The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

Team Silver’s mansion, boasted a spacious courtyard in its perimeter, albeit one that did not rival the magic classroom venue.

Scattered throughout this area were several Spell Circles, all of which served as Teleportation points leading to various destinations, including the magic classroom, the Resistance’s hideout, and the southern region of Eddo. These Circles represented a clever solution devised by Asley and the others, who had deemed even the slightest bit of time to be too precious to waste.

Naturally, there were more than just Teleportation Spell Circles on the estate. From the moment they acquired the manor, they had stone pathways already laid out, adding to the overall charm of the place, along with a picturesque pond and a variety of trees.

And in the same way, between the stone pathways — or rather, spread across the courtyard — was a bed of gravel that had been here since the mansion’s purchase.

“Um, this actually hurts quite a bit…”

Five individuals were seated on this bed of gravel.

Asley raised his hand to voice his discomfort from the pain in his legs.

Standing before them was Irene, the Invincible Sprout — with her usual serene countenance now tainted with a quiet rage.

Blazer, #2 of the seated, tilted his head in confusion at Irene’s silent treatment toward Asley’s statement.

Blazer asked, sounding dead serious, prompting #3 — Bruce — to answer him instead,

“Nah, she totally did. She looks like she’s about to bust a vein.”

#4, Betty, lowered her voice as if sharing a secret, saying,

“Why are we even being scolded, anyway?”

#2 and #3 only seem perplexed, tilting their heads with no apparent recollection.

“Guys, just…! Be quiet…!”

#1 tried to silence the trio, but they just responded with puzzled expressions.

“You five…”

Irene’s words were sharper than the new Drynium Steel sword that Blazer had been so proud of.

Asley straightened up his posture, holding up his hands to cover his mouth.

After confirming Asley’s silence, Irene’s gaze swept over #2, #3, #4, and #5…

“Care to explain why you were playing tag without a care in the world, Warren?”

#5 was, of course, Warren the Black Emperor.

“Hahaha… what can I say? We thought having four taggers would be interesting…”

Warren responded coolly, ignoring Irene’s reprimand.

Following this, Betty claps her hands.

“I see…”

Bruce followed,

“Mm-hm, that’s what it’s all about.”

Lastly, Blazer concluded,

“I get it now.”

The three stood up, seeming to have come to an understanding.

Looking up at them, Asley panicked,

“W-wait, hold on! You shouldn’t…!”

Irene’s gaze intensified even more so than Asley’s.

Still, the trio was the elite Team Silver. They had prepared their own means of avoiding her wrath.

“Miss Irene! Apologies! I have to start cooking dinner for the children soon!”

The first to throw out an excuse was Betty.

Whether it was the use of children as a shield, the use of an excuse, or maybe even both, Irene’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I-is that so? Can’t be helped, then. You may go!”

“Thank you, ma’am!”

While sounding quite apologetic, Betty ran past Irene.

“Damn it, that slippery little–!”

Whether Asley was scolding Betty, praising her ingenuity, or perhaps both, he could only watch as Betty ran away.

Betty, on the other hand, remained completely oblivious to Asley’s disapproval.

She did a quick twirl around on the stone pathway, stuck out her tongue, and then moved only her lips.

Asley reads Betty’s lips to make out the words.

[‘Oh no, not I, I will survive’… What the hell!?]

By the time Asley finished reading her lips, Betty was skipping down the hallway… toward the front door.

[That little…! She lied about cooking for the kids!]

Asley’s face twitched. The second to act was #3, Bruce.

However, his opponent is Irene the Invincible Sprout, who spoke before he could even do anything.

“Don’t try it.”

As if anticipating such a warning, Bruce moved not his body but his expression.

The performance he chose was that of a warrior who seemed on the verge of burning out, showing a facial expression as though he was realizing something — despite not coming to any actual realization. 

Bruce, the Silver Wolf — indeed, he was the robust warrior who had volunteered to be the vanguard for the decisive battle tomorrow.

“Ma’am, there isn’t much time for me to spend before the battle… Could I have some alone time tonight, please…?”

Bruce bit his lip, even deliberately making it shed a tiny bit of blood. There was nothing Irene could have said to deny this performance.

“…Ugh, all right, fine! Get out of here!”

“Thank you very much, ma’am!”

Bruce passed by Irene and, like Betty, executed a twirl on the stone pathway.

They truly were siblings. The face of a proud warrior was already nowhere to be seen — Instead, what Asley saw was the usual cheerful captain of Team Silver’s Special Forces, who had just broken through the wall known as Irene.

[‘Oh no, not I, I will survive’… Again!? Have they been jamming to that same song or what!?]

The twitching of Asley’s face intensified as he came to a realization. Indeed, among the members of Team Silver, there remained only one more individual here.

Asley attempted to turn his attention to this last person, but the person in question had already gone past Asley and was looking down at Irene.

“W-what?”

“Miss Irene, I understand your sentiments.”

“Huh?”

“Because you cannot always know where your subordinates are and what they are up to, you employ this charade of a reprimand. A splendid attitude.”

“Huh?”

“However, I am also responsible for the cohesion of my unit. Further restraint could be detrimental to the team. I hope you understand. Therefore, I shall take my leave now. I’ll see you tomorrow…!”

“Huh, what– wait! Hey!”

Without waiting for a response, Blazer ran past Irene. Irene attempted to stop him, but then…

“Yes, ma’am?”

Blazer turned around, his expression perfectly normal — unlike Betty and Bruce before him. 

He truly was already ready for tomorrow. Irene was left speechless at this abrupt transformation.

“……Ah, um… Well, I suppose… I’ll be counting on you tomorrow!”

That was all Irene could say.

Blazer quietly nodded in acknowledgment and took his leave… but before then, he showed Asley a clenched fist — or rather, gave him a thumbs-up.

[……They never change.]

Asley was utterly exasperated by the two escape methods employed by the three members of Team Silver.

He still had one more companion. Asley turned his head as if to seek agreement from Warren, but then he suddenly felt that something was amiss.

He momentarily stopped all physical movement, focusing all of his senses on detecting arcane energy fluctuations all around him. 

[……Huh? Only my and Irene’s arcane energies are reacting to this?]

Looking up, he realized that Irene was looking only at him. To say that she was staring would not be an exaggeration, even. She was not looking at Warren — or anyone else for that matter. Her gaze was intensely focused on Asley, so much so that she seemed to pierce through him, as if to lock him in place.

“…Ahem.”

Asley feigned a cough, then he raised his hand.

“May I have a moment?”

He asked Irene with a smile.

Irene also understood the intention behind Asley’s question easily enough — it was about Warren.

Asley proceeded to turn around, confirming Warren’s presence.

[……Yup, he’s gone.]

It was as if he had vanished into thin air — as if Warren had never existed in the first place, a perfect illusion.

Asley was stunned only for a moment, and then he clutched his head.

[That little shit!!]

Asley deeply regretted this misfortune that had befallen him, his head spinning wildly with frustration.

Irene, on the other hand, was no longer surprised by the antics of the most foolish of fools and his comrades.

Irene heaved a sigh and swept her white hair back as Asley panicked.

Then she hunched down in front of him, showing no anger, annoyance, or excitement.

The Fool stopped whatever he was doing.

Asley gently looked into Irene’s eyes.

Likewise, Irene looked into Asley’s eyes.

“…By my order…”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

As if by reflex, Asley straightened his back.

But then, the words that came out of Irene’s mouth immediately afterward were filled with unprecedented tenderness.

“…Get a good night’s sleep.”

The final battle with Devil King Lucifer was drawing near. 

It was only natural for the commander to sympathize with the ones with the biggest responsibilities.

Asley, however, could not see that, and was only able to react with blank surprise.

“…Uh, o-okay?”

And now, it was only a short time until the most intense battle in history…

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