That day, I had been on a different continent since morning.
Hovering in the sky, I looked down upon the land below.
My gaze fell where two armies were on the verge of clashing.
One was led by a self-proclaimed savior.
Inciting an invasion of a neighboring country under the pretext of subduing heretics.
He was originally a bishop of the church, and now reportedly holds a high position in the military as well.
The other army belonged to the nation that had received the declaration of war.
They had come out for defense, but it seemed they intended to advance if the opportunity arose.
They coveted the underground resources lying beyond the border.
Before long, arrows were loosed from both sides.
The front-line soldiers were using firearms.
Though the initial volley claimed its share of casualties, neither army showed any sign of halting their attack.
On the contrary, they were gradually closing the distance.
They intended to push this into close-quarters combat, no doubt.
Both armies were thinking the same thing.
(Warning them to stop would be pointless.)
I raised the weapon I carried on my shoulder.
It was a type of firearm called a sniper rifle.
It was developed in the lab, based on the memories of John Doe.
I had brought it along this time to conduct performance testing.
I filled the loaded bullet with miasma.
The sniper rifle turned black, creaking with a small sound as if in agony.
The burden of the miasma seemed to spread, causing it to scream.
Peering through the scope, I took aim within the magnified field of view.
Then I pulled the trigger and fired.
The ultra-high-speed bullet struck the chest of the Savior commanding the army.
In that instant, his upper body burst apart.
Flesh and organs flew in all directions, scattering.
Of course, it was instant death.
There would be no resurrection.
In response to the Savior's death, the army he led descended into panic.
The chain of command disorganized, and they scattered.
The opposing nation was attempting to seize that opportunity to attack.
I swiftly called down black lightning from overhead.
Filled with miasma, it incinerated the people, transforming them into undead.
The undead attacked both armies, forcing them to retreat.
Despite suffering tremendous casualties, they returned to their own territory.
In the end, they withdrew without being able to pursue either army.
(That should deter the war for a while.)
I lowered the sniper rifle after viewing the scene on the ground.
Originally, this was a region where the Demon Lord's Army held little influence.
Conflicts had apparently been ceaseless since the era of the previous Demon Lord.
With this, they should have understood somewhat.
In the present age, there was no room for humans to fight among themselves.
I gathered the undead wandering the battlefield and teleported them to the nearest Demon Lord's Army outpost.
Coincidentally, the local subordinates had been clamoring about a shortage of forces.
With numbers like these handed over, the problem should be resolved.
The Savior's reputation was explosively increasing across the lands.
The rumors were spreading at an abnormal speed.
In some circles, they were even being deified.
It was also common for prominent humans or those in power to claim the title of Savior.
In short, they were using it for political and religious reasons.
This was further accelerating the progression of events.
Moreover, those calling themselves the Savior would sometimes launch military campaigns.
The battle I had just stopped was one such example.
I didn't mind if they pointed their spears at the Demon Lord's Army, but I could not overlook it being used for humans to slaughter one another.
That is why I was compelled to intervene like this.
Hiding the Savior's existence was no longer possible.
The Demon Lord's Army had attempted information manipulation, but the truth had spread across the world.
Now, the Savior was synonymous with hero.
Their renown had surpassed even that of the heroes of old.
By its very nature, the title did not necessarily denote strength.
However, the more individuals proclaimed themselves saviors, the greater the proportionate increase in heroic deeds and exploits.
As a result, the value of the savior as a concept was elevated ever higher.
Those who heard tales of splendid heroic exploits harbored admiration, awe, or a fierce sense of rivalry.
Those most deeply affected would take up the mantle of savior themselves and imitate their activities.
This cycle was repeating itself over and over.
(To think it would reach this level of development in such a short time...)
The cause lay in the people's desperate hunger for heroes, the amorphous nature of rumors, and the very resonance of the word "savior" itself.
Various elements had aligned with miraculous compatibility.
This was the true nature of the world's will at work.
That said, it was not entirely a negative development.
In conclusion, the Demon Lord's army had been able to exploit this situation.
Turning the saviors' influence against them, they maneuvered them into taking the initiative in targeting the Demon Lord's army.
Spies and intelligence operatives planted within the nations worked in the shadows, manipulating the situation thoroughly.
Furthermore, the Demon Lord's army's invasions applied just the right degree of pressure.
Those who felt a sense of crisis responded by standing against the immediate threats pressing in around them.
Even before saviors appeared, the people had longed for the return of heroes.
That very desire had given rise to the present situation.
If one were to trace the current of that desire, then a savior was "the hope for subjugating the Demon Lord, second only to a hero."
Left alone, the situation would inevitably lead to my extermination.
The Demon King's Army acted with that foresight.
Having realized that the emergence of saviors could not be halted, they devoted their efforts to adjusting the circumstances.
Through various covert manipulations, they guided people toward a form closer to their ideal.
While conflicts among humans, like the one just now, could not be completely eliminated, their frequency had diminished compared to before the appearance of saviors.
Some nations even formed alliances and non-aggression pacts, united by the common goal of subjugating the Demon King.
The current of the world was flowing as I intended.
It mattered not how many saviors there were.
As long as they rallied the people and prevented wars between nations, it was highly convenient.
Though they might not be aware of it themselves, it was a fine act of cooperation.
In a sense, they were like allies to me.
Overall, the saviors were living up to their name through their actions.
I could only hope they would continue contributing to peace in such a manner.