The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
A heavy tension settled over the chamber, stifling any casual conversation. Even those who had been acting flippantly fell silent.
Logan was the first to break the silence, his expression grim as he muttered to himself.
"The former Hero? Surely you don't mean..."
"Claire Baton. The hero who once struck down the previous Demon Lord," I declared firmly.
The most recent Hero was the young man I had killed myself shortly after becoming the Demon King—the youth who had awakened to the power of the holy sword. Therefore, to me, the "former Hero" could only ever refer to her.
"A name from the distant past..." Diera murmured, tilting her head back to look at the ceiling.
From where I stood, I couldn't see her face. I wondered what thoughts were crossing the mind of the former Demon Lord, but I decided it would be boorish to pry. I continued with the briefing.
"I intend to resurrect her. It is a goal I have envisioned since the very moment I became the Demon King."
I had wavered many times over whether I should fulfill this desire. Given my position, it was likely an act that should never be allowed to pass. However, I had already carved through those hesitations. My will was set. I had the facts to support my decision. There was no longer any reason to doubt.
In the periphery of my vision, Luciana leaned her cheek against her hand. She narrowed her eyes and looked at me.
"Solving three problems all at once? You certainly aren't lacking in ambition, are you? Do you really think you can pull it off?"
"The broad strokes of the strategy are decided. If the pieces fall into place, we will succeed without fail."
The research and analysis were already well underway. While I still needed to conduct experiments and preparations in stages, the entire process wouldn't take very long once set in motion.
At that point, Grom raised a hand.
"Demon King-sama. Might I ask a question?"
"Go ahead."
"Why must you achieve all three objectives simultaneously? Given the risks and the current climate, I humbly submit that it might be wiser to pursue these plans independently..."
Grom’s question was likely shared by almost everyone in the room. Without context, my decision must have seemed inexplicable. Specifically, the resurrection of that person appeared to have zero correlation with the other two goals. In terms of global politics, it was a matter that could easily be postponed. It was certainly not an issue that required an immediate resolution.
In truth, however, there was a deep connection. To ensure everyone understood, I addressed Grom’s concern.
"There is a rational reason for tackling all three at once. By linking them, the success rate of each individual objective increases. Allow me to explain the details."
No one interrupted. Every person in the room was focused entirely on my words. I began to lay out the strategy I had formulated.
"First, regarding the Imaginary Savior. After several investigations, I have identified its primary trait."
"A trait?" Henry asked, tilting his head as he finished his drink.
I nodded at his reaction.
"The Imaginary Savior is not an entity that brings salvation to humanity. It is strictly a phenomenon designed to dismantle the Demon King’s Army."
While its frequency and locations seemed irregular at first, I had found commonalities after cross-referencing countless reports of its appearances. There was no doubt that it was an enemy of our army, but it did not go out of its way to save humans, either. It would manifest abruptly, inflict heavy casualties on us, and then vanish. It displayed no other behavior, repeating the cycle while merely shifting the time and place.
Focusing on this, I had scrutinized the combat information regarding the Imaginary Savior. This revealed a peculiar condition.
There were several instances where it had intervened in battles between our forces and the armies of other nations. However, every single instance occurred only when the battle was at a near-stalemate. It never appeared when one side held a clear advantage, meaning it never actually led humanity to a come-from-behind victory. It could only manifest in situations where the outcome was uncertain.
This was one of the reasons Henry had been able to repel it. By swiftly routing the enemy army, he had removed the conditions necessary for the phenomenon to persist.
"The driving force behind the Imaginary Savior is the hope and prayers of the people. If the humans on the battlefield lose their hope, the phenomenon can no longer maintain its form."
On the battlefield, defeat is synonymous with death. In battles against our army, it often means being turned into a grotesque undead. People consumed by terror have no room for hope. Consequently, the Imaginary Savior loses its power.
I call it a Savior for the sake of convenience, but in reality, it is a phenomenon specialized entirely for slaughter. It does not actively try to save those who fear death; it merely happens to save them as a byproduct of its manifestation. In that regard, it is quite similar to a defense mechanism.
At this point, Yura raised her hand. Every eye in the room shifted from me to her. Undaunted by the attention, she spoke.
"Question for Master—I understand the traits and the method for repelling it, but that will not result in its total annihilation. How do you intend to deal with it permanently?"
"I was just getting to that. Come in."
I gave a signal.
There was a sound from the other side of the heavy doors. After a few polite knocks, the doors swung open slowly. The figure who entered the room skipped inside with an exaggerated, theatrical greeting.
"Haa-i, hello everyone! It's everyone's idol, Gwen-san!"