Rehearsal for the Demon Lord

“Was splitting the Queen in two a mistake?”

A report arrived from the Queen on the Dazturdia continent: an army was advancing.

No movement from the Kasanagala continent in response.

The intent was clear—concentrate forces on one side and break through by force.

Sophia’s reaction to this: well, one could hardly blame them for thinking that way.

“Still, if we’d left one side open, they’d have charged through it, wouldn’t they?”

She replied with a dry smile.

The Divine Word Church had established transfer arrays across multiple locations.

Even with some delay, moving troops to either side remained possible.

And even the time required for that transfer would be faster than deploying defensive forces from here.

In the end, the only option was to station defense units on both sides in advance.

“So, shall we recall the Queen on the currently idle side now?”

“That’s true. There’s also the possibility that ambush forces will strike the moment we recall the Queen on the Kasanagara continent side.”

It’s unlikely there’d be an entire army hidden, but a small, elite assault unit isn’t out of the question.

Especially since the ancient dragons on their side would require a Queen-class entity to face off on equal terms.

“Being on the defensive is at a disadvantage, then.”

“Not necessarily.”

The defensive side actually has more advantages.

The offensive side only holds an edge in being able to choose when and where to attack.

In other words, the initial choice—this first move—is the offensive side’s only advantage, and the last.

Now that it’s over, only disadvantages remain.

Even if we waste a Queen-class unit, I don’t believe we’ll get anything in return.

"Still, the battle has only just begun. Simply buying time here brings us closer to victory conditions. Let's call it a leisurely delay tactic, shall we?"

The Elrow Great Labyrinth is vast.

Moving from the upper levels down to this lowest layer would take considerable time, even without obstacles.

Even the vertical shafts that could serve as shortcuts are already secured.

If they come walking in there, it's more convenient for us.

Progressing through the main route will only waste their time. Attempting a shortcut means they’ll be eliminated at the entrance.

Either way, it makes no difference.

"Still, they’re gathering quite a number over there, aren’t they?"

Sophia gazes toward some distant point.

Not exactly looking—more like observing.

Vampires possess abilities akin to duplication. She’s likely using one of those to monitor Melazofis’s condition on the surface.

"They have nothing left to lose. They must be pushing recklessly hard."

Expected the attack to come a little later, but it arrived far sooner than anticipated.

The recklessness involved was foreseeable.

Yet, likely, that was the correct move for them.

The quicker they act, the more advantageous it becomes for them.

No—better to say they acted before disadvantage became inevitable.

As time passes, the chaos among people will increase proportionally.

After all, every human being has had the Taboo installed.

Just the presence of the Taboo evokes aversion.

Viewing the Taboo menu causes severe mental distress.

Thus, most people avoid looking at it, diverting their eyes as much as possible.

But this cannot continue indefinitely.

The compulsive thoughts emanating from the Taboo.

Resistance to them cannot last forever.

Eventually, one cannot help but confront the contents of the Taboo.

And once the contents are seen, the compulsive thoughts emanating from the Taboo will be driven into the mind. The very content designed to provoke guilt.

That will introduce hesitation into the blades aimed at us.

Probably, as time passes, the number of supporters on our side will increase.

Or perhaps suicides.

And once that happens, the nations will descend into chaos. Fighting will no longer be possible.

The Pope moved swiftly, before that outcome could occur, forcing a quick decisive battle.

No time to think—yet still, the optimal move is executed.

As expected, or perhaps not—opposing them is an extreme inconvenience.

"Our victory condition is simply to buy time. Shiro is currently working within this system to trigger its collapse. Until that is complete, we hold this position. Simple, right?"

I point to the door seated behind me.

This is the deepest innermost chamber of the Elrow Great Labyrinth.

The door standing there is the core of this world’s system.

The place where Lady Syriell resides.

“Conversely, the Pope’s victory condition is to reach this location before the system’s collapse begins, and have those with dominion authority act as keys to lock the system’s collapse.”

In other words, if we are breached, it means our defeat.

“Still, the outcome of Shiro’s battle with Gurye may alter things, but regardless, our course of action remains unchanged.”

We believe in Shiro’s victory. We defend this position.

We do what we can.

Simple.

“Hm…”

Sophia frowns, her expression clouded by thought.

“Is there something troubling you?”

“While we’re fine… what about Uncle Dustin and the others? What are they planning?”

“I just said—”

Did she not listen at all?

"Not the conditions for victory. I mean what happens after this battle ends."

"After this battle ends?"

"Isn't the method your uncle Dustin and the others are using flawed?"

"Ah."

He accepted it without argument.

Indeed, that had been troubling me as well.

The Pope's objective is our suppression—maintaining the system as it has been.

Sariel is nearing her limit.

They plan to have Guriel step in as her successor, unleashing all of Guriel's power to reach the designated energy threshold.

But that is impossible.

Human souls are already nearing their limit, just as Sariel is.

Sariel reaching her limit means humanity's souls have reached theirs as well.

If that occurs, reincarnation will become impossible until humanity’s souls recover, and the population of this world will continue to decline.

As the population decreases, the amount of energy the system can harvest will also decrease.

Continuing to operate the system at normal capacity will inevitably lead to further decline.

"Eight out of ten, the Pope is hiding something from us."

"Hiding something?"

Nods.

"The Pope must be aware of this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be counting on some way to balance the system."

The Pope?

That monster wouldn’t deliberately choose a path leading to collapse.

There must be some method he’s devised.

"How?"

"Who knows. If I knew, I wouldn’t be in this situation."

Shrugs.

"Still, the fact that he’s hiding it means it’s not favorable for us."

Yes.

If he is hiding it from us, then it is something unfavorable for us.

It is certain that it is something detrimental to us.

"Hmm. So we should just crush it entirely, is that it?"

"Simply put, yes."

We do not know what the Pope is planning.

But our course of action remains unchanged.

"Then, let us observe the human performance."