Barenzere, the base castle of Cephiro, Commander of the 7th Legion.

　As I briefly explained before, this is Cephiro's residence.

　It is located at the northern end of the Demon King's territory and is the frontline of the Demon King's territory defense.

　-- was a long time ago.

　Now, since they have the human nations under their control, there is no human who would come to attack this castle.

　However, the castle is the residence of the legion leader, and has a good amount of security.
　There are several demonic tribes stationed between the transfer.
　A vampire man and a lizardman man.
　They're entrusted with security, so they should have some skill at it.

　However, there is no sense of urgency, or perhaps they never dreamed that the enemy army would attack this castle.

　He even yawned with a lazy look on his face.
　I thought to myself, oh dear, but I didn't pay attention.

　It's true that only demons carrying a special amulet will be able to come during this transition.

　It's not built so dumb that an army of enemies can suddenly arrive.
　It might be absurd to ask them to always be on guard with a sense of urgency.

　Besides, it's just as well since they are so dedicated to their duties that it's too much of a hassle to have their identities checked every time.

　It's a good thing that they're able to cheat as much as possible when it comes to demons like these guys, but it's still a hassle to be checked every time.

Thank you--

　I just said a few words and walked past them.
　They saluted and greeted me.

　I'm a brigade commander, of course, but I don't want them to be too formal. I've been a brigade leader for several years now, but I still feel like a Japanese inside. I can't seem to be a great guy through and through.

　Cephiro says.

That's your strength and your weakness, isn't it?

　That's what it means.

　This time, however, the habit seemed to have worked to its advantage.

　The lizardman man brought important information in an easygoing tone.

'Ah, Master Ike, Master Cephiro was looking for Master Ike earlier.
The Commander?

　It seems that the Commander had planned to summon me after all.

　Since I had come to this castle before that, he probably couldn't supplement me.

　Maybe this was lucky.

　The last two times, I was a test subject for a homemade golem, last time I was summoned while taking a bath, and this time I don't know what they will do to me.

''........By the way, did the Commander look happy?''

What do you mean?

For example, it's also suspicious that they're building some kind of suspicious machine, or that they've been carefully caring for their skin, or that they got new underwear from the human city.

Well, I'm a gatekeeper, you know. I don't want to talk about that. However, when we passed each other just now, the atmosphere was a little different.

...I see.

　It seems that the traitor has been spotted.

　That Cephiro is also, to a point, the commander of the Demon Clan's army, and the fact that there is a traitor within the army, might be making him feel impatient.

　In other words, we might be able to see the leader's serious expression for the first time in a long time.
　With that thought in mind, I headed to the office where the Commander was supposed to be, with a relaxed expression on my face.




　As expected, the Commander was propped up on his desk with both elbows and a serious expression on his face.
　He didn't even try to make a light comment when I greeted him.
　Perhaps, but the traitor was someone I hadn't expected to be.

　She made an opening.

"Deputy Commander of the 7th Legion of the Demon King's Army, One-Eyed Imp Jace.

　He said the name.

　I immediately guessed what it meant.

''I didn't expect that Jace Vice Commander to betray me...''

You don't think it's possible.

　Cephiro immediately denies it.

''...........''

　........You were found out.

　In a manner of speaking, he showed surprise, but well, it was within the scope of expectation.

　Jace, the one-eyed kobold, was known as a shrewd person in the 7th Legion.
　As the kobold's name suggests, he was originally not a demon race, but a demon (goblin).

　Humans wouldn't be able to tell the difference between demons and goblins, but from a demon's point of view, demons and goblins are completely different.

　A demon race is one that has a certain level of intelligence and requires a certain amount of magical power or skill.

　On the other hand, a demon is one with low intelligence and weak strength.

　Some examples are kobolds, orcs, goblins, goblins, skeletons, basilisks, cockatrices, and great scorpions, to name just a few.

　They have no intelligence, or their strength is weak.

　However, there are rare guys who have intelligence or special powers among demons, such as my chief strategist, the orc Jiron.

　Such guys are treated as 'demons', although only for one generation.

　If you become a demon, you will be treated accordingly within the demon king's army, and if you do good work, you can rise to the position of 'troop leader' as well. Furthermore, you can become a brigade commander, or even a warband commander.

　As expected, there is no precedent for a demon to become a demon king, but even so, the organization of the demon king's army, which is judged solely on merit, may be quite advanced.

　Incidentally, the Jace in this case is a goblin man, just like the two names of the one-eyed imp.
　He is an old and powerful man of successive battles, and has a large scar on his right eye.

　He's also known as the deputy commander of the Seventh Legion, and is known to be quite a wise man.

　As Sephiro's right hand man, he has planned many operations, and it is widely known that he wielded his shrewdness during the recent attack on Arsenum.

However, if Vice Commander Jace betrayed you, it's a bit tricky.
How's the trouble? Let me guess.
'First, the No. 2 of the 7th Corps has betrayed us. He's got our cards right in his hand.
"Hmm.

The next tricky thing is that the deputy commander is out of stock. I'm not sure if he'll confess just by thrusting a map at you, although he did leave a trace of himself on the map this time. Probably, but I'm sure he'll cut off the white layer.

Of course. If she were in the same position, she would cut off the white man.

'That would be troubling. We can't punish you without solid evidence....

　I let out a sigh, but
...chuckle...
　He let out a laugh.

'What's so funny, Commander?

Well, you're not human. That's what I thought. That's just the way humans think, isn't it?

Well yes, I suppose so.

　Or, more accurately, the way I thought about it in my previous life.
　In Japan, we are not supposed to punish people without proof.

"But we are the demon tribe. Demons have their own way of thinking.
What do you mean?
"I'll do it before you do it!　I don't give a shit about hard evidence!
'So you're saying that you're going to punish the deputy commander without regard to evidence or anything else...'
Exactly!

　It's not so much a surprise that Cephiro said this, but rather that it was typical of him.
　It's just like him, I thought.

'You don't look so surprised. I thought you would blame me.

'I've known the Commander for a long time, even with this. That's what I thought we would come to.

...So you think it's already ready?

Yes, I've already sent the Immortal Brigade to prepare for battle.

"Then all we have to do now is to invade the city he controls, Lowery. I'll have your immortal brigade as the main force, then I'll send two or three more brigades to reinforce it. If you want, have my mistress personally lead them...

　I interrupt him mid-sentence.

'No, my Immortal Brigade is enough here.

What?　You're going to take down Jace's brigade with just one brigade?

Yes, we can't afford to lose an equal number of opponents.

"...Isn't that overconfidence?　The Art of War is to defeat the few with the many.

'I know that much, sir. But if you move your troops on a corps-wide basis, you might neglect your control of the occupied territory. My brigade, which is currently doing the best job of occupation policy, should make a move.

...hmm.

''Besides, if we move as a legion unit, this might get into the ears of the Demon Lord. It would be wise to avoid that.

...hmmm, that's true, but...

　Nevertheless, Cephiro twists his head, "Ummm........
　There still seems to be something hanging in my throat.

''What's wrong?''　Is there something you don't like?

　I ask.

I ask, "There's a lot of things I don't like about you. It's not just your magic, but your way of thinking that has made you a master of yourself. In this situation, I have nothing to teach you.

　Okay, apparently this guy still wants to pretend to be my protector.
　I've known him since we were children, you know.

　It may be that no matter how big he gets, he will still see a shadow of his old self.
　She probably wants you to rely on her a little bit.

(..................He's a good person to take care of, you know.

　I decided to ask Sephiro to do me a favor.
　I decided to ask him to prepare the tools necessary for the capture of the city of Lowery.

　Cephiro's eyes lit up like a child's when he heard that request.

　As expected of a mad alchemist (Matud Scientist).
　He seemed to have figured out everything just by hearing that suggestion.

''You're a genius, aren't you!

　And then, like a child, he splutters and pats me on the back.

　I held it in for a moment.

Then I'm going back to Ivalice. It will take me, um, about six days to reach the city of Lowerle, can you make it before then?

　Cephemero.

Who do you think you're speaking to?

　And then he left the office without looking at us.

　He must have headed straight to the research tower or something.
　At that rate, he was going to be able to prepare what I asked for in time.