Creon was drinking in one of the largest taverns in the Imperial City.
　He placed a shot glass filled with fire wine on a small table.

　As expected of the economic center of the continent, the tavern's liveliness is also quite different.
　It is a wooden building, but the ceiling is high and the space is quite spacious.

　There are a lot of people there, and Creon has changed into modest clothes in the style of a merchant. So no one would notice that Creon was the Commander of the Order of Salvation.

　As he gulped down his drink, Creon sighed.

　It was because his plan to revive the Demon King and revive his lost companion Shea wasn't working.

　He made the crimson Lucy a dependency for the resurrection of the Demon King and captured Solon and the others who came to help him as traitors.
　Then, he would seize Princess Filia and Saint Sophia, who were of great use to him.

　This was Creon's plan.
　However, there was an unexpected interruption.

　One of them was Father Gapon.
　Gapon is an agent of the Third Department of the Emperor's Secretariat and Creon's collaborator.

　However, Gapon was wary of Creon.
　Creon's fame had grown so rapidly with the Necropolis attack that he may have feared that he would be deprived of his position.
　Or maybe it was because he was aware that Creon was trying to use the Demon King for purposes other than for the Empire.

　Either way, Gapon tried to single-handedly force the resurrection of the Demon King and captured Lucy by forceful means.
　If the initiative of using the Demon King was lost to Gapon, Shea's resurrection would only be a long way off.

　However, he couldn't openly challenge Gapon in the emperor's entourage.
　That's why Creon informed Solon, and then Leticia of the Free Alliance, to get rid of Gapon.

''But there was another reason, wasn't there?''

　The man sitting next to me smiled.
　Creon clicked his tongue.

　Right now, sitting next to Creon, lazily sipping his barley wine, was Solon.
　Solon was dressed in his usual black adventurer's uniform and his demeanor was calm and collected.
　Even though he was in front of Creon, who was supposed to be his nemesis.

　It was a coincidence that Solon and I ran into each other in this tavern.
　Bad timing, Creon thought.

　Solon asked for Creon's drink as well and sat down next to him.

'Creon was trying to help Claire. She's his sister, you know. Isn't she?

'I told you. Claire is my sister, but she's a nobody of any use to me. Besides I trust you more than I do. Why would I help someone like that?

I don't need a reason. Blood is thicker than water. When you think about it, Creon's actions this time around, it makes sense.

Imagine what you will.

　Creon looked at Solon with a reluctant look on his face.
　Annoyingly, Solon's guess was correct.

　It seemed that Claire had used her position as a soldier to make all sorts of moves to cover for Solon.　
　This made it difficult to capture Solon as a traitor and even thwarted Creon's plans.

　And yet, when he heard that Father Gapon was torturing Claire, Creon couldn't remain calm.
　He then went to Solon's mansion and told him where Lucy was. Claire was being held captive with Lucy, so he figured that if Solon saved Lucy, he would surely rescue Claire as well.

'I wonder if it was Creon's handiwork that the security of the cathedral was so thin that he was able to rescue Lucy without much resistance.

You should be grateful if you think so.

　Creon chuckled at the sarcasm, and Solon chuckled.

'Ah, thank you for the help. 'Creon,'

　Reviving Shea was more important to Creon than anything else.
　It's a desire that Creon wants to fulfill, even if it means sacrificing everything.

　So, whether it's his sister, his former fiancée or his best friend, he has to cut everything out of his life.

　I'm weak, Creon thinks.
　In terms of combat power, he has become the strongest knight in the Empire. But it would not be possible to say that he is strong in his mind.
　That's why he still feels inferior to the Solon in front of him.

　Solon smiled a satisfied smile and popped Creon on the shoulder. Then he said, "It's good to talk to you after so long," and walked out of the tavern with a dashing gait.

　Due to the machinations of military intelligence, which was hostile to Creon and his team, there was already no way to seize Lucy's custody.
　She has defected to Alemania.

　Then we must find a new person to be sacrificed as the Demon King's deputy.
　But it had to be a very high-ranking magician.

　Only a sorcerer who could be called a genius would be able to withstand the vessel in which the Demon King's power could be exerted.
　It was not so easy to find.

　For example, Saint Sophia might be able to serve.
　But Sophia is a saint of the church, and unlike Lucy, she is not suspected of treason.
　As one of the five great sorcerers of the Empire, she is also scheduled to be deployed in the war against Alemania.
　Becoming the Demon King's dependency means becoming a cripple, and there's no good reason to do so.

(Besides....)

　Sophia was Creon's companion and fiancée, albeit only in a token way.

　They had been friends since magic school.
　Sophia clearly had a fondness for Solon and didn't think anything of Creon.
　It hurt Creon's self-esteem, but that didn't mean he had any hatred for Sophia personally.
　He wanted to keep Solon and Sophia apart, sure, but he didn't want to hurt Sophia.

　If that's the case, then someone else will have to be the victim.
　That's when Creon was tapped on the shoulder.
　Creon panicked, thinking that Solon had returned, but it was someone else who was there.　It was Ren, a spearman of the Order's executive officer.

　She was a petite girl with short blue hair.
　She has a neutral appearance and is often mistaken for a beautiful boy, I've heard.

　With a grin, Ren laughed and sat down next to Creon.

''Is the one who is supposed to be the Commander drinking alone?''

You're the one who's supposed to be banned from drinking under the age of 16.

Please don't treat me like a younger person.

He's actually younger than you.

　Ren is the youngest knight cadre at fifteen years old.
　The reason he was able to become a cadre was not only because of his ability to use the magic spear rune, but also because of the attraction of the wise man Arte.
　Arthe, who hated men, loved beautiful girls.
　That's why Ren was favored and became his entourage.

''Aren't you troubled about the new Demon King's resurrection dependency?''

Yeah, do you have any good ideas?

　Ren hit his knees with a plop, as if to say, "I'm glad you listened to me.

I'm sure you've heard me correctly. I will make the wise man Arte as a substitute for the resurrection of the demon king.

You know Arte?　But Arte's magic circuits have been destroyed, and he's not even a sorcerer anymore.

Then you can undo it. I know how to undo it.

　Creon stared at Ren.
　Indeed, if it was possible, Arte, who was a genius female sage, would be a good substitute for the Demon King's resurrection.
　Creon hasn't forgiven Arte for insulting Shea, so he doesn't care what happens to her.

But weren't you one of Arte's close associates?

I know. But I didn't like him.

Oh I see.

Isn't it wonderful?　Once I let Arte get his magic back, I'll make him become a wise man again like before. Then--I'll make Arte a cripple as a retainer of the Demon King.

You made me hope, and now you're sending me to hell. Don't you think you're being cruel.

'You will see that man's face again as he cries out. No, I'm sure the face will be colored by a deeper despair than before.

　Despite his pretty face, Ren seemed to have a dangerous taste for the subject.
　But the plan itself wasn't bad.
　If it succeeds, the Demon King will be fully resurrected, and it will pave the way for Shea's revival.

''Good. It's a good idea. I'll leave the method up to you.

　Ren had a satisfied smile on his neat face.