Epilogue

Demiurge strolled the ninth level in good spirits.

It felt like it had been a while, but that was probably just in his head. He did come back now and then, so he had been away only two weeks at most. The reason he felt nostalgic even so must have been because it made him so happy to walk these grounds.

His mood grew even better the closer he got to his destination.

Ignoring the guards Cocytus had stationed on either side of the door, Demiurge straightened his tie and made sure he looked sharp. Of course, he always paid attention to his appearance, but it wouldn’t do to look even the least bit frumpy before his master.

After checking over his appearance to excess, he finally knocked on the door.

A maid opened the door and peeked her face out.

He had the urge to try to see his master through the crack in the door, but he couldn’t possibly do something so embarrassing.

“Is Lord Ainz in?”

“My apologies, Master Demiurge. Lord Ainz isn’t here right now.”

Demiurge’s spirits plummeted, but he didn’t show this on his face.

“Oh? Where did he go?”

“My apologies. I don’t know… But Mistress Albedo might know something.”

That made sense.

“I see. And where is Albedo?”

“She’s here.”

He knew that Albedo had made their master’s quarters her office. He thought she could use the room she had been provided, but given her personality, he didn’t comment. Their master had approved of it, so for Demiurge to say anything was wrong in the first place.

“Is she working…? Please ask if I may enter.”

“Understood.”

The door closed before him. Then a few moments later, it opened again.

“Come in, Master Demiurge.”

When Demiurge thanked the maid and entered the room, the captain of the guardians was sitting at their master’s desk.

Her lowered gaze shifted to land on Demiurge.

“It’s been a while, Albedo.”

“Yes, Demiurge. You’ve done a great job outside. What can I do for you today?”

“I came because I was hoping to get authorization to enter with the final stages of the project underway in the Sacred Kingdom. I would like to have a doppelgänger… Where is Lord Ainz?’

“He’s sort of far away. I don’t think he can come back anytime very soon…”

So he’s not in E-Rantel? Demiurge gathered. If he was in the city, Albedo wouldn’t have worded her response in such a weird way.

“That’s a bit of an issue. Then until he returns, I’ll be on the seventh level prepping for other work.”

“If you’re in a hurry, you can send him a Message.”

Demiurge furrowed his brow slightly and observed Albedo’s face.

She was wearing her usual smile, but Demiurge, with his excellent powers of observation, picked up on an emotion that was subtly different. In other words, she was knowingly saying that. The question was: With what emotion?

It was no problem if she was only teasing.

He took a quick look, but he couldn’t tell.

It was a bit frustrating, but then again, it wasn’t as if they were competing.

And the only people in Nazarick he had met whom he couldn’t see through with his observant eyes were his master and Albedo. Reminding himself that she was an exception was good for his peace of mind.

Demiurge shrugged.

“I’m not in that much of a hurry. I’ll speak to him in person when he returns.”

“Lord Ainz hasn’t said when he’ll be back. It might take a very long time.”

“In that case, I’ll go to him, Albedo. It’s not worth using a Message for.”

“Oh? Why not? Doesn’t being loyal mean conveying important information as soon as possible?”

Albedo’s smile changed. Up until a moment ago, it was her usual fake smile, but now it was a mischievous grin. I guess she’s being nasty now?

Apparently, she wanted to get him to spill the reason.

What a pain, he thought but explained it anyway.

“I would like Lord Ainz to praise me for the work I’ve done so far, so I don’t want to contact him via that method. Yes, it’s possible to receive praise through a Message, but I prefer to hear his voice directly, that’s all… I’m sure any member of Nazarick feels the same.”

“Yes, that’s right, Demiurge. It’s just as you say. Probably everyone feels that way.”

“So where has Lord Ainz gone?”

“He’s visiting the dwarf country, which we haven’t established diplomatic relations with yet and about which we don’t even have reliable intelligence. That’s why it’s unclear how long it will take.”

“Who’s with him?”

“Shalltear and Aura.”

In terms of fighting ability, that was no issue. But apart from that, he was slightly concerned.

I doubt there will be any problems with Aura along, but I hope she doesn’t cause our master any trouble, Demiurge thought, bringing to mind the face of the other member of the party.

“If he’s taking Shalltear along, does that mean he intends to destroy the dwarf country?” he asked, but in that case, he would have expected Mare to have gone, so perhaps there was some other objective for the choice.

“Where are all the other guardians currently?”

“Cocytus is managing the lake area. Mare is building a dungeon on the outskirts of E-Rantel. Sebas is working inside E-Rantel. I don’t know what Lord Ainz is thinking, but since he didn’t take an army with him, perhaps he means to meet the dwarves on a friendly basis…”

“…We don’t have enough information. Why did he go there?”

“Demiurge, we cannot know what Lord Ainz’s mind holds.”

Albedo was right.

Ainz Ooal Gown… The highest ruler of Nazarick possessed a fiendishly brilliant intellect and had countless strategies for each move he made. Not even Demiurge, who was created to have an outstanding mind, could hold a candle to him. It was a mistake to even try to fathom his intentions.

But reading their master’s emotions and preparing in advance, according to his wishes, was true devotion.

As Demiurge renewed his determination—I must try harder—Albedo picked a piece of parchment up off the desk.

“This came yesterday from the empire. Ainz gave me permission via Message to open it. To summarize, it’s a request from the empire to submit to us. They want to consult us at a later date about what sort of subject state it will be.”

Demiurge was surprised. It had happened sooner than he expected.

“Why? I was sure the empire’s submission would come after the destruction of the kingdom.”

“It’s the result of Lord Ainz’s visit.”

“Oh my… Well, I wouldn’t expect less from Lord Ainz.”

“Demiurge, did you really think the empire would become a vassal state after the kingdom?”

“Of course. That’s what my plan was.”

“No matter what it took?”

“…What is that supposed to mean?”

“Sometimes Lord Ainz starts to say your name. It’s always in the context of ‘Have you heard from Demiurge lately? Is it okay if we keep going like this?’ In other words, there must be something about you—something about one of your plans, for sure, that doesn’t sit right with him.”

“What…? Albedo, why didn’t you tell me sooner? Then I—”

“Then you would have done what, exactly?”

Demiurge wasn’t sure what to say.

“…Can I ask you this? Was there a way to get the empire as a subject state before the kingdom?”

“…There was. But it would have involved having Lord Ainz make a move himself, which would have been shameful as his servant. And I thought that it would take a number of steps—over about a month’s time—and include a riot in a major city. I figured if it was going to require so much work, it would be better to conquer the kingdom first and then put pressure on the empire afterward… How long did it take him?”

“I was in the kingdom, so I don’t know the details, but about three days.”

Demiurge’s eyes widened.

It was too fast.

How did Lord Ainz display enough power to get the empire to capitulate? How did he get through to the emperor who had been trying to build an alliance with other countries?

Demiurge had prepared a strategy that he knew the emperor wouldn’t be able to handle, but his master had come up with an even better one.

“Three days? How in the world did he do that…?”

“Incidentally, I heard that no one died.”

Demiurge’s jaw would stay agape. But all he felt for the absolute ruler was respect: He had stood quietly behind the emperor just like death itself and squeezed his heart.

Chills ran from the tips of Demiurge’s toes to the top of his head. It was a jumble of rapture, envy, awe, and respect that formed an indescribable passion and caused him to shiver.

“There’s…there’s no doubt that was Lord Ainz’s work. I really can never hope to come close to matching him. He’s simply wonderful. I can see why he was the leader of the Supreme Beings. I’m a tiny bit jealous of Pandora’s Actor.”

Albedo cracked a smile. It brimmed with a mysterious sense of superiority.

It was probably at having been ordered to love such a brilliant man.

“Lord Ainz has instructed you and me to decide what to do about the empire.”

“Us? Why?”

“That’s obvious, isn’t it? Much of the current flow of events has been according to your plan. But Lord Ainz went ahead and got the empire to submit without consulting you. He’s concerned!”

Demiurge didn’t understand. If he was incompetent and offended their master, he would understand, but it didn’t seem like that was the case.

“…Why? I’m afraid I don’t follow.”

Albedo emitted a tired sigh. “It’s because he trusts you. In other words… How can I explain this? With your brain, I’m sure you can figure it out, but this is what I think it’s about. It’s natural for you to feel like he’s doubting your abilities if he doesn’t move according to your plan. He didn’t want to do that, which is why he was waiting for word from you. But he must have thought that you were holding back. I think he moved first to tell you not to hold back.”

That answer made sense to Demiurge. No, what else could it even be?

“Well…”

Demiurge was so ashamed, he hung his head. At the same time, he was wrapped in joy—at the news that he was in his master’s thoughts to such a degree.

“Demiurge, in order to be worthy of our master’s compassion, we need to act.”

“Of course, Albedo.”

Demiurge roused himself. “In order to live up to his expectations, I’ll come up with a vassalage plan by the time he gets back!”

“Yes. Lord Ainz must have gone in person to the dwarf country because he had multiple objectives. I’m sure we’ll be busy when he returns.”

Demiurge grinned. “You’re quite right, Albedo.”