There have been some comments about the Southern King. I kind of deviated from the original content there but I don't think it would be proper to go and change it after everyone has already read it. I don't think it's so much of an issue. The result would be the same whether or not I made it just a noble who rose to power or just a king to begin with. Thanks for reading!

Part 12

The silence was broken with Neia's nervous cough. "Uhm. What shall we do next your majesty?" Her voice was subdued. Though Ainz still could not really tell her facial expressions apart, he felt that she was not in the most hopeful of moods.

"Do not worry. This is all according to plan."

Neia's head rose to meet Ainz's red eyes. "It is?" A glint of light seemed to appear within her eyes.

"Yes. Yes. All according to plan." At the sound of this, Neia let out a sigh of relief. Ainz also let out his own internal sigh. Alright. I've managed to establish to the doppelganger that I know exactly what's going on. Unless… This isn't according to the plan? Ainz took a peek at the silent Caspond. When Caspond saw Ainz turn, he tilted his head in questioning.

"Do you need something?"

"Ah, no. I just wanted to see if, uh, you fully understand the plan."

Caspond nodded emphatically. "Of course. Of course, Sorcerer King. I grasp the every element of your plan. Right down to the specifics."

As Caspond reached the end of his sentence Ainz gave a start. Wait. I should just ask him to verify his knowledge of the plan. He'll explain everything to me. It wouldn't be out of left field either since we're on this topic already.

Ainz cleared his throat with a cough. Neia gave a puzzled glance at the air between Ainz's head and chest. "Just to be sure though, I must ask you to explain your understanding of this plan. We wouldn't want any mistakes right?"

A look of surprise appeared on Caspond's face. "Certainly, I can explain my understanding to you if you wish Sorcerer King. But would it really be wise to talk in depth about this next to both the throne room of our enemy and the guards of our enemy? In fact, I think we should leave the city before discussing such details with or without magic. There may be magic caster who can evade your magical protections. One never knows."

Ainz's stomach dropped at his blunder. "You bring up a valid point Caspond. I'm becoming careless. Then after we leave the city?"

If Caspond was surprised before, he was even more so now. "Am I mistaken? Do I not fully apprehend your plan? We should not have time to discuss such matters."

Shit. "You misunderstand it a little then Caspond. However, it does not really matter in this circumstance."

"Very well. Since there is some misunderstanding shall I follow your instructions?"

Anything but that. "No, no. You may continue at your own discretion. The discrepancies are not major."

At this point, Neia, who had been looking frantically between the two, couldn't help but blurt out. "So we're fine then?"

Ainz and Caspond simultaneously looked at Neia. She shrunk away at the imposing sight of the two kings staring at her.

"Yes we are fine." Ainz eventually spoke, feeling pity for Neia.

Neia squeaked out a "Thank you." as she squirmed under their combined attention.

Once Caspond shrunk away, Caspond indicated the way out. "Now, shall we leave? We have many things to do after all. This plan has just begun."

"Yes. Yes." Yes, this amazing plan. This intellectual plan. It has just begun. Indeed. A plan that I obviously know every facet of… What have I gotten myself into…

They left the palace in silence, guards following silently behind them. When the grand palace doors swung shut, Caspond called their carriage over. Surrounded and driven by paladins, the carriage came over swiftly at Caspond's call. "Alright, paladins dismount and follow me on foot. We'll be staying in the city. The one driving will bring Ainz to the border of the Kingdoms and then return here."

The paladins all gave a salute and dismounted.

Caspond turned and muttered to Ainz. "You will go alone to fight Jaldabaoth as planned correct?"

"Indeed. As according to plan…" I'm going alone now? Uhh…

Neia had been looking with great concern at their exchange. Though she was too far away to hear their lowered voices, when Ainz went to board the carriage and the paladins moved away from it, she connected the dots. "Excuse me your majesty; it cannot be that you are sending the Sorcerer King alone to fight that demon?"

"Hrm? Yes I am."

"I beg of you your majesty. Send me with him. He is our last chance at defeating Jaldabaoth. We should be sending all of our troops to fight with him not none of them."

Caspond was not moved by her. "We are to stay here and wait for news from the Sorcerer King. We will not be of much help in dealing with Jaldabaoth. The powers of both the Sorcerer King and that demon are beyond our reach."

Neia gripped her bow tightly. "But I believe I can make a difference. Look at this bow-"

"No, this is the plan both me and the Sorcerer King agree on. You must stay here."

"But-"

"This is an order. Do as told squire."

Neia lowered her head. "As you wish your majesty." Her frustration welled up as she watched the carriage ride off. When it finally disappeared before the twists and turns of the city, Caspond clapped his hands to gain his paladins' attention.

"Come on then. Let's find somewhere to stay."

Part 13

The only sound in the carriage was the occasional rattling of the wheels as it rode over a pebble or rock on the road. The driver made no conversation and was separated from Ainz by the thin wooden walls of the carriage. Finally alone to think, Ainz let himself put his head in his hands.

Well. It's up to me now I guess. To do this fantastical plan. He sighed and leaned back in his seat. So this carriage will bring me to the border. Then I'll disembark and fight Demiurge. Then what? Should I defeat him? "Kill" him? Lose to him? Just not fight him at all? I mean. I'm going alone so I shouldn't have to actually fight him. But what should I tell Demiurge when I meet him? Obviously we've changed his plan in some way.

These thoughts occupied his thoughts for the entire trip. When the carriage finally dropped him off at the border, he was no further enlightened to what he should do. He shuffled his feet for a few seconds before shrugging and casting 「Fly」. I'll figure it out when I get there.

He didn't cast any kind of communication magic to contact Demiurge. His lack of knowledge about both the plan and this world made him wary of doing so and risking a leak of information. Instead, he coasted along above the land searching for the army of demi-humans. When he found them, they were marching slowly across the land. A mix of a variety of races, the sound of their march was unique to say the least. Before he came closer, he casted an invisibility spell. He did not wish to fight off thousands of meaningless ants in order to find Demiurge.

He flew past the mass of demi-humans as he looked for a doppelganger or one of his subordinates who knew him. Eventually, he saw a speck approaching him from a distance. As it grew larger, he discerned that it was one of the maids of Pleiades, Entoma. She rode upon a flying inspect of some sort. Ainz stopped to let her approach. When she was roughly a few feet from Ainz, she slowed to a stop and bowed. "WeLcoMe yoUR maJesTY. SinCe YoU arE HeRE, I ASsUME tHingS aRe GoiNg aS plaNNed?" The demi-humans below moved in agitation as they heard her grating voice. There was some whispering as they saw her talk to thin air.

"Yes, I've come to see Demiurge."

"VeRY weLL. FoLloW mE yOuR MaJESty." she bowed once again before shooting off in the direction of a forested hill. As they traveled, Ainz made some small talk to break the silence. "I see you still haven't replaced your voice."

"nO yOur mAJestY, I aM sTill WaiTing uNtiL I EXacT my rEVEngE on ThAt ARroGant hUman. DoEs ThIS VoICE diSpLeasE You? If sO I cAN FiND a LiPbuG."

"No. No. It's fine."

When they landed, they were in front of a campsite. Demiurge was standing next to a wooden table, rubbing his chin in thought as he stared at a stack of papers.

"DeMIuRgE. AinZ-sAmA hAs aRRived."

He glanced up and gave a deep bow. "Ah yes. You may go back to your post Entoma." Entoma nodded before departing. Demiurge flourished his hands. "Welcome my lord. Are things well on your end?"

"Yes. Everything is proceeding as planned." At least I hope so…

"Excellent. Excuse me for a moment Ainz-sama." Demiurge shuffled some papers around while muttering, "Now how shall we arrange this…"

Though Ainz was a little surprised that Demiurge had not yet sorted out all the details, Ainz decided the best thing he could do was to wait. He watched as Demiurge picked up and dropped numerous parchments in feverish planning. Finally, Demiurge brushed himself off and once again bowed, "I am very sorry for the delay Ainz-sama. Everything on my end will be arranged. You may return to the Sorcerer Kingdom now."

-Eh? Ainz took a few seconds to register what had been said. I'm leaving? At this stage of the plan? I… Ainz was truly lost. What should I do? I can't just leave like this. The plan has been changed somehow and Demiurge doesn't have a clue about it. I can't just say that the plan has been changed though. He'll ask me how and then what do I say? "I have no clue figure it out?" That might work but it may also ruin both Demiurge's plan and "my" plan. I have to do something though…

"Er… Before I leave Demiurge I must inform you of something."

"What is it Ainz-sama?"

"... During my time in the Northern and Southern Kingdoms I noticed a flaw in your plan." Demiurge's eyes lit up with a fire when he heard this.

"As expected from the Supreme Ruler! Your superior intellect shows itself time and time again. To be quite honest, there have been some complications on my end as well. I am sure that your wisdom will provide a solution."

"Some complications? Hrm…" So that's why he was still shuffling through his papers when I arrived.

Demiurge stood attentively, "What is it Ainz-sama? Please do not keep me waiting."

"Umu. Indeed… Now the flaw is… is… that the plan… is not ambitious enough."

Demiurge pulled out a parchment to take notes while muttering. "Ambitious enough… Of course! How obvious…"

Ainz had to suppress the urge to swallow nervously. "Its goals are too small in scale. It also does not consider the aftermath of the plan. You are not thinking far enough in the future."

Demiurge looked up from his notes with a bitter smile on his face at Ainz's last sentence. "My intellect is truly inferior to yours Ainz-sama. I am deeply sorry that I cannot plan so far ahead. 10,000 years is beyond my capabilities."

"Yes indeed. It is forgivable that you are incapable of doing so." 10,000 year plan? I'm lucky if I even plan a day ahead. "However, in order for you to improve, you must learn by yourself. This is a test. What would I do to change the plan?"

Demiurge adjusted his spectacles and flicked his tail in thought. A few seconds passed before he began talking. "This may be a mere mockery of your plans, but here is what I think. To begin with, I am sure the problems in my plan arise after your death-"

Ainz broke down into a coughing fit. Demiurge looked at him curiously. "Are you ok Ainz-sama?"

"Yes. Yes. I am fine. Continue."

"Very well. After making it seem to the humans that you have died in battle with me, problems start to emerge. The plan to lure the Southern Kingdom in with the prospect of a now weakened demon and the free land they could take from the Northern Kingdom is short-sighted upon further inspection. Though the Southern Kingdom would surely take the bait and allow me to wipe out their army thus subjugating both Kingdoms, doing so as the demon king has its issues. The transfer of land to the Sorcerer Kingdom would be difficult to cover up. Since your ultimate plan involves creating a somewhat friendly image of a ruler, if you took land offered by a demon king who slaughtered and tortured humans, there would certainly be tension between you and certain races. Since this plan also revolves around you dying in battle with me, it wouldn't make much sense for you to be able to defeat me and take my land when you are 'revived'. However, killing you off is essential for encouraging our neighboring kingdoms to attack us. Without this, we would not be able to expand the Sorcerer Kingdom. Furthermore, your death also allows us to spread the word that we have power over life and death by 'reviving' you. This would encourage more adventurers to join the guild within our country as they have less to fear from death. Thus we cannot remove this part of the plan."

That's what he meant by killing me. Umu. As expected, this plan is very in depth. "Very good so far. Many of the faults I have noticed have been listed."

"Thank you Ainz-sama. Then allow me to continue. In order to correct these flaws, a simple fix is possible. Have someone else defeat me. This in itself comes with some issues however. To begin with, this plan relies on having someone loyal to you who does not have unfavorable relations with the living. That way he can give you the Northern and Southern Kingdom or become a vassal of the Sorcerer Kingdom without much murmur from both the people of your kingdom and the people of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Secondly, this person must utilize a subordinate who is quite powerful or be quite powerful himself for this to be believable. Though I am 'weakened' this does mean that people will believe that any random person could defeat me. Thirdly, this person must have to be involved in either the Northern or Southern Kingdom and hold considerable political power otherwise the person taking the land would not be accepted by the nobles or populace. Unfortunately, I cannot think of anyone who fits these criteria. There are no nobility loyal to you in the Southern or Northern Kingdom other than the doppelganger impersonating Caspond. However, Caspond has already lost all of his strongest paladins. His elite guard has died in many different battles throughout the land so that the Southern Kingdom would be inclined to invade due to the lack of Northern power. There is no plausible way any of Caspond's soldiers could reasonably be assumed to defeat me. This is where I am at a loss." Demiurge looked askance at Ainz, waiting for his evaluation.

My plan is apparently so amazing that it can solve all of the above huh? Ainz pretended to be judging Demiurge's explanation as he thought about how to solve all the issues brought up. He's already told me the solution. Find someone else to kill him. But that person has to be loyal to me, have friendly in relations to the living, and be very powerful politically and in combat… Like Demiurge said, only Caspond fulfills the first two but not the last condition as he has nothing but a few paladins and… and… " Ainz's eyes glowed brightly as he came to a realization. Neia! That's what the unknown is! Demiurge doesn't know she exists since the doppelganger's last contact with Demiurge was before Neia's reveal. She solves all of these issues! With the first glimmers of confidence he had experienced in days, Ainz announced with an assertive voice, "That was a very excellent explanation. You have done well Demiurge. I will take it from here. "

"I greatly anticipate your explanation."

Ainz cleared his throat out of habit before he began. "To start off with, during the battle around that city, I came up with the idea of using a Northern Kingdom soldier to defeat you. I had noticed all of the issues you have stated and this was my solution. However, as many powerful Northern paladins were dying, I realized that there would soon be none left. The strongest paladins of the Northern Kingdom had to be killed off in order for the Southern Kingdom to invade so I knew I could not keep them alive. This brought me into a dilemma. How would I be able to let the Northern Kingdom have a strong enough soldier to reasonably defeat you while also not dissuading the Southern Kingdom from attacking? This is where Neia comes in."

"Neia?"

"Yes she is a human I have managed to sway to my side last second."

Demiurge responded with admiration in his voice. "I knew there was something wrong when I heard you had not swayed a single human to your side. How wonderful. Your charisma shows itself day and day again."

"Yes, Yes. Now to continue. Neia is a relatively unknown squire I encountered. The Southern Kingdom has no knowledge of her. This is why I gave a powerful bow to her. By doing so, I greatly enhanced the power of a largely unknown Northern soldier thus allowing a powerful Northern soldier to be present while not dissuading the South from invasion. I sent both Caspond and Neia to the Southern Kingdom's capital in order to prove Neia's strength. As to how this will be done, hopefully Demiurge just assumes. I'm still at a loss at this part. This proof will be created after the Southern Kingdom has sent their troops to invade the Northern Kingdom though. Since we have Caspond in our hands, this enables us to use Neia's proven power to defeat you after you obliterate the Southern forces. This defeat would be largely reasonable, and Caspond can then claim the land as Neia defeated the demon. The weakened South will be able to do very little to stop this. The end result is that the doppelganger acquires both the Southern and Northern Kingdoms. Then, the doppelganger can form a vassal state with the Sorcerer Kingdom, thus adding more land to the kingdom."

Demiurge thrust his hands to either side of him. He looked at Ainz and practically exuded admiration. "Amazing. Your intellect exceeds my predictions every day Ainz-sama. To think that you could improve such a plan to so far an extent. You are truly one of the Ancient Ones." Suddenly, Demiurge fell into a brooding expression. "With this rift in intellect… Am I useless to you?"

Ainz hurriedly corrected him "No. Not at all. Demiurge you are more useful to me than you could ever imagine."

Ainz-sama. Your words bring me much joy. But please do not tell me lies. This stark difference in intelligence… It is too much. I am but a mere gnat to you."

"Gnat or not, you are important to me Demiurge. Do not think so negatively of yourself."

Demiurge bowed deeply. "Your kind words are more than I could ever ask for. I will carry out this magnificent plan with utmost care."

"Then I will leave it to you." Ainz recasted 「Fly」 on himself before darting off into the sky. Once far enough away, he felt a wave of relief wash over him. I did it. Another plan completed. When will this luck end?

When Ainz's figure disappeared in the distance, Demiurge broke down into marvelous shivers of bliss. "How wonderful. How absolutely wonderful. Ainz-sama. What will you do next? My heart quivers at the very thought."