As I expected, it was crowded during the transition in Barentselle.
　This was because the brigade commanders of the 7th Legion were arriving one by one.
　All the brigade leaders who knew each other were here.

　The werewolf Bayo was there, as well as other faces.

　The 7th Legion has relatively more horizontal connections among brigade leaders than other legions, but I'm a newcomer, and I'm also jealous of some of them.

　There wasn't a demon tribe that I could call on too casually.

　In between transfers, when I had some spare time, Kushana, the only brigade leader I was comfortable with, spoke to me.

　He was the brigade leader of the Fang Beast Brigade.

　The Fang Beast Brigade is, as the name suggests, a brigade organized around demons and demonic tribes of the beast genus.

　Naturally, the brigade leader was also a demon race of the genus Beast.
　He was the so-called Manticore demon.

　He has the body of a lion, a tail like a scorpion, and the face of an old man, making him look strange.

　In Japan, it would be a monster similar to a man of mystery.
　Anyway, it's a particularly conspicuous odd-shaped monster in the Demon King's army.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you.

It's been a long time, Ike. -- or should I say, Mister Ike?

　The voice was that of a hoarse old man, but his age was uncertain.
　At least he was older than me.
　I returned the question without hesitation.

Ike is fine, as always. Mr. Kushana.

But that's not how it works. You are the second in command. There should be a clear line between the top and bottom.

So, Lord, but please don't give me the sire. Even if I were to become a legionnaire.

　Kushana lets his face drop.
I can't guarantee that when you're the Demon King, though.
　He laughed and got down to business.

'But why did Master Cephiro gather the brigade commander?

　That would be for the purpose of holding a military council, but the regular military council was just held the other day.
　That's not what he would want to hear.
　I had no way of knowing, of course, but I can imagine some of it.
　I decided to tell him about that imagination.

'Perhaps, sir, but the circumstances of the war with Rosalia are not favorable.

Hmm.........I see. I heard that the 2nd Army Corps, which launched an offensive the other day, also got beaten back.

　I can't say, "That's a trap I set up for you, though," because I can't say that it's a quandary.
　Instead, I'm going to say the bland facts.

Yes, since the establishment of the League of Lords, the Demon King's army's rapid advance came to a halt.

''Well, that's to be expected. But we didn't expect it to stop so spectacularly. Three times in the past, the League of the Lords has been invoked, and each time we were repulsed.

　Well, I wonder if it will be that way this time, Kushana the Masticore let out a breath.

'It's not going to happen this time.

　It was Bayo the werewolf who interrupted our conversation.
　According to him, "The reason we lost last time was because I wasn't born yet then.

　He's still an overconfident man.
　Kushana also seemed to think so and smiled bitterly.

　Kushana and I believe that the demon king's army, especially young demons, tend to underestimate the human race.

　There are only a few in the Demon King's army who know how strong and fearful humans are.
　The only people who know about it are me, Sephiro, the Demon King, and this old man.
　That's probably why this is an urgent military council.

　As I was thinking this, Cephiro's secretary, the demon tribe, appeared and told all the brigade leaders to gather in the military council room.

　She has a flowing voice.
　She was quite a beautiful woman, but since she was only Cephiro's secretary, she seemed capable.
　I'm sure that what Cephiro is unserious, she makes up for in earnestness.
　Imagining this, I headed to the military council room.




　The Military Council Room in Barenzele is large.
　There was still room for about thirty demons to gather there.
　Each brigade commander sits in their respective positions.

　Is it because they don't serve tea or even tea because they don't have a daughter as thoughtful as Sati?

　Or is this a military council so urgent that they don't even have time for that?
　It seems to be the latter as far as Cephiro, who is right beside her, is concerned.

　She began her declaration of the military council with an unusually serious expression.

''On the agenda this time--''

　The start is the same, but it's far more serious than usual.
　It could be said that the Demon King's Army was under pressure.

''To put it simply, my Demon King's Army suffered a heavy defeat the other day.
..........

　There is no surprise in the air.
　As expected, each brigade commander must have heard at least that much information.

''First of all, the 2nd Corps Commander, Jet Black Winged Gelmoor, has failed to capture the city of Alesta.

　Hearing those words, each brigade commander felt a pause.
　This was because the cruelty and greed of the 2nd Corps was known even within each corps.
　Some of the brigade commanders blatantly loosened their expressions and laughed, "It's a good feeling.
　Cephiro, on the other hand, glanced at me with a sideways glance.

　Or maybe this person sees through the conspiracy that I fired up Gelmoor and sent him to Alesta.

　This witch is also quite a conspirator. She's also very keen on gathering information.

　I'm not surprised that they've noticed, but seeing that they don't say anything, this person may also think that it's a good sign, or that they understand my intentions.

　Cephiro returns his gaze to its original position and continues.

'It's not just the 2nd Corps. The 4th Corps also lost half of the occupied territory. Even the Fifth Legion was devastated. Even the 1st Corps, which is touted as the most elite of the Demon King's Army, is struggling.

Is the First Corps involved?

　Kushana of the Masticore shouts in surprise.

'That's how fierce the humans' resistance is becoming, isn't it?
So the effects of the League of Kings are already beginning to show themselves?

　Kushana adds.
　Sephiro nods silently.

The only one who is still fighting the good fight is my Corps. We're still defending our territory to the death.

　Cephiro looks at me again.
　He would say that this is mainly due to the work of the Immortal Brigade.

　In fact, the fact that my brigade continues to defend Ivalice to the death, which is the front line, was a great achievement.

　Thanks to that, the hardships of the other brigade commanders have been lessened, and the food and supplies sent from the agricultural city of Ivalice have become the lifeline of the 7th Corps.

　Normally, I should be praised in front of the public, but Cephiro doesn't dare to praise me here.

　It's probably out of consideration to avoid the animosity of the other brigade leaders or to protect me from jealousy.

　The witch Cephiro seems to think nothing of it, but is surprisingly sensitive to the subtleties of the demon race's mind.

　In order to thank her for her consideration, I have a suggestion.

"Commander, I have a proposal.

　I discreetly raise my hand.

'What?'

　Cephiro says, and all eyes are on me.
　I guess that means I can make a suggestion.

''I hear that Arsenum, an important stronghold of the Demon King's army, is currently under siege by the League of Lords.

　Arsenum is a trading city in the center of the continent that I attacked the other day.

　Currently under the direct control of the Demon King, it is an important base of operations for the Demon King's army, but if it falls, the Demon King's army's momentum will finally come to a complete halt and the war may be turned upside down.

　No, a complete retreat from Rosalia would be a certainty.

　Not only that, they might also abandon the other occupied areas, and at worst, they might be able to mount a reversal offensive to the Demon King's Castle's headquarters, as they had done last time.

　I wanted to avoid that.
　They say history repeats itself, but for once, I didn't want to make the same mistake as last time.

'Arsenum is indeed under siege. But you're not going to go and save it, are you?

No way. If we lose Arsenum here, the loss of the Demon King's army will be incalculable.

But the Witch King has already informed us that we should give up on Arsenum. It would be useless to go to the rescue.

　........Is the Demon King already planning to abandon Arsenum?
　He seems to feel threatened by the human's momentum to such an extent.

　Cephiro tells everyone that Arsenum has already given up and has begun to fortify the defenses of the city behind it.

　The fact that that calm and capable demon king-sama has made such a decision is proof that he's pretty much cornered.

　However, losing Arsenum here and now would be a painful situation for the Demon King's army.
　It should be avoided.
　That's what I've decided, and I insist on it.

''I think we should go to Arsenum to rescue them here with the full force of the 7th Legion.

　The majority of the brigade commanders were surprised to hear that statement.

　Sephiro moved his eyebrows slightly with a divine look on his face.

''Hey, Ike, didn't you listen to what you just said, isn't it the policy of the Demon King's Army to give up on Arsenum and retreat to the battle lines?''

　Surprisingly, it was the werewolf beyo who spoke out against it.
　It's rare that this guy, the most belligerent of all, would disagree.
　But maybe he just wants to disagree with me.

　Although it may not have been in response to Bayo, Kushana of Masticore also voiced an opposing opinion.

'Deputy Commander. I hear that Arsenum is already completely besieged, and their number is said to reach ten thousand. Our brigade's numbers are a little over three thousand combined. Do you mean to say that with that number you will strike the enemy?

　Kushana's hoarse face twisted even more as she continued, "And all three thousand of them combined.

And all three thousand of them together. We can't leave the occupied territories unoccupied. There is currently no rebellion in the occupied territories of my army, but if you empty the occupied territories, you won't be able to do so!

　The other brigade commanders agree.

'That's right, if we move with a total army, there will certainly be cities that will turn against us.

　I certainly agreed with that.

'You are certainly right. There is a chance that we could be taken by surprise by the enemy. We should leave a minimum number of garrison soldiers behind.''

So we have 2,500 men, maybe 2,000 to move.

That's about right, I suppose.

　I reply.

"You want me to fight against 10,000 men with only 2,000?

It's only five times. We have no problem with that.

　-- I would have liked to say that, but that would be too confident.
　The basis of the art of warfare is where the many forces defeat the few.
　In other words, the strategy I'm proposing was a strategy that should never be done.
　At worst, the 7th Corps could be destroyed.
　It was natural for everyone to be against it.

　--There was only one person who would stand up for me.

　Cephiro, who had been silent for a while now, now speaks up.
　Is she trying to protect me?
　Or is it because she believes in me?
　I wondered if it was because she believed me.

I understand. I was just thinking that it would be painful for her to lose Arsenum here and now. Let's adopt Ike's plan for now.

　The leader of the Seventh Legion said so.
　The conclusion of the meeting has now been decided.

　Cephiro doesn't show the "I" word of dignity in front of me, but in front of the other brigade leaders, she acts like a legion leader and is awe-inspiring.

　If she chooses to do so, it must be the right thing to do.
　And the other brigade commanders seemed to agree with her.

　She

'Then return to the occupied territories and begin to prepare for battle, and in a week's time we'll gather at Ivalice and head straight north to relieve Arsenum.

　I assured them.

　The brigade commanders said, "Yes, sir," and rose from their seats to leave the conference room.

　There are no cowards among the brigade commanders of the 7th Corps.
　Once the decision to fight was made, each of them stood up and left with great enthusiasm.
　A few minutes later, the meeting, which had been so lively earlier, suddenly regains its silence.
　The only people left were me and Cephiro.
　When it was just the two of us, there was a strange silence.

　Cephiro's secretary, who may not have sensed this, brings us our drinks with a silver tray.

　Cephiro is a big drinker, so it's probably grape wine.
　It is poured with a purple liquid.
　Mine is a bright red liquid.

　This secretary doesn't know I'm human.
　Maybe he mistook his preference for animal blood for being immortal.
　I pretend to put my mouth on it, but when the secretary is gone, I put it on the table.

　To be honest, I don't like animal blood.
　On the contrary, if I drank that stuff, I'd probably get sick to my stomach.

　Cephiro's mouth twisted into a giggle as he looked at the scene, and he said, 'I'll tell him to serve it with water next time.

At least make it a tea.

　To which she retorted.

'That will be when the rescue of Arsenum is successful.

'Then I'll specify the tea leaves now. From Ivalice, please.
Are you sure it's that cheap?

I like the way it smells.

　She asked, as I assured her.

'Since you're going to go that far, you can assume that I'm confident you'll succeed in rescuing Arsenum, can't you?

''The Commander knows I'm a petty person. I'm not brave enough to fight a losing battle.

So you succeeded in developing that flamethrower or whatever it is you call it.

Yes, it's only about 100 guns. That should be enough to make you an asset.

'You're going to use that three-step shot you used in Basteo, or something like that?

'That time, though, we had two-step shots. This time I think I have the numbers in place, so I'm thinking of going with a triple shot.

But those weapons are powerful, but do they stand a chance against a 10,000-strong army?

It wouldn't be enough.

　I assure him.

"Then I'll take that as an indication that you have a better idea?

Yeah, no problem.

　I assure you.
　She looked into my eyes and nodded with a divine look on her face.

'Very well, I'll leave this mission entirely to you.

Don't you want to hear the details?

I won't listen.

　Cephiro replies shortly.

'Why?'
It's a pain in the ass.

　She says jokingly.

''........Even if you were to say that the commander of the Demon King's army is fine with that attitude?''
Since you're the commander of the Demon Lord's army, you'd better behave like this.

　She quips.
　Seeing her playful demeanor, I let out an exhale, "Not at all.
　He's someone I've been taking care of for many years, but I really don't get this person's personality.

Perhaps sensing my delicate air, Cephiro suddenly became serious and said

''-- I've said something similar before. That a mistress is the type of person who won't take on a battle that has no chance of winning.

It was during the duel with Basteo, wasn't it? So the Commander felt that he could win again this time.

Exactly. With your command and a weapon like that gun, we probably won't be defeated.

　She said as much.
Are you going to show my mistress the same scene again?　It's Ike.
　He asked.

'I'll see what I can do,'

　I replied, and decided to do my best to live up to that expectation.

'Then I'll see you in a week's time in the city of Ivalice.

　With that, she gets up from her seat and flaps her immortal robe.
　She said to my back.
　Her voice was serious, but her business was a miko joke.

Get yourself a bottle of top-quality wine. Peruna, preferably from Peruna.

I'll be ready when I get it.

　Without looking back, I left it and went back to Ivalice.