The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

Chapter 426: Out of Place

~~ Silver Mansion, Ten O’clock in the Afternoon, Tenth Day of the Eighth Month, Ninety-Sixth Year of the War Demon Calendar ~~

After waking up and taking a bath, then receiving an odd look from Bruce, I made my way to the mansion’s hall. I hadn’t expected this much time to have passed.

While smaller than the meeting venue of the magic classroom, this hall could comfortably accommodate dozens, if not close to a hundred people, conversing without any issue. There, I found Ideá and Midors, as well as Reyna, lying around on the floor. They’re not unconscious — in fact, they’re wide awake, but somehow, they seem quite mentally drained.

“…What are you all doing?”

I asked, drawing the attention of Ideá and Midors.

Then Reyna looked at me, her cheeks slightly puffed, with a gaze that could only be described as resentful.

“Did… Did I do something wrong?”

With no memory of the past few days, this is the only question I could pose.

“What the hell, man… How’d you even do THAT…?”

Midors uttered the first response. 

Now, what could ‘that’ possibly mean? I have absolutely no idea.

“We couldn’t even do the FIRST PART of it, you know…”

Ideá narrowed her eyes as she looked at me.

“I. AM. SO. TIRED…”

Reyna is… well, what she just said. I realized their arcane energy was almost drained — No wonder they seem mentally exhausted. 

Without enough arcane energy to support one’s daily life, even the recovery of physical stamina would be impossible. 

Why weren’t they using Giving Magic — is the first thought that crossed my mind, but even Reyna, almost like the embodiment of by-the-book methods, is lying here. It must mean that she DID use it, but even that could not help her.

“Rise, Giving Magic: Count 3 & Remote Control.”

Placing the Giving Magic on a Magic Table, I then directed it beneath the three of them.

All the while, they all had their eyes on me — Or rather, not ME exactly, but my hands…?

“…Well, with how fast you draw stuff, it makes sense that you could pull it off, I guess…”

“I could only follow partway, honestly…”

“I had no clue what even was going on from the start…”

I see, what they were observing was the speed of my Circle drawing.

But why do that now? Why would they need to examine my speed?

They must have seen me drawing Circles countless times before.

Well, it makes sense to me for Ideá and Midors to end up like this due to their training, but Reyna… I have no clue why she’s here. Why these three? They might all be in Team Silver, but they’re not exactly close acquaintances or anything.

…Hmm? Circle drawing? Magic? …Oh, MAGES. Yeah, that’s what they have in common.

But then again… Natsu, a fellow Tea Silver mage, isn’t here. I sense that she’s at the magic classroom venue, which is a fair bit of distance from here.

“Uh, so, what happened to you guys?”

“There was a… selection process.”

Ideá answered my question, but no further explanation followed.

“Huh. Selection for what?”

“For your magic, man.”

Midors’ words only made me more confused.

My magic? That’s why the mages are all so exhausted? What kind of selection process was it, and why was it so draining?

“Then Natsu’s also…?”

“You see, we gathered mages from Eddo and held a selection process for your magic, Sir Asley. Natsu seems to have a good affinity, and she’s still trying his best… Zzz…”

Wow, Reyna just fell asleep in the middle of her sentence.

Looks like she’s feeling comfortable now, so that’s well and good… Oh, now Ideá and Midors dozed off too. Now I’m even more curious.

Since it’s not feasible for me to wake up those who have fallen asleep from exhaustion, I covered them with blankets and gently closed the sliding doors.

Then, I felt a small thump on my back.

“Oh, Haruhana. Did you change your perfume again?”

A faint scent of roses tickled my nostrils.

And this gentle sensation against my back feels… familiar. I’ve been getting it quite frequently these days, in fact.

“Yes, I have. I see you have finally awoken, Sir Asley.”

Haruhana has been… remarkably assertive lately.

She just tapped her forehead against my back a moment ago. It’s like… a scene the Haruhana fan club wouldn’t expect to see her act out at all.

She kind of reminds me of hundreds of years ago… Ah, yes, she reminds me of Pochi when she first started getting attached to me.

Ah, looking back, Pochi was so adorable before drinking the Drop of Eternity. Barking excitedly, tearing up my research materials, spilling ink, causing trouble… Wait, was that all she did? Generally being a nuisance?

“Sir Asley?”

“Oh, no, it’s nothing… Wait, Bruce said you were on your way back here last night — You still haven’t changed out of your combat gear?”

Whenever Haruhana returns to the mansion, she would usually change her clothes. This is a common practice among warriors and mages, actually, but right now, she’s in her combat-ready attire. She’s even carrying her katana.

“No, I have not. I must head out again soon, you see.”

“Huh? Really?”

So she just returned barely an hour ago, and she’s already leaving again? What’s going on?

“Yes. I have the duty to guard the magic classroom.”

“This late?”

“That is what all warriors of Eddo are doing.”

…The magic classroom again. So, they’ve gathered mages all over the Nation of Eddo for a ‘selection,’ and all the warriors to guard the venue?

What in the world is happening at the magic classroom right now?

As I pondered, Haruhana stared at me as if she were peering through the lenses of my eyes.

“…Uh, Haruhana? Mind giving me some personal space here?”

She seemed… unfazed by my words.

“Sir Asley, could it be that you do not recall the past few days?”

Well, I guess this has happened a few times in the past, whenever I was obsessed with my research. Haruhana is quite sensitive to such things, too — it’s reasonable for her to notice.

“Yeah, I guess I don’t.”

“Oh dear…”

Haruhana placed her index finger against her chin and began contemplating something… with a groan resembling a kitten’s meowing.

“What’s the matter?”

In response to my question, Haruhana quickly answered,

“Well then, Sir Asley, perhaps we should head to the magic classroom together.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’ve been curious this whole time.”

“Sir Bruce and Pochi are waiting at the entrance. Come, let us be on our way♪”

Her voice filled with excitement, Haruhana gently grasped my right hand with both of hers.

Her touch is… gentle and warm, oddly ticklish even though she’s in fact GRIPPING me. I sensed a subtle change within my body.

Could it be that this little touch has triggered an actual EMOTION within me? Man, Haruhana really has grown.

I can’t help but think that her beauty itself is radiating arcane energy.

But then… the entrance… I have a feeling that something is out of place…?

“Ah, Master! Are you coming with us as well!?”

“Why do you look so happy?”

“Why would I not be!? Haruhana led you by the hand right to me — you, and YOUR WALLET!”

Damn it, so the main attraction is my wallet, huh?

Well, I HAVE been entrusted by Warren and Irene to take extra care of Pochi in this trying time, so I guess I don’t mind letting her enjoy herself a bit.

…Also, this extraordinary concern for someone else’s Familiar is probably a carry-over from the previous Devil King’s era. Pochi is undoubtedly one of our strongest combatants — that’s why her condition must always be perfect. It’s only natural for the Resistance to emphasize that.

But I also must say that my wallet is not boundless. Seriously. Like, seriously.

Maybe I should consult Warren about this next time?

“Ready to go yet, guys? We don’t have all night!”

The three of us responded to Bruce,

“Yeah!”

“I am!”

“Hehehe… yes, of course♪!”

Now then, what in the world is happening at the magic classroom?

The exhaustion of the three mages and the gradually diminishing arcane energy felt within the classroom… they’re all perplexing.

Then there’s the mobilizing of warriors in the dead of night — really, everything feels out of place.

I found myself gazing in the direction of the magic classroom — located in the southern district of Eddo. But for some reason, I started walking in the direction of the commercial district.

“…Wait, hey! Why are we going this way?! The magic classroom is THAT way!”

“The hell are you talkin’ about, man? We’re getting dinner!”

“Why else would I want you here, Master!?”

“When we get around to the magic classroom, we simply can use the Teleportation spell, yes?”

Haruhana’s reminder made me realize the ‘out of place’ feeling I got when we here heading toward the mansion’s entrance.

Damn, I overlooked that!