A few days later, I stood on the castle balcony.
From my vantage point, I looked down over the Royal Capital. It was so peaceful that one would never guess the entire world had its sights set on this land. The bustling city continued to thrive and expand today, just as it always did.
"......"
I watched the people go about their daily lives as I pondered. Lately, my mind had been occupied by a single subject. It was a constant source of worry.
As I stood there lost in thought, Luciana approached and leaned her chin on her hands against the balcony railing.
"You're thinking about that Savior, aren't you?"
"You're quite perceptive."
"Well, when it comes to your recent troubles, that’s really the only thing on the list."
Luciana let out a whistle. The clear, melodious note was carried away by the wind. After a brief silence, she continued.
"Is it really something to worry about that much? Maybe helping people is just in fashion right now. Do-gooders are everywhere, after all."
"I am inclined to agree."
"Then why the long face?"
At Luciana’s question, I turned to face her.
"Because the collective will of the masses sometimes takes physical form."
"You mean the Will of the World."
"Yes. That is what I am wary of."
The Will of the World is constructed from the desires of the people. When simple wishes congregate, they can transform into a massive power. It is a troublesome phenomenon that does not take consequences into account. It can even trigger events that lead to humanity's ultimate demise, simply because that is what the people subconsciously desire.
Luciana groaned, her face twisting into a troubled expression as she proposed a solution.
"If you’re that worried, why not just wipe the city off the map?"
"That would be senseless slaughter. If I were to commit such an outrage in an occupied territory, rebellions would break out across the entire Demon King's Domain."
Conflict would erupt in the very domain I had worked so hard to keep peaceful. Once started, such a fire would be difficult to extinguish. Furthermore, the public’s desire for the Demon King Subjugation would surge. The Will of the World would use that as fertile soil to bring forth a Hero.
If it were only that, I could manage. The real danger lay in the risk of inducing an event that could result in the destruction of the world itself. The Demon King's Domain was currently at the perfect scale. Maintaining this while adjusting public order was the best course of action. Manipulating the global situation was a vital task.
As I worked through these scenarios, Luciana looked at me with an air of pity.
"Your way of doing things is truly exhausting. Lady Diera was relatively simple by comparison, so it makes your approach feel even more complicated."
"...Compared to Diera, anyone would seem to be having a hard time."
"Wow, that's a harsh dig. I think she’d cry if she heard you say that."
Luciana laughed in her usual casual manner. Then, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, she spoke up.
"If you're worried about the Will of the World getting involved, I think seeking the Great Spirit's advice might be an option."
"After the Beast incident, the Great Spirit entered a state of dormancy. Unless a major problem occurs, she likely won't wake up for a long time."
A year ago, the Defense Mechanisms—the Great Spirit included—had been remarkably active. Even looking back through history, an event of that magnitude was rare; one would have to go back as far as the Mythological Age to find anything comparable. As a result of that exertion, she was expected to remain inactive for the foreseeable future.
In fact, not a single Defense Mechanism had activated in the past year. Depending on the circumstances, there was a possibility she would remain dormant for several decades.
However, Luciana shook her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
"I bet she’d jump right out of bed if the Demon King called her. For all we know, she might already be awake."
"She is a Defense Mechanism that protects the world. We are not exactly friends; she isn't someone I can just call up on a whim."
"There's no harm in trying, right? Go on, give her a call."
"......"
For some reason, Luciana refused to budge. I didn't quite understand why, but she seemed to have some sort of conviction. Since she was insisting this much, I figured there was no harm in testing her theory.
First, I established a Telepathy link with Yura. Through her, I sent my voice to the Great Spirit.
"Great Spirit. I have a small favor to ask—"
"What is it?"
A voice spoke from immediately behind me. I turned to find the Great Spirit already there, possessing Yura’s body. She had appeared with startling speed. As a consequence of her sudden manifestation, the office desks in the room had been overturned, and countless documents were fluttering through the air.
Seeing the Great Spirit, Luciana let out a knowing giggle.
"See? She rushed right over."
"I did not 'rush.' I merely responded to the Demon King's summons."
The Great Spirit cut Luciana off mid-sentence. Though her expressions were hard to read, I could tell she was looking at Luciana with a hint of displeasure. Luciana herself simply muttered, "I'll leave you two to it," and dropped off the balcony with a graceful movement.
She took off, flying away into the distance and leaving us alone. It seemed she was being considerate enough to give us space for our conversation.
(I didn't expect her to actually manifest, but this works out well.)
I looked toward the Great Spirit. She was well-versed in the workings of the Will of the World. She might be able to provide some clues regarding this "Savior."
I felt slightly guilty for summoning a Defense Mechanism over such a localized matter, but since she was here, I intended to make the most of the opportunity.