Gandalf the Demon King and Fraxinus the Administrator - they are both those who lived in the ancient magical civilization with Alphasul.

　Whether they consider each other friends or not, they can't help but care about the person with whom they shared their youthful memories.

''Well, as I've just said, I am aware that an agreement has been made between the Westland Kingdom and Demon King Gandalf, and I am not in a position to give an opinion on the merits of that agreement.''
Of course, on our side, we understand the stance of Asropolis: ......
'However, we can't afford to be irrelevant in our fight with Ivaldi.

　Fraxinus suddenly said something unexpected and I swallowed the words I was about to say and moved to listen to the details.

''Asropolis is a neutral city. But neutrality doesn't mean abandoning conflict, it also means standing up to those who would do you harm.
...... that is,
'At the last Congress, Asropolis formally identified Agart Ram as a hostile force,'

　Fraxinus's proclamation was filled with firm resolve.

　As the administrator and administrator of a neutral city.
　And as a guardian of the peaceful life of the inhabitants.

　I can't help but feel the strong will of the person who has been watching over this city for many years.

Asropolis is a haven for the hunted and oppressed. We cannot ignore those who have turned to it in force and burned the city to the ground. Security is only guaranteed when you have the power and trust to eliminate danger.
''I see. ...... It's no wonder the Demon King's army avoided hostility.
'When Gandalf, who once escaped to the first level, took the city's dark elves with him, he would have fought back with all his might if he had been forced to do so by force of arms: ......'
They knew that, and that's why they avoided armed confrontation by incitement and force. I can see it in your eyes.

　The dark elves are a demon race that has lived for a long time, so they may have been persuaded by old familiar faces, or they may have been coerced by a magical contract or something they once had signed.

　Or perhaps it was simpler, a political stunt to induce them to cooperate with us.

　The specific means can only be imagined by one's own imagination, but it's easy to imagine how the Demon King's army took advantage of an opening in the policy of Fraxinus and the others and incorporated the dark elves living in Asropolis into their forces.

　If they're the kind of guys who hunt people with brainy brutality, we wouldn't have been made to suffer that badly either.

'If you have identified Agart Ram as an enemy, then you wouldn't accept the puppets as refugees if they escaped as refugees, would you?
"Basically. It's also said that he disguised himself as a human refugee and sabotaged his own home. However, we plan to keep him as a prisoner of war.

　Well, it's a fair point.

　Even though this is a neutral city that accepts both humans and demons without discrimination, if we accept those who used their good intentions to cause so much destruction so easily, it's inevitable that we'll be accused of lacking in learning ability.

　On the other hand, if we don't take the option of destroying them no matter what, it could lead to the opposite effect, as it could lead to the death of their members' escape routes.

　I'm no expert in the military field, but I have heard the formula for creating escape routes when surrounding an enemy.

　If the enemy has no escape routes, they will literally continue to fight to the death, and if they're going to die, they'll think of ways to make you part of their path, and the damage to the besieged party will be enormous.

　Therefore, they dare to create an escape route and induce others to choose escape and survive rather than fight and die, which in turn makes it easier to win and reduces the damage to themselves.

　If you surrender, only your life will not be taken - the transition of the battle is sure to be very different if there is this escape route or not.

　At the very least, Agart Ram's members' self-awareness is not that of lifeless dolls, but that of lifeless human beings whose bodies have been replaced by something else.

'Administrator Fraxinus. Am I correct in recognizing Agart Ram as an enemy force, or is it correct to recognize that they can fight with us?
No, I'm afraid I can't do that.

　From Fraxinus's reply, I could sense not only an apology for us, but also a sense of regret at not being able to fight together.

''It is true that in the name of being a neutral city, no matter how much we have a common enemy, we cannot join hands militarily with outside forces. However, as an earlier matter, we don't have the luxury of forces beyond the ability to defend ourselves.''
'Oh ...... I see. ......'

　I had to agree with this.

　Aslopolis is a city that was born as a place to shelter refugees ...... so to speak, the demons who escaped from the third level of the ruling class.

　It seems to have changed a little bit as time went on, but it doesn't seem to have the strength to be able to send them to other tiers.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's been in this situation.

　It's a good idea to have a small number of elites on the side of Agart Ram, but if it was too dangerous even with the full strength of the Asropolis, it's a dream come true that they would be able to launch a fight.

But we can't just wait for them to attack us. But we can't just wait for them to attack us. Specifically, we will provide logistical support for adventurers: ...... and information.
It's a big help. That's more than enough support.
"As a start, I will provide you with safe passage to the underground waterway you have chosen as your method of entry to the third level: ...... and its coordinates.

　My mouth involuntarily fell open at the unexpected suggestion.

　Although the location of that raid route has been provided to some extent by the Demon King's Army, no one has actually been there yet.

　That's why we were dispatched as a preliminary inspection.

　It's a level of support that we'd rather bow down to and ask for if you can take us that far.

I'd like to hear from you when you're ready. I'll send someone who knows how to get there right away.