The Siren, who is working as a singer in the town's tavern, reports that the Lizardmen have offered her a job.

I told him that I could not accept the request without the Lord's permission, so I'll leave it to him to negotiate with the Lizardmen.

　And after announcing the request, the Sirens went back to their temporary lodgings on the river Wejus.
　You're going to be able to get a good deal more information on this. That's why I was compelled to leave Lasse's side at night.
　It's foreseen, but Lasse's ranch doesn't lack water either.
　Inside the ranch, there is a spring that the water demon Kelpie had improved to create his own habitat, but this was only the Kelpie's home, and it was too small for other demons to live there.
　Therefore, until there is a land where other demons can live, they have no choice but to live on the Weillus River.

The lizardmen or ...... said that they attacked the Kraken when they came to town.

　It's true that he didn't pretend to call out to you as a request for revenge, but Lise can't help but feel a little uneasy.

What are you going to do, Mr. Lasse?

　Lamia offers the Kelpie's water to Lasse.

"Well, we'll just listen to what he has to say. Then we'll decide whether or not to accept the request.

"I think it would be better. I'll be your bodyguard. They are also reptilian demons, so I think they can serve as a buffer.

　In fact, different races are often of little consequence, even if they are of the same race, but Lamia, who wants to help Lasse, offers to protect him, at worst, as a shield for him.

"Okay. I'll rely on you.

　Of course Lasse understands Lamia's thoughts.
　I don't want you to do anything dangerous, and I don't intend to make you do anything dangerous, but I also have the main intention of accepting the devotion of these squires who put their backs to me on the battlefield.
　As a result, the kindness will be sent to the shadow troops, but since they are willing to accept it, there won't be much of a problem.
　Both front and back, all the demons' wishes are to serve Lasse.

　.

　The next day, Lasse, with Lamia and the unicorn in tow, heads to the town of Dexhi.
　That's right, right in front of the entrance to Dexhi Town.

Be careful negotiating with the lizardmen, okay?

　Letty, who will accompany the negotiations, cautions Lasse.
　Today Letty is not dressed in the simple battle dress of a knight, but in armor.
　If you didn't know anything, you'd be going into battle.

It's all right. Lizardmen don't pick fights with other tribes too easily.

　But when Letty was concerned, Lasse gently encouraged her.

But the Lizardmen are a subhuman race that has fought humans before. The Wejus River will be their stronghold if it comes to battle. And I've heard lizardmen also excel in guerilla warfare. They're more dangerous than most demons.

　A demon is one who has the element of a beast.
　There are two kinds of monsters, the simple and the demons.
　There are two kinds of monsters: animal monsters and demons that are half-man, half-beast.
　Lizardmen are classified as demons in that sense.
　However, those who are intelligent enough to interact with different races and cultures are included in the subhuman category for convenience.
　They aren't people, but they can communicate like people, in the sense that they are human-like.
　In that sense, sub-humans existed among Lasse's followers.
　However, just like ordinary demons, sub-humans also have many enemies, so they are often perceived as dangerous, just like ordinary demons.
　However, for sub-humans who don't have the beast factor, the perception of humans as demons is very unpleasant, but that's another story for another time.

　Because of this, the negotiations with the lizardmen will take place outside of town.
　This is a request from the Adventurer's Guild and the mayor.

Lizardmen are less prone to conflict with humans than subhumans, but that's simply because they didn't want to make active contact with each other. Lizardmen tend to hunker down in their own swamps, and the humans didn't see any profit in the swamps.

　Letty recalls what she learned in the military about the history of lizardmen and humans.
　Although Lasse knows a lot about the biology of demons, when it comes to the history of demons and humans, he hasn't been educated and his knowledge is lacking.

In the past, when there was a problem with such lizardmen, there was a large scale battle with them. The reason why the mayors wanted us to negotiate outside of town is because they don't know what the Lizardmen's values are and what might cause the negotiations to break down.

I see. So you're wary of negotiations from a historical perspective.

　Lasse was convinced.
　At the same time, he was secretly amazed at Letty's knowledge.
　You will be able to find out more about the history of the demon subhuman like Letty does.

"Letty knows a lot about things. I don't know that much about the history with demons either.

It's a common sense level for a nobleman to have this level of knowledge, you're the one who's a wizard, you should learn more!

　But that's not really true.
　Letty's knowledge is the fruit of her tearful efforts to get to know Lasse better, which she studied late into the night.
　However, she is not interested in history and her efforts have come to naught.

Ha-ha, yeah. Well, I'll ask Letty to teach me next time.

"Well, it's no use.

(Yes!　Study in private!　(Good thing I studied it!

　But for once, the effort seemed to pay off.

　◇

　When Lasse and his friends arrived at the entrance of the waiting gate, there were more soldiers than usual at the gate entrance.
　If you look closely, you can see that the soldiers on top of the city walls are also outnumbered somewhat.

''They're on the lookout for Lizardmen.

　At Letty's words, Lasse looked down at the soldier-rich area on the ramparts and saw a demon with a green tail.
　Yes, they were the lizardmen.
　The lizardmen were all dressed in lichen and their upper bodies were equipped with leather breastplates that protected their shoulders and chests.
　In one hand was a bone-laced spear and in the other a shield made of bone stuck to a plate.



"Hmm, that's the leader of the pack.

　Lasse recognizes one of the Lizardmen as the boss.

"Huh?　Which one?

　Letty, who can't recognize the lizardman, gently points at Lasse, not to be rude, but stealthily.

That's the lizardman in the middle. He's the only one who wears a necklace on his chest, probably because he's one of the most distinguished warriors in the world and was allowed to wear it.

You know, Lise doesn't know much about history, but she's pretty good at that sort of thing.

"A lot of demons have that kind of tradition, depending on their species. I've learned to watch out for those things.

"Hmm.

　Outwardly she acted disinterested, but secretly she was curious about who she learned it from.

(Maybe she learned it from her witchcraft teacher, but she never talks about the past. I wonder if she'll tell me about it someday.

　I couldn't help but think of it as the distance between myself and Lasse, not being able to talk about the past, for Letty.

"So let's make contact.

　Lasse stood in front of Letty and Lamia, who had followed him as an escort, and spoke to the Lizardman.

"Nice to meet you, Lizardmen. I'm Lasse-Tamer, the owner of the Monster's Delivery store I was hired to run.

　Here was about to begin negotiations with the multitude for the first time since the store in Lasse began.