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I leave Lotzo behind, taking Belrüsa’s landing forces with me. Rasie and Parker come along too, as do the werewolves.
Security along the way was more than sufficient—so much so that even bandits were too scared to make a move.

“Hyahha! Time to hunt some mountain bandits!”
“Pirates versus bandits—let’s see which is tougher!”
“Oi, we ain’t letting anyone mess up public order!”

Five hundred people who looked more ferocious than any ordinary bandit moving together like that—it’s no wonder no one dared touch us.

And then, after a long while, I find myself standing before the gates of Lüenheit again.
Huh.
The city walls are finished. Sturdy walls encircle Lüenheit completely, leaving no gaps as they protect the demon capital.

“According to Azur, it should’ve taken a while longer…”

Tilting my head, I pass through the gate, where Aylia comes out to greet me.

“Welcome back, Lord Veit.”

Behind Aylia, the Demon Ambassador governor, stand the Lüenheit guards.
That part is normal—but this time, towering figures loom behind them.
Giants.
About ten massive, powerfully built giants, each several meters tall, stand at attention as if guarding Aylia.

I knew that the survivors of the Second Division were being reorganized and sent to Lüenheit, but seeing giants serving a human like Aylia is still a strange sight.
Apparently thinking the same thing, the mohawked members of the Belrüsa land forces recoil in fear.

“G-giants…”
“You’ve gotta be kidding me… there’re this many of ’em…”
“H-hey, these guys are on our side, right?”

They’re properly scared.
Yeah, these guys really do feel like they came straight out of the post-apocalypse.
I return Aylia’s greeting and ask about what I’m seeing.

“Lady Aylia, it looks like the walls are complete. And you’ve even gotten along with the giants?”

Aylia smiles.

“The Giant Engineering Corps finished the walls for us. It happened in no time at all.”

Heavy machinery with human-like fingers, basically. They’re ideal workers.
Still, it’s impressive how thoroughly she’s won them over.

I speak to the giants.

“So you’re the ones who finished the walls. Good work.”

The giants look embarrassed and reply.

“We just did what we were told…”
“The humans thanked us a lot. This place is different from the north.”

Their expressions are calm.

To begin with, most of the survivors were mild-mannered types. The more hotheaded ones mostly died on the northern front.
But the ones who survived had lost their spirit and grown fearful of humans.
Now, though, they seem to have found joy in working for them.

Aylia laughs softly.

“Even after the walls were finished, they’ve been helping with house construction and road maintenance. They’re indispensable to Lüenheit.”

At her words, the giants scratch their heads.
Just then, dogfolk come trotting over. A terrier-like dogman who seems to be the site supervisor shouts while stroking his fluffy fur.

“Oy! Work’s starting!”

To my surprise, the giants turn around.

“Understood, boss!”
“Then please excuse us, Lord Veit, Lady Aylia.”

They bow to us and lumber off.
Perched confidently on one of their shoulders is a dogfolk.

“All right, Dwarge and Grout, get started on the barracks foundation over there. Zoov and Grang, bring timber from the sawmill.”
“Leave it to us, boss.”

The giants nod, and the foreman dogfolk pumps his fist.

“We’re building the new district ourselves!”
“Yeah!”

I’ve been a demon for a long time now, but this is a first.
Small, physically weak dogfolk and humans commanding giants.
The construction site is packed with workers and onlookers alike. Everyone’s smiling, cheering the giants on.

“Oh, the giant crops’ here!”
“Whoa, they’re huge! So strong!”
“Alright, we’re counting on you over here, Mr. Dwarge, Mr. Grout!”

Adults and children alike marvel at the giants’ terrifying strength.

Aylia chuckles.

“They’re completely popular now. More people have started calling them by name lately.”
“That’s more than I expected.”

I had hoped the giants would change, but I never imagined things would go this well.
It’s probably thanks to Aylia’s leadership, and the management skills of the Demon Lord Army’s executives.

“You do marvelous work, Demon Ambassador.”

As I admire her, Aylia keeps smiling.

“No. This is your achievement, Lord Veit.”
“Mine?”

I did give them some guidance, sure, but nothing that significant.
Still, Aylia continues seriously.

“You were the one who taught them how to interact with humans. You, the ‘Disciple of the Great Sage,’ ‘Demon Wolf Who Slayed the Hero,’ and ‘The Demon Lord’s Proxy.’ Only because someone with proven achievements and strength like you showed them through action, they followed.”

Maybe she’s right—but honestly, I act pretty casually, so it doesn’t really feel like it.

“No, defeat and hardship changed them. After everything they went through, they learned humility.”
“I do think that’s part of it as well…”

Whose achievement it is doesn’t really matter.
Aylia sighs.

“You truly are a mysterious person, Lord Veit.”
“Am I?”

Maybe it’s because I’m a werewolf on the outside and human on the inside.
If things are going well, that’s all that matters.
There’s still plenty to do.

Walking alongside Aylia, I discuss our next steps.

“Belrüsa and Lotzo are willing to form alliances with the Demon Lord Army. That leaves two cities in the south.”
“Labyrinth City Zaria and Craft City Veiria. Lord Alam has close ties with Veiria’s governor, so negotiations are already underway.”
“Think it’ll be fine leaving it to him?”

Seeing my concern, Aylia nods.

“There’s no need to worry. Veiria and Schaldir are deeply connected through trade. Once the detailed terms are settled and we receive Her Majesty’s approval—”

Ah, so that glass tea set I saw back then was made in Veiria. It was fine craftsmanship.

“Then we’ll leave it to him. What about Zaria?”

Aylia’s expression darkens.

“Zaria is the city the Senate is most wary of. It was a major battlefield during the unification war.”

I learned that Zaria was once completely destroyed, its walls reduced to rubble.
Though it was rebuilt afterward, reconstructing the walls was never permitted.
That would mean living in constant fear of bandits and beasts.
Sensing my doubt, Aylia explains.

“Zaria turned the entire city into a maze of narrow alleys and walls. The residents live in buildings at least three stories tall, with entrances cleverly concealed.”
“A strategy to confuse enemies and attack from above.”
“Yes. The people of Zaria are skilled with traps and bows, and they show no mercy to intruders. Even bandits are afraid to approach.”

It’s quite a hardcore way of life, even if it’s for survival.

Convincing people like that won’t be easy.

“In that case, I’ll go there myself and negotiate.”
“Then I shall accompany you. I’ve received a request to speak directly, after exchanging secret letters.”

That surprises me, and I stop her.

“It’s dangerous. You’re now an enemy of Miraldia. It’s risky enough just being in the new district—there’s no way I can allow you to go to another city.”
“However, Zaria borders the north and is in an unstable position. If we fail to persuade them, they may strengthen their alliance with the north instead. There are matters too sensitive to entrust to subordinates.”

I hesitate. Having Aylia join the negotiations would be reassuring, that’s true.

“Can’t we at least summon Zaria’s governor here?”
“That won’t be possible. To Zaria, Lüenheit is still an enemy. They believe this place to be the Demon Lord Army’s headquarters. Their governor would never come personally. Besides, if the Senate found out, it would be disastrous.”
“That makes sense.”

Belrüsa and Lotzo accepted us so readily that I almost forgot—we’re literally non-human invaders.
Negotiations are difficult even before they begin.

Then it really does seem best for Aylia and me to go in person. If it’s just me, they’ll probably be scared again.

“Is there a chance that their governor would set a trap for us?”
“There is. It’s an ideal location for an assassination.”

Aylia answers calmly.
Then she adds;

“However, Zaria doesn’t have the leeway to make the Demon Lord Army its enemy. What would happen if werewolves or giants invaded a city without walls should be obvious, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, those tricks won’t work against demons. They should be smart enough to know that.”

That reassures me—we should be able to negotiate properly. But Aylia seems amused by my concern.

“Governor Mergio of Zaria is an extremely cautious man. Given Zaria’s position, he has to be.”
“I just hope he’s not too cautious.”
“That’s exactly what worries me as well. Which is why I wish to go personally and show our resolve.”

Negotiations may be possible, but we should be prepared for them to drag on.
And now there’s the troublesome issue of protecting Aylia.
First things first—choosing the right people.