Apparently, the leaders of the Order say I'm incompetent and will be expelled.
　I see. They have a point.
　I'm useless to the Order in battle.
　But.

I'm not going to be the only one who can do this.　It's not Creon. I've gathered a strong group of members for the Order, raised funds, and researched the best targets for attack. That's why they call the current Order the strongest in the Empire.

''You can brag about yourself like that without shame, senior.

　Arte said scornfully. I looked at Creon.

'Because it's true. Isn't it, Creon?'

'Yeah, I suppose Solon is right. I'm grateful for Solon's contributions so far, but I'm not going to treat him any differently just because he's a founding member. But I'm not going to treat you any differently just because you're a founding member.

You won't be able to run this Order without me from now on.

No, no. We can do without Solon. If Sofia, the leader of the group, and I, the new deputy leader, and Arte and the others work together, all our problems will be solved. That's why you're being kicked out.

It doesn't seem like it to me.

'You may think so, but we decided we didn't need you. There's no doubt about that.

　Me and Creon stared at each other for a while. Eventually I sighed.

'I don't mind being kicked out. But you could have told me about it beforehand.

　No one answered my modest protests.
　The big man in charge, Garrels, stood up from his seat. He is the cornerstone of the Order's defense. And Galerus, born of an earl and a commoner, looked down on me at every turn.
　Galerus looked at me contemptuously and then walked out of the room.

　As a signal, Arte and the rest of the executives all left the room in silence.
　The only people left behind were me and Creon.
　Creon was standing and looking down at me.
　I stood up and held out my right hand to Creon.
　Creon gave me a questioning look.
　I said.

'A parting handshake.'

Solon, you and I are no longer friends.

So I can't shake your hand?　Well, then let me rephrase that. We've known each other since magic school. Let's part ways amicably for the last time.

　Creon hesitated a little, then silently squeezed my hand back.

'You haven't changed, Solon,'

You're getting stronger, Creon.

I used to be so weak.

　Creon looked away and sighed.

'But I am the better adventurer now. From now on, we are heading to an underground ruin where a more powerful foe is in control.

I wish you all the best.

Yeah. We can do it, if we're the Knights of the Order.

The only thing I'm worried about is Sophia.

It's not your concern.

　I shrugged.
　Saint Sophia, like Creon, has been a friend of mine since magic school.
　I'm a daughter of an imperial marquis, and I am the son of a nobleman's servant.

　In nature, our statuses are completely different, but as long as we are in the same magic school, nobles and commoners are equal.
　And when I graduated from school, I think I was reasonably reliable. Sophia was a top-ranked genius in the skipping grades, but on the contrary, she was five years younger than me, and she was also sickly. She didn't know anything about the world and was not very good at fighting.

　That's why Sophia used to rely on me every chance she got, saying, "I can't do this without you, Solon.
　However, now that she has become a saint, Sophia has become so good that she can't even come close to me. She has strong enough friends. And unlike me, they are all nobles.
　I didn't grow much in ability, either. Maybe it's the difference between the talents of nobles and commoners.

"Hey, Creon. Does Sophia agree with my exile?

I told you. It's a decision made by the whole board. Sofia agrees with you. You want to meet and find out?

　I shook my head.
　I guess that means I'm no longer wanted by Sophia, either.
　Besides, if Sophia wasn't here, it might mean that it would be hard for her to tell me that I was banned.
　If that's the case, seeing Sophia would only make things more awkward.

'In case you're wondering, Sophia agreed to leave the party for your own good.

For me?

Our enemies will be stronger from now on. That's why you might get hurt or die. That means Sophia is worried about that.

I see.

　That happened not long after we formed the party.
　I took a girl who wasn't good enough and lost her because of it.
　Me, Sophia, and Creon all tried to make sure we didn't make the same mistake again,
　Creon says.

"Solon. It's not your job to protect her now. It's mine, both public and private.

Publicly and privately, that means...

Me and Sofia are engaged now.

　I was a little surprised and then convinced.
　For some time now, rumors of Creon and Sophia dating had been circulating both inside the Knights and in the town.

　If such a thing was going to happen, I thought one of the two of them would confide in me, so I ignored it, but it seems to be true.
　The banishment and the fact that they were dating, I guess that means I was always an outcast.

'Congratulations,'

　I said just that and got up.

　Creon and Sophia are both talented people with genius skin. They come from good families and are beautiful men and women.
　They're a good match for each other.

　I went back to my room and packed my things.

　Even if I'm a member since the founding of the group, it means that the knights will give me a significant amount of wealth.
　The money I saved during my time as a member of the Order is also a large amount of money, although it's invested in the Imperial City's Chamber of Commerce.
　So I'm not in need of money.

　However, even if I have money, I don't have friends to fight with. I don't have a goal.
　Sofia doesn't need me anymore.

　So, what am I supposed to do now?
　I took a deep breath.

　We'll figure it out.
　I just want to be happy and relaxed for a while.
　Then it seems like a good idea to go to the Imperial City. There are all kinds of jobs there.
　There must be some good options.

　I'm not the second-in-command of the most powerful Order in the Empire.
　I'll just be an ordinary mage, Solon.