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It felt as if I had just woken from a long dream, yet it also felt as if I were still in one.
For the first time in my life, I had been defeated.
But I’m still alive.

Although I am a prisoner, Natalia is staying with me to care for me. It seems to be a courtesy from Lord Black Wolf.

“Your Highness, I’ve been told you’re allowed to go out in the Old Town under supervision. Why don’t we take a short walk to clear your head?”

That’s a good idea. It wouldn’t hurt to take a look around.
I might be able to gather some useful information.

Just as I was thinking that, Natalia said this:

“Oh, that’s right. There’s a place in Lüenheit where they’re performing a play about Lord Black Wolf. Would you like to go see it with me?”
“A play about Lord Black Wolf?”

Come to think of it, I had promised to go see a play with Natalia.
But what exactly is a play about Lord Black Wolf?

Natalia answered my question.

“It’s a play based on the life of the Lord Black Wolf. There are several versions, but they’re all exceptionally well-crafted, and I found them very interesting.”
“……Let me hear a little more about it.”

I listened to her explanation and realized one of the reasons for my defeat.
By blending a real-life figure with a fictional story, it changes people’s impression of that person. It allows you to boost that person’s reputation without any effort.

Lady Aylia, the Demon Ambassador, a beautiful woman dressed as a man who is intelligent and rational, yet harbors a passionate flame of love deep within her heart.
Lady Marlene, the Vampire Queen, who throws herself into an unwanted battle to carve out a future for her dying vampire clan.
Lady Filnier, a centaur maiden who continues to fight on the front lines to protect the dignity and way of life of the centaur tribe.
And Lord Veit, the Black Wolf, a gentle yet proud hero of the werewolf clan who operates in the shadows as the Demon Lord’s vice command.

As the common people watched this play unfold time and again, they gradually began to feel a sense of kinship with the demons. They would surely come to show understanding for the demons’ circumstances as well.
This was likely just a small part of it; the Federation must have been orchestrating various other schemes as well.

Foolishly, I failed to notice it.
After all, the Magiarms Battalion isn’t an intelligence unit, and since collective operations are an ironclad rule, we cannot be dispersed across different cities.
No, that’s not it.
I was only afraid of losing subordinates from my immediate command.

In any case, in cities where I am absent, the Federation can operate however they please.
The Federation has eight governors. Most likely, they have Demon Lord’s Army generals amongst them as well. On the other hand, I was the one and only individual in charge of the political operation on the Rolmund side.
I should have taken this disadvantage more seriously.

I was overcome with frustration and shame, but at a certain moment, I suddenly found myself laughing.
This wasn’t an opponent I could handle on my own.
I should have made reliable allies among the Miraldians, but I didn’t. That’s my fault.
That’s why I laugh at myself.

“Your Highness, is something wrong?”
“No. I’ve just realized quite the clown I’ve made.”
“Um, what do you mean by that?”

Natalia is the daughter of a clergyman. She isn’t used to distrusting others.
So that she wouldn’t blame herself, I shook my head to brush it off.

“It’s nothing. More importantly, am I allowed to go for a walk?”
“Ah, yes. They say I’ll be under surveillance, but I’ve been told I can do as I please.”

She seems quite at ease.
Does that mean I’m no longer a threat, but merely a pawn?

I decided to leave Natalia behind and go outside. I wanted to be alone to think for a while.
The guards were lizard-headed demons, but they were disciplined and saluted me. I returned their salute; they seemed like quite capable soldiers.
I see. As you’d expect from a force led by the Lord Black Wolf, they’re not just a horde of savage monsters.

Once outside, the scenery of the Demon Capital spread out before me.
True to its name as the Demon Capital, it was a bizarre sight.
An elderly man who appeared to be a priest of the Sonnenlicht Temple was exchanging polite nods with a lizard-headed demon.
And then, a human child was running around with a dog-like demon. I wonder if the parents would ever stop them.
It was a scene that could only be described as bizarre.
But it was a scene that looked very peaceful.

I stood there for a moment, then pulled myself together.
I’d heard I’d be under surveillance, but no one seemed to be following me.
Presumably, they were watching me from a distance using magic—or perhaps the perceptual abilities of a werewolf or the like.
Just to test it, I started walking toward the castle gate, and a familiar-looking woman approached me.
She’s a confidante of Lord Black Wolf.

Pretending not to notice me, she passed by in the crowd.

“Aha, testing the waters, are we? That won’t do—you’d better behave yourself.”

She said only that and walked right past me.
I was too frustrated to look back, but she was probably no longer behind me.
I was being watched after all.
I’m a bird in a cage, then.

As I walked through the streets of Lüenheit, I pondered the meaning behind this treatment.
But the answer was obvious.
They’re trying to make me submit by showing me the sights of this city.
And I have no choice but to submit.
Both the people and the demons passing through the streets all look content. There are no beggars, and no corpses lying in the back alleys.

Feeling exhausted, I emerge into the square with the fountain. Several food stalls lined the area, and benches had been set up.
I sit down on one of them and let out a deep sigh.
I should have admitted sooner that this expedition had no chance of success.
It was my mistake—I was afraid to change the plan.

Just then, an unfamiliar demon approached from across the square. It was a rabbit-like beastman.
He was in a terrible hurry.

“H-hey! You there, lady! Sorry, but could you hide me for a bit?”

Before I could even reply, the rabbit-like beastman darted into my cloak.

I tried to refuse, but I’m a prisoner right now. If I caused a commotion, my subordinates would be in danger.
I decided to grit my teeth and wait it out, and just then, three dog-like beastmen came running up. Judging by their features, they were hunting dogs.

“Lucco, Lucco!”
“Let’s eat some meat together!”
“You’re hungry, aren’t you?”

The dog-like beastmen were sniffing the air when they suddenly noticed something.

“It’s teriyaki!”
“It’s teriyaki, isn’t it!”

They stopped searching for the Lucco person and rushed over to the food stall.
After buying four grilled chicken thighs, they marched off triumphantly.

“…Phew, finally shook those b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲s̲ off.”

The rabbit beastman crawled out from under my cloak. Judging by the circumstances, this rabbit must be Lucco.
The rabbit beastman looked around and let out a sigh of relief.

“Those stupid dogs—they were grinning, baring their fangs. They even got all worked up just looking at my tail.”

Then he turned back to me and bowed with a theatrical gesture.

“I owe you one, young lady. …Just to be sure, you’re not a werewolf or anything, are you?”
“No, I’m not.”

I may be a foreigner here, but I’m still human.
Perhaps reassured by my answer, the rabbit beastman sat down on the bench.

“I’m gonna take a quick fix.”

The rabbit beastman took out his tobacco pouch. With practiced ease, he tapped the box a couple of times and pulled out one.
Contrary to my expectations, what came out was a long, thin strip of dried vegetables.

“Want one?”

I shook my head, declining the offer.
A lesson I’d learned since childhood: I never accept food or drink from strangers.

“Ah, this is good—tastes just like home. I just got here the day before yesterday, but I’m already starting to want to go back.”

The rabbit beastman ate the dried vegetables, laid his ears back, and closed his eyes. He seemed completely at ease.
Judging by this behavior, he’s not a soldier of the Demon Lord’s Army. If he arrived the day before yesterday, he shouldn’t have been caught up in the battle at Lüenheit either.
This is a good opportunity to talk to a non-military demon.

“Is it okay if I call you Sir Lucco?”
“Yeah, I’m Lucco. What about you?”

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I’m Eleora.”

Fortunately, he didn’t know about the battle that took place in Lüenheit.
He didn’t seem to know anything about me either.

“Did you come to this town for a specific reason?”
“Yeah. I’m a craftsman, and my senior apprentice called me here. He looks incredibly intimidating, but deep down he’s a kind guy. I can’t turn down a request from him.”

He didn’t seem to be lying. It appeared he had no connection to the Demon Lord’s Army.
Feeling relieved, I asked him about Lüenheit.

“What did you think when you first came to this town?”

He thought for a moment, then replied:

“It’s a nice town, I’d say. Even when a demon with no back up like me comes here, no one attacks me or looks down on me. To be honest, I’m a little surprised.”
“I see.”

It seems that, as expected, harmony between humans and demons is progressing in southern Miraldia. It’s hard to believe, but it’s true.
As an academic myself, I can’t shake the feeling that I don’t want to destroy this miracle.

Even from a military standpoint, if humans and demons unite to resist us, conquest would be extremely difficult.
For a long time, Rolmund had been waiting for the moment when the situation in Miraldia would become unstable. But before we could launch our attack, the demons had already solidified their foothold.
There’s no doubt that Lord Black Wolf is the mastermind behind it all.

When I fell silent, the rabbit beastman asked me,

“You’re a military person, aren’t you?”
“How did you know?”
“The tension you’ve got, I can just tell. Your tone is stern, and you’ve got the face of someone who risks their life every day.”

Does my face really look like that?

The rabbit beastman winked at me while still holding a stick of dried vegetables in his mouth.

“We rabbitfolks are cowards, you see. We’re not cut out for the military, and we don’t like it. Oh, I don’t dislike you, though. You smell just like me. Technical officer?”

Since that was exactly right, I nodded.

“Yes, I am.”
“Haha, just as I thought.”

I asked him one more question.

“What do you think of the Demon Lord’s Army?”
“I told you. I hate soldiers. Those guys are scary. …But.”
“But?”
“The stronger members of the Demon Lord’s Army are the more humble. It goes against common sense among demons, but that’s exactly why I trust them. They properly protect weak demons like us.”

It’s just one opinion, but I surmise that the Demon Lord’s Army has the support of the demons in general as well.

The rabbit beastman pointed to a corner of the square.

“Take a look at that. The Demon Lord’s Army built it.”

There was a brand-new stone monument, with bouquets of flowers and fruit placed before it. The flowers and fruit looked like offerings, but it was a custom I hadn’t seen in Rolmund.
Intrigued, I approached the monument.
The inscription read as follows:

“We offer our deepest condolences to all the officers and soldiers who fell in the Battle of Lüenheit, the Demon Capital, and pray for their eternal rest.”

On the back were engraved the names and affiliations of nineteen members of the Belrüsa Land Forces, four members of the Azure Scale Knights, and thirty-four members of the 209th Magiarms Battalion.
This meant it was a memorial not only for their allies but also for their enemies.
I couldn’t hide my unease at this realization.
Mourning the enemy? What’s the point? Is it to win us over?
But Lord Black Wolf hadn’t said a word about the memorial.
I didn’t understand.

As I stood there bewildered, the rabbit beastman spoke to me from behind.

“According to demon common sense, the dead are the weak. Yet here they are, erecting a memorial not just for their own allies, but even for their enemies. Surprising, isn’t it?”
“……Yes, I’m surprised.”

I really was surprised.
Is this common in Miraldia? No, that can’t be right. At the very least, I’ve never once seen a memorial for an enemy’s war dead.

The rabbit beastman took out a piece of dried vegetable and offered it to the stone monument. Then, for some reason, he clasped his hands together and closed his eyes.

“He said this is just something you do. It’s weird—the dead don’t eat, after all. But I don’t mind this feeling.”

I tried imitating him. Since I had nothing else to offer, I placed a single Rolmund silver coin there.
Then, in my heart, I apologized to my subordinates.
But no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t bring myself to pray for the repose of the enemy’s soul.
I was overwhelmed by the magnanimity of the person who erected this monument.

The rabbitfolk craftsman looked up at me.

“As long as they’re erecting monuments like this, the Demon Lord’s Army is trustworthy. As a human, what’s your opinion?”
“I think that’s a fair assessment.”
“Right?”

The rabbit beastman nodded contentedly, then stretched out at my feet.

“Well then, I’d better get back and finish up this job. See you later, Eleora.”
“Yeah. Thanks, Sir Lucco.”

I stared intently as the rabbit beastman hopped away.

Glancing up at the sky, I saw that the sun was already sinking toward the western horizon.
I’m a prisoner, I suppose it’s about time I headed back.
I’d better start thinking about what comes next. It seems there are a few things I need to consider.
I may have been defeated, but my life isn’t over yet.
As long as I don’t die, the fight will go on.