"Are you heading directly to the human city?"

"Indeed. I’ve captured their commanders and soldiers. I plan to exchange them for the demon prisoners held in their country."

"Oh, so you're going to rescue our comrades!"

"Yes, that’s the idea. I understand that those of you who’ve lost many comrades in battles against these humans might feel the urge to kill them. But for the sake of saving our brethren, I ask you to endure."

"…Yes, of course. While it’s true that I hold a grudge for the friends we’ve lost in this war, I can accept it if it means rescuing our kin. Besides, if it weren’t for your intervention, we wouldn’t have survived this battle.

"We would all have been slaughtered. You saved us, Demon Lord-Sama. I will follow your lead without complaint, and I’ll ensure that no one else dares to object!"

"Thank you, Demon Lord-Sama!"

"Your strength was truly remarkable, my Lord!"

"Hail the Demon Lord!"

"Long live the Demon Lord! Long live the Demon Lord!"

"...Well then."

Suddenly, a wave of cheers for the Demon Lord began.

For now, it seemed there were no objections to the plan of exchanging the human captives for the demon prisoners. Whether they were genuinely convinced or simply forcing themselves to accept due to the war, it was hard to tell.

"…Demon Lord-Sama, was it really okay to leave the rest behind?"

"Yes, keeping about one-third with us seems appropriate. The rest remain as insurance."

Following the guidance of the human soldiers at the front, I proceeded along the road with Liebera and around ten subordinates from the demon camp. Trailing behind us were nearly a hundred chained human captives.

The majority of the captured soldiers—two-thirds of them—remained confined behind a stone wall I had created using earth magic. I’d given the demons explicit instructions to kill anyone who attempted to escape.

"If we release everyone at once, there’s a risk they might betray us."

"Understood. As expected, your wisdom knows no bounds, Demon Lord-Sama."

Releasing all the captives at once could lead to treachery. They might turn on us, using the demon prisoners as leverage against us. Even with my power, ensuring the safe rescue of everyone would be challenging in such a scenario.

Among the captives was the son of the city’s lord—a critical bargaining chip.

The plan was to first release the humans we brought, then have them release the demon prisoners in the city, and finally free the remaining two-thirds of the human captives.

"There it is."

Ahead lay a large, walled city. It seemed to be quite a prosperous human settlement.

"…Please wait here for a moment."

"Very well. Remember, I expect you to make a wise decision. And don’t forget—I could destroy this entire city with ease if I so choose."

"Eep! O-Of course, we understand!"

The human commander and the noblemen entered the city to negotiate with its lord. My group waited outside, not far from the gates, along with the captives.

"…Will they truly release our brethren without resistance?"

"With this many soldiers as hostages, they have no choice but to comply. And if they refuse, I’ll simply take the city by force."

I wasn’t sure how many demons were being held prisoner in this city, but it was certainly fewer than the number of human captives we had. Additionally, having the lord’s son in custody gave us an undeniable advantage.

An hour later, the city gates opened. A group of well-dressed nobles, guarded by about 20 soldiers, stepped out. Trailing behind them were around 30 ragged and battered individuals—likely the demon prisoners.

"So, you are the Demon Lord?"

"Indeed, I am."

A man in his 40s, adorned in luxurious clothing and expensive accessories, stepped forward. He seemed to be the lord of this large city.

"I must express my gratitude for your… generosity. We shall comply with your demands."

"Hmph. It seems you’ve made a wise choice. Good."

It appeared they intended to meet our demands. The lord’s pompous demeanor was likely a display of authority to maintain his image in front of his people.

"We have brought all the demon prisoners from this city. Now, as agreed, release the hostages."

"Very well. Let’s begin by releasing all but ten of them."

"W-What!? That wasn’t part of the agreement!"

"Calm yourself. The remaining ten will also be released—but only after I confirm that there are no other demon prisoners in this city."