When he finished reading it, Cephiro opened his mouth and said, "We've decided on a dueling method.

"We've decided on a dueling method!
You want to play one on one?

　I ask the question.

"No way.
No, that's how duels are usually done.

"That eccentric and eccentric Master Dylockten would never take such a simple method to win a match.

　Cephiro assures him of this and begins to explain the method of dueling.

The method of dueling is a mock 50-50 match. It can go on until one of you is annihilated or incapacitated.

50/50?

That's right.

'That's unusual. A group fight........

　Hmmm, I tilt my head, as expected of a demon king. He really is a weirdo.

''In that case, we need to find a skilled demon tribe from each brigade. Currently, there are eight brigade leaders in our brigade. As we try to find a competent person from among them--''

　Cephiro stops himself from thinking about the faces of the rest of the brigade commanders.

'No, that won't be necessary,'
What do you mean?
"The men prepared for the duel will be prepared by the Witch King.
What do you mean?

Apparently, the Demon King wants to see who has more vessels as a general, his mistress or Basteo.

I see. So that's why the Demon King will have an army to fight with.
Purely for the sake of testing your skills as a commander, I suppose.

　Cephiro asserts that.

''So, then, the abilities of the Commander and Basteo as commanders will be tested...''

　I'm going to pout, but when Cephiro hears those words.
Blah, blah, blah, blah.
　And the usual laughter.

''Well what's so funny?''

　--No, I have a general idea.

'In fact, this game, the Commander is not required to participate in it.

Does that mean I can have an agent?

That's right.

　Cephiro answers immediately.

'No, but it's a duel with the Commander's head on the line. Wouldn't it be better for you to challenge it yourself?

　'It's not like the Commander to put your life in someone else's hands,' he adds.

'You know, Ike, you know your mistress is a calculating woman.

...Yes, it's been in my bones since I was a kid.

Then you will understand. Then you'll know that I'm betting on the better side.

What do you mean?

You are a natural, as usual. So that's what I'm getting at. Your capacity for command has long since surpassed that of a mistress.

...The point is that I'll be in charge of it on your behalf?

What's that look on your face?　You don't look like you've got much to offer, do you?

''That's right. There's no way I'm better than the Commander. I'm just a kid who has only lived a few decades. I will surpass the Commander who has lived for hundreds of years--

　I stop talking in a hurry.
　Because the topic of age is forbidden (taboo) in front of Cephiro.

　Sure enough, she frowned, but she didn't dare to mention it and concluded.

'However, don't get me wrong. But don't make the mistake of thinking that you're better than me as a 'commander,' but I'm still better than you as a 'leader.

　Cephiro thrusts out his big chest in a great way when he asserts this.
　This kind of part is childish, regardless of his age.

　The demon king-sama who is young on the outside still looks more mature.

　She is prankster, childish, competitive, rough with people, maverick, and the worst of bosses, but I didn't dislike her as the 'big sister' I've known since I was a child.

　In fact, I even like her.

''Well, let's get out of the skin to help that 'big sister',''

　I let out that in my mind so that she wouldn't hear me, and quickly decided to think of a winning strategy for this duel.


　　　†


　The date of the duel will be held exactly one month later in the Duel Room at the Demon Castle Dvorberg.

　The rules are 50-50 group battles.

　The representative, the commander, can command, but cannot directly participate in the battle.

　It is said that they are only judged on their ability as a commander.

　The soldiers who are allowed to participate in the group battle are called 'puppets', magical creatures made of mud.

　They move completely according to the wishes of the surgeon, and there is no difference in ability.
　In short, it's a game played under a completely fair rule.

　No, Cephiro's life is at stake, it's dangerous to challenge it as a game.
　You have to make a move with the intention of winning.

　When I returned to my domain of Ivalice, I had my maid, Satie, bring me a cup of tea.

　I'm actually a coffee drinker, but since there doesn't seem to be any coffee in this world, we'll have to compromise on tea.

　Is compromise rude?
　The tea that Satie carefully brewed for me is quite good.

　I sipped it while enjoying the aroma of the tea and said to Satie, "By the way, Satie, you mustn't let that happen.

By the way, Satie, do you know what's the best way to win the game?

　Satie asks back with a pouting face.

''I don't know.
Well, I guess so.

　I wouldn't have a hard time with something like that.

　I don't think I can pull that answer out of Satie in the first place.
　However, this girl is quite clever, and sometimes she gets to the heart of the matter in a strange way.

　That's why, when I hit a wall, I make it a point to consult with her.

　Even if I can't get an answer, it's because it might be a hint that will lead me to the right answer.

'Then, for example, yes. Let's say Satie had a fight with a girl about her age and the same height. How would you fight her?

I don't want to fight with you.

"Well that's just like Satie. But no. The premise is that we're going to fight. And that's assuming we win, too.

　When Sati heard the question, she crossed her arms and said, "...hmmm..." and was troubled.
　After repeating the same words for a while, she seems to have come to a certain conclusion.

''I'm going to fight with my broom (broom). So, eek!　And then I'll slap him with it.

That's a pretty good answer. 'The basis of tactics is to attack from further away than your opponent. The sword is better than the dagger, the spear is better than the sword, the long spear is better than the spear, the bow is better than the long spear, the long bow is better than the bow, and attacking from outside the opponent's reach gives you a tremendous advantage.

　Unless he's trying to get in your pocket.

"Hmm.

　I mutter to myself.

'Then maybe the puppet soldier should have a bow, after all.

　It is a point of contemplation.

　It is reasonable to have 20 puppeteers with a bow, the remaining 20 with a spear, and the remaining 10 with a sword.

　The best strategy may be to use the spear to restrain the enemy soldiers with the bow, and let the puppeteers with swords attack from a distance, and let the puppeteers see an opening and overrun the enemy.

''No ... no.''

　But I'm sure my opponent is thinking the same thing.
　The opponent is the third legion leader of the Demon King's army.
　He's not an opponent to be underestimated.
　If we challenge him with the same strategy, there's a chance we'll lose.
　In that case, we need to get ahead of them.
　I have a lot of thinking to do.

''Hmm, what's the point of going over the bow...''

"...on a bow?　The Lords of Arsenum said that bowguns are great,

The bowgun is the perfect weapon for untrained soldiers to carry. The bow is a cumbersome weapon, and it takes a lot of training to be able to handle it properly. The bowgun, on the other hand, can be used reasonably well even if you give it to an untrained peasant. However, the problem is that it can't fire continuously. .........hmm?

　I can't help but react to my own words.
　Even untrained peasants can fight in their own way, or--.
　And I also recall my earlier conversation with Sati.
　The best tactic is to attack from outside the range of the enemy.
　The reason being, that way you won't get hit back.
　When you combine those things, you naturally get a glimpse of the most powerful weapon.
　I utter the name of that weapon.


''I see!　We can build a gun!


　Perhaps startled by the loud voice, or perhaps startled by the unfamiliar words, Sati looked surprised.

''........Juu?''
'Yes, yes. We could just make a gun.

"...I don't know Sati, but is that jou thing strong?

It doesn't matter if they're wearing armor or not. It doesn't matter if your opponent is wearing armor, they can attack you from hundreds of meters away, and if you hit their torso or head, you'll die in one hit. No, just a hit to a limb and you're dead. If you don't get proper treatment, you'll die of an infection.

That's a scary weapon, isn't it?

　Satie is frightened. She's a really weak-minded girl.
　She asks fearfully.

'But, master, how do you make that thing called a jou?　I don't know much about Satie, but I've never heard of such a weapon in this country.

　Well, not in this country, but in this other world, which is the correct answer, but I don't need to go into detail.

　She knows I'm human, but she doesn't know that I have memories of my previous life.

　I didn't dare to explain it to her because it's too much trouble, but anyway, I had an idea how to make a gun.

　I'll explain it to you.

'As I've told you before, our 7th Corps Brigade Commander's commander is an alchemist with a crazy head on his shoulders.

"You're not a witch?

'A witch by race, but an alchemist by nature.

　A scientist, you could call him a mechanical nerd.
　Cephiro could build a gun without a hitch.

　Confidently.
Nothing is impossible for a mistress.
　I'm sure she would say that.

　I imagined Cephiro's face as I assured her that, and I headed to her residence, Barenzele.