“Then, we will have to convince them by showing them Ainz Ooal Gown’s strength. If only there was a way we could show the other nations his awesome power… no matter what, we need to ensure things develop in that direction. For example, letting him show his power on the battlefield.”
“Couldn’t the Empire just not help Gown build his nation, and feign ignorance of everything?”
Jircniv glared at the scribe as though he were retarded.
“At the very least, we need to secure the safety of the nation before we can engage in cloak and dagger business. If Gown destroys the Empire, what do you plan to do after running to the Kingdom?”
Jircniv was merely choosing the lesser of two evils.
“In addition to everything I’ve already said, the Empire will be pretending to aid that monster while secretly forming an alliance against him. That is to say, if we’re exposed, there’s a good chance we will be the first country that monster crushes. Or rather, he will use us as a live sacrifice to frighten all the neighboring countries into submission. Have no doubts about that.”
“Ah ― if it was Your Majesty I’m sure you would go through with that.”
“…I’ll take that as praise and accept it. Because of that, we cannot be the ones to propose that grand alliance. We need to let other countries make the first move. What we should do is gather as much information about Nazarick as we can, as well as find someone who can defeat Gown.”
“Do people like that really exist?”
Given the casual tone with which it was said, nobody would have believed those words came from the acolyte. Gown was an unimaginably powerful opponent, who might be unbeatable even by the mightiest dragons. He was an opponent that made people think that way.
And to that, Jircniv issued a confident reply.
“Indeed, they do.”
“People like that really exist?!”
“Don’t they? Look within that throne room.”
When he put it that way, it seemed obvious enough.
The monsters arrayed with Ainz. Aura. Mare. The silver haired girl. The insect. Demiurge. He was referring to them.
“…Do you plan to induce a revolt?”
“Although I don’t think that may be possible, we should still prepare for it, just in case. We need to prepare wealth, prestige, members of the opposite sex and so on to make us seem at least a little bit attractive to them.”
“It will be very dangerous, right?”
“Ahh, indeed, it will be. Ainz Ooal Gown styles himself as a tyrant. With a master like that, surely they will jump at the chance to betray him, won’t they? However, even if that is the case, we have to take action. This is not just a conflict between nations anymore.”
Jircniv looked at the three of them with a resolute expression on his face.
“What comes after this will be a battle for the survival of humanity as a species. It will be a fight for the future. Devote your hearts and souls to it.”
“…And so, I think the Emperor will try to put a scheme like that into practice. If he were more foolish, his actions might fall outside the predicted range, but I think the chances of that will be low.
Reading the movements of a slightly-above-average intellect that imagines himself a genius is easier than trying to predict the actions of a complete moron.”
Demiurge raised a finger while he said that.
“In other words, the Emperor will try to form an alliance in order to defeat us ― to defeat Ainz-sama, right?”
“Mmm, he’s surprisingly stupid.”
“T-then, s-shouldn’t we take the initiative and w-wipe him out first?”
Mare followed up after Shalltear and Aura, but there was no anger in his voice. It was more like he was deciding whether or not to pick up a rock he found along the side of the road.
“More important than this problem is―”
Sebas wanted to speak, but someone else had already anticipated what he was going to say.
“―Is the fact that he actually thinks we would betray Ainz-sama, is that it?”
“Really. Sebas. It. Seems. The. Emperor. Does. Not. Know. The. Meaning. Of. Loyalty.”
Mocking laughter filled the room.
Did he really think they would betray Ainz, one of the 41 Supreme Beings who made them?
Although this was nothing more than Demiurge’s hypothesis, it was enough to upset the Guardians.
A cold light gleamed in their eyes.
“Welp, I’m not as mad as Mare, but I’m still pretty mad. Shall we kill them all?”
Shalltear laughed as she saw Aura in a black mood.
“I’ll turn him into a vampire. After all, if he’s good enough, there’s no reason he can’t serve in Nazarick.”
Although Cocytus had remained silent, his large mandibles made a dangerous clacking sound.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you do remember that we are in the presence of Ainz-sama?”
As they heard Sebas’ cold, clear voice, Aura, Shalltear’s and Cocytus’ anger vanished like mist in the wind.
“Kuhu ― Mm. That’s right, everyone, please calm down. Please recall what Demiurge just said. All of this has been arranged. What can we enjoy if not the antics of this clown? Instead, we should be grateful ― because all of this is nothing more than a part of Ainz-sama’s master plan. Right, Ainz-sama?”
Hooh… Ainz-sama’s plan, huh. I see. A special plan concocted by someone with the same name as me. Making the Baharuth Empire ally with and struggle against Nazarick was part of that plan too, huh… I have no idea what that’s all about. If only I could ask this Ainz fellow about it!
However, running away from reality like this would not change anything.
Honestly, Ainz wanted to ask about the details of the plan, and what about Ainz that Demiurge and Albedo were imagining.
However, he could not do that.
Ainz turned his line of sight toward Albedo.
There, he saw a woman looking back at him, a thin strand of dewy liquid connecting her half-open lips to the golden web of her dress. Her eyes were wet with fascination and her cheeks were flushed a rosy pink.
It was because she believed that everything was proceeding as planned, because she was so overcome by her master’s insight, that she was reacting like this.
As such, Ainz could no longer deny them. Who could say “What?” when the mood was like this?
With regard to Albedo’s question, there was only one answer Ainz could give.
“I–Indeed. That is so.”
He wanted to praise his voice for not wavering.
“Ohhh,” the Guardians chorused in respect.
“―Kuhuhuhu~”
Albedo spread her arms, and with them, her wings at her waist opened up as well.
“Ainz-sama wishes to take over a human city peacefully, and rule the region with love and compassion. Yet, the Baharuth Empire has decided to form a vile conspiracy against this paradise on earth. In the near future, Ainz-sama will show these countries the true meaning of kindness. Is that not the cause that he seeks?”