''I mean, all that stuff about manipulating reality... it seems too powerful even for Buezrith, right?'' Chloe reasons, ''If she can do that, the Heavenly Demon, who's leagues stronger, absolutely can, but he doesn't. It doesn't add up at all.''
''Yeah. There's something else we don't know.'' I reply, ''What do you think?''
''I rekon Buezrith's objective isn't the holy sword. That's just too gimmicky. Besides, she let you carry it back anyway, right? And if all the reality-changing events are not specifically made to torment the heroine, then... those occurrences might be a side-effect of something Buezrith has been doing.''
''They are not worth the effort, you say?
''Well? We can only speculate. Seriously, where's that Goddess of Nihility when we need her...''
Right.
The other me has been away, as she usually is, but I'd expected her to show up just once. She probably has the explanations we want, after all. Whether her silence is a message to me or not... I'm not sure.
Either way, there are things I need to tend to right now, so let's think about this while I'm doing them.
First of all, since the world is still terribly hostile to us, we can't stay idle.
I'm not invading the world or anything, but Zircon needs to prepare for possible raids. To them, the territory must look like a bountiful, unexplored land anyway.
Dealing with individual adventurers or even private armies of noble houses is fine, but it'll be hard to go against the imperial military... because I can't really kill them off, can I?
Thankfully enough, I already collected the grandmasters, lest the battles become much more treacherous.
''So, here's what we are going to do.''
In front of Zircon's collective forces, I say solemnly, ''We must scare them away.''
'''' ... ''''
A rather awkward silence passes before Nydia finally raises her hand, ''Um... what do you mean by that?''
''It doesn't have deeper meanings. We can't cause casualties, and fighting while holding back like that is rather difficult, so we must make them reluctant to attack us.''
''Huh... would that work...?''
Nydia's doubtful attitude is perhaps natural, but that's only because she hasn't experienced it herself.
''I think it's the right approach.'' Chloe, our nominal strategist, interjects, ''Ask Claire and her little teammates—they'll tell you how Aurora 'pranks' people. It's a shame she's not here, though.''
Claire is resting, of course.
And what do you imply with that smug face?
Sighing, I speak, ''As long as the opponents are human, there will be ways to do it. Just follow my orders properly.''
So, all of Zircon subsequently goes into defensive mode.
The forces are distributed evenly, with each region's ruler temporarily assigned to their original territory. Since there will be intruders from all directions, we have to thin out our manpower, which is a problem. If, say, the imperial military's elites decide to thrust in from one angle, we might be in trouble.
That's why credible intelligence is important. Of course, Sikare is already handling this front quite well.
There's no place in the empire that we can't reach.
I have also instructed everyone to strictly follow the protocols—focus on terrifying and confusing the enemies, not defeating them. Create anomalies, create disorganized sightings, and create impressions as grotesque and traumatizing as possible.
So that they won't ever touch this place again.
Admittedly, this approach is somewhat cruel on my part, considering the lasting psychological effects they might bear, but it's what I have to do. Even if the world returns to its original state later, these lasting fears will forever cement and become our greatest defense.
''Stay here for a few moments... alright? I'll make sure to protect our land.''
After gathering mama owl and her children into the Backrooms, I set out to face the intruders.
For the first few days, only independent scouts and reckless adventurers dare to enter Zircon, most through West Zircon. Perhaps they think this side is the most 'normal' among the regions.
The majority scrambles away the moment they encounter the artificial monsters and anomalies we create. Many fall for the fog wall that keeps them going in circles. Even the slight uncanniness in the atmosphere is done really well. The little tremblings of the dry tree branches, the distant howls of unknown beasts, or the utmost silence lingering... I'm honestly impressed.
The most effective trap is unironically just Ash, the weeping angel. Even though it merely gives people a greeting with a wide smile each time they turn away, that's already enough to make their heart jumps out of their chests.
Jumpscares are much more effective in real life, after all.
Sikare's swamp and Nova's snowy land receive the fewest visitors thanks to their inherent terrain, while Kyomu's bamboo forest somehow becomes a popular talking point.
''Hm...''
Thinking about the abnormally large number of ghosts wandering there... I'm not surprised.
I feel like a game developer reviewing testers' feedback.
But from that point onward, people seem to have improved their strategies. We're not going against mindless idiots, and we let them go back every time, so it's natural they figure out the way to break through our traps.
Moreover, now that the preluding phase is over, stronger opponents have appeared as well.
The ordinary monsters, namely zombies and skeletons, aren't enough to hold them back anymore.
''They're beating the crocs as well...''
''A noble's soldiers?''
Chewing her groan for a bit, Sikare nods her head, ''At this level of coordination, probably. They aren't your everyday adventurers, for sure.''
''Is it too early to enact phase two...''
''If we don't, they'll only increase their momentum, boss. Better jump straight into it and give them a nice beating now.''
''I guess that's true.''
So, the operation officially enters phase two—Physical Horror.
From this moment onward, all entities belonging to Zircon will have permission to significantly injure but not kill intruders, and a variety of new monsters, most of whom are experiments of Sikare and 049, will be released.
I can't wait to see their despair...
As intended, the wave of intruders has halted for a while.
They need to reconsider their approach when all of the people going into the forest come out with PTSD and a few broken bones, after all.
''Damn it! Where are the grandmasters when we need them?!''
A general slams the table, yet is unable to stir up the somber atmosphere.
I am now observing the meeting between Astra's emperor and his subordinates. Since Graham is no longer guarding this place, I can comfortably hide without any risk.
While most of the officers in the room act according to my estimates, the emperor himself seems a bit strange.
Is he affected by the change Buezrith has brought?
Even if he is not a prominent fighter, not even a master, he is the emperor, after all. His aura, his dominance as a ruler, is still there, a 'Majesty' alright in my eyes.
''Your Majesty! Please allow the imperial army to extinguish Zircon's evils!'' The general earlier pleads, ''We need not fear them!''
So this talk is already coming up...
Considering that in this world, the mentality that Zircon equals demons has already been established, it's not strange for this to be passed.
But the emperor remains wordless, his eyes distant.
What's going on? Is he somehow under a spell...?
''Your Majesty!''
Under everyone's urging, he finally relents, sighing,
''The imperial army... will not be moving this time.''
And this is quite interesting.