"To put a stop to the illusive savior, we need a strong hero. Do you understand up to this point?"
Gwen asked, her tone becoming slightly more serious.
It was Dolda who reacted to that.
The wolf-headed man nodded with a growl.
"Understood... explanation... was clear."
"We got an unexpected response. Thank you."
Gwen bowed her head with a pleased expression. Seated at the round table, she raised her index finger.
"However, one problem arises here. What do you think it is?"
"That there isn't a hero sufficient to make the illusive savior disappear. That's what you mean, isn't it?"
"As expected of the former Demon King. An excellent answer."
In response to Diera's words, Gwen snapped her fingers and laughed.
Spreading her hands wide as she spoke.
"Since you're shouldering the hope of the entire world, an ordinary hero won't have the power. Inevitably, one must surpass the vessel of the illusive savior."
Next, Gwen pointed at Henry.
And stated flatly.
"Mr. Blarkin, even a hero of your caliber is not yet sufficient."
"That's unfortunate."
Henry shrugged lightly.
He seemed rather disinterested.
He probably doesn't want to become a hero.
(But even Henry is not enough...?)
I ponder the meaning of that and am struck anew with wonder.
Henry is one of the world's foremost powerhouses.
He was a candidate for the Demon Lord's subjugation.
Even among the ever-growing forces of the current Demon Lord's army, he reigns supreme as the strongest, despite being merely human.
Just the other day, Henry repelled the False Savior.
I had heard from Gwen beforehand that it wasn't solely due to forcing an enemy army into a disadvantageous position.
In his case, it seemed related to the strong brilliance of a hero.
To put it bluntly, it refers to Henry's influence on the battlefield.
The higher that influence climbs, the more power the False Savior loses.
What the False Savior symbolizes is the absence of a hero.
Henry uses his own exploits to negate that.
On the battlefield the other day, those factors coincidentally overlapped, leading to the successful repulsion.
However, even Henry, with such high aptitude, apparently cannot meet the conditions.
The required ideal is far too lofty.
"If I've explained this much, you must understand by now. There is only one hero who can surpass the False Savior. Needless to say, it is the previous Hero!"
Gwen announced happily.
Lying sprawled across the Round Table, she continued her free-spirited monologue.
"She has the world's greatest achievements as a hero. Isn't that right, Diera?"
"Mm-hmm. Toppling me would be a monumental feat indeed."
Diera nodded, not exactly displeased.
She was holding back with a frown, but a smile seemed ready to slip out.
Ignoring that reaction, Gwen patted my shoulder.
"Our Harvelt has achieved Demon Lord subjugation as well, but that's because he's an active Demon Lord. If you serve as both humanity's nemesis and the world's hope all at once, who knows what might happen? Frankly, it doesn't seem manageable."
I thought the same.
I am the Sage who slew the Demon Lord, and I possess sufficient qualifications to become a hero.
However, I should stop pretending to be one.
It's too far-fetched, and there's a risk of unexpected phenomena occurring.
It feels like it would inevitably collapse.
The power granted by the world's will should be channeled appropriately.
I'd prefer to avoid becoming something akin to a Demon Lord.
"..."
I suddenly turned my attention to the Great Spirit.
She had been silent for a while now.
Quietly listening to Gwen's words.
Given her nature, if she had any objections, she would have spoken up immediately.
Saying nothing meant she likely acknowledged Gwen's perspective.
"I can state this with certainty: there is no one more suitable than the previous hero. Focusing the people's wishes upon the resurrected her, and eliminating the empty savior figure with no role to play—did you grasp the flow of things?"
Having finished speaking, Gwen's smile deepened.
Though her tone was light, a cunning nature flickered in those eyes.
Despite being the weakest in the room, Gwen stood her ground with composure.
If anything, she seemed to be enjoying herself.
The executives were completely captivated by her story, none displaying their usual lax attitudes.
The beast from the other world held the room firmly in her grasp with superior eloquence.