Before the Storm: Act 8, Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Ainz folded his hands on the table, making a show of giving Baroness Zahradnik’s query plenty of serious thought. No, it wasn’t as if he wasn’t giving it serious thought, it was just that nothing came of it no matter how much he tried.
Even in his previous existence as Suzuki Satoru, rules favoured the rulers and justice was merely a word. Arguments between Ulbert and Touch Me were about as much exposure as he had to it. Ulbert in particular would go on about the injustice of the world and his fellow guild members grew concerned when his real-world gripes started to blend with his ‘evil’ online persona.
He suspected that the Baroness would be markedly unimpressed by Ulbert’s views on the matter. Touch Me often pointed out that Ulbert’s ideas on justice were little more than romantic notions that revolved around ignorant opinions on fairness. The Baroness, on the other hand, sought practical solutions to the societal issues faced by the Sorcerous Kingdom.
Ainz’s nebulous concept of justice bounced around in his empty skull as nonexistent drops of sweat formed on the equally nonexistent skin of his brow. He was supposed to be the king, yet he felt like his old salaryman self being questioned by a company executive. Unable to come up with anything that might impress the Baroness, he resorted to the default tactic of salesmen since time immemorial: ask leading questions until he identified something to turn to his advantage.
His eyes went to Aura and Mare, whose eyes shone with their expectations for his answer.
“For the benefit of Aura and Mare here,” he said, “we should walk through how we may come up with a realistic framework through which the Sorcerous Kingdom’s justice is upheld. I would hate it if they grow up thinking that such monumental systems are arbitrarily derived.”
“Of course, Your Majesty,” the young noblewoman smiled.
Yosh.