So, I'm willing to take it, what do you think?

　So I asked them in the room that was addressed as our sleeping quarters.

It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends and family. To "......

Oh, no, it's not that bad.

　That part is already priced in.

　Demons are followers of power, for better or worse.

　That is, when I rage and they understand that I'm stronger, most of them will follow me, even if they are demons who side with the enemy.
　It's a difficult value to understand, but it seems that such a consciousness is more deeply rooted in them than I thought.

　Of course, they are not the only ones, especially the core of the demon tribe, who will look at me with all their might if I go on the rampage, but they are my enemies who are incompatible with me to begin with.
　As Hood-chan said a while ago, if we can see them coming together, then we can crush them.

　There's not much difference between what I did in the human capital and what I did in the human capital.

...... okay. The Lord will protect En.

"Haha, yeah. Thanks.

　I patted En's head and then continued on.

The only problem with ...... is the possibility of being betrayed by your allies.

...... I can't say for sure, but I think it's probably safe to say that it is!

"Huh? Really?

　You'll be able to find out more about the best way to get the most out of your work.

"It's not just the demon king's allies. If you betray the demon king here, the trust of other allies will be lost.

"...... I see.

　Certainly, if our alliance and the betrayal of me was discovered, Leila was right: the other allies of the Demon King's faction would surely lose confidence in me.

　That's fatal for the Demon King's faction that doesn't have many allies.

　It's not about whether the king can be trusted.
　It's that external relations won't allow it.

　...... but I've heard that the king has always been very accommodating in his policies.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're talking about.

If you go to ......, the only thing left to worry about is the possibility that Leila and En might be in danger as my associates. I'm going to get around to making sure that doesn't happen, and I'm definitely going to protect you guys - but keep this in case it happens.

　Saying that, I handed him--a necklace (・・・・・).

　It is a simple silver chain with a small transparent crystal attached to the center of the chain, which is adjustable at the back.

This is ......?

"It's a (・・・・・・・) return device (・・・・) to the dungeon. It's a bit simple in design, but, well, it's not jewelry, so give me a break.

...... So this is a spatial transfer spell, right?

Just once, though.

　Leila gasps and cowers her shoulders.

　This is a thing that can be exchanged with DPs as the dungeon level has been raised.

　By casting a spell, you can instantly transfer once to the room with the dungeon core - that is, the True Throne Room.

　Just in case something happened here, and also in the dungeon (・・・・・・・・・), I exchanged it before coming to the demon world.

　Well, that's not enough to know if there's any danger in the dungeon, but I made sure of that.
　If the enemy is going to attack my home dungeon directly, I've already set up a trap before I leave so that I'll be able to detect it.

　Well, there's Lil and the others over there, and if the worst happens, there's Leffy.
　Even if we're attacked, that place is the safest place in the world for sure.

　I'd take all precautions to make sure that doesn't happen.

...... Lord, how do you put this on?

I'll turn it on. Turn over. ...... Oh, you're a beauty.

"......

　When I put the necklace around En's neck and compliment her on it, her cheeks turn a little red, and her scant expression changes to a smile and she looks happy. Cute.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you want to do with it.
　It's best to give it to her. It's a pity to discriminate against them.

　The reason why you need to hold on to the flame of sin to return is because if she goes out of the skill range, the skill will be unlocked by itself and she will return to her weapon. It's a good idea to have the same result even if you activate a magic tool, so you need to transfer the weapon with it.

　Incidentally, the ornaments that En put on her body disappeared with her when she returned to her weapon, and when she re-anthropomorphized, they were still on. It's quite a strange phenomenon.

Shall I wear one too, Leila?

"Huh, then I'm begging you!

　Leila had her back to me, and I wrapped my arms around her thin, white neck.

"Hmm, it looks good on you.

Thank you. I'll keep that one secret from Mr. Reffi.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

"Huh, I'm kidding!

　With a mischievous smile, Leila said so.

　...... Don't make that kind of scary joke. 　

...... And then there's that. It's a good idea to ask for a little more in terms of rewards.

"Huh? Really? I think that's pretty good enough for me.

...... Your sense is a bit off, Mr. Demon King. You'll need to leave the negotiations to me. I'll get you more favorable terms.

Yeah, oh, oh, okay. ...... So, I guess I'll just ask.

　I nodded at Leila, who seemed fired up to show off her skills.

　...... Am I that out of touch?


　　　* * *




　--The next day, after talking with the king again with Leila, the following was agreed upon.

　The faction of the king of the demon world provides maximum support and protection for the demon king Yuki to the fullest extent.
　The faction of the King of the Demon Realm treats Yuki as a mercenary.
　The party of the King of Demonology will pay the demon king Yuki the prescribed reward whether this matter is resolved or not.

　I understand the first one, but the second one, treating me as a mercenary, means that I'm a hired hand, that's what I'm supposed to advertise.
　This way, if I stand out, the hate will be directed to the demon king's party and I will be able to move around freely with less fences while wielding my power.

　In the event of war, it is the actual soldier who fought or those who decided to send the soldier who will be resented.
　The result will be seen in the post-war handling of World War II in a previous life.

　...... Yes, this is it. You should have left it all to Leila from the start.

　I'm not particularly smart, and Leila is definitely smarter than I am.
　You're just in the right place for the job.

　I've learned.
　I'm getting smarter.

　I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it, but I'm going to be able to get to the bottom of it and see what's going on. ...... The way Leila smiles and the way the king smiles as he talks about it, while still having a tremendous battle of wills.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends and family.

It's a good idea to rely a little more on the people around you, Yuki-sama. You are always trying to solve it yourself.

"....... Agreed. Agreed.

　It's a good idea to call me by my name instead of calling me by my usual demon king, because it's a public place, and Leila nodded her head in response to his rebuke.

It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　I smiled bitterly at their pursuit and took a puff of my table glass.

　--It is one of the taverns in the maze-like Royal Capital of the Demon Realm, Reggie Hegg.

　After Leila wrapped up the negotiations, the King of the Demon World, Finale, said, "It will be a little while before you can help us, so go enjoy the castle! So we decided to take you up on your offer and come here to eat.

　The bar is divided into first and second floor seats, with the center of the second floor looking like a vaulted balcony.
　From the second floor to the first floor, ivy-like plants descend here and there, creating a ball of faint light that illuminates the room apart from the lights on the ceiling.

　The store has a rather fantastic and stylish interior.
　On the accompanying stage, a small band plays gentle tunes and the atmosphere is more like a restaurant than a bar.

　Well, the buzzing noise and clamor of the orchestra is typical of a speakeasy.

　And just as you were eating your meal with them, you suddenly see a couple of hooded figures sitting on one of the seats upstairs, just like us, out of the corner of my vision.

　The hood isn't just Hoodie, Haroria and her friends, but another stranger. The cloak is a completely different color.

　--It's not really what I'm expecting. Here we see people in hoods all over town, and it's not that I'm particularly suspicious of the two of them.

　I was just curious to see people sitting at a desk at the end of the bar with their faces covered in this bright atmosphere.

　I activated my analysis skills with a vague desire to do so, but...

............ Nell?

　One of the hoods looks back at me at the sound of my voice.

"!　Onii-san!"?


　--The face that peeked out from behind the hood was the brave Nell (・・・・・・・) of the church.