"After all, this savior of ours is a figure inflated from trivial good deeds and exaggerated by bards. The image, fleshed out by people's delusions and rumors, continues to swell without limit. By the time the whole world knew of them, I doubt it was something any individual could lay claim to."
"Perhaps they couldn't withstand the weight of that name..."
The savior's origin was an act of kindness by an anonymous person.
It began with a small act of helping others.
Unrelated incidents piled up, forming a savior who did not exist.
Had the savior been real, the excessive rumors might have been kept in check.
But no such individual existed anywhere.
It was a fictional image born from being celebrated far beyond reason.
"The savior's sudden death is no one's fault. If I had to assign blame, I suppose you could call it humanity's own doing, couldn't you? To spread the word so freely and then be disappointed—don't you think that's the height of arrogance?"
Gwen's face, brimming with sadistic pleasure, held a thin smile.
She was scorning humanity from the depths of her heart.
She made no effort to hide the malice seeping from her.
This was her true nature.
"You seem to be enjoying this situation."
"Naturally. It has nothing to do with me, after all. There's nothing more delightful than another's misfortune. Ah, you think I'm wicked?"
"..."
I stared at Gwen in silence.
She was deliberately provoking my nerves.
She was enjoying my reaction.
To show anger would be to fall right into her trap.
Without raising my tone, I changed the subject.
"I believe this incident is some kind of harbinger. What do you think?"
"Yes, well... I basically agree, yes. Things are only going to get worse from here, aren't they?"
Gwen said, scratching her ear.
It was a nonchalant attitude, but her gaze was definitely occupied with thought.
She wasn't speaking without consideration.
I pressed her with more questions.
"What specifically will happen?"
"I can't say for certain, but a powerful foe will likely emerge."
"A powerful foe?"
When I said that, Gwen nodded.
She held up one finger on her right hand.
Spinning it as she spoke, she laid out her theory.
"The power of desire that the saviors couldn't fully contain has nowhere to go and is stagnating. It won't simply vanish. It will find some outlet and manifest."
"And the one who becomes that outlet will be the powerful foe?"
"Exactly right! As expected of you, Harvelt, your insight is sharp."
Gwen pointed her finger straight at me.
With a smile full of amusement, she continued.
"The voices demanding the Demon Lord's defeat, and the trend of excessively glorifying the saviors. Those dual elements form the will of this world right now. It's quite potent."
"It doesn't matter. I'll crush whoever or whatever it is."
I answered with unwavering composure.
The situation had reached a critical impasse.
I could no longer afford to be selective in my methods.
If it came to this, I would have to resolve matters forcibly myself.
Should a new enemy appear, I intended to eliminate them before they could act.
"You're brimming with confidence. Truly befitting of the Demon Lord."
Gwen spoke with nonchalant ease.
Even before my pressure, she remained composed.
Lying sprawled on the sofa, she laughed while moving her legs.
She seemed like an innocent child.
Yet her true nature was the very opposite of innocence.
I posed a question to her.
"I'd like to ask, but there are no countermeasures, are there?"
"Unfortunately, none. At this point, things have progressed beyond repair. Even if we forcibly suppress the World's Will here, it will only rampage again elsewhere. It would be prudent to let it vent for now."
"I see. Understood."
I rose from the sofa.
Then I turned to Gwen, who had fallen silent.
"–I intend to kill the World's Will. I will sever this fate here and now."
"Wait, that's a joke, right? You're not serious?"
"I am."
Hearing my answer, Gwen made a face as though she were crushing a bitter pill between her teeth.
Something about it displeased her.
It was an expression I had never seen from her before.
I couldn't have imagined it coming from the woman who always carried herself with such composure.
I made my declaration regardless.
"If anything stands in the way of world peace, I will not tolerate it—no matter what form it takes. I will eliminate it, without fail."
"No, no, it's impossible, I'm telling you. Doing that without destroying the world is absolutely out of the question. First, as a basic premise—"
"Making the impossible possible is my duty."
I cut her off as I spoke.
Gwen let out a long, heavy sigh.
From where she lay sprawled on the ground, she gazed up at me.
"...That's quite a difficult way to live. Don't you ever regret it, with how exhausting it must be?"
"As long as I haven't lost sight of my mission and can keep running like this, I have nothing to regret."
"And here I thought you were the intellectual type. You're quite the fool, aren't you."
"I'm well aware that I'm a fool."
I had stumbled and erred countless times to reach this point.
I didn't need anyone to tell me that.
But I had no intention of bending.
Because I believed this was right.
I turned on my heel.
There had been a decent haul, at least.
Further conversation was unnecessary for now.
Just before casting the transfer magic, I addressed Gwen.
"I may need to borrow your wisdom again. I'll count on you then."
"Sure, sure, I'm at your service. I've got no right to refuse, so I'll be happy to help, okay~?"
Gwen replied in a tone that was somewhat resigned.
I couldn't quite tell, but it seemed her feelings had shifted somehow.
Even if I asked, she probably wouldn't give a clear answer.
Sensing this, I used the transfer and left the scene.