Chapter 51

The 7th Legion had successfully repelled the enemy knights who were besieging the Arsenal.

Initially, the plan was to take advantage of this momentum and immediately advance to the capital of Rosaria, Reis. However, this plan was immediately rejected.

It seems that the enemy forces we just defeated were merely the vanguard of the Alliance of Kings.

It is said that the number of the Alliance of Kings gathered in the capital of Rosaria has swelled to tens of thousands.

Of course, Seffiro, the commander of the 7th Legion, is not foolish.

Without even needing to suggest, "Let's retreat and observe the situation," he issued the order, "Everyone, return to your posts."

Upon hearing this order, I immediately withdrew the army and set off on the return journey.

Upon returning to my manor in Ivalice, I immediately entered my study.

Saty, without a word, bowed respectfully and brought me a cup of tea with two teaspoons of sugar, a gesture and aroma I had long missed on the battlefield.

There were beautiful women on the battlefield, too. Seffiro, the ageless witch, and Lilith, the succubus. They were beautiful in appearance, but they could not provide the same delicate care as Saty. They probably couldn't even make a decent cup of tea, let alone bake cookies as delicious as Saty's.

While savoring the sweet and buttery aroma of Saty's cookies, I thought about how, in my previous life, I had taken for granted the ordinary pleasure of pastries, which in this world are considered luxury items. Commoners can't afford them easily, and being able to enjoy them daily is a small luxury as a ruler.

While enjoying the aroma of the tea, I couldn't help but think of that familiar taste.

"Ah, I want to drink coffee."

Saty reacted to my words.

"Coffee?"

"Yes, did you hear that? I was trying to mutter it quietly."

"Saty's ears miss none of your words, no matter how small."

Saty said this with a smile.

"...That's a bit scary."

From now on, I'll have to be careful even with my mutterings.

Thinking this, I began to explain coffee.

"Coffee is an amber-colored drink. It's made by brewing black beans, though they're originally red. But that's not important. It's a delicious drink with a wonderful aroma."

"But tea also has a good aroma..."

"It's a different kind of aroma. Tea has a noble feel, while coffee is more... down-to-earth."

"Down-to-earth...?"

Saty seemed uncertain.

Well, that's understandable. It's difficult to describe the aroma of coffee to someone who has never smelled it.

"If only I had the actual beans."

"Are you planning to produce coffee?"

"No, that's impossible. Coffee can only be grown in the south. Even if we used a greenhouse and magic to warm it, the cost would be too high."

"Then why not import it from the south?"

"If the beans existed, that would be possible, but..."

"Do they not exist?"

"Probably not. I didn't see them in the capital of Rosaria."

I said this definitively, but an unexpected person contradicted me.

"Coffee is circulated in the south."

This interruption came from my superior, Seffiro, who entered the study without knocking.

Only selected demons can enter this manor, but unfortunately, she is one of them.

Thus, she can enter my study boldly, but I wish she would at least knock.

"What's that look on your face? You're thinking, 'At least knock, right?'"

And this person has sharp intuition.

Even though her face is hidden behind a mask, she seems to read my thoughts clearly.

I mentally raised my hands in surrender and asked about the meaning of her statement.

"Is it true that coffee exists?"

"It's true. I've seen it in Zenobia in the south. It's a drink made from ground black beans. I tried it once, but it was bitter and didn't suit my taste."

"That's it. So, it exists in this world too..."

"You like such bitter things?"

"Well, yes."

I missed caffeine, but I wasn't sure if this person would understand. Lately, I've been feeling drowsy in the afternoon. In my previous life, a cup of coffee would have refreshed me, but unfortunately, tea doesn't have the same effect.

"Anyway, it's good news that coffee exists. I want to enjoy that aroma again."

Thinking this, I was about to call Jiron and instruct him to arrange for coffee, but I was stopped by the witch, my superior.

"You always rely on that pig for everything. Don't you ever try to handle things on your own?"

"Well, I am the lord of Ivalice, and this is the front line. I can't afford to be away."

"Have you heard the saying, 'A capable boss doesn't let subordinates grow'?"

"...Yes, I have. It's true."

The relationship between this witch and me might be a good example of that.

While compensating for Seffiro's lack of motivation and carelessness, I've become diligent and gained various experiences.

In essence, she's saying that if a boss does everything, subordinates won't grow.

"You have some very capable subordinates. That orc, Jiron, is competent, honest in his duties, and loyal to you. You've found a good subordinate."

"You should tell him that. He'll cry with joy."

"Recognizing a subordinate's abilities is also a boss's strength."

"Also, Sigan, the dragon man, is calm and capable. Lilith, the girl, may lack intelligence, but she has the strength to compensate. They still have room to grow. It might not be bad to leave the city to them for a while."

"Are you saying it's fine to leave them in charge?"

"Exactly."

Seffiro said this definitively.

"If you're saying that, it's not just to send me to Zenobia to buy coffee, right?"

"Of course not. I'm not that eccentric. While you're there, you might as well buy some lotion that's good for the skin."

Seffiro joked, but it was clear it was a joke as she quickly became serious.

"---I want you to go to Zenobia, a trading city in the south, as the representative of the Demon King."

Her expression made me immediately understand.

"---I see. So, buying coffee is just a pretext, and there's a secret mission, right?"

"Indeed, you are the grandson of Romburg, perceptive as always."

"We've known each other for a long time."

"Then, do you have any idea what the mission is?"

"It's a guess, but is it okay if I say it?"

"Go ahead."

She gave her permission in a teacher-like tone.

"Commander, or rather, I think the Demon King wants to trade with Zenobia, the leader of the 'Trade Alliance' in the south?"

"Hmm, what's your basis for that?"

"The financial situation of our army."

I said this succinctly.

"Currently, our army's finances are not abundant. Thanks to the Demon King's rule, we are much richer than before, but it's still not enough. Especially, there's a significant food shortage."

"Thanks to you, the agricultural output of Ivalice has increased."

"Still, it's not enough to supply the entire army. Agriculture takes time to yield results."

"That's true."

"Moreover, the land occupied by the Demon King's army is not very fertile, and there are more industrial cities than agricultural ones. The fields have been devastated by war. We might face a serious food shortage soon."

"Then, the Demon King's army could levy, or rather, plunder from the residents?"

"The Demon King is not that foolish. I don't think he would take such a foolish action when the administration of the occupied territories is going well."

"Then, what do you think the Demon King's aim is? Or, what would you do?"

Seffiro's voice was unusually serious. Perhaps even this witch couldn't fully grasp the Demon King's intentions.

She is an intelligent and sharp demon, but she is still a demon. Her thinking is based on the standards of demons.

"The Demon King probably wants to sell surplus industrial products, especially the jewelry and crafts made by the dwarven artisans, to the south and use the money to buy abundant food from the south."

When I said this, Seffiro sighed and said, "Hmm."

Her attitude made the answer clear, but I asked just to be sure.

"Commander, is my answer correct?"

Seffiro neither confirmed nor denied it.

"...I don't like it. I don't like it, but you're saying the same thing as the Demon King."

"So, is my answer 100 points?"

Seffiro didn't give a clear answer, but said in her usual childish tone:

"Anyway, it's the Demon King's order. Ike, the deputy commander of the 7th Legion. Go to Zenobia in the south in my place and conclude a trade treaty with the leader of the Trade Alliance!"

Seffiro concluded this and turned away, slightly sulking.

"Hmph, if you fail, you'll have to start over from scratch under me."

And with that, she cast a teleportation spell and disappeared.

Seeing this, Saty, who had been standing by, asked hesitantly.

"Is it okay? Lady Seffiro seemed angry."

"That's not anger. She's sulking."

"Sulking?"

"She gets upset when I give the model answer."

"Why? You found the correct answer, didn't you?"

"She still thinks of me as a child."

"A child...?"

"Yes, the commander and I have known each other since childhood. She still thinks she needs to guide me."

"I see, so she's not angry but sulking."

Saty nodded in understanding and smiled hesitantly.

"Indeed, as you said, she is childlike."

"Put positively, she has a childlike heart. Put negatively, she's childish."

I said this sarcastically, but Saty suddenly stopped laughing and said:

"Still—"

Saty continued:

"Lady Seffiro knows you from your childhood, doesn't she?"

"Yes, but why?"

Hearing this, Saty said something unusual.

"I'm a bit envious of Lady Seffiro. No, I'm jealous."

"Why?"

"Because I've never seen you as a child. I imagine you must have been cute."

"...Cute."

Is that a compliment?

It's an unusual word for a middle-ranking officer in the Demon King's army, but indeed, I had a cute childhood.

Thinking about this, I prepared to head south.