Chapter 404: Rune Smith

In the anime, Ainz had ventured to the Dwarf Kingdom with the goal of studying Rune Craft and recruiting a Rune Smith for Nazarick’s growing arsenal.But me? I had no such interest. I wasn’t here to collect craftsmen or hoard forgotten arts. At least, that’s what I thought—until Death, my dear wife, whispered a suggestion that made me rethink everything.

"Dear," she said, her voice a soft melody only I could hear as we made our way south, following Gondo across the snow-laden paths, "instead of using Rune Craft on a weapon, why not use it on the body?"

I blinked, confused. "What do you mean?" I asked, keeping my voice low as the wind howled through the narrow mountain passes.

Death chuckled, a low, sweet sound that sent a shiver down my spine—not from fear, but anticipation. "Since you’ve already covered your natural weaknesses as a vampire—fire and holy—your next step should be strengthening yourself against other magic, which you did not have complete resistance over. If you are going to an S-ranked world, then it’s needed. So, why not carve the runes into your body itself? Strengthen your flesh."

The idea was insane. Brilliant. Dangerous.

And absolutely worth exploring.

I glanced ahead. Blue Rose moved carefully at the front of the group, scouting the trail. Gagaran’s loud footsteps were almost drowned out by the crunching snow. Evileye floated silently, her crimson cloak fluttering behind her.

Perfect. They were distracted.

With a subtle flick of my fingers, I cast a barrier. Silent, invisible, layered into the wind itself. It was nothing fancy—just enough to muffle the sounds within a small bubble around me, Clementine, and Solution. The only two people I didn’t mind overhearing this conversation.

I turned casually to Gondo, who was busy studying the map in his thick hands.

"I heard dwarves know a technique called Rune Craft," I said nonchalantly.

Gondo stiffened slightly but kept his eyes on the map. "Where’d you hear that?"

"From one of my travels," I lied smoothly.

He grunted, then after a moment, nodded. "Yeah, it’s true. Rune Craft is real... or at least, it used to be."

He sighed, his voice rough like gravel. "Believe it or not, I’m a Rune Smith myself. Or what’s left of one. The craft’s dyin’g. Few of us left can even carve the simplest of runes."

Gondo suddenly became very chatty, the words spilling out of him, half frustration, half pride.

"Back in the old days, runes were everywhere. Armor, weapons, even simple tools! Made them stronger, lighter, and sharper. Now? Kids these days want magic enchantments. Flashy, expensive junk that fades after a few years. Rune Craft is eternal, lad. Eternal!"

I nodded, pretending to be mildly impressed while my mind was racing.

Time to drop the real question.

"What would happen," I asked slowly, "if a rune letter was engraved directly onto a body instead of on armor or a weapon?"

Gondo froze.

"You’ve got strange thoughts, traveler," he muttered.

"Just curious," I said, smiling easily.

He hesitated, then, seeing that I wasn’t joking, sighed heavily.

"It’s been tried before. In the ancient days. By mad kings and desperate warriors. Carving’ runes into flesh, into bone."

He paused, adjusting his heavy gloves.

"And?" I prompted.

"And it never worked," Gondo said grimly. "The body isn’t like steel or mithril. It’s alive. It’s soft. When you carve a rune into metal, you heat it, shape it, and temper it. But the body..." He shook his head. "The pain alone would be enough to kill most. You’d have to superheat the metal for the rune or use special inks and binding agents. And even if you managed to survive the carvin’g... the body wouldn’t stand it."

"Wouldn’t stand it?" I asked, leaning closer with a curious look.

"Aye," Gondo said. "The molten metal... it burns. It warps. Flesh isn’t meant to hold that kind of magic. Either the rune melts, or worse—the body disintegrates under the strain. Skin charred black, bones snapped like brittle twigs."

He shook his head again, as if trying to banish an unpleasant memory. "The pain... would be beyond anything you can imagine."

Solution, ever elegant, gave a small hum of amusement. "Sounds delightful."

I absorbed the information quietly, processing it.

I had long surpassed mortal thresholds of agony, but I still didn’t know what type of pain he was referring to. The real problem would be stability—how to bind the rune to a living body without it rejecting the process (a suitable metal).

"I assume," I said thoughtfully, "that the failures were due to la lackof proper techniques, right? No specialized materials, no stabilizing magic?"

Gondo looked at me sharply. "Even if you had those things, it’s a gamble. You’d need runesmiths and healers wworking together. Maybe even a priest to keep the soul anchored. Otherwise—" He made a sharp chopping motion. "—you lose more than just your body."

I nodded slowly. Since I am technically a vampire god, my natural healing is already overpowered.

So it was possible. Painful, but not impossible. With the right preparation, right magic, right control over the body and spirit...

It could be done.

Death knew that. That’s why she suggested it.

I smiled faintly.

At least, coming to this world was not entirely waste full.

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