Maoyuu Maou Yuusha episode 8 shows that despite the support of the Winter King, the merchants, and a branch of convents the war is not going to end as easily as the Demon King planned.
Maoyuu Maou Yuusha has mostly been a more sedate show focusing on economics and relationships, but now there appears to be a turn. The show is approaching the end and now two conflicts are coming up that could change the pace of this show. First the church demanding the Crimson Scholar for spreading the use of the demon potatoes should lead to some interesting developments. Hero is planning on breaking her out of the grasp of the church after the stand in for the Crimson Scholar is turned over. This will probably turn out more complicated and hopefully have a nice action sequence. Also if the church and possibly the central nations are going to fight against the southern nations becoming independent and ending the war then how will the Demon King handle this without using economics, since that appears to not persuade this new influence. Second the demon king has gone to handle the problem that has been causing the earthquakes. Before she goes in she mentions that if she is not herself when she comes out then the Head Maid should kill her. Based on the opening this might come to pass, so that should be action packed as well. Also if the group does not have the intelligence of the Crimson Scholar to guide them will they be able to finish the plan?
Hero has put a lot of trust in the Merchant this time on Maoyuu Maou Yuusha. Merchant was already on their side, so revealing the whole situation does not seem like the best plan. Now if things go badly and the merchant feels that it would be in his best interests to stay on the central nations good side he could tell them about everything. It does not make a lot of sense how the Hero could sell Gate City to the Merchant. If that was really possible the Merchant could give the city right back into the hands of the people Hero just saved them from. Hopefully with the turn of the events at the end of episode 8 the merchant remains true to them and does not turn his back on them despite all they have done for him.
So now the Demon King and Hero belong to each other and Female Knight belongs to Hero. Nothing could go wrong with that.
The church is really stretching for a reason to get the Crimson Scholar turned in. The potato is evil is pretty petty and the people are not going to like their food being taken away from them. The church should have searched a bit more for a different reason to bring her in. The commoners could rise against them if they decide to really go through with all this and make everyone starve again.
