Chereads / Yggdrasil Dungeon Master / Chapter 18 - To Nazarick!

Chapter 18 - To Nazarick!

As a figure, no, as the supreme being moved through the mudded forest, the raven black cloak that covered their body whipped about in the wind and rain, the hood pulled low to shield their face from the elements. Yet, despite the storm, their steps were sure and steady, their feet making barely a sound as they navigated the slippery terrain.

The light of the blood moon filtered through the dark clouds above, casting an eerie red glow over the forest. The rain pounded in a deafening roar, the drops bouncing off the leaves and branches of the trees and the ground beneath the supreme being's feet. As they walked, the supreme being's eyes darted left and right, taking in their surroundings with a sense of purpose. They seemed to be searching for something, their every step guided by some unseen force.

The forest was alive with the sound of the storm, the wind howling through the trees, and the thunder crashing in the distance. But the supreme being paid it no mind, their focus unwavering as they moved deeper into the forest. Eventually, they came to a clearing and stopped, their red eyes fixed on something in the distance. The rain slowed to a drizzle, and for a moment, all was still.

But then the supreme being took a step forward, approaching a grand tomb, its massive size commanding the attention of all who stand before it. Measuring 200 meters in width on all four sides, the tomb was surrounded by a 6-meter tall perimeter wall. Two oversized entrances adorned the tomb, each guarded by towering statues depicting goddesses. In addition, the graveyard was dotted with artfully crafted statues of angels. As a lightning bolt illuminated the sky, the supreme being strode through the grand entrance, his arms firmly holding an elven girl whose clothes seemed tattered and slightly see-through due to the raging thunderstorm. Deep cuts marred the skin of her thighs, and burn marks on her arms indicated that she had been subjected to electrical torture.

As he stepped into the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Momonga noticed that the pop mobs, which were non-player characters typically used for minor tasks, were more abundant than usual. He also noticed that the tomb seemed to be entirely finished. As he walked through the grave, he came across a circular formation in the middle of a large chamber. Approaching it, he saw a figure standing in the center - a vampire with stunning beauty. Her eyes were a seductive crimson red, her facial features were fine and delicate, and her long silver hair was tied into a ponytail. Any man would be proud to have such a creation, but to Ainz, Shaltear Bloodfallen was more like a daughter to him as she was created by Perorocino.

"Hmm..." Momonga said out loud as he inspected Shalltear Bloodfallen even further, but sadly, she was still deactivated and looking down at the ground. Though this disappointed Momonga, he couldn't help but think of Claire.

As he looked around, desperately searching for a spot to set Claire down, he remembered the rock he had sat on earlier during the construction of the great tomb of Nazarick. He walked over to the rock and lowered Claire from his arms, gently placing her head upon it, ensuring she was comfortable as she slept.

Then, Momonga stood back up and started roaming around the great tomb of Nazarick, thinking to himself about what could come next.

'I massacred the entire underground hideout of the bandits, which will surely grab some attention. So... is it best to lie down and wait for the next couple of days while Claire recovers? No, that's not a viable option; I need to resume gathering more information about this world and whether or not my friends came here with me. Though that does bring up a question, the citadel of Alessa might not have all that I am looking for, and if that's the case, I'd have to move somewhere else. But, leaving the great tomb of Nazarick is out of the question as it would leave it vulnerable to attacks, so what should I do?'

Momonga paced the room, his hand pressed against his chin as he tried to devise his next few actions. But as he started to turn back to Claire, he noticed her beautiful eyes slowly fluttering open. Momonga quickly stopped thinking about his next steps and instead focused on Claire. He paced over to her, his cape sweeping against the ground as he knelt beside her.

"Are you alright?" Momonga asked, his voice laced with concern.

But, as Claire's eye's locked onto Momonga, a flood of emotion washed over her. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, leaving wet trails on her skin. Then, without a second thought, she threw herself into his arms, hugging him tightly.

As she sobbed into his chest, Momonga wrapped his arm around her, pulling her close and running his hand through her hair in a soothing gesture. He could feel her pain and fear and wanted nothing more than to take it away.

"It's okay, Claire," he whispered, his voice laced with warmth and concern. "You're safe now. Those who hurt you can never harm you again."

Claire's tears continued to flow, but she found solace in Momonga's embrace. She had been through so much in one cold night, and it felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders now that she was safe by Momonga's side.

'Even though I've lost most or all of my humanity. I can't help but not care for her; I can't help but think that what happened last night was my fault. If only I got there sooner and didn't stall out...'

"I'm sorry," Momonga said, almost whispering as Claire cried into his chest; even if he was as cold as an undead, she still felt a warmth that she'll never forget.