Overlord - Prologue

“Well, I’d be upset if I lost this chap. However, all I need to do is make an even stronger blade, right? Since I don’t know everything about this game, I can’t say that the gear I possess is the strongest. The more I learn, the better a weapon I can make. The same goes for my Mk Six. I levelled it up all the way from its Mk One state. Mm. If I made the strongest katana, I’d call it Zero or Ultimate or Void or something like that.”

Warrior Takemikazuchi scratched his head. He was not tired, just confused by what he had just said.

“Ah — what was I saying? Equipment is nothing more than equipment. Don’t you think it would be too sad if we denied ourselves the world — our enjoyment of the game — because we were too afraid to lose it?”

“I think everyone enjoys the game in their own way, and forcing one’s point of view on others is wrong.”

“Uwah, I didn’t think Momonga-san would say that. I’ve been shot in the back by a comrade.”

After apologizing to Warrior Takemikazuchi, Momonga looked at the guild members and said:

“Frankly speaking, the idea of clearing an unknown dungeon in one go is my own wilful idea. And you’re right to wonder, ‘Is this challenge worth the risk of losing the gear we spent our time and effort creating?’ Bellriver is right. I am the one who is wrong. However, I still think we should go for it. I feel that the members of our guild are people who’ll make an idiot their leader, and when that idiot asks them to do something foolish, they’ll laugh and take care of it right away. Can you help me with the foolish thing I said? Please.”

Momonga lowered his head slightly.

Several seconds later, the first reply came.

“Well, since this is a request from my comrade Momonga, I’m happy to help.”

It was Ulbert’s voice.

“As a guild leader, I would put safety first… but as a player I want to have a good time.”

After him was Touch Me.

“I was planning to do this from the beginning. I just kept quiet because Takemikazuchi said it first.”

“As a guild member, I’ve got to back the new Guildmaster up, you know.”

The siblings Peroroncino and Bukubukuchagama made their opinions known. Now, it was Bellriver’s turn.

“I’m not too keen on this, but since Momonga said that, I’ll take part. Although I’d like it to be noted that I opposed it.”

Although his words sounded like those of an unhappy child, Bellriver’s approval seemed to have started a fire, and the ones who opposed the idea at first came around one by one.

“Thank you,” Momonga lowered his head, “Then, our next objective is to defeat the boss in the depths of this unknown dungeon!”

“Oh!” the gathered members answered with hearty shouts.

* * *

There were 27 people gathered here.

In Yggdrasil, parties were made of six people, and a raid could have a maximum of 5 parties.

Judging by the current member count, there were three vacancies.

Since three missing people was a huge gap in a party’s capabilities, the intention was to fill those places with NPC mercenary characters.

One good thing about NPC mercenaries was that they could allow a solo player to form a group, but their AI was not very good, and their combat ability was lower than even a poorly put-together character of the same level. Because of that, when grouped with NPCs, people who were not good enough were hindered when running difficult dungeons.

Momonga thought about who was the right person to lead the NPCs.

It was a choice between the fighting power of Touch Me or the cunning Punitto Moe. As he thought about it, he realised that he had made a fundamental error.

Rather than leaving the entire mission to one party, he should split it up between two parties.

“Ah, my apologies. Punitto-san, Touch-san, I have something to ask of you.”

The two of them were the most reliable powerhouses among everyone present.

Touch Me had fighting power while Punitto Moe had command ability. The two of them could probably make good use of the NPC mercenaries.

“Ahh, Momonga-san. I have a suggestion to make. Could you come here for a bit?”

Momonga had no reason to refuse Punitto Moe’s request.

The two of them went to the corner of the room.

“My suggestion is that you place sentries at the entrance of the dungeon.”

The sentries was a party which would be used to stand guard at the dungeon entrance, keep an eye out for anyone approaching, and depending on the circumstances, they would eliminate any interlopers.

Momonga sighed and rejected it. This was a group activity, and everyone would be clearing the dungeon together. He did not want to leave any of his companions at the door.

“No, I won’t compromise on this. I don’t want to be squashed.”

“Squashing” was Punitto Moe’s name for a PK method that involved attacking a player group that had just began delving into a dungeon from behind. Once their opponents were forced deeper into the dungeon, they would have to deal with the dungeons’ monsters as well as the PKs attacking them from behind. This was a kind of pincer movement.