"So what you're saying… is that you've been impersonating my companion's name to deceive me?"
The two sides held their ground, each insisting on their own version of the truth. But the one who spoke was the absolute ruler of Nazarick—and there was no question whose words carried more weight.
A surge of dark power erupted from the skeletal king.
"Despair Aura."
The oppressive force burst forth from his body and spread outward in an instant. The Lizardmen leaders standing at the forefront were the first to be hit. Their expressions twisted in agony as if the very air had been sucked from their lungs. Their bodies buckled uncontrollably, forced to their knees—no, slammed flat against the ground.
Ainz hated deception.
And what he hated even more was having his most precious companions used as tools for lies.
Originally, after listening to the proposals of Demiurge and Cocytus, he had intended to subjugate the Lizardmen—use them as experimental subjects for governance. But now?
He had changed his mind.
Creatures who relied on deceit were of no value to Nazarick.
Especially when they dared to invoke the name of his comrades.
"Wait…! If the Supreme Being doubts our words… then why not ask that Lord Yudou directly?!"
The one who spoke through gritted teeth, struggling against the crushing pressure, was Zaryusu.
Even as the suffocating terror of death closed in, he forced himself to lift his head, his voice strained but resolute.
"You are companions, are you not? Then contacting him… should not be difficult!"
That single desperate suggestion—
Was precisely why Ren Kuroda had been summoned here so suddenly… and why he had ended up walking into such an absurd misunderstanding moments earlier.
Ren glanced at the Lizardmen before speaking calmly.
"Yeah, I do know them. And I did give them a chance before."
His tone was flat—almost indifferent.
"But they didn't take it."
The moment those words fell, the chief of the Green Claw Tribe—Shasuryu—lowered his head in deep regret. Ever since witnessing the overwhelming might of the so-called Supreme Beings, he had replayed that earlier decision in his mind countless times.
They could have been saved.
But because of his choice… the entire tribe now stood on the brink of annihilation.
"We understand… that we have offended and betrayed the will of the Supreme Beings," Zaryusu continued, forcing the words out.
"We do not expect to be spared."
His claws dug into the ground.
"But our people… they are innocent. After our deaths, we beg you—please spare them. The Lizardmen will swear eternal loyalty to the Supreme Beings."
They already knew the truth.
If Nazarick intended to rule their race, then leaders like them—symbols of resistance—would never be allowed to live.
So they had chosen.
To die in exchange for their people's survival.
And among all the monstrous beings before them, Ren was the only one they believed still possessed something resembling humanity… a bottom line.
That was why they had insisted—no matter the cost—on seeing him.
"Ren… you tried to recruit these Lizardmen before?" Ainz asked, turning his hollow gaze toward him. "Do they have some special trait?"
Using his appraisal ability, Ainz scanned the group again.
Nothing.
The so-called leaders barely hovered around level twenty at best. The rest of the tribe? Most didn't even reach level ten.
In Nazarick, they wouldn't even qualify as fodder.
So why… would Ren be interested in them?
Ren shrugged slightly, as if the answer were obvious.
"I've had my eye on them for a while. Especially a few of these guys—they're not bad."
He paused, then continued more thoughtfully.
"You've noticed it too, right? This world is extremely similar to YGGDRASIL. Even weak individuals can grow stronger—level up—through combat and training."
Ainz nodded slightly.
"That applies to us as well," Ren went on. "But the undead you summon—like Death Knights—they're different."
"They're bound by the system. Their levels, their abilities… fixed."
"In other words, aside from intelligent NPCs like the Pleiades battle maids, most of Nazarick's forces… don't grow."
The implication was clear.
Static power.
No evolution.
"And that," Ren concluded, "is a problem."
"These Lizardmen might look weak right now. But compared to your summoned undead… their potential is massive."
"They can level up. Learn martial arts. Use magic. Adapt. Think."
"They're not just tools—they're assets that can grow."
A quiet understanding spread across the gathered guardians.
Of course.
Nazarick's current military strength relied heavily on Ainz's summoned undead. While powerful at baseline, they suffered from a fatal flaw:
No progression.
And worse—
If Ainz himself were ever compromised, that entire system could collapse instantly.
Demiurge adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing briefly.
"As expected of Ren-sama… your foresight is truly remarkable."
There was genuine admiration in his voice.
"However, there is one point I don't quite understand."
"If your goal is to cultivate a race into a core military force for Nazarick… then why choose the Lizardmen?"
"There are far stronger races in this world."
Ren didn't hesitate.
"Because stronger doesn't mean better."
His gaze swept across the kneeling Lizardmen.
"What matters… is potential."
"You've all seen it already. Even when faced with absolute despair, they didn't break. They fought."
"On top of that, their racial bonds are strong. Their sense of unity is solid."
He folded his arms.
"Sure, we could enslave them with magic. But that would crush their growth."
"And that defeats the purpose."
"The best method," Ren continued calmly, "is pressure."
"Threaten what they care about—their tribe."
"Then offer them just enough hope."
"A carrot and a stick."
"Only then… will they truly submit—and willingly fight for us."
His lips curled slightly.
"And if we start with a race that's too strong, controlling them becomes a problem."
"But these guys?"
He looked down at them again.
"They're just right."