I wasn't headed to Dvorberg, the Demon King's residence, but to Barenzere, Cephiro's residence.
　I hadn't been back there in months, but I missed it a bit.
　Originally, I used to come to this castle often as Sephiro's subordinate.

　In the past, I was summoned for no reason, made to be an experiment, and accompanied by trivial tea-talk, but these days I don't have many such opportunities.

　I guess he's refrained from doing so because I've risen to the rank of Legionnaire.

　It may be that the witch named Cephiro is the one who seems to think nothing of it, but is surprisingly considerate of me.

　As I'm thinking like that, the lizardman, my guard during the transition, salutes me.

''Ah, Ike-sama. Congratulations on your rise to prominence.

　Lizardmen are sub-humans that have been turned into human-shaped lizards. His expression is hard to read from the other races, but his voice is bouncy. He seems genuinely pleased with my rise to power.

'Thank you,' he replied, and asked where Cephiro was.

'Where is the Commander?'

　Lizardman answers immediately.

'Maybe, but I'm guessing he's holed up in the research building as usual.
Again....

　I couldn't help but let out a sigh.
　I wondered what that man thought of the position of corps commander.

　Since becoming a corps commander, I've learned that the role of a corps commander is not only military, but also domestic politics, diplomacy, and personnel, and its role is diverse.

　Normally, he shouldn't have time to devote to research like Cephiro does, but how does he manage the 7th Corps?

　One of the biggest mysteries is how they are able to keep up with the Seventh Legion.
　I've heard nothing about the Seventh Legion losing momentum, so I'm sure they're doing something about it.

''Well, I suppose that as much as the commander is unserious, his subordinates are assisting him.

　My grandfather once told me that when a person who is too good at what he does is at the top of the organization, the organization collapses.

　To be more precise, when the leader of the organization wanes or dies, the organization collapses in an instant.

　In that sense, he said, "Cephiro's a pretty good guy.

　He trusts his subordinates to do what should be done, and he doesn't talk more than necessary, but he does talk when it's necessary.

　Or maybe I was assigned to her and that's how I got ahead.

　I didn't realize that when I was working for Sephiro, but now that I'm away, I can appreciate it.

'Maybe I should try to imitate her.

　He leaves his duties as a lord to Giron and gives Lilith a free hand on the military side as well.
　Then what would happen?

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

　I tried to imagine it, but I couldn't come up with a very nice picture of the future.

'Well, people have their own way of doing things,'

　I blurted that out without telling anyone and headed for Cephiro.


　The research building where Cephiro, the Black Excess Witch, resides is located outside the castle.
　It seems that it used to be built inside the castle, but now it's a separate building, outside the castle.
　The reason for this is that the castle is often damaged by explosions.
　If the walls of the castle were destroyed by that explosion, it would be unbearable for the Demon King's army, and the loss would be incalculable.

　They must be aware that this is not a good idea, but a few years ago they built a research tower outside the castle, where they spent their days conducting experiments.

　When I went there, Cephiro, aka the Mad Alchemist, was busy making a golem, as usual.

　It seems that he's putting a 'cannon' in the arm of the iron golem. She's still a person who thinks about the most outlandish things.

　When I thought that, she spoke to me without even looking at me.
　It's as comfortable as if they had just broken up yesterday.

Oh, it's Ike, what are you doing here?
I have something very important to discuss with you.

　I don't think she sensed the seriousness in my voice, but when I let out a single word, "I see," she turns around and walks over to me.

　Her dark hair shakes and her ample breasts sway.

　She still has the same glamorous appearance, but we've known each other since we were children, so I don't often think of her as the opposite s*x.

　I'm not sure if it's the same as being an older sister.

　--though she's a witch who lives for hundreds of years, and the age difference between them is not a cute thing to call a 'big sister'.

Ike, now you're thinking about the age of your mistress.

　When he comes to my side, he still makes a sharp point.

'No, sir.'

　I joked back, and I stopped counting her age in my mind.

　I can't decide if she's saying it on a hunch or if she's magically reading my mind, but if I were asked to pick three people I don't want to offend, she would definitely be at the top of the list first.

　She has been in his care since he was a child, so she is well aware of the horror of the situation.
　She's not the only one you should make an enemy of.

''Well, Ike. I haven't seen you since you became the Commander of the Legion, but what are you doing here? Have you come here because you have missed your mistress' face?

I'm not so bad that I'm homesick, and it hasn't been that long.

Well, it hasn't been six months since then. Well, we were busy during that time, and I have to admit, I almost forgot about your face.

　Maybe he wants me to take off my mask and show my true face, so I take off my mask and expose my true face to her.

"Hmm, you've become a little more fearless. You know, human creatures grow up so fast.
Or, in other words, "old".
Well, you'll grow old, won't you?

　When he said this with great emotion, Cephiro continued, "I'll have my secretary bring you a cup of tea.
　I declined to do so.

'No, I have some urgent business to attend to,'

Well, you must be in a great hurry to refuse the best tea from Jacrott.

　She said so, and continued, "Fine, tell me.
　I'll give you the facts in a nutshell.

'Yesterday, the League of Kings sent a peace envoy to me.

Peace ambassadors...

　Even the quintessential Cephiro seemed surprised by those words.
　I've never heard of such a proposal from the human side since this war began.

Does this mean that the humans are under pressure or is there still room for negotiation? Or do they want to open up a negotiation table while there is still room for negotiation?

　That's Cephiro. He seemed to have arrived at the same idea as I did right away.
　And if that's the case, we were in the clear. I asked her to talk to the Demon King about this peace plan.

"What, are you a peacemaker?

''I'm sure you've forgotten, Commander, but I'm only human, and I don't really like warfare.

I know that you are human, and I know from childhood that you do not like to fight. But these are the times, and I don't think the war will end easily. And even if you were to ask for peace, I'm not sure the other commanders would be convinced.

'That's why I came to the Commander. If I can get him on my side from the beginning, he'll side with me at the Legion meeting.

Well, it's all about forming a majority in advance. You are a schemer. No, you politician.

I'll take that as a compliment.

But what makes you think that a mistress would be on your side?　Mistresses love war and may oppose the peace.

When the war is over, you can devote yourself to your research as long as you like.

　When I say that.

Then she will be a peacemaker.

　He said it simply.

　You're still the same guy. I chuckled, and Cephiro said, "Well, that's no joke.

I'm just kidding. "Well, that's a joke," said Cephiro, "but it's not a bad idea to strike a deal at this point. The battlefield is slightly in our favor, but it's not bad if we can make a treaty with that much concession. In the meantime, I may be able to accumulate more power and open the gap between us and the humans.

That's one way to think about it.

　Or, in the meantime, the enemy may regain its strength, but if the forces are balanced, the war may not happen in reverse.

　Various futures can be envisioned, but regardless, this decision is beyond the level of a legion leader.
　It was a matter to be decided by the Demon King directly.
　It was with that implication in mind that I visited Sephiro, and she also asked me to accompany her to the Demon King's Castle.

"Very well, my mistress hasn't paid her respects to the Demon King in a long time.

　She said so simply, "So be it! And chanting magic, he moved into the transition room and traveled straight to the Demon King's Castle.

　He's still a fast mover as always.

　When he was pleased that Sephiro, who hadn't been there in a long time, hadn't changed at all, he put his mask back on and stepped into the room to the Demon King's Castle.