The Author's POV

[Alliance Headquarters]

―There's a sudden situation. This is the perfect time to strike the demons.

―I have just been informed that our forces and the demons in Idoania have engaged in full-scale warfare against one another. Even though there have been no requests for additional support, the situation appears to be rather grim. The Demon King is currently engaged in combat with the Leaders of our race.

―The mana on this planet also seemed to have drastically increased. Do you have any idea of what happened, Ren?

"One at a time, please…"

I massaged my head while I stared at the three projections in front of me. They were Gervis, Maylin, and Brutus. The heads of the three races on Earth.

The three of them had different facial expressions at the moment and were talking over one another, but I roughly understood what had occurred.

I looked at Maylin.

"So you're saying a war broke out on this planet called Idoania and that the Demon King is currently fighting against all of your race leaders?"

―That's correct.

Maylin, who was hidden behind the holographic projection, nodded her head. After staring at her for what seemed like an eternity, I eventually leaned against the back of my chair.

I had a sudden thought.

"There are seven Protectors, but as far as I can tell, there is only one on Earth. If I'm not mistaken, then it seems highly likely that the race leaders of the three different races are the other Protectors... right?'

It was a possibility.

If not, why would Jezebeth opt to move to them before heading down to earth? The more I thought about it, the more obvious it seemed.

… In the same manner, as on Earth, the Protectors kept a close eye on the three other races in order to ensure that they remained in their proper place.

Clean up and oppress those who have talent.

Their surveillance wasn't something that was exclusive to human beings alone, but it did affect the other races as well...

It was also abundantly clear that the Protectors placed a higher priority on the other races than they did on us, as evidenced by the fact that there was only one Protector watching over us as opposed to the two others for each race.

Not that I blamed them.

After all, mana was something that humans had only very recently begun to interact with. In addition, our population was noticeably lower than theirs.

It only made sense.

I turned to look at Gervis.

"Yes, the mana in the atmosphere did indeed become a lot denser. I don't know why, but I've received several reports from our side that many have broken through because of it."

―Oh? Is Octavious one of them?

"Yes."

I replied with a short nod.

Not even a day after my other self killed Waylan, a large phenomenon swept over the city, and Octavious broke through to rank.

The news of his breakthrough was met with a great deal of enthusiasm, and some news articles even suggested that he ought to take the reins as leader of the alliance in light of his recent success.

If only they knew...

"He's broken through to the next rank, and so have several other people. What about you?"

―Same for us.

Gervis heartily laughed.

mana density rose, almost all of us experienced a large

"That's nice to hear."

my attention to Brutus. Even though he was hidden behind a projection, I was still able to feel

sharp eyes focused on me, I

take advantage of

potent as a result of the significant increase in mana density that has recently taken place. Even though we orcs didn't go through any of what you humans did, we didn't lose any strength, in contrast to the demons. If we take advantage of this opportunity, we will

"Hmmm."

had some reason

only did a good number of us become stronger, but because the mana was so concentrated,

compressors needed to be tuned in order to convert the denser

one problem

looking at me with expectant eyes. It seemed

bottom of my chin and muttered my

into another

assume that the general populace would be anything but pleased with

be written about me, calling me a war-hungry tyrant and

Not that I cared.

much worse things said about me in the media, and I've

a matter of fact, I found them to be rather humorous. The vast majority of the time, all I would do to

no better time to strike now, and honestly, since we're the ones attacking, it shouldn't

other two. From

that I was the only one who held a contrasting viewpoint, and I

completely silent for a brief period of time, as no one spoke at any point. I turned on the chip in my head and rapidly drummed my fingers

over a hundred distinct scenarios began playing over and over again in my head, and I went through each and every one of them very carefully, analyzing the benefits and drawbacks

and knowing the scope of the attack, I knew I couldn't

saying that I needed to bring most of the human domain's

to

should be left behind to defend the domain in the event that the demons decide to launch an assault

to bring alongside

there was a trap set up by the

of the situation and how to calm down the panic and riots that may ensue from the

time to make a decision, there were a lot of factors that I needed to take into

the chip, I was soon

"Haa…"

let out a

can already tell that this is going to be a pain in the

At this point, everything was a pain

have you

through my office, and I looked at her. Staring at her for a good couple of seconds, I

"Yeah."

up from my

get ready for

***

"Here."

"What's this?"

my gaze fell on the small bottle he placed

preparing a series of documents regarding the upcoming war for a general assembly with all the rankers

With a

"Uh?"

of a conversation I had a while back started to surface in my mind, and my eyes lit

"Isn't this…"

"Yup."

Ryan smiled.

the Monolith. I

"You're damn right."

the bottle from side to side, I observed how the

'Rather smooth.'

the serum I took, which was

"How are the effects?"

inject it into someone, they'll follow your commands, but in a limited