I froze at Grom's words.
It defied my expectations, yet I felt little surprise.
Scratching my temple, I straightened my posture and questioned him.
"Tell me everything. What exactly happened?"
"Yes, Sire. Actually..."
The apologetic Grom began to recount the situation.
It seemed that a succession of self-proclaimed Saviors had appeared across the continent where the riots broke out.
According to reports from our spies, bards were the ones who had disseminated the tale.
Moreover, they were reportedly embellishing and distorting the narrative.
They claimed the Savior was a Nameless Hero.
That multiple such heroes existed, aiding the people from the shadows.
They preached that everyone possessed the potential—that anyone who accumulated enough Good Deeds could become the Savior.
And that those who did would be granted a blessing of the soul.
Caught up in the fervor, several humans had begun styling themselves as Saviors.
Once the spies detected the trend, they relayed the information to me through Grom.
"I see. This is problematic."
"Forgive me. If only I had set the plan in motion sooner..."
"There is no need for apologies. My own projections were too optimistic."
The rumors had spread with a speed that defied logic. It was unnatural.
Even accounting for the bards, the influence felt far too potent.
The Will of the World was likely at play.
The collective yearning for a hero had triggered the Savior's emergence.
Regardless, the fact remained that we had failed to preempt it.
(Surely not all of them take the title seriously.)
Essentially, it was a fad—little more than entertainment.
A game for commoners to indulge in the fantasy of being heroes.
Under normal circumstances, it would be harmless, but in the present climate, it was the most toxic of developments.
The Will of the World preyed upon such trivial possibilities, weaving them into impossible outcomes.
Reason carries no weight with a mass of pure desire.
The title of Savior, claimed so widely, had begun to manifest a tangible weight.
It wouldn't be long before one of them truly awakened. In fact, some might have already acquired Absurd Capabilities.
With a clear grasp of the situation, I issued my command to Grom.
"Abort the plan to manufacture our own Savior from the spy. Tell them to resume their standard operations."
"As you command. And what of the others—those calling themselves the Savior?"
"Hmm..."
I weighed his question for a moment before meeting his gaze.
"Grom, what would you do in my stead?"
"I, My Lord...?"
Grom looked taken aback, tapping the side of his skull as he pondered.
At last, his voice thick with simmering malice, he gave his answer.
"—I would slaughter them all immediately. They are insolent wretches who have dared to interfere with our designs. They offer no benefit to the Demon King's Army while they breathe."
"Is that so?"
"It appears you hold a different view, Demon King-sama."
"Indeed. I will not kill them. I intend to use this situation to our advantage."
Genocide is simple, but at this stage, it would be meaningless.
Worse, it might actually backfire.
Massacres only stoke the public's fear and resentment, which in turn would only strengthen their desperate cry for a Savior.
Regardless, our original strategy is dead. We must pivot.
My thoughts solidified, and I gave Grom his new instructions.
"Unmask every self-proclaimed Savior and put them under constant surveillance. We shall make them cooperate in our pursuit of World Peace."
"By your will! I shall see to it at once."
Grom moved with sharp, decisive agility as he left the chamber.
His presence surged out of the castle, vanishing into the distance in a heartbeat.
"..."
I shifted my attention behind me.
Luciana was perched on the open windowsill.
She had revealed herself the moment Grom departed. No doubt she’d been eavesdropping on our entire exchange.
Luciana let out a long, theatrical sigh.
"Well, this is a mess. You’re starting to get on the Will of the World’s bad side, aren't you, Darling?"
"I can hardly argue with that."
The Will of the World had thwarted me many times before.
I had hoped to outwit it this time, but it seemed it wouldn't yield so easily.
Luciana stepped into the room and draped an arm over my shoulder, leaning in to whisper against my ear.
"There, there. Leave the logistics to me. Failures are just part of the process."
"You're right. I don't have the luxury of brooding."
I never expected perfection. I had accounted for the possibility of things going sideways.
This surge of Saviors is a curveball, certainly, but it's not insurmountable.
We have the strength and the experience to handle this.
"We will reclaim our momentum. We are the ones who steer the course of this world."
"Oh, I love it! Declarations like that give me the shivers."
Luciana purred, licking her lips with delight.
She wasn't discouraged by the setback; if anything, it had only fanned the flames of her spirit.
Her unyielding resolve was something I would do well to emulate.
This time, I will truly surpass the Will of the World.