Chapter 62: Recruiting Lucian
Seeing that all the Guardians had accepted Lord Ainz's reasoning, Demiurge continued.
"Lord Ainz deployed low-tier minions in a systematic search to test whether the enemy would interfere with Nazarick's operations."
He turned and bowed deeply toward the throne.
"And the result is already clear."
Demiurge straightened.
"The enemy neither attacked the minions nor launched an assault against Nazarick."
His voice carried quiet certainty.
Albedo tilted her head slightly. Something like understanding moved through those golden vertical pupils.
"I see."
She said it softly, almost to herself, but her gaze was fixed adoringly on Ainz's skeletal face.
"So Lord Ainz was testing the enemy's limits from the very beginning."
Ainz heard every word. His jaw dropped open.
No. Not even slightly.
But with the forced calm, he recovered quickly.
He gave a slight nod, as though affirming Demiurge's judgment.
"Continue." His voice from the throne was level, giving nothing away.
Demiurge lowered his head.
"As you command."
He straightened and addressed the assembled Guardians.
"Based on the foregoing analysis, we can reach an initial conclusion."
Demiurge's voice was slow and deliberate.
"Shalltear's loss of control was indeed connected to that dragon. However, the enemy's strength is not sufficient to directly defeat Nazarick."
He adjusted his glasses. The gaze behind them sharpened.
"That said..." A voice came from the back of the room, nearly disappearing in the Throne Room's emptiness.
Mare had his head down, fingers working at his staff. He barely looked up as he spoke.
"Could it possibly be... that the fragment was placed there deliberately? To misdirect us?"
Demiurge turned toward him, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
"That's not possible."
His answer was crisp and unhesitating.
"This encounter came about through the convergence of multiple coincidences. No one could have prepared in advance — let alone anticipated Shalltear's precise movements and planted something to mislead us."
Demiurge paused, as though confirming the soundness of his own logic.
"Shalltear's search route. The exact timing of her encounter with the adventurers. The direction she pursued after entering blood frenzy. These variables layered together form an extremely complex and unpredictable system. No one could have placed a dragon scale fragment in that area ahead of time."
His voice was measured, each word as though placed with care.
The Guardians nodded in agreement.
Even Demiurge's strategy and intellect — formidable as they were — could not account for Lucian, who had seen the whole story from outside it. In the end, he had been led perfectly astray by the frame job.
The atmosphere in the Throne Room eased somewhat.
The taut nerves wound tight since Shalltear's betrayal gradually relaxed under Demiurge's analysis, like cloth that had been passed under a smoothing iron — still with wrinkles, but no longer something that made everyone unable to sit still.
Ainz sat on the throne and looked across the assembled Guardians.
After a moment of silence, he spoke.
"Next."
His voice was steady and clear.
"Regarding Sebas's [Message]."
He spoke at a measured pace, as though arranging his words, or giving the Guardians time to absorb what was coming.
"Sebas has proposed incorporating a noble of the Re-Estize Kingdom — Lucian Alvein Dale Aindra — as a member of Nazarick."
The Throne Room fell instantly quiet.
This silence was different from the earlier heaviness. It was the sudden, faintly incredulous quiet of something no one had anticipated.
The first to break it was Albedo.
"A human?"
Albedo's voice was not raised, but the word came out carrying a natural, undisguised contempt.
Those golden vertical pupils narrowed slightly, as though verifying something absurd.
"Sebas is proposing to incorporate a human?"
"That is correct."
Ainz's voice was level, without personal stake in either direction.
"Sebas laid out his reasons in detail in the [Message]."
His gaze rested somewhere in the empty air, as though recalling the words.
"First: Lucian Aindra has extensive connections and an intelligence network in the royal capital. Sebas believes that through him, gathering intelligence on the Kingdom and the surrounding nations can be done considerably more efficiently."
Albedo's brow shifted slightly, but she didn't interrupt.
"Second: this individual's personal strength is considerable." Ainz continued. "Per Sebas's assessment, he ranks at the top of the Kingdom's warriors — comparable to Warrior Captain Gazef Stronoff."
Cocytus's head turned slightly. A breath of cold air escaped him.
"The best among humans?" His voice was deep, carrying a note of measured appraisal. "Worth fighting."
"Third."
Something subtle entered Ainz's voice.
"Sebas judges this person to be someone who helps those who are weaker — and worthy of trust."
Albedo's brow pressed tighter.
"Helps those who are weaker?"
She repeated the phrase. The contempt in her voice was denser than before.
"Has Sebas been influenced by humans?"
Something close to displeasure had entered her voice, as though she were holding something stronger in check.
Ainz raised a hand and stopped her.
"Sebas addressed this in the [Message] as well."
Ainz's voice was even. "He argued that precisely because a person like this exists, he is worth Nazarick's consideration. Simply overpowering someone yields a slave. Getting a person of genuine value to serve Nazarick willingly yields considerably more."
Albedo seemed to want to say something further, but in the end she didn't.
"Lord Ainz."
Demiurge's voice broke the silence.
"I believe Sebas's proposal merits consideration."
Ainz looked toward him.
Demiurge stepped forward, right hand to his chest, and gave a slight incline.
"If this human is truly as Sebas describes — extensive connections and an intelligence network in the capital — then his value cannot be dismissed."
He straightened and adjusted his glasses.
"From another angle: incorporating a Kingdom noble as an outer member is itself a means of intelligence penetration. We can use him to track developments among the Kingdom's upper strata."
Demiurge's tone was calm and analytical, the tone of someone placing a considered move on a board.
"The condition, of course, is that this human is genuinely trustworthy."
He paused. The gaze behind his lenses sharpened.
"My recommendation: continue to observe him. Have Sebas conduct a more thorough evaluation to confirm his loyalty and reliability, and then decide whether to bring him in formally."
Ainz gave a slight nod.
"Then that's how we'll proceed."
His gaze moved across each Guardian in turn.
"Does anyone object?"
No one spoke.