When I arrived at the guest house, I was taken to the waiting room.
　Of course, the men and women are separated.
　As a man, I finished my preparations in a flash, but I heard that the women have a lot of things to do.
　I heard that women have a lot of things to do, such as tying up their hair and fixing their makeup, and many other things.

　Anyway, I decided to wander around the guesthouse grounds until the party started, since I wouldn't be able to help as a man.

　The house was crammed with rare and precious works of art collected from all over the world.
　I'm not so interested in art, but I could at least pass the time.
　While I was admiring the works of art made by famous artists for a while, there was a person who came to talk to me.
　She was the person who had hosted this party.

　She had just made a passionate speech at the Zenobia Council meeting, so she was not wearing a party dress.

　She seemed to have rushed straight from the council chambers in her normal work clothes.
　However, even in work clothes, her charm is not lost.
　She looked as seductive as if she were wearing a dress.　

　Eltria was
I'm going to have to leave my work clothes on.
　Then she sits beside me and we admire the painting together.

　Without turning around, she asks me, "Are you interested in painting?

"Are you interested in painting?

　I reply.

'No, specially.'

　However, he adds.

'My former boss, the witch, has an interest in painting, but not so much in me myself.

　To be honest, I'm not much of a fan of art.

　Even in a past life, I found it hilarious that abstract paintings that looked like children's graffiti were being traded for billions of dollars, and I'm a man who once let slip the impression that he would have been quicker to take a picture of a realist master's work.
　He was the kind of guy who would dismiss art as not being a good addition to his stomach.

　Recently, however, he's been inspired by Cephiro, and has been trying to keep at least one painting in his mansion.
　I've been warned by Cephiro that as a legion leader, I should have some good looking furniture in my mansion.

　According to him.
You can be a rude bastard all you want, but if people think you're a rude bastard, that's exactly what the devil king thinks.
　He was chastised for not buying the paintings from the art dealers, but from the citizens of Ivalice who had been invited to participate in a painting contest.

　Hence the painting in the drawing room, which was not bought from an art dealer, but from the citizens of Ivalice in a painting contest.

　It had zero value as a work of art, but it was good enough for me.

　If I was going to spend money on such a thing, I'd rather invest in the city of Ivalice or put it towards building up the legion's equipment.

　Well, that's a difference in value, so I'm not going to pinch Cephiro or Eltria for an exit.

　So when Eltria stressed to me how wonderful this painting was, I didn't know what to say.

　Eltria seemed to know that, too, and after cutting the subject of the painting immediately, she got down to business.

'Well, I have two pieces of news for you, one happy and one not so happy. Which would you like to hear first?'

'As a rule, let's start with the happy news, but let's start with the news that isn't happy by surprise.

'You're a boring man, it's not worth discouraging. I want to give you the good news first, and then I want to shove you down your throat. I want you to sense our intentions.

　.........Then I wished I hadn't asked her about the order from the beginning, but I had no choice, so I decided to take advantage of her intentions.

''Then I'd like to start with some happy news, please.

　Eltria's mouth relaxed when she heard the words. The quintessential son-in-law, he said, and uttered the news.

''The happy news is that we have succeeded in convincing the council of Xenovia. It was unanimous that we've broken off relations with the League of Lords and have decided to side with the Demon King's Army.

Oh, that's great news.

　I put a smile on my face.

　I'm grateful for this for the Demon King's Army, and it was also a good thing for my ally, Etria.

　It was troubling for me personally and as a senior member of the Demon King's Army to see Etria lose her power in the Zenobia Council because of this incident.

''Apparently you underestimated my skills. I can easily persuade at least the Zenobia Council. And you are the hero who killed the legendary monster that plagued Zenobia for hundreds of years. The calculating merchants are indebted to you for your heroism.

'I couldn't beat him by myself. There's no way I'm a hero.

That kind of humility tickles a merchant's heart. This is especially effective for a merchant like me who has lived in a world of haggling. It soothes my soul after a long day of bargaining with nasty people.

Is that how it works?

That's just the way it is. I've said it before. Types like me prefer to be open-minded like you. And there are many merchants like me. You're the kind of man that merchants like.

On the other hand, maybe it's easier to duck them.

That's true. What do you have in mind?

The last time I went on a shopping spree in Zenobia, I was tricked by a loud-mouthed merchant.

　The other day I was rummaging through the marketplace in Zenobia to send a gift to Satie, when I was caught by a street vendor and forced to buy a hairpiece for her by mouth and by hand.

　When I later showed it to Hans, the butler, he said this to me

'....Lord Ike, if you had consulted me, I could have purchased the same thing for half the price...

　So the street vendors ripped me off.
　When I mentioned this to Eltria, she laughed vigorously.

''Hahaha.''

　She opens her big mouth, but after a quick laugh, she says, "No, pardon me, that's no laughing matter," she says. But still, it's like she can't stand the funny. He is shaking with his body.

It's a very typical episode for my son-in-law. I think my son-in-law sees the good in people before the bad in them.

　She still says it ludicrously, but when she suddenly gets a divine look on her face

'-But on a personal level, you are a good and kind young man, but on the level of a public figure. In other words, you're extremely competent as a politician and a soldier. You are able to judge things dispassionately and make good decisions. I guess that's what attracts women like me.

　He commented on it.

　I'm not sure if that commentary is correct or not, but I'm sure that I try not to bring too much personal emotion into the Legion level and the Demon King's Army level discussions.

　However, it's impossible to completely abolish personal feelings.

　Again, he used his personal feelings to save Yulia's crisis, and he was worried about Eltria's position with his personal feelings. This was an uncommon action for a leader of the Demon King's Army.

　It's a good thing that the other commanders of the armed forces are only laughing at their actions, but as a result of my actions, the trust of the Zenobia merchants is linked to the results.

I'm afraid I'm getting off track. So let's hear the bad news.

'I'd certainly rather hear the bad news than the good news. I'm a worrier, so I'm more concerned about that.

Good. You're a leader, and you're in the right frame of mind. Sometimes you can prolong the good news, but you can't prolong the bad news. My short life experience has taught me that.

So let's hear it for yourself.

　I asked her with a mysterious look on my face.

　What's this bad news about this guy--

　Eltria slowly turned toward us and stared into my eyes with a serious gaze.
　I could feel the urge to be sucked into her burning eyes, but the words she uttered made me lose my nerve.
　She was silent for a few seconds, then her expression suddenly broke down and she said


''This party, like the last one, is absolutely not allowed to be absent in the middle. You must dance with your fiancé, Julia, of course, but also with your subordinate, a girl named Satie, and a succubus girl named Lilith, as well as an elf girl.


　Eltria assured her that.
'I can't do business with a man who turns down a woman's advances at a ball.
　He smiled a bad human smile.

　I couldn't help but let out an exhale.

　I could say that I was surprised at the fallout because I had been bracing myself for what was to be said, but more importantly, I was now shuddering at my position at the ball.

　Now, how many beautiful girls do I have to humiliate by stepping on their feet and exposing their ridiculous dancing to the public?

　My heart is heavy now.

　In a way, it was more depressing than standing on the battlefield, but Etruria, perhaps sensing my feelings, patted me on the back and encouraged me to keep going.

I'm not sure if she was aware of my feelings or not, but Eltria patted me on the back and said, "You'll be forced to take a seat like this as you work your way up through the ranks. You'd better get used to it while you still can.

'I don't think it's comforting, but let's say it is.

　I said this in contemplation, and was about to head to the party venue to brace myself, but Eltria pushed me even harder.

"Wait a minute, who said there's only one piece of bad news?

　Slowly turning around, she said

'You're not the only four daughters I mentioned earlier who have dance partners, there's another beautiful lady who has offered to dance with you.

　Who is it?　I don't ask.

　Because Eltria flew into my pocket before that.

'The lady, by the way, is me. I'm sorry for the lack of s*x appeal and work attire, but I'll have the honor of your first dance.

　I don't even have time to say a second word.
　She took my hand and began to forcefully take the steps.
　Suddenly, a dance class was held in the hallway of the guest house.
　The ballroom dance between the light-hearted lady and the awkward man was quite impressive.

　I'd heard that ballroom dancing could take on a certain form if one of them was skilled, and I was reaffirmed that the rumor was true.

　I learned the basics of the dance from the rose-scented lady and practiced the steps frantically so that I wouldn't embarrass my four daughters who would follow.