Flora apparently had no intention of fighting when Arte attacked my mansion.
　But Arte is Flora's sister, and it's strange that she let Arte lose.

　If you don't intend to fight in the first place, then there is no reason for you to follow the attack on Arte.
　When I asked Flora that, she shook her head.

''I was planning to stop your sister from doing something terrible to the seniors during that battle, if she won, I was going to stop her accordingly. On the other hand, if big sister lost and seniors tried to kill her, I was going to stop that too.

　In other words, it seems that Flora was deliberately pretending to be unconscious with an eye on the aftermath of the fight.
　Even when I was swinging my sword over Arte's head, perhaps Flora was aiming at me with her staff at the ready.

　If I had tried to kill Arte, it's possible that Flora's astrological magic would have blown me away without a second thought.

''Besides, I'm on your side, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything your sister is doing.

'Specifically, which of Arte's actions do you oppose?'

''Oh, I'm not outwardly opposed to it. I can't go against what big sister says, and besides, big sister's opinion is often agreed with Creon-senpai too.

　Against Lairen Remilia, an executive machinist who defied him, Arte tortures and seriously injures her.
　Of course, I don't think Arte would do that much to his sister Flora.
　But even so, Flora has to be cautious about objecting to Arte.

　Flora timidly cut her off.

''What I don't agree with in what your sister is doing, for example. Attacking Solon-senpai's mansion, or trying to kidnap the Imperial Highness, or sacrificing the girls of the Demon King's descendants for power... and also doing terrible things to Lailen Remilia...''

　That means almost everything.

　Maybe Flora will be on our side.
　That said, there are still a few more important issues left to deal with.

What do you think about Arte's attempt to bring Sophia back to the Order?

''That too........I think it's best not to do that. I'm sorry to see Saintess leave the Order, too, but if Saintess herself wants to leave, there's no way I can stop her from doing so....

　Mm-hmm, Filia nods next to me.

　Well, what Flora says is a common sense decision.

　Forcing Sophia, who doesn't want to, to return to the knights to fight is too unrealistic.
　If she doesn't have the desire to do so, there's no way it would work even if she was allowed to participate in the attack on the ruins.

　But Arte was so adamant about Sophia that he couldn't understand such an obvious thing.

　Flora gave a tired smile.

'Since Sophia-sama disappeared, your sister has gone crazy. I think she must have been really shocked.''

I feel sorry for Arte in that sense.

'........do you feel sorry for your sister?

'Well, yeah. It's not like I don't know how to feel at all.

　In the same way that I was hurt when I was expelled from the Order by my friends, I think Arte was hurt because he felt that Sophia didn't need him.
　As far as that is concerned, Arte's feelings are very natural.

　However, Flora looked troubled.

''Senpai shouldn't take pity on your sister. If you care for the Princess Highness, you should have killed your sister back then, senpai should have killed your sister.''

Why?

Because even now, your sister is trying to take the Crown Princess Filia into custody.

　With a gasp, Filia shuddered.
　Flora and the others promised not to go after the Princess Filia.
　But it seems that Arte is going to break that promise.

　Flora shook her head sadly.

''Once she's freed, there's no way big sister will keep her promise to her seniors.

　Flora then told her why Arte was trying to use Filia again.
　The dead city Necropolis, which they were going to capture, had one of the seven Demon Kings sleeping in it.
　Arte wants to revive the Demon King to gain his power and Creon wants to use him for military purposes.
　And in order for the Demon King to return, his descendants must be sacrificed.

　I realized why Filia was chosen to be the token commander of the Necropolis invasion operation.
　I will send Filia to Necropolis, and if the attack is successful, she will be made an offering to the sleeping Demon King to be rebooted.

　That must be what Arte and Creon were after.

　I groaned.
　Oh my God.

　To begin with, the risk of failure was high with this reckless strategy to capture the Necropolis, but even if we succeeded, Filia would be in danger this time.

　I said to Flora.

'Thank you for telling me. But why did you decide to tell me this secret information?

'I'm on your side, sister. Even if she's like that, she's my precious sister. But that's why I don't want to see your sister repeat the awful things she's done. Besides, I promised you that I wouldn't hurt His Highness Filia. ........For the sake of your sister's wish, I want to make the Necropolis attack a success. On the other hand, I won't treat either your highness or your senior sister badly.

　Flora's tone was different than usual, and she said it in a powerful tone.
　Her black eyes, full of determination, stared straight at me.

''If you really care for Arte, you should cancel the Necropolis attack in the first place. That one will surely fail.''

No, sir. Operation Necropolis will be a success. Adventurers risk their lives for true victory, even if it's dangerous. Isn't that right?

'That's not true. The right way to be an adventurer is to make sure you come back alive and never lose.

　Flora shook her head silently.
　Her figure coincided with her twin sister, Arte.

　I was puzzled.
　Flora had succeeded in her mission to capture Necropolis, and she seemed confident that she could protect Filia as well.

　What kind of secret plan does she have in mind?

　Flora was back to looking frail again.
　Then she turned to leave and took a few steps before looking back at me.

　Flora looked me up and down.

'One last thing. I was actually against the idea of banning my seniors.

　With that, this time Flora didn't look back at us and disappeared into the back of the library.