Some of the smiths bound for the Sorcerous Kingdom were standing with the members of the Council.
And then, the Council informed them about the migration to the Sorcerous Kingdom.
“It has begun.”
“So it has.”
The answer came from Gondo, who stood by Ainz’s side.
“…You’re their representative. Is it alright if you don’t stand out there in front of them?”
“Give me a break, Your Majesty. I’m almost useless as a runesmith. It would be a shame to let someone like me represent them…Wouldn’t you be a better choice, Your Majesty?”
Ainz and Gondo locked eyes for a moment, and then they chuckled.
Naturally, Ainz simply did not want to stand on the stage to meet and greet people. His earlier words were simply something he had forced out.
“Still…” Gondo’s face turned serious. “I can’t thank you enough, Your Majesty.”
“Why is that?”
“This farewell party. Please look at the people on stage.”
Ainz looked at the stage once more. They were not finished speaking, and that was all that came to mind. However, it would be a bit insensitive to say that he had not noticed anything after Gondo had brought it up.
“Umu… I see…”
In the end, he simply used the appropriate answer as a smokescreen.
“It is as Your Majesty surmises. Everyone’s eyes have changed.”
“Indeed, they have,” Ainz replied without thinking, though he still had no idea what was going on. “Still, why is that?”
Gondo chuckled, like he found it amusing.
“It is the joy of feeling admiring gazes on them once more. Today’s ceremony ─ with dishes made with ingredients never seen before, as well as all kinds of alcohol ─ was to let the runesmiths realize that they weren’t being sold, but being hired by the Sorcerous Kingdom.”
“I’ll be expecting great things of them, you know?”
“Mm. I remember I once said that I would repay Your Majesty’s kindness. That applies to the others as well. Thank you very much. Oops, looks like it’s about time, Your Majesty.”
After taking a large stein of beer from Gondo, he thumped it against the table like the others were doing. Ainz then raised a tiny cup of liquor in a toast, and then gave it back to Gondo because he could not drink it.
The Dwarves ─ who had been holding themselves back all this while ─ burst into activity. Many Dwarves flocked towards the food, gorging themselves nonstop with the dishes on display.
“What’s this? It’s amazing! Did your wife really make this?”
“Mm. His Majesty provided the ingredients. We had a lot of failures while trying it.”
“Mhm. It’s good, that’s a fact. But to an old fogey like me, it could stand to be a bit blander.”
“You’re meant to wash it down with wine.”
“What? Let me try… Ohoh! Incredible! The taste is just right!”
“The wine’s good too. I wonder if my wife could make this too?”
“It seems that the Sorcerous Kingdom will be sending us food for some time. Looks like we’ll be eating well, then.”
“I’d rather have their wine. This is from the Sorcerous Kingdom, right? Better be prepared to pay!”
They talked at the top of their voices as they ate. And then─
“I envy those runesmiths. They get to eat this sort of thing whenever they like?”
“No, these should be pretty expensive, right?”
“Doesn’t seem that way, does it? Look, in human countries, vegetables are cheap. Seems to be the same way with the Sorcerous Kingdom too.”
“Mm, they really are a fortunate lot. And, I only had a bit, but is it me or is the Sorcerous Kingdom’s wine top-notch stuff?”
“Umu. I only had a sip of that myself. Ahhhh, that was delicious. Still, grape wine is good; though maybe not that strong.”
“Don’t we have a reason to visit the Sorcerous Kingdom?”
“I’ve heard tell that they’re planning to let the citizens of both countries move freely between them.”
“Oi oi, Everyone here’s pretty highly-placed, but shouldn’t you be more careful about letting that sort of thing get out?”
“Nah, seems they’re going to make a public announcement. In the future, this country will be active in a lot of places… and although this is just a rumor, they say that we took back the Royal Capital.”
“…Rumor has it that the Royal Palace was a nest of Dragons. The Sorcerous Kingdom is really amazing.”
Naturally, Ainz picked up on those words as well.
Rather than praise Ainz directly, their opinion of the Sorcerous Kingdom seemed to have gone up instead. That probably meant they could continue being friends in the future.
Ainz smiled in satisfaction, and turned to Gondo again.
“Go speak to them, Gondo. I may not be back for a while.”
“Is that so…Then I shall go talk with those chaps from the mines.”
Gondo was looking at a Dwarf with an evil look in his eyes.
“And what will you be doing, Your Majesty?”
“…A messenger from my country has come. I need to meet them. Then, see you again.”
Ainz raised his hand in farewell, and walked away.
He had originally been standing in a corner of a vast, spacious room. He opened the door to leave and headed for a guest reception room cum lounge room cum parlour.
It was quite a luxuriously furnished room, with tables, chairs, cabinets and the like. Demiurge was standing there.
“Forgive me for making you come all this way.”
“Certainly not. Your location is where I should be headed, Ainz-sama.”
Ainz walked across the room and sat in a chair. Then he bade Demiurge to take a seat as well.
“…I’ve seen the reports. I’m working here, so I must apologize for having you put them in writing instead of just delivering them by mouth.”
The reports in question detailed Demiurge’s preparations and activities in the Holy Kingdom. Of course, if he heard them from Demiurge himself, it might damage Ainz’s disguise. This had also been taken into consideration.
“…Even so, you’ve done well as I expected, Demiurge. Your accomplishments can only be described as outstanding.”
“Thank you very much, Ainz-sama.”
Demiurge bowed.
“Still, I could not hope to equal your feats, Ainz-sama… You have firmly secured a place in the Dwarves’ hearts.”
Ainz thought that he must surely be referring to how he reclaimed the Royal Capital, or recruiting the runesmiths. However, was that really the case?
“…Hm, so it seems you’ve seen through it already, Demiurge. Do you think the Dwarves have noticed?”
“Rather than notice it, I think they have no other alternative.”
Why wasn’t there anyone else here? If only there were, he could use his usual tactic. As Ainz studied Demiurge in detail, he noticed a smile on his face.
…What’s so funny?!
Demiurge’s smile made Ainz’s nonexistent stomach ache. Albedo’s smile was similarly terrifying. The idea that they might have seen through his act made his nonexistent heart pound faster.
“If… if the Dwarves see through it, what do you think I should do?”
“I doubt that will be a big problem. After all, you did provide the catering for the runesmiths’ farewell party. With that, you can shrug off anything the Dwarves say.”
…What’s he talking about?
“I trust it’s not important, then.”
Now that his attempts to lead Demiurge on had failed, Ainz decided to leave it at that. Asking too much about an intelligent person like him was very dangerous.
“Then, how goes the vassalization of the Empire?”
“Yes. Albedo and I have discussed the matter and we have drawn up a draft. After that, we hope you will look over it and share your opinions with us.”