I made my way to the basement of the Research Institute to see Gwen.
I needed to consult her regarding the recent turn of events. Gwen was one of the few people who truly understood the Will of the World; as a Beast of the Outside World, she had a lifetime of experience in devising countermeasures against it. I was certain she would have some answers for me.
When I teleported into the room, Gwen was dozing on a sofa. It felt as though she was always there. Sensing my presence, she woke up and sat up with a cheerful expression.
"Well, well! You’ve come to see me quite early this time. Have I finally secured the heroine slot?"
"You are mistaken."
"As clinical as ever, I see. Though I suppose that’s what makes you Harvelt-san."
Gwen stood up sluggishly and moved to a different sofa, beckoning me to the seat opposite her. It seemed she wanted to conduct our conversation there. I followed her lead and sat down.
Leaning forward, Gwen immediately cut to the chase. "Since you’re here, I assume some trouble has cropped up?"
"Exactly. I want your perspective."
I explained the sequence of events as they had unfolded. Gwen listened with interest, nodding along, but halfway through, she pressed a hand to her mouth. I could see a smile twisted with dark amusement peeking through. The situation wasn't particularly funny, yet her eyes were sparkling.
Once I finished, Gwen leaned back into the cushions. She let out a long breath, her face colored by a look of slight exasperation.
"A massacre of Saviors, huh? Goodness... every single one of those deaths sounds like something out of a comedy sketch. Isn't it all a bit too surreal?"
"Why did this happen? Do you know the cause?"
"I have an idea," Gwen replied instantly.
Despite her playful demeanor, her eyes were cold and analytical. She must have been processing the information and forming a theory as I spoke. She truly was a person one could not afford to underestimate.
Crossing her legs, Gwen lowered her voice slightly. "To put it simply, they weren't Savior’s Vessels. The reason they were pulled toward their Fate of Death was essentially a rejection reaction."
"A rejection reaction?"
Gwen nodded at my question. She began to explain, using animated hand gestures.
"The threat of the current Demon King has reached new heights, and the public's cry for a hero has grown louder in turn. This means the existential value of a 'hero' has skyrocketed. However, individuals claiming to be Saviors began popping up all over the world, turning the title into something commonplace. It goes without saying that the overall quality plummeted."
Gwen’s assessment was correct. While many Saviors had appeared across the lands, they weren't all exceptional individuals. Common mercenaries often adopted the title, and it wasn't rare for villains to exploit the name for their own ends. The public's perception of these Saviors varied wildly. In terms of actual capability, the standard had undoubtedly fallen. If one were to survey the global opinion on these Saviors, the feedback wouldn't have been entirely positive.
"Even as they grew enthusiastic about the Saviors' activities, the people must have realized the truth—that a Savior of that caliber could never defeat the Demon King. I'm certain that thought took root in the depths of their hearts."
"And that collective disappointment triggered this mass death?"
"I believe so. Perhaps there were a few people worthy of being heroes mixed in there, but it looks like they were all discarded in one fell swoop. How tragic."
Gwen offered her sympathy with a half-smirk. It was blatantly obvious she didn't mean a word of it. From her perspective, the death of the Saviors was a source of entertainment, and she made no effort to hide it.
I didn't find her reaction particularly irritating, however. I was the one who had chosen to consult her, and I knew her personality well. I had come to rely on her knowing full well that her tastes were morbid.
Regardless of her personality, her brilliance was undeniable. Gwen surely knew what path we should take in this situation, and I intended to hear every last bit of her insight.