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.

been going quite smoothly for us. After the mana density rose, almost all of us experienced a large increase in our powers. Although I don't know what

"That's nice to hear."

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

his sharp eyes focused

take advantage of this

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

"Hmmm."

some

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

be tuned in order to convert the denser mana that had entered the

was only one problem with this

of them, who were looking at me with expectant eyes. It seemed like they had

bottom of my chin

into another war right now, the people will start

couldn't say for certain that this was the case, it was safe to assume that the general

articles that would be written

Not that I cared.

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

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

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

statement, I tilted my head back to take a look at the other two. From the looks on their faces, it appeared as though they

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

office was 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 across the surface of the

scenarios began playing over and over again in my head, and I went through each and every one of them very carefully,

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

saying that I needed to bring most of

needed to take

to defend the domain in the event that

to bring alongside

was a trap

and how to calm down the panic

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

chip, I was soon able to come up

"Haa…"

out a long

already tell that this is going to be a

what wasn't? At this point, everything was a

you

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

"Yeah."

stood up

ready

***

"Here."

"What's this?"

gaze fell on the

entered the room and placed a small bottle on my table as I was preparing

replicate. With a little help from Melissa, we were able

"Uh?"

a while back started to surface in my mind, and

"Isn't this…"

"Yup."

Ryan smiled.

the supersoldiers from the Monolith. I figured you'd want

"You're damn right."

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

'Rather smooth.'

which was rather viscous, this substance was

"How are the effects?"

it into someone, they'll follow your commands, but in a limited manner since it takes several dosages to completely take