Overlord (book 1)

It was the year 2138 A.D., and the term DMMO-RPG was not only in existence, but also

becoming more common.

Being the acronym for , it described an

interactive game where one was able to play in a virtual world like it was real life, by connecting

a dedicated console to the neuron nanointerface— an intracerebral nanocomputer network

composed from the quintessence of cyber- and nanotechnology.

It was as though you entered the game for real.

Amidst a myriad of DMMO-RPGs that were developed, there was one title that shined brilliantly.

Yggdrasil.

It was a game that a highly-regarded Japanese developer released twelve years ago in the year

2126.

No matter which DMMO-RPG it was compared to, Yggdrasil was a game that offered an

immensely high level of freedom to the players.

The number of classes that formed the basis of the game easily topped 2000 when you added

up the normal and high-rank classes.

All classes had a maximum level of 15, meaning a player had to have at least 7 classes or more

to reach the overall level cap of 100.

Furthermore, you were able to just have a taste of various classes as long as you satisfied this

overall condition. Although it was inefficient, it was possible to have 100 level one professions if you wanted.

In other words, it was a system where it was impossible to have completely identical characters

unless you intentionally made them so.

This level of freedom also applied to the visuals. If you used creator tools that were sold

separately, you were able to alter appearances of weapons and armor, interior data, character

visuals, and detailed settings of a player’s home.

What awaited the players who set off for adventures in such a world was a colossal map. Nine

homeworlds consisting of Asgard, Alfheim, Vanaheim, Nidavellir, Midgard, Jotunheim, Niflheim,

Helheim, and Muspelheim.

A vast world, innumerable classes, and fully customizable visuals.

It had ignited the artisan spirits of the Japanese players and caused a phenomenon that would

later be called ‘visual popularity’.

With such explosive popularity behind it, it had reached a level of acclaim where Yggdrasil and

DMMO-RPG were considered as one and the same in Japan.

—Alas, that was a story of a generation past.

*

A grand round table of obsidian lustre was in the center of the guildhall, surrounded by 41

luxurious seats.

But most of them were vacant.

Only two silhouettes were visible now where all the members once used to sit.

One wore an elaborate, jet-black academic gown adorned with gold and violet edges. The

decoration around its neck seemed somewhat excessive, but strangely, it was rather fitting.

However, the head that should have been sitting above the lavish collar was nothing more than

a skull, devoid of skin and flesh. There was a dark red glow inside the empty eye sockets, and a

dark halo-like object glimmered behind its head.

The other individual sitting in another seat was not a human, either. It was a lump of black goo.

Its surface, reminiscent of coal tar, quivered and never maintained a consistent shape even for

a second.

The former was an Overlord that ranked top even among the Elder Liches — Magic Casters

who had turned into the undead in the pursuit of ultimate magic. The latter was an Elder Black

Ooze, a race with powerful acidic abilities that was close to the strongest among the slime types.

Yet, they were not monsters.

They were player characters.

The selectable races in Yggdrasil were divided into three diverse categories: classic, humanoid

races such as humans, dwarves and elves; demi-human races with hideous appearances such

as goblins, orcs, and ogres, favoured for their physical prowess; and the heteromorphic races

who possessed monster abilities and higher stats than any other races, but were given

restrictions in various aspects. If you include the high-tier races for these three, the number of

all the races reached a total of 700.

Of course, Overlord and Elder Black Ooze were one of the high-tier heteromorphic races that

players were able to pick.

Between those two people, the Overlord talked without its mouth moving. Despite being the

previous generation’s top DMMO-RPG, it was technologically impossible to change expressions

to go with the conversation.

“Wow, it’s been a real y long time, ‘Meromero’-sama. Even though it’s the last day for Yggdrasil,

I honestly didn’t expect anyone to actual y show up.”

“I agree. It’s been so long, ‘Momonga’-sama.”

The Elder Black Ooze replied with a voice of an adult male, but in comparison to the Overlord,

there was no trace of what could be called vigor or liveliness.

“This is the first time since you changed your job in real life, so how long has it been? … Hasn’t

it been like two years?”

“Ah — that seems about right. Wow~ It’s been that long already… Oh boy, my sense of time is

out of whack because I’ve been doing nightly overtime shifts everyday lately.”

“Isn’t that a real y dangerous sign? Are you okay?”

“Physically? I’m in complete rags. It’s not so much as to visit a doctor, but I’m almost on the