The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

Lucifer, tearing off his Stoffel disguise, instantly closed in on Kaoru, his sharp nails shining as he raised his hands.

The first to react to him was Asley.

“HAHAHA!”

The Devil King swung down his hand.

“What the–!? Lucifer!?”

Asley rushed in front of Kaoru and barely managed to deflect the punch.

[Why!? Why is Lucifer here!? Wait, wouldn’t this mean…]

Now, Asley realized what Kaoru had said earlier actually meant.

— …You know, if he’s actually Stoffel the Blank Mask… he might be troublesome to deal with.

He recalled what Kaoru had said after that…

— Hehehe… Right, things have always been stressful for you two. This should feel quite easy in comparison. Especially since you don’t know that…

…And picked up a hint from the words he had not paid attention to.

[So Kaoru knew… or rather, Warren predicted this. And once Kaoru was told about it, she knew she would be in danger — and might even be killed. That’s why she was so nervous. And since Warren put me here, he was counting on me to save her. He and Irene were betting humanity’s survival on me winning against Lucifer here… Well, not like they had any other choice!]

Warren, Irene, and Kaoru had a reason to choose this place as the arena for Asley and Lucifer: This temple of Eddo was the symbol of T’oued.

If something unusual were to happen here, the people were sure to take notice.

And currently, the majority of those who had gathered in Eddo were ones who had decided to fight against the War Demon Nation.

In other words, they were betting on the ten percent — or perhaps thirty percent chance of victory. On it being an actual light of hope.

“HAH!”

Lucifer grabbed Asley’s Drynium Rod and released a high-density arcane energy aura.

Pochi held Kaoru up by the collar of her dress and leaped back, and was then blown away by the force of the aura.

“Wha–!? Ahh!?”

“Don’t fight it! The further you get, the better! Jun’ko has already been moved somewhere else. You have to focus on getting us away from here!”

“B-but what about Master!?”

“He’ll be fine! Trust me!”

Kaoru’s claim did not come with any evidence for Pochi, but for some reason, those words at this very moment carried an undeniable degree of pressure and confidence.

As such, Pochi made her decision based on Kaoru’s confidence and trust in Asley.

“Master!”

“Get the hell out of here! If anything happens to Kaoru, I won’t feed you anymore!”

“…!”

Asley was calm enough to crack a joke. Pochi, believing in his words, chose to leave the scene of the battle.

All the while, Lucifer looked on as the conversation unfolded with a grin on his face.

“So…” Asley said, “You’re just gonna let them go, huh?”

“They don’t matter. I have already worked out my plan.”

“What?”

“And I’m not enough of a fool to explain it. I am unlike you, Asley.”

Lucifer let go of Asley’s Drynium Rod.

Asley, previously holding his Drynium Rod in both hands, changed to holding it with just his right hand while shaking his left hand due to the ache from the clash just now.

“Still, that was a surprise — you successfully deflected my attack. Commendable.”

“Thanks, I guess…”

“And your arcane energy seems to have returned…”

“…You can tell? Commendable.”

“Heh… hahaha! You dare parrot my words?”

“Well, I’m a Philosopher! I know everything and can do anything!”

“That does not sound like something a truly wise man would say!”

“C’mon, man, lemme have my fun.”

“Silence, you fool.”

“Whatever you say, Devil wannabe.”

“You claim to know everything and can do anything? Then show me. Show me your arcane energy…!”

“No need to tell me…”

While Lucifer stared him down, Asley took one deep breath and held it. 

The next moment, Asley’s arcane energy burst forth like a storm, his power level unlike anything he had ever shown before.

“…!?”

Lucifer closed one eye as he flinched from the blast… and the subsequent explosion of arcane energy destroyed the temple in an instant.

The rampaging wind around Asley ascended into the sky, splitting the air.

It blew away all the clouds and filled the entirety of Eddo with radiant sunlight.

Eventually, the arcane energy that rose to the heavens poured down onto Asley and gently enveloped his body.

“…Interesting.”

Lucifer smirked and delightfully gazed at Asley, who, in turn, was calmly looking at him.

“Now I am worried… that I will be unable to keep myself from killing you.”

Smirking like a Devil, Lucifer lowered his stance and got ready to charge.

“…Go ahead and try.”

Likewise, Asley braced himself.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

At the same time, a great battle had unfolded at the south gate of T’oued.

“Tch…! He really used some tricky stuff on us!”

Reid shouted, his forehead covered in sweat.

“Huh!? What… what is that!?”

Adolf asked, but no one answered — because they in fact did not know.

“Hehehe… wonderful. What a wonderful magecraft this is!”

Cleath, who had taken on the form of a Devilkin, exclaimed.

Most of the Royal Capital Warrior Guardians had already joined forces with Team Silver to escape from Cleath. However, there were those who could not escape in time and lost their lives at the transformed Devil’s hands.

Despite Eddo’s side launching a surprise attack at the best possible timing, Cleath’s ace up the sleeve had caused this plan to result in unintended victims.

“There is no end to them…!”

Reflected in Haruhana’s eyes were grotesque creatures, emerging from Cleath’s shadow.

Kohryu narrowed his eyes and observed them.

“They seem to be lesser Devils.”

“What!? A Devil is… summoning more Devils!?”

Shi’shichou, taken aback, turned to ask Kohryu, seeking clarification. 

And then, Kokki, as if speaking on behalf of the Dragon, answered,

“The Devilkin are supposed to need contracts… It is only when a human and a Devil form a contract that a Devil can exist in this world. Otherwise, it would be too convenient for them…”

“Not quite.”

Kohryu and Kokki both denied the possibility, but then Tūs contradicted their opinion.

“Oh-ho… What was that?”

Haiko asked Tūs, who proceeded to mutter some things to himself while scratching his afro hair.

“…Not talking?”

After a while, Bull saw that Tūs had arrived at a decision, so he said to the latter,

“Come on, explain it to the rest of us.”

“…The Devilkin DO need their contracts. That’s still true. But look at the state of the world right now… Just about anyone should be able to figure it out.”

The three original members of Team Silver were the first to replay to Tūs.

“Right now…?”

“Well, the world has… turned dangerous, right?”

“It’s the Devil King.”

Blazer summed it up in a few words. Tūs nodded in agreement.

“That’s it. The rest of the Devils obey the Devil King.”

“In that case, the things Cleath is unleashing from the shadows… are the Devil King’s subordinates…?”

Ryan asked, and Tūs quietly nodded.

“It’s done with a magecraft that only the Devil King knows. That means Lucifer is… well, VERY confident that he can win. Even if that Cleath mutant rebels against him later.”

“So they don’t trust each other?”

Natsu tilted her head.

“Trust, huh… Girl, if they knew what that word means, the world wouldn’t have become like this.”

“Oh, I see…”

As Natsu cast her eyes down, Blazer placed his hand on her head.

“We don’t know what they’re capable of. Eyes forward.”

“Ah, yeah!”

Just then, Egd came running toward Bruce, panting heavily.

“Hah hah hah…! W-what was that!? Why was everyone talking about the Devilkin all of a sudden!? And more importantly, does anyone know where Miss Lina is!? Do you, Sir Bruce!?”

Bruce, grabbed by the collar of his shirt by Egd, looked up at the sky.

“How the hell is this guy’s mind so peaceful when the world is so Goddamn chaotic…?”

“I doubt anyone has any idea how…”

Midors sighed in agreement with Bruce.

“What!? What is that supposed to mean!?”

“YOU BOYS! Focus on the fight — we have to do SOMETHING about them!”

Idéa’s encouragement spurred everyone to ready their weapons. 

The Devilkin, appearing seemingly infinitely, opened their mouths wider, their eyes gleaming with joy as if they were about to feast.

“I won’t be defeated by anyone… Not by Billy, not by Leon…!!”

“Yeah, whatever you say. The world ain’t easy enough to be changed by your petty emotions!” 

Tūs’s strong confidence seemed to inspire Cleath, who shouted.

“Hmph! Kill them all!!”

“Prepare to engage!!”

And with Blazer’s command…

“”OHHHHHH!!””

…Their voices shook the T’oued land.

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