The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

attack me when I’m not resisting?”

 

One word after another served to make Asley feel as if he was being beaten again.
And so, Asley raised one hand and said,

 

“…Sorry.”

“Hmph.
As long as we’re on the same page.”

 

That very moment, Irene’s face cracked into quite a happy smile.

Now in a good mood, Irene put her hands on her hips and walked away… not toward Lina and the rest of the spectators.

Then she stopped for a moment and turned back around.

 

“And remember, you just got told about your weakness just now.”

 

As she turned her back on Asley, Irene’s words were tinged with a slight sense of unease, as if she was worried about Asley.

 

“I’ll keep that in mind…”

“…No, you’ll definitely forget about it.”

 

Irene grumbled that last part to herself, and Asley did not hear her.

She proceeded to move to a spot away from Lina.
Trace followed her there.

Pochi, seeing that, pointed her paws in their direction and asked,

 

“Why are they going the other way?”

 

Warren pushed up his glasses and answered,

 

“Hehehe… They’re declaring themselves the winners by setting themselves apart from the others, if I were to guess.
Oh, Miss Irene, so adorably petty…”

 

Warren’s creepy grin caused Pochi to shiver.

 

“B-b-b-by the way! The thing you just said about two reasons — W-what’s the other one!?”

 

Wanting him to stop smiling, Pochi tried going off on a tangent.

Briefly, Warren stopped all movement.

 

“That is… quite simple, Pochi.”

 

Then he took a step forward.

The challengers’ fight against Asley was still going on — With Warren as the last remaining participant.

 

“Our end goal is to overthrow the Nation, but we must also keep in mind who is most publicly acting against us.”

“Ah, huh… That would be Ishtar, yes?”

“Correct.
Since Asley is unable to fight all-out against women, Miss Irene had decided to point that out to him… by exploiting it in a real fight.
Being this obvious, even someone like you should get the message, yes?”

 

Warren smiled, turned to his side, and started walking.

 

“W-wait, so…!”

“It IS a serious issue that needs fixing.
After all, Asley fighting against Ishtar is pretty much an inevitability at this point.
He will have the rest of us assisting him, of course, but still…”

 

As Warren talked, he stood in front of Asley.
Obviously, this meant Asley also heard everything.
Irene’s worries, Warren’s exposition, and Pochi’s shock.

 

“Ah… I see…”

 

Asley cast his eyes down.
Seeing that, Warren continued,

 

“So, how was it? What you’ve seen of us so far — see, I know you’ve gained many things in antiquity, Asley, but surely you also got to learn other things by experience today, yes?”

“…Yes.”

“Due to having access to Limit Breakthrough, combat of the past era must have put a lot more emphasis on physical strength and arcane energy.
Not saying that the same applies to you, of course — but in the current era, to prepare for fighting stronger enemies, we can only improve our skills.
And today, you must have gotten to experience various fighting techniques from fighting everyone.”

“Using the best of what I currently have to close the gap between me and a stronger enemy… Right, if I’d learned to fight like that before getting sent to the past, maybe I would’ve had an easier time there.”

 

Warren chuckled.

 

“At the end of the day, you did get out of that hell alive.
That is a wonderful thing, Asley.”

“You have a… scary look in your eyes.”

“Oh? I’m trying to make a nice-looking smile, though?”

“Make… right, you are — you’re just making up emotions as you go along.”

“Now then, I’m the final challenger… How exciting.
I wonder how I should approach this fight.”

 

Asley kept his guard up, carefully observing Warren’s every action as the latter walked around him.

 

“Hehehe… Now, I’ll start getting embarrassed if you keep staring.”

“Well, I can’t tell what you’re planning to do.
Also…”

“What is it?”

“About what you said earlier… is that true?”

 

Warren had not clarified his answer so far.

He turned to look at Irene for a moment, then put on a serious face and looked back at Asley.

 

“Well, yes, Ishtar of the Black is a woman.
Quite an ill-natured lady, too, I might add.”

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