The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

erything’s spinnin’ ’round and ’round…”

 

My Familiar collapsed in front of me.

This doggo… could it be that she’s actually the strongest Familiar in this era?

 

　◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

 

“Hahahaha, you totally outdid yourself, young Shiro! To think that even I couldn’t follow your every move!”

 

“Ah-ha! I was barely getting used to harnessing that much power myself, sir!”

 

“That was amazing, Shiro! How did you become so strong…?!”

 

“Well, you see, Master Bright… it’s a secret! HAHAHAHAHA!”

 

After the semi-final rounds, the finalists were given a two-hour break time.

During this time, the usual people came to visit us in the waiting room.

 

“So, do you think you can win against Lady Lylia, hmm?”

 

“…Do you think I can, Master?”

 

Pochi asked me, tilting her head.

What, is she gonna not have confidence if I don’t say it?

 

“If you can achieve that much speed and power again… you might win, I guess.”

 

“That means she must go all out on the very first move, yes?”

 

“That is right, Master Bright.”

 

I’m not so sure if she’ll have the time to pull everything off, though, being up against Seki’teigyu and all.

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Seki’teigyu winning by herself against that Ox does sound a bit too much…

 

“What’s going on, Master?”

 

Pochi tilted her sunglasses down to reveal her eyes, then scratched her paw on my knees as she looked at me.

 

“What, you’re gonna keep those sunglasses on for the final round?”

 

“No, of course not.
You’ll have to keep them safe for me, Master.”

 

Ugh, I don’t wanna…

 

“By the way, everyone, it seems that you all got to meet with His Majesty – how did that go? How does it feel to be face-to-face with the Nation’s ruler?”

 

“Hmm, it was quite a bit stressing, I must say.”

 

Huh, so even Ferris got intimidated by the aura of authority?

I guess that’s normal – considering the things she must have heard and been told up to this point, meeting the real deal for the first time is bound to be nerve-wracking.

 

“And how did it go for you, Master Bright?”

 

“He was quite amazing! I felt compelled to bow without so much as a prompt, but doing so felt refreshing – that was how charismatic he is.”

 

The same thing for him, huh.

And to think he might take on a different attitude as he grows older… the flow of time sure is cruel.

Anyway, considering how highly Bright thinks of the Emperor now, it seems like Leon has a very high hurdle to overcome.

 

“Ooh?”

 

“Oh, no, as long as you grow up nice and strong, everything’s all good~~!”

 

“Huh? Did you say something, Instructor?”

 

“No, I didn’t-“

 

I hurriedly denied the question, and at the same time, someone opened the door.

Hmm, were we expecting anyone else’s visit?

In an attempt to dodge Bright’s question, I looked over to the other side of the room, and to my surprise… and everyone else’s, a certain person was indeed approaching us.

 

“Y-Your Majesty…!”

 

Polco’s voice was hoarse – now that’s a tone I don’t hear him take often.

Both he and June stood up the moment they turned around.

Bright and Ferris, once they realized what was going on, promptly knelt down.

Pochi hid behind my legs, as if to shelter herself from the rain… does she think she’s Bright or what?

 

“We’d never expected your visit here and now…”

 

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“If only we’d known, we would have gone to your escort…”

 

Polco bowed and kept his head low as he spoke.
June then followed suit.

Prince Zaths doesn’t seem to have come along, though, so why has the Empress come to a place like this?

Ah, I don’t like the look she’s making at all.

Could it be that she didn’t know that the Adams and Fulbright households’ main members were here?

No, that can’t be – I’m participating as a servant representing both houses… but wait, maybe the Empress wasn’t involved enough to know that?

 

“I am simply visiting the finalist Mage whose Familiar has provided an excellent display in their semi-final round… is that out of the ordinary?”

 

Her voice was low, but also quite smooth – so smooth that it drowned out the hostility of her words.

But I definitely felt it.
The Empress’ words were full of unpleasant emotions.

Everyone else must have noticed that, too – not only Polco and June, but also Bright and Ferris.

She clearly doesn’t take kindly to the members of the two households.
Now, what should I do here? Maybe I’ll keep an eye on Polco and- huh?

 

“A-ah, you as well, Your Majesty? Hahahaha… we have just finished doing exactly that ourselves.
It seems that our lingering here will only be in the way, so I suppose we ought to excuse ourselves now.
Come, Lady June… and kids, you two should be back at your seats soon.
Well then, excuse us, Your Majesty.
Hahahaha….”

 

They just walked out and swung the door shut behind them…? Huh.

 

“They just ditched her, sir.”

 

“They totally did.”

 

Pochi and I whispered to each other, our voices dry.

 

“And look at you two, buzzing like little flies…”

 

She got real savage real fast, this woman.

 

“I am standing right before you, yet you do not kneel.
Never have I met someone, let alone two, who would dare to do such a thing.”

 

Whoops, totally forgot about that.

She doesn’t have that aura of authority about her, unlike the Holy Emperor.

 

“I do not necessarily dislike interacting with fools, mind you.”

 

And that’s another stake to the already irremovable Eternal Fool title in my list.

 

“My deepest apologies, Your Majesty.
If I had known that you were visiting, I would have made the suitable preparations… Is there anything currently lacking, if I may ask?”

 

“Too much excess dust.
Not enough light.
The air reeks of wild beasts.”

 

Oh, that last part is Pochi’s doing.

 

“It is most unsuitable for the breathing.
Resolve this issue immediately.”

 

Okay, one doesn’t even have to be like Tūs to think this:

Her Majesty is a pain in the ass.