It was fluffy.
　That was my first thought when I woke up this morning. I had been traveling so much in the first place, and while I had finally settled into my elven hiding place, I had never slept in a fluffy bed. After all, an elf's bed is just a board with leaves on it.
　Probably the last time I slept in a soft bed like this was when I lived in my parents' house. Thanks to that, I was able to sleep soundly even though I didn't know the place at all. I am in perfect physical condition.

''Huh........''

　I'm going to awaken myself by stretching myself as much as I can.
　Today is the signing ceremony with the Kingdom of Olvance. It was suddenly decided yesterday, but I don't think there will be any problems. You just need to confirm the details beforehand. Even I would understand if the clause is too advantageous to the Olvance Kingdom.
　If you don't understand, just connect with Drake in private conversation and get his advice.

"Good morning, Noah-sama.

Yeah, good morning.

Breakfast is ready. It's here.

Oh, really?

　The woman who introduced herself as my caretaker yesterday - Elsa - pushed the cart and put the breakfast on the table as she said this.
　Last night's meal was good, too. The meat dish was richly seasoned and to my liking. I was looking forward to seeing what breakfast would be like.
　It was a pretty standard breakfast on the table: bread, grilled bacon, eggs and a salad. But the bread was fluffy white bread, and the bacon was a pretty good quality meat.
　After a quick breakfast, I look at Elsa.

'Where is Alisa... um, where is your companion?'

Yes, sir. Your companion is having breakfast in his room as well.

I see. Well, I need to know what you're doing today. I heard we're having a signing ceremony, when exactly do you want to start?

Ha, that's...

　Elsa stammered somewhat.
　She's a female officer, after all, and maybe she hasn't been taught about politics. I can see that she hesitates, as if she is choosing her words.
　If you don't know, why don't you just say you don't know?

''Heh, I thought His Majesty would explain it to you...''

'Hmmm ... so does that mean Mr. Feliana is coming here?'

Yes, yes....

Well, I guess I'll just have to wait until then. Let me know when you come.

Ha....

　Elsa bows her head.
　Well, then, I guess that means I'm free until Feliana gets here. What shall I do?
　Oh, by the way, I was going to call Drake after dinner yesterday or something. Anyway, it's just a report that we're going to have a signing ceremony - that's all.

'Well,'

"Yes. Mr. Noah.

I'm a little busy, so stay out of my way.

Yes, yes....

　Um.
　For now, I'm going to try to picture Drake. But he's a nice looking guy, so he doesn't have much of a feature. It's a difficult face to remember, or perhaps a face that can be found everywhere.

《Telegram (message)》

　As I murmur, I can feel the sensation of a vague connection between me and Drake.
　It's like there's a strange space between thinking in my mind and putting it into words. I feel as if I'm connected to Drake, ignoring the laws of physics in that part of my mind. It's not that I want to connect with that guy, though.
　Then, slightly later, a surprised voice came from Drake's side.

''Noah-sama?''

"Yeah, it's me, Drake.

'I beg your pardon. 'Of course, this Drake Death Scythe, you will not be mistaken for your master. I was a little confused by the suddenness of the situation. What can I do for you, sir?

"Oh, yeah. Just a quick update.

"Yes, sir.

　As usual, the reverent Drake is alive and well.
　I can't help but feel that it's a problem to be that arrogant. Even though Drake has only been around for a short time, he's still one of mine. It's a good thing that you're treating me like the other members of the group, because you're free to treat me as you would any other.
　Well, it's a problem if you suddenly come to me as an oratorical type like Milo, so maybe this is a good thing.

'I didn't get to meet the Emperor of the Draukos Empire. He refused because he was in poor health.''

'I suppose so. I don't think the emperor will meet with you without an agreement. However, the fact that Master Noah has made such a visit seems to me to be all that is needed.'

"Yes. So, about the Kingdom of Orleans...

"The queen of that country is a wise woman. She will not be turned away unceremoniously, as the Empire was.

'Yeah. That's right. The Queen herself has given me a warm welcome.

　That's Drake, he knows his stuff. As expected of a former strongest adventurer.
　I don't know what kind of relationship there was between Drake and Feliana. Drake, didn't he belong to the Empire at one point? I wonder if being an adventurer is such a free profession.

''Just ask the queen there what you can't afford to hear from her.

"How? What do you mean?

The Draukos Empire has executed my parents and brother. The details of the crime are unknown. But they probably got word that I'm the Demon King and they took the blame for it. What do you think, Drake?

....

Drake?

''No........I didn't expect the Empire to turn on us so carelessly, and I'm sorry....

"It's not Drake's fault. I was wrong.

　I agreed with the founding of the country because I wanted to live a quiet life.
　If I was the only one who could live a quiet life, I thought it was fine. Calling me a demon king was inevitable.
　But I had no idea that the news that I had become a demon king would affect my blood family as well. I'm not sure if it's because of the fact that I've been licking my chops at the empire.
　It's a matter of pride that they won't be able to mess with me and my country so easily.
　I will never forgive the Empire.

Well yes, sir. I take it that the information you have received was given to you by His Majesty Feliana of Orvance.

Yeah. I'm sorry, but I can't forgive the Empire. I'm going to make sure the Empire gets what it deserves for killing my blood family.

''You may. It's as if they've already declared war on us. Blood must be paid for by blood.

'It's just that Queen Feliana has told me. I don't see enough reason to declare war on the Empire. I think we should form an alliance with the Kingdom of Orleans.

''Hmm........I see. You do have a point.

　Oh, you're right.
　Good, good. FELIANA isn't trying to trick me.

"In the first place, a war needs a cause.

'I've heard that one before.

'Yes. 'Yes, that's what you mean by a justification for action. War is essentially the final stage of negotiations. After repeated negotiations, our demands are still not being met, and the idea of war is to force our demands to be met by force. The idea of 'crushing the empire' from the start, as Mr. Noah did, is not the way of war.

"...hmmm.

　I mean what.
　I don't know what Drake is talking about. I'm not smart enough to understand this stuff.

"To put it simply ... well, yeah. You'll need a good reason to explain to the other countries that Noah-sama is destroying the empire and convince them that it can't be helped.

Couldn't it have been because my parents were killed?

'That would be a selfish vendetta. It's not a good cause.

"It's so annoying. Why do you need that?

"Starting a war without a cause means you can't complain about other countries doing it to you. It's like having the whole world around you as an enemy in disguise.

''Hmm... I don't know, but that's what you'll get if you make an alliance with the Kingdom of Olvance, right?''

The Kingdom of Orleans and the Empire are enemies of each other. You can't get away with it because of the fact that you're not going to be able to get away with it. Instead, it will be necessary to discuss with the Kingdom of Orvance in terms of ceding territory and other matters...''

　This guy knows a lot about it.
　I think we should somehow raise Drake's level to 70+ and have him learn the "Metamorphic Human".

''Yeah. So...''

"Yes, Master Noah.

"We're going to have a signing ceremony today, aren't we?

'............. ........What?''

　He accumulated and accumulated as much as he could, and Drake concluded with just a short word of that.
　Yeah, it's still weird, isn't it? We met for the first time yesterday, and today is the signing ceremony.