A large number of arrows raining down from Suzu City Hall.

　The front line, where we and humanity face each other, echoes with the roar of unhinged humanity.

　Negotiations have broken down........ What do we do?　The humans on the front lines are in a state of panic because of the treacherous arrows from their allies. If they launched an attack now, it would be easy to defeat the enemy on the front lines.

　However, if that were to happen, then the killing of more than 30,000 human beings would be a certainty.

　Furthermore, it would be impossible to get Sayama Toratetsu, who had gone to the trouble of getting him to surrender, to be one of his men.

　There were two ways to get Sayama Toratetsu under his command.

　One is to surrender by ruling.

　The first is - to become a family member through the Contract.

　There are two options - attack, or retreat.

　What to do?　There is no time to think about it. Time will unravel the depression in humanity.

Get the hell out of here!　Lina, retreat with Sayama Toratetsu!

　--!

　The men under my command are surprised at my decision.

　--all hands on deck!　Pull back!　Withdraw to the area of control!

　I will once again give compelling orders to all my subordinates.

　This time, only Sayama Toratetsu.......not!　I picked up the loudspeaker.

'Attention humanity!　You have been betrayed and cut off by the very beings you were supposed to be a part of, the very beings you were supposed to protect!　The Sword Sage - Sayama Toratetsu has shown his reverence towards us!　What about you guys!　Will you continue to fight for the people who betrayed you?　Or........will you follow me with Sayama Toratetsu--decide!

　My words, delivered over the loudspeaker, stirred the hearts of humanity as arrows were fired from their allies.

'If you're coming with us--we'll welcome you!　Our people.... abandoned by those they were meant to protect!　If you're going to walk the same path as Sayama Toratetsu--put down your weapons and run for my control territory!

　.........

""Oh, wow!"

　After taking a breath, many of the humans who had been confronting them on the front lines threw down their weapons on the spot and began to run towards the area of control.

　--Living Mail!　Shield up and line up!　Catch the arrows as they fall!

　At my command, the retreating Living Mail turns on its heel and holds up its shield.

　--Yataro!　Call me now!

　I don't even have time to operate my smartphone now. I order Yataro to call me, and in less than five seconds, my smartphone starts to tremble as it announces an incoming call.

'Yataro!　Now do what I say, right now!
Copy that.
Lift the cap on the number of people in the dominant territories where they are based!
"Hm?　Are you sure?
I don't care!　A large number of humans are now entering the stronghold. I'll have Izayoi, Saburo, Setanta, and any of my men who are available near the entrance.
Copy that.
"Any attack on incoming humanity is forbidden!　However, any human who attacks us kill them immediately!
"Hm?　It's a complicated situation but we'll see what happens.
Lastly... set up a transference device on one level of the base that will lead to a secure control area.
Copy that.

　I announced my business quickly and hung up the phone with Yataro. I myself retreated to the area of control.


　◆


　An hour after we began our retreat.

'Is this all the humanity that has offered to surrender?
That's right. It's been 15 minutes since humans last entered our dominion. This should put an end to that.

　I called out to Yataro, who was lined up next to me, and looked around at the humanity that had crowded into the area of control.

'How many?'
876 men.

　876 people. Whether this number should be taken as 876 people offering to surrender or only 876 out of over 30,000...it was difficult to determine whether it was a small number or a large number.

　Currently, fortunately, no disputes or other problems have arisen.

　However, it was obvious that if they continued to leave it as it was.......problems would arise.

　The demon (Chaos) and humanity (Rowe) were truly irreconcilable with each other. A disgust carved into their instincts. The demon (chaos) hates humanity (Rowe) unconditionally, and humanity (Rowe) hates the demon (chaos) unconditionally.

　Only the Demon King can deviate from that logic and act calculatingly... but his subordinates will attack humanity (Lowe) in front of him immediately if he doesn't bind them with orders. Likewise, humanity is only disciplined to attack the demons in front of them with the stronger instincts of heartbreak and survival instincts that have been betrayed by their allies.

''Well I tell the humanity gathered here. I will keep my promise to you and protect you. However, I can't make you a part of my family or make you part of my family as soon as possible.

　The human race starts to buzz when they hear my words.

''Well, even if you call them lords and dependents, they don't understand........ Well, don't you hate the demons in front of you now?　Once you become a lord or a family member, those feelings will disappear. However, it's impossible to make them a lord or a family member right away. Therefore, I propose to you.

　I take a breath and look around at the upset humanity.

''We shouldn't be in the same space. So I'm going to use the [Transitional Device] there to move you guys to a different controlled area. There's a certain amount of food and daily necessities at the destination that you've moved to. I'll have you guys wait there until we finish capturing Suzu City Hall.

　I point to the 【Transition Device】 I set up beforehand and throw a few words at humanity.

''Finally, the destination you move to will be the fifth level of a certain region's controlled territory. You are free to walk around within the hierarchy, but you are forbidden to move to other levels. As long as this promise is kept, I will guarantee your safety. Conversely, the moment you move to a different level - the moment you move to a different level - that person will be considered to have shown hostile behavior towards me and will pay for it with death.

　Humanity listens to my words with a quiet ... pale expression.

'Lastly I'll let you be. If you need anything else, use this smart phone to call me on speed dial. Don't make the mistake of calling me on a turgid matter, okay?　After that, we can monitor everything inside the control area. Do not act prematurely.

　I toss one smartphone at humanity that was close to me. By the way, I've set it up so that when I press the speed dial, I can get through to Yataro's phone.



　

''Ah, uh........Sion-san.
Hmm?　What's going on?

　As I was watching the humanity moving to the 【Transition Device】, Kanon flew to my ear and whispered in a whisper.

''Do we need to check their.......humanity's belongings?''
Possessions?　You've seen all the weapons, right?
I'm sure you're aware of that, but are you aware of any smart phones?

　Canon whispered in a small, anxious voice.

'Smartphones. Maybe they all have them.
What?　You might as well take it away!

　Kanon hears my words and yells out loud.

'No problem, right?'
We have a big problem!　As long as you have a smartphone, you can keep in touch with the humanity at Zhuzhou City Hall...
You could, but what would you tell them?

　Humanity is under house arrest in the eighty-seventh area of control, which is Hakui's domain. We can monitor them, but humans have no way of knowing our situation.

And yet...
So if it's the other way around it's good for us to keep in touch, right?
Is that a good time?
Yes. We've set up some pretty lavish supplies in the territory we hold them in. Knowing how they treat you, there's a good chance more humans will surrender, right?
"--!　Nah, I see!

　Kanon smiles, knowing what's on my mind.

''Oops, I forgot. ''Sword Sage!''　Do you want to come over here?

　I called out to the 'Sword Sage' who was standing quietly cowering beside Lina.