While inspecting the villages, the Demon King said abruptly.

''Ike, what do you think is the most difficult condition for a castle to attack?''

　I answer safely.

'Yes. Would a mountain castle like Dvorberg be ideal?'

　A soldier respects the high ground.
　In a previous life, Oda Nobunaga took many years to bring down Inabayama Castle, which was a mountain castle.

　From a high vantage point, you could see the enemy and have a clear line of fire for bows and guns. There is no easier terrain to defend and no more troublesome terrain to attack.

''You're right. Mountain castles are difficult to attack. But this time, we will build a castle on the plain. Hence, we reject mountain castles.

Why can't we use a mountain castle?

　Satie asks a simple question.
　I answer.

'Because the castle we're building this time will not only be a defensive base for the Demon King's army, it will also be an economic center.

　Demon King-sama followed.

''That's right, the size of the castle town is limited in a mountain castle. I want the castle we're building to be an economic center as well.

'Then I thought it would be a good idea to build a castle with the river at its back.

Hmm.

　The girl who was called the Demon King nodded.

"Mountains are easy to climb, but it's hard to swim in a river," the girl called the Demon King nodded. Even in his past life, I suffered more from the Honganji temple in Osaka than from Mount Inaba. If you have a river or sea at your back, it's harder to attack from there, and you're easily replenished by boats.

'So, you're suggesting that we look for the terrain where the great river forms the shape of a Y and build a castle at the base of it?

Hmm.

　is the Demon King.

'Indeed,'

　And I nodded.

　The girl in front of me probably doesn't know it, but her successor, a man named Hashiba Hideyoshi, chose Honganji, the base of the temple and shrine power that Lord Nobunaga fought the hardest, as his headquarters.

　The castle built there was vast and powerful, and literally prospered as the center of the book of sunshine, with the strongest defensive capabilities.

　In history, the castle, which was called Osaka Castle, once defeated an army of 300,000 men led by Ieyasu Tokugawa, the greatest general in the world.

　This time, the castle should be as large and robust as that.

'Let's take a look at the villages around here for that.

　I pointed to the map, and the Demon King nodded, "Mm.




　I visit the village.
　It was a desolate, cold village.

''It's not very busy, is it?''

　Satie gives her honest opinion.

'Things look good. To me, it looks like an abandoned village.

　The demon king said, and then scooped up the soil under his feet in his hands.

'I think it's well-fertilized soil,'

　She licked the dirt as she said this.
　As expected of a demon race. If I, as a human, were to do it, I would definitely get a stomach ache.

'The ground is unusually fertile for this area. It seems like a good place for farming.''

Surely it could be more prosperous. The wheat ears are good, though.　
'Well, good. If the population of the village is small, then it will be easier to settle there. Let's not worry about the details at this point.

　As the demon king said this, he asked a village girl who was passing by.

'Here, little girl,'

　........Whatever, the tone of voice already exuded dignity. I didn't bother to disguise this, I thought so.

　It's no use caring about it, so I won't do any more.

''Yes?　What is it?

　The village girl answered in a friendly manner.

I would like to meet the chief of this village. By the way, what is the name of this village?

My name is Azuchi.

　Hearing those words, me and the Demon King-sama let out a bitter smile at the same time.
　That's because the name sounds familiar.
　The Demon King let out a rare high-pitched laugh.

This is Tianyu. It's just a lucky break. I don't believe in God and Buddhism, but right now, at this very moment, it feels good to believe in it.

　That's what the demon king said.
　I agree with him.
　I never thought I'd hear that name in this other world.


　Ando Castle.


　Even those who don't know much about history would know its name.
　It was built by Oda Nobunaga when he almost won the whole country.

　The terrain, the location, and the name of the castle could not have been better suited for a castle built by Oda Nobunaga.

　With this in mind, we headed for the chief's house with a girl from the village to show us the way.




　The mayor's home is also simple.
　The wooden structure is not particularly elaborate.
　It was very commonplace, or rather, quite crude.
　A drafty breeze leaked in here and there.
I guess the economy is good enough to entertain guests.
　The tea was served, but it was quite light.
　I'm sure neither Demon King nor Sati, of course, I sipped on it without complaint.
　The demon king drank it down and then, in a manner of speaking, he said, "It was a good tea.

It was a good tea.

　He still looks pompous as ever.
　The village chief also seems to be troubled by this attitude.
　Speaking of which, there is a Chinese legend.
　A long time ago, there was a Chinese king named Wuling Wang.

　He went to the enemy country as an emissary to inspect the country, but his attitude was so arrogant and not like a vassal that his enemies found out his true identity.

　A born king and champion can't hide their natural disposition.
　That's why I decided to negotiate with the village chief on behalf of the Demon King.
　I interrupted the conversation between the village chief and the demon king by saying.

''--Mr. village chief, I actually have something to discuss with you.

Are you here to see me?

　The skinny-cheeked village chief moves his mustache.

''Yes, actually, we are emissaries of the Demon King's army.

Oh, it was the Demon King's Army.

Yeah, well,

Recently, I've heard that more and more people are collaborating with the Demon Lord's Army, and I wonder if you're one of them.

Don't you like it?

''No way. ''Ever since the Demon King's army took control of this land, life has improved. In fact, we'd really like to help them out.

Do you mean it?

I swear to God you can say that.

　The village chief said a prayer to the god he believes in. He seems to be a believer in the Mother Earth God.

''Then I would like to ask you to do something unreasonable, but would you be willing to vacate this village?

What did you say?

　The village chief is astonished.
　It would be a natural reaction.
　Farmers and farmland are two wheels of a car. They are inseparable.
　To ask them to leave suddenly was a proposal that was beyond rude.

''.........................''　

　I wait for the village chief to be released from his astonishment. I knew I would confuse him by making a series of suggestions.

'Of course, I'm not asking you to leave for free. This place seems to have rich soil, so let's assure you that you can settle in a land as good or better than that. And I will also provide you with some gold.

　I'm going to work on making sure that we at least have a better life than we do now. He continued.

''........but to move from the land of our ancestors. Hmmm, but.....

It's still true, isn't it?

''But this is an order from the Demon King's army, right?　We have no choice but to comply.

''The Demon King's Army isn't heartless. If the villagers insist on it...

　When I said this, the village chief fell silent again.
　There was a long period of silence, perhaps a few minutes, before the chief looked at him with a determined expression.

''I understand. If it is the Demon King's wish, I will move to the area.

Are you sure?

　It was Sati who shouted with joy.

''Yes, I've heard that the demon king of our day is merciful and doesn't break his promises once he's made them. At least you'll be better off than you are now.

But I promise to honor my word on the matter.

　That's what the Demon King-sama says. However, as usual, he doesn't seem to understand the intention of disguising himself.

　I don't know if he was relieved to hear that, but the village chief also relaxes his expression somewhat.

''No, I myself do not regret leaving this village. As a matter of fact.''
What do you mean?

　The Demon King asks.

'The ones in the village are too good to give up their ancestral fields.

　It is true that the soil here is fertile. The wheat fields were all over the place to prove it.

'But the village is as you can see. Even if the wheat harvest is good, it doesn't lead to a richer life.

What do you mean?

''Yes, actually, this village is in the path of the Earth Dragon.

...A ground dragon?

Yes, once every 20 years, a huge ground dragon passes through our village. During that time, the village was torn apart.

Okay, so that's why the building was so shoddy.

It's going to be destroyed every 20 years or so.

　Incidentally, the month of the 20-year cycle will be coming soon, the chief adds.
　Hahaha...," the chief laughs emphatically.

"Well, that's not good news.

　And I turn back to the Demon King-sama.
　Is it okay to build a residence on the route that the earth dragon circles every twenty years?
　No way I can't just rebuild it every twenty years.
　I stared at him with that kind of gaze, but he gave me a look that said he didn't care about the Demon King-sama.

''At least the earth dragon can be defeated by Unu and I.''

　I assured him so.

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

　It's true that the Demon King and I would have no reason to defeat the Earth Dragon.
　In fact, last time it was just me, Lilith, and Anemone who killed the legendary Seasurpent.
　This time I'm in perfect condition, and this time I have even stronger helpers than that.
　I'm not afraid of losing.
　So I asked the village chief.

I'm not sure how big this ground dragon is by the way.

　The village chief said in a simple tone.

''It's only a little small castle.''

　........I see, it's about 30 meters long.
　Incidentally, its size is the same as the highest dinosaur on earth, Arzentino Saurus.
　I guess it's about the size of a blue whale.
　Now then, this one is not going to be easy to defeat.
　I decided to plan a plan to defeat the Jiryu.