Demiurge stood before me, keeping that polite smile on his face. He adjusted his necktie, then gave the hourly report.
"Ainz-sama, based on the urgent report, a new dimension was discovered by Solution Epsilon and Lupusregina Beta. They're currently initiating the preliminary surveying."
I rubbed my chin in surprise. "Seriously? They found a new one? This raises more questions than answers. This place, it's like a dungeon and we're at the lowest level."
"Yes, that's one way to see it. Also, the new dimension is quite a distance away, and they chanced upon it by following the faded tracks. We expect a group of at least three entities to be cooperating." Demiurge explained.
Demiurge slapped the paper report with the back of his fingers. "Though other tracks or signs of activities exist, these three seem to be the most prolific."
"Judging by our investigations and careful assumptions. We expect that there are at least six- seven entities that have scoured the [ Room of Pools ] but they're most likely no longer present in the area or dimension. The forward scouts will remain vigilant and hand out the terms of subjection if they're to be spotted."
The name is fitting, I saw the written and drawn reports.
It really was a room full of pools. I do not need to visit it right now. I have much more pressing matters to tend to, especially the two anomalous humanoid creatures spotted extremely far away.
Not only that, but Demiurge also thinks we're being spied on. We've done several misinformation campaigns and casted multiple anti-surveillance spells.
The Eight Edge Assassins, ninja insects, are put on high alert and are sent to scout ahead to verify the espionage possibility.
"Thank you, Demiurge," I muttered.
"Now then, as for the two anomalies. We're doing everything we can to circumvent the effects of the harmful energies emitted by that cosmic-like being hanging around the bald naked specimen." Demiurge added.
"I've read Pandora's Actor's report. Based on the exchanged words between the two anomalies. These two problems will solve themselves. Hopefully." I muttered as Demiurge seemed to flinch, like another epiphany shot through his head.
Around two days ago. We've noticed a massive surge in harmful radiating energy. Demiurge said that the effects were similar to the side effects of a [ Nuclear Blast ] spell.
A ninth tier spell or debuff was constantly activated, putting us on high alert.
The Pleiades and some other low level summons were the only ones heavily affected by it. We immediately gave them the necessary equipment and buffs to resist it, but the environment was changing.
Most of the low-level summons immediately died; we had to resort to higher-tiered undead summons, but the cost was staggering. We're constantly casting protective warding and elemental spells on lower-level summons, just for them to function in the [ Room of Yellows ] properly.
The walls were also starting to tear, and the provisions that we brought were destroyed. We changed our entire logistics to mitigate the damage caused by the debuffs.
The rest of us, the guardians, and undead summons were mostly fine. We were able to resist the debuffs.
We immediately sent a scouting party to pinpoint the source and, if possible, stop it.
After a few hours of long-distance travel. The source was found.
It was a humanoid theorized to be powerful enough to rival or surpass a floor guardian's strength. I immediately ordered all the guardians to be on high alert and in their battle armors. I also ratified the use of the [ World Items ] in this plane of existence.
All I wanted was to study this place and see how it could benefit Nazarick, but now my plans have morphed into a permanent occupation zone that will then soon turn into a colony.
Also, it's filled with unseen dangers. Did I forget to mention that Nazarick almost destroyed the New World and are now full of survivors that despises us?
We're essentially fighting on two fronts here.
Demiurge praised me earlier for not using humans to scout the place. He said that humans were perfect for exploring this place because summons are costly.
I rejected it because Nazarick brutalized the new world when I was absent, and the humans might be apprehensive of serving us, regardless of the benefits. I just wanted the humans to rest and mentally recover.
A simple, forgiving policy turned into a stroke of my genius instead. Demiurge told me how my strategic wisdom is too wide for him to grasp. If his original human scouting plan had been implemented, the humans would have perished and another crisis would have followed.
What is with these expectations, why does he always twist my words?
"Maintain the distance and the hourly reports. I need to go back to Nazarick." I said, in a hushed tone, "I feel like a headache is coming. All I wanted was to explore."
...
...
...
Some time later...
Cocytus, Shalltear, Aura, Mare, the Evil Lords, and the rest of the higher-tiered summons then hurriedly congregated in front of me, kneeling in absolute respect.
I was sitting in a makeshift throne that I personally made from the boxes scattered all over the area, since I rejected the throne made by Demiurge.
A throne made out of skeletons, but this time, they're coated in gold.
"Ainz-sama. As you've ordered. We've maintained a proper holding position in the [Pool of Rooms]. We're set to expand soon, and we've found more points of interest."
"I see, double your efforts."
"Ainz-sama. The. Two. Anomalies. Are. Constantly. Arguing. What. Is. Your. Decision?" Cocytus said, blowing a breeze of cold air. He was either to delay or meet the two anomalies head-on if they decided to be hostile.
Demiurge opened his arms. "That won't be necessary, Cocytus. As always, Ainz-sama has shown his brilliant prowess. The situation was handled the moment those two problems appeared."
What...?
"Isn't that right? Ainz-sama? I was able to grasp your plan a day ago. It's truly superb!"
The kneeling crowd in front of me practically clapped in awe, shouting and revering my name. Cocytus then bowed his head and apologized.
"Ainz-sama. I was. Not. Able. To. Grasp. Your. Genius. This. Servant. Of. Yours. Is. Merely. A. Hammer. I apologize. In. Advance. If my. Participation. Was. A Problem."
HUH!? What did Demiurge even mean!? What plan!?
"Cocytus, it's only natural for us not to fully grasp Ainz-sama's genius. Haven't you noticed? The harmful energy has almost dissipated."
Cocytus gasped, as if he missed what should have been a very obvious clue. "I. Still. Have. A. Lot. To. Learn."
"I didn't even notice it." Aura weakly added. Mare just sighed, watching his sister. Shalltear's face was smug; it seemed she had noticed the dissipation before this meeting.
The harmful energy or debuff was indeed almost gone, I hadn't noticed even noticed. A few days of constant exposure and overthinking made my senses dull.
"Y-y-yes! You're right, Demiurge! As always!"
"With your permission, Ainz-sama, I will explain the simple yet beautiful plan you've made me grasp a few days ago."
"Y-you have the floor Demiurge."
"As we all know, the [ Room of Yellows ] is a cube connected to another cube. There are some inconsistencies in the horizontal and vertical spatial lengths, but we're in a cube. Those two have hit the edge of the cube, saw the connected neighboring cube and the empty void below, then jumped straight into the void."
"As per Ainz-sama's brilliant plan."
The NPCs clapped and roared, cheering that they've managed to glimpse and saw the fruition of a single speck of my grand scheme.
They never expected the two to simply jump straight into the void and so did I! However, all I managed to scream internally was.
EHHHHHHHHHHHH!? They just jumped!? THOSE TWO!?
"Ainz-sama!" A voice shouted, it was Narberal Gamma. She was tasked with securing the pool rooms.
"Solution, Lupusregina, and Entoma," Narberal said with a barely concealed, terrified tone. "They're captured and incapacitated, assumed dying."
My mind blanked.