| The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley” | Next Chapter>>
The streets stretched on, flanked by lush greenery and flourishing crops.
In the bustling central district of the Holy Demon Kingdom, a man and a woman materialized from a gigantic Teleportation Spell Circle, the area of which was also known as the Central Gate. They surveyed their surroundings, overwheld by the vibrant scene around them.
“Oh-ho, so this is the Holy Demon Kingdom ruled by the Devil King…!” the man murmured in admiration, his eyes sparkling with wonder.
Beside him, the woman gaped in astonishnt, letting out a breathy exclamation.
“Aye, aye… This actually IS incredible.”
Behind them, the Teleportation magic was invoked once more, revealing a young girl.
She had heterochromatic eyes — one blue and one gray — and her golden hair was streaked with silver. The girl darted towards the woman, clutching at her skirt.
The woman placed a hand on the girl’s head and smiled.
“Mm-hm, very good! You made it all by yourself! All right, let’s head to the Devil King’s Royal Castle!”
The girl looked around, her wide eyes brimming with curiosity at everything she saw — the new sights, foods, and culture.
Suddenly, she spotted a particularly eye-catching shop. The man noticed her gaze and gently nudged the woman.
“Looks like Patty is interested in sothing,” he said.
“Hmm? Hmm… Hmm? Aha! That’s the Devil King’s Lunch! Boy, it sure takes back! It’s been eleven years, hasn’t it? “
“Has it really been that long since that… stew incident?”
“Up, it sure has! I an, think about it — our little Patty is already ten years old.”
The woman, smiling nostalgically, gazed at the bento shop.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she clapped her hands.
“What is it, l? You’re not planning sothing strange, are you?” the man asked.
“As expected of my hubby! You know so well, Gaspard!”
“…So it IS sothing strange…”
“h, it’s fine! Just hand over your wallet!”
“My wallet? I don’t mind, but why…?”
lchi snatched Gaspard’s wallet and handed it to Patty.
“U-uh… l?”
“Patty, go explore the Holy Demon Kingdom! Don’t waste the money — but feel free to spend on anything that catches your interest! Even if you spend it all, that’s fine!”
“It’s my money, though…” Gaspard muttered.
“Ehh, it’s fine, it’s fine! Think of it as an investnt in the future, eh?” lchi said cheerfully, slapping Gaspard’s back.
Relenting, Gaspard knelt in front of Patty.
He placed a reassuring hand on the reluctant Patty’s head and spoke softly,
“l has given her permission. Go on and explore.”
This was also, unmistakably, his permission as her father.
Patty’s heart raced with excitent. She nodded eagerly at her parents’ encouragent and then trotted off.
“Patty! Rember to check in with a Telepathic Call later!”
lchi called after her, waving energetically as Patty disappeared into the crowd, waving back.
Gaspard watched her with a worried expression. lchi glanced at him, exasperated.
“You’re such a doting father.”
“Isn’t it normal to be concerned?”
“Concerned? For the girl who grew up in the monster-infested Far East Wasteland? That’s a bit too much, eh?”
“Humans can be scarier than monsters, you know.”
“Nahahaha! True! But here in the Holy Demon Kingdom, we have nothing to worry about! You felt the sa, which is why you let her go, right?”
“…Right,” Gaspard admitted, exhaling sharply through his nose.
Then he shrugged, acknowledging that lchi had seen through him completely. Lowering his eyes, he turned his steps towards the Devil King’s Royal Castle.
“Now, rember that we’ve been summoned by the Devil King. Let’s go.”
“And let’s pester Ash while we’re at it!”
“The Devil King has quite the troubleso senior apprentice…”
“NAHAHAHA!”
The two disappeared into the throng of people.
Yet, their spirited laughter marked their presence long after they were out of sight.
◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆
In the northern district of the Holy Demon Kingdom, Patty’s eyes roved over various shops, her excitent palpable.
At one point, her feet stopped at the edge of the district.
Unlike the newer shops around it, this one she was looking at had an old, worn-out sign that read “Pochisley Agency,” with a paw print symbol at the corner.
Despite being a child, Patty seed appreciative of its uniquely charm artistic sense. She placed her hand on the door and stepped inside.
A bell chid, followed by a woman’s voice,
“Welco!”
Patty approached the counter where a woman was seated and took a seat on one of the stools.
The woman eyed her curiously.
“…Are you here to offer your services?”
Patty stiffened, realizing she might have entered the wrong shop. She froze in place.
“Hmm, I don’t think so — you don’t look the type. Would you like so tea?”
Patty shook her head vigorously, unsure of what might be in the tea.
“Well, we also handle general inquiries. Is there sothing you need help with?” the woman asked.
Patty remained frozen, unable to respond.
“Hmm… Hmm? Ah, I see. You ca to the wrong place, didn’t you? It’s fine, you can leave. Here, take this as a gift.”
She handed Patty a book with a wine-red cover.
Eyes wide with surprise, Patty accepted it and glanced at the title.
The woman proceeded to explain,
“That’s a self-published book by our very own Devil King! He boasted about the first print run of five million copies, but… well, it was a massive flop. So we, as an agency founded by him, are giving them away. It makes a decent pillow padding, if nothing else.”
Patty looked up to see the woman wink.
From the back of the shop, a voice called out,
“Big Sis Itsuki! I’m hungry!”
“Ah, all right, all right! Ti for a lunch break!” Itsuki said, then she turned to Patty. “Oh, if you don’t know where you want to eat, try Diarmuid Kitchen in the southern district! Well, gotta go! See you around!”
Patty nodded as Itsuki disappeared into the back.
After seeing Itsuki off, Patty bowed slightly and exited the shop.
She proceeded to run towards the southern district of the Holy Demon Kingdom.
There her nose started twitching as she followed a tantalizing aroma.
The scent led her straight to Diarmuid Kitchen, the very place that Itsuki had recomnded.
“Hello, hello! Welco!” a man called from the takeout window. “To go, or dine in?” he asked.
Patty hesitated for a mont before deciding.
After running around, a little rest sounded perfect.
She pointed inside the shop, and the man nodded happily.
“Lala! One custor dining in!”
“Got it!”
A green-haired girl nad Lala appeared, full of energy.
“Dad! I’m here!”
“Mm-hm! Thanks!”
Balancing a tray on her head, Lala greeted Patty with a bow, the tray remaining steady.
“Welco! We only have counter seats available… is that okay?”
Patty nodded, and Lala led her to a seat.
Though her feet did not quite reach the floor, Patty managed to sit at the counter, accepting the illustrated nu Lala handed her.
Each item looked delicious, making it hard for her to choose.
As she pondered, a pair of voices ca from behind the counter.
“”The recomndation is Bruce Baka-Yaki!”” they said in unison.
Patty was montarily confused by the overlapping voices.
The reason beca clear when she saw a Divine Serpent, Kagachi, coiled around Lala, expertly assisting her in the kitchen.
srized by Kagachi’s unusual presence, Patty made her decision.
She raised the nu and pointed to the recomnded Bruce’s Baka-Yaki, showing it to the Kagachi.
“”Understood! Lala, one Baka-Yaki!””
“One Baka-Yaki, coming right up!”
As they started cooking, Patty watched them intently, her feet swinging with excitent.
From the seat next to her, she heard a conversation.
“Bruce Baka-Yaki, huh? That’s a good choice.”
“I prefer the Betty Munaita, though.”
“Isn’t that just a steak, though?”
“The side vegetables are amazing!”
“Yeah, that’s true… Oh, look at the ti. Lala, the check, please!”
“Got it! Here you go — Idéa, Midors! Take this to Dad’s counter!”
“All right. Thanks for the al.”
“See you later!”
Idéa and Midors took the bill from Lala and went to the owner’s counter to pay it, and then they left.
Two n entered as the two disappeared into the crowd.
“Excuse us.”
“Pardon our intrusion, Mister Tzar.”
Tzar turned around, and upon seeing who had co in, he sighed.
One was a man not much taller than Lala, and the other had blue hair.
“”Aren’t you two supposed to be at your posts?””
“Well, Sir Hornel invited , you see~~”
“Actually, no, didn’t you invite , Sir Barun?”
“The Commander of the Magic Guardians Brigade and the head of the Northern Alliance, neglecting their duties… It is quite troubling.””
Barun only grinned sheepishly in response.
Hornel, however, was different. He puffed his cheeks and pouted.
“Oh, co on… Surely we’re allowed to spend the lunch break wherever we please,” he muttered.
“No crossing borders during lunch breaks,” ca a firm voice from behind, cutting him off.
Recognizing the voice, Hornel stiffened and turned around, trembling.
“C-Captain Jeanne…”
“How many tis must I ask you to call just Jeanne?”
“R-right. Of course, Jeanne… Ahem. So what brings you here?”
“I am here to fetch you, SIR Hornel — That is my official reason.”
“Oh co on! Can’t I have a little fun once in a while?”
“Even a short break can endanger the state. Now, let us head back imdiately.”
Watching this exchange, Barun grinned and said, “Tough luck, my man.”
“And what exactly is so amusing, Sir Barun?” ca a sultry female voice.
Barun froze and slowly turned around, his eyes widening in surprise.
“Gah–!? Miss Minerva, why are you here too?”
“I told you today’s eting was postponed by an hour, did I not?”
“Yes, that’s why I left Ricky in charge…!”
“And it was Ricky who sold you out.”
“Gah–!?”
“It seems I need to remind you of your responsibilities as my apprentice before considering your role as a leader…”
“You hear that, Hornel? Be responsible! Let’s go!”
“”AHH!?””
Minerva proceeded to pull Barun’s ear, and Jeanne did the sa to Hornel.
“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”
“But I haven’t even eaten yet!”
Their protests and cries of pain echoed through Diarmuid Kitchen as the four of them disappeared from sight.
| The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley” | Next Chapter>>
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