(It was all quite absurd... but it must have been the truth.)
I cast a glance at Henry.
He was nonchalantly gnawing on a piece of grilled meat, washing it down with a drink that he seemed to find thoroughly satisfying. Even as we spoke, he showed no signs of stopping. If he weren't talking to me, he likely would have already wandered off to restock his plate from the grill.
Henry’s explanation had been vague, but I understood the gist of it.
As expected, he was an outlier.
He had instinctively detected the Imaginary Savior—an entity even I couldn't perceive—and had actually managed to repel it. Henry possessed no magical talent; his success was purely the result of his extraordinary natural intuition. Since he had contended with an existence that should have been impossible to recognize, successfully minimizing the casualties within the Demon King’s Army, his performance deserved nothing less than high praise.
Despite achieving such a feat, the man himself was frustrated.
"Anyway, it’s a real shame I let that attacker slip away. With your magic, Boss, do you think you could’ve finished him off?"
"It would likely have been difficult even with my power. Do not let it trouble you."
This wasn't meant as consolation; it was the simple truth. No matter the magnitude of my power, it was ineffective against the Imaginary Savior. I even doubted whether I could have repelled it as effectively as Henry had.
I wanted to share what I had learned from the Great Spirit, but this wasn't the place for it. Given the risk of third-party eavesdropping, I couldn't risk discussing it in the open.
I spoke to Henry in a low voice.
"Regarding the truth behind this incident, I will give you the details later."
"...Yeah, I’m looking forward to it, then."
Sensing my intent, Henry’s smile widened. Despite his notoriously free-spirited behavior, he was a man who knew how to read the room. He wouldn't have been capable of leading a massive army otherwise. He might have chosen to ignore social cues on occasion, but on the battlefield, he was a master at grasping and manipulating the flow of combat.
"Return the Demon King’s Army to base. There is no need for haste."
"Understood. I’ll contact you as soon as we’re done."
"Very well."
Having finished my instructions, I returned to the Audience Chamber via Teleportation. While checking the newly piled documents, I immediately opened a Telepathy link with Luciana.
"Do you have a moment?"
『Yees, what is it?』
"I wish to hold a meeting tonight. Do you have time?"
When I asked, there was a brief pause on the other end. She was likely adjusting her schedule in her mind. Before long, Luciana answered.
『That’s fine. I’ll make sure to clear my schedule.』
"Good. I’m counting on you."
With that, I ended the Telepathy. Luciana had agreed to attend without even asking for the purpose of the meeting. She must have sensed the gravity of the situation from my tone. I was grateful for her quick understanding; it saved us both time.
(I must contact the other Executives later as well.)
We would gather to discuss the situation and share reports. This was a major decision that would determine the course of the Demon King’s Army—no, the world itself. I could not decide this on my own authority.
There was a significant harvest from this investigation. I had gained a faint understanding of the Imaginary Savior Trait. After so long with no leads, I finally had a grasp of its outline. It was entirely thanks to Henry’s efforts.
The solution I had envisioned also seemed likely to be effective. More than just a simple fix, it had the potential to resolve all my current problems in one fell swoop. All that remained was to make the necessary preparations and carry it out.
Uncertain Factors still lingered, but I had no intention of hesitating. I would face this with resolve.