Overlord of biblical proportions: Return of the Biblical God (22)

In the beginning was the word, and the word was,

“Oops!.”

Or, at least, that was the reinterpretation of the Holy Book Momonga was most inclined to believe the most at the moment. Especially when he gazed at the scene unfolding before him.

In Yggdrasil, a Player's race rarely changes, but neither was it the rarest of events. Typically, most Players choose one of the human races, which would not change, level up, or require experience points for their development, and simply remain as such throughout their gameplay. Such races could have a specific impact on future gameplay — some provided a few starting traits for an easier start on a good questline, while others offered a passive bonus of ten percent to mana, steering build development from the start of character creation, and some unlocked unique job classes. 

But usually, such Players stuck with their choice for a long time. 

Changing from a human race to a heteromorphic one, could instantly negate a character build, forcing the Player to undergo a complete de-leveling and then re-leveling on a new, entirely different path. It disrupts gameplay for months — and it certainly changed the Player's standing with all other guilds and NPCs.

It was almost the same as just creating a new character.

On the other hand, Players of non-human races — be they Demi-humans or Heteromorphs, were constantly forced to change their race by developing their racial levels. Momonga himself had changed his own race twice, starting from being a [Skeleton Mage] to being an [Elder Lich] and then finally to an [Overlord], so he generally regarded race-change items as something quite important, yet quite mundane possession. 

In the game, they were nothing more than a part of his collection; mostly useless since he was not planning on changing his race then; it was only now, in the new world, did he find some use for it.

For example, they could be useful as a great reward for his human subordinates, or for preserving important subordinates for the future, given that human lifespans were quite limited, while many races possessed unlimited lifetimes. 

So, for a long while now, he had wanted to conduct an experiment on how race-change items worked in this world.

The problem was that he either never got around to it, or when the chance did arrive, decided he could do without the experiment. His stingy nature constantly lured Momonga away from that choice, after all, now that he was disconnected from Yggdrasil, they are one-in-the-world type of collectibles… Until the choice was made for him.

And now Momonga was staring at a newborn Angel.

Like many heteromorphic races, Angels possessed numerous strengths and weaknesses, and all heteromorphic races had an innate ‘predisposition’ to a certain set of classes. In this case, Angels from the start possessed the [Flight] ability, significant bonuses to all types of [Priestly Magic], accelerated Health and Mana regeneration for their allies near to them, had bonuses against demons and undead, and their racial levels counted as [Magic Caster Classes]. A first-level Angel was simultaneously a first-level mage, despite not having the [Mage] class. Of course, to ‘balance’ such positives, the downside was just as severe. 

First was their vulnerability to curses and death magic, to demons and the undead. Yes, just as much as they could be said to be natural enemies of those using Death magic, to the ‘impure’ races such as Demons and the Undead, they were also similarly vulnerable to them. Plus, their physical stat growth isn't good enough to make them a frontline fighter, more crippling however was the fact that their starting HP stat was just trash. 

There’s also a very strict prohibition on using [Dark Magic], unless they want to follow a special path of class development as a Fallen Angel, later on.

So, Momonga was very grateful for his foresight in turning off all his constantly active [Auras of Despair] a little earlier, and also for masking his presence, or the newborn angel before him would have been killed long before she finished with her transformation.

Miki Hyoudou had become an angel.

Emotion Suppression rose like a wave, as Momonga's panic had overflowed the banks of his mind, threatening to flood him again. Before, concluding that he was managing his self-control quite well on his own, subsided, forcing Momonga to take control of himself.

Miki Hyoudou had become an angel.

After repeating this thought, Momonga even felt a certain bout of amusement.

Indeed, if he didn't want to conduct this experiment himself, then he might even be grateful to Demiurge for doing what Momonga himself could never get around to.

Miki Hyoudou had become an angel…

Momonga slowly exhaled and counted to ten in his mind.

So… What now?

Finally breaking free from the shackles of panic that had bound him, Momonga returned to reality and could at last start paying attention to his surroundings again. Specifically, on Miki.

The Miki before him looked roughly the same as she did before, an appearance that he had grown accustomed to… Perhaps with some slight changes? 

Her skin seemed a bit smoother, and her face had a youthful blush and was full of energy. Indeed, instead of having lived… what, a third of her lifespan? She was now, by Angel standards, quite literally a newborn.

There was no halo above her head, as Momonga might have assumed what an Angel would look like, but the two large white feathered wings spreading behind her back, though not quite as incredibly pristine as Gabriel's wings; marked her as an Angel.

An almost unbidden thought invaded Momonga's mind. 

‘I wonder, will she level up according to the rules of Yggdrasil or this world, gaining new wings, the higher levelled she becomes?’

Then, as if a full reboot of Momonga's systems had completed and his operating system had returned to a working state, he could finally understand the words being spoken to him.  Not that it helped at all in understanding Demiurge, of course.

“…and thus your plan, Lord Momonga, has moved one step closer to its completion. Truly, Lord Momonga, I am unworthy to behold its beauty!” Demiurge, bowed low beside Miki, finished his grand speech, forcing Momonga to exhale.

“My plan, umu. Of course. Why wouldn't this also be part of my plan? If the Sun rises in the East, then it's part of my plan. If it rises in the West, then my plan has moved into its next phase.” 

Momonga softly sighed as he spoke. The fact that he had missed all of Demiurge's remarks and praises didn't even bother him, he wouldn't have understood his own ‘genius’ anyway. Plus, he would surely have plenty of opportunities to marvel at ‘oh, so that little action was important too?!’ more than once. 

So instead, Momonga’s mind churned on to its usual track and immediately focused on the pressing issues.

“What about the Heavens and the Church? What are their reactions to the creation of a new Angel?” Deciding to forget about things he couldn't influence anyway, like his ‘incredible plans’ and ‘indescribable genius’, Momonga latched onto something more immediate in consequences.

“The plan is already in the process of being executed, Lord Momonga. Unfortunately, creatures weak in their will and faith are unable to perceive Your radiance as the pristine light of the Creator, and thus could too easily perceive Miki's appearance as a trap. Information about her must be released into the Church's networks in a controlled manner, and, as was to be expected, Lord Momonga, this too was part of your plan.” Demiurge bowed his head once more, making Momonga sigh, forcing down his instinct to palm his face in frustration. 

Indeed, why wouldn't ‘this’ also be part of his plan?

“Yasaka has already begun the construction of the first factory in the Kanto region — our increased funding is providing a significant accelerant to the construction,” Demiurge excitedly proclaimed, causing Momonga to flinch. 

Funding!? Where would Demiurge have gotten the funds?!

Something dark and dreadful gripped Momonga's soul, centered on his true nature as a miser — had Demiurge raided the treasury of Ainz Ooal Gown?!

No… No, that should be impossible.

He hadn't received any information about that, no reports, that he usually skimmed, passing through his desk, and there was no way that he would miss a report about the usage of the treasures in the Vault. Whereas he had accidentally mentioned a possible experiment about a race change, not that he remembered mentioning Miki being the subject, no such request for the usage of the Treasury was mentioned. Not even once. 

Demiurge wouldn't just use Nazarick's resources at his own discretion…

He wouldn't, would he?! Should he ask!? Is this what embezzlement is like!?

The panicked thought that he needed to urgently conduct an inventory of the Treasury flared up brightly in Momonga's mind, before being extinguished a moment later. Not because of [Emotional Suppression], he was still panicking, but because the situation with Miki’s transformation was more im– Well, no, he couldn’t even think of the Treasury’s state being less important…

She was right in front of him? Yeah, that’s more palatable. He could check on the Treasury later.

Casting another glance at her, Momonga sighed internally, counting to ten, before turning his attention back to Demiurge. The latter, apparently catching something in Momonga's gaze that Momonga himself was sure wasn't there, continued with his report.

“The extraction of financial resources is proceeding in full accordance with Albedo's schedule. According to my prediction, humanity would have faced a crisis within the next five years on its own, but our intervention allows us to direct the crisis in the direction we require without the need for further waiting.” Demiurge bowed once more, making Momonga exhale — apparently, Nazarick's gold was safe after all… Unlike the world’s economy. Though he definitely couldn’t care less about the latter.

“Do you wish to direct the main force of this economic weapon strike toward a specific target, a specific country, perhaps, Lord Momonga?” Demiurge raised his gaze, making Momonga flinch internally. That was the last thing he needed — being given the opportunity to decide which country’s economy would suffer more, and which less!

“Um, no, Demiurge, I trust your judgment completely,” Momonga used a cheap trick to get out of Demiurge's line of fire, then urgently used a trick he was already familiar with. 

“And what about, um… the other plans, Demiurge?”

“Other plans, my Lord?” Demiurge looked at Momonga in confusion, making him freeze internally. Had he just made a fool of himself on such a simple topic?!

However, instead of a silent torture of waiting, Demiurge just shook his head slightly. 

“As for Pandora's Actor's actions, his reports are the only information I can offer in his absence. They indicate he is significantly ahead of the planned schedule, however, please forgive my unworthy ignorance, I do not possess the full information and, I assume, Pandora's Actor himself would love to give his report in person. Would you like me to summon him this instant?”

Thankfully, Demiurge has taken his faux pas in the best way possible… Though, Pandora’s Actor appearing right now was out of the question!

“No, no, your words are more than enough! Pandora’s actor should be more focused with his tasks, I’m sure that he could give his report in the perfect time!” Momonga imagined for a moment Pandora's Actor bursting into Miki's house in his yellow uniform, with a German, and more importantly, loud, salute. He could crisply imagine him falling to his knees with a shout of ‘Vater!’ and shuddered. 

His [Emotion Suppression] was like a balm for his soul, scraping this horror out of his mind. 

However, a thought remained in Momonga's head.

‘So, Pandora's Actor is also busy with something at the moment?’ Momonga furrowed his brow internally. He had, of course, used Pandora’s Actor a couple of times to gather information about the paranormal inhabitants of this world, and had even also used him to provide legitimacy for Momonga’s presence in Kuoh. But, until this moment, Momonga hadn't even suspected that he was working on a new project, he thought that Pandora's Actor was still gathering information about the church, just now under the direction of Demiurge or Albedo.

The thought that Pandora’s Actor was acting independently caused some strange emotions in Momonga. Was he feeling awkward because his ‘son’ was taking an independent action without telling Momonga first, or was it a strange paternal pride that his ‘child’ had grown up so much that he was now capable of making independent decisions?

Of course, it was possible that some random utterance of his could be misconstrued as an order… And there was no way for him to confirm it in any way.

“Very well, Lord Momonga,” Demiurge rose from the ground and bowed his head. 

“As for my personal report, the Khaos Brigade is currently thirty percent under our control, as most of its lower circles have been subjugated by us or through our proxies. Our Old Gods Faction remains within expected parameters, Cocytus has reported that he has subjugated about eighty percent of the forgotten pantheons and will finish his mission within a week. Aura and Mare report that the subjugated gods are acting according to the expected parameters, most of them do not trust us, but act obedient out of fear and hope for their own future. They’re being prepared for the next phase.”

Momonga was naturally aware of the creation of the Faction within the Chaos Brigade, unlike many other plans, he had created this one himself. After all, without his approval, Cocytus and his army would have never left the confines of Nazarick. 

He was quite pleased to create a full-fledged faction that he could use as an additional meat shield to protect Nazarick in the future should the need arise. Not to mention, having a force of his own in this world, whose use would not impact Nazarick's resources, or reveal their existence or any weaknesses was simply prudent. 

However, once again, until Demiurge mentioned it, he hadn’t thought about any ‘second phase’ for the Faction. In his mind, the Old Gods faction of the Khaos Brigade were supposed to remain a reserve force for defense or a way to strike with a force that couldn't be definitively linked to him and Nazarick. 

Instead, it seems that Demiurge had already come up with a purpose for them in this world…

Indeed, how could Momonga's grand plan be as simple as creating an external force under his control!?

Controlling his body’s reaction to the shock, he decided not to even bother to burden his brain with the thought that this, too, was part of some incredible plan, 

Momonga focused on the information that interested him more instead. “What's known about Ophis?”

At these words, Demiurge, who until then had been smiling like a very responsible executive receiving praise, froze. His smile, though it didn't change in its form, somehow began to look a little dimmer.

“Ophis…” For the first time during the entire conversation, Demiurge hesitated, for only half a second, but for someone with Demiurge's genius mind, efficiency, and self-control, this was more expressive of his thoughts than an outright refusal to answer. 

“She is a fool.”

Momonga blinked at these words before staring at Demiurge, awaiting further clarification, and luckily for Momonga, he didn’t even need to ask.

“It is far easier to control a fool who considers himself a genius than one who is actually a fool, Lord Momonga,” Demiurge grimaced as if he was in pain. 

“Ophis represents… childish thoughtlessness. Her plans are not based on any thought of risk and benefits or for the future of the Khaos Brigade, the organization that she was supposed to ‘lead’. Instead, she bases her decisions rather on… carefree childish innocence. She doesn't operate with concepts like 'plan,' 'benefit and risk analyses’ or even something as nebulous as the 'future’ but rather with 'here,' 'want,' and 'unpleasant’.” 

Demiurge spat out the words as if they were something foul. And Momonga had to admit, he somewhat agreed.

“Her plans lack any intellectual component of strategy, instead operating more on concepts so basic that they can be called nothing other than… 'Subjective desires.' In this case, Lord Momonga, for a being such as myself, to control a creature who does not operate within the paradigm of moral constraints or strategic planning through lies or a plan… proves to be difficult.”

Momonga sliced through the verbosity of Demiurge's language, like a conquistador hacking through the vines of a tropical jungle with a huge machete, before getting to the essence of what Demiurge said and formulating it in a language he could understand.

“Ophis is a simple-minded child.”

“But… Isn't controlling her to be the easiest thing in that case?” Momonga voiced his thoughts aloud, before realizing a moment later that he had said something wrong and biting his tongue, but it was too late. He had probably just seriously offended Demiurge by suggesting he was incapable of handling a task as simple as deceiving a child, something literally used as a metaphor for the simplest deception in the world.

However, Demiurge was certainly not offended by his Lord’s words; instead, he raised his gaze to Momonga and a moment later his face seemingly shone, as if someone had polished a gold coin to a mirror finish. 

“Indeed, Lord Momonga, how could I have been so blind? If anyone possesses a mind capable of ruling over both geniuses and fools—it is you, Lord Momonga.”

A moment later, Demiurge bowed his head, but immediately raised it, not giving Momonga time to process what had just happened, and then continued to look at Momonga with the gaze of a devoted student. “What are your instructions, Lord Momonga?”

“Huh?” Momonga could only blink stupidly, then a surge of panic rose in his soul and was subsequently choked by his [Emotion Suppression], leaving only cold calculation that allowed him to think of a proper response.

First he needed to gather what he knew about Ophis. According to Demiurge, she’s a child with divine power, who lacks the ability to form tactics and strategy, who doesn't understand deception, and who gathers allies based on the principle of ‘I like you’. What he needed to do - he needed to find a way to convince her that Nazarick, and Momonga in particular, are the most pleasant, and wisest people in her circle and should be listened to, if not outright obeyed.

Momonga’s brain ground like mismatched gears, then, as if unsure of what he was saying himself, spoke haltingly. “Maybe try giving her… Sweets?”

Demiurge froze as if he was struck, looking at Momonga with an unchanged expression. 

“Sweets, Lord Momonga?”

“Well… Yes…” Feeling foolish for voicing these thoughts, but knowing that it’s too late to stop now, Momonga nodded, as if seeking in the gesture a measure of confidence in his ‘plan’ that he didn't feel himself. 

“The Head Chef can surely prepare some sweets for her, like [Alfheim's Snow-White Cake], or… I think I have some [Golden Chocolate in a Bottle] in my Inventory…”

Momonga reached out his hand to find the item he was looking for in his Inventory. It was quite useless to him anyway, but surely children liked chocolate? That was why he was suggesting the rather nonsensical ‘plan’, if it could be called that. Hearing Demiurge using the word ‘childish’ to describe Ophis again and again, Momonga started thinking of her like he did Mare or Aura.

And well… Children like sweets, right? Momonga was expecting some kind of rebuke for his nonsensical idea from Demiurge.

He really should have known better by now.

Demiurge seemingly folded his spine with how fast and deep his bow of respect was, almost making him want to ask if his friend had based some part of Demiurge’s mannerism on some salarymen of his days. Momonga remembered doing such bows when upper management made a visit to his workplace, and his manager made him and all the other employees under them bow just as straight and deep as what Demiurge is doing right now. 

It made Momonga involuntarily wonder if Miki's floor covering was designed to withstand a collision with the face of a level-100 NPC. 

“Lord Momonga, your wisdom and nobility make your subjects shed tears of happiness and gratitude! Lord Momonga, you are willing to part even with your own treasures for our sake and hers… I swear, if Ophis refuses your gifts — we will bind her hand and foot and force all the desserts down her throat!”

“No-no-no, let's not do that!” Momonga flinched for a moment as he pictured the torture of what was, effectively, a divine child, before his [Emotion Suppression] kicked in, and he cleared his throat with dignity. 

“Ahem, Ophis is necessary for us as our future pawn, so there is no reason to turn her against us. If she doesn't like one of the presented dishes — simply try another flavor. As for my items, they are useless to me anyway, so don't worry so much about their quality or price; they are worth nothing when compared to the betterment of Nazarick.”

Demiurge, rising from his bow with a face that hadn't changed in the slightest during the preceding moments despite speaking of weeping, bowed his head once more. It was as if Demiurge just made the effort to stand straight just so that he could bow down again.

Knowing him? Momonga wouldn’t put it past him.

“Of course, Lord Momonga! Everything will be done as you have foreseen!”

For a moment, the thought that he had ‘foreseen’ anything, never mind the outcome of this entire plan, despite not having known about its problems just a few minutes ago, made Momonga frown. 

Before he realized that he could, in fact, increase the probability of a positive outcome right now. 

“Friends! Children make friends easily!”

A moment later, Demiurge, looking at Momonga, suddenly stretched his smile even wider, so much that it began to resemble something more suited to shoggoths like Solution, before nodding. “Of course, Lord Momonga! For this is precisely why Aura and Mare are in the Chaos Brigade, is it not? My plan is but a reflection of your countless stratagems, Lord Momonga.”

Momonga blinked, before a metaphorical lightbulb lit up above his head — indeed, Aura and Mare! Aura and Mare were also children and needed friends to grow and develop properly. And if Ophis needed friends too, then why not combine business with pleasure? Striking two birds with one stone, as it is said.

Of course, Momonga felt a slight pang of guilt that he was using Aura and Mare's need for friends to further his own plans and agenda. Like a boss that uses their child to wheel and deal, by making them ‘befriend’ another company CEO’s child, to gain usable information in a future hostile takeover. 

But at the same time, he could console himself with the thought that Aura and Mare were themselves level-100 beings, and also Floor Guardians in Nazarick — meaning their social standing was very high from the start. And just as he had observed countless times in his past world, the children of big bosses or genius children usually found friends within similar circles. 

So he could steer his thoughts away from the idea that he was exploiting a child's desire for friends and tell himself that he was simply acting like all other parents would, helping his children find friends within their social circle.

Having calmed his guilt, Momonga nodded to himself, letting out a breath he had unconsciously held all this time, before turning his attention back to Demiurge. 

“Is that all, or is there any other information from your report that you wished to convey to me?”

“That is all for the moment, Lord Momonga. The Pantheons of False Gods remain silent — ossified in their thinking, they are still waiting for a convenient position to react and are thus limiting themselves to gathering information,” Demiurge nodded. 

“As for the Devil Faction… Although Sirzechs Lucifer retains his power, his position was shaken after the attack and his response, as Devil society is only just beginning to recover after the change in the status quo. The prospect of another Great War so soon, just after the last one had concluded, if the Cold War-like state between the Three Factions, or well, Two Factions now, could be called a conclusion, disquiet them. They are quite the war-weary race, it seems. The Old Satan Faction is gathering information, but they will not act until they are completely certain that dissatisfaction with Sirzechs has exceeded a critical level that the Devil government and its people would welcome them…” 

Demiurge then smirked, which looked really evil on his face.

“Or until they secure support from other factions of the Khaos Brigade at the very least. Despite their constant crowing that their bloodline makes them strong, it seems that they’re not foolish enough to think that they are actually stronger than the New Satans.”

“I see,” Momonga nodded, noting this information in his head, before realizing that Demiurge hadn't departed after delivering this information.

‘Hmm? What? Did I miss something?’ Momonga blinked, then quickly replayed the report in his head before realizing that Demiurge's final words were not just a report, but also an unstated question. Indeed, who, if not Nazarick — or even the Old Gods Faction under his control, could serve as that very ‘support’ for the Old Satan Faction. The only problem was that… Momonga, generally speaking, didn't actually need nor want to start a war among the devils.

The denizens of Nazarick looked at the Devils with hatred, as the heirs of the former ‘traitors of Lord Momonga’, as his ‘past NPCs’ who had risen against him, something that was a complete anathema to the inhabitants of Nazarick. That was what the story that he had concocted had made them appear, at the very least.

So, it would be to the NPCs of Nazarick, their extermination seemed like an ideological war, a matter of honor that they were obligated to see through to the end. 

To Momonga himself, who had no connection to the Devils whatsoever, he, quite literally, couldn’t care less. Not to mention, getting involved in a war with a faction in which the presence of at least several level-100 opponents had been confirmed seemed risky to Momonga. And he saw no benefit for it at the moment, unless he tried to drive them into debt by coming to their aid as a savior when the attacking Khaos Brigade made significant progress in this war… 

No, that was too risky of a plan, not to mention that the other inhabitants of Nazarick saw them exclusively as ‘parasites who have lived too long’, and not as ‘potential pawns’.

So, inclining his head, Momonga shook it from side to side, denying Demiurge’s silent question. 

“We should leave the Devils alone for now. At the present moment, they are of no interest to us.”

Demiurge only nodded in response, not even making any expression that he disagreed, making Momonga ponder.

He had, of course, bought himself some more time with this decision, but he likely wouldn't be able to postpone the issue of the Devils indefinitely, even if he tried very hard to do so.

In that case, what was his ideal outcome? Ideally, it would be best if the NPCs of Nazarick were to forgive the Devils and allow them to be integrated as ‘external agents’ of Nazarick. After all, Momonga preferred to increase Nazarick's power, not expend it to destroy other random opponents — but doing so would be extremely difficult. 

Perhaps, only if he could convince Demiurge that the devils deserved his ‘forgiveness’ in some way… But how exactly could he do that?

Thinking for a second, Momonga eventually shifted his gaze back to Demiurge, who reacted by straightening up slightly even in his kneeling posture, prompting Momonga to test the waters with a question. 

“Demiurge… You are a demon, are you not?”

“Yes, Lord Momonga,” Demiurge simply nodded, and Momonga's spirits rose for a second, seeing glimpses of a possible argument forming, but he didn't get to continue his thought. 

“Your mercy knows no bounds, Lord Momonga, for you acknowledged the possibility of my race's existence with your decision and created beings like me as a faithful servant, as a lesson to those Devils who dared to raise a hand against you, Lord Momonga.”

Momonga snapped his mouth shut with a force he hadn't known he possessed and sighed.

And what was he supposed to say now? That Demiurge was mistaken, and he was just the same kind of demon as those who had ‘betrayed’ him in the past? Momonga was not eager to find out in what manner Demiurge would try to atone for his ‘transgressions’ in that case.

Straining his mind, Momonga tried to find a new way around the current situation. He has to admit, it felt less like he was divining a path, and more like he was feeling out his surroundings like a blind man.

“Demiurge, you aren't the only demon in Nazarick, are you?”

“That is correct, Lord Momonga,” Demiurge nodded with a smile, his expression unchanged.

Momonga froze, he had almost expected that another random phrase dropped before the inhabitants of Nazarick would trigger a strange, incomprehensible reaction in their heads and lead to another ‘I understand everything, Lord Momonga, you can rely on me!’. 

He hadn't even considered that not every one of his phrases provoked such a response.

The silence began to stretch, and Momonga could practically see a million gears, too complex for his own perception, turning in Demiurge's head. If Demiurge asked him, ‘What exactly did you mean by that, Lord Momonga?, and he would have to justify what he meant at that moment without simply saying ‘befriend the Devils and win them over to our side’.

Panic and regret suffused Momonga’s mind. Why did he bother with this!? It’s not like he cared about the Devils, so why was he walking towards the sticky mire of trying to find justifications to spare the Devils!?

So, without any other avenue, he chose to use the simplest tactic he had already tried numerous times before that has shown great success — an abrupt change of subject. 

“You've studied the religious scriptures of this world, haven't you, Demiurge?”

“Of course, Lord Momonga…” Demiurge spoke, then froze, making Momonga breathe a great sigh of relief internally. There it was, the reaction he was trying so hard to achieve!

“Are you suggesting, Lord Momonga, that my role is so great?” Demiurge raised his gaze to Momonga, after which his smile changed, becoming simultaneously inspired and as if slightly sorrowful. 

“Indeed, how could I have thought that any of my actions were not part of your plan, Lord Momonga…”

But of course, no plan is perfect; hearing that familiar word and once again realizing that his question was somehow related to his ‘plan’, he could only curse himself for making his own web of deception even more complex. But, this time he used this thought to achieve his own goal, so he definitely saw no opportunity to protest the current situation.

“Indeed, your heart, Lord Momonga, is so great that I wish to live my life merely weeping for your mercy,” Demiurge bowed his head once more, before raising it back, his smile back on his face, the same as it was at the beginning of the conversation. 

“But instead, I ask only to faithfully serve your plan, Lord Momonga.”

“Umu, very well,” Momonga, of course, could only nod, after which Demiurge finally rose from his knees.

“In that case, Lord Momonga, I have nothing more to report to you,” Demiurge nodded. 

“Please forgive me, but I must depart to my subordinates to execute the next step of your plan.”

“Umu, of course,” Momonga nodded as if he knew at all what Demiurge was going to do next. 

Within a second, a [Gate] opened behind Demiurge, and he stepped into it, disappearing from Momonga's sight, leaving Momonga and Miki, whose existence Momonga had even forgotten during the entire conversation, alone.

After Demiurge's disappearance, Momonga could only slump in his chair, feeling as if his bones were turning into rubber with just how much tension left him at once, before his gaze found Miki…

Who, on her knees, allowed tears to stream down her cheeks, her hands crossed before her in a prayerful gesture, gazing at Momonga with a look of absolute worship. 

“Lord Momonga… Your mercy… is boundless…”

“Umu,” Momonga could only answer joylessly, before closing his eyes.

He really wanted to say that this meeting and his words and additions to the ‘plan’ would have no far-reaching consequences.

He really wanted to.

But, as Momonga himself had discovered — after calling himself the one who spread such divine grace among others, it was certainly not afforded to him.