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.

quite smoothly for us. After the mana density rose, almost all of us experienced a large increase in our

"That's nice to hear."

Even though he was hidden behind a projection, I

sharp eyes focused on me,

want to take advantage of this opportunity to

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

"Hmmm."

words had some

better time to launch an assault, that time would be now. Not only did a good number of us become stronger, but

to be tuned in order to convert the denser mana that

one problem with this

who were looking at me with expectant eyes. It

of my chin and muttered my

get into another war right now, the people will start to riot… The situation is

assume that the general populace would be anything but pleased with the news that

to picture all of the articles that would be written about me, calling me

Not that I cared.

much worse things said about me in the media, and

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

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 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 affected

Gervis's statement, I tilted my head back to take a look at the other two. From the looks on their faces, it appeared

one who held a contrasting

silent for a brief period of time, as no one spoke at any point. I turned on the chip in

and I went through each and every one of

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

went without saying that I needed to bring

to take into

to defend the domain in the event that the demons

bring

trap set up

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

that I needed to take into consideration, and just thinking about all of those factors made

chip, I was soon able

"Haa…"

out a long

tell that this is going to

At this point, everything

have you

office, and I looked at her. Staring

"Yeah."

up from

ready

***

"Here."

"What's this?"

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

as I was preparing a series of

is the thing you asked me to analyze and replicate. With a little help from Melissa, we were able to alter

"Uh?"

recollections of a conversation I had a while back started to surface

"Isn't this…"

"Yup."

Ryan smiled.

serum used to create the supersoldiers from the Monolith. I figured you'd want to

"You're damn right."

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

'Rather smooth.'

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

"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