When we returned to the city of Ivalice, the first thing we did was to arrange for wine from Peruna - but not to check the food stockpile in the warehouse.

　I quickly had Giron bring me an inventory.

　Ivalice is an agricultural city. Ivalice is an agricultural city, and it is more than 100% self-sufficient in food.

　The point is that they are earning money by exporting the surplus, but they never expected that so many troops would gather so suddenly.

　Will we be able to stockpile food in time?

　I was curious and looked into it, but that seemed to be manageable.

'That's another result of your master's Norfolk farming method or something like that.

　Sati says happily.

'Sati looks happy. 'A lot of demons are going to be here, you know?　Aren't you afraid?

I'm not afraid.

　Sati asserts.

'Some people in the city are still scared, but Satie's no slouch.

Well, you're getting used to it.

'Yes, and they're all under Lady Cephiro, aren't they?　Then you don't have anything to fear. I'm sure they're all good people.

Well, there's no such thing as a bad guy.

　'There are single cells, though,' he said, thinking of Bayo the werewolf.

'And Sati is really happy about it.

　He continues to smile.

'Sati won't be of any use in battle, but I can help you prepare for battle.

　and confidently rolled up the sleeves of his maid's uniform.

　I say.

''With so many people from the Demon Race gathered together, you must have a lot of food, right?　Satie can be helpful, too.

　Apparently.

'Surely when the soldiers get together, we'll need the women of the city to help with the soup kitchen.

'Yes, I'll leave that to Satie. I know the proprietor of a bakery in town, and I also know a retired maid of honor.

That helps.

　Nearly 2,000 demons and monsters would gather there.
　We might not be able to keep up with the food supply if we don't have the whole town's stoves running at full speed.

'Besides, Satie has discovered a delicious way to eat rice, called long grain.

You were avidly reading a cookbook the other day.

Yes, I still don't know what half of that means.

　-- and then she continues with a preface.

'Fry the onions until they're candy brown, then put the beans, bell pepper and tomatoes in the pot. Then we fry that in olive oil and add the rabbit meat. Then we add the rice, salt and saffron and cook it up and it becomes a very tasty food.

'It's probably paella. I don't know what it's called in this world.

　If there are similar ingredients, the same kind of food will develop naturally.
　However, when it becomes so, I suddenly feel like eating rice.
　Shall we order 'rice' tonight for the first time in a long time?

'Sati, please make rice for dinner tonight.

Yes, would you like to get on with your paella or whatever it is you call it?

No, it's not so bad either.

　When I hear the word "rice," it is the sad nature of a person who has had a previous life that he thinks of white rice.

　However, it is a fact that I got bored with the white rice.
　What goes well with white rice is Japanese food.
　I want to eat the side dish which is based on soy sauce.

　But I know that this is not possible, so I decided to order a safe one.

'I want some fried rice.'

Fried rice?　What kind of food is that?

It's a very popular food in this country, Japan.

'Huh, another nihon. How would you make that?

"Just fry the rice in a pan. Throw in some onions and bacon, and some chicken eggs, too. Just salt is all you need to taste.

　I wanted to add Chinese food stock to it, but it was impossible, so I gave up.
　Besides, the bacon alone contains enough flavor extracts to make it delicious.
　After arriving in another world, I realized that bacon is not food, but a kind of soup stock.
　It's a kind of broth.
　If you fry bacon in oil, it will be transferred to the rice, and it will have a taste that is hard to describe.

　The bottom line is that you can eat good food in another world.
　Remembering the memories of my previous life, I instructed Satie on how to make fried rice.
　What we had on the table was a simple, salty fried rice, but it was quite tasty.

　As I ate it with a spoon, I thought of the faces of the brigade leaders who would be coming to Ivalice.

　It's been a long time since they've all been here.

　They would be gathering in this pavilion, but at least no one would be complaining about the food being served.

　Such thoughts came to mind as I ate the roasted rice that Sati had made.




　The city of Ivalice was booming with activity.
　The elites of the 7th Legion were gathering from all over Rosalia.

　The human merchants who heard the rumors are gathering liquor, meat, and armor from all over, and have begun to do business.

　The rumor that the demon tribe of the Seventh Legion doesn't loot, and pays a decent price, seems to have reached the merchants at the end of the line.

　The succubus Lilith asked curiously.

''Why do the human merchants do business with the Demon King's army?''

That's because you pay the price.

　I reply.

''Ha, but we're the Demon King's Army. Aren't we the enemy?

That's what makes a man so resilient in business, isn't it?

I think you mean bold, don't you?

　Lilith giggles.

　It's not wrong.
　And I laugh, too.

'-but I like this kind of scene.

Is this what you see?

　Joining me in the conversation was the maid, Sati.

　I turned to her.
"Yeah, I--
　He replied shortly.

'The shadowy scene must be tiresome to watch. I like these lively streets.

'It's a world where humans, demons, dwarves, elves and other sub-humans live together. I think it's very nice.

　Hearing those words, Lilith wonders.

''Is it really possible to create a world like that?''

You don't think Lilith can do it?

Because not to mention the demon race, even the humans are fighting each other. For just one small reason.

That's right. Even demons often fight each other for silly reasons. They say they don't like your face, or that my horns are more valiant than yours, or some other really stupid reason.

　Lilith agrees.

'It's the same with humans. Skirmishes between the villagers, the interests of the nobility, big and small, they're always breaking ranks.'

　Sati, unusually, also expresses her opinion.

'The village where my mother was born was also contested by the villagers. Over water rights...

"Water rights?

　Lilith returns it curiously.

'Yes, they were fighting over the water to be stored in the reservoirs. In years when there was little rain, everyone was especially acrimonious...

'Nonsense. Why can't the strongest village have a monopoly on such things?

'I think that's what causes the fights. I think we should all share fairly.

　As usual, the two sides were at odds with each other.
　Both were opinions that represented their respective races.
　No, somewhat, Satie would be too mature in her opinion.
　The human race is also very much a matter of skill.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

I'm sure it would be best if we could talk it out. But that's not going to happen, so it will be a war, but...

　I didn't despise humans like the other demons, and I wasn't a non-violent person like Sati.

　I'm somewhere in between.

　Maybe "realist" is the best word for it.

　The demon tribe and humans, and other sub-humans, aim to coexist, but there is no need for them to live next to each other in any way.

　You can live separately.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.

　Moreover, the relationship does not have to last.
　Because there is no such thing as eternal peace.

　In the history of previous lives, and in the history of this other world as well, there has never been an eternal peace.

　However, there was a time when there was a short-lived peace in that situation.
　What I'm aiming for is such a time.
　I'm glad it was only a few decades.

　If I had that much time, I could at least be free from war while the girls beside me are still alive.

　As I was thinking this, Lilith appeared from the side.

Ike-sama, do you have something on your mind?

　He looks as brainy and unconcerned as ever.
　I smiled, but at the same time I thought this.
　Come to think of it, I wondered how long the succubus of the whore tribe had a lifespan.

　If the Succubus was an unexpectedly long-lived demon race, then a few decades of peace would not be enough.
　I might have to rethink my plan.

　--This succubus, anyway.

　In times of peace and warfare, I'm sure I'll be able to get by and have fun.