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Chapter 24

  Antikythera prematurely finished the tests reted to Ninya's talent when he realized that Yuri Alpha had arrived. The head maid would probably be confused by the ck of information she had regarding the settlement and its inhabitants, so Antikythera decided to give her an introductory course on what she needed to know about this pce.

  "Go talk to your sister, Ninya. I'll continue our lessons tomorrow morning. Go eat something and replenish your energy," Antikythera ordered the girl. He didn't know if Ninya would follow it to the letter, but since she'd been obedient so far, there was a high chance she would. Antikythera considered a change in diet for the girl as he made his way to the renovated mansion at the vilge's edge.

  The house had transformed from an unmaintained, nearly decrepit structure into a well-furnished mansion. Sturdy walls now marked the edges of its territory, enclosing vibrant gardens brimming with life. The exterior, once worn and weathered, had been entirely renewed—its frame built from polished wood and gss, while a wooden roof, reinforced with stone tiles, added both charm and durability.

  Inside, the change was just as drastic. The old, rotting leather furniture had been repced with pristine pelts, their texture soft and inviting. The faded, tattered carpet was gone, repced by a thick, healthy brown fur rug that spread warmth across the floor. The once-bare walls, which had long stood empty or adorned with meaningless relics, now dispyed elegant ndscape paintings—scenes chosen not for status or history, but simply for their beauty.

  Antikythera had improved the ugly thing these organics had constructed and turned it into a proper mansion, fitting for holding Nazarick's denizens. It was no longer just some home where a fat noble could gorge himself without restraint but an office that would hold valuable knowledge gained from the research conducted within this vilge.

  Outside the gate stood Yuri Alpha, waiting for Antikythera to arrive. Her maid outfit was now gone, repced by a clean brown dress yered with various leaf markings and spiral patterns. Her hair, which Antikythera had so far only seen tied in a bun, was now loose, falling down her shoulders and stopping just above her chest and shoulder girdle.

  The maid noticed Antikythera second; she bowed in greeting. "Lord Antikythera, Mistress Albedo has sent me to aid you in your work in this vilge."

  "I see that Albedo has sent one of the more cool-headed maids for this task. How appropriate," Antikythera nonchantly admitted as he passed the maid. He opened the newly built gate for Yuri and waited for her to pass. "We have much to talk about. Now that I know you are going to be my aide, I will say it is going to be reted to your expertise in teaching the younger generation as well as taking care of them."

  Yuri Alpha fixed her gsses. "Of course. If you require help, I am happy to provide my skills." The maid walked ahead of him. "What do you need me for?" Yuri's question was interced with the squeaking sound of the gate closing. "I am aware that you said you need me to teach children, but is that all?"

  "There is your primary job, which is to observe the vilge while acting as its lord. That should always be your priority, but if you have the time, I wish for you to teach the teenagers of this pce—get them attached to you if at all possible." Antikythera stopped by the door. "I'm afraid I will have to stop here. I cannot fit in such a small space."

  Yuri nodded. "Understood. May I know why you need me to get the teenagers attached to me?"

  "Because I want to turn them into soldiers," Antikythera answered shamelessly. "Demiurge has found someone of interest in the capital of this kingdom—its only princess, to be exact—and she is willing to work for us."

  "A princess? She's going to betray her country?" Yuri said in distaste. She believed that someone whom the people loved should love the people in turn. She could not imagine ever betraying Nazarick, and the thought of it made her feel nauseous.

  "Yes, I understand how you feel. Someone so btantly open to betraying their own kingdom does not deserve our respect, and you do not need to give it. She can also do the same. Demiurge has expined that our retionship with the princess is more of a mutual benefit rather than anything official." Antikythera pulled out a stack of papers. "This is information. The princess provides it for us. She can also mask our movements within the kingdom. Case in point, a high-ranking adventurer team was supposed to raze this vilge, but she canceled it at the st second."

  Yuri accepted the stack of papers and read the title. "Annual War?"

  "Yes. Do you see her use now?" Antikythera sounded giddy. "She informed us of an annual war happening between her kingdom and that of the Baharuth Empire. She is aware that the empire is merely burning resources, as there is no real casualty within the war. They just want to slowly starve the kingdom."

  "How?"

  "Simple. The war happens during harvest season, right before winter." Antikythera's expnation made Yuri nod. "Is it starting to make sense to you now?"

  "Yes," the maid stated, assuming what Antikythera had been telling her. "You want me to make the teenagers here fall for me so that we can use them during the annual war. If I may ask, how will we utilize such a resource? Humans are too weak, no?"

  "My factory is capable of manufacturing weapons." Antikythera raised one hand. "Hana is currently making an external series of factories far from Nazarick, which would act as a false base of operations for us. We will heavily guard it still to attract false attention, but it is bait in anything but name."

  "You want to spread the name of the factory, and the annual war is going to be the perfect opportunity to do it," Yuri realized. It was a smart move and one fitting of someone of Antikythera's caliber. "You will start selling weapons?"

  "What else?" The automaton chuckled. "This world is riddled with war. It is almost hirious how every single country at present is attacking one another. The only ones who aren't experiencing any international threat are the Holy Kingdom and the Argnd Council State. One is because they do not seek war, and the other is due to their leadership."

  "Supreme Beings?"

  "Good guess, but no. They're dragons." The automaton scoffed. "I would consider them a threat to us should they be rger in number and if we did not have Lord Ainz, but as of right now, they are nothing more than an obstacle in our path to world domination."

  Yuri Alpha held the stack of papers tightly. Dragons. She knew that Antikythera feeling confident in beating them would mean that Nazarick would most likely come out as the winner should they go to war, but... "Why is Lord Ainz important against the Argnd Council State?"

  "I know what you are thinking." Antikythera's tone turned sharp and cold. He leaned closer to Yuri until their faces were mere inches apart. "But I am not considering Lord Ainz as a potential sacrifice. Such a bsphemous thought is not even in consideration, and I would sooner die than put Lord Ainz's life in danger. Do not ever do this again, understood?"

  Yuri Alpha hastily nodded. "Of course. This was my mistake."

  Antikythera straightened. "Good. If we are in mutual understanding, then it is about time I take my leave. I need to check on Hana's progress. Goodbye, Yuri. See you tomorrow."

  Yuri Alpha released a breath she did not know she was holding once the automaton passed through his [Gate] and disappeared.

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