Holy Knight Creon looked out the window and took in a sweeping view of the Imperial City in the early morning.

　Right now, Creon was in the Imperial War and Navy Ministry.
　It was a government agency located just southwest of the Imperial Palace.

　The buildings of the War and Navy Ministry towered high to intimidate the surroundings.
　Its gray exterior walls seemed to coldly reject its citizens.

　On the fourth floor of the building, the office of the Imperial Military Archaeology Department existed.
　The office was inorganic, but spacious, with about forty desks and chairs at the ready.
　And Creon is seated at the head of the office.

　Creon dismantled the Knights of St. Sophia and organized the Order of Salvation, which bore his name.
　Along with Saint Sophia, Creon's name was well known as a hero, and using that name was good publicity.

　It wasn't smugness, this was an objective fact.
　Otherwise, they would not have been able to absorb the Second Division of the Imperial Army's Archaeological Site Survey Department.

　In the first place, it was traditional for civilian adventurers to survey the ruins.
　This was because it was much more efficient for a small number of great magicians to capture the ruins than for a large number of soldiers of average ability to do so.

　Besides, if they succeeded in capturing the ruins, they would get huge treasures and resource extraction rights, but as long as they did it as soldiers, they would all take the results to the state.
　All that is left is the military man's cheap monthly salary.

　Therefore, the military's systematic capture of the ruins had not worked well for a long time.
　However, recently, the Imperial Army had considerably strengthened the Ruins Research Department and its ranks were being put in place.

　The finishing touch to this was the establishment of the Creon Salvation Knights.
　A group of powerful adventurers, including the Knights of St. Sophia, were merged with the Imperial Army's archaeological site survey department to become part of the army.
　Of course, they will be treated quite well and will receive full cooperation from the government and military.
　On top of that, the majority of the results of the archaeological site exploration remained the same, and the system was designed so that the adventurers could keep the majority of the results for themselves.

　In return, though, they would also be obligated to serve in times of war.

　The establishment of the Creon Salvation Knights was deeply involved in the founding of the Creon Salvation Order by Prime Minister Strath and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Ravre.
　Creon, as one of the prestigious nobility and one of the Empire's most powerful adventurers, was at the negotiating table with them as an equal.

　Creon had acquired the power to be involved in the halls of power.
　He was not just an imperial tutor Solon.

　But this was only a passing phase, though.
　Right now, there is only Creon and Karelia in this room.

　In time, this room will be filled with people who will be the new leaders of the Order.

I'm not sure if I'm a soldier too. Do you think I should wear a military uniform?

　Creon lightly asked the twin swordsman Karelia next to him.
　Looking assiduous, Karelia mouthed her reply.

''I'm sure Creon-sama would look great in a military uniform.

Thank you. It's flattering.

I'm not trying to be flattering, sir.

　With that, Karelia's cheeks reddened a bit.

　It wasn't too difficult for Creon to release the arrested Karelia and the others.
　He had ties to the upper echelons of the government, and both Arte and Karelia were each born into a great noble family.
　Well, it was somewhat troubling because Arte had gone too far on his own, but it was within the margin of error.

　Besides, there was also a serious problem on Solon's side that was attacked.
　It seems that a certain person who is extremely close to Solon has anti-governmental ideas and is a member of a secret revolutionary society.
　He was also a traitor who was paid by the enemy, the Alemany Farren Republic.

　When Creon heard this story, he couldn't believe his ears.

　However, since the members of the Third Department of the Emperor's Secretariat, the secret police, said so, it was almost certain.
　The person was only being swept away for the convenience of the investigation and could be arrested at any time.
　And the same suspicion had been placed on Solon.

　This was one of the reasons why it was so easy for Arte and the others to be released, and Arte already knew this.

　And this would be material to crush Solon. If they continued along this line, it might really be possible to bring back Saint Sophia.

　Just as he was thinking this, a dark-haired, dark-eyed girl appeared in the room.
　It's Sage Arte.

''Excuse me. Creon-senpai.''

Welcome, Arte.

'I knew you were released thanks to the senior's hand in the air, I guess. I'd like to thank you for that.

　Arte said that, as if it was natural despite his words, and he didn't seem grateful at all.
　Creon pretended not to care and replied to his words.

''You're the second in command of the Creon Salvation Knights, and you're the one who's going to contribute to this country. The imperial government wouldn't put Arte in jail either.''

Yeah, of course. After all, I do have powers.

'I'm just sorry to say, but it looks like you failed to get Sophia back.

　Creon said in as soft a tone as possible, but Arte looked miffed.
　This kind of thing is not good for Arte.

　He's the most powerful person in the Order, so he takes advantage of her, but to be honest, he's quick to rebel at the slightest thing and is hard to handle.
　It seems that Arte only respects Saint Sophia and thinks that Creon is almost as good as him.

　As long as they are holding up a sign that emphasizes merit, they have no choice but to appoint Arte, who is an excellent sage, as their deputy leader.
　But if possible, I'd like to make an obedient person like Karelia as the deputy leader.
　That's what Creon was thinking.

　Creon hid his inner feelings and spoke kindly to Arte.

'Do you regret not being able to bring Sophia back?'

'Yes. It's frustrating. I was going to be the most powerful and wise man to fight alongside the saint. The saint should have been with me. And yet....

　As expected, Arte had a gloomy look on his face, probably because he had been rejected by his admirer.
　In any case, Creon predicted that Arte's operation to retake Sophia would fail.
　It would be lucrative if it worked, but Arte couldn't persuade Saint Sophia, and bringing her back by force would come with all sorts of difficulties.

　On the other hand, he knew that Solon would not have killed Arte and the others.

　It was more convenient for Creon to let Arte fail.
　This was just a stepping stone for his next plan.

　But Arte must be seriously troubled by the failure to retake Saint Sophia.
　As if to take advantage of that, Creon continued.

''Why are you so obsessed with Sophia?''

'That's because ... the saint has more power than I do.

'Then once you're over the saints, there's nothing to be depressed about, is there?

　Arte's eyes widened.
　It's a look as if he had such a hand.
　It was probably too obvious to notice.

　Arte shook his head.

'There is no way I can be stronger than the saintly woman. The saint is something special.''

Yes, you can. You can use your Demon Lord powers.

'The power of the demon king?　You mean the descendants of the Demon King?　That's a useful magic supply tool, but you can't be more powerful than a saintly woman with that thing.

　Although Arte treats them as tools, the descendants of the demon king are actually girls who are not even old enough to be treated as such.
　And they were "broken" by Arte's "use" of them.
　Even though they were mixed with demon blood, Arte had strengthened his power at the expense of young human girls.

　And it was Creon who recommended it and provided the demon king's offspring.
　Creon continued.

''It's not that kind of pseudo, it's the power of a real Demon King. In the dead city of Necropolis, one of the seven Demon Kings rests in the dead city of Necropolis. And the magic power the Demon King possesses will never run out.''

That's a fairy tale, right?　Even children nowadays don't believe that there is a demon king who destroyed the ancient kingdom.

'No, the Demon King is real. No, the Demon King is real, and the ancient writings prove that he's real. And the Demon King is waiting to wake up.

　Perhaps because Creon said it with too much confidence, Arte was pressured into silence.
　He was right on target.
　Creon chuckled.

''The attack on Necropolis is not just about acquiring treasures and resources, nor is it about gaining glory and fame. The real goal is for us, the Salvation Knights, and this country to gain greater power.

Even if there was a Demon King, how is it possible for the Demon King to come back?

''It's possible, but the first activation is difficult. In order to revive a sleeping Demon King, a significant amount of magic power would be required at first. It would also have to use a medium that has an affinity for the Demon King. What do you think it will require?

Are you by any chance a descendant of the Demon King?

''That's right. Four Demon Lord descendants must be sacrificed for the activation. The three you destroyed are still alive, so assuming I use these, I'll need one more healthy Demon Lord descendant by my calculations.

You want one more, but is it that easy to find?

Karelia tells me an interesting story. The princess the swordsman Solon teaches, what did she say her name was?

It was a girl named Phylicia or something.

　Arte says with a bitter face.
　He remembers the defeat and feels bad about it.
　Arte is still looking for a way to take a shot at Solon.

''I heard that His Highness Filia is a descendant of the Demon King.

"...I see. I see.

　Arte's expression faltered.
　Surely Arte would take Creon's proposal.
　He will take away Solon's precious student and sacrifice him to the resurrection of the Demon King.

　Even if it's impossible to recapture the saint Sophia because of her own will, it shouldn't be as big of a deal as kidnapping one little girl.

　Arte would not be opposed to it, since it would give him power.
　In case you're wondering, Arte and the others have promised not to harm the princess, but such a pledge means nothing.
　Just break it, Creon thought.
　Arte would think so, too.

　Then Creon shook hands with Arte.

''Anyway, the first thing we have to do is to capture the Necropolis. If we don't, we won't be able to reach the place where the Demon King is.''

'Yes, sir. At some cost, we'll just keep going.

　Arte put a beautiful smile on his neat face and walked out of the room.
　After seeing him off, Creon sighed.

　Apparently, Arte didn't realize why he had been offered the Demon King's offspring so far, or why he was not aware of the reason at all.
　That's fine then.

　The Necropolis attack itself would be a success.

　Creon himself considers the capture of Necropolis to be his top priority, and there are many things that can be gained from it.
　It would bring us one step closer to Creon's true goal.

　However, the capture of Necropolis will never end the way Arte wishes.
　Creon was convinced of that.