't want to go back!" The girl's terrified screams cut through the heavy silence.

Her hood fell, revealing soft, light brown hair cascading over her shoulders. Her delicate features were framed by striking emerald-green eyes, shimmering with unshed tears.

Franco, unable to watch in silence, reached for his wand, ready to act.

Thud!

An arrow slammed into their table, quivering where it struck. The black-and-white fletching fluttered slightly, a silent warning.

"Unless you've got a death wish, I'd sit this one out."

The voice belonged to an elven woman, her sharp eyes watching them from across the tavern. A quiver was strapped to her back, a short sword at her waist, and a snug emerald-green leather outfit hugged her agile frame. Her long, ash-gray hair was tied back with a simple grass cord. That arrow had been no accident—it was a clear message: stay out of it.

"That girl will die if we do nothing," Barrett muttered, his voice low and tense. "I always thought elves prided themselves on their nobility. Are you really the type to just look the other way?"

The elf smirked, completely unbothered, and took a leisurely sip from her flask. "Relax. She's not going to die. She's just a canary that managed to slip out of her cage. Her master's simply putting her back where she belongs—to sing behind bars."

"What the hell does that mean?"

The elf tilted her head slightly. "First time in E-Rantel, huh?"

She jerked her chin toward the door. "Did you notice the golden key on her hand? That's the emblem of an 'Honorary Citizen' of the Sorcerer Kingdom. It comes with a lot of perks—wealth, comfort, and immunity from most crimes. As long as she hasn't committed murder, she's not in any real danger."

"Then why would an Honorary Citizen try to escape E-Rantel?"

The elf gave a casual shrug. "Beats me. Maybe there's more to this story than we know."