The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

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Warren, Irene, and Kaoru, a Priestess of T’oued, began their secret conversation after fitting earplugs onto Asley and Pochi.

Out of the corner of Warren’s eye, he saw Pochi shouting, “Master, can you hear me? Testing, one, two!” at Asley, whose only reaction to her was a sigh.

“So, what’s this hush-hush talk about? You even brought out the props,” Kaoru questioned, eyeing Warren suspiciously.

“Lady Kaoru, Miss Irene… I believe Lucifer himself will be attending this audience.”

“”…?””

Their eyes widened at Warren’s revelation, though they did their best to mask their shock, not wanting Asley to catch on.

[He’s quite the clever boy… Choosing Eddo’s temple over the Resistance hideout, where anyone might be eavesdropping, was a wise move. After all, I’m the one who summoned these two here. It’s clear he cleared the area of people, and those earplugs… Yes, Warren, the Black Emperor of the War Demon Empire, is not one to be underestimated…]

When Warren dodged Kaoru’s piercing gaze with a smile, she proceeded to ask,

“Do you have proof?”

“Of course. Lucifer’s objective is revenge against Asley. After coming this far, he won’t miss the chance. However, Cleath’s forces alone won’t be enough to pull it off. And I doubt they’ll settle it here. So Lucifer has only one option – to stall Asley.”

“Stall him, how?” Irene asked, leaning in.

“Just as Asley is our trump card, Lucifer is theirs, Miss Irene,” Warren replied, his smile widening.

Irene frowned at his expression.

“You always grin like that when you’re up to something. What are you getting at?”

“Let me put it differently: When we’re up against Lucifer, who would we send to the battlefield?”

“Asley, obviously. It would be foolish to send everyone; they’d just slow him down. Maybe Tūs and Pochi could join, I guess…”

“Exactly. Now, if the enemy is up against Asley, who would they send?”

Warren’s eyes gleamed as he posed the question, making Kaoru’s eyes sparkle with realization.

“Hah! You’re an amusing one. So, that’s what it is, huh?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“I get it now. With Asley’s current power, only Lucifer can stand against him.”

Irene, arms crossed, cast a quick glance at Asley.

“So, only the top brass on both sides can stop each other. It has to be Lucifer,” Warren confidently asserted.

Kaoru’s expression turned serious.

“…Are you telling me… that Lucifer will appear before me?”

“That’s correct.”

“Your adviser here sure makes outrageous claims,” Kaoru grumbled, her sharp gaze now locked onto Irene.

“Oh, um, it’s an honor to receive your praise…” Irene muttered, nudging Warren with her elbow, hoping Kaoru wouldn’t notice.

Warren dodged her jab with a twist of his body.

“Lady Kaoru, I’m hoping you’ll risk your life for Asley.”

“…You sly devil.”

“I’d take on that role myself if I could, but alas, I cannot.”

“You would risk your life for that boy too?”

Kaoru’s taunt wiped the smile off Warren’s face, and he accepted her words head-on.

Even Irene found herself surprised by Warren’s shift in demeanor, and Kaoru’s eyes softened just a fraction.

“He’s a precious junior and my closest friend. If it were possible, I’d want to send him far away, to the ends of this world… But if I can’t do that, then yes, I wish I could take his place. But that’s not how reality works. So, I’ve decided that the best I can do is stake my life on protecting his.”

Warren’s words revealed, perhaps for the first time, the core of his being.

Irene, who had spent years by his side, pressed her lips together in silence.

“A friend for life… is that it?”

“I’d like to say so, but it seems I have too many rivals to claim that spot for myself,” Warren replied with a rueful smile, which Kaoru returned.

“I never imagined you saw Asley in that light.”

“Really? I thought I was being quite open about it around you, Miss Irene.”

“You know why you’re called the Black Emperor — You’re impossible to read!”

“Hehehe… Perhaps. Who can say for sure?”

“All right, fine.”

Kaoru’s sudden response took them by surprise.

“Oh?”

“I said fine. I’ll lend a hand for Asley’s sake.”

“That’s wonderful news.”

“So, what exactly do you need me to do?”

“Let’s just say… be a distraction.”

“That doesn’t sound right. If Lucifer’s the one stalling, shouldn’t I just play along?”

“If I were Lucifer…”

“That’s not a very helpful hypothetical,” Irene jabbed, causing Warren to slump his shoulders.

“Now, now, Miss Irene. Ahem… If I were Lucifer, I’d find it suspicious if things went too smoothly. The Lucifer of the past might have been different, but the Devil King, as he currently is, knows well that overconfidence is his enemy, thanks to Asley and the other Holy Warriors. He’d be wary if we simply played along with his stalling tactic. So, what would he do if he realized we were also stalling?”

“He’d quickly move to thwart our plans, given the many options at his disposal.”

“Precisely. As expected of the priestess of T’oued. Your insight is impressive.”

“Flattery won’t get you any candy,” Kaoru snorted, eyeing Warren with a pointed look.

“We mustn’t let him think we’re willing to play his game.”

“Ah, that explains the earplugs,” Kaoru remarked, glancing at the plugs in Asley’s and Pochi’s ears.

“Those two would give us away with their reactions, wouldn’t they? Honestly, they grow in power, but not much else. Is this what they call muscle-headed?” Irene sighed in exasperation, prompting Warren to stifle a laugh.

“So, why did you tell me all this? Or should I say, is this part of your stalling tactic?”

“Indeed. I’ve come here with a request for you, Lady Kaoru.”

“Well, I’m in too deep to back out now,” Kaoru said, turning her gaze back to Irene. Irene, with a twitching face, bowed her head to Kaoru. “Go on, then. The Shogun has left most decisions to me. I assume you’re counting on my judgment, since you wouldn’t have come otherwise.”

“Your quick understanding is much appreciated.”

Irene and Kaoru proceeded to listen intently to Warren’s words…

And then shock settled in at the reason for the delay.

“……Evacuating the residents of Regalia, the Imperial Capital?”

“You sure come up with some outrageous plans.”

“Outrageous? No, I’m simply doing what I believe is best,” Warren replied, smiling as if pleased with himself.

Finally, Kaoru and Irene exchanged looks and broke into reluctant smiles.

“Master, Master! I’m bored, so let’s have a staring contest!” Pochi’s sudden outburst crashed into the conversation among the three.

They initially panicked, thinking their discussion had been overheard, but Asley’s absent-minded response reassured them it was just a false alarm.

“Pffft! I’m not blinking!” Pochi declared, her eyes wide and focused.

“She’s got quite the expressive face, doesn’t she?” Kaoru commented, amused.

“Her face is turning all red,” Irene noted.

“Well, Pochi always takes things seriously,” Warren added.

“Hahaha! Master, you look so funny! Hahaha!” Pochi burst out laughing, pointing a paw at Asley.

The three of them turned to Asley, whose face was, as usual, lost in thought.

“Hmm, sounds about right,” Warren said.

“He does have a pitiful look, doesn’t he?” Kaoru agreed.

“He doesn’t exactly have the look you’d expect from ‘the hope of humanity’…” Irene remarked.

All three proceeded to glance at one another.

Then, in unison, they laughed.

That scene was also reflected in Asley’s eyes.

[God damn, they look like they’re the top three villains of the world…]

The trio continued their conversation, oblivious to his thoughts.

“Lucifer’s goal is personal revenge against Asley,” Warren said. “World domination is just a side benefit.”

“Quite the statement,” Kaoru observed.

“It’s fitting for the Devil King, isn’t it? World domination as a side quest…” Irene mused.

“But that fact only makes me even prouder of my friend,” Warren added.

“True. If Lucifer sees Asley as more important than the world itself, then it’s quite the compliment.”

“Now that you mention it… that does make sense. But still, we’re talking about Asley” Irene said, sounding doubtful.

“What’s that, Lady Irene? Is the man you’ve fallen for that unimpressive?” Kaoru teased.

“WHAT!?”

Irene’s face flushed bright red in an instant.

Even Warren couldn’t help but wince at Kaoru’s words.

“Lady Kaoru, please! That’s taking it too far!” Irene protested, flustered.

“He’s the man who’s saved the world twice. Of course he’d be more valuable than the world itself.”

“Ngh…!”

Irene scratched at her neck, trying to maintain her composure.

Kaoru, unfazed, steered the conversation back on track.

“Warren’s theory makes sense. That means the battlefield will be here… The temple’s destruction is inevitable.”

“My condolences,” Warren said solemnly. “This temple, with its long history, is a poor choice for a battleground. But I believe this is the perfect place for the people of Eddo to witness the true threat of the Devil King.”

“Seeing Asley and Lucifer fight will show them that humans can stand against the Devil King…” Kaoru said. “But it’s a double-edged sword.”

“They only need to see it from afar. Fortunately, we’re far from the residential areas, and since Lucifer’s aim is to make Asley suffer, his survival is highly likely,” Warren explained.

“So all that matters is that Asley survives,” Irene concluded, finally grasping Warren’s point.

Warren nodded in agreement, while Kaoru sighed, scratching the back of the head with a thumb in exasperation.

“I’ll need to hurry and move Jun’ko somewhere else.”

“When the battle begins, Lady Kaoru, please ride Pochi and escape the combat zone,” Warren instructed.

“Yeah, you don’t even have to tell me that. But still… this puts a lot of strain on Asley,” Kaoru said, eyes clouded with sorrow.

Irene’s expression mirrored that sadness.

Warren closed his eyes, clenched his fists tightly, then spoke in a low voice,

“Don’t take this as the words of an adviser. This is just me, speaking personally.”

Kaoru and Irene remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

“I decided long ago that I would follow Asley, even to the grave.”

For the first time, Warren’s face was stripped of its usual carefree and dubious smile, replaced by a shy, genuine expression – Warren’s true smile.

Kaoru and Irene widened their eyes in surprise.

“Well, well… seems even men aren’t safe from Asley’s charms,” Kaoru remarked.

“Haha, I assure you, I have no such inclinations.”

“Gah… As the leader of the Resistance, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“I’d appreciate that, Miss Irene♪” Warren replied with a sly grin, the mischievous smile returning as he continued.

He was now back in his role as the Black Emperor, adviser of the War Demon Empire’s Resistance.

“Lady Kaoru, we must rely on you.”

Warren bowed deeply, and Irene followed, saying,

“The future of both our nations and the world, we entrust them to you.”

Kaoru closed her eyes, reflecting on their conversation as she accepted their words.

“Understood. I’ll ask the same of you – protect the world!”

This was the content of the secret conversation the three had while Asley and Pochi wore their earplugs.

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