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Translator: Barnnn
Shortly after, the hallway echoed with bustling footsteps.
“Ah, Bright’s here! I’m taking this seat!”
“Then I’ll sit next to Ferris!”
“”……””
Bright and Ferris found themselves surrounded by children.
Witnessing this, Asley chuckled, averting his gaze from them.
“Instructor… I’ll beat you up one of these days.”
“And I’ll help you beat him, Bright.”
Among the children, there was also Lala.
Sporting a sieve atop her head, Lala made a dramatic entrance, leaving afterimages with her agile movements.
“Fresh cucumbers! Here! Here! Here! Here! Here!”
With a perfect rhythm, Lala’s cucumbers were placed on everyone’s plates.
On the adults’ side, Tzar skillfully balanced two sieves on his two heads as he served the cucumbers.
“”Hmm, now… on to the next…””
After Asley got his cucumber from the sieve, Tzar twisted his body to the opposite side.
“Hey!? Why don’t I get any!?”
Seated next to Asley was Bruce.
“”Just as there is freedom to buy and sell, there is also freedom to give or not give, my boy Bruce.””
“Damn you little… I’ll make you into snake skewers someday…!”
“”Sir Asley, would you like an extra cucumber?””
“Sure, I’ll take it. Here, Bruce, you can have mine.”
The trade went smoothly, just as one would expect from a routine occurrence.
“Thanks as always, man. You know, since that guy’s got two heads, I’ll give you one skewer when I make it!”
“C’mon, you can’t threaten our Minister of Agriculture like that.”
Everyone chuckled at their banter.
Then, Haruhana sat next to Bruce, and Itsuki beside her, marking the start of their usual breakfast.
“All right, then… Leon, go ahead!”
Itsuki designated Leon, as customary, for their prayer to God.
“Thank you as always, Giorno. Please continue to watch over us…”
Everyone smiled as they prayed to Giorno, awaiting Leon’s words.
“We offer our gratitude to God for the food we eat.”
“”Thank you!!””
Their pre-meal prayers synchronized, echoing throughout the Silver Mansion.
Immediately after, a breeze swept past Asley.
“”Good morning! Thanks for the grub!! Refill please!!””
Pochi and Chappie arrived at the table at lightning speed.
It was a perfectly usual breakfast scene, devoid of any surprise.
“I keep telling you, serve yourself!”
“Yes, Father! Come on, Mother! Let’s go!”
“Master! Why didn’t you wake me up?!”
“Because you’re gonna be obnoxiously loud during prayer, that’s why.”
“That’s not true! I’m a lady who enjoys elegant and quiet breakfasts and afternoon teas!”
“I’ll go get another refill!”
“What!? Chappie! You can’t ask for seconds before your mother!”
“And ANOTHER refill!”
“I didn’t raise you to be like that!”
“To be fair, we’ve only been raising him for about a year.”
“Master! This is because you were not strict enough!”
“Annnddd yet ANOTHER refill!”
“HYAAAHHH! At this rate, I’ll starve to death because of Chappie!”
“There’s still plenty left. You’ll be fine.”
“Really!? I was worried because I thought I had to stock up today! Come on, Master! Gimme a refill!”
“No, go get it yourself!”
Such exchanges had become part of their daily routine.
While watching the two, everyone spent a lively breakfast laughing and enjoying themselves.
As usual, Chappie and Lylia’s eating contest began, with Lylia emerging as the victor.
Despite Pochi watching on, unworried about her seat as the champion, Lylia’s fighting spirit never waned.
Bright’s mouth was sealed shut by Ferris’ forceful spoon-feeding.
Seeing this, Haruhana swapped seats with Bruce and directed a spoon toward Asley.
Lina, Fuyu, Tifa, and the satiated Lylia rose in defiance against this, their disapproval clear.
Asley quickly finished his meal and fled to his room as the discontented women voiced their complaints, to which Bruce and Betty chuckled in response.
While everyone savored the after-meal time with coffee and tea, a visitor arrived at the Silver Mansion.
Sensing the presence, Lala opened the door and looked up at the visitor.
“Oh? I didn’t expect you to notice me coming. I was hoping to try saying something like, ‘Asley, let’s go out and play!’ you know?”
“Oh, Warren! Is it time already!?”
“Yes, please inform everyone that I have come to pick them up.”
Smiling, Warren relayed this to Lala before letting himself into the mansion.
“Hey guys, it’s time!”
Warren’s arrival to fetch Asley, Team Silver, Bright, and the others had a reason behind it.
Today was the eighth day of the ninth month, exactly one week since the defeat of Devil King Lucifer.
And this day marked Leon’s final day in T’oued.
Hence, everyone had been preparing for this day — preparing for their departure.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
In front of Eddo’s southern gate square, a massive crowd had gathered.
There were Irene and Gaston, along with Kaoru and Jun’ko. Naturally, Hornel, Jeanne, the members of the Resistance, the former Duodecad, and the Heavenly Beasts were all present.
As Asley’s group stood before the immense Teleportation Spell Circle, they exchanged greetings with everyone.
Irene and Gaston said to Asley,
“I never thought you’d actually try to establish a nation. The idea never even crossed my mind.”
“When Bright told me about it, I couldn’t believe my ears.”
“To be honest, I couldn’t believe it, either.”
Behind the dejected Asley, the two Black Emperors approached.
“”There’s no other way. This is the only method to prevent the Devil King’s next resurrection.””
Their voices synchronized flawlessly.
[Damn, these two have become so disturbingly alike…]
As Asley shivered, Irene and Gaston, hearing Warren and Bright’s words, smiled wryly.
“In essence, a splendid nation will be established, with Holy Emperor Leon at its helm. Everything is sure to work out.”
“We’ll gladly accept our place beneath that. In fact, it’s more rewarding that way.”
To Bright and Warren’s statements, Asley let out a deep sigh.
Kaoru and Jun’ko asked,
“In essence, huh…”
“Does that mean the real top is the Puppet Monarch?”
“No, of course not. We won’t manipulate anything or anyone. My presence alone is sufficient.”
“Indeed,” Warren said, “The public reputation his name holds is sufficient.”
“Wait, haven’t I heard that somewhere before?”
“Well, this time, it actually is for show.”
Warren cracked a broad smile.
Then everyone laughed heartily at Asley’s second deep sigh.
“…Well, anyway. Miss Irene, Sir Gaston — please take care of the War Demon Nation.”
“No need to tell me. Who the hell do you think I am?”
“C’mon, young man, shouldn’t you show more respect for the elderly?”
“Hahaha… that’s rich.”
Asley joked, feigning laughter and teasing Irene and Gaston.
However, there was no anger in their hearts.
Anger did not befit a departure. Sensing this, they sighed softly and watched over Asley’s profile.
“”Now then, let us be on our way… Devil King.””
The twin Black Emperors granted Asley the title, utilizing the power of the Fool’s title.
With the title of the Fool, one could do anything — become anything. Leveraging this, they added ‘Devil King’ to Asley’s list of titles.
Thus, the world would always have a Devil King.
Asley did not want to accept the clever plan of the twin Black Emperors, a plan that could even deceive the workings of the world.
However, he had no choice.
After all, he was…
“Father! Come on, let’s go!”
“Sir Asley! It’s time to depart!”
Chappie and Lina’s voices reached Asley.
And then, a familiar voice, as if to pull him along forcibly, entered his ears.
“The Mythic Fruit is waiting for ME! YEAAAHHH!! Come on, Master! Oh, I mean, Devil King~~!”
Grinning mischievously as she teased Asley was his familiar, Pochi.
“Hey! You said that wrong on purpose, didn’t you!?”
“Maybe I did! If I didn’t, the title might disappear!”
“You can’t say it without thinking about it!?”
“But, you see, it’s just… so funny! My Master… is the Devil King… Pfft–! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
“Dammit, you little shit–!!”
“I’m not a little shit! I’m a lady!”
“What kind of lady eats a hundred bowls of rice for breakfast!? You’re just a furball!!”
“Ugh! You have to be gentle with ladies, you fool!!”
“Damn it! You’re still calling me THAT!?”
“A fool like you will always be a fool!!”
“Arrgh! Listen! I still…!!”
After all, he was… the Eternal Fool.
“I STILL WANNA BE A PHILOSOPHER, DAMMIT!!”
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Note: Despite this chapter’s title, there are still 16 epilogue chapters left.
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