Talk:Demiurge/@comment-139.255.86.18-20170421093050/@comment-104.35.185.72-20170722182554

There's a difference between "smart" and "knowledgable". Cocytus is "knowledgable" about combat but he isn't "smart". Demiurge is definitely smarter than Cocytus.

The measurement of intelligence is often exhibited through how quickly one is able to adapt to new, unknown situations, or how easily one extrapolates previous (often unrelated) experiences and make intelligent decisions from them. Ability to recognize patterns is the foundation of intelligence. For instance, language itself is a system of patterns. Someone learning an ancient, dead language with no help whatsoever would demonstrate a high level of intelligence. This is why the author had Renner "decode" the 8-fingers code; it was an easy way of showing someone is very smart.

Ainz' triumph over Shalltear is almost purely due to PVP experience and beforehand knowledge about Shalltear. That doesn't make him smart, it just makes him experienced.

However, he shows a lot of potential by utilizing his experiences as a low level salesman in Japan and applying them to all sorts of things, including negotiations on a national level. He conducts experiments to figure out "rules" of the new world. These are clearly signs of intelligence.

Thus far, Pandora's Actor has yet to show any demonstrations of high intelligence, other than manipulating people while posing as Momon.

Demiurge, on the other hand, is clearly one of the most capable characters in the novel. He has done many extremely valuable experiments, crafted complex schemes while considering many factors, able to discern Ainz' ulterior motive in his orders to Cocytus, the ability to recognize the true character/value of Renner (while she managed to fool most people around her), etc. These are explicit demonstrations of intelligence, far above just about anyone else in Nazarick.

So while you're correct that intelligence is "relative", but it's not in the manner you've described. A peasant farmer might be more knowledgable about farming than Demiurge, but it definitely does not make him "smarter" than Demiurge. It's not "relative" in that sense. In other words, if Demiurge would to put his mind into farming, he would make a far superior farmer than the peasant, whereas the peasant can't hope to compete in any tasks that Demiurge has devoted himself to.