A few days later..
After the short but eventful venture into the mountains, Ainz returned with a small group of dwarves and a batch of Quaguars. Following from the skies were the Ice Dragons that he encountered in the Old Capital of the Dwarves.
At first, the Guardians were on alert that an enemy had attacked them but upon seeing Ainz, they immediately abandoned their guard.
The next few days went by, with Ainz working on overdrive over how to integrate these new subjects with the city. He first assigned the Dwarves to research upon the runes of this world as well as the Yggdrasil's.
He delegated the Dragons as Courior and Transport 'vehicles'. While he transferred the Quaguars to Demiurge's Care for further research. The properties of these creatures interested him to some extent and wanted to see if the Quaguars could in theory consume Yggdrasil's metals.
On a sidenote, Ainz was thoroughly startled by the revelation that Hyortr had already siezed control of the Theocracy. How couldn't he? It was predicted to be a three months to a half year scheme. Which was now accomplished under less than two.
He wondered if this was because Hyortr was just too smart? Well in truth everything had gone all according to Hyortr's plans.
The Virus -- wasn't just a disease causing plague but also had mind altering effects. All the scenarios he created in the Theocracy, the choices and decisions of the Cardinals were indirectly and subtly nudged by him.
A perfectly executed plan, the only variable being the Platinum Dragon Lord or any entity like him interfering in some way.
Back to Hyortr, he was currently in Nazarick using his Human disguise as he savored the variety of cuisines served in the Tomb.
"Lord Hyortr! Try this dish! It's my favourite!"
"No! Lord Hyortr try mine! It's the best!"
"All of you go away! Obviously my Dish is the best!"
The 41 Homunculus maids crowded around Hyortr as they served him dishes that each of them liked. What started this all you may ask?
Well, initially Hyortr felt a craving for some human food and went to the best place for it. The Canteen of Nazarick! Where you can get a Burger to the seventeen course french dishes.
Hyortr's appearance did shock the maids who were present in the cafeteria. After calming the panicking maids he simply requested their favourite dish, since he himself was unsure of what to eat.
This decision would be his worst one ever made because, after the news spread, all the Maids who were free of work gathered around him and began proposing their most loved dishes. Some were simple and elegant and some intricate.
Well that was seven minutes ago, the situation has begun to rapidly go south now.
After the Maids, hearing that Hyortr was testing Dishes, some of the female area guardians too came at the cafeteria to pitch their own favourite dish.
'What have I gotten into....' Hyortr quietly lamented his own indecisiveness for not choosing a dish.
He himself was not very social in nature and that was the reason he hesitated to talk with people like Rosaria, whose identity and personality he was somewhat unsure of before actually meeting her.
Now being surrounded be so many females, a Dignified Male like him simply felt uncomfortable. And there was nothing related to him being a Single bastard...
What he can really be grateful for was that as an Abyssal Being, he can simply convert the food he ate into particles and dissolve it. Not that he needed to sustain himself with anything physical. It was simply the spur of the moment that made him crave for some food.
After a grueling hour and half of him being pestered by the females of the Nazarick Tomb, he finally exited the cafeteria, solemnly promising himself to send Rosaria to bring his food in his temple, if he needed to ever satiate his cravings.
Walking down the hallway of the tomb's 9th Floor, Hyortr exhaled an exhaustes sigh.
"I never thought a simple request would escalate to this much..." He murmured to himself, still not sure of what happened back there.
[Hyortr?]
While still in thought, the message spell's effects rang in his mind. The voice of Demiurge being transmitted.
"Yes Demiurge?" Hyortr, without a seconds delay replied.
[Are you free?] Demiurge's voice asked.
"Yes, Do you need anything?" Hyortr answered, meanwhile coming up with reasons as to why Demiurge would contact him.
'He wouldn't call me for something that is not important, that's not Demiurge like. Maybe related to the plans? Or maybe his farm? But as far as I know it was going well.'.
[Yes, I am at my Happy Farm right now. I was currently researching on Mind Degradation and Corruption of the Soul. I believe this is an Area of expertise you excel in, so I was hoping you could help me. Also I have a few details that I wanted to discuss with you about our final phase of Armageddon.]
"Very well, I will be there." Hyortr spoke, not minding the request.
----
Back in the Happy Farm.
Demiurge cancelled the Message spell as he held his hands behind his back.
"Hmn. It will take some time for him to arrive, let me arrange the Area so that we can immediately begin the research." Demiurge muttered as he disappeared in the dark hallway of the building.
Arriving in a large chamber like hall, he began the preparations himself. Inside this room, there were about thirty cages with a range of demihuman and human of different ages.
Each of them shivered uncontrollably, especially the younger ones. The fear and despair evident in their eyes as they accepted their eyes whenever Demiurge looked at them.
In the middle of this chamber was an Iron Chair with straps and restrains. Beside it was three trolleys. One of them contained modern-medieval torture devices. The other two had magical items designed for mental, and soul manipulation.
As soon as Demiurge entered the chamber not one sound had been made by the prisoners as they held their mouth shut in fear of them being the one to be subjected to the torturous experiments their predecessors went through.
"Hmn..all seems right." Demiurge muttered as he inspected the equipments.
After a few minutes, an imp flew inside as it informed Demiurge.
"Lord Demiurge, Lord Hyortr is here.."
"Very well, I shall receive him." Demiurge replied as he exited the chamber.
----
Waiting outside of the Camp, Hyortr was engaged in small talks with the local NPCs that worked here, gathering surface information on what the ongoing projects was being worked on.
As he was chatting with a Doppelganger, Demiurge arrived.
"I am glad you agreed to my small favor, Hyortr." Demiurge smiled as he greeted Hyortr.
"It's nothing, I am simply happy to help a fellow Guardian." Hyortr humbly replied as both Demon and Abyss Creature entered the chamber.
What occurred next can be left for imagination. But what was sure is that the screams and wails that echoed from the chambers was enough to induce nightmares and paranoia to a human mind.
★★★★★★★