I stared straight at Arte.

　Arte wants me to get Saint Sophia out of the mansion building and bring her here.
　That's proof that Arte and the others have figured out the tricks of this mansion.

　I couldn't help but shake my head.
　Lailen Remilia is in danger of dying before my eyes.

　We have no choice but to use Saint Sophia's healing powers.

　I looked back at Princess Filia.
　Filia herself is in danger from being here.　

''I'm sorry, but please go tell Sophia to come here.

Uh-huh. Solon.

And don't ever leave the building. I promise.

　I said, and Filia nodded her head.
　Then she looked at me with concern.

　In a small, whispered voice, she prayed, "Solon ... for our victory.

"Solon ... let us win.

We will win.

　I replied shortly, and Filia nodded and ran off to the entrance of the building.

　I saw her off and drew my treasured sword, the Tetracord, and released it.
　But it wasn't to fight.

Heal this one.

　I murmured briefly and held my sword over Rylen Remilia.
　At one point I could use my recovery magic as well, but with an injury this severe, it would only be a comfort to me.
　Still, it was better than not trying.

　Lailen Remilia let out a faint groan.

　On the other hand, it seemed that Arte had no intention of starting a battle until Sophia came out.
　It seemed that Arte had come here to take Sofia away, and he had decided that the best way to accomplish that goal was to wait for her to come out of the building.

　I looked at Arte again while I recovered Rylen Remilia with magic.
　Arte had a victorious look on her face.

''With this, Sophia-sama will come here. If that happens, that building's wards that senpai is asking for will be useless.''

I don't know what you're talking about.

　I try to blurt it out, but it's no use.
　Arte says in a bouncy voice, as if he's happy to be able to take me on.

''There are many layers of powerful magical wards deployed in this building. As is to be expected of Saint Sophia's wards, they are almost impossible for us to break. Therefore, if I was holed up inside this building, I wouldn't be able to lay a finger on my seniors, right?

I have wards over the gates and gardens of the mansion.

　I said trying.

'I've deactivated everything over there. The wards outside the building must have been cast by the senior. No matter how much wonderful power Sophia-sama has, considering the amount of magic power required, there's a limit to the amount of magic wards she can cast alone.''

You're absolutely right. The wards I put in place won't do you any good.

''Not really. The wards that the seniors put up are too weak, so an intruder into the mansion could easily break the wards and then be caught off guard. After that, if an intruder enters the building unguarded, they will be trapped by Sophia-sama's wards and will be cut off from the way out. That's why the wards you cast on your seniors are also useful as a trap.

'I'm glad to hear your praise, Arte. Though I would have been more than happy to let my guard down as it was.

Can't you see it's not a compliment, it's sarcasm?　My senior is second-rate, which means I can't put up much of a ward.

　To my flippant comment, Arte replied with a heartfelt look of disgust.
　I smiled dryly and then thought about it.

　In terms of pure fighting ability alone, Arte is the most outstanding among the leaders of the Knights of St. Sophia.
　However, he shouldn't have the fine nerves to notice these kinds of petty things.

　I asked the swordsman girl next to Arte.

''It was Karelia who noticed this, wasn't it?

　Karelia stared at me, not answering anything.
　Mute would be an affirmation.
　She may not talk much, but she has a good knack for battle and is an excellent swordsman who is used to fighting.

　I gave her another push.

If it were Arte, he would have charged through the building's wards unnoticed. If that had happened, we would have won. As a warrior, Arte is less than second rate, third rate.

　Arte looked miffed, as if he had been hit in a sore spot.

''I'm a top-notch sorcerer. I'm a sage who is better than anyone else except Sophia-sama. And Solon-senpai is just a fourth-rate magic swordsman. You can tell that senior is fourth-rate by the way he handles that silver-haired girl.

　The girl with the silver hair, I think she means the Princess Filia.
　But what does Arte mean by that?

　Speaking of which, Notaras the Summoner had told him to never let Filia see Arte.

　That Notaras had hurt somewhere and was still crawling on the ground.

　Notaras was coughing and trying to speak, but it wasn't a word, and before he could, Arte uttered his next words.

''That silver-haired child must be descended from the Seven Demon Kings.