The last time I went to the West, I inspected Ivalice.
　I didn't have a specific itinerary for this inspection.

　I had been informed that the meeting of Sephiro's and Uruk's armies would be delayed, so I thought I'd take a look at the city during that time.

　The city of Ivalice has definitely developed since I began my reign.

　The large chicken coop that Lord Günther had built for me supplies its citizens with large quantities of eggs and poultry every day.

　Dwarves from all over the continent flocked to the workshop to smoke and produce their wares every day.

　The farms I built had increased in leaps and bounds in productivity and kept the inhabitants from starving.

　The courts I created were giving citizens a fair judgment and nipping the seeds of conflict in the bud.

　As one politician put it.
　After all, he said, all citizens want from their rulers is food and fair laws.
　With that said, I guess that means my governance is well done.
　The Demon King praises me.

In all the years you've ruled Ivalice, you've kept the people from revolting for once. That's a testament to your political skills.

　It's a hands-off assessment, but it's also not a hands-off joy.
　It's true that I've never had a revolt in my life.
　But today, for the first time in my life, I will be tested as a ruler.

　That day, for the first time.

"Assassins.

　He was the target of the

He was the first "human enemy" to have his life targeted by an assassin.
　However, he was only targeted and did not take his life.

　Before the assassin could successfully assassinate him, he was captured by the dragon man, Shigan. According to him, Shigan immediately noticed the assassin's presence.

　There was a woman among the citizens who looked like a soldier on the battlefield who was ready to kill.
　As Sigan would later tell, the captured assassin possessed a large number of weapons.

　Sharp daggers, knives made of wood. They were coated with the "poison of Eurykalis," which is effective against the undead.

　He was in possession of many murderous weapons that were full of killing intent.
　When Lilith saw them, she screamed in anger.

''This woman, how much do you hate Ike-sama!　Master Ike is such a merciful man.

　The woman, with her black hair cut short, did not take offense at being caught as an assassin, saying

''Merciful? It is true that the commander of the Eighth Legion is merciful. He is always kind to his allies and has compassion for his people. But what about his enemies?　After the man named Ike passes, there will be a literal sea of blood. A path of fresh blood will be paved. If we let this man go unchecked, he will be the scourge of humanity. I am here to stop it on behalf of humanity. If you call that a sin, then judge me. I didn't want to spare your life to begin with.

　The words were fierce for a dainty girl to release.
　Her words may have been exaggerated, but they were not lies.
　In fact, I've defeated many enemies and shed a lot of blood on the earth.
　I can't claim that my hands are white.

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

　When I'm unable to argue, Lilith opens her mouth instead.

''Anyway, let's get behind this guy. We need to find out who ordered this guy to assassinate Master Ike.

　It was an unusually good argument, but it was like Lilith to suggest that we use torture to make the girl talk.

　Of course, I'm going to make it very clear that I'm not going to use that kind of torture.
　I kill people on the battlefield, and I control the city, but I didn't want to suffer the stigma of being a butcher.
　Fortunately, the girl didn't need to be tortured to tell me who she was.


'My name is Johanna et Rudre.


　When I asked her what she was, she immediately told me who she was.

''I've heard of E. Rudre somewhere...''

　Lilith is pouting. As expected, Lilith, who has a poor memory, probably didn't remember the name.

　However, the Demon King-sama beside her remembered it. Or rather, I had just told him about him the other day.

''I see. So this girl is an assassin unleashed by the general named E. Rudre?''

　Little wise imitation.
　The Demon King smiles bitterly, but the girl reacts quickly to it.

''No!　Your brother is not the one who would do such a cowardly thing!

''You mean your brother, he's one of your people? Well, it doesn't matter either way, but to assassinate the strongest sorcerer in the Demon King's army with such a crude dagger, it's a disgrace.

　The demon king chuckled.

"Laugh it up. "Smile, you demons! I'm sure your brother will defeat you and bring peace to this land.

　Johanna laughed stoutly, while I listened to her mind with the magic of the [Mind Reading Technique].

　After a few hours of interrogation, I released Johanna.
　The people involved in the Demon King's army, as well as the person who was freed, were surprised.
　Lilith asks, ''Why is that girl so dangerous?

''Why would you release such a dangerous girl into the wild?''

　Lilith seemed somewhat annoyed by my naivety.
　I can only reply to that by saying, "You know, the POW camps are so puny.

'Because the POW camps are so puny.

The joke's not funny, sir.

It's half a joke, but it's half true.

　Lilith bent her navel, but at any rate, I gave her strict orders not to mess with the girl.

　She didn't give me my weapons back, but she gave me my horse and food for the ride home, and I watched her disappear.


　That night, in my mansion, I was drinking a glass of sake.

　A girl drinking a glass of sake in one hand, Lady Dylokuten speaks to me.

This is your domain. And your life belongs to you. I was not going to tell you this, but as expected, I am not impressed that you would let her go. If there was a reason for it, I don't care.

　That's what the Demon King asks me.
　I thought it was a legitimate question, and I thought it was something I should tell the Demon King.
　That's why I decided to tell the Demon King the information I got from the "Mind Reading Technique".

''It seems that that girl is definitely E. Rudre's sister.

You're the general in question. I don't see any reason to help you just because you're the sister of a great general.

'I didn't save you because you're my sister. I did it because she gave me valuable information.

"Valuable information?

The man in question has been confined to his estate until recently. Is he under house arrest?

So, as I recall, he was the man who besieged and tormented Cephiro in the city of Alesta. I heard that he was the famous general of the Kingdom of Phallus.

Yes, he was quite a man. He trapped that Cephiro in a trap and made him suffer, and then when I rushed to reinforce him and the war was going badly, he didn't lose his nerve and withdrew his troops in a mockery when he saw he was in trouble.

Hmm, you seem like a pretty good general.

Afterwards, he fought many battles with other armies, but his record is six wins, one draw and one loss, and I've heard that he withdrew from the war as soon as he saw the odds stacked against him.

I'm sure you've heard of the strongest Knight Commander of the League of Kings. Why do you keep such a man in your estate?

''Apparently, the boss of the enemy army. I mean, King Pharus didn't like that.

So you're saying that your talents were envied by your immediate superior, the king.

'Yes, and so it seems that the king's orders have brought him to his estate to be charged with an innocent crime.

"Foolish king, despite the enemy army. It's as if you were cutting off your own hands and feet. I don't think you understand who is defending your country.

　The Demon Lord was dumbfounded, but he didn't let slip that he didn't understand.

''- Well, I don't understand the feeling. Often a king's greatest enemy is not an enemy country, but a capable subordinate.

　The Demon Lord smiles to himself. This person has been disobeyed many times by his subordinates in this life and in his previous life.
　In fact, a competent subordinate is often more frightening than a competent enemy.

　In the end, if you look at history, any nation will eventually be destroyed by a foreign country or taken over by a competent subordinate, or both.

　If you count the number of dynasties in which the country was taken over by vassals even after the victory over a foreign enemy, or the dynasties in which the vassals were solemnized and destroyed by foreign countries, you will understand that history is nothing more than a game of deception between the master and his vassals.

　In fact, there are countless examples of great generals who contributed to their country with successive victories, but upon their return to their country, they were falsely accused of crimes and sent directly to the execution site.

　In Japan, it was Minamoto Yoshitsune; in the West, it was Rommel in Germany and Hannibal in Carthage; in the East, it was Yue Fei, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty, and Han Shin, a meritorious retainer of the Han Dynasty, who was a nationalist.

　All of them were famous generals who were neglected and solemnized by the powers of the time because they were so capable.

　It was a foolish act, but if they had not been purged in the first place, these generals might have become the rulers instead.

　Warring statesmen are like walking a tightrope on a white blade.

But why have they returned to the front lines after being forced to stay in their homes? Do you have some kind of secret plan?

'Apparently I was too active. Apparently that has forced the King of Phallus to turn to E. Rudre for help.

I see. Ironic, isn't it? A general, envied and imprisoned by his own king, is now saved by the merits of the enemy army.

Yeah.

But that would be a problem.

　The Demon King frowned.

''What's bothering you?''

No, I thought the general I know, Ike, would have a lot of compassion. He's a general in such a delicate position. If we lose the next battle, he may use that as an excuse to execute me.

So you think I'm gonna cut corners?

'I wouldn't say that, I just thought you might be up to some tricks,'

..........

　I answer her by silence.
　'It's a figurehead, or more likely, that's what I thought.

''Well no, I guess that's conceited. The conditions were better last time. If we fight on equal terms, we might get beaten this time. That's the way I see it.

Humble as ever.

So I've come up with a plan.

Is that why you put a spell on that girl in the first place?

I'm glad you noticed.

"This is still the king of the demons. Don't lick it. -- but I understand that you have cast a spell, but I don't understand the spell. What spell did you cast?

It's simple magic. I just implored that girl Johanna to speak the message when she was reunited with her brother.

A message?

"He wants to meet me at a place in the West. I wanted to talk to that man once.

Just talk?

'I'll try to persuade them to join our camp if I can.

And if you can't do that?

And then...

　I stopped speaking there and muttered, ''I'll just do my best as a general in the Demon King's army.

''-- At that time, I'll just do my best as a general in the Demon King's army.

　I've said as much.
　Even if I am the head of the Demon King's Eighth Legion, I am the head of the Demon King's Army's Eighth Legion.

　Although I sympathized with the position of the enemy general, E Ludre, there was still no reason for me to lose as the head of the legion. It was not a reason to give up the lives of his precious subordinates.

　However, even so, the Demon King-sama
You're a sweet guy, really.
　And she was drinking sake by hand.

　Finally she says

Well, the sweeter the sake, the better for my men. I guess that's the way it's always been.

　She, Madam Demon King, allowed me to meet with E. Rudre with such expressions.
　No, she gave me permission.