Chapter 0476 Clash of Swords
-x-X-x-
Clash of swords.
A battle between swordsmen.
The blue man had a height and build almost identical to Abel's.
His sword was also about the same size as Abel's magic sword.
"Swordsman, you're wielding an interesting sword."
"Blue man, people usually have names, you know."
Abel responded to the blue man's provocative words with words that were purely provocative themselves.
"Is that so? I didn't know that. So, swordsman, what's your name?"
"Is that so? Didn't know that either, huh? Well, here's another thing you might not know: when you ask someone their name, you're supposed to give yours first."
"I didn't know that either. My name is Lau."
"…You're surprisingly straightforward."
The blue man, Lau, answered honestly with a laugh, but Abel still didn't give his name.
"If you're not going to tell me, that's fine. I'll just call you the descendant of Richard."
For a moment, Abel was at a loss for words upon hearing Lau's comment, spoken with a grin.
Though at a loss for words, his sword and body kept moving.
Both were in the midst of their sword fight.
"How do you know about King Richard…?"
"Him? Well, that's because I fought him a long time ago."
"Seriously… between djinns and ghost ships, how far did my ancestors roam?"
"Hmm? I don't think it was a ghost ship back then… but whatever."
Lau's final words were too quiet for Abel to hear.
"So, why do you think I'm Richard's descendant?"
"Well, it's obvious, isn't it? That sword of yours."
"This?"
Abel was confused by Lau's remark.
Abel's magic sword was glowing red as usual… but it wasn't some legendary sword passed down from king to king.
Technically, it had been one of the swords lying dormant in the royal treasury, and he had just picked it up when he became an adventurer.
He had indeed been drawn to it in the treasury, but…
"I just picked it up because it was lying around."
" 'Ex' was just lying around? The world's full of mysteries."
Abel, rather honestly, explained.
Lau tilted his head in confusion.
"Well, no matter. Capturing a descendant of Richard would still be quite the prize."
"Try it if you can!"
Abel's sword skills had dulled during his three years of royal duties.
Of course, he practiced whenever he found time, and he occasionally engaged in mock battles, but it wasn't the same as the life-or-death stakes of his adventuring days.
There was no sense of danger.
Naturally, he became rusty.
But since returning to the battlefield, he had fought and defeated Orenj, a minion of the djinn, and then been thrust into the Archipelago region, where he stormed enemy ships and seized their flagship.
His senses had sharpened.
He had gained new insights through experiences unlike any he had had before.
He'd encountered new sword techniques, knife skills, and all sorts of combat methods.
These experiences had pushed Abel to a new level, beyond even his adventuring days.
Abel himself hadn't realized it.
He simply felt his body moved better than he expected.
Ryo, however, had noticed Abel's growth.
While wielding his sword on the deck of the Lone Dark as usual, Ryo had been certain of it.
As a magician who also wielded a sword.
Ryo had long observed Abel's swordsmanship.
That's why he had noticed.
Though, he hadn't told Abel.
There wasn't really a need to go out of his way to mention it.
If this had been before the Djinn War, Abel likely wouldn't have been able to defeat Lau.
It might have been decided in about ten strikes.
But now…
"Ugh…you're strong, descendant!"
"What's with calling me descendant? That's too vague. My name's Abel. Remember it."
Three thrusts followed by a sweeping slash.
Abel's sword aimed for Lau's neck.
Clang!
But of course, Lau wasn't easily defeated.
He deflected Abel's slash, and the roles of attacker and defender switched.
The two swordsmen's battle grew fiercer with each exchange of attack and defense.
A short distance from this swordsmen's duel, another pair were engaged in their own clash of swords.
"I will make you and that swordsman my eternal captives."
"I refuse."
"You seem strong enough. I might even make you a royal guard."
"Uh, are you even listening to me?"
The conversation between the blue woman and Ryo was completely disjointed.
"Before making you my eternal captive, I suppose I should ask for your name. I am Fan, your future master. That's the name of yours truly. Now, what's your name?"
"Um, Fan, I'm not planning to be anyone's captive…"
"Your name is 'Captive-san'? That's an unusual name."
"No, no. It's Ryo. My name is Ryo."
"Ryo… A nice name."
"T-thanks, I guess?"
Fan suddenly smiled and complimented Ryo's name. Catching him off guard as he said 'thank you'.
Despite their strange conversation, their sword fight was intense.
Fan attacked, and Ryo defended.
Occasionally, Ryo countered, but Fan skillfully evaded his strikes.
To Ryo, this was a familiar pattern.
During this exchange, he analyzed her swordsmanship.
Naturally, Ryo's defense was flawless.
So, even though he was on the defensive, it wasn't a problem.
Or at least, it shouldn't have been…
"Hmm…"
Despite his best efforts, Ryo found himself with minor cuts.
He was certain he had dodged every strike.
Was it magic?
But the cuts appeared on his body through his Fairy King's Robe.
The robe had a self-repair function, quickly restoring any damage, but…Ryo's body didn't have that luxury.
"This is strange…"
Ryo muttered, and it seemed Fan heard him, as she spoke.
"Your Fairy King's Water Robe can't block my attacks."
"What…?"
Ryo was shocked that Fan knew about his robe, but even more so by the fact that it couldn't block her attacks.
Two layers of surprise.
"Could you tell me why it can't block them?"
"I'll tell you if you become my royal guard."
"I'll have to decline."
Ryo politely refused Fan's offer.
"Why do you refuse? You'll be freed from all suffering."
"The royal guards are skeletons too, right?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Then I must decline."
"Why?"
"Because skeletons can't eat cake!"
Ryo scowled as he answered.
Wasn't it obvious?
"What is cake?"
Fan didn't know what cake was.
"If you didn't know, I suppose it can't be helped…"
Ryo looked at Fan with pity, as if seeing someone truly unfortunate.
Then, he returned his thoughts to the battle.
He was taking damage that he couldn't see.
In that case, he should equip
He had been thinking that since the beginning of the fight.
However…
He had a bad feeling about it.
He wasn't sure why, but it felt like using
Ryo believed that his brain was subconsciously warning him, based on all the knowledge and experience he had accumulated.
'It's kind of a bad feeling', or 'It doesn't feel right'.
Those weren't just whims.
They were genuinely 'bad' and 'no'.
Even if he couldn't explain them to others logically.
Of course, it didn't mean that he was always right.
That was natural.
Humans aren't capable of being right 100% of the time.
Even when the 'bad feeling' comes from logical thinking, it's not always correct.
Still, when working with others… such vague feelings like 'this doesn't feel right' could cause problems…
"I wish I knew why I feel this way…"
Ryo muttered to himself.
He was amid an intense swordfight with Fan, skillfully defending, though he was accumulating small cuts here and there.
"Earlier, Fan said, 'The Water Fairy King's robe can't block my attacks'."
Of course, it could be a lie.
There was no guarantee that the enemy would be truthful in a fight.
But whatever decisions were made, the first step was to consider the information at hand.
"The Water…Fairy King's robe…?"
There had been others before who recognized Ryo's robe as the 'Fairy King's robe' at a glance.
Akuma Leonor, Sera, Obaba-sama of the Western Forest, the Djinn Garwin… none of them were human…
But not one of them had ever called it the 'Water Fairy King's' robe.
They just referred to it as the 'Fairy King's robe', without specifying 'Water'.
Could that be a clue?
Ryo looked at the blue, glowing woman in front of him — Fan…
"Blue? Water? Could it be… some sort of water-attribute monster?"
Ryo's words slipped out of his mouth.
They weren't loud, but the opponent was right in front of him.
Naturally, she heard.
"Yes, that's more or less correct."
Fan said, nodding repeatedly.
With that, Ryo understood everything.
It was the first time he had encountered a water-attribute monster outside of the sea, like the Kraken or Bait Ball.
He had never heard of such a creature before.
But without a doubt, Fan had been wielding water-attribute magic far longer than he had.
In other words, Fan surpassed him in controlling water-attribute magic.
If Ryo used water-attribute magic, there was a chance she could seize control of it…
If he had created
Only death awaited him.
Ryo shuddered.
He wanted to commend himself for trusting his 'bad feeling' and not using
At the same time, he reached a single conclusion.
(This fight… I can't use magic…)
For a swordsman, not being able to use magic wouldn't be a problem.
That's why Abel wasn't troubled.
He was worried about something else.
"So, your name is Lau. You're strong."
Indeed, the blue man named Lau was strong.
He was about the same size as Abel, wielded a similar sword, and while their sword techniques differed greatly… there were many similarities, which made Lau's strength easy to feel.
"Hahaha, Abel, you're interesting. Most people either bluff or lose the will to fight. But you… you have a strong heart. It seems you've fought some formidable foes before."
"Yeah. I've fought plenty of legendary and formidable opponents, including you."
Lau laughed as he spoke, and Abel gave a wry smile in response.
Indeed, Abel thought.
It wasn't always like this.
He had fought strong foes in the past, but at least they were human.
Or at least, ordinary monsters.
But after a certain point, things changed.
It all started after he washed ashore in the Rondo Forest and met that water-attribute magician…
"Life was peaceful before then…"
Abel muttered to himself.
"Like hell it was!"
For some reason, the blue man in front of him denied it.
"Once 'Ex' chose you, peace was no longer an option."
"Wait a second, you don't know anything about my situation, Lau. You have no idea."
"Yeah, I don't know anything about your personal circumstances. But I do know that as long as you wield 'Ex', peace will never be possible. That's just the kind of sword it is."
"That's… unsettling…"
Abel reflexively glanced at the red sword he wielded.
"Isn't it fine? In the end, strength is what matters. The strong dictate the terms. And people follow because they know they'll survive. It's not about being right, it's about survival. If you don't prove yourself with actions, no one will follow you. Who cares about logic? Actions speak louder than words, don't they?"
"…You sound awfully human for a monster."
"You fool, we've been around long before humans. It's humans who copied us. Abel, I'm lenient, so I'll let that slide, but to others, that kind of talk could get you killed."
"I see… my bad. I guess thinking in human terms is a bad habit of mine."
"Being able to apologize honestly is a good thing."
Abel was being lectured by a monster.
Though, was Lau really a 'monster'… he glowed blue, so at the very least, he wasn't an ordinary human.
(Having existed longer than humans…? It's a ghost 'ship', right? But weren't ships made by humans?)
As Abel unconsciously swings his sword, these thoughts run through his mind.
However, he could understand that the entity possessed a deep intelligence.
Of course, it also gave off the impression of being a battle maniac.
At that moment, Lau leaped backward, creating distance.
Abel didn't pursue but observed.
He had somewhat grasped Lau's sword techniques, but the full extent of Lau's strength was still unclear.
It was too terrifying to chase such an opponent.
If it was a trap, he'd be finished instantly.
"Hmm, your judgment isn't bad. Abel, you're quite intriguing."
"Why, thank you."
"Alright, I'm taking it up a notch. Try to keep up!"
The moment Lau said this, he disappeared.
Clang.
"Ugh…"
Abel let out a muffled groan.
Lau had disappeared and then jumped high into the air, striking down from above.
From a height no human could reach.
(He's finally showing his true, non-human nature… No, this isn't the time to be thinking about that. There's no room for idle thoughts.)
Thinking that, Abel exhaled a short breath.
With that one breath, he cleared his mind of unnecessary thoughts.
"Hoh…"
A voice of admiration escaped Lau's lips.
Lau realized that Abel had focused entirely on the battle before him with just one breath.
Lau had crossed swords with many swordsmen over the years.
The sword is a fascinating weapon. Despite minor differences, similar weapons exist all over the world.
Throughout all eras.
This means that, for bipedal creatures standing about two meters tall, it's the most suitable weapon.
Among all the swordsmen he had fought, the one before him—Abel—was undoubtedly first-rate.
"The question is… are you truly elite!"
Lau slashed as he leaped backward.
Abel also jumped back, dodging it.
The two maintained their distance… but it wasn't a reset.
Using the momentum of his backward leap, Lau closed the gap in an instant.
Simultaneously, he thrust.
Slashed. A downward diagonal slash, then upward. Another thrust…
He moved in a clockwise direction, chaining techniques as he circled around Abel.
Lau's sword speed was now incomparable to before.
But Abel calmly received each attack.
Lau had told him to "try and keep up", so Abel had anticipated a scenario where he would be on the defensive.
Even though Abel was told to "keep up", that didn't mean he would block Lau's strikes head-on.
As the speed increased, so did the power.
Taking it head-on would be…
If it were a human opponent, it would be fine.
Even someone like Warren with his monstrous strength, one could estimate the impact.
However, Abel had faced beings literally beyond human, like the demon prince or minions of a djinn.
Their swords were dangerous to block directly, even when defending.
Abel's magic sword wouldn't break.
But Abel's own body wouldn't hold up.
Lau's sword likely required the same kind of handling.
Thus, Abel deflected before the sword's full momentum built up, diverting its force… not letting Lau fully extend his arm.
At first, he thought through this approach. It had a slight roughness to it.
However, as time passed, his movements became more refined.
Deflect.
Redirect.
Don't let him extend.
With the sword movements, Abel's body movements became even more polished.
The movements of his arms.
His legs.
His torso.
All of them flowed as one.
His sight.
His hearing.
His sense of touch.
All became one unified sensation.
Abel's body was now moving unconsciously.
His thoughts had already ceased.
Abel's entire being was…immersed in nothingness.
A state of selflessness.
At that moment, Abel narrowly dodged Lau's thrust, letting it graze his leather armor.
And then he plunged his glowing red sword into Lau's chest.
"Ugh…"
A groan escaped Lau's mouth.
Abel withdrew his sword, spun his body, and in one motion, severed Lau's head.
"Phew…"
Abel breathed heavily.
Even in one breath, he couldn't calm his excitement or steady his breathing.
From past experience, he knew just stabbing Lau in the chest wouldn't be enough, so he made sure to also decapitate him.
Neither the stab to the chest nor the decapitation gave him the sense of breaking a magic core.
Of course, there are monsters without magic cores, so he couldn't say for sure…
Abel kept his guard up, watching Lau intently.
At the same time, he finally had enough composure to pay attention to the other battle.
With just a glance, he could see that Ryo's face had several cuts.
Ryo, known for his impenetrable defense.
"Ryo!"
Abel shouted instinctively.
"I'm fine! Just scratches!"
Ryo responded without looking at Abel.
Still amid the sword fight…
"It's over on that side."
"It's rare for Lau to lose."
Ryo commented, and Fan replied.
There was no sadness or frustration in Fan's voice, no negative emotions at all.
She didn't seem happy either.
Rather, it was as if she was simply stating a fact.
But Ryo didn't care about that.
He had received the crucial information he needed.
Ryo took a backward step to create some distance.
Fan quickly rushed forward.
Not giving him the chance to reset the fight.
Which made her predictable.
For just a brief moment.
Truly just an instant.
Water danced.
Almost simultaneously, Fan's head was sliced off.
"Impressive!"
Abel praised.
Ryo nodded once in acknowledgment.
Then took three deep breaths.
He had calmed down.
After checking his own calmness and surveying his surroundings, Ryo took a potion from his pocket and downed it.
Though he had left his usual bag in the captain's quarters of the Lone Dark, he had brought his homemade potion along.
Since it was stored in Ryo's ice container, it wouldn't break from a battle.
As Abel approached Ryo, he noticed that Ryo had left the blade of Murasame drawn.
Abel, too, was holding his beloved sword unsheathed.
"Ryo, what do you think?"
"Honestly, I'm not sure. I saw Abel cut off the other guy's head and heard her say that 'Lau lost', so I cut off her head too… But whether they are the rulers of this ghost ship is still unclear."
At that moment, Ryo stiffened in shock.
Abel immediately looked in the same direction as Ryo.
There… stood two headless corpses, rising to their feet.
Simultaneously, they picked up their rolling heads.
And placed them back on their necks.
"I must say, I'm impressed! I never expected Abel's sword to be that strong."
"Ryo won. I admit defeat."
Lau, the blue man said, and Fan, the blue woman added. Both praising them.
"Leonor and these people… it's totally unfair that they don't die even when you cut off their heads."
"Yeah… I completely get that."
Ryo lamented, shaking his head repeatedly, and Abel agreed, nodding.
At the same time, a rattling sound echoed as something rose from below.
It was the skeletons that had boarded the large ship.
Since Lau and Fan had admitted defeat, the skeletons seemed to be withdrawing.
"Do you two want to come with us?"
"We'd be happy to have you."
"We'll pass."
"We respectfully decline."
Fan asked, and Lau added. Abel and Ryo both replied, turning them down.
"You could even become the captain of the guards."
"And you can keep wearing that leather armor and robe."
"But we'd still be skeletons, right?"
"Yes, we'll politely decline again."
Fan and Lau proposed, and Abel and Ryo declined again.
Lau and Fan exchanged glances and nodded at each other.
"Abel was strong."
"Ryo was strong too."
"These 'bodies' were too weak to fight against them."
"Someday, I'd like to fight you with my real body."
Hearing this conversation, Ryo and Abel were puzzled.
"Abel, they said something about their real body."
"Let's just pretend we didn't hear that."
And so, they pretended not to hear it.
"Ah, Fan, can I ask you something?"
"What is it? Have you changed your mind about becoming a guard? If you want, I can make an exception for you and give you blue bones instead of white ones."
"No, I'll have to refuse that offer. I am a little curious about the blue bones, but… no, I don't want to become a skeleton."
Ryo quickly corrected himself, seeing Fan move as if preparing to do something.
"I believe both of you control water-attribute magic."
"Yeah, I won't go into detail, but that's pretty much correct."
"Then, I'd like you to try and take control of something I've created with my magic."
"Take control of your magic?"
Ryo chanted.
"
An ice wall appeared beside the two of them.
"Hmm, that's quite an interesting spell. Did you learn it from the Water Fairy King?"
"No, I didn't learn magic from him."
"Really? But you've got a robe, a sword… even boots from him?"
"Yes. My master only taught me swordsmanship."
"…He's still as weird as ever, I see. So, what do you want me to do with this wall?"
"Can you move it, Fan?"
Since the ice wall was created by Ryo's magic, no one else should be able to move it…
But the ice wall lifted into the air and floated.
"Like this?"
"Ah, as I thought…"
Fan asked, and Ryo sighed in frustration.
"So, when you talk about magic control, this is what you meant. Yes, I can take control of it."
"Thank you very much."
Ryo said, bowing politely as Fan made the ice wall vanish.
Since Fan had taken control of the magic, the ice wall was no longer Ryo's but Fan's.
"I have a question too."
Abel said with a stern expression.
"Hmm? What is it?"
Lau asked, still smiling.
"Why do you attack human ships? And why do you kill the crew?"
"We attack human ships to replenish our crew. And to be precise, we don't kill them. We capture them."
"Capture? You turn them into skeletons, don't you?"
"Yes, we do."
"So you kill them and turn them into skeletons?"
"That's a misunderstanding."
Lau shrugged in response to Abel's remark.
"Lau, I don't think humans fully understand skeletons yet."
"Oh? Ah, I see. So that's why they reject being captured."
Lau nodded in agreement with Fan's point.
"Have you ever wondered why most of the beings humans call 'monsters' have magic stones, but skeletons and wraiths don't?"
"The energy that keeps them moving…where does it come from?"
Ryo replied, answering the question with a question.
"Energy… that's a nostalgic word. So, Ryo, you're that kind of person…"
Lau murmured, looking at Ryo with nostalgic eyes.
"Uh, well…"
"No, don't worry about it. Just something on my end. Well, it's as Ryo pointed out. Skeletons don't eat, they don't drink water, they don't take anything from those they kill… Yet they can still move. And, of course, it's not like they're getting energy from magic stones like alchemy."
"Yeah, that is pretty strange."
"The truth is, skeletons are a little different from what humans call 'death'."
"What do you mean?"
"That's all I can tell you."
"Eh~!"
Ryo protested.
After saying so much, to stop the conversation there was frustrating…
"Well, since we've lost to you two, we won't take the crew from the first ship. We've healed the ones who were seriously injured, so I hope that's enough."
"I see…"
Lau apologized, and Abel reluctantly accepted Lau's apology, though he still seemed dissatisfied.
"Although, we didn't actually kill them… it's more like a transfer of allegiance, or just abduction."
"Even abduction is frowned upon among humans."
"…Humans are so complicated."
Fan and Lau's unsettling conversation continued, but Ryo chose not to say anything.
In this world called 'Phi', humans were the weak ones.
The weak being hunted by the strong is a law of nature.
In that regard, there is no distinction between humans, animals, or monsters.
In a sense, there's a surprising level of equality.
The strong survive, while the weak are hunted.
Just as humans on Earth hunt animals and gather plants for sustenance.
'Phi' has its own unique version of this process… and that's all there is to it.
Of course, Ryo didn't want to be hunted, so he made efforts not to be.
"Well then. Until we meet again."
"You can always join the guard."
With that, the ghost ship Ruri carrying Lau and Fan disappeared.
Into the clouds, just as it had arrived.
"That was a complete defeat."
"Huh?"
"Or rather, it wasn't even a proper fight to begin with."
"But you did cut off the head of your opponent, right?"
"I won with the sword but lost with magic."
Ryo shook his head in frustration, clearly disappointed.
"Oh, that ice wall thing?"
"Yeah, I didn't use magic at first because I had a bad feeling, and that decision was correct. But still…I need to get stronger!"
"Uh, sure."
"Lately, I've been too caught up with alchemy and haven't been practicing magic control as much. I need to train more."
"Your magic control training. You mean building ice towers and making ice cakes, right…?"
"Exactly. But I shouldn't get in the way of the crew, so I'll do it in midair."
"Huh?"
"The ship will be moving the whole time. So I'll have to move the structures while constructing them…hehe, this sounds like a real challenge."
Ryo smiled with excitement at the thought of his grueling new training regimen.
While Abel stood beside him, dumbfounded.
Then Abel murmured.
"Guess I should start swinging my sword harder than ever too."
-x-X-x-
"Peace is the best."
"Indeed."
Ryo and Abel were two people who cherished peace.
Especially during meals and after them.
In front of the two sat their post-lunch coffee.
As usual, they had set out an ice table and chairs on the deck of the Lone Dark and elegantly enjoyed their lunch, followed by coffee.
It was a moment of pure bliss.
"Encountering a ghost ship must have been some kind of mistake."
"No, that really happened."
Abel didn't share Ryo's wishful thinking.
Two days had passed since then.
As Lau and Fan had said, none of the crew members aboard the large Bor ship were injured.
Although some had been hurt in the fight with the skeletons, it seemed they had somehow healed without anyone noticing.
It was strange.
Because of this, they were able to operate their ship independently and parted ways with the Lone Dark at that spot.
The Lone Dark was also in a hurry to complete its mission.
On the deck of the Lone Dark, the crew was relaxing after their meal.
The ship had a shift system, so outside their working hours, they could spend their time freely.
After all, during long voyages, it's impossible to stay alert all the time.
Ryo and Abel were enjoying their coffee in this relaxed atmosphere.
Then.
Without any warning, a black 'gate' about four meters square appeared on the deck.
"Wha…?"
Ryo barely managed to let out a sound.
More like a voice escaped him rather than him actually speaking.
Abel and the crew noticed the gate too, but none of them could move or speak.
Everyone sensed that something extraordinary was happening.
But no one knew what that black 'gate' was.
And of course, they had no idea what was about to happen next.
Nor…why it had appeared on the deck.
Among them, only Ryo knew what that black 'gate' was.
However, Ryo didn't want to acknowledge it.
He wanted to believe it was just a dream or an illusion.
He convinced himself of that.
"The world is at peace."
"Yeah, but that… that's probably not peaceful."
Abel couldn't help but retort to Ryo's forced statement.
The exchange was frighteningly casual.
"Ah, it really fits perfectly. Good job, Jean-Jacques."
"I told you, I can adjust it, even on a ship."
A woman's voice and a man's voice could be heard.
Ryo was the only one who recognized both voices.
Abel furrowed his brows.
The woman's voice sounded familiar to him…
And then, two Akumas appeared.
The woman was a stunning beauty.
She was beautiful, seductive, and had an air of danger about her.
She had a slender, black tail and small horns on her head.
The man, dressed like a clergyman.
Had a mischievous grin and an equally dangerous aura.
Unlike the woman, he had no tail or horns.
"Leonor…Jean-Jacques…"
"Hey, Ryo! Long time no see!"
"I tried to stop her, but Leonor insisted."
Ryo called out their names, Leonor happily responded, and Jean-Jacques made excuses for no apparent reason.
Even though no one had blamed him yet.
Beside Ryo, Abel almost readied himself but intentionally relaxed his guard.
These weren't opponents to be provoked lightly.
Abel didn't even think his sword would reach them…
He had seen Ryo fight Leonor before. She was strong.
But the man, Jean-Jacques…seemed just as strong.
"Hmm, you must be Abel. Wise choice."
"Is that so."
Abel responded, as Leonor praised him for not preparing for battle.
The crew remained frozen in shock.
But that, in a way, was for the best.
"I'm having my post-meal coffee right now. I can't fight."
Ryo declared firmly.
"We didn't come here to fight. But if you insist, I wouldn't mind."
"I'll pass."
Ryo immediately rejected the idea.
"Hmph… you didn't have to reject it so strongly."
"If there's no fighting, then come. I'll make some good coffee for you two."
Ryo said as he conjured two ice chairs for them.
Complete with
"Hmm? This surface is new. Oh ho, very nice! It's so comfortable!"
"Indeed. As expected of Ryo. There's no one better at water magic."
"No matter how much you praise me, all you're getting is coffee."
Leonor and Jean-Jacques praised him, and Ryo responded, preparing fresh coffee for the two.
Incidentally, the coffee beans were a gift from the royal family of the Suje Kingdom.
Meaning they were of the highest quality.
After flipping over an ice hourglass, Ryo turned to face them.
"So, what's the reason for your visit today?"
For some strange reason, both Leonor and Jean-Jacques seemed flustered at Ryo's question.
It was as if the matter they had come to discuss was no longer necessary.
"Uh…we came to complain because you didn't spend enough time with us, Ryo."
"…Huh?"
"Even though you came back from the Western Countries, you disappeared right away. It was hard finding you, you know?"
"Sorry, but I don't quite follow. Sure, I got blown to the archipelago region by whether it was magic or magic power of the djinn Garwin, but… What has that got to do with you and Leonor?"
"You have to fight with me sometimes."
"…Ehh?"
Ryo sighed at Leonor's unreasonable demand.
"Did you seriously come here just to say that? You've startled the entire crew."
"I told her we should wait until you reached land. You never know what might happen out here in the Eastern Seas."
"…You never know what might happen in the Eastern Seas?"
Jean-Jacques was taken aback by Ryo's question and clammed up.
And Leonor shot him a sharp look.
"Indeed, I couldn't wait until we reached land, so I had Jean-Jacques open the gate here. But enough of that. The hourglass is done."
"Oh, oops."
Then, the coffee was served.
Ryo and Abel were also enjoying their second cups.
"Ohh…"
"This is incredible. It's too delicious."
Leonor sighed in satisfaction, and Jean-Jacques praised the coffee enthusiastically.
Even by Akuma standards, it seemed the coffee was superb.
Ryo, with his arms crossed, nodded smugly, saying,
"Right, right!".
Abel, too, drank happily.
Good coffee is always worth a second cup!
After finishing the coffee, Leonor stood up and said,
"Thanks for the treat. Jean-Jacques, we're leaving!"
"A-already? Opening the gate isn't that easy, you know? Can't we stay a little longer…?"
"We have other things to do. Apologies for the disturbance, everyone. Farewell!"
With that, Leonor grabbed the collar of a reluctant Jean-Jacques and vanished into the black 'gate'.
The 'gate' disappeared along with them.
They had come like a storm and left just as suddenly.
Later, Leonor and Jean-Jacques had a conversation.
"Looks like we were too late."
"Indeed. There were traces left… It seems they encountered 'Ruri'."
"But Ryo survived…"
"Impressive. Maybe it was a weak 'body' No, even if it is, it's still impressive. But surviving after such a battle means…"
"He's been clearly recognized."
Both Leonor and Jean-Jacques sighed deeply.
"Well, someone as unique as him is bound to stand out, don't you think?"
"Like when you meddled in the Western Countries?"
"I told you, I made sure to avoid doing anything while Ryo was around! In the end, there were some…complications…and I ended up fighting a little bit."
"You sound far too happy about that!"
Leonor snapped at Jean-Jacques' excuses.
"Ryo is my prey. Even you, Jean-Jacques, won't get away with interfering…"
"Come on, why don't we share? Someone as exceptional as Ryo could be prey for both of us, don't you think?"
"Absolutely not!"
"Figured you'd say that…"
Jean-Jacques sighed at Leonor's firm refusal.
"We need to come up with a good plan…"
At Leonor's small sigh and words, Jean-Jacques nodded in agreement.
Back on the deck of the Lone Dark.
"What were those two really…?"
Ryo muttered, shaking his head.
"I don't know…but at least there wasn't a fight, so that's good, right?"
Abel said while sipping his second cup of coffee.
"True. Peace is the best."
Ryo murmured as he, too, enjoyed his second cup.
Ten days later.
The Lone Dark finally entered the waters of the Free City of Kwebasa.
-x-X-x-
Volume 3, Part 2, Free City
Chapter 0478 Free City of Kwebasa
-x-X-x-
"I feel the wind of freedom!"
Ryo said, taking a deep breath on the deck of the Lone Dark.
"What's this 'wind of freedom' supposed to be?"
The king, his companion, didn't seem to feel the same.
A monarch of an absolute state would, of course, be an enemy of freedom!
Naturally, the Kingdom of Knightley has laws.
Even a king can't ignore the laws, so technically, Abel is more of a constitutional monarch than an absolute ruler.
But Ryo didn't care about such details.
Absolute monarchy had a more tyrannical image, so Ryo liked to picture Abel as an absolute monarch.
"Ryo, you're scheming something again, aren't you?"
"A-again with the false accusations, Abel! I was merely imagining a future where the citizens of the Kingdom of Knightley are happy."
"Hmm…"
Abel, clearly not convinced by Ryo's explanation.
"In my homeland, there's a saying: 'The city air makes one free'. If people spend a year and a day in a free city after escaping from a tyrannical lord, they can break free from their oppressor."
"Interesting. So there are many different laws in the world."
Ryo was referring to the knowledge he'd learned in high school world history.
Whether it applied in the Free City of Kwebasa was another matter entirely.
The Lone Dark, where the two stood on deck, was anchored about 300 meters off the coast of Kwebasa Freeport.
Awaiting permission to dock.
Being a warship of the Suje Kingdom, the entry procedures were different from a merchant vessel.
Of course, the Suje Kingdom embassy had submitted prior notice, so they expected to be allowed entry shortly, according to Captain Gorick.
"Flag signal spotted from port. 'Wait where you are'. Repeating: 'Wait where you are!' "
A crew member at the mast shouted.
Captain Gorick, who was at the bow, also confirmed it with his own eyes.
"Confirmed!"
Gorick turned to Ryo and Abel.
"It seems there's some issue. You might have to sleep on the ship tonight."
"That's unfortunate."
"Well, nothing we can do."
Ryo and Abel said, accepting the situation.
They didn't really have any other choice.
It was already 5 p.m.
And both of them suspected that they'd likely be delayed until the next day.
"It's sad to be kept waiting right at the last minute."
"Ryo-san, I'll make you a delicious dinner tonight to cheer you up."
The one who brought this comforting news was Lone Dark's head chef, Susie.
"Really, Susie-san?!"
"Yeah. Since we're docking tomorrow. We can use all the ingredients we have. Leave it to me!"
"Yay!"
Ryo almost jumped for joy at Susie's words.
The crew smiled as they watched Ryo's delight.
The scene on deck was one of peacefulness.
The Free City of Kwebasa consists of the mainland, three large islands, and more than ten smaller islands.
The three large islands are called Administration Island, Diplomatic Island, and Prison Island.
As their names suggest, each island is home to its respective institutions.
Administration Island houses the central government, including the Supreme Council, Free Parliament, and various ministries, making it the administrative hub of Kwebasa.
It's quite a large island, accommodating the state's nerve center.
Diplomatic Island is where embassies from various countries and state-run accommodations for delegations are located.
The embassy of the Suje Kingdom is also there, with over a hundred diplomats permanently stationed.
After completing their mission of delivering Ryo and Abel, the crew of the Lone Dark would stay on the island for some time to receive new orders.
The embassy on this diplomatic island will serve as the center of the mission.
Finally, there's Prison Island. Which, as the name implies, is a massive prison.
It contains various types of facilities, from those housing petty criminals to high-security prisons for serious offenders.
Naturally, public access to this island is heavily restricted.
The three large islands are connected to the mainland by massive bridges several hundred meters long.
There's also a bridge between Administration Island and Diplomatic Island, making travel between them convenient.
Kwebasa Freeport, where the Lone Dark was set to dock, is located on the mainland. Most of the commercial and residential areas are also on the mainland.
The accommodation prepared by the Suje Kingdom for Ryo and Abel was also said to be on the mainland.
Their stay was pre-paid by the Suje Kingdom for two months.
A surprisingly VIP treatment!
One of the ministries that governs the Free City of Kwebasa is the Ministry of Ports.
Mishita, the deputy minister of the Port Authority, was frowning.
In front of him stood Ronfan, his assistant, waiting for instructions.
Mishita knew he was waiting, but…
"Are you sure Minister Bagaji gave this order?"
It was the sixth time Mishita had asked for confirmation.
"Yes, there's no mistake."
It was the sixth time Ronfan had answered.
"He wants us to let the flagship Franze of the Atinjo Grand Duchy dock at the administrative port, while the entire fleet accompanying it is to dock at Freeport? We've never issued such an order before!"
"Yes, I've never heard of anything like it. When I received the order, I asked for confirmation myself, but he insisted that it was correct… word for word."
"What could he be thinking…?"
Mishita sighed for the umpteenth time.
If they followed this order, it would undoubtedly lead to chaos.
The administrative port, located on Administration Island.
Primarily serves military and official vessels, including those of the Kwebasa Navy.
While there was some leeway, docking the flagship Franze might be manageable.
The problem was the accompanying fleet.
The Freeport is large.
As it should be for a nation that thrives on trade.
However…
"A fleet of 200 ships… If that many warships enter Freeport all at once, it'll cause a massive disruption. How does the minister not understand that?"
Of course, there was space for 200 ships to dock.
But these were warships.
And the crews were military personnel.
With the neighboring nations of the Atinjo Grand Duchy and the Ghegish-Lu Federation being so tense… it was easy to imagine this sparking a conflict.
"In general, no more than ten warships are allowed to anchor in port at one time… right?"
"Yes, that's correct. Although, it's rare for even ten warships to come to this free city…"
Indeed, it rarely happened.
They would typically reject such requests through diplomatic channels.
But this time, various exceptions had been made.
"Their arrival is the day after tomorrow? There's no helping it… accept them."
"Understood."
Deputy Minister Mishita gave the order, and his assistant Ronfan nodded.
"There's another issue: the port functions have been disrupted, and…"
"Hm? At this time, there's a request for a warship to dock?"
"Yes. It's the Lone Dark of the Central Navy of the Suje Kingdom, requesting to dock."
"Hmm. Wasn't it originally scheduled to dock four days ago? Is there an issue with the embassy's prior notice?"
"No issues. Of the 100 crew members, half are scheduled to stay at the embassy, while the other half will stay in the city… their entry applications have already been submitted."
As Mishita flipped through the documents, Ronfan added further details.
"Hmm. Despite the rebellion, the queen's ascension, and all the resulting chaos, they've sent a ship here… They must be stepping up their intelligence-gathering efforts. I wonder what their true goal is…"
Mishita let out a small sigh.
Frankly, he wasn't good at handling these kinds of intrigues.
But with his superiors being unreliable, he had no choice.
He had resigned himself to this fate.
"Very well. Allow the Suje Kingdom's ship to dock tomorrow morning. Inform Freeport."
"Understood."
And so, the Lone Dark, carrying Ryo and Abel, was granted permission to dock the following day.
That night, a luxurious last supper was served, putting the entire crew in high spirits.
-x-X-x-
"Wow, the last supper yesterday was incredibly delicious, wasn't it?"
"I don't quite understand why you called it the 'last supper'…but yeah, it was definitely good."
Both Ryo and Abel praised the dinner aboard the Lone Dark.
The dinner, prepared with the utmost care by head chef Susie and the other chefs of the Lone Dark, was a high-level meal.
Since it was their last dinner before landing, alcohol was also served, making for a lively meal with drinking and singing.
"The crew members, half of them, are staying at the same inn."
"That's what they said. Half of them, including the captain and officers, are staying on Diplomatic Island, right? That's where the embassies are. Looks like they still have some work to do after we land."
"Spies… intelligence work, no doubt. Like Marquis Heinlein. Oh, speaking of which, Kabui Somal does kind of resemble Marquis Heinlein, doesn't he?"
"Now that you mention it, maybe. Neither of them seems to be bad at espionage or intrigue."
Abel nodded in agreement with Ryo's words.
Although Abel wasn't skilled in that field, he understood the necessity of gathering intelligence to maintain a country.
"Espionage is a dirty job. That's why only a gentleman can do it."
Ryo said with a heavy tone.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"Those are the words of a famous spy from the past. For Abel… it might be a bit too difficult."
Ryo said, after giving Abel a mockingly exaggerated once-over, from head to toe.
"I admit it might be impossible for me, but it's even more impossible for you, Ryo."
"How rude! I am a gentleman, no matter how you look at me."
"A true gentleman wouldn't say they're a gentleman."
"Ugh… the spy has fallen into Abel's trap…"
While they were having this conversation, the Lone Dark arrived at Kwebasa Freeport.
The immigration procedures for entering the Free City of Kwebasa were simple.
A port authority officer boarded the ship and cross-checked the names on the manifest with the crew one by one.
Of course, there were no photos or special identification methods, so it seemed easy to lie and get away with it.
Ryo and Abel, who had been listed as crew members, passed the immigration inspection without any issues.
"A dangerous swordsman like you got into the country without any problem. It's no wonder saboteurs can easily enter too…"
"Hey, dangerous magician, did you say something?"
Ryo lamented the difficulties of border control, while Abel protested.
Despite their banter, the two put on their most dignified faces during the actual landing.
They appeared to be harmless—a swordsman and a magician.
However, it was only natural that the port authority officer did a double-take when they noticed a small cart made of ice trailing behind Ryo.
It was his usual
This time, the refraction had been adjusted so that its contents were completely invisible.
By the way, the cart was carrying Ryo and Abel's money…
Denari, the currency of Kwebasa, which had been exchanged for them by the Suje Kingdom.
"The inn prepared for the two of you is called 'Freedom Breeze Inn'. Half of our crew will also be staying there. The officers are led by First Officer Lena. We're heading to Diplomatic Island, so if you need to contact us, please speak with Lena."
Captain Gorick said, before boarding a carriage to Diplomatic Island.
Ryo and Abel, along with fifty other crew members including First Officer Lena and Head Chef Susie, began walking toward the inn.
"Abel, the inn's name is Freedom Breeze."
"Come to think of it, didn't you mention something yesterday about a wind of freedom blowing, or something like that?"
"You remembered! Indeed, in this city, the wind of freedom is blowing."
"I still have no idea what that means."
Abel, who hadn't studied the history of liberalism on modern Earth, didn't quite grasp the concept.
Ryo considered giving a five-hour lecture on the history and significance of liberalism but decided against it.
After all, Abel was a king.
A living embodiment of the absolute monarchy and the divine right of kings, which liberalism sought to transcend… trying to explain liberalism to him seemed pointless.
"It means you have the freedom to eat delicious food and make your own choices."
"Now that's easy to understand. I wholeheartedly agree."
The ever-hungry swordsman Abel nodded happily.
No matter what ideology one holds, delicious food transcends everything!
If you want peace, feed people delicious food!
The inn, 'Freedom Breeze Inn', where the two of them and fifty others would be staying, was located close to the Freeport.
"I thought it would be big since fifty people are staying here, but…"
"It's a two-story wooden building, but it's enormous!"
The building was so large that its frontage alone seemed to stretch at least 100 meters.
"I've heard the Suje Kingdom invested in this place."
"Yes, a few generations ago. The king's sister invested in various places across the continent, including here."
Lena and Head Chef Susie explained from behind as Ryo and Abel marveled at the inn.
"Crown Estate…"
Ryo muttered to himself, though no one heard him.
The 'Freedom Breeze Inn' had a grand yet elegant entrance.
Its exquisite balance of luxury and grace was completed by the flawless demeanor of the staff.
"In the Western Countries… I stayed at a marvelous inn in the Mafalda Republic, but this place seems just as splendid."
Ryo recalled the 'Doge Pietro'.
A place where both the facilities and the service were perfect. This place seemed to be just as excellent.
He could tell just from the way the staff moved.
All the procedures for the Lone Dark's crew were carried out smoothly and without a hitch.
Every one of the fifty crew members.
No, with Ryo and Abel, it was fifty-two people, but the difference was so seamless it felt negligible…
"The service here is always amazing."
Head Chef Susie said.
"Do you often stay here, Susie-san?"
Ryo asked.
The inn seemed quite expensive.
It felt like the kind of place that wouldn't be easily accessible unless it was for 'national business' or if you were 'guests of the state', like Ryo and Abel…
"When I was young, my parents worked as chefs at the embassy here. They brought me to this inn a few times."
"Hohooo."
"The food here is fantastic. I heard the kingdom will cover your meal costs, so feel free to order whatever you want."
"Oh! I can't wait."
Ryo said with a blooming smile, clearly delighted by Susie's nostalgic and happy tone.
Deliciousness is justice!
Ryo and Abel entered their assigned room.
Which was much like a suite, with separate living and bedroom areas.
It was still before noon.
"The others seem to be in meetings."
"Well, that's work. We don't have any, though…"
"Must be nice for you, Abel, being able to just relax without doing any work!"
"I could say the same about you."
It seemed both Ryo and Abel were in enviable positions…
"We came to this free city to find a ship heading north across the continent."
"Exactly. The Suje Kingdom's embassy is also searching for one, but they probably have their work to handle, so we should do some searching ourselves. We have the funds for it, after all."
Ryo glanced at the block of ice sitting in the corner of the room.
Though invisible from the outside, inside the ice was Denari currency.
Even if a thief broke in while they were gone, it would be safe.
This setup was secure, as the surface of the ice block was protected by a magic spell
Of course, there was a sign that said "Do Not Touch" on the ice, so the inn staff wouldn't try to handle it….
"So… how am I supposed to take out money if I need it?"
Abel asked the obvious question.
"Abel, just walk up to the block and extend your hand."
"Extend my hand?"
Abel did as instructed and held out his right hand toward the ice block.
Then… a part of the ice opened like a mouth, and a pouch of money emerged, settling into Abel's hand.
"…Convenient, I guess."
"Right?"
Abel praised with a subtle expression on his face, while Ryo looked smug and proud.
"Is this alchemy?"
"Hm? No, it's my magic."
"So, if you're not around, I can't get any money out?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Isn't that… a little inconvenient?"
"It's not like I'm holding your money hostage. You won't be cut off from it if you ever mistreat me or anything like that. So it's fine."
"Yeah, I'm not feeling so fine about it right now."
Even so, it was undeniably the safest method, and so Abel accepted the situation.
Adding,
"Well, if I run out of money, I'll just have Ryo cover me."
"Loans between friends are like poison—they destroy good relationships…"
Ryo muttered, shaking his head slightly.
Later, the two decided to take a walk through town.
"It's nice that we could check into the inn so early in the day."
"Hm?"
"In my hometown, most places don't let you check in until the evening."
In Japan, for instance, check-in times are usually around 3 p.m.
It's rare to be able to enter in the morning like this.
As the staff uses the morning hours for cleaning and preparing rooms…
"It's probably because we were originally supposed to arrive yesterday. I bet our rooms were ready by then."
"Ah, I see. You're pretty sharp, Abel!"
"R-really? It's just common sense."
Ryo praised Abel, and Abel blushed.
The king of the Knightley Kingdom wasn't used to being praised.
While Ryo found it troubling when someone was surrounded by nothing but yes-men, he also thought that it wasn't ideal for a king to be so unaccustomed to praise.
After all, as the nation's leader, Abel needed to be able to discern between flattery and genuine praise.
This was something Ryo thought of as part of his duties as the kingdom's premier duke.
"Ah, as expected of Abel! Former A-rank swordsman! The way you think is different—truly the King of Adventure! The people's idol!"
"Yeah, now it just sounds fake."
Ryo had overdone it.
He decided it was time for a change of subject.
Something had always piqued Ryo's curiosity, so he asked.
"But Abel, weren't you popular even when you were in Rune city? How come you're not used to being praised?"
"What's that supposed to mean? Just because you're popular doesn't mean you get praised all the time… praise usually comes from parents, superiors, or colleagues. People like that, right?"
"Ah, so you're saying it usually comes from people of equal or higher status. That makes sense."
Ryo nodded in agreement.
Compliments from subordinates or juniors… doesn't feel quite the same.
Though, he did think that praise could come from anyone…
But for now, he was satisfied with successfully shifting the conversation.
Moreover…
"There's a good aroma in the air."
"Yeah. It's coming from over there… maybe from the back alley?"
The two hungry adventurers had keen noses.
Drawn by the scent, they headed down the back alley.
Even though it was their first time in this town, that didn't matter.
The pursuit of delicious food is a basic human instinct.
It wouldn't have mattered even if the area was full of scary people.
After all, they had trained for this very moment!
Huh? That's not the reason?
Well, let's not get caught up in the details.
If we say that obtaining delicious food… is one of the reasons for their training, then it works.
Ryo thought to himself.
"Even if scary people show up, I can just offer Abel as a sacrifice, and we'll be fine."
"Hey, you're saying your thoughts out loud."
"Crap!"
It seemed the delicious aroma had loosened Ryo's tongue.
The two continued down the alley until they reached a place no tourist would ever visit.
A shop clearly for locals only… though it wasn't written anywhere, you could just feel it.
Of course, that didn't matter to these two.
"This smell… it's grilled meat."
"Fish is good, but it's been a while since I've had meat."
They had been on a long voyage.
When they thought about it, they realized they hadn't had much meat.
Susie, the ship's head chef, was so skilled that they hadn't even thought about it.
Her cooking was always amazing.
But now, the scent of grilled meat… was irresistible.
"Welcome!"
"For two."
"Right this way, to that table."
They were seated at a table.
Around them were only locals, regulars by the looks of it, but the stares from the other customers didn't matter to the pair.
They were only there for one thing: good food.
The two began reading the menu.
"As expected! They have both beef and pork!"
"Ah, as expected of the continent. Wait a minute, how are we…"
"Yes! We can actually read the words! And we could talk to them earlier too!"
Abel and Ryo were trembling with a little bit of awe.
"That's thanks to the grueling training we endured under Chief Engineer Gunno for over forty days."
"No doubt, but I bet Gunno had it harder than we did."
Chief engineer Gunno had taught them the Eastern language while also keeping up with his regular duties.
The two were deeply grateful to him.
"Beef and bell pepper stir-fried with spicy seasoning? Crushed meat and fermented soybeans stir-fry? Rice with sweet and spicy sauce?"
"Wheat noodles in a broth with Tonton pork? Stir-fried noodles with lots of spicy toppings? Let's just go with that."
"Thank you very much!"
With that, Ryo and Abel completed the big task of ordering.
There was a sense of satisfaction on their faces.
Truly.
That much was clear.
But…
"We could read it, but honestly, I have no idea what any of it means…"
"Yeah, no clue what kind of dishes are coming."
Well, some things can't be helped.
The world of food is vast and deep.
Just being able to read the menu doesn't mean you understand it all!
But the two weren't trembling with fear or uncertainty.
Because they still remembered the smell of that meat from outside the shop.
It was exquisite.
It was divine.
It was… utterly convincing.
'This place will be good', they felt, beyond any doubt.
Five minutes later.
Their food arrived.
And their hunch was confirmed.
"Ah, just from the smell, I can already tell."
"Yeah, this looks great."
But as the food was laid before them, Ryo noticed something odd.
"I get the spoon and fork, but what are these two sticks… chopsticks?"
Ryo was the only one surprised.
The ever-hungry swordsman Abel had already started eating with a fork.
"Delicious!"
That single word from Abel erased all of Ryo's surprise.
Chopsticks didn't matter.
Well, he would use them, of course.
"Mmm, this is really good!"
"See? No matter where you go, good food is always out there."
"True. I must admit, Abel, you were right."
"Yep, it's good if you understand. That's all that matters."
Smiling brightly, the two dug in with enthusiasm.
Their hearty eating brought a smile to the regular customers as well.
Seeing unfamiliar guests come in… yet watching them enjoy the food they always ate… it brought joy to the locals too.
At least, no one seemed upset about it.
This place, 'Happy Eats', was a restaurant that brought happiness to everyone through food.
"I think I ate too much."
"Well, Ryo, you did ask for a second helping of the spicy fried rice."
"And Abel, didn't you overdo it with that extra serving of noodles? You look just as full as I am."
"…I won't deny it."
The two formerly hungry adventurers had successfully upgraded to full-bellied adventurers.
Being full makes people happy. And it makes them kind.
At this moment, the two were at peace with the world.
Perhaps they had transcended beyond mere fullness and glimpsed a new realm of creation.
"Abel…walking is a bit…"
"Don't say it. Let's find somewhere to rest."
Yes, fullness brings happiness, but be careful not to overeat.
The two wandered into a cafe facing the town square… more like a tea house.
They ordered some green tea.
"This is refreshing, isn't it?"
"Calling green tea 'refreshing' is a new one. Speaking of which, don't the central countries usually drink black tea?"
"Yeah… tea made from fermented leaves. Lately, coffee has been gaining popularity though."
Abel answered, but then his gaze shifted.
Noticing, Ryo followed Abel's line of sight.
"Captain Gorik?"
"Yeah. And the two behind him are crewmembers from the Lone Dark."
"Are they on a spy mission? But isn't espionage a bit much for sailors?"
"It's difficult for them, probably. They're likely just a distraction… some kind of diversion."
"Ah, I see. So while the Lone Dark crew draws attention, the real experts move in the background."
"Exactly. It looks like they've got their hands full."
"But not as full as us."
"Yeah, our troubles are… totally self-inflicted."
Watching the sailors engaged in espionage, the now-full swordsman and magician let their guilt and satisfaction wash down with the green tea they sipped…
-x-X-x-
The three people didn't notice they were being watched by the two satisfied-looking individuals.
Captain Gorick and the crew members Nan and Nin.
The three of them were visiting various places as instructed by the Suje Kingdom Embassy.
Their job was to deliver letters from the embassy.
The task itself was, of course, not illegal.
However…
"We're still being watched, aren't we?"
"Yes. The two have been following us ever since we left the embassy."
"Exactly as the embassy said."
Nan and Nin nodded in response to Captain Gorick's confirmation.
Yes, the three of them were being tailed.
In a way, that was part of their role, so it wasn't a problem.
The problem was who exactly was following them.
It would be fine if it was the intelligence agency of the Free City of Kwebasa.
"What's the name of Kwebasa's intelligence agency again…?"
"Special Defense Bureau. It's said they blend into the city so well that no one notices them moving around."
"Exactly. But the fact that we've noticed these people following us means…"
"They aren't from the Special Defense Bureau?"
Nan replied to Captain Gorick's observation with a slight frown.
Nin also frowned silently.
By the way, Nan and Nin are brothers with excellent eyesight, often assigned to lookout duty on the mast of the Lone Dark using telescopes.
Unlike their usual shouts when reporting to Captain Gorick.
Now, they were whispering.
That day, the trio delivered their fourth letter from the embassy.
The contents of the letter were simple: an invitation to a garden party at the Suje Kingdom Embassy in a week.
So even if the letter were stolen or read on the way, there would be no serious issue.
"We're still being watched."
"Yes."
Nan nodded at Captain Gorick's murmur.
"Alright, let's take a break and observe the situation."
Captain Gorick suggested, and they entered a teahouse facing the plaza.
About half the seats were occupied.
They moved to the table at the far back.
Which allowed them to overlook the entire shop.
They could also see half of the plaza from there.
It was a good spot for counter-surveillance.
"Captain, look over there…"
Without moving his fingers or chin, Nin drew attention to two people.
Sitting by the window.
A swordsman and a magician.
"Isn't that Abel-san and Ryo-san?"
Gorick recognized them immediately.
The two didn't seem to notice the trio.
They were only looking toward the plaza, not at the three.
Gorick couldn't imagine that Abel and Ryo were purposely avoiding looking at them to not interfere with the trio's work.
"Let's hope they don't notice us."
Gorick whispered, and Nan and Nin nodded in agreement.
The three were under surveillance.
If Abel and Ryo made contact with them, they too could become surveillance targets.
Abel and Ryo were guests on the Lone Dark, sent to this free city under a royal order from Queen Iliaja.
They couldn't be dragged into any operations in this free city.
After Captain Gorick and his crew entered the teahouse, a woman entered as well.
She sat at the counter, her back facing the three.
"She's not one of the two following us."
Nan's words were met with a nod from Gorick.
The people following them weren't likely to attack them.
They were merely being watched.
That's what the embassy said, and that's how Gorick saw it.
Still, being constantly watched wasn't pleasant.
After about twenty minutes, Gorick, Nan, and Nin left the teahouse.
Abel and Ryo, watching from the corner of their eyes, exchanged a glance.
"Did the Captain and his crew get lunch?"
"Who knows? At least, they didn't eat as much as we did."
"They seem to be moving fine."
Abel and Ryo were still sluggish after their meal.
Although they'd recovered somewhat after drinking green tea and resting, they wanted to stay like this for a while longer.
There was no urgent work waiting for them…
They did feel a little guilty, though, seeing how hard the Captain and his crew were working.
"They're being watched, too."
"Yeah… about six people, I think."
"Six? I only sensed four."
"Sensing their presence… that's so cool. I wish I could do that."
"Ryo, you're a magician. Magic is much more reliable…"
The grass is always greener on the other side.
People always want what others have…
"That woman who left the shop after the three of them, she's also a watcher."
"Really? I didn't count her. So, with her included, that makes five. Where's the sixth…?"
"Slightly to the left of center, far ahead in the tower of some mansion. Someone is watching with binoculars from the top. Following the three's movements. I think I'm right."
"A tower… that's about 500 meters away. Yeah, I'd never notice that."
Abel shook his head slightly in response to Ryo's explanation.
In matters like these, a magician definitely had an edge over a swordsman. Abel had to admit that.
Still, it was debatable whether Ryo could be simply categorized as a 'magician'.
"But it's impressive that Captain Gorick and his crew are being watched so closely, even though they just arrived this morning."
"There must be some information that made someone decide they needed surveillance."
"That decision-making still has a long way to go."
"What do you mean?"
Ryo waved his finger as if to say, "Tsk tsk", while Abel asked in confusion.
"Think about it. The most dangerous man of all, swordsman Abel, should be under strict surveillance. Yet here you are, roaming free… they've still got a long way to go."
"You can have the title of 'most dangerous man'."
"No thanks. I'm obviously…"
"Neither gentle nor harmless."
"Y-you beat me to it…"
Ryo slumped, defeated by Abel's quick retort.
"Abel the Joke Crusher…"
"Stop giving me weird nicknames."
Whether he's called the Hungry Swordsman, the Full Swordsman, or now even the Joke Crusher, Abel had earned quite a few strange titles.
His companion, Ryo, seemed to have it tough dealing with him.
That evening.
At the Atinjo Grand Duchy Embassy. Second Secretary's Office.
The Second Secretary's office was larger than that of the First Secretary.
This was because a conference room was adjacent to it.
In the Atinjo Grand Duchy, Second Secretaries sent to embassies weren't just ordinary diplomats; they were the coordinators of covert operations.
Hence the need for a conference room, and in certain cases, their influence could surpass even that of the ambassador, the official head of the embassy.
The 'Covert Operations Division', to which Second Secretaries belonged, reported directly to the Grand Duke.
The orders for covert operations came straight from the Duke himself, bypassing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entirely… that was simply the way it worked.
"The three surveillance targets have just returned to the Suje Kingdom Embassy."
"Such hard workers, getting right back to it."
Minny, the secretary assigned to Second Secretary Zlurma reported, and Zlurma replied with a sardonic smile.
If Ryo or Abel were present, they would have immediately recognized Minny.
As the woman from the teahouse.
"And did you manage to place the 'charm'?"
"Yes. Only on one of them, but it's in their ear."
"As expected. Not only can you handle such a minuscule charm, but you're able to do it without being noticed. That's something only you could pull off, Minny."
"Thank you."
Zlurma praised her skill, and Minny lowered her head modestly.
Most people would notice if even a tiny insect crawled into their ear.
That's why the charm had to be smaller than an insect…which in itself was incredibly difficult to craft.
Moreover, manipulating such a small charm and getting it into a target's ear unnoticed required a very high level of skill.
Even the slightest gust of wind could affect its movement, making the feat all the more remarkable.
"We can listen in on their conversations, correct? What's the range?"
"Once it's affixed, up to 500 meters should be fine."
"Lucky for us. The Suje Kingdom Embassy is quite close to ours on Diplomatic Island. Even though the island is large, it's convenient that they're right next door."
Zlurma smiled as he said this.
And then he continued.
"By tomorrow, 'His Excellency' will arrive. Along with 200 ships and 40,000 navy soldiers. It's all coming together."
His expression was one of pure joy.
This was undoubtedly a major operation in the history of the Grand Duchy.
The sense of pride, satisfaction, and joy in playing a crucial role in such a monumental task was evident.
Of course, as part of the Covert Operations Division, their names would never be known.
Nor would they appear on the stage of history.
But that didn't matter.
For Second Secretary Zlurma…this operation was the culmination of his work as a covert operative.
It was all for the Grand Duchy's 'Operation to Annex the Free City'.