Can I help you, master?

　Sati, the maid, asked unexpectedly.

''........Hmm?　Did I look distressed?

　Ever since he started keeping Sati by his side, he's been taking off his mask and robe when he relaxes, but now he wears his mask and robe and takes on an odd appearance.

　Hence, there's no way that they would be able to tell something by your expression....

Lately, I've learned to know what my master is thinking by the slightest gesture or movement.

Well it's kind of scary in a way, a woman's intuition.

　This is how the women of the world will see through a man's bad lies to find out if he is unfaithful.

'I understand from Mr. Giron that your master has successfully dispatched his enemies.

Yeah, well, I'm sure you're right.

''Moreover, I heard that the enemy is the White Rose Knights, the regular knights of the Rosalia Kingdom. I think it's amazing that you fought back against them.

I think it's amazing myself.

　I said jokingly.
　To be honest, I didn't expect things to work out that well.

　It was all thanks to the knowledge of my previous life, but it was still just too good to be true.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

　-- but even so, not everything went well.

　I ask Sati as if to confirm.

'Is it true that while we were fighting outside the castle, some of the enemy soldiers broke into the castle?

　Satie replies.

''Yes. But the Demon King's army repelled us immediately.''

　She states the facts.
　It's just as I heard the report from my men.

　It wasn't that I was doubting Sati or anything like that, I just wanted to confirm it again.

　Actually, we won the battle yesterday, but there was just one problem.

　As Sati had said, the enemy had broken into the castle during the battle.
　Of course, the gates of the castle hadn't been destroyed, and they hadn't been able to climb the ramparts.

　The human soldiers suddenly appeared in the town.

　At first, he ordered his men to set them up.

Countertransference magic.

　I wondered if there was a flaw in the

　I had them frantically investigating this morning, but Giron reported that the

Everything's fine.

　It was.

　Then the remaining possibility is that the enemy soldiers broke in using the back roads.

''Back roads?　Is there such a thing here in Ivalice?

'It's not just in Ivalice. It's in Arsenum and everywhere else. Not just in human cities, but in demon castles as well.

'Why do you make those things?　We'd be in trouble if our enemies found out, wouldn't we?

I think it's because he's thinking about losing.

Lose?

Yeah, yeah, it's all about self-preservation, self-preservation. If you're defeated by the enemy and the castle is surrounded by them, the idea of the powers that be is to somehow create a secret loophole to escape on your own.

''Does that mean that the path the enemy used this time was the one made by the previous lord, Master Eduardo?

　She's still quite a perceptive girl, it seems that she easily came to the same conclusion as Giron.
　But unfortunately, that answer was off.

'I was breathlessly thinking that Jiron would say the same thing and clamp down on Eduardo, but no. I'm not that dumb to begin with. I was the first to squash that loophole the former lords made.

　The former lord, Eduardo, is a petulant man. He didn't need to be tightened up, but he gave us all the secrets of this city in a crush.

　So there is no chance that that man is a guide.

''Then how in the world did the enemy soldiers get into this city?

　Sati starts to think, "Hmmm," she crosses her arms and starts to think.
　She frowns and thinks seriously, which is adorable.

　I wanted to watch her for a while, but I feel sorry for her, so I decided not to, and decided to give her the answer.

The one they've been using is a new loophole I created. Moreover, it is only recently completed.

'Did you make such a thing?'
Well. I'm afraid of losing, too.

　This is half-serious, half-joking.

　I'm in charge of the lord of this city for now, but it's not necessarily true that I'll rule it forever.

　Someone else might rule in the future, or even lose the next battle in the first place.

　I have avoided defeat for now, but that doesn't mean it will always be so.

　I'm not conceited that I'm that strong, nor am I delusional that I can win forever.

　I believe that if people get serious and take measures, they will eventually lose.

　When that happens, I'll run away without any shame or outward remarks.
　Unlike the noble aristocrats in the first place, I'm just an ordinary, ordinary person in my previous life.
　I was not foolish enough to throw away my life in exchange for my pride.

　Besides, every great general says the same line. "A man who knows how to draw a line is a great general! And--.

　I agree with you.

"But it's nice to have a loophole in the pipeline, and then to have it immediately used by the enemy.

Could a city dweller have tipped them off?

No, it's not.

　I assure him.

'As expected, I'm not that dumb either. The construction of the loophole was done only by demons.

So you don't have to worry about it leaking out?

　Sati was puffing her chest out, but I blurted out, "Well, I'm not sure about that. I don't want her to hear it.

　To Sati, the Demon King's Army might seem like an organization that has always been close to each other.

　Fortunately, there is no dissonance within our Immortal Brigade, but what about the Demon Race as a whole? As I've said before, the Demon King's army is not monolithic in nature.

　The current Demon King,''

Dear Mr. Dilokuten.

　But before he took his place, he was engaged in a bloody internal struggle.

　Now that the conflict is over, it is said to be in a lull, but it could return at any time.

　No, rather, it might be more of an abnormal situation with all the demon races fighting together as they currently are.

　As I was thinking that, Sati was staring at me with a strange face.

''Master, what is that figure...?''
Hmm...?　The way you look...?　

　Looking down at my arm, I realized why she was surprised.
　My arm was nearly translucent.

''Oh dear, here we go again.''

　I can't help but blurt that out.
　Apparently, it's the call of the 'also' corps commander.

　Doesn't that person have the idea that a person is, say, taking a bath or going to the bathroom?

''Well, since you don't have any, I suppose you'll just call me up this casually...''

　I grumbled to myself, and then I told Satie.

I'm going to see my boss.

　I blurted out.

　She didn't understand what he meant.
　He fumbled and bowed his head with a puzzled look on his face.

'Oh, um, please tell her this Satie sends her good wishes. And, uh, I'll bring you........well, I'll bake you some cookies now.

　I didn't get to hear the end of her natural dialogue.
　Before that, my body becomes completely transparent.
　The scene around me is distorted, and I can see a sort of strain in space-time.

　Now, where am I going to be called this time?
　While thinking about this, I decided to enjoy the illusory scene.