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.

of us experienced a large increase in our powers. Although I don't know what brought about this change, I'm

"That's nice to hear."

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

focused on me,

want to take advantage of this opportunity to

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 be able to

"Hmmm."

some reason

be now. Not only did a good number of us become stronger, but because the mana was so

since the mana compressors needed to be tuned in order to convert the denser mana that had

only one

were looking at me with expectant eyes. It seemed like they

of my

pretty big war, and if we suddenly get into another war right now, the people will start to riot… The situation is

it was safe to assume that the general

of the articles that would be written about me, calling me a war-hungry tyrant

Not that I cared.

seen much worse things said about me in the media, and I've become somewhat desensitized to

them to be rather humorous. The vast majority of the time, all I would do to have a good

we know that you've just gone through a war and that you're currently recuperating and mourning the losses, but this isn't an opportunity that can be wasted. There's no better time to

the other two. From the

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

as no one spoke at any point. I turned on the chip in my head and rapidly drummed my fingers across the surface

began playing over and over again in my head, and I went through

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

I needed to bring most

needed to

defend the domain in the event that the demons decide to launch an assault

to bring alongside

was a trap set up by

the situation and how to calm down the panic and riots that may

to make a decision, there were a lot of factors that I needed to take into consideration, and just thinking about all of those factors made my head throb

aid of the chip, I was soon able to come up with a

"Haa…"

out a long

tell that this is going to be

this point, everything was a pain

have you

reverberated through my office, and I looked at her. Staring at her for a good

"Yeah."

up from my

get ready

***

"Here."

"What's this?"

Ryan, my gaze fell on the

room and placed a small bottle on my table as I was preparing a series of documents regarding the upcoming war for

and replicate. With a little

"Uh?"

I had a while back started to surface in

"Isn't this…"

"Yup."

Ryan smiled.

the supersoldiers from the Monolith. I figured you'd want to know about

"You're damn right."

water, and as I shook the bottle from side to side, I observed how the liquid mirrored my movements and moved in tandem with

'Rather smooth.'

serum I took, which was rather viscous, this substance was

"How are the effects?"

but in a limited manner since it takes several