The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

Chapter 400: Keeping Watch

“It’s been three days. Considering the length and the monsters you’d expect to encounter, they should almost reach the deepest room now.”

“Yeah… Man, I wanted to go into the Labyrinth too, y’know!”

Midors grumbled upon hearing my analysis.

He and I — as well as several others — are staying outside, keeping watch around the spot where we were ambushed by the Laughing Foxes last time.

“Don’t complain so much — everyone’s doing their best in there.”

“Well, I mean, sure, but y’know…”

With Reid reminding him, Midors had no choice but to agree.

Those who are outside include me, Midors, Reid, Ryan, and Adolf. Yup, sausage party.

It’s a reasonable lineup, though. Ryan is the one in command, and Midors is a mage who’s able to connect a Teleportation Spell Circle in this location to the one the other group would set up in the Labyrinth’s deepest room. And thinking in terms of raw power levels, it was natural to leave me here and send Pochi in there.

Guarding the entrance is also an important role, since it helps prevent intruders from ambushing the group inside. As some of us know from already having explored it once, there’s really not much open space inside the Labyrinth. That’s the reason we decided on diving into two groups — a decision we were able to make thanks to our current manpower.

At one point, Adolf walked over to me and cheerfully said, 

“Sir Asley! I’m ready!”

He’s the one I’ve interacted with the most over the past two days… And he came to me probably because he knew his level was the lowest, and that he was the least experienced combatant.

Indeed, I have been occasionally sparring with everyone, not just Adolf, to pass the time. The warriors got to keep themselves active, and doing this also helps undo the seal on my arcane energy.

Everyone has their own fighting style — Ryan is dexterous, Reid is on the rough side, Midors’ is a mix between a frontline fighter and a mage, and Adolf is still learning. All of them serve as references as I gradually optimize my movements.

I actually can feel my body’s strength distribution become more balanced and flexible. I do understand why Minerva said that I’m more suited to be a warrior, but at the end of the day, I absolutely can’t just go into the fight against Lucifer without my arcane arts.

…Hmm? I sense something…

“Sorry, Adolf, the sparring will have to wait.”

“Huh?”

“Enemies?”

“Yes, Sir Ryan. Seven of them… all close to SS-ranked in power.”

“Oh-ho…”

Ryan rubbed his own chin — for what reason, I can’t really tell, but it probably doesn’t matter right now.

What’s important now is the monsters — we have to wipe them out. Because of how aggressive and empowered they have become, they will attack discriminately upon even detecting human scent. According to a Telepathic Call I’ve received from Warren, the situation has been getting tense everywhere.

The master of the Adventurers’ Guild, Scott, has sent his trusted adventurers to the Resistance’s hideout to perform Limit Breakthroughs. Those adventurers were then sent to be in charge of defending each town and village, apparently.

With that, following earlier reports similar to Eigul’s about villages being destroyed, it seems that further collateral damage can be kept within a certain limit.

Beilanea, a place I feel particularly feel attached to, seems to be safe, though I’ve been told that the Warrior and Magic Universities are currently closed down.

Dragan is putting together a group of willing Warrior University students and getting ready to head to T’oued, but Tangalán — the Magic University’s Headmaster and the one who filled in Irene’s spot among the Six Archmages — doesn’t seem to have taken any action yet.

Although Tifa has already joined the rest of us in Eddo, it would be greatly helpful to us if the rest of the Magic University’s mages were to assist our cause as well. When I told Warren and Irene that, though, they just said ‘the more we have them help us, the less powerful we will become’.

When I told Lina about that, she and Tifa went to Beilanea… Man, my students really are excellent. Lina has become quite a charismatic figure among the students of the Magic University, so her going there might actually garner us a great deal of support.

Then there’s the Regalia, the place I’m most curious about. Devil King Lucifer technically owns the castle now, so the city hasn’t suffered any monster attacks… which might sound obvious, but according to Warren, Charlie of the Royal Capital Warriors Guardians — the only person capable of leading the defense against such monster attacks — has already relocated to Eddo. He’s alone, though, which makes me wonder what the other members of the Duodecad, Egd, and the rest of the Warrior Guardians are up to.

Warren did say he would go over the whole thing when I get back, but I wouldn’t expect to get good news.

“…Whew.”

I let out a sigh after the monsters were dealt with, and Ryan was quick to respond to it,

“Did that tire you out?”

“Ah, no. I’m doing perfectly fine, actually. It’s just that I’m still not used to this yet…”

“Is that so? But even without access to arcane energy, your ability to detect presences is quite impressive. You also showcased that the other day, at that time…”

“…What time?”

“When you called the rest of us over to the classroom venue in Eddo, to plan this trip to the Labyrinth of No Return.”

“Huh? I don’t remember doing anything special, though…?”

Ryan chuckled, and Reid, as if to speak for Ryan, sat down in front of me.

“Here’s the thing — you noticed that we were arriving before Pochi did, right? You know, Pochi, who’s on about the same level as you, can use arcane energy, has a better sense of hearing, and is a Heavenly Beast? When we arrived, Pochi was so stunned that Chief and I had to ask her what was wrong… and that’s what she told us.”

“…Ah.”

“Hahaha! Even without arcane energy, your senses are as sharp as ever, Sir Asley. When and if you regain access to your arcane energy… perhaps humanity will see a new light of hope.”

“…Oh come on… why did Pochi not tell me a single thing about that?”

“Because she always knew that you could do it!”

Surprisingly, the one who gave me that immediate response to my grumbling was Adolf.

“I mean, she always knew, so she wouldn’t make a fuss whenever you actually do it, I think? It’s totally something she would say — like, ‘of course you can do that, Master’!”

After imitating Pochi’s voice, Adolf laughed at himself, then Ryan and Reid laughed as well.

“Exactly. It is a sign that she truly trusts you.”

Oh, really… If that’s the case, then why would she call me a fool so much that the associated title became unremovable?

As I groaned to myself, I noticed Midors in the corner of my eye, looking at me silently.

“Midors?”

I turned to him, but he remained silent.

So I proceeded to look at Ryan and the others, prompting Ryan to speak up on my behalf.

“Midors, is something the matter?”

Midors then replied — not to Ryan, but to me. Well, rather than reply, it was more like setting up a question.

“…Well, I gotta ask something since no one’s asking it. Bear with me here, Asley, ’cause you gotta say it in a way that I understand…”

“What is it?”

“What Sir Ryan just said — about humanity’s light of hope? I get that. You’re gonna become real powerful when you get your arcane energy back. I know, because I’m a mage as well. So I gotta ask you this…”

It took me just a few moments to come up with a guess as to what Midors was trying to say.

And sure enough, what Midors proceeded to ask was quiet yet heavy — and simple yet difficult.

“…Can we actually win?”

Everyone has wondered that, but none has dared to ask it until now.

“W-what the hell are you saying? It’s not about can or can’t — we HAVE TO win!”

“Reid, that isn’t what Midors is asking.”

Reid’s statement, which came off as him trying to put a lid on the issue, was interrupted by Ryan.

And indeed, Midors was not asking whether or not we have to win. It’s not about what we want, but rather whether or not we have enough power to achieve it.

Reid’s answer could be considered a valid one even to that question, yes, but it’s a muddled one at best.

And despite the similar wording, it’s different from what my old War Demon Emperor friend would say. It’s just not the kind of answer Midors is looking for.

“…If my Arcane Energy were to return, my chance of winning would be about ten percent… on a good day.”

Hearing my answer, Ryan closed his eyes, Reid opened his eyes wide, and Adolf cast his eyes down.

Midors, however, looked calmly at me and proceeded to ask another question.

“Why?”

…Now then, where should I even begin with my explanation?