Three more days passed.
The False God had begun making its move in earnest beyond the continent, organizing several nations into an Allied Forces. They set sail immediately, beginning their crossing.
Their target was undoubtedly the continent where I resided. Their military strength was substantial, and reports suggested that numerous individuals with power rivaling that of heroes had joined their ranks. They truly intended to annihilate me.
To think that heroes, who are supposed to protect the people, would actually side with the invaders...
I found the fact repulsive, yet I had no intention of casting blame. It couldn't be helped. The mechanism known as the Will of the World reflected human thoughts, for better or for worse. The birth of a hero did not guarantee that a situation would improve; by its very nature, it could just as easily lead to ruin. This was a textbook example.
The Awakened Heroes had voluntarily aligned themselves with the Beasts' Camp. I couldn't help but feel the profound depth of human karma.
The issue went beyond the invasion itself. The Allied Forces had begun demanding support and supplies from the nations within this continent—a transparent attempt to force their manual labor upon others under the guise of "cooperation." Furthermore, they had declared their intent to monopolize all resources within the Demon King’s Domain.
Naturally, the nations within the continent rejected these demands outright. These orders had been issued without any prior consultation. Regardless of whether the pretext was a "Demon King Subjugation," the nations had no desire to allow foreign armies to march through their territories, which was undesirable for a multitude of reasons.
Above all, the Allied Forces' sheer arrogance had bred deep resentment. Several nations that had rejected the demands were now deploying their navies, intending to block the Allied Forces from making landfall. According to my spies, they were even preparing to intercept them at sea.
While the continental nations would welcome the Demon King’s downfall, they despised the intervention of the Allied Forces even more. They couldn't stand the thought of foreign powers seizing the rights and resources of the Demon King’s Domain. A fierce struggle was expected even within the continent's borders; adding an overseas army to the mix made the situation truly chaotic.
If left unchecked, war would break out between the nations inside and outside the continent. It was a truly troublesome turn of events, forcing the Demon King’s Army to take immediate action.
How difficult. Things never go exactly as planned.
Suppressing my bitterness, I watched the army prepare for its sortie from the training grounds established on the outskirts of the Royal Capital. Although we were far from the sea, I would be teleporting everyone with magic, so the travel distance was irrelevant.
A massive fleet of ships had been assembled at the training grounds, and armaments specifically designed for maritime combat were being methodically installed.
"This is a full-scale war! Every last one of you, make sure you stay alive!" Henry shouted, bolstering morale between his commands. The soldiers responded with efficient discipline, maintaining a perfect level of focused tension.
Diera stood beside me, arms crossed as she surveyed the Demon King’s Army. She intended to join the front lines this time. During the previous cleanup of the beasts, I had tasked her with defending the Royal Capital—an assignment she felt was little more than being a glorified house-sitter. Dissatisfied with being left behind, she had personally requested to join the campaign.
"By the way, is it wise to leave the other beasts unattended?" she asked.
"It's fine. I've already laid the groundwork."
Through the Great Spirit, I had requested that the other Defense Mechanisms handle the extermination of the remaining beasts. I informed them that I would personally deal with the False God. Some of the Defense Mechanisms had accepted the terms and were currently engaged in combat across various regions. While they were fundamentally rigid, I had discovered that they could be swayed if properly approached.
Diera let out a skeptical groan as I explained the situation. "To think those stubborn fools would actually stir... They didn't lift a finger even when I was the reigning Demon King."
"I have to trust in the Great Spirit’s powers of persuasion. If it comes down to it, I'm prepared to take the world hostage to force their hand."
"...You speak of such ruthless methods with such terrifying ease."
"It is a necessary strategy."
While we spoke, I cast my sensing magic. The Allied Forces were drawing close to the continent; they would be sighting land any moment now.
The war was about to begin. I had to put an end to this conflict between humans.
I am not omnipotent. I will tolerate a certain degree of sacrifice, but I will ensure that every life lost is utilized toward my goal. I will not let them go to waste.
I will bring peace to this world.