In truth, there were practically no benefits to be gained.
However, it would be a different matter if it were Shizu’s friend. I wouldn’t mind giving Shizu’s friend benefits like that.
Because she seemed close to Shizu, he had asked her questions ― both Neia as well as Shizu ― to judge their reactions.
“..It’s all right… Special treatment isn’t good.”“Really? It would make an excellent present… in that case… well, that’s it, then.”
In truth, resurrecting the dead ― especially incomplete corpses ― could prove very troublesome. There would be many people who would go How come you could do it for him and not for me? Also, it would be troublesome if he was asked to resurrect the Holy Queen. Granted, Demiurge could probably handle the situation if he did resurrect the Holy Queen, but the demerits outweighed the advantages.
“If you want to play, how about reading that book? Would that be alright?”
“…It’s fine… it’s in the Doctor’s room.”
Shizu possessed knowledge on all of Nazarick’s mechanisms. Leaving it be like that was too dangerous, and she would not have been able to leave Nazarick. Therefore he had used 「Control Amnesia」 on her.
Shizu’s knowledge of those mechanisms had been part of the backstory her creator — a player — had made for her. While he did not know if the spell could work on such things, after casting it on her, he found that the spell worked as intended.
That was a technique Ainz had developed after repeated experiments on a guinea pig he had obtained. It felt like he could do incredible things once he mastered it.
The reason for that was because Ainz had the feeling he might be able to access the core of the NPCs. What exactly were the NPC backstories, the beginning of their memories? Still, that was simply wishful thinking on Ainz’s part, and it was very likely that they were completely unrelated. If he wanted to sort that out, he would need to further understand the spell, and understand everything to do with the human memory. In that case, he would need a lot of guinea pigs and decades to practice and research with, as well as preparing himself for the possibility that it might all be a waste of time.
Still, Shizu had currently been implanted with incorrect memories, so to some extent, she was a trap.
Anyone trying to use Shizu to enter Nazarick would have a very bad time in store for them.
“The Doctor… hm? Can those Shizus move?”
“…If the time comes.”
Aren’t they just mechanisms, then? Ainz wanted to say that, but he did not. It was just like how Santa Claus’s true identity was hidden under a veil of mystery.
While Suzuki Satoru did not remember him ever visiting, he had come to visit in YGGDRASIL―
“Although, they were actually the devs.”
As Ainz laughed forlornly, he noticed Shizu looking intently at him, and so he said, “I was just talking to myself.”
“…Your Majesty.”
“Hm?”
“…Your Majesty.”
“…What is it, Shizu?”
She had addressed him by his name in the past, but now she had suddenly switched to using his formal address. That slightly ― or rather, greatly ― disturbed Ainz.
“…Been too familiar all this time… is that how it was?”
“What, what are you saying? I’d feel sad if you called me Your Majesty. Ainz-sama will do. Frankly speaking, you don’t even need the — sama. How about Ainz-san?”
“…That would be rude. I’d get scolded.”
“..Oh, I see. Well, you don’t need to call me Your Majesty, at least.”
“…Got it.”
“Oh yes, how about the runecraft thing that I told you about over the 「Message」?”
“…I tried.”
“I see…”
It would seem it had not gone well. Still, it ought not to be a problem even if it failed.
Still, maybe I should wait to return the items I lent, including that bow Ainz mused idly as he watched Shizu.
When he had left, he had shared his carriage with a girl who kept glaring at him. On his way back, it was a girl with a blank face. Both of them were unique in their own way.
As Ainz thought about this, he smiled.
Caspond looked outside from the deepest part of the royal palace ― the Holy King’s chambers.
His coronation would be in a few days. Therefore, he had come to this empty room ― including the break room beside this one ― to calm his thoughts.
The first person who would complain, and who would not mind her words was Remedios. She was currently meditating in her home. No, it would not be right to say she was meditating. Rather, she was gathering her strength at home. That was because he intended to have her find any demihumans that were still hiding within the Holy Kingdom and root them out.
That said, he had still moved to the Holy King’s room before the coronation had finished. This was a very good reason for Caspond’s enemies to attack him. He had insisted on doing so even though he knew that because the power struggles had already begun.
The aim was to establish the facts before the anti-Caspond nobles could say anything. Given that Caspond did not quite understand noble society, the ability to tell friend from foe was quite convenient. That too was part of the plan.
“…I’m sure some of the nobles must be unhappy by how I took the throne without making arrangements with the other nobles. That’s particularly true for the Southerners ― the ones which he did not oppress. In that case, what will the Northerners I fought with think if I listened to them…”
“They would surely be unhappy, and become a major divisive factor. That way, the plan to divide the country in two will be complete.”
Caspond’s self-directed mutterings received an answer.
It was a gentle voice that seemed to seep into the heart. It belonged to the entity which was Caspond’s superior.
Caspond immediately turned and knelt to the speaker. He bowed, and then raised his head.
“I bid you welcome, Demiurge-sama.”
He was not wearing his mask, and he had not changed his appearance before showing up. In other words, he was certain that this place was safe.
“I am here in order to move items back to Nazarick. Are there any problems?”
“None at all. Everything has gone as you have planned, Demiurge-sama.”
Caspond smiled, and Demiurge returned it.
“While there were some things which were beyond my expectations, the first phase of the plan has concluded without any problems, thanks to Ainz-sama’s actions. I look forward to your good performance in the future.”
Caspond’s head was bowed, but he knew those words were not true.
Demiurge expected nothing of him. However, if he was about to jump the rails which had been laid for him, he would immediately jump in to correct the plan and keep it on track.
He ought to have prepared several plans for revealing Caspond’s true identity. His instructions had included several items which made him wonder why he had to do them. Those must have been intended to prepare for that moment.
The first phase of the plan was to bring the Abelion Hills and the demihumans under the sway of the Sorcerous Kingdom. Before that, they would exterminate the troublesome species and then plant the seeds of a conflict between the Northern and Southern Holy Kingdom.
After that, Caspond would be in charge of the second phase, which was to bring North and South into opposition, and then conflict.