Overlord (LN) - Volume 10 - Chapter Ep

Chapter Epilogue

Volume 10 - Epilogue

 

Demiurge walked happily through the 9th Floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick .

The sensation of returning after a long time was probably an illusion of some sort . After all, he returned to this place from time to time, and the longest stretch of time he had been away from here was a fortnight at the most . Thus, the reason for his misperception was clearly due to the joy he felt at walking through this place .

His mood lifted the closer he got to his objective .

Demiurge paid no heed to the guards Cocytus had stationed on either side of the doors as he adjusted his tie and inspected his appearance . Naturally, he paid attention to it at all times, but he did not want his master to see a side of him which was less than immaculate .

After a very earnest inspection of his personal grooming, Demiurge knocked on the door of the room .

One of the maids opened the door, poking her head out to see who was calling .

Demiurge wanted to try and spy out a glimpse of his master through the gap, but he could not do anything that embarrassing .

“May I know if Ainz-sama is in his room?”

“My sincerest apologies, Demiurge-sama . Ainz-sama is not in . ”

His mood plummeted but he did not let it show on his face .

“Is that so . Then, where has Ainz-sama gone?”

“My sincerest apologies, I do not know… However, Albedo-sama might know something about it . ”

She was right .

“Really now . Then, where is Albedo now?”

“She is in this room . ”

Demiurge knew Albedo treated her master’s room as her workroom . Can’t you just use the room you’ve been assigned, he often thought, but after considering her personality, he ended up keeping quiet . The most important thing was his master’s approval . With that, there was nothing else for him to add .

“Is she working? . . . Could you help me check if this is a convenient time to visit?”

“Understood . ”

The door before him closed . A moment later, it opened again .

“Please come in, Demiurge-sama . ”

Demiurge thanked the maid and then entered . Before his eyes was the Guardian Overseer, seated on a chair in front of his master’s desk .

Her lowered line of sight moved, and caught hold of Demiurge .

“It’s been a while, Albedo . ”

“Ah, Demiurge . You’ve worked hard abroad . What is it today?”

“Ah, it concerns the matter in the Holy Kingdom . I was planning to obtain permission for the final stages of the plan . I will need a Doppelganger… where is Ainz-sama?”

“He is somewhat far away . I doubt he will be able to return quickly…”

In other words, he is not in E-Rantel, Demiurge mused . Otherwise she would not describe it in such a strange way .

“That is somewhat of an inconvenience . Then, I shall perform preparation work on the 7th Floor until Ainz-sama returns . ”

“If it is urgent, could you not communicate with [Message]?”

Demiurge frowned, and observed Albedo’s expression .

She had her usual smile on, but the perceptive Demiurge detected some other emotion within her .

If she was just toying with him, it would be fine .

Demiurge attempted to quickly study her, but he could not read that deeply .

It ached at him, but then again, this was not a contest in the first place .

Among all the people of Nazarick, the only two people he could not read were his master and Albedo . He set them aside as rare exceptions for the sake of his inner peace .

Demiurge shrugged .

“It is not that urgent . If Ainz-sama returns the day after, I shall inform him myself . ”

“Ainz-sama did not mention how long he would be gone . He might take a very long time . ”

“Then, I shall go to Ainz-sama’s side, Albedo . It is not a matter which requires the use of [Message] . ”

“Ara? Why is that? If it is truly important, would it not be more loyal to inform him as soon as possible?”

The context of Albedo’s smile had changed . Earlier, it was her usual fake smile, but now it was a wicked, bullying smile . She must have some sort of ill intent in mind .

It would seem there was something she wanted to say, no matter what .

How tiresome, Demiurge thought as he stated his reasons .

“I desire to display my achievements to Ainz-sama, so I do not wish to use such methods to contact him . While I can receive his praise through a [Message], in the end, I would still prefer to hear his voice in person . That is all… Is that not the shared dream for all in Nazarick?”

“Mm, indeed, Demiurge . It is as you say . Anyone would feel that way . ”

“Then, where has Ainz-sama gone?”

“He has gone to visit the Dwarf Kingdom, about which little is known and which has not made diplomatic contact until now . Thus, we do not know how much time it will take . ”

“Who accompanies him?”

“Shalltear and Aura . ”

That should be fine in terms of combat strength . However other aspects were more worrisome .

Aura was fine . All she needed to do was not inconvenience Ainz-sama . Yet, the face of the other person appeared in Demiurge’s mind .

“Still, by bringing Shalltear along, does he intend to destroy the Dwarf Kingdom?”

Mare would have been a much better choice for verbal negotiations . Thus, that choice was made for other reasons .

“—What are the other Guardians doing?”

“Cocytus is managing the lake . Mare is building a dungeon outside E-Rantel . Sebas is carrying out his duties in E-Rantel . Although I do not know what Ainz-sama intends, the fact that he did not bring an army along would suggest a peaceful visit, no?”

“ . . . There is insufficient information for that . Why did Ainz-sama want to go to the Dwarf Kingdom?”

“Demiurge . We cannot predict Ainz-sama’s thoughts . ”

It was as Albedo said .

His master, Ainz Ooal Gown, was the supreme ruler of Nazarick, who concealed countless stratagems within a single move of a chess piece . Demiurge — who had been created with outstanding talents — could not even hope to graze the soles of his brilliance with his outstretched hands . Attempting to read his master’s motivations was a mistake .

That said, sensing his master’s will and preparing for it was a mark of true loyalty .

If I don’t work hard enough . . .

As Demiurge rebuilt his conviction once more, Albedo picked up a piece of parchment from the table .

“This came from the Empire yesterday . I opened it after receiving Ainz-sama’s permission via [Message] . It contains an offer of vassalage from the Empire . The exact details of the vassalization are to be finalized later . ”

Demiurge was shocked . This was much earlier than he had anticipated .

“What’s this? According to my predictions, the Empire should only have offered to be vassals after the Kingdom was destroyed…”

“That is the result of Ainz-sama’s visit to the Empire . ”

“This is… As expected of Ainz-sama…”

“Say, Demiurge . Did you really think the Empire would only become a vassal after the Kingdom would?”

“Of course . That was how I planned it . ”

“Regardless of what methods you used?”

“ . . . What are you trying to say?“

“Ainz-sama often mentioned your name . It came up in the context of ‘Did you hear from Demiurge? Then it should be all right . ’ In other words, there was something about you — about your plan which he could not accept . ”

“What are you saying . . Albedo, why didn’t you tell me earlier? If that’s the case—”

“If what is the case?”

Demiurge could not speak .

“ . . . Let me ask you again . Was there no way to make the Empire a vassal before the Kingdom?”

“ . . . There was . However, it would have required Ainz-sama himself to act . It would be a shameful course of action for a subordinate to advise . In addition, I felt that it would require the execution of several methods — requiring at least a month — in order to cause a violent upheaval within a large city . That being the case, I believed that it would have been better to begin by subjugating the Kingdom and then applying pressure on other areas… how long did Ainz-sama take?”

“I was in the Kingdom, so I am not sure, but I think it was three days at the most . ”

Demiurge’s eyes went wide .

That was too fast .

How had he demonstrated his subjugating might? How had he broken the will of the Emperor, who sought to ally with other nations?

Although Demiurge had prepared a perfect plan that would render the Emperor unable to take action, his master seemed to have crafted a scheme which surpassed even that .

“Three days? How did he do that…”

“Incidentally, there were almost no casualties . ”

His gaping mouth felt like it had been stoppered . All he felt was an unstoppable flow of admiration and respect for that absolute ruler . He was like Death itself, quietly standing behind the Emperor and then crushing his heart .

The trembling he felt just now spread from the top of his head to his entire body . Savage delight, admiration, fear and respect mixed within him, and this complex blend of emotions made Demiurge shudder without end .

“As, as expected of Ainz-sama . Someone like me could not hope to even approach him . He is truly a peerless and perfect master . Nobody else could have led the Supreme Beings . I cannot help but envy Pandora’s Actor, even if just a little . ”

Albedo went kuku, her smile full of superiority .

It must have been the sense of superiority a woman felt when she was ordered to love such a marvelous man .

“In addition, Ainz-sama has ordered us to decide how to handle the vassalage of the Kingdom . ”

“Ordered us? Why?”

“Is that not obvious? Much of the developments in this field have been due to the use of your plan, Demiurge . Even so, Ainz-sama said nothing to you and pushed the vassalization of the Empire forward with his own plan . Thus, his heart ached . ”

He could not understand that . Perhaps if he was displeased at his own incompetence, he could understand that . But not this .

“ . . . Why? I do not understand . ”

Hah~ Albedo sighed tiredly .

“It is because he trusts you . In other words… how shall I put this . You should be able to understand it with that mind of yours, but this is probably how it is . Not following your plan is equivalent to doubting your abilities . Ainz-sama awaited your communication because he did not want to do that . However, Ainz-sama felt you were too concerned about him . Thus, his independent action was meant to tell you, ‘don’t worry about me’, I believe . ”

It was an answer he could accept . No, it would be better to say there could be no other answer but that .

“This truly is…”

Demiurge lowered his face in shame . At the same time, he was filled with delight after he realised how his master had thought of him .

“Demiurge . We must work to repay Ainz-sama’s kindness . ”

“Of course, Albedo . ”

Demiurge was excited .

“In order to fulfil Ainz-sama’s expectations, let us finish a vassalage plan for the Kingdom for him to see before he returns!”

“Indeed . Ainz-sama has gone in person, so there must be many schemes in store . He will surely be busy once he returns from the Dwarven Kingdom . ”

Demiurge grinned .

“Indeed, Albedo . Indeed . ”