Tsuihou Sareta Bannou Mahou Kenshi wa, Koujou Denka no Shishou Tonaru

29 There's not one way to talk.

I thought about the meaning of Sophia's words.

Sophia said she was going to quit the Knights with me.

So what were you going to do with the "Knights of St. Sophia" bearing Sophia's name? Besides, if we stop the Knights, we lose our power and authority as captains.

I roughly opened my mouth.

"That Knights took Sophia, Cleon and I years to build. I can't believe I stopped being called the strongest knights in the empire..."

"Unthinkable?

and was questioned by Sofia.

Until the Creons gave me exile, I never thought I'd quit the Knights.

Because of this, I grew a strong organization and gained fame and strength as deputy commander.

I thought if we kept going, we could attack every ruin, and help people with the benefits we could get from the ruins.

But I rethink.

I looked back at the Phileas behind me.

Quitting the adventurer eliminated the danger of death in the ruins attack, and freed him from the chores of the Knights operation.

He wasn't able to contribute to the fight either, as the Knights were told in the first place that it was useless and kicked out.

Conversely, there are people here who need me.

Without being banished from the Creons, stopping was not a bad option.

I think so now.

I briefly told Sophia how it went.

That Cleon and Arte told me that I was useless in instrumental poverty and that I had handed over the banishment of the Knights.

And what Creon told me at that time that Sofia was also in favor of deportation.

Sophia heard it and sighed.

"You misled me, Cleon."

"What do you mean?

"I was consulted by Cleon. Soron-kun said we should stop the Knights. Because Soron-kun could be dead, like Shea who was killed."

When I said that, there was a slight shade in Sophia's face.

Shea is the girl who used to be one of us. Shea joined us when it was a small party before we even named the Knights.

One young wizard younger than Sophia, he said, was determined to be an adventurer at the same time his master died.

I think he was a bright, honest good boy.

And Shea was killed by the enemy at the ruins and died.

Shea was like a sister to Sophia, and convincing her of that death would be an effective way to persuade her.

"So you're saying Sophia was scared that I'd get hurt and agreed to kick me out?

Sophia looked like she was in trouble.

"Eh, I might have been just a little stronger than Solon. But if that's all, Solon used to protect me, so now you just need me to protect Solon."

"There's no need for Sophia to fight while protecting her legs."

"Yeah. If it weren't for Soron-kun, I still wouldn't be able to head the regiment. I want Solon to stay, so I will protect Solon. It is my own wish. But yeah."

So Sophia cut the words.

Sophia stared at me with her emerald eyes.

There was a color in his eyes that scared him of something.

"I got scared. Fighting in the ruins is a very dangerous thing, isn't it? Defeat a large number of demonic enemies and go deeper underground than you can easily turn back"

"It's really dangerous. But that's what Sophia and I both knew we were doing. Free the ruins and you'll have the resources, the land, the treasure, and you'll save a lot of people."

"I knew it. But I thought I'd had enough. I've got the money, the honor, the power, but I have nothing to ask for ahead of me, and if I die, I have nothing left. Do you remember Solon's promise?

"Promise?"

"It's my promise to Solon."

That's right.

As a classmate of the School of Magic, we made one promise in our first grade.

Let's be the empire's strongest adventurers together and make our own place.

That was the promise.

Sophia was neglected by her family and classmates at the time, and she had no place to be.

Nobility and nothing. I could only enroll in a magic school, but I couldn't imagine where I would succeed in the future.

So the promise was a distant aspiration for Sophia, who was a young girl, and a reckless ideal for a mediocre me.

Sophia smiled gently.

"I'm half done with my promise."

"Half?"