In the garden of my mansion, the leaders of the Knights of St. Sophia are standing in the yard of my mansion.
　Arte the Wise. The Twin Swordsman Karelia. And the astrologer Flora, Arte's twin sister, the astrologer Flora.

　The three girls are surrounded by a few ordinary knightly members.

　Perhaps reflecting Arte's dislike of men, they were all women.

　But still, why is Arte here here?

''Did Arute come all the way to see me?''

　I dared to speak lightly and see how he reacted.
　Arte looked at me contemptuously, as if he couldn't believe it.

'Don't call me by my name so casually!　No, of course not. I came here to bring Sophia-sama to this place.

　It's strange.
　I had heard that Arte and the others were coming to the Imperial City to prepare for the attack on the Dead City Necropolis.

　However, I heard that Notaras was entrusted by Creon with the task of bringing back Saint Sophia, and it didn't make sense for Arte to come to the outskirts of the imperial capital in layers.

　Well, it seems that Arte has feelings for Saint Sophia, and if she were to come alone, it's still not hard to understand.

　But the twin swordsman girl next to her, Karelia, is Creon's aide.

　Karelia was a beautiful girl with a well-trained, supple body, typical of a swordsman.
　Her brown hair was neatly trimmed short so as not to interfere with her swordsmanship.

　The Karelia was so fascinated by Creon that she would do anything Creon commanded her to do.
　I don't know if Creon is aware of it or not, but I think Karelia has a fondness for Creon as well as the opposite s*x.

　The fact that Karelia is here like that is most likely a reflection of Creon's intentions.

　Then, Arte revealed a mockery on his beautiful face.

''There's another reason why I came here. It's to purge the traitors.''

　Who is the traitor that Arte is referring to?
　There's only one person here who can guess.

　I glanced at Notaras.

　While kneeling on the ground, Notaras murmured.

'Lord Solon. I am sorry. The plan was all left out.

　I will call Saint Sophia and I back to the Order, and persuade the executives to unseat Sage Arte and the others.
　Then, Notaras' plan was to stop the reckless attack on the dead city of Necropolis.

　However, it was all apparently perceived in advance by Arte and the others.

　Arte slowly walked up to Notaras.

'How dare you make fun of me at the executive meeting. Let me pay you back.

　As he said this, Arte quickly kicked Notaras in the stomach.
　Gulp, Notaras groaned in pain.

We all knew you were going to call Solon back. "We all knew you were going to call him back and you thought he would leave you unguarded?

　Arte pulled something that looked like a needle out of Notaras' shoulder.
　Picking it up with his fingers, Arte says

''This is one of my magical devices. I can see everything that someone does or says when they are stabbed with this.

　That means that every conversation between me and Notaras was bugged by Arte.
　Not good.

　Arte turned his eyes to me, filled with hatred.

'When I was in the Order, I was a liability. You're a liability when you're a member of the Order, and even after you quit the Order, you still try to interfere with us. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.

Arte. You shouldn't try to attack the Necropolis. Whether you succeed or fail, it will cost you dearly. It will not be good for you. You will get hurt.

The capture of Necropolis will be a success, and we'll get honor and glory. Even the people of the imperial city will be able to live happily with the resources they get from it!

I don't think so.

''You still feel like an assistant commander, don't you?　I'm sorry, but the Order doesn't belong to the seniors anymore. Senior's advice is of no use to me.

''You don't have to be a deputy commander or the most powerful adventurer to be able to judge what's right and what's not. For example, it's only natural that you shouldn't resort to senseless violence against your fellow adventurers.

Friends?　Notaras is your friend?　This man who tried to betray us can't be our friend, can he?

　As he said this, Arte swung his staff vigorously over Notaras' back.
　Notaras let out a cry of agony of pain again.

　I would like to help him, but if he moves carelessly, he will go straight into battle.
　The situation is far from favorable for us, and it is unlikely that I will be able to win against the multiple members of the Order by myself.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them. Let the seniors see what happens to traitors.

　The twin swordsman Karelia, who had been silent all that time, magically slid a large black wooden box towards us.

　That Karelia's expression was unnaturally drawn.

　Before I opened the crate, I told Filia next to me to keep her eyes closed.
　I had a feeling that it would be best not to let Filia see what I was about to see.

　After making sure that Filia nodded and closed her eyes, as if she were frightened, I opened the crate.
　It was stuffed with a dying Order executive woman, Mechanic Rylen Remilia, who was in a dying state.

''Rylen Remilia, you see, was in favor of my senior's return, and she was also opposed to my attack on Necropolis. That's why she was going to join Notaras' plan. I tortured her and she threw up easily.

　When she was in the Order, Lairen Remilia wore an expensive costume, exotic dancer-style, and she often boasted about her clothes to those around her.

　That prized garment had been torn to shreds, leaving Rylen Remilia almost naked.
　Her beautiful face was heavily scarred and her limbs were broken and bent in unnatural directions.

　Blood was flowing from all over her body, and a pool of blood had formed in the crate.

　I couldn't say anything for a while, and when I finally spoke, I realized that my voice was muffled.

'Why did you do this...'

We're the ones who betrayed the Order, so why not?

If you don't do something about it soon...

It will be too late. No, it may still be too late for the usual treatment methods.

'Unlike me, Rylen Remilia is supposed to be a valuable asset to the Order. That's what you're going to lose.

It's all right. There's only one person in this mansion who has the power to heal her, you know. There's a saint who is the most powerful recovery magic user in the Order of St. Sophia and is recognized by the church.

　I realized Arte's purpose.
　I hurt Lailen Remilia as a means to lure one girl out of the back of the mansion and into this place.
　Arte smiled and said.

''Come on, bring Sophia-sama here!