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.

the mana density rose, almost all of us experienced a large increase in our powers. Although I don't

"That's nice to hear."

gave him a friendly smile before turning my attention to Brutus. Even though he was hidden behind a projection,

sharp eyes focused on me,

take advantage of

recently taken place. Even though we orcs didn't go through any of what you humans did, we didn't lose any

"Hmmm."

had some reason

number of us become

compressors needed to be tuned in order to convert the denser mana

only one

me with expectant eyes. It seemed like they had already discussed the matter

my chin and

big war, and if we suddenly get into another war right now, the

it was safe to assume that the general populace would be anything but pleased with the news that another war was

the articles that would be written about me, calling me a war-hungry tyrant and other such

Not that I cared.

about me in the media, and I've become somewhat desensitized

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

that can be wasted. There's no better time to strike now, and honestly, since we're the ones attacking, it shouldn't matter whether the citizens are happy or not. They won't be

other two. From the looks on their faces, it appeared as though they were all

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

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

in my head, and I went through each and every one of them very

leader of the Alliance, I had many things to consider, and knowing the scope of the attack, I knew I couldn't go alone

needed to bring most of

needed to take

the event that the

to bring alongside

a trap set up by the

calm down the panic and riots that may ensue from

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

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

"Haa…"

out a

going to be a pain

this point, everything was a pain in

have you made your

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

"Yeah."

stood up

ready for

***

"Here."

"What's this?"

head to stare at Ryan, my gaze fell on the small bottle he placed over my

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

you asked me to analyze and replicate. With a little help from Melissa, we were

"Uh?"

back started to surface in my mind, and my

"Isn't this…"

"Yup."

Ryan smiled.

used to create the supersoldiers from the Monolith. I figured

"You're damn right."

contained within. It was clear and resembled water, and as I shook the bottle from side

'Rather smooth.'

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

"How are the effects?"

good. If you inject it into someone, they'll follow your commands, but in a limited manner since it takes several dosages to completely take control over