Chapter 98

When returning from the demon king's castle, Dovolberk, to Ivalice, the first person to come was not Lili or Jiron, but Alistair. She looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"Y-Your Highness, what judgment did the demon king make?"

Her eyes were serious, yet also like those of a child eagerly awaiting the winter solstice festival. I told her the facts without hesitation.

"The demon king desires peace."

Upon hearing these words, she jumped for joy like a child, and Sati also wore a delighted expression.

Alistair was glad that she could be of service to the king, and Sati was happy that a peaceful era was coming. However, I couldn't share their joy to the same extent.

Perhaps sensing my mood, Jiron, the orc advisor, asked me.

"Sir, you don't look very happy."

"I didn't think you could tell through the mask," I thought, but my relationship with this orc was the longest in the army. He might have sensed my subtle emotions.

When we were alone, I decided to explain the details to Jiron. We returned to the office and, after confirming that no one was around, I shared my thoughts with him.

"I think this peace will not be established, probably."

Upon hearing this, Jiron was flustered.

"Huh? Huh? But humans desire peace, don't they? And the demon king and Sefiro are also for peace. Do you mean other army leaders will oppose it?"

I shook my head in denial.

"No, that's not it. King Rosaria is likely willing to compromise and desires peace. The demon king, Sefiro, and I also desire peace. Moreover, the demon king can likely convince the other army leaders."

"He is a charismatic demon king, after all."

Jiron boasted as if it were his own achievement.

"But if that's the case, why won't this peace be established?"

To Jiron's simple question, I replied with one word.

"Intuition."

"Intuition? That's so vague."

"It's not vague. Intuition is a respectable choice backed by experience and theory. That's what my grandfather used to say."

"Lord Rombelk, you mean?"

"Yes, the demon king is enthusiastic, and King Rosaria is also willing, but what about the people behind them?"

"The Alliance of Kings, perhaps?"

"That's one possibility, but there are always narrow-minded and simple-minded people everywhere. Those who might sabotage peace could be anywhere."

"Do you mean the king's attendants might interfere?"

"Very likely."

When I said this, Jiron placed his hand on his slightly chubby chin and said, "That does seem possible," while stroking his chin.

"Then what should we do? Refuse the peace proposal?"

"Of course not."

"But the enemy will try to sabotage peace, right? Wouldn't going there be like jumping into the tiger's mouth?"

"Indeed. If they appear, we could be surrounded by the entire army and annihilated."

The peace signing ceremony will take place in the middle of a plain, with a tent set up, and 1,000 soldiers from each side will be on standby. There is a real possibility of being attacked during the signing.

However, Jiron seemed skeptical.

"But, sir, with 1,000 against 1,000, our 8th Army should be able to win, right?"

"Only if the enemy has 1,000."

I answered immediately, but Jiron looked puzzled.

"Ah, you really are a corps commander's advisor, aren't you?"

"Do you not worry about being ambushed by the enemy during the signing ceremony?"

When Jiron heard this, he let out a silly "Ah."

"But if that happens, we could just kill King Rosaria right in front of us, or capture him as a hostage. Then the enemy army would be powerless."

"Would they? If I were the enemy's strategist, I would see it as an opportunity to kill the king."

"Y-You mean, really?"

"King Rosaria's chancellor is known to be cunning and greedy. If the king dies, they could immediately place a relative on the throne and control Rosaria from behind."

"But would the nobles and the people follow if the king is killed?"

"They probably wouldn't."

"Then they wouldn't do it, right?"

"No, they would. If you ask why, it's simple. They intend to pin the blame for the king's assassination on me."

Jiron was speechless but seemed to understand.

"Then, is this peace signing ceremony a trap? Should we not go?"

"No, we can't."

I slowly shook my head.

Before I could explain, a woman's voice answered for me. I immediately recognized who it was. Only a few people can freely enter this room.

My former superior, the Black Catastrophe Witch, spoke on my behalf.

"Even if there's a slim chance, we must pursue the possibility of peace."

Sefiro said this decisively. Jiron was surprised by her sudden appearance and her words.

"Sir, are you really going to take such a risky bet?"

Jiron's casual comment left me speechless. He had hit the core of the matter.

Sefiro said with a playful tone,

"Pig. Don't say that. Ike isn't the type to take risky bets, but if there's even a slim chance for peace, he would choose that path."

He may look like the Undying King, but his heart is as sweet as candy.

Jiron agreed, "Well, that's true."

I confessed and shared my thoughts.

"I admit that I was surprised by this peace proposal and that I went to the commander to discuss it, knowing that the chances of success were less than 30%."

"Were you plotting against me and the demon king?"

Sefiro said this jokingly but didn't seem angry.

"I interpreted it as the demon king agreeing with full knowledge of the risks."

Sefiro laughed her usual "hahaha" and continued,

"True to the grandson of the Undying King, you reached the same conclusion as the demon king."

"So, the demon king also thinks there's a possibility that this peace won't be established?"

Sefiro answered immediately.

"That's why the demon king ordered the 7th Army to be ready to move."

"Meaning they will come to our aid if we are attacked?"

"Exactly."

Sefiro said this but added,

"However, we can't place the army too close. If we get too close, the enemy might suspect and the peace talks will fall apart."

"I understand that."

Honestly, I didn't want the 7th Army to come to our aid. It's not that I didn't want Sefiro's help. If the 7th Army comes to our aid, it means the peace talks have failed. I said the chances of success were less than 30%, but that also means there's a 30% chance of success.

I decided to prepare in advance to increase that slim chance. I planned to gather information from Alistair about the king's character and the people around him. Knowledge is power, whether in my previous life or in this world.

My grandfather and the famous military strategist from my previous life both said something similar:

"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will never be in peril in a hundred battles."

This is a quote from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," a book written by the famous general Sun Wu during the Spring and Autumn period. I respected both my grandfather and Sun Tzu, so I decided to follow their advice sincerely.