Chapter 57: Ainz's Farsighted Strategy
Demiurge straightened up, his gaze moving over the assembled Guardians before settling back on Ainz.
"Moreover, the deployment Lord Ainz has ordered contains, in my assessment, more than a single layer of intent."
Aura's ears turned slightly. Confusion spread across her young face.
"More than one layer?" She tilted her head. "Isn't it just to gather clues?"
Demiurge glanced at her, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Shallow. That is only the most surface-level of Lord Ainz's purposes."
Ainz sat on the throne, the dark red light in his eye sockets flickering.
That can't be right. Why don't I know about this?
A flash of green forced calm passed over him.
"Ahem."
Ainz cleared his nonexistent throat, keeping his voice steady and certain.
"Indeed. I wonder, Demiurge — how many layers of my purposes have you identified?"
"I am rather slow." Demiurge lowered his head. "I have only managed to identify three of Lord Ainz's purposes."
Ainz gave a slight nod, his tone carrying warm, measured approval.
"Good. You've managed to identify all of them. Then please explain for Mare and the others, Demiurge."
"As you command."
Demiurge straightened.
"The first layer is naturally the most surface-level: gathering clues. The probability is not high, but there may be traces in the surrounding area that could help narrow the direction of subsequent investigation."
Ainz gave a slight nod.
"Continue."
His voice came from the throne, level enough to give nothing away.
"The second purpose is to use this search to probe the enemy's reaction."
Aura blinked, her face full of thought.
Demiurge continued:
"If the enemy truly has control of Shalltear, they have in all probability already obtained relevant intelligence about Nazarick. When we deploy large numbers of low-tier minions in a systematic search, the enemy will face two choices."
He raised two fingers and drew a brief gesture in the air.
"First: ignore the minions and allow the search to proceed. Second: act directly to destroy the minions and obstruct us."
The corners of Demiurge's mouth lifted in an arc that carried both admiration and certainty.
"Whichever choice the enemy makes, we gain valuable intelligence. If they choose the first, we have a chance of finding a lead. If they choose the second, we confirm that the enemy has been monitoring our movements all along."
Demiurge's gaze swept across each Guardian in turn.
"Should the enemy actually move to destroy the minions, we can then proceed to analyze their capabilities and identity. This is precisely the tactical thinking of using bait to draw out a fish."
He finished and looked toward Ainz again, his eyes full of admiration.
"Lord Ainz's decision to deploy low-tier minions alongside mercenaries appears on the surface to be a search operation — but embedded within it is the deeper intent of probing the enemy's reaction. I am rather slow, and it was only after repeated reflection that I arrived at this layer."
The Throne Room was quiet for a moment.
Ainz sat on the throne, the dark red light in his eye sockets pulsing faintly.
Probing the enemy's reaction. Using bait to draw out a fish.
Not a thought I had.
"Correct."
Ainz gave a slight nod.
"You've identified that layer as well."
Demiurge lowered his head.
"Lord Ainz overpraises me. And the third purpose."
This time, his voice dropped slightly, taking on a note of gravity.
"This is also the deepest consideration: making the enemy believe that Nazarick is undermanned."
Aura leaned forward involuntarily. Even Mare, who had been keeping his head down throughout, lifted his eyes.
Demiurge looked around the room, confirming that every eye was on him, then spoke:
"The enemy may already know Nazarick's location. By visibly deploying large numbers of forces to search for Shalltear — while in reality recalling the floor Guardians — once the enemy concludes that Nazarick is undefended and moves against it, that is precisely the ideal moment to eliminate them."
His voice was slow, carrying something close to reverence.
"Lord Ainz's wisdom... is beyond measure."
Mare had his head lowered, fingers still twisting at his staff — but even on that delicate face, a quiet look of sudden understanding had surfaced.
Aura turned directly toward Ainz, her heterochromatic eyes wide with undisguised amazement.
"Lord Ainz — you really thought of all that?"
The dark red light in Ainz's eye sockets flickered once.
No.
He said it to himself.
Not even a little. I only sent the low-tier minions because losing them wouldn't hurt. And that got read as three layers of purpose? I never thought any of that...
But Ainz's voice came out with the tone of someone who had everything in hand.
"Demiurge."
"Sir."
"Being able to identify all three layers — that is impressive work."
Demiurge bowed deeply, his forehead nearly reaching his knees.
"The honor is more than I deserve. Lord Ainz's wisdom — I can only look up at it from far below."
Ainz gave a slight nod and looked across each of the assembled Guardians.
"Does anyone have questions?"
No one spoke.
Albedo held her hands folded against her chest, those golden vertical pupils full of a hazy, worshipful light. Cocytus bowed his insectoid head in submission. Aura and Mare glanced at each other and then both shook their heads.
"Good." Ainz rose from the throne.
"Then execute as planned. Demiurge, the specific deployment for the search is your responsibility."
"As you command."
"Albedo, the defenses of Nazarick cannot be allowed to slip. The first through third underground floors, which were Shalltear's area of responsibility, are yours to watch."
"Yes."
"Dismissed."
The Guardians bowed as one and filed out of the Throne Room.
The sound of their footsteps faded. The heavy doors came slowly together behind them, releasing a deep, resonant sound as they closed.
Ainz stood alone before the throne.
In the empty hall, there was only him.
He lowered himself slowly back into the seat and leaned against the cold backrest, the dark red light in his eye sockets flickering unevenly.
Three layers of purpose...
Ainz went back through Demiurge's analysis in silence.
Probing the enemy's reaction... projecting weakness... drawing the enemy into attacking Nazarick... none of that ever crossed my mind.
He raised a hand and looked at it — pale, bloodless finger bones with nothing on them.
And in Demiurge's eyes, that became farsighted tactical genius.
He lowered his hand and settled back.
The red light in his eye sockets dimmed slightly, like some kind of silent sigh.
Well. The outcome is good regardless. If they think I'm some deep-planning strategist, let them. At least they'll never find out that this "Supreme Being" is just an ordinary person who doesn't know what he's doing half the time.
Nazarick stirred with activity. The floor Guardians at every level made thorough preparations for an enemy assault that might be coming. In truth, they were locked in a battle of wits with empty air.