Potimas, especially with him cheating death somehow, imply that the Church, the Elves, and Ariel are at a bit of a stalemate in Kumoko's time. The stalemate is only now breaking in Shun's timeline, with the reincarnations being used in some way by each of the sides.
- Potimas has most of them, but is keeping them as hostages so far.
- The church is using Hugo, and possibly Sophia in a mercenary fashion against the elves.
- Ariel likely has Kumoko, but may also be tied to Sophia, or the guy that none of the reincarnations knew about when Shun asked.

Kumoko seems to be the likely cause in the past timeline for a shift in the stalemate, which Sophia and her family are going to get caught up in, and Ariel and the Church are both acting in Shun's timeline.

It seems like the Class president and Sophia are both very well aware of how the elves are acquiring the other students. The lucky ones got away until very recently either due to their prominence, or that adventurer pair. The average ones were bought as slaves. The unlucky ones had their parents murdered like the elves have been trying to do to Sophia.