CHAPTER FIFTEEN: The road to respect
"I see..." Demiurge watched as Master Peroroncino left in yet another emotional outburst. It even seemed to cause Lord Momomga some discomfort... Demiurge made a mental checklist of things he'd have to push back. With a sigh, he shook his head with a smile. Nothing that couldn't be caught up on... he could remain on his Lords plan. Just then Shalltear burst back into the throne room.
"What in the 8th floor is going on? Why is Lord Peroroncino acting like this over some lizards? I thought I understood my Lords humor, but this latest joke of his seems..." Demiurge put his hand on Shalltears shoulder to calm her. She looked at him curiously.
"Don't overthink things Shalltear, Master Peroroncino can't see into the future with plans that affect the past... that talent is reserved only for 'him' I'm afraid... a frustration I myself have to endure... while I may be able to get but a small glimpse of our Lords wishes and goal... Lord Peroroncino it would seem is behind me in even that regard.
"Are you calling Lord Peroroncino stupid?" Shalltear asked with a frown
"I am saying Master Peroroncino is as smart as you are Shalltear." She blushed and hid her face.
"Demiurge! That's too kind!..." she was holding her face like a bashful maiden. Demiurge chuckled and patted her back.
"Do not worry... Master Peroroncino will return, I suspect he just needs a glimpse at the bigger things at play... it seems I may have to become the teacher in this regard... how absurd!" Demiurge said doing some quick mental calculations.
"I shall be leaving Nazarick Shalltear. If our Lord calls for me, tell him I will be... educating out Master Peroroncino to his greater plan." Shalltear just blinked in confusion...
"There's a plan?"
High above Nazarick Jin flew in the clouds. It was a good way to clear one's head. he looked down at the land below him... nothing but colors and shapes from this high up. There was only the sound of wind up here... it was so peaceful he thought.
"Sorry to intrude Master Peroroncino..." A startling voice came from behind jin. There was a frog-like creature with wings wearing an orange pinstriped suit.
"Oh, Demiurge... what are you doing here?" he asked. Demiurge let out a sigh.
"It seems Master Peroroncino, that I held you to the same standard of our lord Momonga and that is most likely to account for this current state." Jin laughed, did Demiurge just call me stupid? he wondered.
"I don't think I get to blame everything on you Demi... this is something that was bound to happen, Su... Momonga lost his humanity and I have not..." jin said looking down at the ground again.
"You are wrong Master Peroroncino" Peroroncino looked at demiurge in surprise.
"What Lord Momonga does... he does FOR humanity and the world at large... please think, when you spent time in that village... what was the "common person" most worried about?" Demiurge asked. Peroroncino thought for a second.
"Well... how well the harvest would go because their Lords would tax up to 80% of their crops... and the concern of the annual war with the empire, that would further stress the first concern..." Demiurge nodded, that was correct.
"Exactly Master Peroroncino... the little man has his life held down by the man on top, who in turns serves a bigger thumb... you understand this analogy yes?" Demiurge asked with some concern. Peroroncino chuckled.
"Yeah... The rich get rich while the poor remain poor... the same as it was in the world we came from... what's the point Demiurge?" Demiurge opened his hands in a friendly manner as he changed flight directions and motioned Peroroncino to follow.
"Where are we going?" Peroroncino asked realizing demi was flying very fast wherever he was going.
"There is a place of incredible interest to Our Lord and myself... but it will take some time to get there so please allow me to elaborate on my earlier point." Peroroncino nodded to do so. Demiurge was already flying very fast... wherever they were going must be far.
"Consider Nazarick's location matter Peroroncino... situated between the three of the strongest human nations... nations that by no means rule this world, yet still fight each other... The Re-Estize Kingdom is harassed by the Baharuth Empire, this is a slow death for the Kingdom that their own incompetence has lead to... this slow death will be felt first and hardest by this "common man" Lord Momoinga and yourself care so much for... keep that in mind going forward please." Jin felt like he was talking to a teacher, but one who had his best education in mind, not just getting good grades that would make the teacher look better for his boss.
"So... what kind of ruler do you think Lord Momonga would be if he were to be the controlling factor that taxed the average man?" the thought hit Jin very hard...
"He'd probably barely tax them at all... like 20% max I bet..." Jin thought, knowing Suzuki's opinion on taxes.
"Correct, so you can see where I am going with this?" Demiurge nodded as did Jin.
"But this is just the nations of man...you and Momonga were going on about "the world" right? Thats why the Demihumans?" They were flying in a straight line at an amazing rate... they were going much further away from Nazarick than Jin had ever been.
they flew in relative silence for many hours, almost an entire day of near supersonic speed. talking at this speed would be physically impossible. it was weird because, after these many hours fo flight, Demiurge just then answered Jin's earlier question.
"That's right, but there is another one... a place called The Holy Kingdom, this is a place I recently learned about from that Nigun fellow... and it's potential caught my eye... behold." Demiurges said pointing to the huge jungle that could only be seen for both ways as far as the could look, with the exception of a huge wall that cut off on end from the other.
"What's that huge wall?" Jin asked. It cut an imposing figure between the two sections of the forest, humans seemed to be manning it at serval forts along the way that were built up behind it. Whatever that was on the other side of that wall, these people feared immensely.
"That is the wall that humans of this nation cower behind... on the other side are many more Demihumans... they have pushed this nation to the point of total defense, and that one wall is all that stands behind the two... the Demihumans eat humans and are three times more powerful than your average human... what would happen to the common man once that wall eventually falls and the hungry tide of Demihumans is left to run rampant... which nation of man would come to their aid?" Jin thought about that and saw even saw some Demihumans that Demiurge spoke of.
"Think of this when you remember how you think of the "peaceful" Lizardmen... the Lizardmen live in an area close to humans, that outnumber them greatly... should the opposite be true, and the Lizardmen outnumbered the humans on an impressive scale... this is what happens... and yet even then our Lord chose to rule them. and not eradicate them, knowing what they would be like if unchecked... you call him unfeeling... I call him the most merciful being this world will ever know, even more than you wich i would never solve a single problem, but would save the ones standing right before you, at the expense of everything else... my Master Peroroncino, i say this not to insult you, just so you may understand why it is what our Lord does." Jin was feeling like an idiot... Demiurge had put everything in a way even he could comprehend.
"Also, understand we don't have time to go to the Draconic nation, another place Nigun enlightened us to... they are facing the exact same crisis but much worse... Demihumans are in their cities and feasting on humans at will at this very moment we talk... and no nation of man truly helps, they use this to "sell" their services to the Draconic Nation instead of truly lending poweful aid... yet another nation of man on the brink of doom. Jin had no idea things were this bad outside of their area... had Suzuki really been working all along with these concepts in mind?
"So I imagine when you heard "world domination" you pictured... the typical power-hungry reasons, yes? But what you failed to see... and what is the biggest wedge between you two... is that Lord Momonga wishes to rule this land, not from greed... but compassion! With our sizable numbers and sheer military force, we could easily begin a campaign of conquering nation after nation... they are already ripe for the plucking thanks to infighting and outside threats... yet our Lord does not do this either... even as it would be in their own best interest... why is that you think?" Jin shook his head... he honestly didn't know.
"It's because Lord Momonga is undead... he understands that people will hate him no matter what his goals are, they will always assume the worst..." Demiurge gave Peroroncino a glance at this part. he was Momongas best friend, and even he had been judgmental over his undead body... yeah... he was an idiot. What hope did the people of this nation have then?
"... so he is taking a roundabout way... it is why he made the adventure Momon... it was his larger plan at work, while I assumed you thought it was simply to gather information and maybe have a bit of fun? Yes?" He'd nailed it... thats exactly what jin thought it was...
"He wants the nation of man to trust him... because his rule will not be limited to years... our Lord is eternal and undying... so he must have every last nation... for the most part... willingly want the benefit only he can offer... it's another reason our Lord searches day and night for a way to prolong your own mortal existence... he wishes you by his side the whole time." Jin said nothing at this... just listened to the beating of his wings... he'd learned a lot in this one exposition dump.
"So... I should go back to Nazarick and follow his orders like everyone else then?" There was honest ignorance in his voice, not sarcasm. But Demiurge shook his head.
"No, I think a man of your particular... vices has too much to distract him in Nazarick... instead I have a request, or better yet... a challenge!" Demiurge said looking down at the Holy Kingdom.
"Oh? What is then?" Jin asked. Demiurge smiled and pointed to the Demihuman side of the wall.
"I've decided to try a different approach with The Holy kingdom to account for your particular nature. My first plan to have The Holy Nation ask out Lord for help involved some... intersting tactic... tactic I'm guessing you would not like... then there is the fact that you are a natural Demihuman..." Jin still had no idea what Demiurge was asking of him.
"Things in Nazarick are not simply given My Master, they are taken. You want the respect of Nazarick? Earn it..." Demiurge said pointing at the jungle.
"Go down there and showcase your overwhelming power... make the scattered and ruthless Demihumans follow you as their chief... unite them under one goal... the goal of killing every last human in The Holy Nation," Demiurge asked. Jin's immediate reaction was to scoff at that idea, but he added in what Demiurge had just told him...
"...so that Suzuki can be, "asked," to stop me... and we put on some grand display where he kills me? Then he would be...a hero and not a conqueror in thier eyes?"
"Indeed... and other nations in trouble may even ask to be "saved at cost" once they see our Lord is willing to aid people in need... changing his reputation to the bestter all the meantime."
"Save the world... by any means necessary... thats what you are saying... damn!" It was so easy to see now... why didn't he give his best friend the benefit of the doubt like he should have?
"And this is a nation of paladins Master Peroroncino... you will really need to make them ask for help... you must be willing to break some eggs to make the better meal... I think this is where you will to learn to grow Master Peroroncino, and I think by taking this nation to heel you will do just that... so, do you accept my challenge?" Demiurge asked.
"The greater good, eh?" Jin never liked the idea of hard work... and he'd just been asked to do something almost impossible form his view.
"Yeah... let Momonga know I'll be heading this aspect of this plan of his..." Jin said shaking his head... why couldn't it be a nation of man-eating women? Furries never were his thing... probably a good thing.
If you had this huge plan Suzuki why not simply tell me it? Jin laughed thinking to himself... but he could take a few guesses as to why. Demiurge handed Jin a strange blue mask that would accommodate his beak, but it seemed to be smiling wickedly.
"I suggest you wear this... you may want to keep your true identity hidden." Jin took the mask and looked at it.
"Alright... so after I gain the Demihumans and attack The Holy Kingdom... I just wait for his plan to unfold?" Demiurge smiled.
"It seems you are beginning to understand at last." Jin thought about the lives that would be lost... but they would be lost eventually anyway... and then so many more. His bleeding heart was not going to save them, he would need to trust this plan his friend has laid out.
"However this aspect of his plan may be a little early, as we still need to raise the fame of the Adventure team Ainz Ooal Gown... to that end... how would you feel about dueling Lord Momonga in front of the people of Re-Estize Kingdom?" Demiurge asked pointing to the mask Jin held.
"More of his plan... so I get to play the "bad guy" huh?... sounds like this could be fun... um... I mean beneficial to Nazarick" but Demiurge smiled.
"I learned long ago how to remain efficient and still squeeze some fun out of life... I suggest you use this attack on the Kingdom to learn how to do just that." The demon said smiling at how this freed him up to go ahead with other plans as he now no longer needed to be Jaldabaoth, an alter ego he was going to be. This would jump his Lords time table up quite a bit once Peroroncino attacked the Holy Kingdom Demiurge thought.
"Alright, so I attack Re-Extize, and Momonga drives me off... what about Ji Joe? We have to account for him..." Demiurge smiled.
"When you first attack The Kingdom, Ji Joe will publically and heroically perish by your hand as he stalls your attack long enough for Momonga to save the day." Demiurge said laughing.
"Pandora's Actor?" He'll be Ji Joe?" Demiurge nodded. Made sense all he would have to do it turn to Peroroncino then use polymorph on himself... he'd look just like him... wow Suzuki really thought up all of this? He had underestimated him by far...
Back at Nazarick a very unhappy Shalltear was taking her frustration out on her new toy Clementine. Shalltear was sitting back on a comfy chair, her dress was pulled above her hips as she sat with her legs spread open. Clementine knelt between those legs desperately trying to pleasure her mistress. Shalltears arms were propped up in a thinking stance, her elbow rest, not gently, onto of Clementine's head, she had so much to think about.
She would subject Clementine to the harshest treatment that she had time for, but as Lord Momonga had something he wanted to announce to everyone... she cut her time short to clean up for the event.