Humans. A fragile race, yet filled with desires that far exceed their strength.
That was Demiurge's view of humanity. There was no deeper reason. He simply looked down on the species.
And it wasn't just him. Most of Nazarick's Guardians felt the same way.
Nazarick was a guild of heteromorphic beings. The majority of its members held anti-human sentiments, and when the NPCs were created, that setting had been written into them as well.
Of course, there were exceptions—Sebas and a small number of others.
As for Demiurge guiding Clementine toward abandoning her humanity, Naohara wasn't particularly bothered. He had already considered that possibility himself.
Even putting aside the issue of humanity's level cap, Nazarick's attitude toward humans alone forced him to think ahead.
If Clementine truly joined Nazarick, the NPCs might restrain themselves out of respect for the Supreme Beings' orders. On the surface, they wouldn't say anything.
But behind the scenes, there would inevitably be small moves, subtle hostility.
The simplest way to eliminate that problem was to change her race.
Naohara looked down at Clementine. Originally, he had planned to talk to her after some time, ease her into the idea, and then bring it up.
But her growing inferiority, combined with Demiurge's careful prompting, had sped up the process and saved him quite a bit of effort.
"Demiurge, you… did well."
With one finger tapping lightly against the table, Naohara narrowed his eyes and studied the demon in front of him. The atmosphere was heavy for a moment. Seeing Demiurge's tension, he finally gave a faint smile.
Demiurge might act on his own initiative, but he always handled things thoroughly and thought several steps ahead.
"You praise me too highly, Naohara-sama. I merely caught a glimpse of the Supreme Being's wisdom and acted in advance."
Only after sensing that he would not be blamed did Demiurge quietly let out a breath of relief and reply in a composed tone.
"Naohara-sama, these are race-change items."
Kneeling on one knee, Demiurge produced three strangely shaped objects and presented them before Naohara.
A horn radiating pitch-black light.
A crystal with a faint blood-red glow swirling beneath its surface.
And a heart that emitted a barely audible, rhythmic pulse.
Demon. Vampire. Dragonoid.
Naohara glanced at the three items and activated [Item Appraisal], instantly understanding their properties.
"Naohara-sama, these are the races I believe would suit Clementine-san best."
Demiurge adjusted his glasses and smiled.
Believing he had grasped a fraction of the Supreme Being's thoughts, he had long since prepared everything in advance.
"You really came prepared, Demiurge."
Naohara reached out and patted him on the shoulder while examining the items.
If his boss from his previous life had an employee like this, he'd probably wake up laughing from his dreams most nights.
Demiurge truly understood how to get things done.
"It's only my duty."
Demiurge smiled faintly at the praise. To ease the burdens of the Supreme Beings was, in itself, the greatest reward he could receive as a Guardian.
After a brief pause, he recalled the plans he had been preparing and continued.
"Naohara-sama, I wish to leave Nazarick and make a modest contribution to the grand designs of the Three Supreme Beings."
"I see…"
Naohara studied the demon in front of him, thinking it over.
Letting a Guardian leave Nazarick wasn't a problem in itself.
But if it was Demiurge, that was another matter.
It wasn't that Naohara feared he would fail. It was that he might be too effective.
Naohara couldn't even imagine what kind of mess he might create. He had heard of the so-called "Happy Farm" in the original story—raising two-legged sheep in captivity and the like…
And these "two-legged sheep" weren't livestock in the usual sense.
Translated, it basically meant this:
Abelion Sheep: magical beasts of another world. Meat edible. Skin usable for scrolls. Suitable for experimentation.
Humans: natives of another world. Meat edible. Skin usable for scrolls. Suitable for experimentation.
In Demiurge's eyes, humans equaled Abelion Sheep.
"Go ahead, then, Demiurge."
"But I have one condition. I don't object to necessary killing. However, you are not to casually use living people for experiments."
Naohara thought it through before giving his approval. He couldn't keep Demiurge locked inside Nazarick forever.
Even if he refused here, Demiurge would simply ask Momonga or Herohero. The result would be the same.
So Naohara laid down a firm boundary.
Even though he was no longer human himself, he still couldn't accept Demiurge's two-legged sheep plan.
He didn't reject killing outright. But treating lives as playthings, tormenting them for amusement—that was something he disliked.
Even if Momonga and Herohero chose to overlook it, he would personally shut it down.
His gaze was steady and resolute as it met Demiurge's.
"…Understood, Naohara-sama. I will abide by your command."
After a moment of silence, Demiurge bowed his head respectfully.
At the same time, his thoughts raced. Naohara's order directly conflicted with several of his existing plans.
The original livestock program. The crossbreeding projects between humans and other races. All of it would need to be revised.
He couldn't help but marvel inwardly.
As expected of a Supreme Being. Under that vast wisdom, his carefully laid plans had been seen through in an instant.
"Good. Just remember that."
"I'll be going now."
Seeing that Demiurge had taken it to heart, Naohara stood, lifted Clementine in his arms, and walked slowly toward the door.
As he passed Lupusregina, he casually reached out and gave her wolf ears a quick rub, drawing a startled yelp and easing the tension in the room.
The door closed behind him, and his figure disappeared from their sight.
Only then did Demiurge slowly rise to his feet.
He glanced at Lupusregina beside him, recalling Naohara's earlier action. His mind immediately began working at full speed.
Naohara-sama's gesture must have carried deeper meaning.
In just a few dozen seconds, Demiurge came up with dozens of possible interpretations.
"Lupusregina… I will speak with Albedo."
"From now on, you will be exclusively responsible for cleaning Naohara-sama's quarters."
Sitting down in the seat Naohara had just vacated, Demiurge wore a look of complete confidence as he spoke to her in a meaningful tone.
...
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