Luthrara's expression became unusually grim when she appeared in Ivalice and was told about it.

''You want me to build a castle and castle town of the size you say you have in just one year?

　Her expression was full of reluctance, and her voice was full of acidity.
　As expected, did I ask too much of her?
　But it's clear that we don't have the time to take things slow.

We'll develop the castle town sooner or later. Let's just build a castle first.

''Hmmm... then we might be able to get by with the help of the dwarves, and the Uruks.

　With the technical skills of Günther and the other dwarven engineers, and the help of giants like the Uruk, large-scale construction work could be completed in a short period of time.

　If there's a big difference between the medieval era of the previous era and this other world, it's that magic and demonic tribes exist.

　When I fixed the gates of Ivalice in a month, the power of demons, trolls, ogres, and giants came in handy.

　They're easier to use than modern heavy machinery, and yet cheaper.
　Although it wasn't inexhaustible, there were many large demons in the Demon King's army.

　This time, each legion was provided with large demons, and they were all going to work as heavy machinery.

''Hmm, then we can manage.........''

　Luthrara, who is known as the Ice Princess of the Strangled Serpent, manages to give her approval.

''There are a lot of large giants in the 5th Corps, though I'm sure they'll grumble around Uruk,''

　He let out a wry smile.

''I hope your friend Luthrara-dono's eloquence will help with that part.

　As he joked about it, he decided on the percentage of large demon clans to be pulled out of each legion. So that there would be no complaints from each legion leader. We tried our best to maintain a sense of fairness.

　Besides, the battle lines between the League of Kings and the Demon King's Army are currently at a standstill in the north.

　If the proportion of troops drawn from each legion was wrong, the stalemated front could collapse and Rosalia could be surrounded. That would be the end result.

　We adopted the rotation system we used before and devised a plan so that we could work on the construction with the minimum number of large demons.

　When Luthrara saw the plan I had drawn up, she exclaimed in admiration.

I'm sure you've heard the rumors about the rotation system. It's quite impressive.

''Well, this method is a last resort. Humans, and demons too, are best to live a regular life.

　As I've said before, I don't want to treat both demons and humans harshly just because they are the Demon King's Army.
　As I told Cephiro the other day.


People are castles, people are stone walls, people are moats, mercy is our friend, and revenge is our enemy.


　That's a phrase I've always believed in. These are the words of Oda Nobunaga's rival, Takeda Shingen, who said, "No matter how strong a castle you build, it is meaningless if you leave people's minds.

　No matter how strong a castle is built, it is meaningless if people's minds are separated from it.
　There is no point in building a castle even if you exhaust the people's minds.
　But it was also true that they had to build the castle quickly.
　Luthrara would ask about that as well.

I'm not sure how long it will take for the League of Western Kings to invade the land of Azuchi.

'I gave them a hard time the other day, you know. We won't have a major attack for six months.

'On the other hand, you're saying that in six months there will be a massive invasion.
I suppose so.

　I'll be honest and continue to speak.

'But don't worry. I won't let the enemy get too close to Azuchi during construction. Lord Luthrara, you can only concentrate on building the castle.

That would be nice.

　As she said this, she shook my hand, "I'll do my best," and went back to her domain.

　It will take a while for Sephiro's blueprint to be completed.
　But even so, there are countless things to do in advance.
　Procurement of materials, recruitment of human and demon tribe's human legs.
　Just procuring food for the construction workers to eat was a lot of work.

　However, I was highly impressed with Luthrara's skills, so I wasn't worried about that at all.

　I decided to pay only attention to the movements of the League of Lords, which would be attacking us in six months' time.




Just as I had planned, the enemy didn't attack for six months.
　I guess I had succeeded in instilling fear in the enemy army after the incident with the Earth Dragon.
　The Eighth Legion is in the western region.
　Just by spreading such information, the enemy army did not make a large-scale invasion.

　Occasionally, small knights would invade the western region, but they immediately retreated when they saw the shadow of the Demon King's army.

　Even if it wasn't actually the Eighth Legion, the enemy forces were terrified when they saw the army banner with the number 8 on it and immediately withdrew their troops.

　Everything was just as I'd hoped.

　In the meantime, I let the Eighth Legion, exhausted from battle after battle, rest and concentrate on the internal affairs of my territory.

　The use of military force was not the only duty of a corps commander.
　It was the ruler's duty to enrich the internal administration, enrich the people, and use the tax revenue to feed the troops.
　Well, I suppose you can give my Eighth Legion first and foremost credit for that.

　In the years I've been ruling Ivalice, agricultural output has steadily risen and industrial output has literally jumped.

　Surpluses have been made from trade with Zenobia, which has made a profit, and has also enriched the pockets of the other legion leaders.
　The Demon King, who is staying in my mansion, looked at my legion's profit and loss statement and exclaimed in surprise.

''Your productivity has increased several times. I heard that our military's most powerful magician not only uses his magic power to defeat his enemies, he also rewrites their numbers.

'War is ultimately about economic power. I think it's the other way around. If you're economically well off, you don't have to fight a war.

Oh, yeah, what does that mean?

''For example, the relationship between Zenobia and the Demon King's Army. These two countries have a very good relationship with each other. I don't think the Demon King would want to invade Zenobia now, would he?

I don't think so. Grains and spices from Zenobia are the lifeblood of our army.

That's the power of economics. As long as our interests are aligned, there can be no war.

Yes. If the Demon King's Army and Zenobia. No, the dwarves and elves as well, but if we can create a relationship that makes up for each other's shortcomings, we might be able to wipe the war out of this world.

Yes, that's why I want to make sure that this transition plan is carried out at all costs. That's why I want this transition plan to be implemented at all costs.

　When he said that, he looked over the papers again.
　Did he think it was bad to interrupt them?
　The Demon King-sama didn't say anything more.
　He just silently took out a string and measured the length of my arms and the thickness around my neck.
　Is that string going to get me nipped to death at first?　I thought, but apparently not.

　It was only when I saw her start knitting in my office that I realized that the act was apparently measuring me, and that she was taking my measurements.

'Who are you knitting for?'

　He wasn't so wild as to ask tactless questions such as, "What's the matter with you?", but it was still a bit ridiculous to see the heavenly Dyrokuten Demon Lord knitting, as expected.

　After a month of learning to knit from Sati, it seemed reckless to start knitting a sweater out of the blue, but she finished it in a whopping two months.

　Of course, it was awkward for a beginner, but the result was quite impressive.
　No, that's not polite.
　The sweater she made worked properly as a garment and was warm.

　I wrapped myself in the sweater the Demon King had given me and warmed myself up, waiting for my men to return from their homeland.

'It's time for the season of rest and relaxation to come to an end.

　Or so I thought.
　I've been giving them a break for three months. It's time for them to come back.
　The enemy army will be on the move soon.

　When that happens, I won't be able to get rid of the Lords Alliance without my best and brightest men.