The next day, I headed to the Research Institute.
By transforming the entirety of the Royal Capital’s subterranean levels into her laboratory, the Research Institute Director’s power had grown even further.
She now possessed what could be called the ultimate defense.
Infiltrating the Research Institute without her noticing would be virtually impossible. Even if I were to mount a serious assault, it would take me a considerable amount of effort to break through. None of the other executives would be any match for her.
It was entirely thanks to the Director that I could travel abroad with such peace of mind.
Just as I passed the entrance, the Director herself came to greet me. She bowed low while rubbing her hands together in a fawning gesture.
“Well, well! My Lord Demon King, how are you today?!”
“Same as ever. And yourself, Director?”
“I’m in peak condition, of course! I am an undead, after all. Free from the burdens of fatigue and illness, I can work around the clock!”
The Director answered with absolute confidence.
As a human, she had relied on indomitable mental strength to ignore the physical toll on her body. Now that such constraints were gone, she seemed more vibrant than ever. She appeared to be making the most of a constitution that was incapable of feeling exhaustion.
That being said, that was no reason for me not to worry. Even the undead cannot function indefinitely without rest. I casually offered her a word of caution.
“...I believe you should take some time off occasionally.”
“Thank you for your concern. However, I simply love research. I’m not pushing myself out of a sense of loyalty or duty. Being able to conduct my research freely in this environment is more restorative than any rest could be.”
“That was a tactless suggestion. My apologies.”
“Whatever are you saying? You’ve done nothing wrong, my Lord. I am simply grateful that you are looking out for me like this.”
The Director gave a deep, respectful bow.
One might be misled by her obsessive research desire, but she was fundamentally serious. She always maintained a humble posture and treated everyone with sincerity. She was respected by her subordinates and well-liked by the Research Institute Staff.
As that thought crossed my mind, I glanced around the area.
The institute was swarming with nothing but countless copies of the Director. I could see almost no ordinary staff members. A quick pulse of sensing magic revealed that the majority of them were away.
“The staff seems sparse today.”
“It seems their requests for paid leave just happened to coincide. Oh, but naturally, there are no issues with the institute's operations. I am handling everything personally!”
“I imagine so. I have no concerns on that front.”
The Director managed the institute with meticulous care. If any problem arose, she resolved it immediately. As the person in charge of the facility, she was exceptional.
Furthermore, while she worked herself to the bone, she was proactive about making her subordinates take time off. She never overlooked even a slight decline in a staff member's health, constantly striving to maintain the optimal work environment.
If one were to judge solely by her professional capabilities, the Director was a flawless subordinate. She possessed many aptitudes that surpassed even my own or those of the other executives.
I proceeded to inspect the facility alongside her. As we walked, I observed various ongoing developments and experiments. Listening to the Director’s endless stream of explanations and trivia, I confirmed details that could not be fully grasped through written reports alone.
Once we had finished our rounds, I moved to the main purpose of my visit.
“By the way, I wish to visit her room...”
“Suspending surveillance, then? Understood!”
“I appreciate it.”
The Director had anticipated my request. Since this had become something of a routine, no further explanation was necessary.
I bid her farewell and teleported.
My destination was the quarters of the beast imprisoned within this facility—Gwen’s living space.