“—There is no need for you two to apologize. It was my fault for not properly explaining matters to you. I was the one who should have noticed that no test had occurred. The mistake is mine.” Ainz bowed his head until his forehead touched the desk. “All this was due to my unworthiness, and I seek everyone’s forgiveness.”
“What!? Ainz-sama!”
“Please, please do not do that!”
The two of them hurriedly tried to stop Ainz. However, Ainz did not raise his head. He was too ashamed to show them his face, because he knew that he was so shallow that he could not even come clean when apologizing.
“Lu-Lupusregina! Hurry and raise Ainz’s head!”
“Eh! Me? Please, please forgive me, I can’t possibly raise Ainz-sama’s head by force!”
“Please, please raise your head!” they all said in unison.
It was only after the three of them — Demiurge in particular — started looking especially flustered that Ainz hurriedly looked up. After that, he heard sighs of relief from the three of them.
“…I am grateful that you have accepted my apology. Now then, when I reach the Abelion Hills, we will use my death as the basis for an exercise. Yes. Since this is a rare opportunity, why don’t we conduct other exercises as well? For instance, if Demiurge and I were killed off by someone, that sort of thing…”
At this point, Ainz began to feel uneasy about his own suggestions.
“That said, even I have not fully planned out the details when it comes to this training. Therefore, if you have come up with a better plan, go ahead and carry it out. Ahh, no need to ask my permission. After all, this is an exercise founded on the premise that I am dead.”
The two of them smiled bitterly.
“Ainz-sama, having to consider you dead from the start of the exercise’s planning phase is a little…”
“It is as Demiurge says, Ainz-sama.”
Hahahaha, the laughter of three people rang through the cabin.
Two of them were laughing from the heart, but one was merely pretending.
“Still, you don’t need to take it too seriously, you know? After all, the objective of this exercise is not to spread ill-will throughout Nazarick, like what happened with the two of you just now. However, I would like to conduct various kinds of training and accumulate knowledge in that field, so that every Guardian can become interchangeable — well, I know what I’ve said is pointless given your respective intellects. Do what you feel needs to be done, to whatever extent you deem fit. Can I leave that to you?”
Now that he thought about it, Suzuki Satoru had never been the type of person who had seriously carried out disaster drills, so was it really convincing when someone like that told others to do their best? That was why he could not forget to tell them to take it easy.
After seeing the two of them bow deeply to him, Ainz said, “Now then, while this is a different matter—”
Let’s go, me!
The reason why he had drawn up all these flowcharts and simulated ways of talking down the two Guardians was for this aim.
“—You are to freeze all progress on the giant statue of me that is currently in planning.”
“I understand. We will do as you direct.”
Albedo’s single sentence seemed to put an end to the entire topic.
Huh? Ainz’s attitude turned from baffled to fearful as he nervously asked what was on his mind.
“…Is that alright? It was your idea, was it not, Albedo?”
“How could anyone contradict a decision that the Supreme Being has made, Ainz-sama? If you say it is white, then it will be white even though it is black. That is all.”
Ainz gulped. That line of thought frightened him, and he trembled.
“…I do not like that way of thinking, Albedo. That is just like abandoning all thought, and even I will most certainly make mistakes at some point.”
He was just saying “most certainly,” but it felt like it had been happening all the time.
“And in that case, won’t everything be over if I’m captured? The person who brainwashed Shalltear is still out there, you know? While there is no need to question each and every one of my aims, if I suggest something and you think of something, you ought to bring it up.”
“I understand.”
Albedo and Demiurge glanced briefly at each other through narrowed eyes.
“Then, may I ask why you wish to cease construction? Is the aim of that statue not to let the world better understand your glory, Ainz-sama?”
“Umu,” Ainz laughed coldly in his heart. “My greatness is not something that can only be expressed through material objects.”
He recalled that this line had received approval from Neia.
— It’s perfect.
“Would it not be better to teach them with material objects? After all, fools are those who can only understand what they see before their eyes.”
Albedo’s words froze Ainz in place. It was just like a pitcher throwing a ball at a batter, but instead of having it being hit back at him the batter caught it instead and threw it back at full force.
“…I see. You have a point, Albedo, but—”
As Ainz thanked his voice for not trembling, he struggled to work his brain, and then gave up when nothing came to mind. While he nearly rounded his shoulders, he could not allow his image as a ruler to crumble before his subordinates.
“—No, forget it. I’m sure that Albedo can pick out at least five of the flaws I’ve spotted, and the merits outweigh them. In that case, there is nothing else for me to say.”
“Five, five flaws?…Demiurge, I need to discuss something with you later. May I borrow your intellect for a while?”
“But, but of course. I, I expected nothing less of you, Ainz-sama, to think you would say our minds were superior… truly, you are too humble.”
The two of them began to get flustered, and Albedo bowed her head deeply.
“I, I am truly sorry, Ainz-sama. While my plan to build your statue has already received your approval, please allow me to temporarily suspend construction. I sincerely apologize.”
“Hm, mm. Well, it can’t be helped then. Proceed, Albedo.”
Ainz had merely tossed out an offhand remark, but Albedo and Demiurge seemed abnormally shaken by it. He could even hear Lupusregina whisper “amazing” from behind them.
He looked away, feeling guilty because he had once again confused the two of them by talking nonsense. However, he was glad that the plan to build the giant statue would be briefly halted.
Next, I need to do something about the four festivals with my name on it, like the Sorcerer King Grand Thanksgiving, the Sorcerer King’s Birthday and so on! If the Sorcerer King Grand Thanksgiving is cancelled because the statue’s been cancelled as well, that just leaves three of them! Besides, if these were normal festivals, I wouldn’t want to stop them either!
In truth, Ainz had once nonchalantly suggested a plan for organizing festivals. However, that had led to the formation of a strange and embarrassing festival committee. Ainz sighed long and loud in his heart, and then looked at Demiurge.
“Alright, that leaves the details which I need to discuss with Demiurge. After this, you’ll have the demon you summoned, that is to say, Jaldabaoth, attack that city, right?”
“Yes. Indeed, that is so.”
“Therefore… I have a couple of requests. The first concerns a personal project I am carrying out which is not going too well, for which I will need your help. Ah, don’t worry, there’s no need to get too flashy with it. And the second thing is, can you command that summoned demon to fight in earnest with me?”
Neia quietly closed the door to the Sorcerer King’s room and turned on her heel. And then… her body quivered.