Volume 3, Part 4, The Superpower
Chapter 0529 Port Town Randa
-x-X-x-
Darwei Ministry of Rites' Deputy Minister of Matrimonial Affairs, Snus, had a bitter face since the morning.
"What an utter failure!"
How many times had he muttered that phrase by now?
The document in his hand listed the names of seventy individuals.
These were all members of the escort team for the princess.
At the same time, they were also the ones who were withdrawing from their duty.
"Seventy escorts all experiencing severe stomach pain at once— it's unheard of…"
As he spoke, Deputy Minister Snus literally held his head in his hands.
Snus, aged 41.
Belonged to the Ministry of Rites, which managed ceremonies and festivals. In his youth, he served in the Imperial Guard, the emperor's elite corps.
Even after transitioning to the Ministry of Rites, he often led escort missions for nobles and transported valuables, as in this case.
His impressive physique and the neat black hair tied up and secured with a crown made for a dignified appearance. It even earned him personal praise from the emperor. He was regarded as a promising talent in the Ministry of Rites.
And then…
This time, the mission involved escorting the woman who would become the official wife of the Sixth Prince.
The journey also served as an introduction, with numerous events planned in the towns along the way.
Of course, since much of the journey was by ship, the schedule allowed for flexibility in case of weather-related delays.
However, that was for the latter half.
The first stop, the port town of Randa—just a day from Jonjon in Bosuntar—did not allow for such leeway…
In long journeys, it was expected that some members might fall ill and have to withdraw temporarily.
Such situations were accounted for.
With plans for them to rejoin later.
But for seventy escorts to withdraw simultaneously was entirely beyond expectations.
A knock on the door announced the arrival of Secretary Bal.
"Your Excellency, an additional ten escorts have…"
Bal trailed off, unable to continue.
As the despair of his superior was palpable.
"The princess is scheduled for a banquet today with Randa's governor and local dignitaries, correct?"
"Yes. She is staying overnight and set to depart from Randa tomorrow morning."
"And the healers? Their opinions remain unchanged?"
"They're consistent. While healing magic alleviates the symptoms, the condition worsens as soon as the magic is removed. They've confirmed it's not a natural stomach ailment."
Snus let out another deep sigh at Bal's report.
It was confirmed—this was either sabotage or a deliberate act of interference.
Which meant further disruptions were likely.
"Eighty of the hundred escorts, gone at the first stop…"
Saying it aloud only underscored the gravity of the situation.
The journey to the imperial capital, Hanlin, spanned over a month with stops at several towns.
Naturally, they would need to replenish the guards along the way.
Reinforcements could be sent from the Ministry of Rites, but it would take time.
Borrowing soldiers from local lords or governors was out of the question.
As most were aligned with one of the three imperial factions… there was no telling what might happen if he relied on such forces.
"Would adventurers be better?"
"Your Excellency?"
"Never mind… a report has already been sent to the Ministry of Rites requesting reinforcements. If they act quickly, they'll meet us in Boago City, where we dock in a week. We just need to manage until then. Fortunately, Bosuntar's side has provided 200 guards. Given that the princess was embroiled in an incident within their borders, the number is understandable. We'll rely on them for her immediate protection and use adventurers to fill roles… such as carrying supplies."
Deputy Minister Snus spoke slowly as he formulated his thoughts.
However, Secretary Bal tilted his head and objected.
"There's no precedent for hiring adventurers to supplement a noble's guard."
"Exactly. That's why it works."
"What?"
"Whoever orchestrated this interference likely assumes we'll replenish the guards with soldiers from Governor Randa. That's what precedent suggests. If I were in their shoes, I'd plant assassins among those soldiers in advance."
"Ah, I see. So you're proposing to hire adventurers, which the perpetrator wouldn't expect."
"Precisely."
Ideas rapidly took shape in Deputy Minister Snus's mind.
"Bal, contact the local Adventurers' Guild immediately. Post a request for eighty guards for the journey to the imperial capital. Avoid mentioning the princess or the Ministry of Rites. We'll inform them during the briefing. Gather them all by today, so we can depart as scheduled tomorrow."
"Understood."
"I will inform the princess myself."
"I understand the situation. I'll leave everything to you."
After finishing the banquet with Randa's governor, Princess Shio Fen responded to Snus's direct report in this manner.
The setting was the state guest house in Randa.
Where the princess remained stationary while the governor and influential figures visited her instead, for security reasons.
Though the stops at many towns were supposed to serve as a ceremonial introduction, her maid, Mifa, wondered whether the townsfolk would have the chance to see the princess at all.
"My marriage seems to involve all sorts of complications."
Princess Shio Fen remarked with a laugh, whispering to Mifa beside her.
"Shio-sama, this is no laughing matter…"
Mifa replied with a frown.
"I know, but what can we do? Darwei has promised to provide replacements for the eighty guards."
"Even so, they've also requested a reassignment. Bosuntar guards will now be stationed closer to you. Implying that the replacements might not be entirely trustworthy. We need to be more vigilant than ever."
"You worry too much, Mifa…"
That evening, after all of Princess Shio Fen's official banquets had concluded.
"Your Highness, the reassignment has been completed."
With those words, Bizis handed two documents to Princess Shio Fen.
Bizis was the captain of the princess's guard from the Bosuntar side.
Bizis was formerly the vice-captain of the Queen's Royal Guard in Bosuntar.
And a 28-year-old woman.
Her long hair, dark but glimmering with a blue tint in a certain light, was tied at the back of her head. Standing at an impressive 180 centimeters, she was tall for a woman, making her popular with people of all genders.
Though she was part of the princess's escort, Bizis planned to return to Bosuntar after safely delivering Princess Shio Fen to the imperial capital, Hanlin. This mission would be her last in the Queen's Royal Guard.
As her father had decided to retire and transfer the title of Count Jujang to her.
At 18, Bizis joined the Queen's Royal Guard and had served for a decade.
This mission—escorting the Queen's third daughter, Princess Shio Fen, for her engagement—was a direct request from the Queen herself.
Typically, in Bosuntar, a princess of such rank being sent abroad for marriage would be escorted by the King's Royal Guard.
However, due to certain circumstances, that was not possible this time.
The head of the King's Royal Guard, who held the title of 'Sword of the Nation'.
Had been Lord Vogue until a few weeks ago.
But Lord Vogue, of all people, had been complicit in the attack on Princess Shio Fen…
There was no way the Queen could entrust her daughter's safety to a unit led by someone from such an organization!
Normally graceful, composed, and disinterested in political matters, the Queen adamantly refused to agree to this.
As a compromise, the King proposed forming a mixed escort team led by the Queen's Royal Guard instead of the King's.
The Queen's Royal Guard consisted of only about 200 members.
While the Queen had been willing to dispatch all of them, this was deemed impractical.
Instead, a mixed escort unit was formed: 30 from the Queen's Royal Guard, led by Vice-Captain Bizis, and 170 from the King's Royal Guard.
With Bizis appointed as its captain.
The Queen insisted on outfitting the entire escort of 200 with leather armor dyed pure white.
Though composed of members from two separate organizations, they must cooperate seamlessly to fulfill their duty of protecting the princess.
At the same time, a clear chain of command was essential.
The Queen herself devised this strategy to ensure their unity and efficiency.
So far, the plan has succeeded. The 200 guards have formed strong bonds and work well together.
Bizis, as captain of the escort, was relieved by this cohesion.
"I understand, Bizis. Thank you for your efforts."
Princess Shio Fen said as she reviewed the documents.
Unlike many royals and high nobles, who would skim such documents or not read them at all.
Princess Shio Fen read them thoroughly and asked questions about anything unclear.
This meticulousness pleased Bizis.
And made her feel that Princess Shio Fen, like the Queen, was someone worth risking her life to protect.
"Your Excellency, we've managed to gather eighty people."
"Well done, Bal. That means we can depart tomorrow morning."
"Yes. The adventurers are currently having dinner in the second dining hall."
Snus's body trembled slightly at this news, though he quickly composed himself.
"Surely, we won't have another stomach ache incident…"
"We've had everything they're eating inspected by a magician, so it should be fine."
"I see."
Snus nodded repeatedly, reassured.
In the second dining hall, eighty adventurers were enjoying the guesthouse's fine cuisine.
Among them were a swordsman in a black cloak and a water-attribute magician in a robe—but that was a secret for now.
-x-X-x-
The timeline rewinds a few hours.
"This completes all preparations for the Darwei advancement!"
"What's with advancement…?"
Abel shook his head slightly at Ryo's proclamation.
It seemed there was something about the phrasing that didn't sit well with him.
"Having overcome many hardships, we must push deep into Darwei's territory. What else would you call this but an advance?"
"Just say we're going or heading there."
"You don't understand, Abel. The expression embodies the pathos of things."
"There it is again, pathos of things."
With the help of the crew aboard the Sue-Ku, the two had managed to rewrite their letters of credit, create a bank card, and even register with the Adventurers' Guild.
"We barely avoided starting at the bottom, but Eighth-Grade, huh? I made it to A-rank back in the Central Countries, you know?"
"It can't be helped. There's no affiliation between here and the Central Countries. Eighth Grade means we're on the same level as those kids, 'Tiger's Fang', remember?"
"Now that you mention it… yeah. Well, it's not like registering hurts, but still… Eighth-Grade Adventurer, huh…?"
"You'll get to enjoy climbing up the ranks!"
While Abel remained dissatisfied, Ryo seemed genuinely pleased.
Considering Abel's past as an adventurer in the Central Countries, where he completed countless quests and rose to A-rank despite life-threatening challenges, his discontent was understandable.
"The crew even treated us to lunch, and we lightened our wallets a bit."
"Wait, that phrasing doesn't make sense in context."
Both carried some cash on hand but had deposited most of their money in the bank.
With their new alchemically-enhanced bank cards, they could withdraw funds anywhere in Darwei, eliminating the need to lug around heavy coins.
The heaviest items they carried were a few books apiece.
"And make sure to read 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel' properly!"
"…If I find the time."
"The clothing is pretty different here, isn't it?"
"Clothing?"
Abel remarked as he observed the attire of the people passing by.
"In the Central Countries, the Archipelago region, and even the southern part of the continent, people fastened the front of their clothing with buttons or wore pullovers, right…?"
"Ah, I see."
Ryo finally understood after Abel explained it in detail.
Ryo hadn't noticed because, in a way, the style was familiar.
Not from 'Phi' but from Earth.
Clothing wrapped around the front, overlapping from left to right, secured with a sash rather than buttons.
The length of the upper garments often reached the knees.
Some wore wide skirt-like bottoms, while others donned pants…
The overlapping design was distinctive.
There was a name for it in the documents they'd received from Bossu at the Censorate…
"They call it Eastern Garb here. Abel, with your build, you'd probably look great in it."
"R-really?"
Abel's face reddened slightly, perhaps from embarrassment.
It seemed he wasn't used to being complimented.
As they chatted, the two returned to the Adventurers' Mutual Aid Hall.
Though they had no intention of accepting a quest today, they wanted to check what was available for the days ahead.
Perhaps the Guild could also help arrange accommodations for the night…
However, inside the Guild Hall, the adventurers who had remained were all gathered in one place.
At midday, whether in the Central or Eastern Countries, only a handful of adventurers would typically remain indoors.
For all of them—roughly a dozen—to gather in one spot was unusual and piqued the pair's interest.
Recognizing their newbie status, they cautiously peeked in from the outskirts of the group.
At the center was a table, where two Guild receptionists sat, explaining something.
A large poster next to them read:
'Escort Request to the Imperial Capital – Recruitment.'
"The recruitment period is today only."
"The departure is tomorrow morning."
"It's a ship-based escort mission."
"The job includes cargo handling tasks."
"Meals provided. Payment is one gold coin per day—10,000 den."
"This is not a merchant ship but a government vessel."
The two receptionists explained various details.
While the gathered adventurers asked questions.
"Meals included and 10,000 den a day sounds good, but how long will it take?"
"If we don't know when we'll return, what about our rooms or houses…?"
"At least we don't have to worry about bandits on a ship."
"I've never heard of adventurers being hired to escort a government vessel before."
The job didn't seem popular with the seasoned adventurers.
"It's an open-ended request."
"What do you mean…? Isn't it just escorting to the capital? Once we arrive, it's over, right?"
"The most important thing in any job is to provide clarity. Whether it's for the client, colleagues, subordinates, or recruits, they need to know what to expect. Poor leaders fail to offer this clarity, causing frustration for their teams. Take note, Abel!"
"Uh, okay…"
For some reason, Abel found himself being warned and nodded along.
Though he didn't entirely follow Ryo's point.
"You need to clearly define when it will end. For example, at what stage and by when, followed by the next stage and its timeframe… Based on that, everyone can adjust their actions and mentally account for their personal schedules. By giving your subordinates this clarity, they can focus on their tasks without undue stress. Keep this in mind, Abel!"
"Uh, sure…"
Still not fully understanding, Abel nodded.
Out of the dozen or so adventurers present, only eight accepted the quest.
"Well, if we could take on that job, we'd be able to go to the capital city, wouldn't we?"
"No way they'd let Eighth-Grade adventurers do that, right?"
"Right?~."
Both Abel and Ryo were realists.
As newly registered adventurers in the second-lowest Eighth Grade, they understood that they couldn't take on a high-profile escort job.
They knew at least that much.
For now, they decided to visit the general reception desk and ask for recommendations for accommodations.
After all, they needed to secure a place to stay for the night…
The duo left the guild hall with a list of four inns recommended by the mutual aid society.
"I can't believe it—none of the four had any rooms available…"
"Probably because of the princess marriage procession… Makes sense that prominent figures from the inland territories would come to the coast for the princess's public debut."
"Still, all four inns? Reserved entirely by nobles… how many attendants did they bring along?"
"No idea."
Grumbling as they walked, Ryo and Abel returned to the guild hall.
Nearly two hours had passed since they left the hall.
Yet…
The list of applicants for the escort job still hadn't grown past eight names.
The two receptionists were discussing something with somber expressions.
"This is bad."
"There's no way we can get eighty people by the end of the day…"
Their grim conversation could be overheard.
"Abel…"
"Yeah, this looks rough for them."
"No, I mean. Do you think they'd let us slip in, even as Eighth-Grade adventurers?"
"Huh? You think so? Well, it doesn't hurt to ask."
"Exactly. Asking doesn't cost anything."
With that, Ryo and Abel prepared to negotiate.
They expected it to be a difficult discussion.
But if they succeeded, it would be an easy way to reach the capital city.
It was worth a shot.
After all, they had nothing to lose if it failed!
"Um, excuse me. We're just Eighth-Grade adventurers, but is it even possible for us to sign up for that escort job…?"
"No problem at all! There are no grade restrictions! Please, sign up!"
The receptionist's response to Ryo's hesitant question came so quickly that it felt overeager.
Of course, the receptionists were well aware that Eighth-Grade adventurers wouldn't be particularly reliable as escorts.
But the fact remained: this escort job didn't have any grade requirements.
More importantly, the number of applicants was way too low!
Even during a slow time of day, eight applicants in two hours was a disaster… reaching the target of eighty people was a pipe dream at this rate.
This job wasn't just urgent—it had been personally assigned to them by the mutual aid society's president as a top-priority task.
In other words, if they failed, they would lose their jobs.
What's more, the president himself had received this request from the deputy minister of the Ministry of Rites.
Failure wasn't an option—for the president or anyone else involved.
No matter what, they had to gather eighty people!
"We only registered as adventurers today, though. Is that still…"
"It's completely fine! No issues at all!"
The second receptionist, just as desperate, cut Abel off mid-sentence.
Ryo and Abel exchanged glances, nodded, and made their decision.
"Alright then. The two of us will sign up for the escort job."
"Oh, thank you so much!"
The receptionists bowed deeply, their faces a mixture of relief and near tears…
"And just like that, we secured our way to the capital city."
"Yeah, well, we double-checked, and they said it's fine. So it should be fine, right?"
"This is how poorly trained artisans slip through the cracks and flood the market with low-quality products. Business owners need to be vigilant!"
"Even undertrained artisans need work too, you know…"
No one was entirely at fault here.
Everyone had their circumstances they couldn't compromise on.
It was what it was!
"By the way, the details about the ship and everything else will be explained during the pre-dinner briefing, but… what if it turns out to be a slave ship, and we get sold off as slaves?"
"What kind of fantasy is that…? The mutual aid association is running this, so there's no way—wait, come to think of it, slavery is a thing in the Eastern Countries, isn't it?"
"According to the documents we got from Boffo-san of the Censorate, they have criminal slaves. Better be careful, Abel. If you keep committing crimes like you always do, you might end up enslaved yourself."
"Don't go around making me sound like a career criminal! And by the way, Boffo from the Censorate is pretty amazing, isn't he?"
"Yes, Boffo-san is both kind and highly capable. Truly remarkable."
Ryo nodded enthusiastically.
Ryo had a tendency to feel happy when someone he knew was praised.
Perhaps he was simply a softhearted person.
After stocking up on a few necessities for the sea journey, Ryo and Abel arrived at the dinner venue five minutes before the briefing was scheduled to begin.
"Glad we made it in time."
"There's quite a crowd here. Did they actually manage to gather eighty people?"
Abel's observation was on point—the venue was packed.
Having already passed the entry check earlier, they wouldn't be turned away now, but…
"From just ten people earlier to eighty in about three hours? The receptionists must've pulled off something impressive."
"Ah, look over there—aren't those the two collapsed at that table in the corner?"
"You're right. True exhaustion must look something like that."
Abel pointed out the two slumped over a table, and Ryo nodded in agreement.
"They might have even gone to taverns where adventurers hang out."
"Yeah. That sounds likely. It's good to see their hard work paying off."
While Ryo and Abel casually speculated, the reality was far more intense.
The two receptionists had ventured as far as the forest outside the city, persuading adventurers in the midst of hunting.
After all, their jobs were on the line…
Five minutes after Ryo and Abel had taken their seats, the explanation began.
After the briefing, dinner was served.
The cost was fully covered by the employer, and they were allowed to eat as much as they wanted in the cafeteria.
They could even stay overnight at the accommodations upstairs, and alcohol was permitted for the evening.
However, there was a strict warning: oversleeping the next morning due to overdrinking would result in the revocation of their adventurer qualifications.
"The state can revoke adventurer licenses? Darwei sure is scary."
"Well, in the Central Countries, the Adventurers' Guild is also closely tied to the government."
"Now that you mention it. They're very much intertwined, aren't they?"
"What's with that phrase, 'very much intertwined'…"
As it was a buffet-style meal, Ryo and Abel filled their plates with plenty of food and chatted while eating.
It seemed adventurers, as physical laborers, had a particular fondness for 'all-you-can-eat' settings.
"Still. It surprised me to learn that this escort mission is for the princess's fleet."
"They didn't explain much, but the fact that they suddenly needed eighty extra people probably means something happened, like eighty people dropping out. There was also that raid in Jonjon by Dezai, but it seems Princess Shio Fen's journey is fraught with challenges."
Abel shook his head slightly.
Pitying the unfortunate princess caught up in the political machinations of a great nation even before her marriage.
"The Ministry of Rites is handling this escort, and they assured us it's a central government project, so we can feel at ease…but I didn't know the Ministry of Rites also handled escorts. I thought their responsibilities were rituals and diplomacy… ah, diplomacy, makes sense now."
"That's more of 'Boffo-san's notes', isn't it?"
"Yes. In the Knightley Kingdom, it would be like the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Ministry of Finance, but Darwei has the Six Ministries: Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Public Works. This one falls under the Ministry of Rites."
Ryo shared insights about the Darwei administrative system, drawn from the ever-reliable 'Boffo-san's notes'.
"It's totally different from the central countries."
"Well, the cultural sphere is different. Even something as universal as swords differs in design based on cultural context. Two-handed or one-handed, straight or curved…"
"Good point. If even weapons differ, then organizations would, too."
Hearing Abel's comment, Ryo tilted his head slightly in thought.
Abel noticed and asked.
"What is it?"
"Well, I just realized there's one problem."
"What kind of problem?"
"We sent Mifa off, but it's going to feel awkward running into her again."
"…"
"Since we're on the tenth and last ship in the fleet, we probably won't cross paths with her, though."
"Let's just make sure to stay away from the princess's ship…"
-x-X-x-
"The eighty guards from the Darwei side have withdrawn, and instead, adventurers are being recruited."
"Adventurers?"
Hearing Mifa's explanation, Princess Shio Fen tilted her head for a moment.
But she quickly nodded in understanding.
"Normally, they would have requested soldiers from the deputy governor of the town we just passed, Randa. But they must have judged that there was a high risk of saboteurs mixed in among those troops. So instead, they hired adventurers… cautious or bold, I wonder."
Princess Shio Fen said this with a faint smile.
Mifa also nodded in agreement and continued,
"So, Deputy Minister Snus has requested a reassignment. The newly hired adventurers are aboard the ninth and tenth ships."
"Speaking of adventurers, wasn't Abel-sensei and Ryo-sama on a merchant ship that was following us? Did they disembark in Randa?"
"It seems so. After getting off the Sue-Ku, I saw them walking with the crew toward the bank."
"I see. If they were going to hire adventurers anyway, those two would have been the best choice."
Princess Shio Fen said this with a smile, and Mifa responded with a wry grin.
Neither of them knew yet that the two were actually on the same fleet…
Ryo and Abel were sitting in a corner of the first deck, seated on chairs made of ice created by Ryo.
Abel was reading a book spread open on an ice table, while Ryo was writing something on an ice slate with an ice pen.
At first, Abel was focused on his book. But gradually, his curiosity got the better of him—he started wondering what Ryo was writing… eventually, he spoke up.
"Ryo, what are you writing?"
Ryo immediately moved his body to hide the ice slate.
"Why are you hiding it…?"
"I'm n-not hiding anything!"
"No, you clearly just did."
Ryo avoided Abel's gaze and insisted it was just a misunderstanding.
Of course, there was not a shred of credibility in his words.
"I was just curious, that's all."
"We haven't signed a confidentiality agreement, so I can't show you."
"What kind of agreement is that?"
"It would be problematic if information leaked from you…"
Ryo shot Abel a suspicious look.
Of course, there was no record of Abel ever leaking information in the past.
This was just another one of Ryo's baseless assumptions.
"Well, I was just a little curious. My bad, go ahead and continue."
"This isn't just any work—I'm writing a research paper."
"A research paper?"
"Yes. It's almost finished. Once it's done, I'll let you know about it, Abel."
Ryo grinned mischievously as he spoke.
"Why do I feel like this is going to be bad news for me…?"
"How rude! This is a paper containing a groundbreaking hypothesis that just might… possibly… maybe… change the very laws of the world!"
"Just hearing that already makes me uneasy…"
"Don't worry! It's not about researching Abel's biological records or anything like that."
"Yeah, that thought hadn't even crossed my mind."
At the very least, it was clear that the two of them were relaxed enough to have such a conversation aboard the ship.
"I heard that cargo transport is also part of our duties, but being on the ship gives us plenty of free time."
"Cargo transport probably means bringing food and supplies onto the ship after we dock. No wonder there's nothing to do on board."
Incidentally, the space they were occupying had been secured by Ryo through negotiations with the crew.
Each ship was manned by about forty crew members.
As they passed by, several sailors raised a hand to greet Ryo.
"Ryo, you really have a way with people."
"Not at all. I'm bad at socializing. I'm a Pisces and blood type O, so I just seem kind and approachable."
"Pisces…? I don't really get it, but the crew seems happy around you."
"That's the power of bribery."
"Bribery? You gave them money?"
"No, something even better."
Ryo grinned mischievously again.
It was an exaggerated, intentionally villainous grin.
"Unlimited deck shower privileges."
"In other words, they can enjoy as much fresh water as they want?"
"Exactly. Fresh water is precious on a ship. Not only are baths out of the question, but even wiping oneself with a cloth is restricted. But I told them, 'I can make it rain as much as you want, so you can all take showers together.' And when I showed them… I became their favorite person."
"Impressive."
"I'm deeply honored by your praise."
Ryo bowed with exaggerated politeness in response to Abel's compliment.
Despite their casual demeanor, these two were actually a king and a premier duke.
"The cargo hold, and even the second deck, aren't very spacious. We have to secure the best spot."
"True. Spending time on an open deck like this is wonderful."
Both Ryo and Abel were highly satisfied with spending their days on the first deck.
The tenth ship carried a total of eighty people—forty crew members for navigation and forty adventurers hired as guards.
Although the ship was quite large, its cargo hold was filled with Princess Shio Fen's dowry items and congratulatory gifts from the Bosuntar Kingdom. As a result, the living space available to the crew and adventurers was not very spacious.
The first deck… also called the open deck or upper deck, where the sun shone the brightest—was free of cargo.
Of course, the mast and essential sailing equipment were present, so while all forty adventurers could rest there… their presence often earned them irritated glances from the sailors…
Because of that, most adventurers spent their time in the second deck or cargo hold, passing time with gambling rather than resting in their hammock-like bunks.
"Oh, Ryo-san, could I have a moment?"
"Captain, what is it?"
While Ryo was writing and Abel was reading, the captain of the tenth ship, La Wu, approached them.
"Ryo, you said you can produce an unlimited amount of water. Did you really mean 'unlimited'?"
"Uh… I think I meant 'unlimited' in the way you're thinking."
"For example, could you provide fresh water for all ten ships?"
"I'm not sure about the exact amount, but I think I can."
Ryo replied with a confident smile.
At times like this, it was better to exude confidence— people tended to value you more that way.
"Oh! Actually, every time we dock, we carry barrels of fresh water onto the ship, but I was thinking that if Ryo-san refilled the barrels already on board, it would be faster. That way, we could allocate more people to transporting cargo, reducing the overall burden on everyone. I was planning to propose this idea at the captain's meeting…"
"I see! I think that's a great idea."
However, just as he said that, Ryo suddenly realized something.
"Ah, sorry, Captain. The proposal itself is totally fine, but could you avoid mentioning my name?"
"Huh? Is there a problem?"
"Well… I have an acquaintance on one of the other ships, and, uh, it would be kind of embarrassing if they found out…"
"Ah, I see. Then I'll just refer to you as 'our ship's water-attribute magician'. Most of the time when you're filling the barrels, almost everyone else is ashore, so I doubt you'd run into your acquaintance anyway."
Captain La Wu tilted his head slightly at Ryo's unusual request but quickly came up with a compromise.
He was indeed an excellent captain.
Being appointed as the captain of a state ship at the young age of thirty was no small feat.
"Thank you so much!"
Ryo responded with a smile.
A proposal that benefits everyone. That is the best kind of proposal.
The fleet arrived at its next port, Yiliang.
They planned to stay for two days and one night.
Princess Shio Fen and her maids and guards, who were aboard the first and second ships, immediately disembarked and began attending scheduled welcome ceremonies and meetings.
The civil officials from other ships also went ashore to complete their tasks, while the Darwei guards and adventurers assisted the crew with loading cargo.
Only Ryo remained aboard, assisting Captain La Wu of the tenth ship in refilling the water supply on each ship.
"By the way, Ryo-san, your water-attribute magic is incredible."
"Nah, it's nothing special."
Captain La Wu praised him, making Ryo a little embarrassed.
"You fill the barrels almost instantly. At this rate, we should just have you fill the ones on the First Ship's as well."
"Huh?"
Captain La Wu nodded as he spoke, but Ryo wasn't quite following.
"Actually, the First Ship has a bath."
"A bath? On a ship… ah, for the princess, right?"
"Exactly. The princess and her maids have to attend meetings and welcome ceremonies with important figures as soon as they land, so they don't even have time to bathe after disembarking… that's why they prepare themselves completely before leaving the ship."
"I see. Being in such a high position must be tough."
"Tell me about it."
Ryo shook his head slightly, while Captain La Wu chuckled wryly.
As long as you do your job, that should be enough… but in higher positions, things don't work that way.
People judge you based on things beyond your actual duties.
One-sidedly at that.
And you don't even get the chance to explain yourself.
That's how the world has been for thousands of years.
It's not something that will change easily…
The First Ship was noticeably larger than the others.
"It's bigger than the other ships, isn't it?"
"Yes. About 30% bigger. The idea was to make the princess and her entourage as comfortable as possible. Unlike the other ships, it doesn't carry wedding gifts. So there's more living space."
"I see."
Ryo nodded at Captain La Wu's explanation.
Larger ships generally experience less movement.
Even though the fleet was traveling along the coast, it would inevitably rock as long as it was on the ship.
Although not as much as on the open sea, it still rocked.
Rocking makes you more susceptible to seasickness.
It seemed all the ships were designed to minimize motion, but the First Ship was particularly stable.
"If only all the ships were this steady, but making every ship like this would cost a fortune."
Captain La Wu laughed as he explained.
While sailors were used to the ship's movement, government ships often carried people who weren't accustomed to the sea—important people.
He had probably seen plenty of high-ranking officials suffering from seasickness.
And seasickness wasn't something you could just power through with willpower…
Captain La Wu led Ryo to the cargo hold of the First Ship.
There, a two-meter-square wooden bathtub sat.
"This is impressive. I can't believe there's a bath like this on a ship."
"Right? Since water is so heavy, it had to be placed in the cargo hold, so you can't enjoy a view, but being able to bathe on a ship is still a luxury. It's ironic, isn't it? Surrounded by water everywhere, yet all of it is saltwater."
Captain La Wu laughed.
Ryo suddenly thought of a question.
"You asked me to fill it with water, but… the princess isn't just going to bathe in cold water, right?"
"Oh, no, of course not. There's an alchemy tool on the other side of that wall that heats the water. That part alone cost a small fortune."
"I see…"
Ryo was a little delighted to see alchemy being put to such practical use.
Finally, they arrived at the deck where the freshwater barrels were stored.
"Oh? La Wu. Ah, this must be the adventurer with water-attribute magic I heard about."
The man who greeted them had a rugged yet refined presence. He appeared to be in his late forties.
"Let me introduce you. This is Ryo-san, the adventurer I mentioned at the captain's meeting. Ryo-san, this is Captain Myun of the First Ship."
"I'm Ryo. Pleased to meet you."
Ryo bowed respectfully.
"Hmm… A fine bow, Ryo-dono."
Captain Myun seemed impressed.
"It's nothing special."
Ryo responded modestly.
Even if it was just a polite formality, being praised still felt nice.
"Oh, right. La Wu, I need your opinion on something. It won't take long—can you come to my cabin for a moment?"
"Understood. Ryo-san, once you finish filling the fresh water barrels, just wait here for a bit. The adventurers will be having lunch at a port-side restaurant… so I'll take you there afterward."
"Got it."
With that, Captain La Wu and Captain Myun left.
Ryo proceeded to fill ten freshwater barrels as instructed.
It barely took ten seconds.
And then, he was left with nothing to do.
There was no one else on the deck.
When he had been filling the bath earlier, he could still hear the sounds of cargo being loaded, but now, either the work was done or it was just a quiet moment—there was no one around.
Then, someone stepped onto the deck from the pier.
It was a woman in a white cloak over white armor, and at a glance, it was clear she was one of the princess's guards.
"Hey! You there, what are you doing?!"
"Huh?"
The white-clad guard challenged him, and Ryo was so startled that he momentarily froze.
Something seemed to click in the white guard's mind.
Her expression shifted as if she had just realized something.
"Could it be… that you're poisoning the water…?"
She recalled how, at the first port of call, Randa, eighty guards from Darwei's side had left.
She could tell that the robed man in front of him was neither a crew member of this first ship nor a member of the guard unit.
In other words, someone who shouldn't be here.
That made him a suspicious individual.
The white guard—Captain Bizis of the princess's escort unit—made a swift decision.
And she acted just as quickly.
In an instant, she stepped forward and drew her sword in a single, sharp motion.
Clang!
However, her strike was deflected.
It wasn't a blow aimed at the neck to kill but rather a slash meant to wound the abdomen, preventing escape. Even so, it was as fast as ever.
The fastest strike.
As long as the person survived, a healer could take care of the rest… that was the calculation behind her attack.
But the robed man before her blocked it with his sword.
He looked like a magician, yet his movement…
Wait, a magician blocked it with a sword?
Captain Bizis examined the weapon that had stopped her own.
"A blue sword? What is that…?"
She had never seen or heard of such a thing before.
"Um, excuse me…"
The robed man holding the blue sword tried to speak.
It was the first time she had heard his voice, and he didn't sound particularly intimidating…
"I was just told to fill that barrel with water, and that's all I was doing."
"Fill it with water? You mean to poison it…?"
"No, no, I'm just a harmless water-attribute magician. Oh, right, you can check with Captain Myun on this ship. He just went to the captain's quarters."
"Even if what you say is true, I cannot leave this place to confirm it."
"That's true… hmm, this is a problem."
Their swords remained locked together.
"Then, how about this? My captain and Captain Myun should be back soon, so let's just wait here like this until then."
"What?"
Captain Bizis recognized the unusual nature of the proposal but also saw its logic.
If they remained still, neither would be injured.
But if they continued to fight, there was a risk she might be killed.
She had already realized that the robed man before her was, despite appearances, no ordinary swordsman.
"Very well. I am Bizis, captain of the princess's escort unit. And you are?"
"My… my name… well…"
Ryo hesitated to introduce himself.
The captain of the princess's escort unit meant she was someone who directly protected Princess Shio Fen.
If he gave his name… there was no doubt that both he and Abel would be reported to Shio Fen and her attendant, Mifa.
That would be embarrassing.
"Why won't you give your name?! That makes you even more suspicious!"
"No, no, it's not that… it's just a little embarrassing…"
"Huh?"
It didn't seem like Captain Bizis would understand Ryo's feelings.
In truth, even Captain Bizis was at a loss for what to do.
At the very least, this robed man knew Captain Myun's name.
And he had made the bizarre suggestion of waiting while keeping their swords locked—a proposal that no ordinary person would make.
Strange.
Very strange.
Of course, suddenly attacking had been strange on her part, too…
At first, she had intended to wound and capture the intruder.
As long as he didn't die, a healer could take care of it.
But the robed man's swordsmanship was far beyond expectations.
Even from just one exchange, it was clear.
His sword handling, his movements, and even his composure.
Whether she liked it or not, she could tell the man was strong.
The man claimed to be a water-attribute magician who was simply generating water, but a magician with such sword skills was hard to believe.
Unbelievable… and yet, for some reason, it also made sense.
As she pondered this, Captain Bizis found herself unable to take any drastic action.
The robed man had said Captain Myun would return soon.
If that were true, maintaining the current situation was the best course of action.
But if it was a lie?
Captain Bizis shook her head slightly.
Even if it were a lie, she had no move to make.
And before long…
"Sorry to keep you waiting. It took a bit longer than expected…"
Captain La Wu, who had returned from the captain's quarters, stopped mid-sentence in shock.
Behind him, Captain Myun of the first ship also widened his eyes in surprise before quickly regaining his composure.
"Captain Bizis, what happened here?!"
Captain Myun knew who Bizis was.
Although they had only been sailing together for about two days, he knew her to be serious and dedicated to her duty.
For that reason, he didn't believe she would draw her sword against the water-attribute magician, who had just been introduced to them, without good reason.
"Captain Myun, do you know this person?"
"Yes. Just earlier, Captain La Wu— he's the captain of the tenth ship—introduced him to me. He can generate an unlimited supply of water, so he has been providing fresh water to all the ships…"
The moment Captain Myun said this, Captain Bizis sheathed her sword and bowed deeply.
"My deepest apologies!"
Her sudden change in demeanor left not only Ryo but also both captains stunned.
Even after several seconds, she remained bowing.
In this situation, it was up to Ryo to speak…
"Ah, um… I'm glad we cleared up the misunderstanding."
Ryo smiled.
After all, no one had been hurt, and he had no intention of holding anyone responsible.
"Captain, you were just doing your duty, so don't worry about it. If a stranger is on the ship of someone you're supposed to protect, it's only natural to question them."
"But… I even drew my sword…"
"Yes, that was a bit much… maybe next time, just stick to questioning, or at least stop your sword at the last moment. I understand you weren't aiming to kill but just to wound and immobilize, but getting slashed would still hurt."
"…I will take that to heart."
Captain Bizis bowed deeply once more.
"Captain Myun, I've finished filling the water. Captain La Wu, shall we go ashore? You were going to take me to a lunch spot, right?"
With Ryo's words, the situation was resolved.
As he walked away with Captain La Wu, Captain Bizis watched from the deck and muttered to herself:
"What a disgrace… How am I supposed to report this to the princess…?"
With a deep sigh, she shook her head slightly.
-x-X-x-
"That was quite the disaster."
While eating lunch, Abel listened to Ryo recount the trouble that had befallen him and gave his thoughts.
"Yeah, I was really surprised. The female captain was incredibly tall, but her sword-drawing speed was insanely fast. You're fast too, Abel, but… hmm, it might be a close match."
"You're talking about the princess's guard captain, right? Mifa told me about her before. Originally, she was part of the Queen's royal guard. If I recall correctly, she's the vice-captain of that guard unit."
"I see. So, she was personally chosen by Her Majesty."
Ryo nodded in understanding, then suddenly looked at Abel with a serious expression.
"Abel, be careful."
"Of what?"
"If you sneak onto the first ship as usual and try to steal valuables, that captain might cut you down."
"First of all, 'as usual' is a strange way to put it. And I don't steal valuables."
"So, in other words, you steal things that aren't valuable? Generally, things like jewels are considered precious."
"Alright, I phrased that wrong. I don't sneak aboard, and I don't steal anything."
"Later, Ryo's prediction would come true…"
"Don't say ominous things like that!"
Choosing words carefully is important to avoid misunderstandings.
That night.
The princess's entourage stayed overnight in Yiliang City.
Ever since their arrival, Princess Shio Fen had been following a tightly packed schedule. Now, in her room, she was receiving an unusual report.
"…So, in short, Bizis nearly killed an unrelated person. But that person effortlessly blocked Bizis's full-powered strike with a sword. Is that correct?"
"Yes, that's exactly right. It was my blunder…"
"Well, let's send that person a gift as an apology from the princess. They forgave you on the spot, correct?"
"Yes. They simply said I was performing my duty."
Bizis, still kneeling, kept her head bowed.
The mistake was potentially catastrophic, making it difficult to even report.
But withholding the report would be far worse.
"Mifa, what do you think?"
Princess Shio Fen turned to the only maid in the room.
Present in the room were the princess, Bizis, and Mifa.
"The fact that someone blocked Bizis-sama's full-force strike so easily… and that this person is a magician—this is surprising. Also, having such a powerful individual within the fleet is something we should be cautious about."
At Mifa's words, Bizis lifted his head in realization.
"Indeed. I know how skilled Bizis is with the sword. And yet, this person blocked it with ease? Mifa, could you do that?"
"No, it would be difficult for me."
"That's not true. Your swordsmanship is quite formidable."
Bizis insisted.
"Thank you, Bizis-sama. However, even if I could block it… I certainly wouldn't be able to do it effortlessly. But this magician blocked it with ease, correct?"
"Yes. As if humming a tune."
Bizis's words left both Mifa and Princess Shio Fen in silence.
After a brief pause, the princess spoke.
"We don't know this magician's name… do we?"
"No. They refused to answer."
"And who vouched for their identity?"
"Captain La Wu of the tenth ship."
"I see. I can't help but be curious. Bizis, could you ask Captain La Wu about this person?"
"Understood."
Bizis nodded in response to the princess's request.
There is no record of Ryo sneezing repeatedly at that moment.
Nor is there any record of him feeling a sudden chill around his neck.
"I have a question for you, Abel, as someone with extensive experience laying ambushes."
"What do you mean, 'extensive experience laying ambushes'?"
"When you were active, didn't you lead raids on bandits?"
"That's true, but… 'raids' could be misleading. It's better to say 'bandit suppression'."
"Is that so? Well then, based on your experience in bandit suppression, if someone were to attack this group and attempt to assassinate the princess. When would be the best time—on land or while at sea?"
Ryo posed the question like a multiple-choice test, but Abel frowned.
Even after rewording it as 'bandit suppression,' Abel still seemed dissatisfied.
"I have a fundamental issue with the question itself."
So it wasn't about wording—it was a deeper objection.
"Would anyone actually attempt an ambush? This is an imperial marriage procession under the direct protection of the Ministry of Rites of Darwei."
"But, you know, for those who aim for the throne…"
"Even then, wouldn't it be seen as a direct challenge to the emperor's authority?"
"I see… Even those vying for the throne wouldn't want to be directly targeted by the current emperor. Besides, the one being assassinated isn't a rival claimant, nor even another prince, but just the bride-to-be. That's an unnecessary risk…"
Ryo mulled over Abel's words.
An attack within the Bosuntar territory had been a different matter entirely.
Which is likely why the large-scale attack took place while they were still there.
Once the marriage procession became an official imperial affair, any ambush would carry far greater consequences.
"In that case, Princess Shio Fen and Mifa will likely make it to the capital safely."
"Yes, I certainly hope so."
Abel nodded, picturing his disciple's face in his mind.
As a swordsman, he had taught her all he could under the current circumstances.
But in reality, there are many situations where individual skill alone isn't enough.
What happens when she faces such a moment…?
"Abel, you're overprotective."
"What? Where did that come from?"
"You're worried about Mifa, aren't you?"
"It's natural for a teacher to worry about their student."
"I take a hands-off approach with my apprentices at the trading company."
Ryo was referring to his five water-attribute magic apprentices.
Under his care at the Gecko Trading Company.
"But you rushed to help them when they were about to be caught in the war in the Inbury Duchy."
"Th-that was different! War is dangerous!"
"And so is getting caught in an ambush."
As Ryo flusteredly tried to justify himself, Abel calmly shook his head.
Many people were involved in the marriage procession of Princess Shio Fen.
Among them, excluding the princess herself, the one with the highest official rank, the greatest responsibility, and the most stomach-churning stress was likely Deputy Minister Snus of the Darwei Ministry of Rites, responsible for marriage affairs.
In his room, prepared one floor below where Princess Shio Fen was staying, Deputy Minister Snus was receiving a report from Secretary Bal.
"Eighty reinforcements from the Ministry of Rites will arrive at the next port of call, Boago."
"We set off tomorrow… so we will arrive in Boago in four days, correct? Everything is on schedule?"
Deputy Minister Snus let out a small sigh.
Even though things were proceeding as planned, to Secretary Bal, Snus's sigh seemed to carry a hint of concern.
"Deputy Minister, is something the matter?"
"No, I appreciate the reinforcements arriving, but…"
Snus sighed once again.
"The captains have made a request. They want to keep some adventurers on board."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"To be precise, they asked to keep two adventurers. A water-attribute magician and their swordsman companion."
"Even though the captains of the Imperial vessels are under the direct command of the Ministry of Rites for this marriage procession? That kind of demand is unreasonable."
"I understand. The captains understand that as well. That's why they phrased it as a request… but the way they made that request was rather intense."
Snus recalled the scene from that evening.
Before the ten captains, he had announced that reinforcements from the Ministry of Rites would arrive at Boago, replacing the adventurers.
He hadn't expected cheers of joy, but he had at least hoped for some relief.
After all, rather than relying on unknown adventurers, having an official escort team from the Ministry of Rites, with verified backgrounds, should have been a reassuring change.
The captains, for the most part, had no objections to the exchange.
It was, after all, the original plan.
However, they had one request.
"Please allow the water-attribute magician from the Tenth Ship to remain."
Apparently, this particular magician was capable of filling every single freshwater barrel on all the ships—singlehandedly.
Not only that, but they could even fill the bathtub in the cargo hold of the First Ship…
What previously took dozens of crew members several hours to accomplish, this one magician could do alone.
That freed up manpower for other loading tasks, saving both time and effort.
Losing such a valuable individual would be a severe blow to the fleet.
"Still, it would be best if all adventurers disembarked here…"
"Deputy Minister!"
Snus's words were cut off by Captain Myun of the First Ship.
"The usefulness of that water-attribute magician is extraordinary. We are not asking to keep all the adventurers. We are simply requesting that this magician and their swordsman companion remain."
As Captain Myun spoke, the other nine captains all nodded in agreement.
With overwhelming intensity.
Snus had been a soldier since his youth.
He had fought on many battlefields and had faced death on numerous occasions.
But the sheer pressure from these ten captains was… overwhelming.
Captain Myun of the First Ship was originally an admiral in the Darwei Navy.
Coming from a lineage of sailors that spanned generations, he held deep trust from the Emperor.
The other captains, too, were all veterans who had survived battles against pirates and insurgents.
Even the youngest, Captain La Wu of the Tenth Ship, was no exception.
Faced with such intimidating pressure,
"I-I will consider it…"
Snus had no choice but to relent.
That was the extent of Snus's experience that evening.
"Indeed, the captains are all seasoned warriors… that must have been intense."
Imagining the scene, Secretary Bal shuddered.
If it had been him, he would have wanted to avoid such an experience altogether.
"Right? Captain Myun of the First Ship was once an admiral. He led entire fleets into battle against pirates and rebels, earning great favor from His Majesty. He is a reliable man… but precisely because of that, I don't want to make him an enemy."
"However… the directive from the Ministry of Rites stated that 'all' adventurers must disembark, correct?"
"Yes. Minimizing uncertainties is a fundamental principle of escort operations. Now then… what should we do?"
Later that night. On the deck of the Tenth Ship.
"Captain La Wu?"
"Apologies for the late hour, Captain La Wu. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Captain La Wu invited the visiting Bizis into the captain's quarters at the stern of the ship.
"I went to the lodgings where the Tenth Ship's crew is staying in town, but I was told you were still aboard."
Bizis expressed gratitude for the green tea that was served and explained the reason for the visit.
Hearing this, La Wu chuckled.
"It's always like this. I always stay on the ship during official missions. I find I don't sleep as well on land."
"A true sailor through and through."
Bizis said with a faint smile.
For a while, only the sound of tea being sipped echoed through the captain's quarters.
"In truth, I am here today under the orders of Her Highness."
"Hmm?"
Bizis broached the topic, while La Wu continued sipping tea without a change in expression.
"Her Highness wishes to know more about the water-attribute magician… the one I mistakenly struck. I came to see if you could provide any information."
"I see."
Bizis spoke frankly, and La Wu, still expressionless, gave a slight nod.
After taking another sip of tea, La Wu responded.
"Captain Bizis, I understand your request. However, I cannot answer that question."
"Huh? Why not?"
"I'm merely a ship captain. And more importantly, that particular magician explicitly asked me not to share information about them publicly. Consider it a kind of confidentiality agreement."
"But…"
"Would you want someone else freely revealing your personal information without your consent?"
La Wu's expression remained unchanged as he spoke.
Bizis had to admit, he was right.
Absolutely right.
It was completely reasonable.
And yet…
"Even so… If I still wish to know, what should I do?"
"You would have no choice but to ask them directly."
La-Wu's response was straightforward.
Indeed, there was no other way.
"I understand, Captain La Wu. I would like to speak with them directly. Could you inform them of my request and arrange a meeting?"
"Understood. However, it is quite late tonight… and we depart early tomorrow. That said, our next port of call, Boago, might be a good option. We will arrive there in four days and stay for two nights. The first night should work. Assuming, of course, that the magician agrees."
"Yes, that sounds good."
Bizis bowed in agreement with La Wu's proposal.
While they wouldn't get the information immediately, this approach ensured they would get it.
Without causing any trouble for anyone.
Bizis had no intention of antagonizing the magician.
If anything, she was intrigued and wanted to learn more.
A magician possessing such exceptional swordsmanship… how had they acquired such skill?
However, the meeting in Boago never came to pass…
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0533 Happiness and Unhappiness
-x-X-x-
Four days later, in the city of Boago.
"We got kicked off the ship…"
"Well, it's not just us. All the adventurers were removed. It can't be helped."
"But the original contract was supposed to take us to the imperial capital! My 'Easy Trip to the Imperial Capital' plan has fallen apart! I'm going to sue!"
"What kind of plan was that…? Besides, we were given a hefty compensation on top of the contract termination fee. It can't be helped."
"Abel, you've been saying 'it can't be helped' over and over! Where's your fighting spirit?!"
"Yeah, I don't have any of that."
Ryo and Abel, along with the other adventurers, were forced to disembark from the ship in the city of Boago.
Ryo had been counting on an easy journey to the imperial capital by ship, so he wasn't happy about the sudden change of plans.
"The captain and crew seemed pretty sad. Probably because of the freshwater supply job and the deck shower rights."
"The captain and crew were good people to begin with. It wasn't just about bribes."
In response to Abel's remark, Ryo countered with a belief in the inherent goodness of people.
People are fundamentally good!
"The higher-ups who kicked us off should suffer when the crew pushes back against them!"
"I find it hard to believe you are fundamentally good, Ryo…"
After venting their frustrations, they had to face reality.
The two of them had to get to the imperial capital and then return to the Central Countries.
"Are there any carriages heading to the imperial capital?"
"There might be… but it'll cost money."
"We're rich! We have money in the bank, too."
"I don't even know how rich we are. What if we spend too much and regret it later? This country, Darwei, is huge. It's going to take a lot of money to get out of here."
Abel spoke with a very practical mindset.
"For a king, Abel sure is thrifty. You should be saying something like, 'I'll spend big and keep the economy moving!'"
"I don't have that kind of money."
"This should be the Adventurers' Mutual Aid Association they told us about, right?"
"Adventurers: When in trouble, go to the guild."
Abel and Ryo arrived at what served as the guild in the eastern countries, the Mutual Aid Association.
When they stepped inside…
"Whoa, what a huge crowd."
"Morning request bouts should be over by now."
It was just before 11 AM.
Having nearly 100 adventurers there was unusual…
"Hey, I think I recognize some of these people."
"Ah… they're the same folks as us. Those who were kicked off the ship."
"I see. Everyone had the same idea."
Indeed, the adventurers swarming the association were the ones whose contracts had been terminated when the princess' escort deal was canceled.
"Should we wait until they've been taken care of?"
"That room over there caught my attention."
Abel pointed to a separate room on the left side of the entrance.
"It says 'Equipment Shop'?"
"Looks like it. Let's check it out."
Abel led the way.
And Ryo followed.
The equipment shop was exactly what its name suggested, offering weapons, armor, and a variety of potions.
"They have quite a selection."
"Yeah. Even if we're not buying anything, it's fun to browse."
Being a swordsman, Abel had always liked looking at weapons and armor.
Ryo had only recently realized this.
Abel picked up different items, inspecting them one by one.
But he didn't seem intent on buying anything.
Meanwhile, Ryo was searching for something specific.
Something he wanted to buy if he found it.
And then…
"Found it!"
"Hmm? Ah, a map."
Hearing Ryo's excited voice, Abel turned to look.
It wasn't particularly detailed.
Just listing cities, major roads, and checkpoints, but having it would make a huge difference.
"If we have to travel by land to the imperial capital, this will be useful. And even if we find another route, we'll definitely need to travel overland to reach the Central Countries. So, I figured we should have one."
"Certainly. Good thinking, Ryo."
"Heh, it's nothing special."
Ryo blushed at the compliment.
With the map in hand, the two of them felt like they had secured a bright future.
Not everyone in the world had a bright future.
That night, in a room at the princess' lodging in Boago, a guard coordination meeting was being held.
Attendees included Deputy Minister Snus, Secretary Bal, Captain Bizis, and the newly arrived head of the Ministry of Rites' escort team, Captain Wie Su.
After exchanging greetings, Captain Wie Su sighed and addressed Deputy Minister Snus.
"This might not be something I should say to you, sir, but the ship's crew has been giving us hostile looks."
Wie Su and Snus had worked together often, so they were familiar with each other.
Because of that, they spoke candidly about various matters.
"Well, we did force 80 people off the ship on the first day. I understand why the crew resents the Ministry of Rites' escort team… I don't expect them to welcome us, but still, it's frustrating."
"I'm sorry, Wie Su. That's entirely my fault… and the fault of the headquarters of the Ministry of Rites."
Deputy Minister Snus responded with a grimace, beyond just a wry smile.
As he spoke, he glanced at Captain Bizis, who was also present.
Bizis had her eyes closed, adopting an indifferent attitude.
In other words, Snus was essentially exposing his own department's shame, but Bizis seemed willing to pretend she hadn't heard anything.
In his heart, Snus silently bowed in thanks to Bizis.
"The Deputy Minister and headquarters?"
"When the new escort team from the Ministry of Rites arrived, we dismissed the adventurers we had previously hired from the ship… and that's what caused the problem."
"The adventurers were the problem? Did something happen with them?"
"No, there were no issues with the adventurers. They actually did their jobs quite diligently. The problem was that one of them was a water-attribute magician… and his removal is the root of all this."
Snus let out a heavy sigh.
"But you only dismissed him because it was following headquarters' orders, right? We arrived, so there was no longer a need for him to stay. That's perfectly reasonable…"
"True, but… that magician was crucial. When it came to providing fresh water."
Snus went on to explain how that particular water-attribute magician had single-handedly supplied fresh water to the barrels of the entire fleet and had even filled the bath in the first ship.
"It's just like Lord Rowon."
Captain Wie Su nodded in admiration after hearing the story.
"The man who single-handedly used a flood strategy to wash away the rebel army? I'm not sure if that magician is on the same level as one of the Six Saints, but it's true that he significantly reduced the workload of the sailors."
Snus let out yet another sigh.
"Without such a valuable person… I can understand the way the sailors feel. That said, since it was an official order from the Ministry of Rites headquarters, you had no choice but to dismiss him, Deputy Minister."
"That's right."
"If you hadn't… headquarters would have received the report, and your career prospects would have been ruined, wouldn't they? The sailors, and even the captains, probably don't understand that part."
Captain Wie Su frowned as he spoke.
Sitting nearby, Captain Bizis of the Princess escort unit listened with her eyes closed, seemingly uninterested.
However, inside, she was far from calm.
Originally, at this very time today, she was supposed to meet with that water-attribute magician.
She could have asked him many things…
But now, the magician had left the ship.
She recalled her conversation earlier that day with La Wu, captain of the tenth ship.
"He left the ship? Why?!"
"It was Deputy Minister Snus's order. Or rather, an instruction from the Ministry of Rites headquarters. Either way, it makes no difference… bureaucrats are truly inflexible."
Bizis had raised her voice involuntarily.
La Wu responded with an equally dissatisfied expression.
The magician's departure had benefited no one.
"How am I supposed to report this to Her Highness…?"
Bizis slumped, disheartened.
Seeing her in such a state, even La Wu felt sorry for her.
"Well, since he's left the ship, and he won't be meeting any acquaintances… I suppose I can at least tell you his name."
"Yes, please! Just his name!"
"Just make sure this stays between you, Her Highness, and no one else. The magician's name is Ryo-dono."
"Ryo-dono! Oh, thank you so much! Of course, only Her Highness and I… no, I'll include Mifa-dono as well—just the three of us."
"Yes, those three should be fine."
And so, Bizis reported to the princess during one of her short breaks.
Although Her Highness simply said, "It's fine if he's already left," Bizis still wanted to at least report his name.
"Huh? Ryo? That's…"
"Yes. I believe it's the same Ryo-san who is Abel-sensei's companion…"
"…What?"
Princess Shio Fen tilted her head in confusion, while Mifa murmured, probably, leaving Bizis as the only one unable to follow the conversation.
"Abel-sensei… he's Mifa-dono's sword master, isn't he?"
"Yes. And the magician who travels with Abel-sensei is Ryo-san. Now that I think about it, he is a water-attribute magician."
"That Ryo-dono… does he use a sword?"
"Hmm… I'm not sure. He's a magician, after all… At least, I've never seen him use one…"
Mifa trailed off before suddenly looking up in realization.
"Now that you mention it… I've seen Ryo-san practicing with a sword once. He was swinging it, saying it was 'suburi*'." (TLN: Practice swings)
"Suburi?"
Unfamiliar with the term, Bizis tilted her head in confusion.
"It's a practice movement, swinging downward repeatedly."
As Mifa explained, she took a stance with both hands as if holding a sword, then demonstrated a downward strike.
Several times.
"It was so smooth… now that I think about it, maybe Ryo-san does use a sword."
Mifa nodded repeatedly as she recalled the scene.
"But… he deliberately hid his name, didn't he? Even from the ship's captain. Why? If he had told us, we could have met him."
"That's probably why."
Princess Shio Fen replied with a laugh.
"Mifa, you were sent off on your journey, but then he ended up on the same fleet… maybe he felt embarrassed about meeting you again after that. Probably not just Ryo-dono, but Abel-sensei as well."
"…Now that you mention it, he did say something about feeling embarrassed."
Princess Shio Fen guessed, and Bizis recalled her conversation with Ryo during their encounter.
"It can't be helped. Maybe we'll meet again somewhere."
Shio Fen said with a smile.
That had been their conversation earlier in the day.
(What a blunder, what a blunder, what a blunder!)
Bizis screamed in her mind.
(Even though Mifa and Her Highness accepted it, they clearly wanted to see him. Not just Ryo-dono, but also Abel-sensei… And I ruined that chance. What a blunder!)
Though it wasn't her fault, Bizis's inherently serious nature wouldn't allow her to let it go.
The world, it seemed, rarely went as one wished.
-x-X-x-
The day after Ryo and Abel arrived in the city of Boago.
The two took their time enjoying breakfast before heading to the Adventurers' Mutual Aid Association counter.
Huh? They managed to find an inn even with the princess's entourage docking there?
No, they didn't.
They slept in the park.
"Yesterday was rough. And it's all Abel's fault."
"Wait, how is this my fault? The inns were full because of the princess's arrival, right?"
"Luckily, the park was empty, and I had my robe, while you had your cloak, so we managed… but still…"
"Isn't camping out normal for adventurers?"
"Yeah… that's true. But we've been staying at inns too much lately—we've gone soft. Abel, you've gone soft!"
"Uh-huh. You too, Ryo."
Ryo sharply pointed it out, and Abel casually shot back.
By the time they arrived at the Adventurers' Mutual Aid Association, it was already past ten, and the place was relatively empty.
"This is how a guild should be."
"Hearing you talk about what a guild should be is strange, to say the least."
"Did you say something, Abel?"
"Nope. Didn't say a thing."
Even back in the Kingdom, Ryo had never really fit the image of a typical adventurer. So for him to be commenting on the ideal state of a guild would have felt odd to anyone, not just Abel.
Still, Ryo smiled brightly and asked at the reception desk.
"Excuse me, I have a question. Is there a carriage adventurers can use to travel to the imperial capital from here?"
The receptionist seemed momentarily surprised but quickly regained his composure.
As expected of a professional.
"There is no direct route. However, it is possible to reach the capital by transferring between several carriages."
"Ohh."
"That said, adventurers are subject to travel restrictions at certain times."
"Certain times? Restrictions?"
Ryo tilted his head in confusion.
And behind him, Abel did the same.
"When national events take place, entry to the imperial capital and its surrounding areas may be restricted. Right now, due to the wedding ceremony of the Sixth Prince, adventurers ranked Level 8 or lower are not permitted entry until the event is over."
"Wait, what…?"
Ryo muttered in shock.
The Sixth Prince was, in fact, the fiance of Princess Shio Fen.
And both Ryo and Abel were Level 8 adventurers.
"How long will this restriction last?"
Abel asked from the side.
"Let's see…"
The receptionist flipped through some documents before responding.
"Approximately nine more months."
"That's way too long!"
Ryo blurted out in disbelief.
Being unable to enter the capital for nine whole months was quite a surprise.
"Are you two ranked Level 8 or lower?"
"Yeah. Here, this is my card."
Abel handed over his adventurer's card.
The receptionist scanned the card, and data appeared on the desk.
"Oh, you arrived with the princess's fleet. You are indeed Level 8… If you had remained part of the fleet's request, you would have been allowed in, but…"
The receptionist frowned slightly.
Apparently, leaving the ship had been a costly mistake.
"Looking at your record… If you complete about ten more Level 8 requests, you'll be promoted to Level 7."
"Ten, huh…"
One quest per day would mean ten days of work.
Then, as if something had just occurred to him.
The receptionist turned to look at a large noticeboard.
"If you participate in this mountain hunt, it will count as ten Level 8 requests."
"What?"
A large notice was posted on the board:
'Special Request from the Deputy Governor – Tiger Mountain Mountain Hunt – Now Accepting Participants'
"Tiger Mountain?"
"Mountain hunt?"
Ryo and Abel both tilted their heads.
"A group of gray goblins has been discovered in Tiger Mountain, and this is a request to exterminate them. Meals are provided, and participants receive rewards based on their rank. We have enough Level 6 and above adventurers for the frontlines, but we're still recruiting Level 7 and below adventurers for headquarters and food supply protection. Level 8 adventurers won't be on the frontlines, so the pay isn't high, but the guild contribution points are significant. The expedition departs tomorrow."
"Alright, we'll take it."
"Huh? Abel?"
Abel accepted the request on his own.
Ryo was surprised—it was rare for Abel to do something like that.
After completing the necessary paperwork, they left the reception desk.
"Abel! Why did you accept it without asking me?!"
"Why not? I wanted to take it."
Ryo pressed him with a questioning look, but Abel averted his gaze.
With eyes searching for the truth, Ryo stared at Abel intently.
"Former A-rank adventurer, Abel."
Ryo deliberately emphasized the words, making Abel flinch.
"You don't like being Level 8, do you? You want to rank up. Abel, you're vain."
"N-no, I…"
"Abel is vain."
Ryo repeated his accusation.
"Alright, fine! I want to rank up! Level 8 is too low, damn it!"
Abel finally exploded.
Well, if you could call it an explosion. His grumbling and pouting were actually kind of cute.
"A vain swordsman… doesn't have the same ring as a starving swordsman."
"What the hell does that mean…?"
"So let's go with 'Vain, Vain Swordsman'."
"Huh?"
"'And thus, Abel became the Vain, Vain Swordsman'. A new sequel to the Full-Belly Swordsman saga."
"…"
Then, as if something had just crossed his mind, Ryo spoke up.
"By the way, this mountain hunt… exterminating gray goblins…I didn't realize goblins existed in these Eastern Countries, too."
"What are you talking about? Goblins are everywhere."
"Wait, really?"
"Humans exist all over the world. Why wouldn't goblins?"
"Well, when you put it like that…"
Ryo had never realized goblins were a worldwide phenomenon.
"There weren't any in the Rondo Forest, so…"
"Rondo is just a special place."
Ryo commented, and Abel shook his head slightly.
Considering Rondo was home to dragons and griffons.
It certainly could be considered a unique region.
"A goblin subjugation quest—now that feels like a real adventurer's Job!"
Ryo was visibly excited.
After all, goblins were the quintessential fantasy monsters.
And among all quests, goblin subjugation was a classic staple of adventure stories.
However, Abel was giving Ryo a half-lidded stare.
It seemed like he had something to say.
"What is it, Abel? What's with that look?"
"Nothing."
"If you have something to say, say it clearly."
"Ryo, have you ever actually defeated a goblin?"
"Huh?"
Ryo was momentarily at a loss for words, not understanding Abel's question.
"Of course, I've defeated goblins before…"
He began to say, but then he stopped to think.
When? Where did he defeat one?
When? Where…?
When? Where… he couldn't remember.
"Huh?"
Ryo tilted his head.
There should have been goblins in the Rune dungeon… but when he descended forty floors by cutting through the dungeon floors, there hadn't been any monsters around.
There was also the Great Tidal Bore when monsters overflowed from Rune's dungeon. Abel, who was right in front of him, must have slain more goblins than he could count… but Ryo wasn't there at the time.
The second Great Tidal Bore had been… ogres.
"Hmmm?"
Ryo tilted his head in the other direction.
Then, he finally remembered.
"I did a goblin extermination quest in Niels' village!"
"And did you defeat any goblins there?"
"I, uh, used
Ryo hadn't actually finished off any goblins.
It was Niels and Amon who had delivered the final blows…
"What about the dungeons in the Western Countries…?"
"Did you defeat any there?"
"It was mostly Niels, Amon, or Harold…"
Probably, Ryo hadn't taken down any goblins himself.
At this realization, Ryo collapsed to the ground, both hands and knees planted.
The pose of utter despair.
"This is unbelievable…"
But then, he suddenly lifted his head and shouted.
"I got it!"
"Huh?"
"The underground chambers of the Royal Capital's Central Temple! I froze a bunch of goblins solid with
"Oh, yeah, now that you mention it."
Seeing Ryo finally recall this, Abel nodded in acknowledgment.
It was true—he had frozen them all in ice.
"I'm relieved."
Ryo said with deep emotion.
"Yeah. If the famous 'Silver Duke' had never actually slain a goblin, the bards would probably lose their minds."
Abel chuckled as he called Ryo by his title.
Hearing this, Ryo puffed up his cheeks in frustration.
And so, the two of them embarked on a proper adventurer's quest the next day.