I sat on the bed in my bedroom and looked up at the ceiling in a daze.
　Clarice is working like a maid and Sophia and the others are bathing Estelle, so I'm the only one in this room.

　Esther's father, Polos, a July Party official, has escaped from the execution site.
　I don't know how he will move, but there is a good chance that he will try to join the rest of the July Party.
　If that happens, he could try to take revenge on me for killing his beloved daughter, Esther.

　The more pressing issue is that it seems that Princess Iris, and Filia will be the overall commander of the attack on the dead city of Necropolis.
　Of course, I'm sure it's Creon, the head of the Salvation Knights, who will essentially organize the attack on the ruins.

　Iris and Filia are just symbols to show that the Necropolis attack is a state project.
　Nevertheless, Filia and her friends are still going to the ruins.

　The presence of these two lovely and noble girls will certainly boost the morale of the adventurers.
　However, the two princesses have very little fighting power, and if the attack fails, no one will be able to protect them, and the worst could happen.

　Moreover, I feel that there is yet another reason why Filia was set up to be involved in the attack on the ruins.

　Filia is a descendant of the Demon King.
　The Sage Arte was trying to use Filia as a tool for supplying magic power. This time too, someone might be trying to use Filia in some way.

　In other words, if they couldn't stop the Necropolis attack operation, Filia's body would also be in danger.

　Just as she was thinking about what to do, the door to her bedroom opened.
　Filia was standing there, her cheeks rising.

　Apparently, she had just finished a bath.
　That was fine, but the only thing she was wearing was a bath towel.
　A single piece of cloth covered Filia's thin chest to a fairly prominent line above her knees.

'Oh, Solon. There you are.

　Phylicia smiled happily, looking a little embarrassed, and sat down almost as close to me as she could get.
　She smelled softly good, and I was thrown off guard.

　Once again, I was made aware that Filia was a girl.

'Filia-sama please don't sit on the bed dressed like that.

Because I've already wiped you down and you don't have to worry about the bed getting wet, do you?

That's not the point...

Oh, you're embarrassed to see me in a bath towel, aren't you?

　Filia looked at me mischievously.
　Her silver hair still contained moisture, but it looked brighter than usual.

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who has tried to hug her, but I quickly stood up to avoid it.
　It's a bit annoying to be hugged head-on in such a nude outfit.

　Filia's hand flew through the air and she fell face down on the bed with great force.
　Ah, Filia murmurs.

''I'm sorry. Miss Filia,''

　I turned to look down at Filia, but even from my back side I could clearly see the lines of her body, and I couldn't help but blush and remove my eyes.

　I'm sorry I avoided her, but I hope she doesn't tease me too much for that.

　Filia got up and put her hands on her hips, puffing out her cheeks and glaring at me.

'That's terrible, Solon. You didn't have to avoid me. I tried to hug Esther in the bathroom earlier and she ran away.

It's only been a short time since I've seen Esther and I don't think it's best to do that sort of thing.

'But Esther is very fond of Miss Sophia, you know?　Sophia washed his hair for him, and he was tickled, but he seemed happy to accept it.

　I could kind of imagine it.
　Filia, who is flailing around trying to bite the younger girl, and Sophia, who is gentle with Esther at a reasonable distance.

　The difference in their personalities is evident.
　Well, from the point of view of a younger girl, Sophia is probably easier to get along with.

　The reason why only Filia is here first is probably because Sofia and Esther are still together.

The only thing that can be done is to avoid Esther, but to be avoided even by Solon.... I was hurt, you know?

'I didn't mean to avoid you, but, well, it was a spur of the moment thing. Besides, please don't hug me while I'm dressed like that...

　I blurted out.
　Filia rolled her eyes and then chuckled.

'I knew Solon was embarrassed?'

No it's not like that.

Really?　Are you thinking about something weird?

I don't feel sorry for Lady Filia in the slightest.

So you wouldn't mind a hug from Solon?

"Huh?

If you don't, I won't forgive you for avoiding me.

　Filia said in a happy, bouncy voice.
　As they were exchanging, the bath towel Filia was wearing was a little disheveled.
　It was flickering and torn around the chest.

　Are you going to hold Filia in such a state of a single piece of cloth?
　Filia moved closer to me, as if to challenge me.

'You can't?'

　Well, I was wrong to avoid Filia.
　Besides, if I ran away, it might be misinterpreted as me feeling guilty about Filia.

　I had no choice but to put my hand behind Filia's back.
　She shuddered and tried to back away.

　Maybe she was embarrassed when it came down to it.
　But I held her in my arms and she couldn't move.

　We hugged each other from the front, and Filia's face was buried in my chest.
　I looked down and saw that Filia's face was redder than ever.

　I smiled.

'You're the one who's embarrassed, Filia-sama.

No, it's not.

Are you sure?

I'm still ... embarrassed.

Isn't that right?　Once you realize that, Filia-sama, please don't try to hug me out of the blue, considering how Esther and I feel, okay?　Because as a master, I want Filia-sama to be able to think of others.

　I said jokingly, and Filia nodded.

''Yeah I guess so. But I'm embarrassed but I'm fine with it. So you can always hold me in your arms.

Do you think I'm just going to hug Lady Filia out of the blue?

It would make me happy, wouldn't it?

　Me and Filia looked at each other and then giggled.
　As we get used to it, we are less shy of each other, and the only thing we feel is the warmth of each other's bodies.

　I have to protect this girl as a master.

　It would be best if we could whitewash the Necropolis attack strategy, but what if we can't?

　There are two things I can do then.

　The first is to get Filia used to the ruins as much as possible, and give her a little, if not a little, real-world experience.
　This is because the level of danger is far greater than if he had never been to the ruins before.

　The other was for me to participate in the Necropolis mission as Filia's bodyguard.