EeDechi propped her chin on her hand, her face brimming with anticipation. "Speaking of recruiting new teammates, Ligurido once told me there's a girl named Antilene in the Slane Theocracy, supposedly the strongest human alive. If we pass through the Slane Theocracy someday, we might get the chance to meet her and see if we can rope Antilene into the crew."
"Don't get your hopes up," Barrett said, shaking his head. "In adventurer circles, Antilene's a legend. And by legend, I mean something that's half real, half false.
"Nobody's ever seen what Antilene looks like, and nobody's caught her out on a mission. Word is, the Slane Theocracy keeps her stashed away in the nation's most hush-hush hideout. If they really have the strongest human around, why the hell are they keeping her under wraps instead of rolling her out as a walking Devastation Engine?
"The sharpest sword's meant to slice through the toughest shield. If it stays stuck in its sheath forever, it's no better than a hunk of scrap metal.
"Besides, we're just passing through the Slane Theocracy on our way to the Eight Greed Kings' desert. We'll only be there for a hot minute—running into some ultimate badass nobody's ever laid eyes on? Fat chance."
…
Two hours later, they finally reached the central teleportation hub in E-Rantel. Franco had regained his strength, and the group headed toward the pyramid-shaped waiting hall.
The owner of the Golden Apple Tavern was already waiting at the entrance, practically shaking in his boots as he handed over the international teleportation permit. Everything was squared away; all that was left was for the teleportation array to finish charging.
The waiting hall was massive inside, its polished marble floor so spotless it reflected like a mirror. Hardly anyone was around—just a handful of passengers lounging on the benches. Teleportation arrays didn't come cheap, after all; regular folks couldn't even dream of affording it.
The impossibly high ceiling was painted with intricate magical dyes, depicting a vivid blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. The brushwork was so detailed and lifelike that when a gentle breeze swept through the hall, the painted clouds seemed to drift along with it. For a moment, the passengers could almost believe they were outdoors, basking in the clear blue sky while waiting in leisure.
Naturally, there was also a massive portrait of Ainz plastered across one wall, taking up nearly the entire surface.
EeDechi and her two companions stepped into the waiting hall. From a corner of the room, a girl spotted EeDechi from afar. She hiked up her skirt, tossing ladylike manners to the wind, and hurried toward the three adventurers with quick little steps.
"Sir! Sir!" The girl had a slender figure, clad in a pale blue gown, her light brown hair catching the eye with its soft beauty. Even as she ran, she carried an air of grace and poise, like a wispy cloud floating over.
As she got closer, EeDechi recognized her—Willow Garcia, the bride who'd once been forced into a marriage with an orc in a church ceremony.
Back then, EeDechi had challenged the orc to a duel under their customs and won "ownership" of the girl. But she'd walked out of the church right after, claiming no reward and certainly not stepping into the groom's shoes.
Willow gazed at EeDechi with a timid, stuttering look, her cheeks flushed pink. She bowed deeply.
"Thank you. In my darkest moment, you saved me, sparing me the nightmare of spending my life with an orc. My parents have already gotten me a permit to leave E-Rantel—I'm taking the teleportation array to Baharuth. Where are you headed?"
EeDechi tipped her felt hat slightly, her dark eyes beneath the brim giving Willow a cool, indifferent glance. She waved a hand dismissively, brushing it off as no big deal, not worth mentioning.
Willow shyly lifted her head, her hands twisting together nervously. She parted her cherry-red lips, mustering her courage to speak.
"According to the duel's outcome, I'm your bride now. I want to marry you!"
"?!"
EeDechi froze, stunned. Even when facing the siege of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, she'd kept her cool, but now she didn't know how to react.
Warm, gentle sunlight streamed through the clear floor-to-ceiling windows, slanting into the vast, empty hall. A soft breeze blew in, making Willow's pale blue gown sway like delicate ripples on a lake.
The strong, beautiful girl tilted her head up slightly, her bright eyes gazing at EeDechi with deep affection, waiting for her beloved to respond.
Barrett watched the picturesque scene with keen interest, curious about how EeDechi would handle it.
But he soon noticed the breeze wasn't natural—Franco was sneakily casting wind magic nearby, making the girl's skirt flutter. Through the glossy, mirror-like marble floor, Franco was trying to catch a glimpse up her dress.
EeDechi shook her head in exasperation and turned to leave. Disappointment and pain flashed across Willow's pretty face, but she quickly stepped forward, reaching for EeDechi's hand.
Barrett intercepted the lovestruck girl just in time. If he didn't step in, things were about to spiral out of control.
"Sorry," Barrett said, doing his best to sound gentlemanly. "We're adventurers—wanderers with no fixed home. We ride the waves between poverty and riches, dancing on the edge of life and death. That's our normal. My companion can't give you the stable life you deserve."
"I don't care," Willow replied, tears shimmering in her eyes. "I'd follow him forever, to the ends of the world!"
Barrett put on a stern face and lowered his voice. "Beautiful lady, my companion might not be as perfect as you think. He grew up in a storm of blood and chaos. The sins and burdens he carries on his shoulders—you can't even imagine them."
"I don't care about his past!" Willow's eyes burned with determination. "I don't give a damn about what's behind him—I only care about his future. Whatever pain he's carrying, I'll shoulder it with him."
Well… Barrett found himself out of words. He'd never been a smooth talker—spouting grand speeches or sweet nothings wasn't his thing. Maybe he should just play matchmaker and hook EeDechi up with her?
Franco would've been better at handling Willow. That slick bastard could probably sweet-talk the innocent girl into bed with a few lines. But that'd likely stir up even more trouble.
Plus, Franco was busy anyway—still messing around with his wind magic, making Willow's blue skirt flutter like a butterfly. Willow hadn't caught on yet and had to press her hands against the fabric to keep everything from flashing the room.
EeDechi turned around, exasperated. Facing Willow, she yanked off her wide-brimmed hat, revealing a wild mop of blonde hair. She shot Franco a threatening gesture, barking, "Keep screwing around, and I'll snap your wand in half! Get over here and use your magic to undo this damn hair dye."
If it weren't for the need to conceal her identity, she would definitely teach Franco a lesson.
It was Willow's first time hearing EeDechi speak. The voice was fierce but unmistakably feminine. Her lips parted slightly, her face a mix of shock and confusion.
Franco cleared his throat, putting on a serious face as he reined in the wind spell. He strolled over, muttering an incantation, and tapped EeDechi's head lightly with his wand.
The faint golden dust on EeDechi's hair faded away, drifting into the air. Her locks shifted back to a soft, raven black, smoothing out and falling naturally. The messy, masculine blonde mop transformed into sleek, ear-length black hair.
Now it was Willow's turn to stand there dumbfounded. Instinctively, she reached out and touched EeDechi's chest, her hand landing on a rounded shape that rivaled her own.
"Get it now, kid?" EeDechi patted Willow's shoulder, her expression dripping with a seasoned, almost cocky air.
Willow's blush deepened, her face turning as red as a ripe fall apple. Suddenly, she stood on her tiptoes, planted a quick kiss on EeDechi's cheek, and whispered, "Thank you." Then she scampered off, her family waiting for her across the hall.