Indeed. It was not because he had work waiting for him that he had not used 「Gate」 ― which could take him back in an instant.
Definitely not.
There were ways to teleport to places one had not seen before, but it was still too early for that. It would do no good to show his hand. Of course, the Hanzo on the carriage had said nothing, and the anti-divination spell he had cast had not been triggered. It was a clear sign that nobody was monitoring Ainz and the others, but the opposition might be using methods which Ainz did not know about.
Since there’s time, I can wait until we reach a more sheltered place to cast the teleportation spell, Ainz thought.
Indeed. It was definitely not because he wanted to keep away from those documents he could not understand no matter how many times he read them.
Still, if there was a problem―
Shizu hasn’t said anything since she got on the carriage…
Neia had been that way too, but he always felt restless when he shared a carriage with someone else and they remained quiet. He could casually mention something if the other party were a man, but he would have to watch his words since she was female.
Can’t you say something, Shizu? That thought had been in Ainz’s mind ever since the beginning. Regretfully, it did not seem like it would be happening anytime soon. Finally, Ainz was no longer able to bear the silence, and after preparing himself for the worst, he spoke.
“Shizu, how do you feel about leaving Nazarick to work on your own? Do you have any questions or suggestions for the future?”
He would start by listening to a report from his subordinate, who had been busy with work when she had been sent out for an errand.
While he was not good at speaking to women, it was fine when he imagined them as female coworkers.
“…I think… worked hard.”
“Is that so? You have worked very hard.”
That was the end of the conversation. It was dead and gone.
Even if he waited a little longer, he ought not to expect Shizu to carry on.
Once the words “worked hard” were mentioned, it was very difficult to continue on from there. She had not answered the question about having any questions or future suggestions.
That said, these thoughts of his were merely the shallow contemplations of a superior. He ought to be thinking, Since she worked hard, all I have to do is wait for the results. There were also benefits in doing so. That was because the implication was that nothing had happened which might cause a problem or become an issue.
However, Shizu continued speaking.
“…It’s hard to think on your own and then take action…”
“Indeed, that is the case.”
Shizu had been working in Nazarick all this time, and all she had done was receive instructions and carry them out. However, he had only given her rough instructions this time, and then the actions she took based on the decisions she made within the scope of those instructions were her first task. For all he knew, that might have been too broad for her. Perhaps he should have started by giving her a simpler task, but Ainz also knew that Shizu had given him concrete results.
“Still, it’s hardly unusual for the Pleiades to go outside for their work. The fact that the maid demons are now the Sorcerer King’s minions has spread from the Holy Kingdom to the other nations by now. In future, you may be given orders which result in you leading subordinates of your own for activities outside Nazarick. This was a good experience. But giving vague instructions was a bad idea. Just as I thought, the person giving orders has to make them clear―”
At this point, Ainz sensed that he was digging his own grave. As the pinnacle of Nazarick, Ainz was the most likely to give out orders.
I can’t possibly come up with concrete action plans. Or rather, if I come up with shallow plans, Albedo and Demiurge will frown on me!
“―should emphasize adapting to the situation, and come up with plans that give a certain degree of leeway. In the end, it’s still the person on the ground who knows best!”
“…Yes. I learned a lot more compared to just following instructions.”
“Ahh, indeed, just so. I understand how you feel very well.”
Ainz scratched his head as he nodded, but then as he realized the difference in competency between Shizu and himself ― whose nonexistent stomach ached when he had read Demiurge’s reports ― he wept softly in his heart.
“Speaking of which,” Ainz decided to change the subject. If he went on, he might only end up shocking himself more. “It seems you and Miss Baraja got along very well. It felt like a shame that we had to part.”
“…I was interested… in her…”
“―Really!? That’s wonderful!”
Ainz’s expression of joy was genuine.
Suzuki Satoru had not had children before, but he could understand how a parent felt when one heard that a child who had no friends had made friends for the first time.
Ah, I’m glad I resurrected her… hm? What does being interested mean… don’t tell me she’s not a friend, but more like a toy…
“…Can I assume that you are friends?”
Shizu briefly bowed her head in thought, but in the end she replied with a “…yes.”
Ainz was filled with delight. However that explosion of joy was promptly negated.
While he was unhappy about that, the thought that this might be the first time someone from Nazarick had made a friend outside brought a trickle of joy to his heart.
Most of the people in Nazarick did not leave it, so they did not make friends outside. Perhaps if he let the other members go outside regularly, they would be able to make good friendships.
Ainz did not think that people with friends were superior to others. However, thinking that one did not need friends was also incorrect.
That said, it was always better to have the chance to make friends than not.
I had my friends from Ainz Ooal Gown. In that case, it might be good to let the other members go outside and give them free time to interact with others… especially Mare and Aura. No, it’s also possible that giving them all some time on their birthday is… umu.
“Have you arranged to meet Neia again?”
“…No… too far…”
“Ahh! No need to worry about that. I’ve already marked this place as a teleport point. You can go and have fun whenever you want. Just use 「Gate」. There’s no need to be shy. Mm.”
“…If I’m free… please let me do so…”
“That’s right! Free… I’ll give you lots of free time. I’ve been thinking about a holiday plan for some time now. I should give the Pleiades a vacation too. Wouldn’t it be good to go out and have fun with the others? I’ve arranged to have you placed under me, so it should be fine.”
Shizu thought briefly about it, and then shook her head.
“…It’ll cause problems.”
“Problems, you say…”
What does that mean? Problems for Neia? Or will it keep her from having fun with Neia? Or is it because the other members won’t approve…
“Well, if it causes problems then it can’t be helped. You’ll have to go on your own, Shizu. Speaking of which, let me change the topic. Miss Baraja’s parents are both dead. Is that all right?”
Neia Baraja’s parents were both dead. If she had asked him, he felt that it would be alright to resurrect them. If doing so would make her even more grateful―
No, that’s not right.
Simply put, resurrecting Neia’s parents was not worth the cost of doing so. It was plain to see that Neia was sufficiently grateful to him. In that case, there was no need to continue scoring points with her. In addition, Wands of Resurrection were very expensive, so he wanted to save them, if possible. If Pestonya and the others were to use resurrection spells, then she would require gold coins or jewels or other valuables as part of the spell’s cost.