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“Multiple monsters are currently heading for Luneville.”

I wrote down the types and directions of movement of the monsters heading for us on the paper.

Fortunately, they were mostly slow types and there were no villages in their way, so as long as we set up a proper interception structure it shouldn’t be hard to handle it.

Ector sensed that too and his tension lessened a little.

“Maybe we should head out straight away once we’re ready so it doesn’t lead to them being summoned in a chain.”
“Well… It should take them some time to call new ones, so now that the root has been eliminated, it would be good to prioritize subjugating them on encounter.”
“Looks like we can narrow down the personnel selection too.”

Ector suddenly sighed as we reached a conclusion.

It seemed like he didn’t realize it himself and only noticed it from my gaze and smiled wryly.

“As humans increase, they increase in proportion and bare their fangs at them. Since they transform and call their friends, we can’t even examine them properly. Monsters really are… dangerous beings.”
“Indeed…”

In a manner of speaking that was their “power” which was created to be the enemy of all lifeforms.

But putting it differently, they wouldn’t function as the “enemies of lifeforms” unless they did something like that.

“Humans too can defeat enemies that they couldn’t on their own by cooperating. From their point of view, it’s probably quite troublesome that 1+1 is not necessarily 2 when it comes to humans.”

Luneville was saved because of that too.

“Yeah… you’re right. Unfortunately for the monsters that came to help their comrades, we too will protect ours.”
“Indeed.”

This interpretation was quite like him. I agreed as a smile leaked from me.

…Still, what connects humans can turn into discord from the slightest of differences, and trust and friendship turn into distrust and hatred.

If the conflict is the result of their mutual attempt at establishing distance, I couldn’t meddle in it like it was a simple commission.

I didn’t know what the human supremacists were planning… I mean, I did learn a little when I used Detection… but I hope that they don’t do anything hastily.

The series of turmoil that started with the detection of the monsters ended within a week.

Officially, at least.

“The aim of the human supremacists, you ask?”

Frank and Ector responded to my words with strong nods.

Presently, we were in the middle of a meeting where we were deciding on our plans according to our predictions based on the information we obtained from the trader we caught the other day.

According to the trader’s testimony, the monsters this time started transforming after a week.

They were apparently planning to do a reinvestigation of things including the cause of the contradiction with the previous investigation where they concluded it would be fine to carry in the monsters within two weeks of capture.

Well, I think the cause is almost certainly a demon.

I don’t know if it possessed the trader, but the demons have Spirit Eyes, so they would know who holds malice even without possessing them.

Thus it wouldn’t be strange if they just lent their hand to utilize that.

What I didn’t get was why demons would target Luneville.

Even if the daytime full of Lumicules weakened them, I don’t get why they abandoned manipulating the monsters midway without even confirming the results, and I just can’t imagine this not being related to an evil god.

“Honestly, the supremacists are getting more and more active lately. We don’t have a clear enough picture of this incident to state that it was done just to stir up trouble.”

Ector said with a frown, oblivious to the fact that I was internally sighing from this bothersome situation.

In the end, I think not reaching the ringleader through the trader would have lasting effects.

The supremacists, huh…

“Currently, of the four ordinal and four ocean kingdoms, the Holy Raihand Empire is the only human supremacist.”
“Are you suggesting that Raihand is leading terrorists into different kingdoms?”
“I won’t go that far… but I have heard that things are pretty risky even with the Union.”

The vice-branch master was the one who said it, and he seemed to be quite close with Frank.

However, seeing how Frank was pondering, it seems that the vice-branch master’s monologue was only for my ears.

Perhaps it was uncertain information with no possible measure at this stage, so he just shared it to see how I would act.

“Did they intend to have the arena, which could build up the Guild’s strength, shut down…?”
“Did they aim at Rondoville, which had shallow mix-race history… no, if they did…”

It seemed that the two’s thoughts reached a dead end, they kept bringing up and denying suppositions.

It didn’t seem like they would come to a settlement, so I commented about it while pouring them tea.

“It seems like you are starting to suspect anything and everything.”

They suddenly raised their faces at my words.

And then they looked at each other and smiled wryly, perhaps only noticing each other’s expressions now.

“…You’re right. All we can do at this stage is to prepare so we can take measures no matter what happens.”
“Yeah. We don’t have to hurt them. As long as we have the power to protect ourselves, that’s enough.”

The two smiled wryly as their decision turned out to be unexpectedly simple, and so did I as I observed them.

I’m sure Luneville will be fine for as long as these two govern it.

But still, enough power to protect, huh…

“Illya, another cup p-… what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”

I smiled at him and refilled his cup.

If demons or an evil god were plotting something here, I couldn’t just remain silent.

It’s a good chance, so perhaps… I should have them build up that strength to protect.