We look up at the Great Library standing against the blue sky.
　The day after Filia let her magic run amok, I had brought Filia to the Imperial Thracian Great Library.

''Amazing....''

　Filia exclaimed in admiration.
　The outer walls of the Great Library were covered with white stone, and the front of the building was lined with several majestic columns, with gorgeous shapes on the column heads.

　Although this building was built a hundred years ago, it seemed that the emperor at that time had made it in an ancient style, which made it stand out from the surrounding buildings.


　The most surprising thing about the Great Library is its size.
　The main building alone is large enough, but there are two additional buildings on both wings of the main building that are about the same size.

　As soon as you enter the building, there is a vast hall with a huge spiral staircase in the center.
　There is a receptionist in a small room beside it, and I approached the young woman there.

　In order to enter this library, you need to prove a suitable identity.

　However, it's okay to say you're a graduate of a magic school, and it's not that restricted to those who enter the library.

　Filia is wearing the kind of clothes that a plain brown town girl would wear, and I don't think it's possible to tell who she is at a quick glance.
　However, the dainty silver-haired appearance is quite noticeable, and as expected, there's no way to hide the fact that Filia is an imperial princess when she enters the museum in the first place.

　The woman at the reception desk had blonde hair, wore white clothes, and seemed to be a calm person.
　When the woman asked her eligibility to enter, Filia responded with a bouncy voice.

''I am Princess Filia. This is my master magician Solon.''

　Then Filia showed the silvery, two-headed eagle brooch.
　It was a sign that she was a member of the royal family.

　I panicked as the woman quickly changed color and stood up.

'Uh, don't mind me. Lady Filia is, you see, a sycophant. And I'm the only squire she has.

I'd feel a lot safer if Solon were here, wouldn't I?

　Giggling, Filia chuckles.
　The woman looked puzzled, but I placated her as well, and she let me in as a normal entrant.

　We climbed a spiral staircase covered in red cloth.
　The ceiling above the atrium was glazed and flooded with sunlight.

　The materials related to the ruins must have been concentrated in the east wing of the third floor.
　That's where the necropolis can be examined.

　Navigating through the mass of bookshelves, we try to find the book we are looking for.
　We reach for a book with an old brown cover about the ancient kingdoms, and reach for it.

　Then our hands touched with someone who was reaching for the same book.
　It's a rather thin woman's hand.

　What kind of person would want such a geeky book?
　I looked at the other man's face and cringed.

　The other person looked puzzled for a moment, and then tilted her head cutely.

　She was an outstandingly beautiful girl with black hair and dark eyes.
　She wore a robe with purple lines, the uniform of a magic school.

　And I knew that face well.

　Sage Arte................................but her twin sister, astrologer Flora.
　She was a cadre of the old St. Sophia's Knights and my junior at the magic school.

　When Flora realized it was me, she quickly turned pale, turned her back and tried to run away.
　Reflexively, I grab Flora's arm.

　It may not be gentlemanly, but I can't let her escape here.
　Flora joined Arte in storming my mansion.

　The gendarmerie must have caught her because of it, and I thought she was in prison by now.

'Let me go!'

　Flora made a beautiful sound and fluttered.
　I panicked for a moment.

　I feel like I'm the bad guy when I can scream too loudly at a pretty girl.
　There's no one around at all, and this library is scary big, so I don't have to worry too much about it.

　But we need to be careful.
　I have no choice but to say to Filia, "Excuse me, sir.

"Excuse me, sir, but we're going to need your help to take down Flora.

Yes, sir!

　Filia came around to the front of Flora and suddenly leapt at her.



　Flora twists and turns ticklishly.

　There wasn't much of an age difference between Filia and Flora.
　Flora was three years older than Filia, at seventeen, and it should have looked just like a sister and sister playing around.

　Unless I was feathering Flora from behind, that is.
　Flora, who had been flailing for a while, eventually nodded as if she'd given up her resistance.

　Flora was the non-powerful one, and without her magic wand, she had no fighting power whatsoever.

　When Filia and I let go of her hands, Flora disappointedly fell to her knees and mumbled sadly, "Ugh.......

　Unlike her older sister Arte, who was feisty and unassuming, her younger sister Flora was a feeble child who was always aware of her surroundings.

　For now, to calm her down, I asked her what was bothering her the most.

'Why are you wearing your school uniform?　Is there some kind of costume contest going on?

No, no!

　Flora's face flushed red at first sight, and even her earlobes turned bright red.
　You don't have to be so embarrassed.

You're not going to be able to find out what you are.

This is about the attack on my house, isn't it?

'Oh, I'm so sorry for my sister's recklessness at that time!　Forgive me, I'll do anything!

　Apparently, Flora is freaked out that I'm going to get some kind of retribution from her.
　I chuckled.

'Fine. Don't be so frightened, I won't do anything.

Oh, really?

If I'd done something to Flora right now, I wouldn't have missed Artae in the moment.

''Well yes. That's the kind of person my seniors were.

　Flora mumbles and finally seems to calm down.
　I ask.

'So, why are they letting you go?'

''As you can imagine, senior Creon lobbied the government. Me, my sister, and Karelia-san have been released together.

　Creon, who exiled me, had now formed the Knights of Salvation with the help of Prime Minister Strath and the others.
　They have connections with the government center and the third division of the Emperor's Secretariat, and it's no wonder that they have the power to get Flora and the others released.

''I see. So that's why Flora has slipped to the top of the new Order's leadership.

　Kokuoku, Flora nodded.
　Even though she could only use it once in a single battle, Flora could still use astrological magic with a substandard attack power.

　It's perfect for defeating the powerful demon race in the ruins, and it should be a valuable asset to the Creon Salvation Knights.

　However, when she's wearing a uniform from her magic school days and shrinking like a frightened person like this, I don't feel that Flora is a high-ranking magician at all.

　For better or worse, Sage Arte believed in the strength of his own power, and he had the power to do so with the power he deserved.
　But Flora doesn't have that, and she really just looks like a fragile girl.

　Flora looked me up and down and protested in an understated voice.

'Please don't stare at me too long. It's embarrassing.'

If I hadn't skipped a grade, I would still be in school right now, and I don't think it's strange at all. It suits you well.

　For some reason Flora's cheeks became increasingly redder and redder.

''It suits you, right? I see........''

　Flora murmured and looked at me with her clear black eyes.

　When I was at the magic school, the most popular idol-like girl in school was Sophia.
　And the next most popular was Arte, and alongside Sophia, all the boys and girls looked at them with admiration.

　However, Flora's name did not come up at all among the students.

　It's a good thing that they're all in the same boat.
　However, she is essentially adorable like her older sister Arte, and frankly, quite cute.

　In fact, Flora might be a more legitimate beautiful girl because she doesn't have an intense personality like Arte.

　I was a little thrown off by Flora's stare.
　As I was doing so, Filia pinched my arm.

'Solon you must have been staring at Flora-san.

No, it's not...

　When I replied in a whisper, Filia mumbled a "hmmm" and stared at me with zit eyes.
　Speaking of Flora, she looked at me and Filia with a jittery look, and then mumbled, "Solon-senpai was gawking at me.......I see.

　Then, as if Flora had made up her mind, she asked, "Will you listen to me? I asked.
　I nodded, and Flora said something strange.

'Do you remember what I was doing when we attacked your senior's mansion?

"?　Well, of course.

　Flora tried to cover Arte in the middle of the fight.
　Then, in an instant, she was blown away by Sophia's magic and left the battle.
　In other words, he was not meant to be a combatant at all.

　Flora says.

'There's a reason for that one.

Reason?

'Yes. I wasn't giving it my all. No, I didn't intend to fight in the first place.

　Flora said, and smiled sadly at him.