Roaring Heroes Battle the Overlord (Ainz)

Chapter 8 : Tavern Turmoil Part One

Did this girl just call me "young man"?

Barrett was both amused and exasperated. The girl in front of him was likely a newbie adventurer, fresh out of her hometown. Not only was he over a decade older than her, but he was also a head taller. And as for experience, he'd been in this line of work for nearly twenty years.

Barrett waved his hand, about to refuse, when an adventurer holding a mug of black rye beer sidled up next to him.

This adventurer, with a long sword strapped to his back and a face full of freckles, flashed a grin that revealed a missing front tooth.

Leaning towards EeDeChi with what he thought was a sincere smile, he said, "Hey there, little girl. This guy below the waist is already useless. If you're into the older man type, I'm your guy. I'm a platinum-level adventurer! Very powerful! I can guide you for free."

He puffed out his chest proudly, and the shiny white platinum-level badge on his chest gleamed.

Barrett recognized him as "Scarface Bladebearer" Valent. Recently, Valent, who was getting on in years, had wanted to retire from adventuring to go back to his hometown, get married, and start a family. So now he tried to hit on every young girl he met, even if they looked like they were not interested.

Unfortunately, his appearance was so off-putting that not many young women were willing to give him the time of day. But he truly was "desperate," trying to flirt with someone like EeDeChi, who had "serious fuddy-duddy, keep away" written all over her face.

EeDeChi expressionlessly lifted a corner of her gray cloak, revealing a yellow metal badge on her chest. The badge gleamed with a sun-like brilliance under the tavern's hexagonal chandelier, dazzling Barrett and Valent.

She glanced at the dumbfounded "Scarface Bladebearer" Valent and said coldly, "Get lost, you Justice Value -120 loser."

This girl was an orichalcum-level adventurer! Barrett was astonished.

Orichalcum-level was just below the highest rank, adamantite-level! It was one tier above his mithril-level and two tiers above Valent's platinum-level!

Orichalcum-level was an extremely rare rank, with only about thirty or so adventurer teams in the entire empire possessing an Orichalcum badge.

Barrett was already the center of attention in the tavern, so now most people were staring at the orichalcum-level badge on EeDeChi's chest, a symbol of her power and status. The surrounding adventurers began to whisper among themselves, and waves of astonished murmurs spread through the tavern like ripples.

(Note: Adventurer ranks from lowest to highest are: Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, Orichalcum, Adamantite)

"WHO'S ORICHAlCUM-LEVEL?!"

A gruff voice boomed in the middle of the tavern, and a hulking figure emerged from the crowd. The giant disdainfully eyed EeDeChi, then pushed through several tables, striding purposefully toward Barrett and the others.

As he made his way through the crowded tavern, he shoved several adventurers who were quietly drinking at their tables. One thin adventurer even fell under a table, but everyone dared not say a word to this furious and massive guy.

Barrett recognized him as "Bonebreaker Axe" Wood Balder, a notorious mithril-level adventurer known for wielding two heavy, bloodstained battle axes forged by dwarves.

Wood was bigger and more muscular than most, with exceptional combat skills and a quick temper. He had hunted many infamous monsters and had broken numerous noses and ribs in fights with other adventurers, earning him the nickname "Bonebreaker Axe."

According to Barrett, Wood Balder had repeatedly applied to the Adventurer's Guild to be promoted from Mithril to Orichalcum based on his achievements, but his requests were denied each time due to insufficient strength.

"Bonebreaker Axe" Wood towered two heads taller than EeDeChi and was nearly three times as broad, like a wall looming over the black-haired girl.

He glared down at EeDeChi, a long scar twisting grotesquely on his face, and coldly asked, "You're an Orichalcum-level? I've killed so many monsters and still can't get to Orichalcum! How many times did you suck the guild master's cock to become orichalcum level? you little bitch!"

Barrett wanted to intervene and calm Wood's angry, volatile mood. Even though EeDeChi had a demeanor like a stern old nun from a monastery, Barrett still felt a bit of sympathy for her. He believed that a man with any self-respect shouldn't lay hands on a woman.

Although Barrett wasn't a knight, he upheld a standard that some adventurers scorned.

EeDeChi's adventurer rank was indeed higher than Wood's, but Barrett didn't think she'd have an advantage in a fight. Sometimes, an adventurer team at the Orichalcum level didn't mean every member had Orichalcum-level power.

Just as Barrett was about to speak, EeDeChi cut in, "You scum with a Justice Value of -250, you're an adult. Stop acting like a child and yelling at me."

Justice Value? Barrett didn't understand what that was, and Wood clearly didn't either. But Wood did hear the words "scum" and "child," which ignited his fury completely. He extended his arm, thicker than a full-grown silverback gorilla, and grabbed for EeDeChi's neck.

But EeDeChi was faster, or rather, though she acted after him, she was quicker to act.

The black-haired girl grabbed Wood's neck and lifted him up. Since Wood's neck was as thick as a tree trunk, EeDeChi could only get a grip on half of it. The sight was somewhat comical, like a slender elf lifting a burly troll.

Wood's legs kicked wildly. Due to his height, even though EeDeChi lifted him, his feet could still touch the ground. Yet despite his powerful kicks, he couldn't escape EeDeChi's slender arm holding his throat.