Maou Gun Saikyou no Majutsushi wa Ningen datta Chapter 12

Observing enemy movements.

Leaving Jiron with those words, I accompany Sati out to town.

"Won't you stand out with that appearance?" Jiron asks and proposes that I be low key.

I'm not concerned though.

"I'll change it with magic when we get close to town."

Jiron a.s.serts that a mission like this should be left to subordinates but I say that I want to check the town with my own eyes.

　――Or at least that's my official stance. One reason is to bring out Sati who hasn't gone out to town.

Another reason is because I haven't taken off the robe or mask for a while now.

Wearing the same robe and mask for several days is worsens my mood.

Not just mentally but also physically.

Taking off the mask and having fun for a day isn't a bad choice.

Sati and I confirm that we can't see Jiron and entering the interior of a forest, I use magic to dig a hole.

There, I bury the Undead King's robe, Skull mask and Cane of Ouroboros.

Just in case, I search the surrounding area with magic to confirm that there are no nearby humans or demons.

Getting found out as a human would be troublesome and getting these stolen by someone else would be even more troublesome.

These equipments are a memento from my grandfather but at the same time my lifeline.

Using《Soil Creation》magic to cover up the equipment, we leave the forest.

The place we're going to is the Kingdom of Rosaria's royal capitol, Rizasu.

The Kingdom of Rosaria is placed around the center of of the continent and it's a major power. Right now it's being invaded by the Maou army and half of their land has been captured.

Because it's the capital of such a country, although there's nothing interesting going on, there's still a large amount of traffic.

No, it might actually be because it's war time that the traffic is larger than usual.

Mercenaries flowing in from other countries, Knights bearing crests from different countries and various other people can be seen.

"As I thought is the Multiple King Alliance really being made?"

"Multiple King Alliance?"

"It's an oath that in times of crisis, the interests of the kingdoms will be abandoned."

"Sati doesn't understand difficult things"(TLN: Sati speaking in third person)

"Basically when the Maou army attacks, they will stop their temporarily stop their own fights and make an alliance."

"I see. It's basically banding together to resist the Maou army right?"

"Exactly. In the past, this pact had been invoked three times. Each of those times, the Maou army was repelled all the way back to Double Berg."

"…… Will that happen this time too?"

"What are you worrying about? Aren't you a human? Also if the Maou army retreats, you'll be a free person."

I said it as a joke but Sati shakes her head with a sad look.

"A child of a slave will be a slave her whole life. If Ike-sama throws me away, I'll probably become like those children there."

On the main street, I can see a wagon with bars running. The goods piled up inside aren't things but people.

"If I become the same kind of slave as them I wouldn't be able to be next to Ike-sama."

"……………………"

After a while of silence I pick my words.

"…… Don't worry. You won't experience that. This time the Maou is said to be stronger and smarter than the others. This time we'll push back humans for sure."

I said it to release her from her worries but I was surprised at what I said.

Huh? Come to think of it, what is my own goal? And I'm human. In my past life and even in this life in another world I'm completely human.

I should be an ally of humans but I'm working as a Brigade Chief for the Maou army. Why? I ask myself. Is it for grandfather?

My grandfather the Undead King Ronberg raised me and taught me who's a human how to fight.

Wanting to repay that favor is natural.

I wouldn't say that I'm in debt to the demons but at least I owe them a little.

In order to repay that, I've been fighting up until now. What was up with that before?

My mind and body are that of a human.

On the other hand, I was raised by a demon.

If it was possible, I wouldn't want them to fight.

But the reality is that mankind is always quarreling with demons.

Saying something like "we should get along now" is probably impossible.

So both humans and demons are thinking that they can only annihilate the other.

They don't think of coexisting.

But now is different.

The current Maou-sama, Dairokuten-sama, is someone with their memories as a human.

Also I'm here.

I feel that if the Maou army continues to conquer the world, it might be possible to live with humans.

For a brief period, there's silence

"……………"

The girl across from me Sati. A girl that I picked up on a whim made me realize once again that I'm human.

"Good grief. I've picked up a troublesome girl."

Spending time with her is making me think of things that I didn't have to before.

Probably because of the silence, Sati looks at me with a questioning face.

"Master is there anything wrong?"

She asks me with a look in her eyes that her concern comes from the bottom of her heart.

Escaping from her gaze, I order Sati.

"Our objective is to observe the enemy movements. Let's get going."

I say and we head to the market.

"Ohhh. Master what is this?"

Sati asks me while pointing at the fruit from southern countries.

"That's called an orange."

I think. At least it's not a mikan.

"Then what is that big thing?"

"What is that? A log I think?"

It can't be that right?

I try asking the merchant.

"This is cheese, a product from the kingdom of Falles. As it ripens, the tree and surrounding logs turn brown."(TLN: I don't think it's actually cheese like the stuff we make from milk. チーズ is the raw.)

"I see. Is it okay if we try sampling some?"

"Sure"

We get a sc.r.a.p cut off from the tree and put it in our mouths.

"Hmmm…."

"Ummm…."

Sati and I both show the same expression at the same time.

The merchant seems to have expected this.

"Even though it's like this, if you get used to eating it, it's pretty good."

He says laughing.

In the modern world or this another world, fermented food, unless someone's been with the place for a long time, they're tough to deal with.

To foreigners, they don't like natto and j.a.panese are weak with blue cheese.

If you think these products are good, then you're probably a fine native person but to otherworlder, it's pretty common.

But ending up buying what I sample is a sad trait I've carried over from my past life.

"I'll get a souvenir for Jiron I guess." and give the merchant a silver coin.

"Thanks for your purchase." he says with a business smile.

Giving this merchant more than the market price is because I want to obtain information from them. Since time immemorial, merchants have been better than any other occupation when it comes to information.

"The market seems pretty busy. Anything happening?"

The merchant immediately looks at me but as expected, he wouldn't think I'm from the Maou army.

I just started talking like I'm someone interested in the business.

"Ahh. I think you already know but do you know that the Multiple King Alliance is being made?"

"I don't know the specific details but I've heard of it."

"To be exact, currently in the Empire's imperial capital, the pact is already concluding. Their entering the stage where they have to work out the conditions but before that, there's talk that the knights from Rosaria want to get payback from the Maou army."

"I see. Is that's why you merchants are so lively?"

"What do you mean?"

Sati asks.

"Basically, before the alliance comes into place, they want to give a severe blow to the Maou army. The King of Rosaria wants to declare that here and if they do it, they can increase their right to speak in the postwar period."

"I see. The n.o.bles move thinking about various things."

"It's just self-interest and self-protection."

No, maybe it's just gambling I think.

"Half the army has been annihilated and half their land has been conquered. Making a counter attack now is just poor planning. If they get worn out at this rate, the royal capital might even get captured but if they don't, they'll have the worst position in the alliance."

"I see. It's just as you say."

"You guys aren't nervous though. You just said that the plan for the final resistance might end in failure."

"Well that's then. Even if they fail, it's fine if the alliance comes into being before Rizasu gets occupied. If that happens then this place will become the alliance's base for operations. In that case, there'll be trade in the town."

"And if the Maou army rules before that?"

"If that happens, it's fine. I've heard that this Maou is coldhearted but not cruel. Even demons eat pork and put cheese on bread like humans. Honestly whether it's a ruined country or war, merchants don't have much to do with them."

I see the reputation of Maou is even reaching humans.

A large part of us having to suppress the minimum amount of revolts is due to how Maou governs. Confirming that, I buy a few necessary good and return to Evaris.

Rosaria's knights will be launching a final counter attack.

The frontline will most definitely be Evaris.

Now is the time to prepare for war.

To the Market with Sati