The place Sille and I arrived at with Opti's guidance was a deep forest. This time it was not a house, but outside.

　Aitos and Dapto were also waiting ahead of us.

　Aethos was apologetic, but Dapto was as blunt as ever.

　Many dark elves were standing on top of a large tree, looking down at us.

''I told you not to bring the ...... human race with you, didn't I?''

　Dapto stared at me.

　His eyes contained unreserved hostility.

　However, Sille responds with serenity.

''Why should I accept everything you have to say over there?''

Don't we want to have a mutually credible meeting?

　Dapto says bluntly.

　From his point of view, "I didn't send any troops".

　He knew that he would be treated with this kind of impudence. It's just that the dark elves moved of their own accord.

　But there is already a quality to Opti's words.

''I don't trust you in the first place?

d*mn it, ...... you're not going to discuss this, are you?

　So asking questions like this is an excuse to start a war.

　As long as the outcome is visible, the meaningless watering down argument will only continue.

　Then, Sille steps in.

''No, I'm willing to discuss it. I am also prepared to accept you all.'

Well, that's a good attitude.

However, we intend to accept the dark elf side as refugees, not to merge nations or races.

'What?!'

　Dapto's face is twisted in humiliation.

　Refugees. Refugees, those who flee their countries to other countries because they are oppressed for a reason.

　It's inevitable. Both Aethos and Opti look convinced.

　But from the point of view of the aggressive and high-handed Dapto, it's not something that can be forgiven.

''Don't be silly!　As equals, the elves will cede half of the territory they currently hold and we will be autonomous. Otherwise, we will wage war!

'We will not allow you to cede any territory, nor will we allow you to be autonomous. If you can't take our compromise, then war will be the way to go.

'Guh. ......!　You have been manipulated by these people after all!　They're trying to control us dark elves too!

　From their point of view, they couldn't get rid of the thought that strangers were dangerous. I'm sure they've been fighting exclusively with dark elves all this time.

　There aren't many good-natured people who can be trusted that easily.

　It would be useless to say it, though.

No, I didn't do anything. Politics and all that stuff, I don't touch it.

　Snapping my fingers--.

　Yes, I'll tell you.

　I should say, of course, that Dapto doesn't listen to me.

　He stretches out his arms and points his fingertips at me, as if he's furious.

"Come out!　Let's get rid of these guys and make peace with the dark elves!

　That's the signal to the ambushers.

　Sille says, "It was still a trap ......! He says.

　Aethos and Opti shout at the dark elves around them.

''Stop the Daptists!''

　It is no longer a body of war. Depression and chaos occupy the place.

　But there is no movement for any length of time.

　The dark elves of the Aethos and Opti factions are just ready to see when the enemy will come.

　Sille also doesn't move with his magic circle deployed.

　Then, Dapto looks around.

'Oh, hey ...... what's up?　Go ahead ......!

　The voice is empty and wooden.

　The only voice that brings no results is the one that echoes in the distance.

''I'm sorry, but if it was an ambush soldier poised nearby, I would have had him sleep.

　I say, lacing my fingers together.

　It's in the form of snapping my fingers together.

'No way... ......!'

'I could have put Aethos and the Opti's to sleep, though.

　I put to sleep the ones that are set up a little farther away, apart from the dark elves that are circling us and surrounding us.

　These were definitely troops that had already prepared for battle.

　I guess my prediction was correct.

　The two of them smiled bitterly at my words, but patted their chests and said it was inevitable. I'm relieved that a futile battle was not created.

　But Dapto doesn't seem to be able to control his anger.

''Don't be silly!　That would be a noble act of combat!　Why do you interfere with it, you mortal?　You are determined to destroy the Dark Elves after all!

...... No, you were the one who attacked us in the first place.

It's ......!

　Dapto is at a loss for words.

'--that's not the point,'

　Well, it's over, so it doesn't matter. I want to say something more.

　Dapto said, "That's not the point! I don't care about that.

"I think your village is in trouble.

　I ask, looking into the distance.

　There is only black darkness in the distance of my gaze. But if you go further in, you will find the dark elf village.

''What do you mean ......?''

　Opti asks with a dubious look on her face.

　I utter the part I hastily omitted.

''I'm deploying detection magic, and it seems that quite a few demons are attacking the dark elf village. They've been allocating their forces to this one, and it seems that the demons have sensed this and are attacking them.

'We're bluffing!　We have some forces left over there, and they're not even within range of detection magic in the first place!

　Dapto retorts.

'--The three turrets at the front gate have fallen down. The number of cities we've identified is six, but one of them has already been devoured by the Daknes Wolves. The other two are also being attacked by a mixed army of orcs and ogres. We won't need a few more minutes.

　As I explained the situation, the faces of the dark elves quickly turned blue.

　I'm glad to hear that their credibility has increased.

''Yes, we must return to the dark elf village now!

　Opti nodded at Aethos' words, and those of their respective factions headed off. Dapto also went back, eating his back teeth.

'Jeed-san ......!　I'm headed there too!

But this is a dark elf dispute, okay?

''Dark elves are originally the same race of 'elves'. If there's a crisis at hand, we want to lend a hand!

Okay.

　If Sille says so, it can't be helped.

　We too went after the dark elves.

◆

...... This is.

　Sille narrows his eyes as he witnesses the horror of the battlefield.

　It's just that it's not a battle between people, and they're doing everything they can to hunt 'lives'.

　They bite off legs, gouge out eyes, crush arms and pull out guts.

　When you're against a beast, the way you fight and die changes.

''First, it's a pack of dakness wolves on the front lines.

　I say and make a path of ice in front of the pure black wolves as I say it.

　With this, they can't march any further.

　The enemy that suddenly appeared - the beasts roared and alerted while looking at me.

　I controlled them with my hands against Sille, who took a battle stance and deployed a magic circle.

''Ji, Jide-sama, you came!

　Opti spotted me and called out to me.

　Several other gazes caught my attention.

　Among them was Dapto.

''Human race!　You stay out of this!

...... what?

"I don't need your help!　If you think you can convince us to go along with it...

　Dapto is still trying to be stubborn at this stage of the game.

　But if he continues like this, the damage will be even greater. It's not a joke. The demons have that much momentum.

　Before Dapto can finish saying everything, he grabs the chest.

''--I'm not going to listen to your opinion.

Gulp.

'The people in danger here are the dark elves. They are not your toys.

'Oh, your rule is ......'

"If you want to indulge in all this crazy talk about how you don't want me to be in your pocket, go ahead and die. But don't drag everyone else into your self-important dictatorship.

Hee......!

　Throw down the dapt.

　They don't seem to say anything else.

　I make my way to the crowd of demons.

"Jeez, Mr. Jeed: ......

　Sille comes up to me.

'Are you getting better at acting?'

　I mutter to myself.

　I tried to say it in a threatening way, but it seemed to resonate quite well with Dapto's reaction.

　Now I won't let him say he's not a good actor anymore.

'Eh ......?'

　Sille gave me a question mark, not knowing what he was talking about.

　I shake my head, smiling to myself.

'No, it's nothing. But so now we can interfere with the dark elves.

　Both Opti and Aethos are looking out for me.

　They don't seem to want to stop.

　I glare at the demons.

'Go away. The dark elves don't want to fight anymore. Those who have taken your home are going back to where they belong. Soon you will be back to your old ways.

　That was a warning from me.

　There are some higher species of demons that can understand the language.

　I'm sure that even if you don't understand the language they're speaking, you'll at least understand the meaning and general content.

　If it seems to be a bad idea, though, you have the choice to fight .......

'Gururu ......'

　A pure black wolf with a moistened mouth packed in.

　It is the largest of the pack.

　It makes eye contact with me and it's terrifying. It doesn't have words, but it's dozens or hundreds of times more powerful than Dapto.

　In fact, the demons that have stopped moving will start moving with this one voice.

''Goooooooooooooooooooooooooo!''

　A yell.

　A distant wolf's yell echoed in response.

'............ minus ......?'

　Sille blurts out.

　The other demons are on their heels, starting with the wolves.

''Sorry, I missed those demons,''

　Maybe they will continue to do us harm.

　Then there may come a day when we say that we should have fought them thoroughly here.

　But Sille smiled with satisfaction.

'No blood is to be shed, first and foremost. I would rather thank you for your help.'

Okay. It's a request.

You could easily destroy those demons, and yet you're asking me to let them go?

I've known demons--I've known them a long time. I wouldn't want to fight them if I didn't have to.

...... I can have the utmost respect for that kindness of yours. Thank you.

　On behalf of the demons, and on behalf of the dark elves, Sille leaves a few words.

'I think it's great to be able to bow down for someone like that.

　I was embarrassed when I was the only one to be told, so I returned it from me on the contrary.

　Then Sille blushed shyly and said, "No, no, not that ......! I was embarrassed.