ring on the finger

"just asking for a friend?"

-

"Why did you give him that item?"

Akabaru was talking to Ainz while walking back to the village of Carne

The soldiers had rested enough to move to the village where they could get more help.

{What item do you mean?}

"The valentine special pendant, from year four.. no, five of the game." Akabaru wasn't quite sure, but suspected himself to be right.

{It was a simple gift to get his favour}

Ainz had given Gazef a cash shop item from YGGDRASIL, but while he had a great collection of them, he could not replenish his stock of them, giving one away was not a big loss, but the items origin was most perplexing.

"But why did you decide to give him that specific item?"

{To increase his chance of surviving.}

"so, giving the pendant of love meant nothing to you? I am not judging you or something but I would have to inform the guild that you are gay if it did." Someone special would be disappointed but it was important to tell her that he was just not into women.

{please just stop it, you know that I am not into men.}

"Ye I know… that you never confirmed it." Momonga never really talked about romance, only listening to others. Then again, romance wasn't even something that was realistic.

{Fuck off Akabaru...}

Ainz had disconnected the spell clearly done with the conversation.

-

Akabaru arrived to the village with Gazef and his four remaining soldiers. They could see Ainz, Albedo and the village chief at the entrance of the village welcoming their return, the villagers, led by the Death Knight, also came out to meet them. Welcoming the group with cheers and praise."

"Oh, Warrior-Captain-dono, I'm glad you're all right. did the item I gave you help with your work." The soldiers moved forward seating themselves further away as Ainz begun to talk to Gazef.

"I could not thank you enough Gown-dono! The item you gave saved my live and this friend of yours defeated the leader without help." Gazef turned to look at Akabaru who was someways behind him sounding more respectful then when they were in battle, perhaps gaining respect for defeating the leader, or perhaps is was because Gazef had taken off some of his broken equipment, being bruises all over and half his face being swollen up, like a strange-looking, misshapen ball. Yet, a fire burned within his eyes.

Akabaru eyed Gazef further when he saw a ring that Gazef wore on his left ring finger.

"Gazef, since when do you have the ring?" Originally he had missed it focusing instead on his face and muscles.

"Oh it was a gift from a special person Faer-dono." Gazef seemed toehold it dear to him, stroking lightly while looking at it.

"Interesting… do you have someone you are planning on giving it to?" Akabaru already knew he didn't have someone now so perhaps someone in the future he would meet.

"I do, but I am not sure he is ready.."

Akabaru was staring towards Gazef but didn't continue asking any questions, doubting everyone for a while.

"Well then.. how will you proceed, you lost most of your men in battle and are in no real state for combat?" Ainz interrupted the awkward atmosphere

"I will be tacking the horses that survived and heading back in a couple of days to e-Rental and heading to re-Estize the day after I arrive there…. I do not know how I can repay you for your and Faer-dono's help. You said you didn't want anything bit I have to compensate for the item and I have yet to discuss the reward for Faer." He seemed open about wanting to give at least a token of appreciation.

"You don't need to repay me for the item Gazef, and for Faer…" Ainz looks at Akabaru

"I will travel with Gazef towards the capital, and meet one of my companions who should be there, we can discuss my reward on the way." Ainz would have probably looked shocked by his words.

"That would be great Faer-dono, I will introduce you to the capital when we arrive, and if Gown-dono ever visits I will do the same.." Gazef seemed happy to have such a strong companion.

"Is that so… then, I will have to impose on you when the time comes, when will we meet again Faer?"

"I shall visit once I have time." Perhaps tonight would be the best, communication was key after all.

"...Gown-dono, I do not know what plans you have, but we will be staying in this village for a while."

"Is that so? Well, I was planning to move on, though I have not decided my destination yet." Ainz said

"Gazef, he needs to continue his travels, my companion will wait for me in the capital… now Ainz we will meet again when fate wishes for it."

"Gown-dono, I wish for your save travels but please seek me out when you reach the capital. My doors will always be open to you. In addition, I am eternally grateful to you for your gift." Gazef showed a great deal of respect to the mage.

"Let's go home, Albedo." Ainz spoke in a low foice, low enough that only Albedo and Akabaru could hear it.

"Faer, I wish you luck."

Ainz left with albedo at his side, followed by the death knight.

Akabaru was pondering about who to invite as his companion, he needed someone human like, perhaps one of the Pleiades would be his best pick, but he didn't know which one would complement his style the most, entoma and cz were out of the picture because of their fighting style… they could change it but that would be a liability… Lupus would be a good one because of her being a healer but after that morning…..

The remaining three were Yuri, the competent and strict one.. Naberal, a somewhat reclusive girl from what Akabaru remembered, and Solution, the slime assassin that if he remembered correctly liked to eat people.

He decided that Yuri would be the best one, as she was also a melee combatant and could pretend to be his assistant or student.

"I will get some rest, when do you want to leave?"

"Sunrise tomorrow, it should be enough time for them to rest. After we will travel to E-Rantel and continue on horseback towards the capital, resting in a village on the way and reaching our destination around the halfway point of the second day."

"Then I will see you tomorrow morning, at dusk."

Akabaru left towards the forest, intending to rest inside the tomb.

"Wait, where are you going, there are beds in the village."

"I have set up camp to the west of here, it will only be a short trip and I will be back before you know it." He would bring some stuff out of his room to carry with him to not seem to obvious, but nothing he needed.

Akabaru left before Gazef could offer to get it with him, not wanting to waist time when he had to contact Yuri about the plan that he had just made up.

-

(Gazef pov)

"He certainly left quick…" gazef muttered to himself.

"commander?" one of the surviving soldiers called out

"Yes?"

"should we report them to the king as a danger to the kingdom?"

"why would we do that, they saved us didn't they?"

"yes, but their power was on another scale, the angel that he killed were shredded with one punch not to mention the larger angel that retreated after seeing him."

"He could defeat a multiple angels in one move." Another soldier added.

"And, do you want to make an enemy out of him?" Gazef looked at the soldiers. In his eyes it didn't matter how strong they where. Well it mattered but only in negotiations and rewards.

"Someone who is not connected to a kingdom is not a danger to a kingdom. Only when you make an enemy out of them is it worth a fight." Gazef said making the soldiers look the other way in shame.

"Don't get me wrong, I will advise the king on this matter, but making enemies is never a good thing."