It seems that Lisa and Filia will be joining me and Galerus in a duel as allies.

　But aside from Lisa, I can't let Filia, an imperial princess, fight.
　I tried to stop Filia in a hurry, but she shook her head.

I'm sure you'll be able to use a bit of supportive magic too. Solon taught me that.''

But...

''And since Solon and I are connected to the magic circuit, that's why I think my magic power is the power of Solon. It's just a feeling, but........

No, Lady Filia is right.

　I admitted.

　I should have been poisoned by the demon race during the collapse of the seventh layer, but it didn't work on me at all.
　Even Saint Saul's horrible magic attacks were able to be repelled by my sword.

　All of this was thanks to the help of Filia's magical power.
　It's because Filia has a substandard amount of magical power as a descendant of the Demon King.

　So if Filia consciously supplied me with magical power and used supportive magic, it would certainly increase my chances of beating Galerus.

　But that's essentially the same as Creon taking away the magic power of Arte and the others.

　If I make a mistake in adding or reducing, and the amount of magic power supplied by Filia becomes too large, something might be wrong with Filia's body.

　Besides.........
　Galerus murmurs, ''Ho,'' and chuckles.

You may be the princess, but as long as you participated in the duel, you are my enemy. It's not my fault if you are injured in a fight.

　Galerus was right, it would put Filia in danger.
　The outcome of a duel is everything, and as long as you take part in it, your status is of no consequence.

　I still tried to hold Filia back, but instead she put her hands behind my back and hugged me tightly.
　Then she looks up at me.

'Maybe I was the one being sacrificed for the resurrection of the Demon King, right? Do you want to help Flora and the others, Solon?

Yes.

　Flora was my former companion, she moved for us and told me she liked me.
　And Arte is Flora's sister.

　Flora and her friends are not good people, but I don't think they deserve to be treated so horribly and slaughtered.
　Besides, Creon, Galerus and the others are not on the side of justice either. They are willing to make any sacrifice for the resurrection of the Demon King.

　I've made up my mind.
　I will defeat Galerus with the help of Filia.
　I don't think Galerus will let Flora and the others go if I win as promised. There's no way Creon would allow that to happen.

　However, right now, Galerus is clearly letting his guard down by looking down on me, and right after winning the duel, he'll have the opportunity to take away the device that is tormenting Flora and Arte and siphoning off their magic power.
　If we do that, we should be able to stop the resurrection of the Demon King, which is taking place at the expense of Flora and the others.

　I smiled and lightly stroked Filia's head, and she blushed with embarrassment.
　Then Filia nodded.

''Solon, give us victory!

We'll win, we'll save Flora and the others, and we'll stop the Demon King from coming back.

　I slowly moved away from Filia and drew my treasure sword, Tetracord, and released it.
　Then I pointed the treasured sword straight at Galerus.
　Galerus also grimaced and held the great sword up.

　Lisa interrupted him from the side.

''Don't forget about me, okay?　I'm on your side too, Solon.

Thank you. It really helps. First of all, I want you to keep healing Flora. And if I get injured in a way that interferes with my ability to fight, then you'll need to cast a recovery spell on me. Can you do that for me?

Of course!

　Lisa lightly raises her right hand as if to say yes while holding her staff in her left hand.

　The next thing I know, Galerus takes a big step towards me.
　With many adventurers looking on, the battle between us and Galerus began.