Overlord: Blue Citadel Alternate

Sometime later that day, Vertum was carrying a number of woven baskets over to the wagon that had been readied and drawn by a horse golem. These baskets were filled with both grain and herbs used for enhancing healing potions. However, there were also some wooden boxes with the solution from YGGDRASIL which he was planning on selling to alchemists and potion makers.

Of course, he already knew the build up of undead in E-Rantel was reaching its maximum, it was going to burst. On top of that, someone seemed to be poking around in that city. Deaths were rising even more since yesterday.

Vertum turned his head to Enri Emmot who was standing directly behind him with a woven basket under her arm. "Having fun yet?" He asked with a brow raised.

"There's nothing else in particular to do," Enri admitted and she wasn't wrong. As a villager in a remote population, there was very little to do. Fashion, literature, there was little access to such things here and no true reason to get into. "Farming takes up much of my pass time."

Nodding as he already knew this from his days of spying on the village before its attack, he tilted his head to the side slightly. They now knew death as it were, but now they knew protection.

His eyes drifted over towards the winged kobolds which stood guard, rotating from rooftop to rooftop and onto the incomplete walls. It was clear they were doing their jobs for the sake of their 'Queen.'

His gaze moved towards Enri once more, a grin forming over his lips.

Raising a brow at him as she kept a smile blankly across her lips, Enri placed the basket into the wagon with all the others he had placed there. Giving him once more glance, she proceeded to sit in the front seat of the wagon, taking the reins. Though after a few seconds, she raised a brow looking over the horse they were using. "What kind of horse is this?"

"Golem," Vertum responded with a casual tone as he sat down beside her, and that was when it began to move on its own, smoothly moving under the constructed archway of the Great Wall.

Her mouth dropped open slightly, it wasn't something she saw often or at all really in these parts. Golems took a lot of manpower and time to create, the fact that he had this, meant that he was even more powerful that most known kingdoms. Especially with the fact that he spoke of it with such casual tones, it could only mean that it was entirely normal for him.

Yet before she said anything, she closed her mouth once more and looked forward at the dirt path they were going to be following. It was only fifteen minutes ago that she had said goodbye to her little sister, letting her know that she was going to E-Rantel to sell some things.

Glancing behind, she narrowed her eyes on the basket closest to the front of the wagon. The lid was partially open, elevated slightly. Slowly she looked over towards Vertum who was still grinning.

Inquisitively, she leaned towards Vertum, resting her head on his shoulder as she went to ask a question. "So what are you going to do in E-Rantel anyways?"

"The Princess has been dispatched from the Royal Palace to start negotiation with your settlement according to my subordinates. We're going to intercept them in E-Rantel." Far from using an arrogant tone, he still spoke rather casually with her, unlike how he had negged her before during their heated moments.

"And what's in this basket?" She put her elbow back and rested it on the top of the basket, effectively closing it. The farming hobbyist was pretty sure she heard a familiar giggle emit from beneath the lid.

"A very skilled beggar that one," Vertum dismissed as he waved his hand slightly.

"A skilled beggar!?" The other end of the Lid bent as none other than Nemu popped her head out of the woven basket. "Who you callin' a beggar?!"

Vertum just looked over at her with a deadpan expression, "Such persistence."

With her palms and fingers to the sky, held out in front of her, her gaze then drifted to her elder sister. "Oh... Hi Oneechan," tears formed as she saw the flames in Enri's eyes.

"I told you that you couldn't come! What happened to being obedient little sister?" Enri seemed to huff and w.h.i.n.e aloud, resting her head back on the seat she was in.

Vertum tittered quietly to himself as he glanced forward once more. They had a couple hours before they made it to E-Rantel, so there was no problem for them as of right now. It was definitely going to be an entertaining road to the City.

"But but... I've hardly been able to spend time with you whenever you're with Vertum-sama~" Nemu bleated towards her elder sister, she didn't like that she was being constantly left with her friends. She wanted to be with her sister, and Vertum since he never let her ride on his back yet.

Vertum frowned slightly to himself hearing that she wanted to spend time with her sister. Though it wasn't because he didn't like the idea, it was more so his mind going back to the people he could no longer spend time with. Glancing off towards the forest which lined the path they were now taking, he increased the speed of the golem.

"Is there anything in that basket with you?" Enri raised a brow.

"Only a feather plush pillow Vertum-sama gave me." She grinned at her older sister as she pulled out a plushie that looked like a black cat. She then hugged it to her c.h.e.s.t and rubbed the side of her face into the pillow, "It's so fluffy."

Enri blinked a few times seeing the cat before looking over towards Vertum as she spotted him yawning from the corner of her eye. "When did you give her a cat?"

"Eh... Sometime between now and then." Vertum teased.

Her lips parted at his tone, "When was then?"

"Some point." He didn't make eye contact as a grin returned to his lips.

"Are you messing with me?" Cl.i.c.k.i.n.g her tongue at him, she shook her head.

"Yes."

Flexing her eyes at Vertum, she crossed one leg over another. Rather than wearing the clothes he had given her, that made her come across as a noble woman, she was in her typical attire.

+ + +

A couple hours had gone by and they were beginning to arrive within eyeshot of E-Rantel. However there was something else that was catching Vertum's eye and his nose. Human blood, the presence of goblins and ogres.

Bringing the golem horse to a halt at the edge of the forest, he turned to look at Enri at his side. "What over your sister would you? I'm going to go exterminate a small group of monsters and see if there is anyone useful up ahead."

Enri nodded with now a rather serious expression on her face. She could see the carnage from here, it seemed to be a group of under ranked adventurers in over their head against larger beasts.

Taking a gilded flute from within his item box, he handed it to Enri. It was another summoning item, one that summons a trio of angels. Retrieving, she nodded to him once again, before he left the wagon and phased into his dragonic form.

In the distance was a group of four Adventurers. There were a number of dead goblins surrounding them, but there were plenty of living ones as well.

It seemed they had come from the mineral deposits and mines that his subordinates pushed them out of. It was clear now that they were resorting to attacking the town.

Vertum was now flying well above the the group from on high, his wings reflecting light down towards them. With his keen senses of smell and sight, he counted three men and one female, though his eyes were seeing a crossdresser.

A small chuckle escaped his lips, especially as they looked up to see his form once his shadow passed over. It was clear they had no idea what kind of dragon he was. Though they didn't stay too distracted by him and returned to their fight.

Circling downward, he spread his mane of colorful feathers, his sharp teeth bared into a predatory smile. And as he landed on all fours, he came trotting on over from behind the Ogres who hardly noticed him.

"What kind of dragon is that!?" One of the men shouted, he was short blonde hair and blue eyes. He seemed to be the leader of the group.

"I'm-I'm not sure! I don't have any notes on any that have feathers..." A humbly anxious voice squeaked in return, the crossdresser with brown hair and blue eyes.

Another, one which was armed with a bow shouted, "Do I shoot it!?"

Vertum's gaze just drifted to the bowman, closing his mouth and sitting on his hind legs.

The last man in the group was a bit wide but well built, raised a brow as his eyes centered on the Dragon. "I think he heard you..."

Vertum could see that all three of the men seemed to be protecting the small female in the center of their triangular formation. This would only lead to their deaths and her suffering.

"Silver ranked adventurers..." Vertum sighed as he picked at his teeth with his clawed hand, his eyes dancing over towards the massive clubs the ogres seemed to be equipped with. It was unlikely they'd survive if those things all ganged up on them at once. "What will you give me if I help you?"

"Give you?!" Their leader yelled out in confusion, what could he possibly give to a dragon? What would a dragon want from them? Flailing his sword about, he struck down another Goblin.

The man wielding a mace used a spell to tangle one of goblins with blades of grass. "We do not have treasure for you my fair dragon friend! But you will have our gratitude."

Raising a brow at the big man's words, he could only chuckle lightly. Oh they had a treasure, though he doubted they would part with it. His eyes were on the brunette with exceptionally short hair. He could see the knowledge in her eyes, a talent for magic he couldn't quite identify.

The brunette's blue eyes narrowed on the Dragon after she laid out another goblin that was closing in on the group. They were cornered, they needed to spread out, but the goblins constant flanking impaired the ability to do so.

They needed reinforcements.

That was when she noticed, his eyes had been on her for the majority of the time. Though he had addressed them all as Silver ranked adventurers, it was now clear he was asking her, not them.

"You're not asking them, are you...?" A dragon with keen senses would likely be able to tell what she was, even though she was hiding her true s.e.x from her friends.

"Intelligent," yawning Vertum looked over the Ogres who were quickly encroaching on the adventurers. It wouldn't be long before they were dead, unless they came up with something.

"Ninya, what are you going to offer him?" Their leader asked, concerned, knowing there wasn't much their compatriot could offer either.

A faint panicked smile of not knowing how to answer spread across her lips, "I... I don't know Peter, I don't know..."

"Then it's better if you ran for town, we'll hold them off as best we can. Get help." Peter nodded to his young friend, knowing their condition and having the noble goal of saving their sister.

Hearing the words leave her leader's face, she could hardly stop herself from looking horrified at the idea of leaving them behind. They were her friends, the people she had been living with for months, their trust was with one another.

Ninya's eyes darted to the dragon, "Wha... What-t do you want...?" She stuttered, not being able to predict what a dragon would possibly want with her.

"A life debt would suffice," The dragon's head tilted to the side slightly.

As her friends were battling monsters that surrounded them, it was becoming even more difficult to think about or be picky with her answer.

"Ninya, just run!" Peter advised against it.

"You don't have to think about it, Ninya! Just go! Think about your freedom, your sister!" The bowman said as he peered over his shoulder towards his friend.

Ninya's head drifted to each one of her friends before looking to the dragon once more. Her lips quivered slightly and she nodded to the beast.