Chapter 444: A Night Festival

Chapter 444: A Night Festival

Team Silver’s mansion, boasted a spacious courtyard in its perimeter, albeit one that did not rival the magic classroom venue.

Scattered throughout this area were several Spell Circles, all of which served as Teleportation points leading to various destinations, including the magic classroom, the Resistance’s hideout, and the southern region of Eddo. These Circles represented a clever solution devised by Asley and the others, who had deemed even the slightest bit of time to be too precious to waste.

Naturally, there were more than just Teleportation Spell Circles on the estate. From the moment they acquired the manor, they had stone pathways already laid out, adding to the overall charm of the place, along with a picturesque pond and a variety of trees.

And in the same way, between the stone pathways — or rather, spread across the courtyard — was a bed of gravel that had been here since the mansion’s purchase.

“Um, this actually hurts quite a bit...”

Five individuals were seated on this bed of gravel.

Asley raised his hand to voice his discomfort from the pain in his legs.

Standing before them was Irene, the Invincible Sprout — with her usual serene countenance now tainted with a quiet rage.

Blazer, #2 of the seated, tilted his head in confusion at Irene’s silent treatment toward Asley’s statement.

“Maybe she didn’t hear that just now?”Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

Blazer asked, sounding dead serious, prompting #3 — Bruce — to answer him instead,

“Nah, she totally did. She looks like she’s about to bust a vein.”

#4, Betty, lowered her voice as if sharing a secret, saying,

“Why are we even being scolded, anyway?”

#2 and #3 only seem perplexed, tilting their heads with no apparent recollection.

“Guys, just...! Be quiet...!”

#1 tried to silence the trio, but they just responded with puzzled expressions.

“You five...”

Irene’s words were sharper than the new Drynium Steel sword that Blazer had been so proud of.

Asley straightened up his posture, holding up his hands to cover his mouth.

After confirming Asley’s silence, Irene’s gaze swept over #2, #3, #4, and #5...

“Care to explain why you were playing tag without a care in the world, Warren?”

#5 was, of course, Warren the Black Emperor.

“Hahaha... what can I say? We thought having four taggers would be interesting...”

Warren responded coolly, ignoring Irene’s reprimand.

Following this, Betty claps her hands.

“I see...”

Bruce followed,

“Mm-hm, that’s what it’s all about.”

Lastly, Blazer concluded,

“I get it now.”

The three stood up, seeming to have come to an understanding.

Looking up at them, Asley panicked,

“W-wait, hold on! You shouldn’t...!”

Irene’s gaze intensified even more so than Asley’s.

Still, the trio was the elite Team Silver. They had prepared their own means of avoiding her wrath.

“Miss Irene! Apologies! I have to start cooking dinner for the children soon!”

He truly was already ready for tomorrow. Irene was left speechless at this abrupt transformation.

“......Ah, um... Well, I suppose... I’ll be counting on you tomorrow!”

That was all Irene could say.

Blazer quietly nodded in acknowledgment and took his leave... but before then, he showed Asley a clenched fist — or rather, gave him a thumbs-up.

[......They never change.]

Asley was utterly exasperated by the two escape methods employed by the three members of Team Silver.

He still had one more companion. Asley turned his head as if to seek agreement from Warren, but then he suddenly felt that something was amiss.

He momentarily stopped all physical movement, focusing all of his senses on detecting arcane energy fluctuations all around him.

[......Huh? Only my and Irene’s arcane energies are reacting to this?]

Looking up, he realized that Irene was looking only at him. To say that she was staring would not be an exaggeration, even. She was not looking at Warren — or anyone else for that matter. Her gaze was intensely focused on Asley, so much so that she seemed to pierce through him, as if to lock him in place.

“...Ahem.”

Asley feigned a cough, then he raised his hand.

“May I have a moment?”

He asked Irene with a smile.

Irene also understood the intention behind Asley’s question easily enough — it was about Warren.

Asley proceeded to turn around, confirming Warren’s presence.

[......Yup, he’s gone.]

It was as if he had vanished into thin air — as if Warren had never existed in the first place, a perfect illusion.

Asley was stunned only for a moment, and then he clutched his head.

[That little shit!!]

Asley deeply regretted this misfortune that had befallen him, his head spinning wildly with frustration.

Irene, on the other hand, was no longer surprised by the antics of the most foolish of fools and his comrades.

Irene heaved a sigh and swept her white hair back as Asley panicked.

Then she hunched down in front of him, showing no anger, annoyance, or excitement.

The Fool stopped whatever he was doing.

Asley gently looked into Irene’s eyes.

Likewise, Irene looked into Asley’s eyes.

“...By my order...”

“Y-yes, ma’am!”

As if by reflex, Asley straightened his back.

But then, the words that came out of Irene’s mouth immediately afterward were filled with unprecedented tenderness.

“...Get a good night’s sleep.”

The final battle with Devil King Lucifer was drawing near.

It was only natural for the commander to sympathize with the ones with the biggest responsibilities.

Asley, however, could not see that, and was only able to react with blank surprise.

“...Uh, o-okay?”

And now, it was only a short time until the most intense battle in history...