Beneath the shades of the dark forest, with the grace of moon and stars as light, Momonga stood still. Taken aback at the beauty standing in front of him.
Albedo wore a shimmering plate of armor with an equally exquisite dress.
Silver breastplate, gauntlets, greaves and hip shields. Shoulders wrapped with a white wrap extending to a short cape with gold stitchings. With a matching waist-cape extending to her ankles.
She's collard by white furr and a web-like necklace made of pure gold.
Beneath the armor is a long black dress. With puffy juliet sleaves, and a long skirt with unseen leg slits. Parting only when she walks revealing her armored legs.
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Momonga sighed softly at the ethereal beauty in front him as he took in her new clothes. Even more so when he gazed at her deep yellow eyes and full red lips, both of which seemed eager to devour him.
Albedo didn't say a word. With an unspoken joy and a bit of shyness she briefly paused, then approached the armor stand till she held a black shirt for Momonga to put on.
He gave her a small nod and allowed her to help him get dress. Both appreciative of the help and quiet for not trusting his voice.
First his shirt that she softly patted. Puffing the air inside out and letting it snug firmly against his muscled torso. With her hands, softly playing with every ridge of muscle before moving on.
Then came the chestplate, the first pauldron, gauntlets, and greaves. All in black and edged in gold.
She then knelt behind him, snapping a black waist cape into his faulds that dangled to his ankles.
His red cape came next that she gently scarfed around his neck. Wrapped just beneath his chin, over the vacant shoulder, and tucked beneath the other. With the last piece being the second pauldron over the red cape.
And finally his sword. A large black greatsword that shimmered blue beneath the right light with gleaming golden edges and a large sapphire orb at the guard.
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Albedo softly whispers... "Momonga-sama is so cool..." before her lips smiled widely from ear to ear.
Now fully equipped and holding his sword, something in Momonga's mind snapped into place. And in that moment, Momonga knew he could will the armor into place or change it to his original Divine Grade arsenal.
He could feel the feature activate and despite not seeing it, it still made him feel at ease.
'The Yggdrasil system is really here...'
He sighed a breath of relief. As if something that was missing is now found.
"Thank you..." he whispers.
"It was my pleasure, Momonga-sama." Albedo replied with a smile.
Momonga nodded in approval of her choice.
He knew the set well, it was among the things Whitebrim had commissioned from Amanomahitotsu after seeing Saber's design.
'I remember every maid also receiving one...'
The armor is mainly defense and utility. For example, Lupus Regina Beta has resistance against anti-beast spells or weapons. Narberal Gamma with melee and physical defense and resistance. Yuri Alpha has Divine, Light, and Stunning resistance.
Albedo's armor granted her Holy Resistance and various Paladin Skills while boosting her physical stats.
And while it isn't uncommon for a player or NPC to bridge their weaknesses. This was more for individual builds that sadly didn't synchronized with the rest of the battle maids.
New character settings needed to be programmed and written just to use them and since no one wanted to take the tasked, it just gathered dust in their inventories.
It served one purpose and one purpose only, to grant the players a tank to take the hits.
Shaking his head out of his reminiscing, he put on his fullplate helmet with it's red plum and a couple more spells for protection and refreshing his anti-divinations and then urged her to the camp to finally introduce themselves.
"Tell me Albedo, do you know the [•Message•] spell?"
"I do, Momonga-sama."
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Belotte, sat on a log with a bowl of soup at hand. His rust colored hair looked blonde due to the light of the fire. And his tan colored breastplate looked slightly orange.
He stood out among the rest who wore darker colors but he didn't care. He is Leader of the Adventurer Team SkyWolf and knew full well that his team is more than smart enough to put Alarm Spell to ward the area.
"...so it's true then? They actually clashed against the Demi Human villages huh." said his teammate with a large war axe planted behind him.
"And lost, don't forget that part." comments their ranger with a bow and arrow.
"Tsk! What did they expect!? Don't tell me they were stupid enough to entertain an actual victory? The war between the Demi Human Tribes and the Northern Holy Kingdom had gone on for hundreds of years. It wasn't gonna resolve itself in a single skirmish!"
"That is true but! Get this! Rumor has it that they didn't have a choice.."
"Uhk... just spill it out Mave!" complained their mage with a staff across his lap.
"Sorry, sorry... Haha.. anyway *kuhum-! according to my contacts, it turns out that those heathens found on their hands something that actually threatened the Holy Kingdom..."
"Like what...?" their mage asked.
"A Magic Item."
"Are you-"
"We know it's a magic item!"
"Mave, please stop playing with your info." sighed out Belotte hearing his teammates get agitated again.
"Hahaha! Well, it isn't confirmed but! They believe it a relic of the Eight Greed Kings..." his team groaned with disappointment but. "-some! Even believe it to be a relic of The Great Evil himself."
The camp went silent.
The Eight Greed Kings, Legends and Myths. Ones who was said to have been banished hundreds of years ago. Followed by the Six Great Gods and then the Evil Deities... But The Great Evil... this was recent, barely two hundred years ago. God-like beings who indulged themselves with the Kingdoms and the Empires of the world.
"That's insane... do you know what they found?" Britta asked with a shiver.
"A summoning item... A Dark Artifact... or so my sources say."
"How reliable is it?" asked Belotte.
"Reliable enough that there are records of them sending letters to the Theocracy for aid."
Belotte winced along with everyone else. The tension between both the Theocracy and the Holy Kingdom is high. With the former believing that the latter belonged to the Theocracy.
It wasn't a secret that the Holy Kingdom was established as a seperate institution. Built as a seprate order in worship of the Six Great Gods.
A Church that later grew in power and independence.
History was vague but that's because the Theocracy continuously muddle the truth. But what is widely known, is the fact that the Holy Kingdom was a Paladin Order that was later abandoned by the Theocracy. Believing that the war in those forests were not worth the cost of both coin and lives.
Of course the Theocracy also condemn them for inaction. Claiming they were called back to fight the Elven Nation but refused the call.
Their establishment was later solidified by the support of both the Baharuth Empire and the Re-Estize Kingdom. Both of which only acknowledged the Holy Kingdom's founding to weaken the Theocracy.
If there is any conversation between the two. Everyone knows that it would lead to nowhere.
"Something's coming!" yelled one his teammates, prompting everyone to action.
Belotte himself hefted his Mace and Shield. Looking in the direction their mage had pointed.
He leaned forward, legs firm for a fight as the sound of foot steps slowly approached.
"Tsk... I don't like this!" snarls their ranger as he drew his arrow and noct. "I smell iron and the sound of sabatons."
"Armored? Imperial knights?" adds the warrior as he lift his war-axe.
"Doesn't matter. Get ready." Belotte commanded, his assurance wiped the tension low for his comrades.
"...stay behind me Nfirea..." whispers Britta to the blonde boy.
From the treeline stepped out two figures and their looks took their breaths away. One is a black armored man, standing a full head taller than him with a huge sword and cape on his back.
And a step behind him is a beauty... A mature beauty that he failed to fully describe.
The two stopped just in point of view. With the armored man raising both hands to show that wasn't an aggressor.
"Greetings." he said.
His voice was rich and young. With a bearing that had him cautious. 'Not even the King had such a tone and presence in his voice.' thought Belotte.
"The same to you stranger. I am Belotte, Leader of the Gold Adventurer Team, SkyWolf."
His red eyes shined through his helmet, making him flinch. Seeing his reaction, the rest of his teammates raised their weapons ready.
The sudden risen reaction prompted the woman to grip the handle of her sword.
Only to stop, when the man grabbed her wrist.
The two looked to each other. With he woman looking confused, and frightened. And with a shake of the man's head, she let go and reluctantly raised both of her hands as well, while keeping her glare to them.
"I came for directions. I found myself lost in this forest." the man explained. "I was hoping if we could either join you or you could point us the way to the nearest city."
The armored man then walked closer, still keeping his arms raised. And just as he approached just inches from sword distance, Belotte relaxed.
He slowly lowered his mace and shield and as he did so, the man extended a hand. One that Belotte shook with a smile.
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"So you're an adventurer yourself? Just not tied to any guild?"
"Yes, we are. Truth be told, we didn't have an organization that mediates in between Guilds from where we come from."
"That must have been far... Every single country in this lands have an Adventurer's Guild. Each connected to another."
"That would explain the armor and the foreign symbols and honors..." added Britta.
Momonga nodded, not caring to deny nor confirm what the symbols and markings mean. Since they were mostly for aesthetic last he checked.
"Still Momonga-san... why are you here?" asked the ranger.
"...Retirement?" he blurred out.
"""""Huh?"""""
Momonga ran his hand through his hair answering with an uneasy smile. "I've known conflict all my life. Been fighting for twelve years. Clawed my way to where I am. Now? I'm just tired... and I'm looking for a place to rest. A place to settle..."
The camp turned silent. Most of them not knowing how to take in the man's words. But something did struck at Belotte.
'Twelve years he said... he looks barely older than me. How young had he been when he first fought?'
"I-I think you c-came in the wrong place..."
All heads turned to the shy and meek boy with blonde hair. Bowl cut hair style that covered his eyes. Seeing everyone turned to him, he added as if to clarify.
"My name is N-Nfirea Bareare, an-and we are known to be the best pharmacist in the Ki-Kingdom... As someone who is considered at the same level of a Knightly House... I can assure you, there is no peace for the Good here... You are better off elsewhere."
Heads bowed, and quiet. Each gulping down his own words or losing themselves to their past struggles.
"Do not compare yourself to my Lord, human." said Albedo. "Momonga-sama is strong. He can handle anything." she declared with confidence.
The camp shared small laughs and giggles. The unease lifting slightly with one childish thought or rather the cute confidence in them.
But then, a question cut through the smiles.
"Are those horns?"