It's a universal truth that the dead don't come back to life.
　However, Creon intends to use his demon king's power to bring back our former companion, Sia.

　I was shaken.

　What Creon is trying to do violates the prohibitions of the Imperial Church.
　That's not all.

　I have no idea how much we will have to sacrifice to raise the dead.

　Creon says, "The Demon King Aka Manaf.

"The resurrection of the Demon King Aka Manaf alone won't be enough to bring the dead back to life," Creon said. The plan has only just begun.

　Many adventurers have already died for the attack on Necropolis.
　Now, two girls named Flora and Arte are being sacrificed in order to revive the Demon King.

　Only by making more sacrifices on top of this can Creon achieve his goal.

''This has to stop, Creon.

My purpose is very personal. But the resurrection of the Demon King and the acquisition of the treasures of the Necropolis are also in the Empire's national interest. This is in accordance with Chancellor Straus' wishes.

That's not what I'm talking about. Do you think Shea would want to be brought back to life this way?

"Shea was beaten to death by demons in the ruins in a horrible way. Do you think that she died a satisfying death?　No way.

But....

'People can be as cruel as they want to be for their place in the world. Even you, if Sophia or the Princess was about to be killed, you would do everything in your power to protect them.

That's not the same thing as this.

It's the same.

　The light was already draining from the dying Flora's eyes.
　Flora, who was bleeding and being deprived of her magical power, could only twitch from time to time, and was now almost as dead as a dead man.

　At that moment, a new group of adventurers appeared in the hall.
　Leading the way was a large man dressed in heavy steel armor.

''I'm Galerus, the guardian warrior of the second squad. I've made some sacrifices along the way, but I've cleared the way for you to return. So, what's the situation?

　Galerus looked around, saw Arte and Flora lying down, murmured, "Oh," and smiled thinly.
　It's as if he knew in advance that this would happen.

　Creon briefly told Galerus and the others about the current situation and then handed Galerus a stake of the same shape as the one he had stabbed into Arte and Flora.
　It glowed red in short cycles and seemed to resonate with the stake that had been stabbed into the two girls in pairs.
　That must be the device that sucks up the magic power for the resurrection of the Demon King.

''Ask Galerus to clean up this place.

You got it, Creon.

　On cue, Creon, Karelia and the rest of the Knights of the Order made their way to the throne room where the Demon King was located.

　Eventually, Creon and the others finished their move and the wall between the throne room and the hall we were in closed again.

　Meanwhile, I crouched down and focused on healing Flora.
　I used my magic power to heal her as best I could, and while I was at it, Lisa, the white mage, came running over to help me.

　So, although Flora's condition seemed to have improved only slightly, it was basically a burned-out stone.
　At this rate, Flora's body wouldn't last.

　Galerus called out to me.

''Don't. There's no point in helping the great sinner who attempted to assassinate Creon, right?

Did Garrels know this would happen?

No way.

　Galerus laughed out loud.
　As if he was enjoying himself.

　Then Garellus grabbed the prone Arte's head and kicked him in the abdomen.
　Arte let out a short scream, but in the next moment, he was staring back at Garellus with hateful eyes and spitting, "You're not...

　Garellus didn't care about it and slammed Arte to the floor.

'Hey, hey, you're doing better than I thought. Even if he were to be sacrificed to the resurrection of the demon king, Arte might not die. I'm sure you can't avoid becoming a cripple, but the fact is that Arte himself did the same thing to the descendants of the demon king, so I guess he had it coming. But.........

　Galerus shifted his eyes to Flora. There was pity and contempt in her eyes.

'I pity you. If I hadn't been the sister of this stupid woman, and if I hadn't been so foolish as to challenge Creon, I wouldn't have died here.'

　Flora would die here.
　The chances of that were quite high.

'Well, even if she doesn't die, she'll be dropped into slavery as a great sinner. Speaking of the remnants of a former marquess and excellent sorceress, it would have been a waste since she would have sold for a good price as a slave.''

　Galerus was saying whatever he wanted.
　It was very hard to believe that it was a thing to say to his former companion.

　At that moment, Flora tried to stand up, with a slight glint in her eyes. Maybe our treatment helped a little.

　But she stumbled right away and almost fell over, and I hurriedly held her up.

　I hugged her from the front, but her body was surprisingly light.
　Flora looked up at me with her dark eyes.

''Solon-senpai there are two last things I want to talk to you about.

Please don't tell me this is the last time. If you just stay quiet, you'll get better...

　Flora shook her head.
　'You can't save her now,' Flora's eyes said.　

''Please help your sister. I know it's selfish of me to ask my senior to do that. But I can't do it anymore.''　

　I nodded.

　Arte was my enemy.
　But before we got into this kind of situation, Flora had offered a deal to help Arte in exchange for protecting me and Filia.

　Flora actually saved us by defeating Saul.
　It was a runaway that I didn't really agree with, but she also tried to protect Filia by defeating Creon.

　Then I want to grant Flora's wish as much as possible.

　Flora smiled weakly and lowered her eyes in shame.

''The other story........it doesn't really matter. I've always liked my senpai.''

"Huh?

　I looked up and then felt myself flush a little.
　I never thought that Flora would confess to me in a place like this, in a situation like this.

'Ever since I first met her at the magic school. No, even now. I felt like I could be honest only in front of my seniors. So.........

　Then Flora's words were cut off.
　In the next moment, Flora's body in my arms jumped, and Flora's high-pitched scream rang out.
　The stake driven into her chest glowed even more fiercely red, and at the same time, I could see the magic power rapidly flowing out of Flora.

　Flora's screams eventually stopped, but she was no longer just breathing heavily, her eyes were clouded and her face was devoid of life.

'Solon. If you want to save these guys, you'll have to do something about these stakes. Your second-rate recovery magic isn't going to help.

　Galerus told me to be amused.
　When I looked at it, the transparent stake in Galerus' hand also had a red glow to it.
　If we take that away, we can stop the flow of magic power from Flora and the others.

　If that happened, I might be able to save them both.
　But in order to do so, they would have to win against Garrels.

'Let's make a bet, Solon. If you win the battle, the stake is yours. You are free to let them both live or kill them.

"And if Garrels wins?

If I win, then give me your treasure sword, the Tetracord, because I'm the one who can use it, not you. I won't be the one who knows how to use it, but I do.

　I nodded.
　My bet is my treasure sword.

　If I lose, I won't hurt anyone else.
　However, my opponent is Garrels, who is the most powerful among the Order's leaders.
　Whether he can win or not.

　The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that you can't get rid of it.

I don't care how many allies you bring along with you to fight alone. I don't care how many allies you bring along with you, otherwise there will be no bet and I will win. "I don't care how many people you bring along with you, you'll win.

　I looked around.
　There were no adventurers on my side to help Arte and Flora.

　Notaras, the summoner, had gone with Creon to the throne room where the demon king was located.

　It was then that two small girls advanced.
　One was Lisa, the white mage.

　And the other was the Princess Filia.

''I'm on Solon's side!

　Filia said, quickly pulling out her apple tree wand and holding it high.