The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

[“…! Chappie! It’s time to go! Instructor’s arcane energy signal has already left this location!”]

[“Yeah, hurry up and bail!”]

It was the night when Asley, Pochi, Lylia, Blazer, Bruce, and Betty infiltrated Regalia Castle. Chappie halted Gaspard, who was by this point Lucifer, with a massive Zenith Breath attack.

Seeing this while staying hidden with Perfect Invisibility, Asley clenched his teeth, silently praying for Chappie’s safety.

Then, he realized that Bright had not come here unprepared.

It was the fact that Asley was calm — and not engaging in the battle here — that allowed him to notice this first.

[What in the world–!? Why!? H-hey, wait a second! Is that what happened back then!? But this is bad — they might get killed if this goes on!!]

Asley dispelled his Perfect Invisibility and began drawing a Circle.

[“Ugh, took you long enough!”]

[“Now’s our chance!”]

“What in the…?”

Countless pebbles rained down on Gaspard’s back.

“Hmm!?”

[Sorry for all the mess — we were here just to scout ahead, you see.]

[Bye now!]

“Farewell, villain!”

Even after their charge ended, Gaspard continued to be pelted by stones of uniform force.

It was Asley’s magic — Stone Bullet.

Simple disorientation, aimed to momentarily deceive the perception of Gaspard, who had not yet transformed into a Devil. For this end, an intermediate-level earth magic spell was enough.

“…They got away. What just happened? I smell some residual arcane energy… Could it be…”

Having cast magic from the shadows of Regalia Castle, Asley invoked Perfect Invisibility again and pursued Chappie.

When he caught up with the group on a remote mountain, Chappie showed surprise.

“I didn’t think we’d get out of that unscathed… I was prepared to get hurt at least a little bit, you know.”

[“I see…! I understand now… Though, I never thought it would be today… Today…!”]

Bright’s voice was almost lost, yet filled with joy.

This puzzled Ferris and Chappie.

“Bright, what are you talking about?”

[“Bright? You okay…?”]

Bright did not respond to their questions.

Instead, he addressed someone else.

[“Instructor…!”]

“…!?”

Bright had realized before anyone else that Asley was present in this place.

And it was Asley who first replied to his voice, finally speaking up.

“It’s been a while, Bright, Ferris… Chappie.”

Immediately, Chappie froze.

It was as if the entire being of Chappie had halted in time, frozen in place.

Gradually, Chappie trembled, and trembled, and trembled, and then… he wept.

“Ohh… Ohh…! OOOHHHHHH!!”

Only pure, inexpressible emotion leaked from Chappie’s mouth.

Unstoppable tremors. Unstoppable tears. Unstoppable emotions. Asley felt the same.

But Asley was Chappie’s father. Trembling with emotion himself, but knowing that Chappie was unsure what to do — or what he should even do, he had no choice but to act.

Step by step, Asley approached Chappie.

Chappie’s feet remained still. The magnitude of his emotions rendered him immobile.

Only his wings extended as if reaching out to grasp the sky, like a child reaching for something desired.

When Asley touched his wings, Chappie reached the limit of his emotions.

“Ohhhhh! F…Father! Father! Father! How many times have I dreamed of this day!! Ahh! Ahh! Father’s hands! Father’s hands I’ve dreamt of seeing so much! They’re right here! I missed you! I missed you! I missed you so much! Ahh…! I-I… I’m doing well! Are you doing well, Father!?”

“…Yeah.”

“I have so much to tell you! Father! There’s so much I want to tell you!!”

“Yeah.”

“But! But it’s strange! Nothing’s coming out!! Even though I thought so hard! I can’t remember anything!! Just being here!! Just being in your arms!! It’s so… It’s so…!”

“Yeah!”

Asley held Chappie tightly, responding strongly.

Showing both the dignity and the kindness of a father, he embraced Chappie in a way he had not been able to before, for seconds, for tens of seconds, for minutes, for tens of minutes.

Both wept, both rejoiced, and both supported each other.

Their silver key pendant was enveloped in their embrace.

As Asley held Chappie, as he held Bright and Ferris, he spoke to the crystallized silver key pendant.

“Bright, Ferris… You two really did great.”

[“”…!””]

Asley’s words to them ended there.

Their responses were merely silent voices.

Yet Asley understood. Bright and Ferris understood.

Everyone here had traveled through difficult times.

Everyone here was a beloved companion.

They were teachers, students, family, friends.

That alone was enough. That was all that mattered.

“Let’s go — all of us! To save Pochi! Save everyone!”

[“”Yes, sir!””]

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“But you know, this quite surprising…” Asley remarked, sensing the surrounding arcane energy.

[“We’re grateful for your help, Instructor.”] Bright said.

“Hey, you guys helped me out a lot, too,” Asley responded, showing gratitude for the assistance he had received in this era.

“Well, how did we do, Father!? We were amazing, weren’t we!?”

“Y-yeah! Of course you were!”

“It… it feels so unreal! I’m finally reunited with Father!”

[“Okay, stop it already, Chicken! If you cry about every single thing, you’re gonna die of dehydration!”] Ferris pointed out, but Chappie was not about to stop now.

“B-but, I mean… it’s HIM, you know!? He’s right here!! Oh, wait, Bright!? What should I do now!?”

[“Haha…”]

Bright, the ancient Black Emperor, chuckled dryly in response.

“Rise, Storeroom!”

From within the void emerged Gaston, the Great Mage of Flame.

“Well, well, what do we have here… Now this is getting interesting, young man!”

“You! You’re calling my father ‘young man’!? Who do you think you are!? W-wait… are you… Grandfather!?”

[“Hahaha…”]

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

“One more person needs help.”

“Oh? Even in this era, where it seems like everyone is already on your side, there’s still someone?”

[“That would be… Miss Minerva, yes?”]

“That’s right, Bright. You know her?”

Bright’s observation was sharp and accurate.

Hearing the unfamiliar name, Gaston turned to Asley inquisitively.

“Who is this person you’re talking about?”

“She’s a talented mage who lives to the north. She taught magic to Barun, Idéa, and Midors — and she was going to start attending my makeshift magic classroom herself. However, after a certain point, her behavior became noticeably strange…”

“A certain point… when exactly?”

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

~~ Twenty-First Day of the Seventh Month, Ninety-Sixth Year of the War Demon Calendar ~~

On this day, the capital city of T’oued, Eddo, would be attacked by Billy and Cleath.

Asley and his companions found themselves in a small artificial cave in Kamiyama, the sacred mountain of Eddo.

“What fearsome arcane energy…!”

[“It’s anything but ordinary, yes.”]

“Father! I’m scared!”

[“Uh… are we really going to fight someone who’s even stronger than THIS?”]

Gaston was startled by the arcane energy of the resurrected Devil King. Bright was afraid but calm, Chappie was afraid and NOT calm, and Ferris, doing her best to endure the pressure, talked to Asley.

“Yeah… Exciting, right?”

“”!?””

Asley replied, leaving Gaston, Chappie, and Ferris speechless.

However, Bright had a different response.

[“Instructor, is it possible to simply defeat the Devil King Lucifer here, while he’s not at full power?”]

Asley shook his head.

“That… that won’t work.”

[“Why not?”]

“We’re not ready yet.”

[“So it’s not all about your strength… And something else is needed?”]

“Yeah. I still don’t know what that is. But when the time is right… I’m sure I’ll find out.”

[“……Well, that is just about as specific as you can get, I suppose. All right — whatever you need, I’ll help you out, Instructor.”]

With that, Bright fell silent, and Asley turned his attention to Chappie.

“Listen, Chappie…”

“Anything you need, Father!”

“You’re the only one who can move freely in this era. So, please, help everyone.”

“Leave it to me!”

Chappie responded, placing a wing over his chest.

[“But remember, we must not add to the fighting force. Move strategically, and strike with the strongest blow in the briefest moment of opportunity.”]

“In other words… the hero of justice mustn’t stay the whole time!”

[“…! They’re starting!”]

At that moment, everyone present sensed Billy and Cleath’s arcane energy.

Chappie and Asley exchanged a glance, affirming their understanding.

As Chappie flew off, Asley watched him depart with a worried expression.

Gaston casually patted Asley’s shoulder.

“We’ve got our own tasks to handle, don’t we?”

“Yes, sir.”

“But… never thought you’d be getting involved in human trafficking at this age.”

“It’s all right, sir — I was already one foot in the door when I was in school.”

“Truly troublesome friends you’ve got.”

“I couldn’t agree more, sir.”

“All right, let’s get to work, young man… Hehehe.”