Overlord: A Warrior's Return

Chapter 24: A Frosty Morning

With the Windflower scripture members no longer being a threat, Firord changed his mind about fleeing to seek help and instead opted to go and liberate the other slaves.

While many were thankful, years in captivity had done quite a number on them and they hadn't the strength to leave on their own. A few volunteers tended to wounds and began medically treating those worse off for the trek to come.

This left Firord alone with the two adventurers in a room the guards used to rest in. There were some supplies there, of which the alcohol was what Firord was mainly interested in.

It had been so long since he had quenched his thirst. lt burnt on the way down but it was a feeling he'd missed. "Aight. So, where were we?"

Takemikazuchi: "Runes. You mentioned runes could be used to enchant."

Firord: "Ah, ye. Compared to the traditional way of using magic casters to enchant items, runecrafting takes much longer but requires nearly no materials. Only the skill of the runecrafter matters. Ye also can't use both together, they repel each other."

Takemikazuchi: "How powerful can these enchantments be?"

Firord: "Well that depends on the rune and the one doing it. Many runes have been lost to time though. Like I said, I only know the basics. But the weapons of old were powerful and sought-after."

Valmet: "Perhaps we could go visit the dwarf capital?"

Firord: "I'll gladly vouch for ya if you intend to venture that far out."

Takemikazuchi: "Hmmm...I am considering it. Here, have a drink, I'll be back. Just going outside for some air and clearing my thoughts."

The crisp mountain air was indeed refreshing but what Takemikazuchi needed was some privacy so that he could think.

With the lack of data crystals, it seemed to make the most sense to find an alternative. The fact that he could physically smith weapons that were of a higher quality but lacking data crystal slots was initially a disappointment but perhaps it could be redeemed with runecrafting.

How would he get the dwarves to help him out however? The option to trade with them was certainly on the table. If he thought about it in video game terms, usually factions had reputations and one had to do quests or help said faction in some way in order to unlock special rewards. Helping the dwarf that was enslaved here was certainly a step on the right path.

Takemikazuchi also thought about asking Ainz for his opinion but he wasn't sure if he should be bothering him with such a trivial matter. Nazarick was dealing with those who had tried to invade the tomb afterall. On the other hand, his guild master had told him to come forward with any problem.

Well, there was still the problem of the slaves too. Many would need to get back to civilization and that meant a trip back to E-Rantel. Takemikazuchi put aside his current thoughts and went back down to see what their plan going forward would be.

Everyone seemed to be up and about, with Valmet organizing the survivors in some kind of line. It seemed the adventure to the dwarf kingdom would have to be after this escort quest. Ugh, if there was something that game developers always got wrong; it was the speed of escort quests.

He counted 22 total freed slaves, most of which did not seem in adequate shape for the trip they were planning. Seeing Valmet help tend to them however, made him remember these were real people, not just npc's.

Valmet: "Alright, we should be ready to go. We'll make a train with me at the rear and you leading."

It had taken them two days with a decent pace to reach here. How long would it take them to get back with those that had trouble walking? Thankfully they at least had provisions from the guards that would last them for the trip.