Sophia's small hand wrapped around mine.
　I was upset, and when I looked at Sophia, she chuckled, teasingly.

　If Sophia says she wants to quit the Order, I want to respect her will.
　But in reality, there are a lot of troublesome issues.

''I can't quit the Order that easily.

　Sophia nodded at my mumbling.

'I know, I know. But being with you, Solon, is more important to me.

　I'm glad to hear that, but I think a lot of people would disagree with Sofia's decision to stop being the head of the Order.

　First of all, it's the people inside the Order of Saint Sophia.

　To the Knights, Saint Sophia was an essential part of the offensive and defensive forces for the Knights.
　Furthermore, Sophia is the symbol of the Knights, so without her, the Knights would lose their centripetal force inside and outside of the Order.
　There were many members of the Order who were fascinated by Sophia, like Sage Arte.
　In other words, the Knights' leaders would say, "Yes, I see," and would not allow Sophia to leave the Knights.

　In addition, Creon will come to bring Sophia back as Sophia's fiancé.

　Since he had declared that he would protect Sophia in both public and private life, Creon may have a fondness for her.
　Even if that wasn't the case, if her fiancé ran away from her, Creon's pride would be hurt, and Creon's reputation with those around him would be damaged.

　The imperial church grants Sophia the title of saint, but at the same time, the church expects Sophia to achieve a high level of success as an adventurer. The Church should want Sophia to continue to be a Knight Commander.

　And let's not forget Sophia's father, the Marquis of the Empire.
　He was right by our side.

"Saphira, why are you here?

　A dark voice sounded low.
　We all turned around at once, and there stood arrogantly a tall, mature man with a deep beard.
　It was Sophia's father, Imperial Marquis Gorgias.
　It was expected that Sophia's father, a powerful nobleman, would be at this inauguration. I was careless.
　Sofia hid behind me like she was scared.

''Now you were talking about quitting the Order. And that's for a man like this?

　Apparently, he was listening to the whole conversation.
　Gorgias pointed at me carelessly and looked at me contemptuously.
　It was rude, I thought, but I didn't dare say anything.
　I had met Sophia's father before, but he had always been an arrogant and insular person.

'I listened to your selfishness, and after all the effort I put into setting you free, what do you mean?

Because your father didn't want me to be an adventurer in the first place!

　Sophia argues with a trembling voice.
　Even though she was called Saint Sophia and became one of the strongest adventurers, her father seemed to be a horrible figure to Sophia.
　From a young age, Sophia was too bright, and her family had alienated her, especially her father, Gorgias, who hated her.
　Sofia had said that skipping school for magic school was like a good riddance to her family.
　Gorgias chuckled.

'Oh. You became an adventurer, over the objections of my parents. If I wanted to, I could have forced you to come home with me. I'm not going to do that because you told me that I could contribute to the marquis' family by becoming an adventurer. And now you want to stop?

It's...

Your order is recognized by the state and the church, and it generates a lot of money. It's for the benefit of my family, that's why I've allowed you to act on your own. And now you want to quit the Order?

　Sophia squeezed the sleeve of my clothes.
　I stood in front of Gorgias and told him.

'Sophia is willing to do what Sophia is willing to do. Don't you respect your daughter's feelings?　If it's about money, we've made enough money already, haven't we?

　In exchange for allowing Sophia to be an adventurer, the Marquis had received an enormous amount of money from Sophia.
　It was the treasures that Sophia had obtained from the activities of the Knights. The Knights had obtained a considerable amount of treasure and profits from the sale of resources by attacking the ruins, and they had distributed it to the members of the group.
　Originally, it belonged to Sophia, but she had offered much of it to her father.
　That should have been enough.
　Gorgias shook his head.

'I don't need a commoner boy like you to tell me what to do. Quitting the Order, well, that's fine. But I originally planned to give Sophia away as a wife somewhere after I left the magic school. I waited for a few years. So you'll also follow the matchmaking arrangement I've prepared for you.

　It's about his engagement to Creon.
　An engagement to Creon, the son of a prestigious nobleman, has political value in itself.
　Besides, if they were to marry between fellow knights of the same order, the Marquis would be able to get even more benefits that would rise from the order.

''You don't think anything of Sophia, do you? Besides, even you were able to save yourself in the battle just now because of Sophia's efforts, yet you don't have a single word of appreciation?

　Gorgias smiled thinly as I said it.

'What right do you have to meddle in Sophia's affairs like that?　I'm Sophia's father, you know. I have the right to do whatever Sophia tells me to do.

　I was speechless.
　For a nobleman, let alone a commoner, what the father says is absolute.
　He must obey his father's wishes regarding his future career and his marriage partner.

Come on, Sophia. From now on, I won't allow you to do anything you want.

　Gorgias grabbed Sophia's arm.　
　Sophia looks at me in disgust and pleads with me to look at her, as if to say, help me.
　But what should I do?

　It's difficult to use my skills against Gorgias here and rescue Sophia.
　He's Sophia's father. There are many nobles gathered in this hall, and they will support Gorgias' actions.
　And yet, if I try to stop Gorgias by forcing him to be violent, both me and Sophia will really have nowhere to be this time.

　Anyone of a higher status than Gorgias would be able to stop him.
　Someone whose power is superior to his right as a father, someone who is recognized by Imperial law as being superior to his right as a father, can free Sophia.
　An entity higher than the Imperial Marquis.
　It was, for example, the Imperial Family.

　Filia, who had been silent all this time, opened her mouth.

''Marquis Gorgias. Miss Sophia is my guest, right?　Will you let me go, please?

　Filia ordered Gorgias in a beautiful voice.