There was just one rule for the places I turned into the Deep Sea. They had to be places without people. That way, I didn't have to worry if there were people who hadn't evacuated.
But since I had to submerge the entire world, I eventually had to turn places with people into the Deep Sea as well. It seemed inevitable that discontent would build among the people who had watched the lands they lived on their whole lives sink beneath the water.
"Ugh, I'm sorry..."
"It's fine. I didn't expect them to resort to such measures."
I gently patted the head of a dust-covered Linmel, who was on the verge of tears. Not every nation had followed Sharmia's words with a simple, "Ah, yes. Understood," and entered the underground cities.
Some would rather die than watch their cities be submerged. And some went even further— "The outer god has finally graced us with his presence." —they saw me as an enemy. An open plain, with not a single tree to hide behind.
The knights all had their swords drawn. Not at me, but at the necks of other citizens, who wore resolute expressions. A pathetic threat.
Though it was a bit of a headache that the hostages were on their side too. From Linmel's perspective, it must have been difficult to do anything against such madmen. She was a knight, but she was still young.