This was the final strategy meeting within this Singularity.
Looking back, in order to counter the threat of the Three Goddess Alliance, Rozen and Gilgamesh had come to a tacit understanding here and had held countless discussions. And now, at last, the time had come for the final battle.
This time, their opponent would be a great calamity surpassing even the Mage King, Solomon—a disaster that threatened the entire world of humankind.
Thus, everyone had gathered in the throne hall.
On Rozen's side stood Mash, Artoria [Alter], Jeanne [Alter], Hassan of Serenity, Ryougi Shiki, Ishtar, and Quetzalcoatl, all Servants under his contract.
On Gilgamesh's side remained the sole surviving Nobunaga, along with Jaguar Man, who had thrown in with them.
Adding to this, the staff of Chaldea, as well as Siduri and the priests, captains, soldiers, and scribes of Uruk, the hall was full. Yet those with the real authority to speak were none other than Rozen and Gilgamesh.
Gilgamesh wasted no words and went straight to the point.
"This operation's ultimate objective is to re-seal the goddess Tiamat."
That was the victory condition of this battle.
"Before long, the Sea of Life of the Creator Goddess will surge toward Uruk. With time, the Laḫmu will multiply exponentially. In the end, it is very likely the barrier will collapse before Tiamat even reaches Uruk, letting them pour inside." He turned to Rozen. "Chaldean, what is the maximum endurance of your barrier?"
This was something Rozen had already considered.
"It cannot withstand the assault of tens of millions of Laḫmu."
Rozen gave his answer without hesitation.
Quantity leads to qualitative change. Against tens of millions of Laḫmu throwing themselves to break through, even the barrier of Cleansing would eventually fall.
"Of course, I can reinforce the barrier's effect, but if I do, I'll be unable to free myself. By the time Tiamat arrives, I may not even have the strength left to fight her."
Rozen laid the facts bare.
If he invoked High-Grade Mana, he could indeed strengthen the Cleansing barrier. Even if faced with hundreds of millions of Laḫmu, he could hold them back.
But if he did so, he would have to channel High-Grade Mana every instant without pause, unable to fight, unable even to supply mana to his Servants or familiars.
And when Tiamat reached Uruk, what strength would remain in him then?
"My primary mission is to face Tiamat."
Rozen spoke decisively.
"At that time, I likely won't be able to spare any effort to protect Uruk. The city can only be entrusted to you. At most, I will sustain the barrier with ordinary mana until the last moment, so that I can still confront Tiamat in full."
He put the truth squarely on the table.
No one objected.
After all, Rozen had already done more than enough—shielding Uruk from the Laḫmu while also standing against the threat of Tiamat. To demand he both fight Tiamat and defend the city would be sheer absurdity.
Even Gilgamesh and Ishtar, the most unreasonable of all, could not deny it—let alone anyone else.
Thus—
"It's settled. When Rozen fights Tiamat, Uruk cannot rely on the barrier against the Laḫmu."
"Protecting the city from countless Laḫmu must fall to others."
"Otherwise, even without Tiamat's hand, Uruk will be overrun and drowned in black mud."
Roman, Da Vinci, and Olga Marie all voiced this conclusion.
"Well, that much was within my expectations." Gilgamesh nodded as though unsurprised. "Dealing with the Laḫmu must fall to us."
At that, all present began voicing their thoughts.
"That may be true—but with so many Laḫmu, once the barrier falls, what will happen to the people of Uruk?"
Mash spoke up in worry.
"Even with Master's army of familiars, plus my wyverns and beastfolk, and all of us together, it will be hard to ensure not a single Laḫmu breaks through and endangers the citizens."
Quetzalcoatl agreed.
"Ereshkigal's undead legions can only fight at night. They're hardly reliable."
Ishtar frowned.
"Traps work against beasts, but not flying swarms. Those Laḫmu don't look like they'd be lured by bait either. Ugh, such a pain."
Jaguar Man shook her head.
Others added their voices too.
"Protecting the citizens while also fighting so many flying enemies—too much pressure. We might need to abandon them at some point."
"If only we could just burn all the citizens along with the Laḫmu…"
Artoria [Alter] and Jeanne [Alter] delivered such merciless lines in turn.
"My poison can't tell friend from foe."
"It would be best to evacuate the people."
Even Hassan of Serenity and Ryougi Shiki said as much.
It was clear: protecting civilians while fighting would be an impossible task.
"The enemy numbers are far too great. Protecting two hundred thousand humans against an army in the billions is simply unrealistic."
Finally, even Nobunaga voiced the same view.
If the defenders were stalled even for a moment, those two hundred thousand lives would be swallowed in an instant by the Laḫmu hordes.
Fortunately—
"I already foresaw this situation."
Gilgamesh looked to Siduri.
She immediately understood.
"Since half a year ago, His Majesty has ordered shelters built beneath Uruk, in case the city was ever breached and its citizens faced slaughter."
Siduri delivered this tremendous news.
"At first, we did not imagine needing space for all two hundred thousand, but given the scale of the shelters, if we begin now, by tomorrow we should be able to have the entire populace underground. The space will be cramped, and the food reserves insufficient—the people will be able to last only a few days at most."
Her words made everyone's eyes light up.
"If that's the case, then all the better."
Rozen said so at once.
Even if it only gave the people a few days, that was enough.
The battle would never last that long anyway. Either victory would come, and the people would emerge, or the end would come, and Laḫmu would butcher them even in the shelters. There was no third outcome.
Gilgamesh's preparations were indeed timely.
Of course, even had he not prepared, Rozen had intended to use Cleansing to carve out a temporary refuge and shelter the people himself.
With this, everyone could fight with peace of mind.