The Principle of a Philosopher by Eternal Fool “Asley”

ad thought this through, but Lina was holding back her urge to shake her head and state otherwise.

“Anyway, to keep it short… the Instant Transmission spell is designed to for use in battle.”

“Then wouldn’t that be…”

Tifa nodded, preemptively confirming what she knew would follow that statement.

“As the name implies, it’s not a ‘movement,’ but a ‘transmission’.
For example, you could instantly put yourself behind your enemy…”

The two looked at each other, bewildered at the prospect.

“It’s extremely versatile… or would be, if it’s actually usable.
I’d say it’s the key to blur the lines between warriors’ and mages’ capabilities.”

“Right, it sure would.
So… what about the Space-Time Transmission?”

Lina was surprised by two different things.
One was Asley’s achievements, of course, but above that was how much Tifa had improved herself.

As a mage, Lina was impressive enough to be given the nickname ‘Silent Witch’.
Just by sitting next to Tifa, she could already get a rough read on the latter’s combat capabilities.
Lina could detect that Tifa’s arcane energy was abnormally powerful for her age, but also that the latter’s abilities were not yet on her level.

Regardless, Tifa had in her possession a great deal of knowledge unobtainable from neither the Magic University nor the Adventurers’ Guild.
This was the result of Asley’s ‘homework’.
Of her teaching and learning things herself.
Her knowledge and degree of effort were the most surprising things.

Tifa, as if to encourage Lina, proceeded to say,

“So the most realistic thing out of the bunch would be… the Water Spell Manifestation.”

“Hmm… Water magic usually requires a water source to be usable, right? If this is successfully implemented, it’s sure to change everything…”

“Right.
If people could call water out of thin air with magic formulas, then they would be able to survive as long as they have arcane energy.
Its widespread use would quickly open up ways to make barren land fertile, too.”

“So what does the book say about it?”

“It looks super complex and needs some supplementary magecraft formulas, too.
But the important part of it is… well…”

Tifa stopped her explanation and showed Lina the particularly crumpled pages of the book.

The letters were so distorted that they were impossible to read.

[Ahahaha… That’s got to be Pochi drool again… Chances are there’s some of Sir Asley’s in that, too… Haha…]

Tifa put on a wry smile as if to agree with Lina’s thoughts.
Lina then spoke up, as if she had just realized something.

“-Wait, Tifa, you already know how to do magecraft?”

“Y-yeah.
He’s left a lot of books about it with his homework…”

“And here I am, not knowing much of it after all this time…”

“I would’ve preferred to be the first to leave, really.
I’m jealous of you, you know, getting to be with Sir Asley all this time.”

Although Tifa had said all that calmly, Lina noticed otherwise based on the words alone.

It was jealousy directed at her for being the one who got to live a privileged life, and not only because she had been hogging their former teacher for just herself all this time.
During Asley’s two years in Faltown, despite Tifa being a child at the time, he had influenced her life greatly.
Not only that, his mere presence meant a lot to her.

The thought made Lina feel a tingling sensation in her c.h.e.s.t.
Tifa, having somewhat of a bad feeling from how she acted, watched over her.
She wondered, could it be that Lina also-

“Anyway… where’s Chief living at now? And the others?”

Although Lina fumbled as she hurried to reply to Tifa, it took only moments for her to remember that it was a simple enough question and answer accordingly.

The hour approached ten, but this matter was too important to wait until morning.
When it came to informing everyone of Tifa’s safety, a delayed report was not an option.

Lina initiated a Telepathic Call with Ryan, and the latter picked up almost immediately.
Lina then passed the message to Tifa that the Chief was delighted by the news, prompting Tifa to heave a sigh of relief.
After that, Tifa held up her index finger to her lips.
In response, Lina cracked a wry smile and nodded.

They tip-toed to the door and swung it open without warning, causing all those who listened in to avalanche into the room, their stack toppled.

“Ah – I’m – I’m a Chihuahua”

Hearing the throaty voice of her Familiar spew a storm of excuses with the intensity of the Seventh Lunge, Tifa shifted from her sigh of relief to… a sigh of a bizarre mixture of emotions.

Index