Chapter 0467 Preparation for Counterattack
-x-X-x-
Protected by
"The royal castle is pretty dangerous, isn't it? Abel, it's amazing you've survived for three years."
"No, normally, it's supposed to be the safest place in the country. I don't think it is usually this bad in this country too…"
Ryo said with admiration for Abel's toughness, but Abel shook his head to show that Ryo was mistaken.
The two of them whispered in the living room, a space that was wide enough to double as a meeting room within Princess Iliaja's quarters.
The princess was in the next room, changing into more comfortable clothes.
Though it was always something like a dress, it seemed that she had worn formal attire today, given that she was visiting the Crown Princess.
The royal family sure has it tough.
Princess Iliaja returned from the next room.
Indeed, compared to what she had worn to visit the Crown Princess, her current outfit was simpler.
At the same time, the door from the hallway opened, and Kabui Somal entered.
"Your Highness… I'm glad you're safe."
He said, kneeling before Princess Iliaja.
"Lord Protector, you don't need to worry. These two protected me."
She answered with a warm smile.
The four of them sat down.
"Not just poison, but magic attacks too… That's too bold. What is the Crown Prince's palace planning to do about this…?"
Kabui Somal muttered as if to himself.
"Poison… oh, right. Ryo-san, was the cup that Lady Raina handed over poisoned?"
Princess Iliaja asked Ryo.
As she had assumed there must have been some kind of poison in it.
Since it was tasteless and odorless, she suspected it might have been Shurin's poison or Chirilkaril's poison.
"It might have been, but it's fine. It was neutralized."
"Neutralized?"
"Yes. I seem to have a unique constitution that repels evil energy. That also seems to include neutralizing poison…"
"Oh! So that's why you approached me at that time."
"Yes, Your Highness. I've confirmed through experiments that being within a five-second proximity can neutralize poison."
"Could it be that Abel-san was the one who was sacrificed for that experiment…?"
Abel nodded silently in response to Princess Iliaja's smiling inquiry.
"Abel seems to be making a very dissatisfied face, but I assure you, it's not because he's dissatisfied with you, Princess. What a disrespectful swordsman he is."
"Of course not! It's because of Ryo that I'm making this face. You know… was it the Jubi-Jubi poison? That ominous red… dangerous-looking poison that I was made to drink."
"But it was neutralized, wasn't it?"
"The smell was still there, and the color stayed the same! Why me… Ryo could have tested it yourself, right?"
"It wouldn't have worked if I tested it myself. I had no choice but to try it on Abel's body. Yes, I had no choice. How many times did I wipe away my tears of sorrow…"
"Liar! You laughed out loud, saying, 'It can't be helped, Abel. Please be the sacrifice!' Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Well, I have no memory of that."
Ryo feigned sudden memory loss like a politician standing at a podium.
Princess Iliaja giggled.
And Kabui Somal smiled wryly.
Peace is built on the sacrifices of many.
"Poison aside, the magic was dangerous… Yeah, it was magic, right?"
"What was that? I've never seen anything like it, not even in the central or western countries."
Abel asked, and Ryo responded with a puzzled look.
It looked somewhat like a Japanese 'talisman', but from a glance, it didn't seem as complex as a talisman or have many characters written on it.
It didn't have the usual magic circle either… come to think of it, it could have been a design made of overlapping squares and triangles.
"Could it be closer to alchemy than magic? It's intriguing."
Ryo said thoughtfully.
Kabui Somal seemed to have an idea and opened his mouth to speak.
"It might have been a spellcaster from the continent."
"Spellcaster?"
The princess, Abel, and Ryo all spoke in unison.
Each with different tones.
Princess Iliaja in pure curiosity.
Abel sensing trouble.
And Ryo with sparked interest…
"I'm not very knowledgeable about it myself, but apparently, there are quite a few of them on the continent. They use spell tags to activate or enhance magic from a distance. There are also spirit tags that can summon and control spirits or monsters."
"Wow!"
Ryo reacted with the most excitement to Kabui Somal's explanation.
"That's fascinating! So, that means the earlier attack was done by activating magic remotely using a spell tag. Interesting, interesting. Even though the caster never showed up in the end, they must have been at a distance. Why was that? Couldn't they get inside?"
"Yeah. I wondered about that too. If they were going to go that far, they should have finished it in one blow. Failing once will make the defenses even stronger the next time."
Abel added his thoughts, agreeing with Ryo's observation.
Surprisingly, it was Princess Iliaja who answered them.
"Perhaps it wasn't part of the plan."
"Plan?"
"Yes. The invitation to the Crown Prince's palace today was Lady Raina's decision. It may have been a sudden decision. Although Lady Raina administered the poison…"
Princess Iliaja paused for a moment.
Closed her eyes, then opened them wide and continued.
"Although Lady Raina administered the poison, she was only involved up to that point. I believe she wasn't aware of the attack."
"Why do you think that?"
Kabui Somal asked.
"I thought so from the look on Lady Raina's face."
"I see."
"The Crown Prince's palace is not a place that outsiders can enter so easily. If the attackers had known in advance that I would be invited, they might have infiltrated and attacked from within… but if that wasn't the case."
"They had no choice but to attack from the outside…"
Ryo and Abel nodded in agreement with Princess Iliaja and Kabui Somal's conclusion.
"Because the plan was so sudden, we managed to get away with it this time, but…"
"After going that far, there's no turning back now."
"If they know for certain that Her Highness will be at a specific place at a specific time… they will prepare thoroughly for the attack."
"The coronation ceremony, right?"
"In three days…"
Abel and Kabui Somal said.
"Excuse me, I have a question…"
"Yes, what is it, Ryo-san?"
"Regarding the spellcaster and the talismans you mentioned earlier, is there anyone in the castle who is knowledgeable about these matters? It seems like we know too little about our enemy to effectively protect ourselves…"
"You're right. We can't defend against something we don't understand. As I recall… Elder Boiznan is well-versed in these subjects."
"The healer? The one who gave the lecture on poisons, right?"
"Yes. Elder Boiznan spent many years training on the continent in his youth. That's why he's knowledgeable about continental poisons, and he's also well-informed about spellcasters and talismans. He doesn't use them himself, but one of his former disciples became proficient with talismans… Given the circumstances, I'll make sure to ask him to teach you, Ryo-san."
"Oh, thank you so much!"
And so, Ryo spent the next three days thoroughly learning about spellcasters and talismans.
Elder Boiznan's lectures were very easy to understand, and Ryo found them enjoyable.
Of course, his primary goal was to protect Princess Iliaja, who was being targeted, but… even so, learning new things was always a joy.
That joy couldn't be suppressed.
Some might call it curiosity.
Curiosity killed the cat, as they say, but it's an inherent trait of intelligent beings.
The desire to know what you don't know… it's the nature of sentient beings.
On the second night of his studies, Ryo bowed his head to Abel.
"What's up? Why so formal all of a sudden?"
"Abel, may I use one of these magic stones?"
Ryo asked as he pulled out a small blue magic stone.
About half the size of a pinky nail, but with a deep, intense blue hue.
"Is that from those fish-like sea monsters we caught?"
After defeating the Kraken, on the way back, they encountered bait balls and used the seven-armed Neil Andersen, the second ship of the Rondo class, to capture the fish-like creatures.
These creatures had magic stones inside them.
"If you give me the go-ahead, I promise to repay you."
"No, it's not really up to me. You were the one who collected them on the ship, so you should do whatever you want with them."
"No, I can't do that. We collected them together. Those who sail together share everything. Anything obtained on the ship should be divided equally."
"O-Okay…"
Ryo had this strangely meticulous sense of duty in situations like this.
And Abel knew that about him.
"Well, go ahead and use it as you like."
"Thank you, Abel! I'll divide the remaining six stones between us."
"Alright…"
"Is that not enough? If so, I'll reduce my cake privilege from once a week to once every two weeks… if necessary."
Ryo proposed reluctantly.
"No… besides, you won't be able to use your cake privilege until we return to the kingdom."
"Ugh…it's a harsh world we live in."
Abel said, exasperated, while Ryo shook his head in dismay.
The next day, Ryo handed one of the stones to Kabui Somal. Along with a piece of paper with something drawn on it.
Kabui Somal accepted it with a surprised look.
"It should be ready by tomorrow morning."
Hearing this response, Ryo nodded happily.
Afterward, he began inscribing magic formulas on his alchemy tool.
The usual ice board that he could freely create and erase as needed.
While guarding Princess Iliaja, Ryo would write magic formulas on the ice board whenever he had a free moment.
Occasionally, he would generate ice to test and verify his work…
From the sidelines, Abel couldn't fully understand what Ryo was doing, but he could tell it had something to do with defense.
It seemed that the magic circles and formulas he was drawing would be 'transferred' onto something that would arrive the next day.
That object would then become an alchemy tool.
Abel had seen both Ryo and Kenneth inscribe magic formulas onto alchemy tools using this method, so he was somewhat familiar with the process.
But there was one thing that puzzled him.
That night.
Even after returning to his room, Ryo continued working on his ice board.
However, after dinner, it seemed like he had reached a stopping point.
He began making coffee.
Which he usually had a maid bring, but this time he was brewing it himself.
He must have gained some confidence about the outcome.
At that moment, Abel decided to ask the question that had been on his mind.
"Hey, Ryo, when we were attacked in the Crown Prince's palace, your ice wall was peeled off, right?"
"Yes, it was."
"Why did that happen? Was it like what happened with the Kraken?"
Abel remembered how, during the battle on Neil Andersen, the Kraken had taken control of Ryo's
Since this incident seemed similar, he asked.
However, Ryo shook his head and explained.
"It looked the same, but the cause was different. The Kraken took over the control of the magic. You could say it overwrote it. But this time, it wasn't that the control was taken, it was that the mana lines were shifted out of place."
"Mana lines? Shifted out of place?"
Abel couldn't fully understand what Ryo was saying.
This was something that only a magician could grasp.
"For example, with
"Hmm. I don't completely get it, but I think I understand the general idea."
Abel responded, nodding slightly while furrowing his brows.
However, this raised another concern.
"So… can that issue be resolved by turning it into an alchemy tool?"
During their battle with the Kraken, he had managed to prevent the magic control from being taken by creating the
Would the alchemy tool that Ryo was crafting solve the problem with the mana lines this time as well?
"Probably not, at least not in principle."
"Hey…"
"But logically speaking, the closer something is, the smaller the shift becomes, right?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"For example, imagine you're shooting an arrow. If you're aiming at a distant target, a sudden gust of wind or even a slight wobble when releasing the arrow could cause a large deviation by the time it hits."
"Yeah, that's true."
"But if you're aiming at something close, even if there's a gust of wind or a slight wobble, the deviation will be much smaller, right?"
"That makes sense."
"So, if the source of magic power and the target spell are close to each other, even if the talisman shifts the magic power line, the effect will be minimized. And what if the source and the target were directly attached?"
"I see. You plan to put a fine ice armor, created by the alchemy tool, on Princess Iliaja. And if she wears the alchemy tool itself, then there's no room for the mana line to shift…"
Abel grasped the idea, and Ryo nodded happily.
An alchemy tool with a magic stone embedded in it is, in a sense, self-sufficient. You could call it a standalone device.
"During the coronation ceremony, we won't be able to stay close to her. Under normal circumstances, that would be fine. Even if we're a bit of a distance away, I could protect her with
"We'll be seated in the guest area, right?"
"Yes. Abel, did you see that amazing outfit they sent you?"
"Yeah. Apparently, it's formal attire… and every part of it is top quality."
Abel glanced at the outfit hanging on a mannequin-like stand in the corner of the room.
Kabui Somal had told him that he was expected to wear it and sit in the guest seats.
"Ryo, you're fine with wearing your usual robe…?"
"This robe was a gift from my master. It's called the Robe of the Fairy King, and it's not something that can be made by human hands. There's no better attire for a ceremony like this."
"Hmm… is that so?"
Abel raised an eyebrow at Ryo's passionate explanation.
While it was indeed an extraordinary robe, Abel couldn't help but feel that for a formal ceremony, a bit more decoration might be appropriate… he compared it to the outfit prepared for him and thought that something more ornate would be better suited for the occasion.
-x-X-x-
On the day of the Queen's coronation.
Ryo and Abel were having breakfast together.
Usually, Princess Iliaja would join them, but today she was absent.
The coronation ceremony has a spiritual aspect, involving reports to ancestors and past kings.
Because of this, the king or queen who is about to ascend the throne doesn't eat breakfast.
"Breakfast is important though… poor thing."
"Well, the body of a king is human, but also not human."
Ryo expressed concern for Princess Iliaja's health, while Abel spoke from his own experience.
"Not human?"
"Yeah. It's like a role that connects the past and the future… a king can't obtain the happiness that ordinary people can. Of course, they accept this when they ascend the throne. I accepted it when I did…"
"Well, that's true. Ordinary people might enjoy things like eating all the cakes at Café de Chocolat, planning an all-you-can-eat event at the royal dining hall, or visiting fifty street stalls in the capital. But kings can't do those things, right?"
"Yeah, none of that sounds like something ordinary people would enjoy."
"Really? Then how about freezing people you don't like indiscriminately, making Abel slip and fall by freezing the ground under his feet, or attacking the Royal Knights' barracks… Those kinds of things would be more realistic things, wouldn't they?"
"You'd get arrested for that, you know?"
King Abel rejected all of Ryo's suggestions.
"Watching you, Abel, makes me realize that in exchange for giving up the happiness that ordinary people can have, you've gained the power to oppress good citizens."
"What kind of statement is that…?"
"I must talk to Princess Iliaja after she ascends to make sure she doesn't end up like that!"
With Ryo full of determination, Abel just shook his head slightly.
At that moment, Lord Protector Kabui Somal arrived.
"Sir Ryo, the bracelet you requested is ready."
The bracelet he presented was silver with intricate decorations. In the center was a blue magic stone obtained from a Bait Ball, making it quite elegant.
"Ooh! This is nice! Thank you!"
Ryo accepted it, checked it over, and bowed in gratitude.
Then he immediately conjured up an ice sheet and connected it to the bracelet.
Both the ice sheet and the water line connecting them were created by Ryo's magic.
This meant he could summon them whenever he wanted!
"It will take three minutes. Please wait a moment."
"Understood. Sorry, but could I have some coffee as well?"
Ryo, while working, spoke, and Kabui Somal sat in an empty chair and asked the maid for some coffee.
As they waited for Ryo to finish, Abel and Kabui Somal began to talk.
The topic was the Crown Prince's Palace.
"I heard the Crown Prince's Palace has been sealed off. Where are the Crown Princess and Sir Jolt?"
"They're still living in one corner of the palace. The palace is vast, after all. Even though it's sealed off, it's not like there's no movement of people. The day-to-day tasks in the palace are quite complicated. There were hardly any suspicious people coming in and out before, but now there are palace guards stationed at the entrances alongside the royal castle guards."
Kabui Somal replied with a frown to Abel's question.
It seemed he had wanted to take stricter measures.
But due to various circumstances, the current situation was likely the best they could manage…
"With such a major incident happening. Rumors must be spreading."
"Indeed. The collapse of a section of the Crown Princess's wing. Can't help but stir up various rumors. Not just in the royal castle but in the capital as well. Even so… the Crown Princess is still the Crown Princess."
"The hierarchy is a troublesome thing."
"It certainly is."
Abel imagined the difficulties, and Kabui Somal nodded slightly.
Exactly three minutes later.
"Alright, it's finished."
Ryo said, testing various things.
Then he handed the bracelet to Kabui Somal.
"Gently stroke the blue magic stone to activate it. It's the same as what the princess wore the other day."
"Ah, thank you, Sir Ryo. When I told Her Highness last night, she seemed quite pleased. Despite her strong demeanor, there must have been some concerns. She said she would wear it on her right arm."
Kabui Somal thanked Ryo as he took the bracelet and left the room.
"Another attack… will happen, won't it…?"
"Most likely… It would be best if they could change their minds and give up."
Abel sighed, and Ryo sighed in agreement.
"If the attackers were from some Grand Duchy on the continent, and their goal was to put Sir Jolt on the throne… Even if they succeeded, it wouldn't matter if they didn't have the navy on their side. I wonder how they plan to handle that?"
"Who knows? Maybe immediate control isn't their goal."
Abel answered Ryo's question while drinking coffee.
"Control isn't their goal? You mean they just want chaos within the Suje Kingdom? Maybe they're starting a civil war in that southern federation on the continent, and don't want anyone from the archipelago region to interfere. So they create chaos to keep Suje distracted?"
"Something like that. If Kabui Somal's rebellion had succeeded and Princess Iliaja had ascended right away… Suje Kingdom would have grown quite strong, wouldn't it? A change in leadership can completely transform things. Of course, they'd have to handle it very well."
"If that had happened, the Suje Kingdom would have intervened in the civil war in that southern federation on the continent… which would have been a problem. So they tried to poison the Lord Protector and kill the princess… Hmm…"
"If they succeed, great. Even if they fail, the Crown Prince's forces and his territory will continue to smolder as a source of unrest. Either way, it's not a bad outcome."
Ryo looked unconvinced, and while Abel wasn't entirely confident, his explanation made sense.
"Conspiracies are difficult."
"They certainly are."
Ryo and Abel might not be cut out to be schemers.
The coronation of Princess Iliaja proceeded as scheduled at noon.
In the Great Audience Hall of the royal castle.
The word 'Grand' certainly fit, as the hall was spacious.
It might be best described as similar to a concert hall.
However, it seemed the ceiling was even higher than that of a concert hall.
And, essentially, everyone remained standing.
Well, when a king is being crowned, sitting down to witness it might be considered somewhat disrespectful.
From the main entrance to the farthest point where the throne, crown, and what appeared to be religious figures awaited, a red carpet was laid.
Lining the carpet on either side were members of the royal guard, dressed in white ceremonial attire.
It seemed that Princess Iliaja would walk down this path.
On the platform where the crown would be bestowed, there was only one throne.
Directly below the platform, members of the royal family and ministers stood.
Behind them were the powerful nobles who held honorary titles, and the guest seats where Ryo and Abel were instructed to stand were a little ahead of the center of the aisle, perhaps.
Each person had quite a bit of space around them.
Important people, no matter the world, dislike being crammed together.
A larger personal space is necessary.
It can't be helped.
For that reason, both Ryo and Abel also had plenty of space between them and those beside them.
Even so, they leaned in a little closer to speak quietly.
Such scenes were common.
"Hey, Ryo."
"What is it? Again…?"
"It's not about money!"
"Heh… so this joke doesn't work anymore, huh…"
Abel cut him off before Ryo could say anything, and Ryo regretted being preempted.
"What I wanted to ask about was that paper."
"Paper? Oh, you mean the talisman… well, Master Boiznan called it a 'charm'. Just like Lord Protector Kabui Somal mentioned before."
"Boiznan, that old man who gave the lecture on poisons, right? You call him 'Master'…?"
"Of course. When someone teaches you something you don't know, it's only natural to show respect, right? The simplest way to show respect is to add 'Master' after their name. This way, unless the person is particularly stubborn, they'll teach you a lot."
"You really are a smooth talker, Ryo…"
"Abel, if you're not good with people, you can't unify a nation!"
"U-uni…fication? What's that?"
"Huh? Oh, uh, it means… the whole world…"
The word unification didn't seem to make sense to Abel.
Ryo realized that telling stories of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the man who unified Japan, would be pointless.
Although he wasn't sure why he didn't get it, Ryo quickly adjusted his words.
"The whole world? Unifying the world? That's a bit unrealistic."
"S-So it would be world unification…yes, I suppose when you put it like that…"
His attempt at rephrasing failed.
The idea became too grand, making it lose all sense of reality…
How unfortunate.
"From what I heard from Master Boiznan, the charm seems like some kind of alchemy tool."
"Oh, really?"
"But we've only seen it that one time in the Crown Prince's palace, so I can't say for sure. And it seems that some spellcasters can also use magic, so dealing with them could be quite complicated."
"I see."
Abel nodded slightly at Ryo's explanation.
It was certain that their opponents included spellcasters, but that might not be all.
How much force had they sent in, and how much was hidden…?
They wouldn't know until something happened.
Ryo glanced around the area.
"Coronations really vary from country to country, don't they?"
"Of course. But the only one you've seen, Ryo, was my coronation in the square of Rune, right? That was an exception of exceptions."
Abel had taken the throne three and a half years ago in the southern town of Rune.
It had been without following the formal procedures, without the three sacred treasures, and in a way that could be considered a seizure of power.
"Of course, I understand that your forceful takeover of the throne in Rune wasn't ordinary."
"Forceful takeover…"
"Don't worry, I support your actions, Abel. I even think you were noble for standing up for the people of the kingdom."
"R-Really…"
"You sacrificed yourself to take the throne and granted me cake privileges, after all."
"The cake privileges don't really have anything to do with…"
"But I'm a citizen of the kingdom too. And at the same time, I'm an ardent supporter of King Abel."
"I-I see… thank you…"
At the end, Ryo gave a thumbs-up, and Abel weakly thanked him.
Although there seemed to be some differences in their understanding, it couldn't be helped.
Everyone has their own way of thinking…
While the two were having this conversation, the coronation began.
The coronation ceremony was just that, simply a coronation.
Princess Iliaja entered, walked to the throne, had the crown placed on her head… received something else, and then sat on the throne.
Cheers arose, and amidst those cheers, Queen Iliaja exited.
That was all there was to it if described in words.
Nothing more.
Essentially, Princess Iliaja didn't speak.
Her first words as queen would be addressed to the people from the royal castle's balcony tomorrow.
Apparently, the castle had a balcony specifically for that purpose.
The doors opened, and Princess Iliaja entered.
At that moment, a silent gasp spread through the hall.
"Oh…"
"How beautiful…"
"Her Majesty, the Queen…"
Such whispers filled the room.
The princess walked forward alone, quietly.
Neither too fast nor too slow.
Chaste, yet graceful.
All eyes in the room were fixed on the walking Princess Iliaja.
"Ah, as expected, the
"They did mention that the crown would be placed on her."
"Then let's protect her quietly.
Ryo activated the steam mines, which continued to move while maintaining a certain distance from Princess Iliaja.
"Are we good with that charm whatever?"
"It doesn't seem to be active yet, so we're fine. Once we're on the platform, I'll change it into another form."
Abel and Ryo whispered to each other.
If the religious official placing the crown on the princess froze, that would be a serious problem…
Ryo was a very level-headed magician.
However…
As Princess Iliaja passed by them and reached the ministers.
Crack, crack, crack.
Three daggers suddenly flew in from nowhere and froze in the air around Princess Iliaja.
The
The first to react was Princess Iliaja.
She had mentally prepared herself for the inevitable attack, knowing she would be targeted.
She quickly rubbed the magic stone attached to the silver bracelet on her right wrist.
Her body became covered in a thin layer of ice.
Of course, it was barely noticeable to anyone nearby.
But Ryo could see it.
"
Ryo deactivated the steam mines protecting the princess.
The royal guards standing along the carpet seemed about to rush to surround the princess and shield her with their bodies.
There was no 'friendly-foe recognition tag' feature.
The steam mines would activate regardless of who was nearby…
The
"Kyahhhh!"
Screams erupted from the guests' and nobles' seats.
And then, out of those screams appeared…
"What… is that?"
What appeared could only be described as half a corpse.
"A zombie?"
Ryo muttered instinctively.
But it was moving with astonishing speed.
"More like a Strigoi, a vampire's thrall?"
Strigoi, vampire thralls, moved far faster and were much stronger than ordinary humans.
But that wasn't the only thing that appeared.
"Ughaa!"
"Another one over here!"
Near the entrance, where the lower nobles were seated, something else appeared.
Upon closer inspection, it was clad in armor, swinging a sword.
It looked like an ordinary human, except… its eyes were shut.
Sewn shut with thread, it seemed.
"A death knight?"
Ryo muttered again, but it was just a guess.
It was simply the first term that came to mind based on its appearance. He had no idea if such creatures even existed in this world.
Either way, these weren't normal humans.
Four of them had appeared, all strong.
Along with them were eight Strigoi-like creatures, wreaking havoc.
Four death knights, eight Strigoi-like creatures, it was quite a force.
Naturally, they drew attention.
And there were already many casualties.
The royal guards were gathered around Princess Iliaja in a group of six, while the remaining guards and reinforcements from outside the room were starting to engage the Strigoi-like creatures and the death knights.
But of course, that was all just a distraction.
In an instant, six daggers struck the throats of the royal guards protecting the princess simultaneously.
Leaping over the fallen guards, gray shadows lunged at Princess Iliaja.
However…
Clang!
A man in white ceremonial attire deflected the gray sword.
Clang!
The second gray sword was parried by the Lord Protector in formal attire.
Clang!
The third gray sword was deflected by a robed magician.
Abel, Kabui Somal, and Ryo protected Princess Iliaja.
"There are quite a few of them, aren't there?"
"They came out from the toolboxes that were brought over from the Crown Prince's Palace."
"The spellcaster hasn't shown himself yet."
Abel asked, Kabui Somal answered, and Ryo warned that the real battle was yet to come.
The gray-clad men who attacked Princess Iliaja seemed to be human.
Ryo sensed something and looked up at the ceiling.
It was high.
And dark.
But there was something off.
Squinting… he saw charms stuck to the ceiling.
The color of the charms was carefully matched to the ceiling itself…
Unless someone paid close attention, they would never notice.
"There are charms on the ceiling."
"How many?"
"One, two… lots!"
"…What do we do?"
"
Ryo aimed a spear of ice at one of the charms.
Just before hitting it, the spear's trajectory bent and it lodged itself in a different part of the ceiling.
"Ugh, just like last time, they distorted the trajectory."
"So, we can't touch those things, huh?"
"If we clear out the people, I can bring the whole ceiling down, but…"
"Yeah, that's not happening."
The entire grand audience hall was in chaos.
More guards had rushed in from outside, so now nearly two thousand people were moving around. It couldn't be helped…
While keeping his attention on the surroundings, Ryo gently called out to the princess he was protecting.
"Your Highness, I apologize, but could you remain here a little longer?"
"I'm to be the bait, aren't I?"
Princess Iliaja answered with a faint smile.
It was Kabui Somal who was shocked by this.
"That is…"
"The exits are in chaos. Likely the outside of the grand audience hall is too. Instead of running around in this confusion, it's better to stay here, stand our ground, and face them head-on."
When Kabui Somal tried to object, Princess Iliaja stopped him herself.
In a crisis, a person's true nature reveals itself.
Ryo felt that Princess Iliaja's heart and mind were already prepared to become queen.
That was a very good thing.
Because, if she wasn't, her spirit might have broken in this situation.
Crying, screaming, and throwing a tantrum… But doing such things wouldn't improve the situation.
Staying calm is what saves oneself and those around you.
"The princess won't be hurt by ordinary thrusts or slashes. If it's a powerful magic attack, I'll handle it. Abel and the Lord Protector, take care of the enemies charging at us."
"Understood."
"Got it."
Ryo gave instructions, and both Abel and Kabui Somal nodded in agreement.
The three gray-clad men surrounding them were watching for an opening… but with three top-tier fighters, creating such an opportunity wasn't going to be easy.
In the end, it was their turn to move.
Abel swiftly invaded the range of the gray-clad man in front of him.
Without even clashing swords once, he swiftly beheaded him.
The second gray-clad man, who had been watching from the side…wavered upon seeing that strike.
Kabui Somal took advantage of that hesitation.
Pretending to attack with the ceremonial sword in his right hand, he spun around and, with the knife that had suddenly appeared in his left hand, slashed the gray man's carotid artery.
The third gray-clad man couldn't move.
He understood that his two comrades had been taken down in what seemed like an instant.
He braced himself, thinking the robed magician in front of him would come for him…
But his death came from the left.
Abel, who had decapitated the first man, now drove his sword into the neck of the third gray-clad man.
The three gray-clad men who had surrounded the princess were defeated in a matter of moments.
Almost simultaneously with the fall of the third man, Ryo cast his spell.
Boom. Boom, boom, boom…
Rocks and pebbles struck the ice wall that now enclosed the four of them.
The attack was coming from the charms that had appeared above them without their noticing.
"This is the same as last time."
"Yes. But this time, it's aimed only at us…"
Ryo fell silent.
His gaze shifted to Princess Iliaja's right wrist.
Then to the charms that were launching the stone attack.
And finally to the ceiling.
"I see… it's an alchemy tool, but not quite an alchemical tool…"
Ryo's murmur was heard by both Abel and Kabui Somal, but…
Neither of them understood what he meant.
Without further explanation, Ryo reinforced the ice barrier.
He then stared intently at the charms that were continuing to attack.
Shifting his gaze slightly, he recited a spell in his mind.
(
Once prepared…
"There!"
He launched sixteen ice spears at the wall of the grand audience hall.
Shatter.
The sound of something breaking echoed through the room.
What appeared was…
"A white mask?"
A figure wearing a white mask and a white robe appeared by the wall.
Abel leaped forward and invaded its range in an instant.
A deadly strike came down.
Clang!
But the white mask blocked the blow.
In that moment, stones began to surround Abel.
"Abel!"
Ryo shouted reflexively.
Of course, there was no response from Abel, who was now encased in stone.
The stone rain continued to fall.
And then…
"Something's coming from the ceiling!"
Princess Iliaja shouted.
Snapping his focus back, Ryo looked up.
"Are they going to drop monsters from the ceiling charms?"
Ryo's expression shifted to one of anger.
"After taking Abel, they're planning to overwhelm us…"
His voice was low, almost a growl.
"Princess, don't move."
"Understood…"
Even Princess Iliaja, who now placed absolute trust in Ryo, felt a hint of fear in his voice.
At the same time, she realized she must not move under any circumstances.
"
Countless streams of water sliced through the monsters being born from the charms.
They were cut down the moment they emerged.
"
Ryo cast a spell that froze everything moving near the ceiling into eternal frost.
The ceiling turned into a world of ice.
But… the charms and talismans remained unaffected.
"Even a fully deployed
Ryo gritted his teeth.
He no longer had his usual composure.
After all, Abel had been taken.
But that was exactly why…
"I'll crush them with force.
Thirty-two magic circles floated in the air.
The circles flew toward the ceiling.
They spread out evenly, growing in size until the thirty-two circles covered the entire ceiling.
"
The magic circles released eternal frost.
The newly emerging monsters were frozen the moment they were born.
Above the magic circles that covered the ceiling, everything was a world of ice.
The charms and talismans weren't frozen, but the monsters they produced were.
Half-born monsters froze solid.
And those monsters froze others in turn.
The frozen monsters and the ceiling itself were encased in ice.
As a result, the talismans could no longer produce new monsters, as if the exit had been blocked by the frozen creatures.
Having successfully sealed them away with brute force, Ryo glared at the white mask.
The white-masked figure muttered something under his breath.
Likely giving orders to the charms and talismans.
Kabui Somal faced off against him but couldn't make a decisive move.
He had seen what had happened to Abel.
He had realized that talismans were set on the ground as well.
Ryo looked at the stone encasing what used to be Abel.
It was like a standing stone coffin.
He didn't think Abel was dead… but he wasn't sure if he was unharmed.
Ryo let out a small, deep breath.
Forcing all the air out of his lungs, he had no choice but to inhale afterward.
As a result, a deep breath was completed.
With that, he regained a bit of composure.
And with that calmness, he remembered.
"Soul Resonance!"
Since reporting to the Knightly Kingdom via ultra-long-distance communication, he had left the connection cut off.
Abel had been right next to him all along, so there had been no need to use it.
Of course, the device was still attached to Ryo's left ear.
((Abel, Abel, can you hear me?))
((Ah, Ryo. Finally. Took you long enough.))
Hearing Abel's voice, Ryo nearly collapsed.
At the very least, his 'soul' was safe.
((Abel was suddenly 'trapped inside a stone'.))
((Yeah, I was careless. I stepped right into a trap… just like in a dungeon.))
((Don't joke around! What's your current situation?))
((It feels like I'm trapped in a stone box? I can move, but it's so cramped that I can't gain any momentum. Even my Combat Art: Perfect Pierce failed due to the lack of space. It seems breaking out from the inside is difficult.))
((Got it. We should carefully cut through the stone.))
((Cut through the stone?))
((Remember back when I used the
((Ah… on the way back from Rondo Forest.))
Ryo and Abel were ambushed by wild golems on their way from Rondo Forest to Rune city.
From one of them, they extracted a magic stone by slowly shaving it down with Ryo's
Ryo intended to use the same method now.
((So, I'll have to deal with the white mask first. Just hang tight for a bit.))
((Alright, I'm counting on you.))
Ryo let out a small breath.
Unlike earlier, a slightly calmer aura surrounded him.
Confirming Abel's safety had brought him some relief.
The only one who noticed this change was Princess Iliaja standing nearby.
"Princess, could you wait here for just a bit longer?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
(
Slash.
Murasame slashed across the white mask's chest in a single stroke.
Even through the mask, it was clear.
The white mask was surprised.
To the white mask, it must have looked like Ryo had appeared out of thin air.
And the floor traps didn't activate.
There was no way he could have noticed Ryo sealing them with
The white mask jumped back.
At the same time, he shot several stone spears behind him, breaking through the wall.
A desperate retreat.
(
Ryo wouldn't let him escape.
Three Ryos appeared.
Two Ryos approached the white mask from the front.
Clang, clang.
The white mask blocked their attacks.
Of course, it was a trap.
Thud.
The white mask jumped back again, but Ryo had already circled behind him and struck the nape of his neck with Murasame.
The white mask collapsed, unconscious.
"Don't worry, it was with the back of the blade."
But there was no one to retort to Ryo's comment.
Feeling a little lonely, Ryo brushed off the feeling and turned to Kabui Somal.
"When I was in the Komakyuta Principality, I saw something like shackles for magicians. Do you have anything like that?"
"Ah, I'll have someone bring them right away."
Ryo approached the princess and bowed.
"Princess Iliaja, thank you for waiting."
"No… Um, what about Abel…?"
"Oh, I forgot."
((Hey, hold on. You've kept the 'Soul Resonance' connected, so you did that on purpose, didn't you?))
((Abel, you could hear me? I thought you couldn't since you didn't comment on the back-of-the-blade strike.))
((What is this back-of-the-blade strike?))
((Oh no… I forgot to teach you that joke. I'll explain it to you later. Also, you should study magic a bit more. Not being able to detect a magic trap is pretty bad.))
((…That was a talisman, wasn't it?))
((It's the same thing at its core. If you study magic properly, you wouldn't fall into such a trap.))
Ryo's reasoning didn't sit well with Abel, but he couldn't argue.
After all, he did fall into the trap.
((I did learn magic properly back when I was in the royal castle. But Ryo's magic and these talismans are so different from what I learned back then…))
((I don't want to hear excuses!))
((Ah, yes…))
((Study properly again.))
((You'll teach me, right, Ryo?))
((I suppose I have no choice. I'll teach you in exchange for cake privileges.))
((How generous. But I feel like it'll involve a mountain of paperwork.))
Hearing Abel's words.
Ryo shuddered.
He imagined himself buried in paperwork while preparing materials to teach Abel.
((G-go ask Sir Ilarion for lectures instead…))
((Ilarion chants his spells, right? That won't work for me.))
((Chanting is trivial. Important people just don't get it.))
((Yeah, I don't get it. So, Ryo, I'm counting on you.))
((I need to think of a good way to escape this…))
((…I can still hear you.))
Five minutes later, the stone coffin was carefully shaved down, and Abel was successfully freed.
However, it wasn't over yet…
"So, how do we remove these talismans and charms?"
"No idea. That's why we captured the white mask alive, right?"
"Well, yeah…"
Ryo and Abel were looking up at the ceiling while having this conversation.
Not only the talismans and charms on the ceiling, but those hidden all over the Grand Audience Hall, couldn't be removed.
In fact, they couldn't even touch them.
It was as if a transparent half-sphere of ice was covering the talismans. When they tried to touch them, their hands were diverted to the side…
"Even knocking the white mask out didn't stop them. But at least the monsters stopped appearing."
"The inquisitors took the white mask for questioning, right? We'll get some information eventually."
Ryo frowned at Abel's words.
"Is it going to be something like torture?"
"Well… in countries where magic and alchemy for forced confessions are well-developed, they probably won't resort to that… But I don't know about the Suje Kingdom or this archipelago region."
"I don't want to see Princess Iliaja involved in something like that, even if Abel might."
"What do you mean, even if Abel might?"
"You know, Abel might say something like, 'Kukuku, confess everything and you'll die an easier death. Now, spit it out!'"
"I don't remember ever saying that. And anyway, in that scenario, you're going to kill them eventually… so how is that an easier death…?"
"Good observation. It just shows that there are terrifying people all around the world."
"Yeah, you're not making sense again."
Abel suddenly remembered something and decided to ask Ryo.
"Hey, earlier you said something strange."
"Hmm? I don't think I said anything stranger than Abel is a good person."
"Stop joking."
"I'm not jo…"
"You mentioned something being an alchemy tool but not really an alchemy tool."
It was what Ryo muttered while watching the talismans begin to launch stones.
Afterward, Ryo fired an ice spear at the wall and dragged the white mask out into the open.
"Oh, that. Remember the bracelet I gave to the princess? It replicates
"Yeah, that blue magic stone."
"Alchemy tools can autonomously create magical phenomena by drawing power from the embedded magic stones. But those talismans and charms don't seem to have magic stones attached, do they?"
"True. So that's why you concluded that someone else was supplying them with magic power?"
"Exactly."
Ryo nodded enthusiastically.
Pleased that he was able to come up with a solution to the problem.
As they were talking.
"Ah!"
Someone suddenly shouted.
Both Ryo and Abel turned toward the person who shouted.
That person was looking up at the ceiling.
When they looked up…
"The talismans are falling down."
"They seem to be coming off on their own."
Indeed, it was like a phenomenon straight out of the late Edo period, where talismans were dancing in the air.
They might have learned about it in social studies.
Talismans were falling from the sky.
However, before they could reach the ground, they burned away.
"Oh…"
Ryo let out a surprised sound.
Not only the talismans that had fallen from the ceiling but all the talismans and charms scattered throughout the Grand Audience Hall burned away in an instant.
"I thought I could at least retrieve one…"
Ryo said with disappointment.
Even if he couldn't figure out the mechanism, he was still curious about what was written on them.
"You couldn't even touch them… I doubt you'd be able to retrieve one."
Abel dismissed the idea.
Having been trapped in stone, he now had a strong aversion to these talismans.
Why did they peel off?
Why did they burn away?
"Your Excellency!"
A guard hurriedly ran into the hall and rushed to Kabui Somal.
He whispered a report to him.
"What?!"
Kabui Somal's face twisted in surprise.
Curious, Ryo and Abel walked over to Kabui Somal.
Seeing them approach, Kabui Somal spoke to them.
"The man we captured earlier… died while being transported."
"What?"
"No way…"
Both Abel and Ryo were shocked.
But at the same time, they understood.
The man's death had caused the talismans and charms to peel off and burn away.
"His body suddenly burst into flames during transport. As a result, there's no corpse left, everything turned to ash."
"Thoroughly prepared, huh?"
"Did the white mask have that mechanism built-in, or is there still an accomplice out there…?"
Kabui Somal provided more details, Abel shared his thoughts, and Ryo got to the core of the matter.
Just then, Princess Iliaja approached them.
"Lord Protector, I've heard the report. We will proceed with the coronation ceremony."
"Y-Your Highness…"
Kabui Somal was taken aback by Princess Iliaja's announcement.
"Even after such disruptions. I want to show that the Suje Kingdom remains unshaken."
"I understand your point, but there may still be enemies remaining…"
"I have people who will protect me. So, it will be fine."
With those words, Princess Iliaja looked at Ryo and Abel.
"Leave it to us."
"I think it's the right decision."
Ryo accepted the responsibility, and Abel supported the decision.
Seeing this, Kabui Somal bowed his head.
"Understood. Please wait about ten minutes. While we prepare."
And ten minutes later, Princess Iliaja was crowned queen.
-x-X-x-
"It was a wonderful coronation ceremony."
Ryo said happily.
Ryo and Abel were leaving the Great Audience Hall and heading toward the east pavilion of the 'White Annex'.
Queen Iliaja and Lord Protector Kabui Somal had tasks such as reporting to the spirits and hosting a dinner for foreign ambassadors in the evening, but the two of them were almost done with their work.
Though they had been asked to attend the dinner, it was more as guests than as guards, much like during the coronation.
"Well, considering there was such an uproar just before, I think it went pretty well."
Abel replied.
"Abel, even though the whole country is in a celebratory mood… if you keep making sarcastic remarks like that, no one will be pleased. People tend to distance themselves from sarcastic people."
"I'm not being sarcastic, though…"
Ryo didn't want Abel to become someone who only made sarcastic remarks.
The trend of praising cynics and critics as cool was outdated!
"People like those who are honest. And as king, you must be aware of that."
"Why does that apply to the king?"
"Sarcasm from someone with power is a weapon. If the king wields such a weapon, it could destabilize the country."
"Is that so…? Well, I think I'm an honest person."
Abel was generally seen as straightforward and bold by the leaders of neighboring countries.
It was a reputation that placed him at the opposite end of the spectrum from schemers.
"Just stay calm and be a clean and honest king, Abel. We'll handle the dirty work."
"Ryo will?"
"Yes, leave it to me. If you find the Debuhi Empire bothersome, I'll deal with the emperor. If the Union is a nuisance, I'll freeze their capital. Leave the scheming to us, and you just be a good king…"
"That's not scheming at all, though. And I don't want that."
"Or are you perhaps aiming to annex all the central countries at once…?"
"Hell no!"
It seemed that the ambitions of the premier duke and the king would not be put into action.
The British Prime Minister Disraeli once said,
"The world is governed by very different persons from what is imagined by those who are not behind the scenes."
Even though the world changes and times change… some things remain unchanged…
When the two of them entered the pavilion, there was an extra mannequin.
Abel's leather armor was there.
"Oh, it's been repaired."
Abel said, his voice slightly excited.
As a swordsman, he was pleased to see his gear restored.
This leather armor had been repaired by a craftsman at Kabui Somal's request.
Abel had been wearing ceremonial attire for guests today, and for the past few days, he had been dressed in clothes resembling a captain of the royal guard, with white as the primary color.
During that time, the armor had been repaired.
"It's impressive. You'd never know there was once a big hole in it."
Ryo said as he inspected the armor, touching it with his fingers.
Abel's leather armor had been made for the king of the Knightley Kingdom.
It was meant for battle, and Abel had favored leather armor since his days as a swordsman, so even as king, he continued to wear it.
However, being king, it was, of course, the highest quality.
Though practical, it had just enough decoration to avoid being too extravagant, and even to Ryo's eyes, it was elegant.
"Is it the same repair technique as what was done in the Komakyuta Principality?"
"Hmm, probably the same."
Ryo nodded in response to Abel's question.
Without alchemy, such a perfect repair would be impossible.
"Alright, I've made up my mind. I'll practice with this on the ship."
"On the ship?"
"Yes. Now that the princess—no, Her Majesty the Queen's coronation is over, we can probably be dismissed, right? Then we'll be sent to the continent. I'll practice on the ship."
"Hmm…I wonder when we'll be able to leave."
While Ryo's thoughts were already focused on the sea route to the continent, Abel remained grounded in reality.
"The Ghegish-Lu Federation is in the midst of a civil war, and relations with the Atinjo Grand Duchy have rapidly deteriorated with this Suje Kingdom… right?"
"Ah, that's true, but… the continent isn't just those two nations, right?"
"Of course, but if they've only been trading with those places, then they only know the seas around there. No matter how skilled the navigator is, it's impossible to sail through unknown waters. You don't know what's out there, or who."
"I see."
Ryo, who usually had many counterarguments to Abel's words, nodded in agreement this time.
Indeed, they had no idea what might be out there.
It's one thing to deal with a single Kraken, but Abel had said they tend to swarm…
If they ran into a group, an ordinary ship would surely sink.
Even Ryo's second ship of the Rondo-Class, the Neil Andersen, wasn't guaranteed to survive.
Three days later, Kabui Somal came to explain their journey.
"A free city?"
"A free city!"
Abel asked in confusion, while Ryo exclaimed in wonder.
As far as Abel knew, there were no free cities in the central countries.
However, during his time studying as the second prince in the royal castle, he had heard of small nations called free cities existing in the eastern and western countries…or even on the dark continent.
This knowledge led to his question.
Ryo, of course, knew from his knowledge of Earth that free cities had existed.
Naturally, the enchanting term also appeared frequently in stories…
In terms of world history in high school, the concept of free cities refers to cities in Germany and the Holy Roman Empire.
These cities, which originated from episcopal cities, gained a status directly under the Holy Roman Emperor.
Because they were exempt from taxes and military service, they were called 'free' cities…however, this idea of freedom is somewhat different from the 'free' cities that often appear in stories.
In terms of Japanese history in high school, examples might include Hakata during the Muromachi period or Sakai during the Sengoku period.
These cities were self-governed by powerful merchants.
Which is closer to the image of 'free' cities that appear in stories.
Of course, in the end, the autonomy of these cities eventually came to an end under the rule of a powerful leader…
"Free City of Kwebasa is located between the Ghegish-Lu Federation at the southern tip of the continent and the Atinjo Grand Duchy. The city governs a peninsula and several surrounding islands."
"Between the Ghegish-Lu Federation, which is in the midst of a civil war, and the Atinjo Grand Duchy, which has been meddling recently? I understand that we're lucky just to be sent anywhere, but…is that place really safe?"
Abel raised his concerns directly in response to Kabui Somal's explanation.
If they were left in an unsuitable place, things could get tough… tough …well, they could manage anywhere…?
"I understand your concern, Sir Abel. However, that is a city that has maintained its independence for over a hundred years, despite being between those two countries. In fact, it is said that its military strength, particularly its naval power, is on par with both the Federation and the Grand Duchy."
"That's honestly surprising. There are no free cities in the central countries, but I have some knowledge about them. Typically, free cities maintain a balance with neighboring countries, and their existence is permitted because no single country can dominate them… otherwise, other countries would be at a disadvantage and step in… I've heard that many free cities are like that."
Hearing Abel's words, Kabui Somal widened his eyes in surprise.
"Color me surprised. You are correct. However, Kwebasa is an exception. It has existed as a trading port for hundreds of years. The first governor of Kwebasa gained a charter of independence from the kingdom that ruled the area at the time… That kingdom was eventually absorbed into the Federation, but Kwebasa has continued to exist as a free city. What makes Kwebasa even more advantageous is that it is also a trading port."
"I see. That makes it easier to find ships heading further north on the continent."
"Exactly."
Kabui Somal nodded deeply in response to Abel's words.
"Hmm."
Abel muttered as he crossed his arms and began to think.
In the meantime, what was Ryo doing? He was quietly sitting on a chair, sipping coffee.
He was a very considerate magician who knew not to interfere.
Since it was a matter concerning their future, it was only natural not to interrupt.
As Abel was deep in thought, Kabui Somal started talking to Ryo.
But about something else, not about the journey.
"Sir Ryo, regarding the bracelet Her Majesty received…"
"Oh right. If you recharge it with magic power, it can be used repeatedly. Any magician can do it. Oh, you know, like that admiral who returned from the Komakyuta Principality…"
"Admiral Rockday?"
"Yes, Admiral Rockday, the one who made a big hole in Abel. I think he has a lot of magic power, so he should be able to handle it. The magic power recharge doesn't need to be done by a water-attribute magician. There's a circuit for that in the magic circle."
Ryo said this with a satisfied smile.
Even though it was a rush job, he thought he had done a pretty good job.
At first, he considered making it exclusively for Queen Iliaja, but then he thought about the possibility of her giving it to someone else to protect them… so he made it more versatile.
"It's designed so that anyone can use it. Just be careful not to let it be stolen, okay?"
Ryo added a word of caution.
"Thank you. Her Majesty is very fond of it and has been wearing it constantly since receiving it."
"Oh, I'm glad to hear that."
Kabui Somal responded with a smile, and Ryo also nodded with a smile.
It was truly gratifying to know that something you created and gave to someone was being cherished.
"And… regarding the payment for that bracelet…"
"Payment?"
Kabui Somal asked, and Ryo tilted his head.
"Yes, we understand its extraordinary value given its performance. However, to be honest, we are unsure of how much would be an appropriate amount to pay. Neither I nor the alchemists at the castle can determine its worth…"
"It's free."
"We couldn't possibly accept that…"
Kabui Somal panicked at Ryo's words.
"Hmm… but the magic stone is very small… and you handled the bracelet's decorations yourselves…"
"But that is a water magic stone. Even in this archipelago region surrounded by the sea, water magic stones are extremely rare. On top of that, the magic formula that activates the ice armor… it's unimaginable…"
"Then how about this? Since you helped repair Abel's armor, let's consider it even."
"Sorry, but that's not nearly enough."
"Uh…"
Apparently, Ryo's suggestion was far from sufficient.
"You've been providing us with three meals a day, plus snacks. The bed is excellent, and the coffee is delicious… Honestly, I don't need anything more…"
"This is troubling…"
Ryo grumbled, and Kabui Somal shook his head slightly, also grumbling.
At that moment, Abel opened his eyes.
"Ryo, I think traveling to the Free City of Kwebasa would be the best option."
Abel declared clearly.
After much thought, he had made up his mind.
When one decides after careful consideration, they are also ready to take responsibility for the outcome, whatever it may be.
"I'm fine with the free city as well."
Ryo replied, without giving it much thought.
If Abel was fine with it, then so was he… honestly, that was about the extent of his decision-making.
"Thank you very much."
Kabui Somal said, bowing his head after hearing their answers.
He then continued.
"The departure is scheduled for three weeks from now. Of course, that depends on the condition of the sea. We have arranged for an offshore cruiser from the central navy. It's a fast ship, and since it's a warship, it won't rock much even in open waters. However, even with smooth sailing, the journey will take over forty days. Of course, we will make several stops along the way, so you won't be stuck on the ship the entire time."
"Hear that. Looks like you'll have forty days, Ryo. Plenty of time to study."
"Abel… you're only encouraging me to study restoration alchemy so I can fix your armor the next time you put a big hole in it, aren't you!"
"Ah. You caught on quickly."
"…I'll charge you for it."
"Trying to extort money from an innocent swordsman? You're a disgrace to magicians everywhere."
"…I think your comebacks are starting to sound a lot like mine."
"Noticed that, did you? I thought I'd try imitating you a little."
Abel said with a mischievous smile, fully aware he'd been caught teasing on purpose.
Ryo looked at him with a pained expression.
Surely, the relationship between swordsmen and magicians was destined to always be one of rivalry.
-x-X-x-
After the two had decided on their travel plans, Queen Iliaja began visiting them whenever she could find time.
Alternatively, they were often invited to tea parties with her.
Today as well, the three of them had just finished a tea party.
"It really must be tough to become a king. Both the Queen and you, Abel, are remarkable."
"…Even if you suddenly praise me, I won't give you anything."
"You should be more honest and accept the compliment."
"That's because of how Ryo usually acts…"
"That's so mean…"
Ryo pretended to be hurt by Abel's words.
Of course, he wasn't hurt at all.
It was just playful banter.
"Still, it's surprising."
"What is?"
Ryo picked up on Abel's murmured words.
"I thought Queen Iliaja would try to keep us here… but she hasn't even suggested it once."
"Hmm? Are you trying to say that someone as capable as you should obviously be kept around? Abel, that's a bit too self-centered."
"No, that's not what I meant…"
"Besides, even if we were asked to stay, we'd have to refuse anyway."
"Well, that's true, but…"
"Abel, you're such an attention-seeker."
"I am not!"
Ryo shook his head with a sad expression, pointing it out, and Abel denied it.
"Kabui Somal tried to make me stay. Didn't they say anything to you, Ryo?"
"Ah, now that you mention it, I kind of remember something like that… but I don't really recall. I wasn't going to stay anyway."
"Y-yeah."
Abel was at a loss for words in response to Ryo's blunt remark.
Though what Ryo said was true…
As usual, more words would follow, contradicting Ryo's previous statement.
"I think Abel should take life more seriously."
"Why do I feel like I'm being told this by the wrong person? It's so unfair."
"Because I'm really serious. I always live my life with full effort."
"I've never seen a truly serious person say that about themselves…"
"If I don't promote myself sometimes, no one else will say it."
"Maybe no one says it because you're not serious, Ryo…"
"Did you say something?"
"No, nothing at all."
Ryo sharply questioned, and Abel smoothly dodged it.
Sharp attacks shouldn't be taken head-on.
While exchanging their usual banter, Ryo's behavior during the first week after their departure plans were set was odd.
Though one could say, "Isn't he always odd?".
Whenever he found spare time, he started writing something.
At first, Abel thought it was his usual alchemy.
But after a bit of thought, he realized something was off.
Normally, in such cases, Ryo would bring out an ice slab and start drawing magic formulas or magic circles on it.
But this time, he was writing on paper with a pen.
Naturally curious, Abel approached him and asked, "What are you writing?".
But Ryo blatantly hid it.
"Could you show me?"
"No."
He was clearly refused.
Since then, Ryo became even more cautious about Abel approaching him.
At that point, Abel's curiosity grew stronger.
He really wanted to know what Ryo was up to.
However, Ryo's defenses were solid.
In the end, he even encased himself in an ice wall and began writing inside an ice room…
This strange behavior lasted for just one week.
After that, for the next two weeks, there was nothing of the sort…
And before long, even Abel forgot about Ryo's peculiar actions.
After all, Ryo being odd was nothing new.
"Do you think a king is a lonely existence?"
Queen Iliaja's words were spoken so softly they could almost be considered a whisper.
Still, Ryo and Abel, who were sitting at the same table, sipping coffee, heard her.
Ryo simply tilted his head, saying nothing.
He recognized that this was not a question for him to answer, but rather for his companion.
"I believe it's the same as asking whether the head of a family is lonely."
"The head of a family? Like a father or mother?"
"Yes. For a king, the people are like family. It's a metaphor, but I genuinely believe it. Otherwise, why would anyone sacrifice everything, devote themselves completely to governing a nation for the sake of their people, sometimes working from morning until night, buried in paperwork? It's because they consider them family that they don't abandon their duties even in such a situation."
"I see."
"Many children love their parents. Very dearly. They grow up watching their parents' backs. When you think about it that way, I don't believe a king is lonely."
At Abel's words, Princess Iliaja nodded several times.
Abel continued.
"Of course, in some families, the parents may neglect their children. In such cases, the children are unhappy. The same goes for a country. If the king neglects the people, they will suffer. But if the king loves the people as a parent loves their child… I don't think it's such a difficult concept."
"Your words have cleared up a lot of things for me. Thank you."
Queen Iliaja stood up and bowed her head.
"No, I didn't say anything that important. It's just how I feel."
Abel hurriedly responded.
"Even so. Your words give me confidence that I can do this as a queen."
Queen Iliaja smiled brightly as she said that.
In this way, the last two weeks passed joyfully for the two of them, with Queen Iliaja often joining them.
They received their pay for serving as her guards until her coronation, and they were also given a bonus for their contributions during the ceremony.
It was enough money to buy anything they wanted…
However, since they could eat anything they liked within the royal castle, and the castle's library had an even more extensive collection than the capital's public library, they rarely went outside, meaning they hardly spent any money at all.
On the day of departure.
"I have exchanged the money for Denari, the currency of the Free City of Kwebasa. It's said that Denari can be used almost anywhere in the eastern countries. So it should be very convenient."
"Thank you."
Ryo expressed his gratitude to Kabui Somal for taking care of everything and bowed his head.
"If the people are like family, then when you need strength, you can rely on them. The king and the people are not in opposition. It's okay. As long as you maintain a good relationship with them regularly, they will help you when the time comes."
"Yes. Thank you."
Queen Iliaja smiled at Abel's words.
Then, the queen turned to Kabui Somal and said,
"Lord Protector, please hand it to them."
"Understood."
Kabui Somal then stood in front of Abel.
"Sir Abel, this is a token of gratitude from the Suje Kingdom. Please accept it."
"Thanks. Hmm? This is… a book?"
The book Kabui Somal handed him was not very large.
Abel read the cover.
"Umm… 'Abel, the Hungry Swordsman' by Ryo Mihara… What?"
"This is the original version in Central Countries' language. The archipelago region language version is currently being translated and will be published in the Suje Kingdom as soon as it is completed."
"Wait, wait, wait, wait."
Abel hastily interrupted Kabui Somal's explanation.
Then, Abel turned to Ryo.
"This is your work, right?!"
"Yes. You recognized it because my name is listed as the author?"
"It's the title you mentioned before…"
Abel remembered.
The title that Ryo had casually thrown out just to get Abel's attention.
"So that's it! The week you wouldn't show me what you were writing was this manuscript!"
"Well, now that you've figured it out, there's nothing I can do about it. I also have a plan for a sequel, 'Abel, the Stuffed Swordsman'. This is the debut work of novelist Ryo! And it's a super-rare first edition! You better take good care of it."
"…"
Abel didn't respond to Ryo's words.
"D-Don't you dare throw it away!"
"I wouldn't throw away a book."
Abel responded with a wry smile as Ryo hastily warned him.
Then he continued.
"Well, thanks."
Queen Iliaja and Lord Protector Kabui Somal watched the exchange with amused expressions.
Kabui Somal handed Abel another item.
"The previous one was from Sir Ryo. This one is purely a token of gratitude from the kingdom."
"A dagger?"
Abel unsheathed it and inspected it carefully.
"This is exquisite. Are you sure it's okay to give me something this fine?"
"It is our token of appreciation."
Queen Iliaja smiled as she spoke.
Ryo nodded happily as he watched from the side.
In fact, Queen Iliaja had consulted Ryo. About what to give Abel as a gift.
Ryo had immediately suggested either a dagger or a knife.
During his adventurer days, Abel always carried a dagger alongside his usual magic sword.
Adventurers often used daggers to extract magic stones from monsters or for camping.
However, Abel currently didn't have a dagger.
When he led the army as a king to battle against the demon.
He brought his beloved magic sword to the battlefield but didn't carry a dagger.
After being transported to the archipelago region in that state.
He hadn't acquired any new daggers or knives.
While Ryo was working on strategies against the Kraken, Abel had prepared meals.
Using his large magic sword for most things…
For tasks that required finer work, he borrowed Ryo's knife.
The one crafted by Michael.
Although they had opportunities to buy one in places like the city of Manyamya, staying at high-class inns like the Blue Jade Inn meant he had little need for a knife.
So, he ended up never getting one, which brings us to the present.
"This one is for you, Sir Ryo."
"Huh? For me? I already got my book published, so I don't need anything else."
"No, since you have agreed to donate all the proceeds from the book, it ends up being a considerable debt the kingdom owes you. There's also the matter of the bracelet."
"Is that so? Oh? A book. A new one? 'The Abyss of Alchemy?' Wait, is this an alchemy book?"
"Yes. We couldn't give you the original, so this is a copy. It is one of the royal family's forbidden books, containing much advanced alchemy knowledge. Even the alchemists currently residing in the royal castle are not permitted to read it. And even those who were granted permission found it completely incomprehensible. However, we believe that perhaps, in your case, Sir Ryo…"
"Oh…"
"Even if it's difficult now, we thought that one day, you might be able to understand it."
"Yes, yes! Of course, I will! I'll definitely be able to read it someday! Oh, what a wonderful gift… Lord Protector, Your Majesty, thank you so much."
Ryo said this as he beamed with joy.
He genuinely looked happy, bowing his head in gratitude.
"This life of mine was saved by you, Sir Ryo. I should be the one thanking you."
Queen Iliaja also smiled warmly as she bowed her head in return.
"May favorable winds guide you both on your journey."
With Queen Iliaja's words seeing them off, the two left the Suje Kingdom.
The cruiser that carried them continued until it disappeared beyond the horizon. Queen Iliaja and Kabui Somal watched them from the harbor until they were out of sight.
"I have something to apologize for to Your Majesty."
"What is it, Lord Protector?"
"I actually proposed to Sir Abel and Sir Ryo that they stay in the kingdom…"
"They declined, didn't they?"
Queen Iliaja smiled knowingly.
"Yes. I made every suggestion I could within my authority, but…"
"Lord Protector, it was never possible to keep those two here. It is not your fault."
"…With such talent. I thought Your Majesty would want them to stay…"
"Of course, it would have been best if they stayed… However, it seems that you weren't aware of something, Lord Protector."
"Hmm?"
Queen Iliaja smiled as she continued speaking.
"They are both from the Kingdom of Knightley in the Central Countries."
"Yes."
"How much do you know about the Kingdom of Knightley, Lord Protector?"
"Since it's a distant country, not much… But I do know it's one of the three great powers of the Central Countries… and that there was a civil war three years ago. The current king, the second prince, led half of the nation's forces and defeated the former king's brother, who had allied with the army of the Debuhi Empire, and became the reigning monarch."
"Correct. And what is the name of this second prince, now the current king?"
"King Abel I, if I remember correctly."
"Yes. The once-famous adventurer, and unparalleled swordsman—Abel-san."
At that moment, Kabui Somal's body trembled.
"No way! Sir Abel… is King Abel I?! I did sense he held a high position in the kingdom, but, I never imagined…"
"Almost certainly. I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with him. During that time, he spoke many words as a king. His words carried the weight of someone who had led half a nation, driven out foreign invaders, unified his country, and continued to stand on equal footing with surrounding great powers… such feats are no easy matter. To love one's people and one's country. That is the mark of a true king."
Iliaja was convinced that Abel was indeed King Abel I.
"If that is the case… then it would be impossible to keep him in this land. But then, the man traveling with him, Sir Ryo…?"
"Don't you see?"
"I'm ashamed of my ignorance…"
"If the famous Lord Protector Kabui Somal, feared as the undefeated admiral by the neighboring nations, doesn't know, then it's understandable. I only know because I enjoy listening to the tales of wandering minstrels."
Kabui Somal bowed his head in embarrassment, and Queen Iliaja responded with a gentle smile.
"They say that King Abel is accompanied by a single magician. His magic can erase the skies, shatter the earth, and freeze the world with mighty water magic. It was no illusion when he defeated an army of a hundred thousand with a single strike. The people call him 'Ice Fall' or 'Silver Duke'."
Princess Iliaja sang in a unique rhythm.
Like a minstrel.
"That's…"
"It's 'The Song of Duke Rondo'. Ryo-san is Duke Rondo… the highest-ranking duke of the kingdom. Minstrels are singing about him everywhere. I always thought it was an exaggeration when they sang about him defeating a hundred thousand with one blow, but… after seeing that ice spear from the ship, I began to believe it might have actually happened."
"I see…"
Both Queen Iliaja and Lord Protector Kabui Somal recalled Ryo's
"I have a feeling… that we will meet those two again someday."
Iliaja's whispered words were heard by no one…