Are you REALLY sure you're a human?

Chapter 16:Takoyaki brings the family closer

From his kneeling position Cocytus looked up at Ainz sitting on his throne. On Ainz's left stood Albedo, massaging her temple at the ridiculous situation.

Albedo's exasperation came from the fact that on Ainz's right Kumagawa was sat on Shalltear. The problem here is that the vampire looked a little bit too happy with her situation.

Albedo:Why have we gone through all this for this pervert...

Kumagawa:[Did you hear that, Shalltear-chan? You were called an pervert by an succubus. That is an achievment in itself!]

Shalltear:W...Well...That is just...The way I was created...

Shalltear spoke with ragged breath her answer. However, by the blush on her face an look in her eyes, it wasn't because of embarassment or exhaustation.

Ainz:...Anyway. You seem to have something on your mind, Cocytus. Speak up.

Ainz decided to cut right to the chase. If he let those three banter, they'll be here all day.

Cocytus:Ainz-sama, if I may make an request...I wish to spare the lizardmen. Please grant them mercy.

Albedo:...Cocytus, do you realize what you're saying?

Albedo stopped giving pointed looks to Shalltear, choosing instead to give a dark look to Cocytus. This was an much more serious transgressio than Shalltear's perversio in the throne room.

Albedo:To object to the punishment Ainz-sama decided on...Are you afraid of those lizardmen?

Everyone else watched the exchange in silence. The only spund in the room was the munching of Kumagawa who was enjoying a plate of takoyaki while watching this go on.

Albedo:Say some...

However, hee shout was cut off by a steaming takoyaki ball thrown into her mouth. Albedo made an idignated sound, glaring at the grinning culprit.

Kumagawa:[Now, now. We're in a meeting, you know? You should try being more level headed, Albedo-chan. And besides...This isn't really your conversation.]

At his words Albedo's eyes widened, shifting her gaze to Ainz who's glowing sockets were set in a serious look. She gulpes, her mind focusing in a moment on the taste of takoyaki to calm her nerves.

Albedo:M...My apologies, Ainz-sama!

Ainz:Humu. Cocytus, I expect you to have a good reason for saying that. A reason that would benefit the Great Tomb of Nazarick.

Cocytus:Yes! They have great potential and great warriors would emerge from their ranks. I believe that rather than slaughtering them, we should make them loyal to Nazarick.

Ainz:...That's certainly a nice idea. I tried making undead out of lizardmen, but they turned out to be no different from human. However, undead are guaranteed to remain loyal and require no food of water. What do lizardmen require that makes them worth the cost? Well, Cocytus? Is there anything.

Well, there's no way Cocytus can say it's because he admires their warrior spirit and think it justifies the risk. So he choose to stay silent.

Kumagawa:[Well, they have sime uses.]

All eyes shifted to Kumagawa. Despite the minus having been more interesed in his food than the slaughter of entire tribes, he suddenly inserted himself in the discussion.

Ainz:Can you elaborate, Kumagawa-dono?

Kumagawa:[Well, first off would be the firepower. Although maybe they're not much different as zombies, lizardmen seem to be several times stronger than humans as well as having some high aptitude of magic from what we saw of the Priest and that white one. Well, by this world's standards, that is. Of course, they wouldn't be anything special, but they'd still make good foot soldiers. There's also the fact that it'd be good experience for the goal Nazarick set up for. Fear's good and all, but it's not always going to be enough.]

Demiurge:You took the words out of my mouth, Kumagawa-sama!

Ainz:...Demiurge?

Demiurge:...Ah, please excuse me for shouting all of a sudden, Ainz-sama. Please excuse me for talking over you as well, Kumagawa-sama.

As a devil, Demiurge respected two things most of all. Strenght and intelligence.

And from the day he ended up in Nazarick, Kumagawa had shown he possesed an ambundance of both. So it only makes sense for Demiurge to refer to Kumagawa with such an honorific.

Kumagawa:[Don't mind!]

Ainz:Please continue, Demiurg.

Demiurge:Yes. As you're aware, Ainz-sama, there is a need of experimentation. Why not use the lizardmen for that? We can use the tribes to test a form of governing over an area without the use of fear. It seems Kumagawa-sama had already seen the merit to that.

Ainz:...A brilliant idea, Demiurge. We shall go with this plan instead of killing the lizardmen. We will occupy their territory. Are there any objections?

All other Floor Guardians remained silent. Seeing an unanimous agreement, Ainz nodded.

Ainz:...It seems that no one objects. Yes, a brilliant idea indeed.

Demiurge:Ainz-sama...You must have already thought of that plan and waited for Cocytus to say something. Kumagawa-sama even pushed for it.

Actually, Ainz hasn't even considered that. But it seems that Kumagawa's narrative accidentally made it look like he did.

Kumagawa:[Haha, Ainz-chan actually had a much more pure heated reason!]

Ainz stared at Kumagawa, which only made the minus grin wider. This little brat, he knows exactly what he's doing!

Ainz:Yes. Truth to be told, I only wanted for Cocytus to think for himself and speak his mind. Guardians, if there is something wrong with a plan you have to point it out. Or the one who came up with the plan.

The Guardians let out a choorus of agreements, showing that they understood. After that, Ainz adressed Cocytus once again.

Ainz:Because we will now rule over lizardmen rather than kill them, you'll punishment will have to change. Cocytus, your punishment is this...You will rule over the lizardmen and make them loyal to us. However, you're not allowed to use fear to control them, because we will use this as an example.

Cocytus:Understood. I, Cocytus, shall fulfill these orders.

Ainz:Now, as for how we will proceed.

The current planning didn't need Albedo's imput right no. Seeing that, she decided to walk over to Kumagawa.

Albedo:Can I have more?

Albedo pointed at the plate of takoyaki in Kumagawa's hands. Although it was just to shut her up, that takoyaki ball did spark he curiosity.

Kumagawa:[Sure. Take a seat.]

Kumagawa moved a bit to the right, patting Shalltear's butt, making the vampire let out a moan. By this point Albedo's only reaction was a roll of her eyes, after which she sat down on Shalltear's back.

Albedo:These treats are quite delicious...They're made of meat, right? What kind?

Kumagawa:[Octopus.]

Albedo:Fascinanting...