The Ruler of Conspiracy

by Kugane Maruyama

  “Did I amuse you?”

  Albedo’s puzzled face made Ainz even happier. But it was rude to laugh on his own.

  “Sorry. You’re cute when you’re happy—or something like that. It’s hard to explain.”

  The moment he said it, the eight-edged assassins flinched on the ceiling, but there was no further movement.

  “Oh dear! How embarrassing!”

  Albedo hid her face in her hands. Then Ainz noticed how hard she was blushing and finally realized how mortifying his words were. He cleared his throat and tried to look anywhere else. It seemed that he always ended up spewing cheesy lines whenever he interacted with the NPCs, whom he loved as his friends’ children.

  While he chided himself, he stamped the last of the documents. For now, his work was done.

  When he handed them to Albedo, who had been busy wiping her mouth, she turned them over to the elder liches.

  “Okay, let’s do our usual thing. Here are today’s suggestions.”

  Ainz took a sheet he’d prepared out of a drawer. This was a list of proposals from all the various members of Nazarick. He was collecting opinions and ideas about where the future of the Nation of Darkness might be headed.

  Ainz always ran his eyes over it and presented a clean version to Albedo in the morning.

  “It’s such a waste of your precious time for you to do things like edit this list.”

  “No, there could be suggestions for me personally in there. And besides, I don’t sleep. I have to do something to keep busy.”

  That was a lie. Well, it wasn’t a lie that if he was doing nothing, he would be bored, but he had no shortage of diversions: reading, soaking in a bath, rehearsing his acting, mock battles, etc. So to have to do this sort of thing was a bit…

  Actually, some of the ideas were Ainz’s.

  If he suggested them directly, he risked everyone bending over backward to realize an idea they were secretly unhappy with and ending up with miserable results. He wanted Albedo to consider the proposals fairly, so he kept everything anonymous. By the same token, his competence would never be brought into question, so keeping everyone’s true identities hidden killed two birds with one stone.

  Ainz read the first proposal.

  “Hmm… ‘It would be good to build a facility to educate children. Discovering promising individuals and training them will lead to a future increase in Nazarick’s power. Even if it isn’t a direct boon, it could still lead to discovering new technologies and the fortification of the tomb,’ is what this person has to say.”

  Ainz looked straight at Albedo and readied a question for her. “This is a solid proposal that clearly outlines the benefits of its plan. I can tell whoever submitted this has a great mind. We could even distribute this as an example of a strong proposal.” After praising the document from the perspective of a working adult, he returned to a more serious expression—although his face didn’t move, of course. “Who do you suppose wrote this?”

  “I think it was Yuri Alpha.”

  She answered immediately. And Ainz agreed.

  “Right. It must be Yuri. So what do you think about it, Albedo?”

  “I think it’s utterly stupid. Pigs should live as pigs, be useful to their owner, and then die. They shouldn’t live any other way. There is no reason for them to know another lifestyle, nor do they have the right to choose one.”

  “That’s a harsh way to put it, but I agree. You can become a cog in society with a bare minimum of education. Living and dying like that is good enough. Spreading technology is tantamount to giving away the power to threaten— Hmm?”

  “What’s the matter, Lord Ainz?”

  “I remember having a similar conversation a while ago. Who was I talking to? Narberal and…oh, Lupusregina. Right, about potions… Oh, I didn’t need to explain all this stuff to you, since you already understand. How embarrassing. Do me a favor and forget I ever mentioned it.”

  “N-no! I believe it’s important for us to compare ideas! So please! Please continue!”

  “O-oh… Well, it’s embarrassing, but, well, I’ll warn you that these are just my personal thoughts. If anything is wrong, correct me.”

  There was nothing more embarrassing than explaining something cleverly to someone who was already well versed in the subject. Though Ainz worried that Albedo would think he was an idiot, he shared his opinions about technology.

  Knowledge and education, as well as information, were the first weapons that humans—and in this world, other beings as well—could wield. While the spread of knowledge could increase a nation’s strength, it also had the potential to foster discontent that didn’t exist before.

  That was why a ruler had to consider whether to give the people a weapon or not. There was a real chance that it could be turned against them.

  Ainz had learned good lessons on the value of information back during his days in Yggdrasil. That was why he dispatched the two Baleares to make potions in Carne, a location that he had under adequate surveillance. He could monopolize the advancements and ensure they didn’t leak.

  Ainz wanted the ruled to remain under his rule and to keep the ignorant living in ignorance. But it was imperative to develop new technology and increase his nation’s strength. Ultimately, it was a question of which way the weapon of knowledge was pointed.

  “In conclusion, new technologies can be shared with and used among those who are absolutely loyal to the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Older technology that won’t cause issues if the masses use it can be allowed to spread freely. I think the saying goes, ‘The fruits of wisdom are only valuable if monopolized,’ if I’m not mistaken.” After speaking his mind, Ainz stole a glance at Albedo’s face. She didn’t seem confused or distrusting. “And here is my main point—Albedo. This is going to sound like the opposite of what I was just saying, but I think we should adopt this proposal.”

  Albedo’s eyes grew wide for a moment.

  “To what end, my lord?”

  “Sentiment. And I think Yuri has a point.”

  “It seems to me that the disadvantages are far greater… Or is it that you would plan to establish the school in a remote region? Certainly if you made sure no information leaked to the outside world via brainwashing, there would be more benefits…”

  “I won’t be doing anything like that. It’s a bit different from Yuri’s idea, but I think it would be good to build an orphanage in this city.”

  While living as Momon, Ainz had learned that shrines ran orphanages. If that was the case, he figured he could open one in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown.

  “Basically, the core issue we’re contending with is the possibility of Nazarick’s technology leaking to the outside world. To prevent that, all we’d need to do is simply operate the facility normally and not share any knowledge greater than what any local would know. And if someone shows promise, then and only then would we start to think about their future. That would work, right?”

  “…I see. Certainly if that was all, then it wouldn’t be a problem.”

  “And I’m thinking we could employ widows as the staff.”

  “So you would be giving jobs to—and thus saving—women who must be struggling in poverty after losing their husbands in that battle where you displayed some of your great power. Rescuing widows and orphans sounds like a brilliant way to boost approval in your rule… I expected nothing less from you, my lord.”

  “Indeed. However, taking action after various widows appeal to Momon with their plights will only improve his reputation. If that happens, mine will hardly budge. That means we need to act quickly, before anyone comes to him with the idea. In order to do that, first of all…I order Pestonia and Nigredo to be released from disciplinary confinement.”

  Ainz was sharp enough to notice the light in Albedo’s eyes change slightly.

  “With all due respect…I fear that pardoning the crimes of those who went against your judgment without punishment will upset the rule of order in Nazarick.”

  �
�Didn’t we punish them by putting them in disciplinary confinement?”

  “I find that extremely lenient. Your words are our everything, Lord Ainz. Going against them is the greatest sin. Personally, I suggest beheading.”

  “That’s…” He had been about to say ridiculous, but he realized how much the denizens of Nazarick worshipped him and the other Forty-One Supreme Beings. To deny that would be cruel.

  That was also precisely why they had to be forgiven. Ainz’s friends were the ones who designed their personalities. It could have been said that Pestonia’s and Nigredo’s actions were the will of his friends.

  If Ainz demanded it, Albedo would no doubt obey. But that was his last resort. First, he wanted to try to persuade her.

  “Ultimately, the order I issued was to prevent the outside world from discovering that Nazarick was pulling the strings behind the incident in the kingdom. We needed to dispose of children as well, of course. But Pestonia and Nigredo saved an infant who won’t remember a thing. That means there was never a need to eliminate the baby. You could say they accurately interpreted my intentions.”

  “They twisted your words as was convenient for them. That sort of behavior mustn’t be tolerated.”

  “Albedo—”

  Albedo was the captain of the guardians. He understood how she felt. That’s why he was trying to find a good way to persuade her. The wry smile he wore when he wasn’t sure what to do appeared on his—naturally immobile—face.

  “Lord Ainz, making that face is no fair…,” Albedo murmured, blushing slightly.

  Ainz touched his face. “Hmm? Really?”

  “Yes,” she said in a faint voice before averting her eyes and sighing. When she looked back up, her expression was back to normal. “Understood. After all, your words are our everything. I will happily obey.”

  “I’d really like you to agree based on logic not emotion…”

  “That’s no problem. I doubt there is anyone in Nazarick who would be dissatisfied with their release other than myself.”

  “I see… That’s good. Then I’ll have those two run the orphanage.”

  “Understood. I will inform them of the decision.”

  “Thanks. I guess we should move on to the next item?” Ainz swallowed hard. Next on the list was something he’d suggested. “…Hmm. This doesn’t seem like that great of an idea, but…well, I’ll read it anyway.” He continued, glancing at Albedo to observe her expression. “Someone says we should create uniforms to increase solidarity within Nazarick.”

  Albedo’s beautiful eyebrows angled downward immediately. “…What an outrageous, trashy proposal. Who submitted that?”

  Ainz suppressed his urge to reply, I’m sorry, and instead appeared flummoxed. “Ah, well…I don’t know. I already got rid of the original slips of paper.”

  “This is no good. I can’t believe someone would waste your precious time with this utterly inferior suggestion. I think we should perform a survey and come up with some punishment for whoever turned it in.”

  “W—! We don’t need to do that! Got it, Albedo? Absolutely no survey.” Despite internally going, Whoa—whoa—whoa, Ainz stated his position with confidence. “I wanted to hear a diverse range of opinions from all sorts of beings who reside within Nazarick, which was why I declared I wouldn’t be upset no matter what kind of proposals are suggested. If you rebuke any of them, that would make what I said a lie. That could instill the belief that everything I say from here on is a lie. If everyone begins to shrink away like that, it’ll make asking for their opinions in the future more difficult… The moment you set foot outside this room, you erase that proposal from your brain, Albedo.”

  “Yes, my lord! I shall do exactly as you say!”

  “G-good. That’s the way.”

  Ainz was grateful to have a body that didn’t sweat. Otherwise he would have been drenched. But despite his wonderful mind and body, he hadn’t completely recovered from the pain of having his idea called “trashy.”

  “…Lord Ainz, this is just a suggestion, but perhaps from now on, I should screen them for you—so no ideas this bad get through.”

  “Guh… No, that won’t be necessary. Then it would be you choosing them and me simply approving. If we did that, there wouldn’t be any point in us having this meeting.”

  “Oh! Y-you’re right, Lord Ainz. This is our joint task, after all.”

  Albedo’s wings flapped, and as if in sync, the eight-edged assassins plastered to the ceiling all flinched.

  “O-okay! Looks like you understand, so let’s move on to the next item.” Personally, he had no idea what that was all about, but it didn’t seem like this was the right time to ask, and he didn’t have the confidence to return to the topic later. “So up next we have…”

  As he was about to read it, there was a knock on the door.

  The two of them looked to Fith, who bobbed her head and identified the visitor.

  From beyond the door, he could hear one energetic child’s voice and another faint voice lacking in confidence.

  …Pretty sure this is the first time those two have come here at this hour. Is there some kind of trouble? If so, I’m lucky they came while Albedo is here.

  He knew who it was, so he could have given the permission to enter immediately. But if he allowed them to enter before Fith reported their names, he would be robbing her of the task she was so thrilled to be performing. Going over workers’ heads would rob them of their motivation. It was important for those at the top to have that kind of consideration.

  You must think the same way, Jircniv. You have maids doing all sorts of things for you, too. Ainz spoke in his head to the mental image of the person he was observing as a model king.

  He wanted to be able to discuss their struggles as kings together someday.

  “Lord Ainz, it’s Mistress Aura and Master Mare.”

  Once Fith had fulfilled her duty, Ainz granted the pair’s entry.

  The door opened and two little dark elves came in. They were beaming, and it didn’t seem like anything had gone wrong, so Ainz was relieved.

  “Good morning, Lord Ainz!”

  “G-g-good morning, Lord Ainz.”

  “Yes, morning, you two. I’m glad to see you both looking well.”

  After they both exchanged greetings with Albedo, Aura walked around the desk and stood beside Ainz.

  Having come extremely close to him, she opened her arms in a V shape.

  “Mm!”

  In response to Ainz’s confusion, she emitted a sound that wasn’t a word and lifted her arms again. Then she looked at him expectantly, eyes sparkling, and hopped up and down slightly.

  When he finally realized what she wanted, he scooted his chair back, put his hands on her sides, and picked her up.

  “Wh-what are you doing, Lord Ainz?”

  Albedo emitted a dry shriek, but he paid her no mind as he flipped Aura around 180 degrees and sat her down on his right femur. Without a soft thigh of his own, all he could offer her was hard bone, so he had her sit sideways in an attempt to mitigate her discomfort.

  “Eh-heh-heh.” Aura laughed half-bashfully, half-happily and smiled up at Ainz. Then Ainz shifted his gaze and waved over Mare, who was standing there fidgeting. Mare approached timidly, but Ainz lifted him up and put him on his left femur all the same.

  “U-umm, L-Lord Ainz, m-me too…”

  Ainz had just been thinking maybe he should prepare a cushion for next time when Albedo hesitantly approached him. But seating a grown woman on his thigh…bone was plain embarrassing.

  “No, sorry…can’t do it.”

  “B-but…both of them get…”

  “…Albedo, they’re still children. You’re an adult, aren’t you?”

  For just a moment he felt like he saw a lightning bolt embodying her shock strike behind her. He did feel like he had been slightly mean, but embarrassing things were embarrassing. In the first place, wasn’t asking for that a form of sexual harassment?

  “And
what in the world is it, you two? Did something happen?”

  The fortress they were building in the Tove Woodlands—the supply stockpile, the fake Nazarick—was complete. The next tasks he had assigned to Aura were the strengthening of its defenses and its concealment. Originally, the plan had been to flee there if any enemy had appeared—to save the real Nazarick from being discovered—but since he had already given the location of the Great Tomb to Jircniv, they were prioritizing the forest compound as a stockpile and evacuation site.

  He’d also ordered Mare to build a subterranean tomb on the outskirts of E-Rantel.

  There were no immediate plans to use it, but he didn’t want any power to go to waste.

  When employing people, personnel expenses were incurred, but with golems and the undead, he didn’t have to worry about that, and Mare could create simple stone and other materials with his magic.

  Incidentally, the other guardians had also been assigned jobs: Shalltear was guarding Nazarick and helping with transportation using Gate, Cocytus was in charge of overseeing the lizardman village and the whole lake area, and Demiurge was on business in the Sacred Kingdom.

  Thus, at this time, all the guardians stationed in E-Rantel were present before Ainz.

  So what had the siblings come for if they already had jobs?

  Aura gave a simple answer to Ainz’s question.

  “We missed you, Lord Ainz!”

  The innocence of the exclamation made him crack a smile. “I see. I’m happy to see you guys, too.”

  Ainz pet Aura’s head. His hand must have felt good, because Aura snuggled against it. It was like he was petting a cute little puppy.

  “U-uhhh, Lord Ainz, what were you doing? I—I hope we aren’t annoying you.”

  “That’s exa—”

  “Not at all. How would seeing you ever be annoying?” Ainz said to Mare before turning to Albedo. “Sorry, Albedo. You were about to say something, but I interrupted. Oh, right. Of course I’m never annoyed to see you, either.”