TL Note: As Promised, extra chapter tomorrow.

In the Western-style house given to Takashi by his Master, Nephira.

When he stepped out of the garden, the countryside spread out before his eyes under the gentle sunlight.

Looking over the vast expanse of land, Takashi felt deeply moved.

"All this... is my domain..."

Nephira nodded her head next to Takashi.

"You have defeated Gharaga and have become a Silver-rank soldier. It is only natural that those who are capable should be rewarded accordingly."

Nephira spoke nonchalantly, but she seemed pleased. Takashi thought it might be the satisfying feeling of seeing her personal familiar proving himself and going up the ranks. Still, it was very generous of them to give him all the land within sight of the villa!

Behind Takashi, the Meru-Kiru sisters also expressed their delight.

"It\'s great, Suzuki!"

"I\'m really happy for you, ya know---!"

"Thank you!"

He thanked the demons honestly. When he did, Kiru smiled at him brightly.

"If it\'s this big, you can poop anywhere, anytime, for as long as you want!"

"No, how long are you going to go about that!? I, I\'ve become a high-ranking soldier, haven\'t I!? Please stop saying things like that."

"M--My bad. But, I\'m worried about your health."

He was not so happy about it. He was afraid that no matter how high he rose in the ranks, he\'d still be like a pet to Kiru. Furthermore, Meru hesitantly asked Takashi:

"Uhm---. Suzuki, you\'re gonna have a relationship with Gharaga from now on, aren\'t you---?"

"HUH!? That\'s impossible!!"

"But, but---. Gharaga, declared to Suzuki---. Maybe Suzuki isn\'t too satisfied about it---."

"That\'s NOT what he meant!!"

"Then, what did he mean---?"

"That was..."

Takashi was not certain how Gharaga\'s state of mind was affected by Pritis\'s influence. Even so, Takashi thought. Gharaga must have been confronted by his own past during the battle.

"In any case! Gharaga and I don\'t have that kind of relationship!"

"If so, I\'m glad---!"

Meru then wrapped her arms around Takashi\'s arm. Nephira glared at Meru and cleared her throat. Meru hurriedly and panickedly let go of Takashi\'s arm.

"That Gharaga, though. He requested to resign from the Thunder-Lance Charge."

"Eeh! Really!?"

"Gharaga, resigned---? Why---?"

The Meru-Kiru sisters were astonished. Takashi, of course, was also surprised.

"His reasons were \'Because the taste has vanished\' apparently. I don\'t understand what he meant by that."

After saying it, Nephira tilted her head in wonderment. Kiru made a smug face.

"I think he was frustrated because he lost to Suzuki and dropped a rank, ya know!"

(No... that\'s not right.)

He saw Gharaga\'s tears that day. And then, the refreshing expression on his face, as if he had finally gotten over something. Gharaga must have made peace with his past and ventured in a new direction. Takashi was convinced of this. And he had another belief.

"Gharaga may not eat humans ever again."

"What makes you think that?"

Takashi smiled at Nephira\'s question.

"Just because."

Then Takashi looked up at the wide sky, feeling refreshed.

(All right-o! I have to take a new step forward!)

......

After separating from Nephira and the others and returning to the villa, Takashi discussed the situation with Excella, Orneo, and Kate, who was holding Clarisse, in the reception room on the first floor.

Excella smiled graciously at Takashi.

"I heard that in addition to the vast territory, the number of slaves you can own has increased. It is truly wonderful."

"No, no. It\'s all thanks to my Master\'s Pritis!"

Takashi humbly sipped the tea Excella had brewed for him. After the battle with Gharaga, Takashi, with the help of Nephira\'s favor, was allowed to have fifteen slaves, three more than the limit of slaves that Silver-rank soldiers were allowed to have.

Orneo stroked his beard in satisfaction.

"With this, we\'ll be able to save even more humans."

"Uhm. That\'s the thing, though... I think there is a limit to the number of slaves one can have."

Takashi stood up, walked to the window, and beckoned everyone to join him.

He looked out the window and said, "I wonder if we could turn this vast domain into a village? And put all the slaves and the people who would be used as food here to work. I think, if we do that, we can save a lot more people."

Kate hesitantly addressed Takashi, "That\'s a wonderful idea, but... Is such a thing permissible?"

"I\'ve thought it through. We give a percentage of the crops we produce from farming to the Thunder-Lance Charge. Like paying a tribute."

"Uh-huh. I see. If it works, then maybe we\'ll be able to negotiate with the demons."

Orneo nodded his head in agreement with Takashi\'s idea. Takashi looked out the window and talked about the vision he had in his head.

"I want to turn this place into a village where people can live in peace and security. The people could build houses, raise animals, and grow crops..."

He then noticed that Excella stood next to him, her eyes shining.

"It is like a dream! If that were to happen, it would save dozens, if not hundreds of times more lives!"

Even so, within all of Leirune, he could only save a fraction of the lives. It may be mere self-satisfaction. Nevertheless, Takashi was determined to take action anyway. Otherwise, nothing will ever change.

"I can see it. I can see so many people living peacefully here..."

Excella said, deeply moved. Clarisse was sleeping peacefully in Kate\'s arms. 

Everyone remained quiet and thoughtful for a moment.