The following contains spoilers for Episode 8 of Overlord IV, “An Unexpected Move” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
In episode 8 ofOverlord IV, the focus is back on political matters, with the Empire of Baharuth’s supplication of a request to become a vassal state to the Sorcerer Kingdom has become a hot topic in the Kingdom of Re-Estize, as well as the Sorcerer Kingdom’s delivery of aid rations to the Slane Theocracy through the kingdom.
Baron Phillip Dayton Montserratmakes an appearance, worn out by his newfound responsibilities as head of the Montserrat Household, as well as the pressure being placed on the economy due to the Sorcerer Kingdom’s aid of Re-Estize and the lack of manpower in his domain. Conspiring with some fellow nobles, Montserrat decides to interfere with the next delivery of rations, thinking that the culprit of such an attack would not be clear to all; however, he is very foolish and very, very wrong.
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The Treacherous Sorcerer Kingdom
The episode begins with a conversation between the Prince Zanac and Princess Renner of Re-Estize. Serving as exposition, as well as a human perspective of the state of affairs, the conversation highlights a central concept prevalent in this season of Overlord: the assumed unwavering brilliance of the mind of Ainz, andthe inherent treachery of the undead. Despite mentioning some gracious and generous deeds of the Sorcerer Kingdom towards human groups, Zanac cannot see the Sorcerer Kingdom’s actions as a ploy to improve their standing in the eyes of other nations, and eventually force other kingdoms into becoming vassal states like what they assume happened to Baharuth.
Since Re-Estize refused to send aid to the Slane Theocracy during the war, the Sorcerer Kingdom came to their aid and defeated the inhuman enemy, Jaldaboath. As of late, the Theocracy has been receiving relief supplies from the Sorcerer Kingdom, which is only possible through Re-Estize. Afraid to refuse, Manon granted the Sorcerer Kingdom permission to send their aid through the country; however, only if they are willing to pay import taxes. The Sorcerer Kingdom was also willing to sell some of their merchandise within the Kingdom of Re-Estize, which is partly the reason behind Montserrat’s discontentment, and perhaps also a factor in his domain’s struggle to procure a secure food supply.
Princess Renner, due to her connection to Albedo, acts as a double agent, influencing the big decisions made by her older brother and attempts to convince her brother to follow in the footsteps of Baharuth. Her advice is naturally rebuffed, but she makes some great points before reminding her brother of her promise once he ascends to the throne. It is clear thatthe humans are confusedby the Sorcerer Kingdom’s civility when it comes to political matters on a national scale.
Food Fight
During Montserrat’s conversation with other nobles from his faction, Barons Delvi and Rokerlen, he is made aware of the fact that the Sorcerer Kingdom is using a trade route running through Rokerlen’s domain to deliver aid rations to the Theocracy. Montserrat wonders how a small country with only one city could possibly produce almost the same amount of food as Re-Estize itself, but Rokerlen brings his attention to the Sorcerer Kingdom’s use of the undead to endlessly work a large area of farmland,which the humans find “creepy”. Montserrat comes up with the idea to attack the carriages transporting the food to steal it for their own gain, but this foolish act becomes a matter of state importance, as word gets back to Ainz that a certain nobleman from Re-Estize ordered an attack on Sorcerer Kingdom-marked goods. One recurring joke in episode 8 ofOverlord IVis the pure foolishness, the utter stupidity of Baron Montserrat’s actions.
Albedo’s Pen-Pal
As it was set up in the earlier episodes of this season, Albedo is using Baron Montserrat for his lack of intelligence as a source of information and a major pivot point for her grand plans regarding the expansion of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Naturally, Montserrat has no idea he is being used by both Albedo and his backer, Hilma Cygnaeus. Albedo and Montserrat have been exchanging letters since their meeting, and Montserrat feels proud of his connection to the Prime Minister of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Unfortunately for Albedo, her “foolish noble” turns out to beeven more of a fool than she calculated, as he hatches a ploy together with two other nobles to steal the food travelling through Re-Estize to the Slane Theocracy. The consequences of the plan are discovered by Albedo about four days later, as she works through heaps of paperwork, she comes across a file regarding the problems encountered while attempting to deliver food to the Theocracy.
Surely He Can’t Be THAT Foolish!
Due to Montserrat’s actions, Albedo is forced to admit that she may have made a grave error; however, not wanting to appear incompetent in front of her master, she attempts to hold middle-management responsible. She summons Hilma Cygnaeus, who is utterly terrified to be in the throne room in Nazarick; however, the punishment she expects does not come as she is defended by Ainz Ooal Gown himself. Ainz explains to his underlings that if the head in a chain of command is to be held responsible for the actions of their underlings, then ultimately, Albedo’s choice to use Hilma and Montserrat becomes his responsibility to bear, not Albedo’s or Hilma’s.
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To ensure that Hilma is telling the truth when she is interrogated about her involvement in the conspiracy to steal Sorcerer Kingdom goods, Ainz casts the Dominate spell on her, which renders her incapable of lying. She admits no guilt, and tellsAinz and the Floor Guardiansthat foolish Montserrat was foolish enough to come up with the foolish plan by himself. After being defended by Ainz, Cygnaeus is sent back to her abode unharmed, but harboring newfound respect for His Highness.
Plans Change, Or Not
After the matter is settled in Nazarick, Albedo considers changing their plan due to the erratic behavior of her foolish pawn. Demiurge highlights that their weakness in this incident was not a lack of sufficient planning, it was planning against an intelligent enemy. They cannot plan against the actions of a fool, which is how Albedo was caught at a loss due to Montserrat’s irreconcilable actions. To quote demiurge, “We can create countermeasures against an intellectual,but Ainz can even understand the asinine”. Truly, every sentient lifeform aware of Montserrat’s actions simply can’t fathom his level of stupidity, and that includes the Kingdom, who are soon made aware of his foolish error.
Part of the humor in this episode, and many others before it is the Floor Guardians' unwavering belief in their lord’s incredible mental prowess, and since Ainz believes someone can be as foolish as Montserrat has been, then surely such foolishness is possible. Despite the unexpected developments, their original plan remains viable, and the Floor Guardians decide to leave it as is, following the discussion with ideas on what to do in response to Montserrat’s disrespect. Demiurge remembers Ainz’s carrot and stick plan, and assumes that his master’s plan all along has been to apply the concept on an international level. A plan is enacted to reward Baharuth for its conduct, and to punish the Kingdom, so an official communiqué is made to Re-Estize from the Sorcerer Kingdom co-signed by the Baharuth Empire, the Dwarf Kingdom, the Dragon Kingdom, the Theocracy and the Faceless.
What Now?
At every turn, when characters discuss the attack on the aid sent to the Theocracy, the conversation immediately turns to other possibilities because"surely no one is that stupid". Indeed, not even the upper echelon of Re-Estize could not plan around the sheer idiocy of Montserrat’s actions, particularly because it does not serve him or Re-Estize in the long term, nor does it make sense to wish to incur the wrath of the same Sorcerer Kingdom led by an entity capable of performing the acts of horror seen during the Massacre on Katze Plains.
They are well aware of Montserrat’s actions, and, similar to Ainz’s earlier conversation with Albedo about the responsibilities inherent to the leader in a chain of command, Prince Zanac understands that Montserrat’s foolishness is the Kingdom’s foolishness. Surely, no one can be as stupid as he; however, Zanac asks the king if it would be favorable for them to call the baron and present his head to the Sorcerer Kingdom in supplication because fighting them is not an option. The king is disappointed in his son’s suggestion; however, Zanac is attempting to be pragmatic. The Re-Estize Minister of Internal Affairs, in the same spirit of pragmatism, makes a similar suggestion to Princess Renner at the very beginning of the episode –to become a vassal state; but everyone present swiftly disagrees. As the king tells his son that he has an idea, a messenger arrives informing the group of Albedo’s arrival and request of an audience with the king. Someone is in deep trouble.
