When do you think we'll be able to capture Leezus?

　The orc Jiron asks me a simple question.
　I answer honestly.

'I don't know.'

　Giron stumbles at the answer, but he can't help what he doesn't understand.

'I thought your husband could see everything.

　I was going to say sarcastically that I wouldn't have chosen you as my chief of staff if I could see through everything, but I stopped myself.

　I was an unreliable chief of staff, but I was rarely useful, and I couldn't imagine much of a chief of staff other than Giron standing beside me.


　A cool, calm and competent centaur chief of staff.
　A precise and fearless ghostly (phantom) chief of staff.


　Other legions have many different types of chiefs of staff, but I don't think I can think of a chief of staff for our legion other than this pig.

　Thanks to this guy's off-base comments, I can keep a cool head and, on the rare occasions when he does, he's able to give me advice that gets to the heart of things.

　Anyway, I had no intention of replacing anyone other than Giron as my chief of staff, no matter how far up the ladder I got.

"I don't know when we'll be attacking the capital city of Lisas, but there are a couple of things we need to do first. The invasion of Regus will come after that.

Do you have to do two things?

Yeah, everything needs to be done before it happens.

What do you mean?

"First, we must take up the cause of the invasion of King's Landing, Reezus.

"A cause?

You don't mean to tell me you don't even know the word, do you?

'I'm not Lilith's sister, I know that much. A cause is, well, an excuse to flirt and attack the other country.

''You're right, but that's a very blunt way of putting it.

But it's true, isn't it?

　Giron pointed out, but, well, he was right, so he nodded lightly.

'But, sir, what's the big deal now?　We're the Demon King's Army that can't stop crying. I don't even think we need such a human-like petty excuse...

Yeah.

　In fact, we, the Demon King's Army, did not start the war with such a classy excuse.

　We've been fighting the same kind of wars for hundreds of years because humans are attacking us, or because we're incompatible with humans.

　It seemed that there would be no problem in starting to attack Leasas without raising the banner of 'a cause' or something like that now, but there were circumstances that made it impossible to do so.

''You know that the Rosalia Kingdom is currently split in half between the former king's Tristan faction and the vizier's Eichis faction, right?''

'Of course I know that. Aren't we the ones who are protecting this King Tristan?

Yeah, but he's not legally the king anymore. The current king is his brother Lambert. ...well, he's a puppet of Vizier Eichs.

'So you have a good cause, don't you?

Only half of them. That's all there is.

What do you mean?

'Tristan is no longer the official king, but I'm sure some of the people and lords will rebel against Eichs' heavy-handed approach. It's significant that he's on our side.

The point is, there are Rosarians who are on our side.

That's what I'm talking about.

Then, by all means, you will have to be gracious.

Yes, you've given me a mansion in the best part of Ivalice and it's holding up just fine.

　When I say this, I picture the boy king indulging in his hobby of writing poetry.

　I've been living in a luxurious palace in the royal capital of Reezus, so this is a modest mansion compared to that, but I wonder if Tristan is satisfied with it.

　I'm not sure I'll ever be able to find out what's going on.

''His Majesty Tristan must be extravagant and have it all.

"Does Your Majesty like to roast a whole pig?

　Jiron's face pales at my joke, and I tell him I'm just kidding because I feel sorry for him, but he takes a step back. Pork is forbidden for the Orcs. They are more thorough than the pious Muslims. I don't need to say why.

I'm sure you can understand why without saying why. As long as he's in our camp, he'll have the support of the people of Rosalia to some extent. However, King Tristan alone is a bit weak.

What's the reason?

　He stammered, probably because he was still frightened, but I reflected that I had done something a little wrong.
　I explained, gently admonishing him.

It's because the seal of state, the proof of the king, is in their hands. And the Declaration of Abdication.

The point is, the rightful king is His Highness Prince Tristan's brother Lambert.

That's right. Legally, yes. --And he's got the legal right to do it.

That means he's a perfect king, right?

Well. So here's the problem. Legally, the other side is the rightful king. He's got the evidence and the power to do it. Now, with Tristan, the former king, as his pawn, what is the best course of action for the Demon King's Army?

　Jiron is confused by the sudden question.
　I don't care if I'm wrong, I tell Jiron, you have one minute to answer it.

　Jiron gets flustered and starts to think.

"I will carry His Majesty Tristan and conquer King's Landing Lisas with no thought of a cause.

　I replied.

'Correct!'

　It wasn't me, but Lilith, the succubus of the whore tribe, who said.
　It seems that she had snuck into the office before I knew it.
　Probably, but he forced Satie to open the door to his office by asking her to do so.
　I can see Sati's troubled face.

''Ike-sama, now is the time to capture the royal capital. Let's just capture it quickly.

　It was still very Lilith-like, but where did she base that confidence?
　I ask.

''You're awfully confident.

Because Master Ike always said that you need three things to fight.

Three things?

'Master Ike has always said. 'It takes the time of heaven, the good of the earth, and the harmony of people to win a war.'

You certainly are saying that.

Isn't that all three of those things in place this time?

　That was Lilith's opinion, and it was indeed true.

　It was an unusually spot-on answer. I was pleased with Lilith's growth, but apparently she hadn't come up with the idea herself, so she continued in a pompous manner, "Lord Günther said so.

　I restored her assessment and I'll give her an explanation.

''........Surely, there will be a time for heaven now. The Kingdom of Rosalia is split in half. One of them is attached to us. What's more, if it's now, there's a high probability that the League of Kings will be quiet as well.

I see.

　Giron and Lilith nodded at the same time.

The ground is not in our favor. The battlefield will be in the capital city of Lisas. Well, it's a disadvantage to the side that's attacking us, so there's nothing we can do about it.

　However, I still thought that we should look up the weaknesses of the royal capital, Reezus, and develop a plan in advance.

''As for the harmony of people, at least not on Rosalia's side either.

'Yes, I know, it's split in half right now. I think it's a very good time to attack.

　Lilith says excitedly, and Giron seems to agree. He snorts.

'It's just not my place to decide that, is it?
Whose job is it then?

　Lilith asks, but has this girl forgotten who is at the top of her organization?
　I let out a breath and uttered the dainty girl's name to stimulate her empty brain.

''It's the Sixth Heavenly Demon Lord,''

　Hearing those words, Lilith refutes them.

But it's a rule that war is allowed to be waged at corps commander level, isn't it? As I recall.

You're right. But it would be impossible for a single army to capture the capital city of Lisas with a single army. The Demon King's army needs to work together.

　I concluded, and ordered Giron to go get Sati.
　Lilith protests.

'I don't think we need to call that girl to talk about the war, sir.

　I'm probably jealous as always, but I reply.

''I was thinking of heading to the Demon King's Castle now. I'm going to have you get ready for me.
In that case, I'll do it myself!

　Lilith is willing to take on that role, but I politely decline.
　I'm not going to let this girl iron my shirt and pants for me.
　I've never had a bad experience with Lilith carrying anything other than a sword.
　I don't want to see her scorching her shirt while cheerfully ironing it.

　I decided to have Lilith back down at the same time as Jiron and called Sati to help her get ready.

　Sati showed up instantly and in no time at all, she had my going-away pants and shirt ready and ironed my immortal robe as well.

　After thanking her and being satisfied with her wrinkle-free robe, he headed to the Transition Room in Ivalice.