The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

Chapter 443: The Invitation

“Everyone will have to be a one-man army — killing 50,000 monsters each… Actually, no, since only about half of our forces are powerful enough for that, each will have to take 100,000. An extraordinary number of digits indeed, even considering that we have the Heavenly Beasts with us.”

Warren said with his eyes downcast.

“A hundred million…”

Asley sat down on his mattress and rested his forehead in his hands.

Warren took a step forward, sat on his knees, and looked up at Asley.

“Our biggest issue is the timing at which you reach Lucifer.”

“Me?”

“You could use the Levitation spell to bypass most monsters and go straight to Lucifer. However, I know that you’re not the kind of person to simply leave everyone else behind.”

Warren continued his explanation, considering Asley’s personality as he laid out his procedure,

“Only your one-on-one fight with Lucifer can give us a chance to win. And for that, YOU must win. The longer you stay on the battlefield, the higher the chances of Lucifer coming to you.”

“So… that’s what you meant by ‘timing’?”

Warren nodded.

The key to this war was the timing at which Asley and Lucifer were in the same location. If Asley were to go to Lucifer too early, the rest of the Resistance would fall apart. On the other hand, if he was too late, Lucifer would come to the battlefield himself.

Such was what Warren had just explained to Asley.

“But we don’t know how Lucifer will actually do his thing, right…?”

“Well, if I were Lucifer, I would–“

“–Wow, another product of your crazy imagination, huh?”

“Miss Irene has also told me that earlier. I think this has a good chance of stopping Lucifer, though — Shouldn’t hurt to give it a listen, yes?”

“…All right. Let’s hear it, then.”

Asley agreed, albeit while sounding rather grumpy.

“If I were Lucifer, I would stick to the basics.”

“And what exactly does that involve?”

“It means, when you appear before me, I would beat the crap out of you–“

“…Was that ‘crap’ really necessary?”

“–And then I would hold you up with one hand and parade you around.”

Asley’s face twitched.

“And when I do, what would you see when you open your eyes?”

“I don’t like where this is going, Warren.”

“I was only making a logical observation of Lucifer’s personality. It is what it is. You would see Hell on the earth — Miss Irene has collapsed, Sir Bruce has lost an arm and is still fighting, Lina on Baladd’s back, both of them heavily injured, flying up to try and save you…”

“…!”

“In other words, Lucifer would do what he has always wanted to — to show you Hell. Killing you comes after that.”

“You… you really sound like the real Lucifer.”

“That only means the possibility of this being true is high. There are only three people in this world who have fought Lucifer before… And you, Asley, are the only one who has faced him at full power.”

As much as he disliked the sound of it, Asley had no choice but to agree with Warren’s conjecture.

Warren proceeded to take out a map from his check pocket and spread it out for Asley to see.

“On our left wing is Sir Barun and many others of the former Duodecad. On the right are Miss Viola and the Royal Capital’s Magic and Warrior Guardians. Hit-and-run units consist of Miss Lylia and the Heavenly Beasts. The back row of our center is mostly made up of University students. The middle is us, led by Master Tūs. And finally, the front has a mixture of Teams Silver and Silver General, Eddo Boars, and others. They, in particular, have a chance of being overwhelmed in no time at all.”

“…Bruce and the others aren’t that weak.”

“I would like to believe that, but numbers are numbers.”

Asley could not argue with Warren any further. He knew that now was not the time for arguments. They had to come up with the best plans they could.

“Rescuing Leon, the ancient Holy Emperor… That is what you thought you would do, isn’t it, Asley?”

“Well, yeah…”

“It seems actually doing that would be quite difficult.”

Asley clenched his fists.

Although Warren noticed that, he had no choice but to continue doing his job.

“If either Idïa, Billy, Leon, or Cleath were to engage you, Lucifer is sure to follow. Each of them is an essential war asset to Lucifer. There’s no way he’ll just let take away even one of them.”

“S-so, is it impossible, then!?”

“Actually, no. There is only one way of successfully rescuing Leon.”

Asley had already known that Warren would say that. And so he realized what that ‘only way’ he could potentially save everyone was.

“So it’s…”

“…Right after the beginning of the war, yes. I would like you to make the first big move, Asley.”

Asley closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

What Warren had just said was, without a doubt, true. Asley needed a few moments to accept that.

…But then, as if to put a stop to their scheming, arcane energy throughout the nation of T’oued was violently distorted.

“”…!?””

Asley and Warren, instantly understanding what it actually was, went outside.

Mages and warriors of Eddo also took notice, one after another.

A gigantic Spell Circle covered the city of Eddo, hovering in the sky, shining to signal its invocation.

“This is… a voice amplification spell!?”

“The size of it is ridiculous…! There’s only one individual I know who is capable of this… Him!”

Asley instantly identified the spell. Warren’s face was painted with impatience at the scale of its arcane energy.

[“Asley.”]

The first word out of it was directed not to a Nation or a race, but rather… to a specific individual.

“I knew it! Lucifer!”

There was no way Asley would not remember who that voice was.

“What a handful you are… As expected of a Devil. Heh.”

Warren openly expressed his disgust towards Lucifer’s personality.

[“The time… is tomorrow!”]

“”!?””

[“Come to Regalia tomorrow evening. If you do not show yourself, I will trample all over the world with all the might of the Devil King. Now, you have many friends — surely they will agree to help. Listen well, Asley’s comrades, supporters, and acquaintances — follow him. I shall send every last one of you to the underworld! Did you note that down, Asley? Do not forget. Tomorrow!”]

Lucifer called for his opponent as if giving out a mandatory order.

The voice amplification spell was then disengaged, and its arcane energy fizzled out.

“Well, then… that sure was a one-sided invitation.”

Warren, sweating profusely from his forehead, threw out a sarcastic comment at Lucifer’s words.

“…Right. But you know, if I were the Devil King, I would have laughed my head off at the end.”

And then Asley made an even more sarcastic remark.

For a moment, Warren was stunned, his eyes wide open. Then he laughed.

“Pfft… Hehehe. You sure are an individual full of potential, Asley.”

“Huh? Not you too, Warren — Sayaka also told me that earlier.”

“Sayaka…? Oh, you mean Miss Minerva’s apprentice?”

“Yes, that’s her. Speaking of Miss Minerva… she told me via a message that if I ‘find myself in trouble, remember what I have been doing…’ I wonder what’s that supposed to mean…”

“Well, I only said what I thought at the moment… If a fortune teller like Miss Sayaka also said that, though, perhaps it is a cause for worry…”

“Right… Still, tomorrow, huh…”

Asley scratched his hair and looked up at the sky.

Strangely, there was no sign of impatience on his face. Warren could only see that he was looking straight ahead with a goal in mind.

“Well, well, those eyes sure don’t look like the eyes of someone who might die tomorrow.”

“…I have no regrets.”

“So that’s why you did… THAT to Pochi?”

“You knew?”

Warren was surprised yet again — perhaps because Asley’s smile was as innocent and dazzling as a young boy’s. Warren promptly turned away and back, trying his best to keep speaking.

…But then, as Warren was about to step forward, three warriors appeared, blocking his path.

“Hey, Asley, did you hear that just now!? That was one hell of an invitation, man!”

Bruce the Silver Wolf…

“Invitation!? More like a love letter! Good God, I never knew the Devil King was so Goddamned gross!”

Betty the Silver Tiger…

“So? When will do start marching? Everyone’s been ready to go for a while now. Oh, by the way, check out this Drynium Steel sword! Well, maybe I should just cut something to test it out…”

And Blazer the Silver Lion.

“Whoa, guys…! Chill!”

Asley tried to get away from the three, and in the end, they started chasing him all over the place.

“All right! We’re finally gettin’ the action tomorrow! You know, I made a bet with Betty — see who stays alive longer! Hahahahahaha!”

“Well, I already know I’ll win, though! And if Asley dies, then everyone dies, so I’mma put all my savings into this!”

“Now, you two. Saying that here might stress Asley out, don’t you think?”

“C’mon, guys! The world’s on the line here — you could at least take things seriously! And I mean, why the hell are you chasing after me too, Blazer!?”

Alsey shouted as he kept running.

“I thought I’d test my new sword against your muscles. I mean, you’re probably strong enough to not get cut–“

“HELL NO!! And you already know it won’t cut me! I’m fighting Lucifer tomorrow, man!”

“Then try dying once! It’ll make things easier for you tomorrow!”

“Yeah, yeah! I got this dagger coated with some potent poison — maybe I should try it on you!”

The crazy voices of two pursuers echoed through Team Silver’s mansion. The other pursuer, Blazer, somehow sounding and looking dead serious, was the one that scared Asley the most. On the side, Warren looked up at the sky where the gigantic voice amplification Spell Circle had been moments ago.

“Heh, I’d prefer a more serious reaction out of everyone… But I suppose this is also a nice way to spend the night before our final battle.”

Warren sighed and then smiled.

Then, a few moments later, he participated in the chase… on the side of the pursuers.