Chapter 16: Ainz Finds Love in Benling

A Journey Beyond His Kingdom

The sun dipped below the horizon as Ainz walked the cobbled streets of Benling, a bustling city filled with adventurers, traders, and guilds vying for power. He had been traveling under the alias Rael, hiding his true strength while exploring different regions.

Despite its outward prosperity, Benling had a rigid hierarchy—larger guilds held absolute power, exploiting smaller ones and controlling resources. Adventurers who didn't align with them struggled to survive.

Ainz, indifferent to the city's politics, was simply passing through. That was, until he met her.

Meeting Her

The dimly lit tavern smelled of ale, roasted meat, and sweat from tired adventurers. Laughter and the clinking of mugs filled the air, yet one person sat alone by the window, quietly sipping her drink.

Ainz's gaze lingered on her. She was young, probably in her early twenties, with chestnut brown hair tied into a simple ponytail. Her emerald-green eyes held warmth, yet there was a faint sadness in them.

He took a seat at the bar, ordering a drink when a voice called out to him.

"New face, huh?"

He turned. She was looking straight at him.

"Yeah," he replied simply.

She studied him for a moment before smiling. "Let me guess—wandering adventurer, looking for work?"

"Something like that."

She chuckled and leaned back in her chair. "Then let me give you some advice—stay out of guild politics unless you want trouble. The big ones here don't like outsiders."

Ainz raised an eyebrow. "And you? You're not in a guild?"

"I am, but…" she hesitated, swirling her drink. "It's just a small one. We barely survive."

"What's your name?" Ainz asked.

She smiled. "Elara."

Growing Closer

Over the next few weeks, Ainz found himself spending more time in Benling, drawn not just to the city but to Elara. She was unlike anyone he had met in a long time—kind, straightforward, and untainted by greed.

They would meet at the tavern, sometimes sharing a meal, other times talking late into the night.

One evening, as they sat by the window, watching the rain outside, Elara sighed. "You know, I never wanted to be an adventurer."

Ainz looked at her. "Then why did you become one?"

She smiled sadly. "Because it was the only way to survive."

She spoke of her past—how she had grown up in a poor village, how her parents had died young, leaving her alone. Joining a guild was her only option, but with the corruption in Benling, weak guilds were constantly exploited.

"My guild… we don't have strong fighters. We're just barely scraping by." She looked at Ainz. "But I don't care about power. I just want to live."

Ainz remained silent. She reminded him of someone—his past self. A boy who had once struggled to survive in a cruel world.

For the first time in centuries, he felt something stir within him.

A Silent Warning

One night, as Ainz and Elara walked through the empty streets of Benling, a shadow emerged from an alley. A man, dressed in dark robes, stepped forward. His face was hidden beneath a hood, but the cold presence he emitted was unmistakable.

Elara tensed. Ainz remained calm.

"You should leave this city." The man's voice was low and chilling.

Ainz narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

The man chuckled. "Because the organization that runs this city doesn't like… anomalies. And you, outsider, are becoming one."

Ainz said nothing.

"That girl," the man continued, nodding toward Elara. "She's nothing but a low-level adventurer. Weak. Insignificant. Yet, you—a powerful outsider—choose to spend time with her. Do you think the organization won't notice?"

Elara's hands clenched into fists. "What the hell are you talking about?"

The man ignored her, stepping closer to Ainz. "This is your only warning. Leave. Before things become… unpleasant."

Then, like a shadow dispersing in the wind, he vanished.

Elara exhaled sharply. "Who the hell was that?"

Ainz didn't answer immediately. His expression was unreadable, but deep down, he knew—something was coming.

And it would not end well.