Creon compared me and Filia and said, still without erasing his smile.

''Your Highness must be anxious about the expedition to the Necropolis. But don't worry. Our Knights are the most outstanding group of adventurers throughout the history of the Empire.

So I shouldn't worry about it?

　Creon nodded emphatically at Filia's question.

'That's right. As long as we are with you, nothing will ever happen that will hurt your highness.'

　It would be.
　Filia is an important sacrifice for Creon.
　I don't think he's going to let the demon tribe in the ruins kill the existence that is absolutely necessary to revive the Demon King.

　However, in the end, Creon and the others are going to sacrifice Filia.

　But if it's Arte, though, is Creon really going to do that?

　Creon was a kind guy.
　At least he used to be the kind of guy who would put up with his own pain if he didn't have to watch others get hurt.

　I don't think Flora is lying.
　But I wonder what Creon actually thinks?

　I was so driven by the desire to question Creon about his true intentions that I couldn't get the words down my throat.
　But if I did, it would show our hand. Besides, if Flora found out that I had leaked information from her, it would be a problem for her.

　In the end, I swallowed my words.
　Instead, Filia asks Creon sharply.

''I can't refuse to go to Necropolis, can I?

''I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but by the Emperor's orders, you must participate in the capture of the Necropolis. For our part, your lovely appearance is the only thing that can keep our morale up.

Then can you take my squire with you?

Of course. But you'd have to be reasonably competent to do that.

I want you to follow Solon.

That won't be a problem.

　Easily, Creon nodded.
　Surprising.

　I knew Creon would disagree.
　As long as I'm sacrificing Filia, I should be able to get in the way of that.

"Are you sure you want me to be a part of this?

''Yeah. His Highness would be more comfortable with a master on his side, wouldn't he?

　Creon was smiling at me like he was goodness itself.
　There is something wrong with him.

　Either he has an ulterior motive, or he is confident that my presence alone will not be an obstacle.
　'However,' Creon continued, 'there's a problem.

'I don't think Dr. Lucy and Sofia are allowed to join us.

　Lucy and Sophia both reacted with a twitch.
　Maybe they were both planning to volunteer to go to Necropolis.

''Why?　I could definitely be useful if I went.

　Sophia protests in a beautiful voice.
　It's true that with a substandard saint and a genius professor of magic, they would surely be able to contribute to the attack on the Necropolis.

　However, even for me, Sophia's participation was a negative thing.
　I don't like the idea of sending her on another adventure when she wants to live a peaceful life.

'You were going to stop being an adventurer, weren't you?　And yet, I don't think we need to go to the ruins again.

But we can't let you be the only one in danger, Solon!

　Our argument was cut short by Creon's words.

''Sophia and Dr. Lucy have both been named by the Imperial Government as one of the Five Great Magi of the Empire.

'The five great sorcerers of the Empire?　Did the government come up with some weird medals again?

There's a lot of flippant talk, as usual, my dear.

　Creon looked at me with a slightly annoying look on his face.
　Even if you say so, I'm not going to stop talking lightly, though.

　Sophia is nodding her head curiously.
　Lucy, on the other hand, was nodding with a dark face, so I guess she already knew that.

''The bottom line is that you represent the great magicians of the Empire. Well, if you are Lucy-sensei and Sophia, it's not surprising that you were chosen. You can't send those sorcerers to attack the Necropolis. I have more important business to attend to.

More importantly?

We'll see.

　Creon added that this was another order from the imperial government, so they couldn't disobey it.
　If Sophia and Lucy joined the attack, the two of them would try to prevent Filia from being sacrificed.

　In that sense, the two of them might be a hindrance to Creon as well.

　Creon then shifted his eyes to Sophia.
　Creon stared at Sophia, but there was no special emotion floating around there.

　They were engaged, but maybe Creon didn't think anything of Sophia either.
　However, Creon said to Sophia.

You are my fiancé," Creon said to Sophia, "and you are my fiancé. So I want you to come back to me. Because that's the way it should be.

Will Creon take me back?

What if I said yes?

Then I'll have to fight you, Creon. I don't like that.

Saphira. Is Solon more important to you than me, than the Order?

Yes. I'm sorry for Creon and the others, but Solon is far more important to me.

　Huh, Creon sighed and shook his head.
　Then he glanced at Karelia next to him, and then said to Sophia.

'All right. Well, as a matter of fact, there's another woman I'm interested in too.

　Who am I talking about?　
　Is this about Karelia?

　I was curious, but I wasn't going to ask any more than that.
　If this was back when I was in magic school, I would have asked a lot of questions.

　But now there is no that kind of closeness between me and Creon.

　When I think of a girl that Creon was aware of, there is someone who comes to mind.
　Shea, the one we were working with.

　Shea spent a lot of time with Creon, and she was much closer to him than I was to her.
　I think it was Creon who taught Shea various advanced magic techniques.
　At the time, Creon was still a bit timid, but he smiled at Shea, acting a little more mature.

　But now Shea is dead.
　So the person that Creon cares about must be someone else.

'Hey, Solon. I'm going to give you Sophia.

Can I have it?　I wish you'd stop treating Sophia like she's a thing.

Sophia has been yours for a long time, hasn't she?

　Creon pointed to Sophia beside me, and I looked at her as well.
　Sophia's face was a little red.

'So don't try to sabotage my purpose. There's more than enough room for Solon already, you know.'

Creon's goal was to capture the Necropolis?

'The attack on the Necropolis is only a passing phase. But for the time being, you can take that into account.

I'm not a fan of the Necropolis attack.

'You don't think you can succeed, do you?　But I'm not the same as I used to be. Now I'm a far better adventurer than Solon, the Holy Knight Creon.

But there is something in that necropolis that not even the legendary Pericles could defeat.

'I know. I'm saying we'll succeed based on that too. Besides. We can't stop the Necropolis attack now.

What?

Because the invasion of the Necropolis has been pushed back to three days.

　Creon said with a reluctant look on his face.