When we returned to Ivalice from the Demon King's residence in Dvorberg, the first person to arrive was not Lilith or Giron, but Alistair. She stared at us with hopeful eyes.

''Well, what kind of decision did the Demon King-dono make?''

　His eyes were serious, but also like a child waiting for the Winter Solstice Festival (Christmas), but I didn't care and told him the truth.


'The Demon King wishes to make peace.


　She fluttered like a child when she heard those words, and Sati looked happy at the same time.

　Alistair can be of use to His Majesty the King. Sati will have a peaceful time. She may be happy about that, but I wasn't in the mood to be as happy as they were.

　Perhaps sensing this, my chief of staff, orc Jiron, asks me, "Sir, do you have an unflattering look on your face?

''Mister, you don't look happy, do you?

I've been with this Orc for the longest time in the Corps, though I can't help but think, "How do you know it's a mask? Maybe he could sense the subtleties of my mind.

　When I was alone with Jiron, I decided to tell him the details of what happened.
　When I returned to my office and made sure there was no one else around, I told Giron what I thought.


"This peace, I'm afraid, is not going to happen.
　-- and.


　Hearing those words, Jiron panicked.

''Huh?　Huh?　Because people do want peace, don't they?　And the Demon King and Cephiro-sama are also peacemakers. Do you mean that the other legion leaders are against it?

　I shake my head and deny it.

'It's not. I'm sure King Rosalia is willing to compromise and wants peace. The Demon King, Sephiro and of course I want peace. Furthermore, the Demon King would be able to convince the other legion leaders.

You're the most charismatic demon king in the history of the Demon King's Army.

　And Giron boasted as if it were his own business.

'But then, why can't we make this peace?

　I'll answer Giron's simple question.

'Hunch.'

　And just one word.

'Or is it a hunch?　That's so vague.

'It's not ambiguous. A hunch is a fine choice, backed up by experience and theory. That's what my grandpa says.

Mr. Romberg, sir?

''Oh, sure, the Demon King is on board, and I'm sure King Rosalia is willing to do the same, but I'm not sure about the people who will be waiting behind them.

The League of Kings, you mean?

That's partly true, but there are narrow-minded, single-celled people everywhere. I don't know where they are who are trying to sabotage the peace.

"You think it's possible that the king's entourage might interfere?

That's very possible.

　As I say this, Giron puts his hand on his obese chin and continues, stroking his chin, "It certainly seems possible, doesn't it?

'Then what are we going to do about it?　Are you going to turn down the peace offer?

　I respond immediately to the words.

'No way.

'But the enemy will try to sabotage the peace, won't they?　Then heading there is like jumping into the mouth of a tiger, isn't it?

Yeah, and if they show up, there's a chance they'll be surrounded by an entire army and they'll be wiped out.

　The signing of the peace takes place in the middle of the plain, in the middle of a camp curtain. It is quite possible that the two sides will be attacked in the middle of the ceremony, when they have to reserve a thousand men for the signing of the peace.

　But Giron seemed skeptical of that opinion.

''But sir, if it's 1,000 to 1,000, wouldn't the strength of our Eighth Army be enough to win an overwhelming victory?
If they're a thousand.

　I answered immediately, but Giron looked at me with a strange look on his face.
　I'm not sure what that means.

I'm not sure if this is really the chief of staff for the corps commander.

You're not worried about being taken by surprise by the enemy during the signing ceremony?

　Hearing those words, Jiron let out a dumb voice, ''Ah.

''So, but if you do that, why don't you just kill the King Rosalia in front of you?　Or capture them and take them hostage. That way, the enemy forces can do nothing.

'Really?　If I were an enemy warlord, don't think I'd have a chance to kill the entire king.

Well, it's not possible.

'I hear that Rosalia's vizier is cunning and greedy. When the king dies, he can directly enthrone his relatives and manipulate Rosalia from behind the scenes to do his bidding.

So, but if you kill the king yourself, will the chief ministers of Rosalia, no, will the people follow you?

They won't follow me.

So you're not going to do that then?

'No, they'll come. You're like, 'Why?' You will ask, "Why?" and the answer is simple. Because they're going to put all the blame for the king's assassination on me.

..........　

　Hearing those words, Giron was exclaiming, but at the same time, he seemed to be convinced.
　Oh, I see, that's the way it works, and that's the kind of expression he has on his face.

'So then, isn't it a trap to go to this signing ceremony?　Shouldn't we stop?

No, I can't do that.

　I slowly shake my head.

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

　I tried to answer why, but it wasn't me that answered instead, it was a woman's voice.
　I knew at once who the woman was. There are only a limited number of people who have free access to this room.
　My former boss, who was heralded as the Witch of the Black Peril, echoed my feelings.

''It's because even if there's a small chance of peace being made, there's a chance of peace being made.

　Cephiro assured him.
　Giron was surprised by the Commander's sudden visit, but he also seemed surprised by the words Cephiro had spoken.

'What? Your husband would take such a poor minute bet?'

　It was a casual word from Giron, but he had to be silent. 'Because you got to the core of it,'
　Sephiro says, a little playfully.

'Pigs. 'Don't say that. It is true that Ike is not the kind of man who would take a bad gamble, but he is still the kind of man who would choose the path of peace if there was any chance of it.

　He looks like an immortal king, but his heart is sweet as if it were made of sugar candy.
　And with his usual playful expression, he said sarcastically.

'Well, you're certainly right,'

　I confessed that I did, and I stated my thoughts.

''This offer of peace, I honestly thought it was an unexpected offer. And I'll admit that I went to the Commander's office to discuss it, knowing that there was less than a thirty percent chance of a peace being made.

You've been plotting against my mistress and the Demon Lord?

　Sephiro says jokingly, but he doesn't seem to be angry.

''That's what I'm interpreting as the Demon King-sama knowingly agreed to, though.

　When he heard those words, Cephiro let out his usual "kakka" laugh and

You are the grandson of the Immortal King. Have you reached the same conclusion as the Demon King?

　I continued.

"In that case, you also think that the Demon King may not be able to make peace this time.

　Sephiro replies immediately.

''Therefore, it is the order of the Demon King that my Seventh Legion should be ready to move as well.
Does that mean you'll be able to provide reinforcements in the event of a raid by enemy forces?
That's right.

　Cephiro quipped, but only to continue.

'However, we can't keep our troops too close together. If we get too close, the enemy will get the wrong idea, and all the talk of peace will be blown out of the water.

I know that, sir.

　I said as much, but I honestly didn't want the Seventh Legion's reinforcements to rush in.
　It's not that I didn't want Cephiro to help me.
　If the Seventh Legion would rush in, it would mean that the peace had failed.
　I said that there was less than a 30% chance of peace being made, but on the contrary, there was a 30% chance of it being made.
　It's a naive way of thinking, but in that case, I wanted to put my money on that possibility.

　I decided to make preparations in advance to increase that possibility, even if only slightly.
　I decided to get information from Alistair about the king's servants and the people around them.
　He who controls the information controls the world.
　It is the same in the past life and in other worlds.

　My grandfather said something similar, and the famous Youjiya said something similar in a previous life.

　As they say.


"If you know your enemy and know yourself, you'll never be in danger in a hundred battles.


　This is a passage from the "Sun Clan's Book of Military Law" left by Sun Wu, a warlord who was active in the Spring and Autumn Warring States period.
　I respected both my grandfather and Sun Tzu, so I decided to follow his words to the letter.