Chapter 0684 A Fresh Breeze
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"Kabui Somar-san is such a forceful person…"
"Give it up, Ryo. I already have."
Ryo and Abel were on the deck of the Lone Dark, heading back to Purri, the royal capital of the Suje Kingdom.
As always, they were seated in ice chairs, with coffee set on an ice table… Incidentally, on deck, Andalusia and Feiwan were, naturally, sunbathing as well.
"He put on such immense pressure to make sure we met with Queen Iliaja."
"Yeah… about as much pressure as Alexis puts on when he gets serious."
"Marquis Heinlein? The Prime Minister's full-force pressure must be terrifying, too."
"There's no point resisting the pressure of people who've been through that much experience."
Ryo and Abel both let out small sighs as they pictured Kabui Somar and Marquis Heinlein.
Yes, the two of them had been persuaded by Kabui Somar and were now heading to the royal capital of the Suje Kingdom, Purri.
To meet with Queen Iliaja.
"At this point, there's nothing we can do. We'll be a little late getting back to the Knightley Kingdom, but let's just enjoy this new journey."
"After traveling all over the Eastern Countries like this, being delayed a little on the way back feels like a rounding error to me."
Both Ryo and Abel were quick to switch gears.
Just then, the very Kabui Somar who had strong-armed them onto the Lone Dark appeared.
"If the two of you are present, Her Majesty will be especially delighted."
"We didn't get much of a chance to talk at the Kwebasa conference the other day."
Abel answered, recalling the joint conference of the Eastern Countries held in the autonomous city of Kwebasa.
"Come to think of it, Lord Protector, weren't you on the Rainshooter before? Like when you came to the Komakyuta Principality. But this time, and when you came to Darwei as well, it was the Lone Dark, wasn't it? Has your flagship changed?"
"No. When we met in Darwei, the only ship and crew that could sail as far north as Kwebasa were the Lone Dark and its crew. Besides, I have the feeling that the Lone Dark is somehow under some kind of mysterious protection."
"Protection?"
At Kabui Somar's words, Ryo tilted his head.
"Even when we're in danger, we can somehow get out of it… Of course, that is thanks to the crew's daily training. But many of those who live at sea have had experiences that cannot be explained by simple logic alone. Myself included."
"Luck definitely exists, though. Whether for people or ships."
Abel nodded at Kabui Somar's explanation.
For those in a position to lead others, in a position where they hold people's lives in their hands, they cannot rely on unscientific things like 'protection' or 'luck'. At the same time, they cannot completely ignore them either.
Because human lives are at stake.
"I was unlucky, and that's why my subordinate died"… nobody wants to say something like that.
"Whether it's protection or luck, if it helps things go well, I want to use it. I want it to protect us… That's honestly how I feel."
Kabui Somar said clearly, even with a smile.
Ryo looked at that expression with a kind of dazzled admiration.
To be able to say something like that plainly in front of a third party means that person has a broad spirit.
Ryo understood that.
Compared to the workings of the world, the sphere of human influence is very small.
Kabui Somar's words were the words of someone who understood that, and still kept striving anyway.
Because he had continued to strive as a matter of course, he could honestly say that he wanted protection and luck to lend a hand as well.
Needless to say, that is on a completely different level from someone who simply does nothing and expects luck to solve everything.
After Kabui Somar left, Ryo said to Abel:
"There are times in battle too, right? When luck is good, or when the tide is on your side."
"There are. I don't know why it happens, or why such things happen, though."
"Someday… yes, maybe in a few hundred years, or maybe in a thousand years… there may be some 'factor' discovered or identified that can explain that kind of thing scientifically… logically."
Ryo said this with a grave nod.
Seeing that, Abel shrugged and said:
"Sometimes, Ryo, you say some really interesting things."
"How rude! Not sometimes—I'm always trying to say interesting things!"
"Yeah, that's a completely different meaning."
After a while, two people came by.
"It's been a while, Your Majesty Abel… no, Abel-dono, Duke Rondo."
Indeed, Captain Gorick knew that Abel was the king of the Knightley Kingdom, and that Ryo was Duke Rondo.
When they met at the Rondo Manor in Darwei, he had even ended up walking with his right hand and right foot moving at the same time, like he'd forgotten how to walk normally…
"No, Captain, please just call me Ryo."
"And I'm just the adventurer Abel."
Ryo and Abel made their request with wry smiles.
Captain Gorick went back to calling them "Ryo-san" and "Abel-san" as before, but this time there was someone else—someone who was acting very differently from before…
"Ryo-sensei! I'm a fan—if it's all right, may I have your autograph!"
Said the ever-composed Deputy Captain Lena.
What she pulled from her inner pocket was apparently the always-carried portable edition of 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel II', looking like a paperback.
"The second volume? It's been published?"
"Yes! It's my favorite book."
Apparently, it was the second volume of 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel', published based on the manuscript Ryo had once entrusted to Kabui Somar.
Ryo took the pen offered along with the book and quickly signed his name.
After becoming the premier duke, he actually found himself signing things fairly often.
Of course, compared to King Abel or Prime Minister Heinlein, it was a tiny number… but still.
Deputy Captain Lena held the signed book close to her chest, deeply moved.
"Thank you so much! I'll treasure it forever."
With that, she offered a brief greeting and hurried off toward the stern.
"Uh…"
Ryo was so surprised by how quickly she left that he was the one left stunned.
"I think it'll probably be stored in Lena's treasure box."
"Treasure box?"
Captain Gorick explained with a wry smile, while Ryo and Abel tilted their heads.
"Lena has a treasure box in her shared room with Susie. It has waterproof and moisture-proof features made with alchemy… It seems she keeps precious things in there."
"I see."
Ryo looked surprised, but also pleased.
To have his signed book cherished that much was, for a novelist, the very definition of a reward.
With the captain and deputy captain gone, another authority figure came to Ryo and Abel.
This person was one of the most important figures on the Lone Dark—the one who made life aboard the ship so much more colorful.
"Looking forward to it again today, Chef Susie!"
"Since today is Friday, dinner will be curry."
"Oh!"
Indeed, aboard the Lone Dark was the female chef Susie, who possessed superb cooking skills.
"Yay, Abel. It's curry!"
"Chef Susie's caaurry is delicious."
Even now, Abel still pronounced it as 'caaurry'.
Ryo and Abel both knew that curry was sometimes served in the Suje Kingdom Navy.
And not just any curry—delicious curry!
"Just being able to eat this means there's a reason to be aboard the Lone Dark."
Ryo looked absolutely delighted.
That night, over that curry meal, the two encountered an old mentor who had come out from the engine room.
"The chief engineer's job is tough, isn't it?"
"Gunno-san, it's been a while."
"Oh, Abel-san, Ryo-san. My apologies for greeting you so late. No, more importantly— you've become really fluent in the Eastern Countries' language."
Chief Engineer Gunno had taught the two of them the language of the Eastern Countries.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that thanks to this man, their travels through the Eastern Countries had gone smoothly.
No matter how much gratitude they gave, it would never be enough.
"Thanks to you, Chief Engineer."
"Because of that, we never had trouble communicating wherever we went."
Both Abel and Ryo thanked him from the bottom of their hearts.
And so there was a joyful reunion with the familiar crew of the Lone Dark…
Ten days later, the Lone Dark entered Purri, the royal capital of the Suje Kingdom.
"You two, come with me to the royal palace."
At Kabui Somar's words, Ryo and Abel followed him.
As Kabui Somar entered the palace, one man hurried toward him.
"Rockday! I've met some astonishing people. If Her Majesty meets them too, she'll surely be delighted."
"Your Excellency, a very troublesome person is here to see Her Majesty."
Kabui Somar spoke cheerfully, while Rockday wore a plainly troubled face.
Watching the two of them from behind were two other people.
"Isn't that the guy Abel stabbed through and blew a hole in his stomach?"
"Admiral Rockday, yes. You're exactly right, Ryo, but the way you said it is kind of unpleasant, isn't it?"
"Then would 'the admiral-magician who stabbed Abel through the stomach and legs with stone spears' have been better?"
"That's also true, but it makes me feel even worse than before, so it really sucks."
"Selfish Abel…"
"That one's better."
What words people can accept differs from person to person…
In a corner of the royal palace stood the Lord Protector's office.
Its master, Kabui Somar, Admiral Rockday, who was said to be his right-hand man, and the guests Ryo and Abel were all seated.
"So, Rockday, who is it that has come to see Her Majesty?"
"It is Prince Hendrawa, the second prince of His Late Majesty."
"He was alive…?"
Kabui Somar let out a small sigh.
Rather than being relieved that he was alive, he looked more like someone who had just realized things had become troublesome.
"The second prince of the previous king means he is Queen Iliaja's older brother?"
"Yes. He should be thirty-one years old now. When the former first prince reached eighteen and became crown prince, he was sent as an adopted son to a small state in the southern part of the continent."
"I seem to remember hearing that because his mother's status was not very high, his position in the Suje Kingdom would have been difficult even if he had remained here."
Abel asked.
Ryo, sitting beside him, was nodding vigorously with an air of great importance.
That was because Ryo had been the one to tell Abel that story before.
"You are correct. However, the country where he was sent as an adopted son was absorbed by the neighboring Ghegish-Lu Federation two years later."
"Ghegish-Lu Federation…"
Ryo murmured.
It was a country that came up again and again around the Atinjo Grand Duchy in the southern part of the continent. He had, at last, remembered it.
"It seems he was sheltered by the Ghegish-Lu Federation for a long time."
Admiral Rockday added.
"More than ten years? I'm sure the Federation also went through a fierce civil war during that time, right? I heard it is now effectively under the control of the Atinjo Grand Duchy."
"Yes, that's true… but that part is still under discussion, so I do not know the details."
Rockday also shook his head slightly at Abel's question.
"Is the talk being held in the office?"
"No, in the Foreign Affairs Conference Room."
"Foreign Affairs Conference Room? That's the kind of room used for diplomatic-level meetings, isn't it? And Her Majesty ordered you to escort him there?"
"Yes."
At Kabui Somar's question, Admiral Rockday nodded.
"Was Prince Hendrawa accompanied by people from the Ghegish-Lu Federation?"
"He is."
"Then Her Majesty must have predicted that this was not merely a visit to see her after a long time, but that he would make troublesome demands backed by the power of the Federation."
After thinking for a moment, Kabui Somar muttered that, then stood up.
"Please excuse me."
With that, Kabui Somar left the room.
The three remaining people.
One of them, the admiral, kept glancing around as though he wanted to say something.
But it was probably hard to say in front of the two guests…
"What is it, Rockday?"
Abel prompted him.
"Ah, no, how should I put this… this is the Lord Protector's office… it would be fine if His Excellency were here, but, well, His Excellency has gone out…"
"Hm?"
"Abel, you really want him to spell it out."
Rockday chose his words with obvious difficulty, Abel tilted his head, and Ryo came to the rescue.
"Admiral Rockday wants to say that he's hungry and wants to go get a meal."
"No, that is not it."
Admiral Rockday immediately denied Ryo's words.
Abel silently shook his head.
"Let us move to another room."
Rockday decided to say it directly.
"Ah, because this is the Lord Protector's office, there are also classified documents and such here."
"If a dangerous element like Abel saw them, it could become a serious problem."
"Hey, Ryo is the one who's more dangerous, isn't he?"
"I'm a magician whose motto is safety and security, you know? I can't be compared to a reckless swordsman."
Ryo said this with inexplicable confidence.
Abel silently shook his head again, and Rockday wisely rose without a word and began to move.
The room Ryo and Abel were shown to was a very large conference room.
At the front, there was a fairly large oval table, and at the back of the room they had entered, numerous conference desks and chairs were lined up.
Probably, the important people at the front would discuss matters while looking at documents laid out on the oval table and papers posted on the walls, and then give instructions.
Meanwhile, at the back of the room, detailed information would be collected and analyzed… and then passed forward promptly.
Of course, at the moment, there was no one there besides the three of them.
"It looks like a crisis management center."
Ryo muttered that to himself, and Abel heard it—but since he had no idea what it meant, he said nothing.
"It looks like a crisis management center."
Ryo repeated himself…this time, however, his voice was louder than before.
Still, Abel said nothing.
"Crisis mana—"
"I can hear you."
By the third time, Abel finally had no choice but to respond.
"It's because you keep ignoring me."
"No, not ignoring you exactly—I just don't know what this 'curaishish something' is, so I can't say anything about it, can I?"
"If you don't know, I think you should just ask honestly. If you pretend to understand and bluff your way through, you'll get hit with a nasty backlash later."
"Is that so… Then what is this 'curaishish something'?"
Abel, who was also a very honest and decent guy, asked honestly.
"It's a place where important people gather and give orders when a national-level crisis occurs. Since it's built on that assumption, information is easy to collect… but…"
Ryo explained up to that point, then his voice grew smaller.
"Yes, the desks and chairs are there, but… at best, it's just a conference room, right? The way you describe it makes it sound like they'd have special alchemy tools and everything prepared too."
"Exactly…"
The crisis management center Ryo had seen had a giant monitor and forty smaller monitors built into the front wall, and on the desks were dozens of computers and fixed-line telephones…
"The absence of a giant monitor can't be helped, I suppose."
Ryo muttered with a slightly disappointed expression.
Rockday had been listening silently to their conversation from right nearby.
Then he noticed the door at the front of the conference room opening, and several people entering.
He tilted his head.
The people who had come in were putting documents up on the walls and placing a large map on the oval table.
"Looks like the meeting is about to start."
"At last, the crisis management center is kicking into action!"
Ryo nodded with a strangely determined expression.
Of course, Ryo had no responsibility here.
Naturally, he had no idea what the meeting was even about.
"That's odd. There wasn't supposed to be any meeting scheduled for this room today."
Rockday kept tilting his head.
Naturally.
He had confirmed there was no meeting scheduled before bringing the two of them here.
Since Rockday himself still had no information, he walked over to one of the people preparing things and asked:
"What is this preparation for?"
"Yes, Admiral. By order of the Lord Protector, we are preparing for an emergency meeting."
"By His Excellency's order? Did he say what kind of emergency meeting it would be?"
"No, not in detail. We were only told to prepare a map of the kingdom's main territory and information on the major cities. Other departments also received separate instructions, so I believe this is something fairly large-scale."
At the answer from the person he had questioned, Admiral Rockday again tilted his head.
Preparations for something continued steadily.
After a while, the Lord Protector Kabui Somar entered the room, spotted the three of them, and walked over.
"Actually, Prince Hendrawa has demanded the throne of the Suje Kingdom."
"Huh?"
Kabui Somar stated it bluntly, and Ryo and Abel both let out equally absurd, bewildered voices.
Rockday's face twisted in silence.
Perhaps he had been considering this possibility.
"He claims that since Queen Iliaja is the sixth princess of the previous king and he is the second prince, he is the rightful heir to the throne."
"Backed, of course, by the power of the Ghegish-Lu Federation, right?"
"Yes."
At Abel's confirmation, Kabui Somar nodded.
"How does that stand legally in the Suje Kingdom?"
"The highest priority is the will of the previous king. And His Majesty commanded, by royal decree, that Princess Iliaja be placed on the throne as queen."
Kabui Somar was the one who personally delivered that handwritten decree to Iliaja.
"Has that been made public?"
"Partially. It has been announced that Princess Iliaja will take the throne by the will of the former king. However, since other princes and princesses have died, the decree itself has not been made public."
"I see. So Prince Hendrawa is exploiting that point. Well, I suppose he can simply be rejected, but that isn't what this meeting preparation is for, is it?"
Abel glanced at the documents being prepared for the meeting and said that.
"Yes, exactly."
Kabui Somar nodded, then continued.
"What does it mean to make a demand for a throne that will never be accepted? Why did he come to the palace with that demand despite knowing it would never pass?"
"If Queen Iliaja were to die at this time, they would have no choice but to place Hendrawa on the throne."
"We concluded that the Federation has already landed enough forces on the mainland to make that possible."
"So this is a countermeasure meeting."
"In fact, we have already conducted searches at several promising locations, and have found and detained what appear to be the operational units."
"As expected of you."
At Kabui Somar's words, Abel nodded in admiration.
"Eh? So that means the Ghegish-Lu Federation has landed forces on the mainland for the purpose of killing Queen Iliaja?"
"Yes."
Ryo's eyes widened as he confirmed it, and Kabui Somar nodded.
At that moment, the front door opened and a woman entered.
"Your Majesty!"
Everyone who had been preparing the conference room immediately dropped to one knee.
"No, please continue your preparations as you were."
Queen Iliaja said that gently, and then walked toward the back of the conference room.
"Abel-san, Ryo-san, it's been a while. I'm sorry I can't properly receive you."
"Don't worry about it."
"Please devote yourself to the affairs of state."
At Queen Iliaja's words, both Abel and Ryo nodded in reply.
Things have priorities.
And those priorities change depending on one's position.
For the queen, the top priority was not rekindling old ties but dealing with the urgent matters facing the country.
After bowing, Queen Iliaja returned to the front of the conference room.
Kabui Somar did the same.
After seeing them off, Admiral Rockday remained with Ryo and Abel… but he was obviously fidgeting.
"You'd like to join the meeting too, wouldn't you, Rockday-san?"
"Go on."
Ryo and Abel urged him with smiles.
"S-so you think so? Sorry, I'll just go check it out for a bit."
With that, Rockday went to look over the information laid out on the oval table at the front of the conference room and then took command of the information review process.
Within minutes, the conference room had begun functioning.
Information came in from all over the royal capital.
Rockday and the others reviewed it and quickly fed the necessary information to the oval table.
The information was reflected immediately.
The Lord Protector, Kabui Somar, gave instructions on troop deployment.
As the highest decision-maker, Queen Iliaja made the final judgments.
To Ryo and Abel's eyes, the organization looked like it was moving incredibly smoothly.
"We were not told to leave this room. Right in front of us, top-level state secrets are flying back and forth."
"True. The fact that we weren't kicked out was probably deliberate."
"Deliberate?"
Ryo tilted his head.
"To show us this scene on purpose."
"For what reason?"
"As an appeal that everything is all right."
Abel answered with half a smile.
"The Suje Kingdom is functioning properly. That, with me and Ryo cooperating, the newly enthroned Queen Iliaja and the executive government are handling the governance of the nation well."
"Oh, I see."
Ryo nodded at Abel's explanation.
"Anyone involved in administration has to constantly be aware of how they themselves are seen, and how things appear to others."
"That's because they're paid from the people's tax money?"
"That too. But also because of the gaze from outside the country."
Abel answered Ryo's question with a wry smile.
"Those at the center of the state have to be aware of how their own country appears to other countries, or to people from foreign lands."
"So they must not be looked down on by other countries."
"Exactly. They must not be seen as easy prey. At worst, being seen that way could lead to their country being attacked. In a proper nation, the goal is to make neighboring states think, 'That country is hard to attack, so we should leave it alone'…that is the most effective way to avoid being dragged into war."
Abel said this with a slight frown.
Three years ago, the Knightley Kingdom had failed to do that.
It had allowed the Empire to think, "If we attack, we might be able to win".
Of course, the Empire was the one at fault for attacking.
That was a given.
But that was the opinion and view of ordinary people.
Those at the center of the state must not allow their own country to be seen as weak.
This is not something that can be fixed by just one department.
The country and every department that makes up its administration must act with that awareness.
Otherwise…
They get dragged into war.
It goes without saying that the side that invades a neighboring country does so because it believes it can win.
Then how do you prevent that?
The best way—and the only real way—is to make them think, "We can't win".
If they think they can't win, they won't attack…
"Will our Knightley Kingdom be all right?"
"Honestly, I don't know."
"Eh…"
Abel answered bluntly, and Ryo frowned hard as he looked back at him.
"Right now, the kingdom doesn't have its strongest asset."
"Strongest asset? King Abel?"
Ryo asked, tilting his head.
"No, you, Ryo."
"Huh?"
"The strongest force without question is Ryo, the Duke of Rondo."
Abel looked straight at Ryo and said it clearly.
"But still… national strength is not necessarily only military strength. Besides, it's not like a country absolutely has to defend itself alone, right?"
"An alliance, you mean?"
"Yes, exactly. Well, even alliances aren't guaranteed to last…"
"True. An alliance is, after all, just an alliance. It is made not for the other country, but for one's own country. Once it no longer benefits one's own country, it ends. Nobody can really blame that."
"Exactly. You have to make sure the benefit doesn't disappear. And that's where national strength other than military power comes in."
"Ah, absolutely."
"If the other country has the economic power or scientific and technological power that your own country needs, then they'll hesitate to dissolve the alliance. That's why the people at the center of state affairs must never slack off, without exception."
Ryo said that firmly.
"The power of a country is not only military power."
"Right. Economic strength, scientific and technological strength, and maybe even culture… maybe the power to transmit ideas, too. A country that others in foreign lands long for… that too is a kind of national power."
"Like how the people of Lulu Island came to admire the Suje Kingdom and wanted to come under its protection."
"Exactly."
At Abel's confirmation, Ryo nodded firmly.
"Becoming something like a vassal state, or making an alliance—there may be similarities there."
"A completely equal alliance simply doesn't exist."
At Ryo's words, Abel nodded.
In practical terms, when it comes to alliances between countries, there are almost no alliances between completely equal nations.
Looking at history around the world, that is rarely the case.
Usually, a clearly stronger nation takes the lead.
"So the relationship between the Grand Duchy and the Ghegish… whatever Federation is probably similar to that."
"The Ghegish-Lu Federation. Probably even on paper it would be listed as an 'alliance', not a 'vassal state'."
"In that case, I can also make sense of this Federation movement."
Ryo said that, then continued.
"From the Federation's perspective, they want to keep the Suje Kingdom under their umbrella so the Grand Duchy won't discard them."
"They'd want to retain enough power that they can't be underestimated. If they keep the Suje Kingdom under their control, they'll have the strength not to be unilaterally cut loose by the Grand Duchy."
"Politics is really difficult."
"I completely agree."
Neither Ryo nor Abel was particularly good at politics…
"Actually, I was thinking we might need to reactivate the Nio Operation."
"Nio?"
"The one where Abel and I stand behind Queen Iliaja and glare at everyone menacingly. But…"
"That won't be necessary."
"Yes, it doesn't seem necessary."
"Unlike that time, when no one was on our side, there are now many powerful allies."
Abel and Ryo looked toward the front of the conference room.
Centered around Queen Iliaja, everyone was working together to solve the problem.
"It's different from back then."
"It sure is."
"The princess has grown into a queen."
Abel said it plainly.
Ryo nodded silently.
The Suje Kingdom—one that even the islanders of Lulu, who had never even visited it, felt admiration toward.
Its political center was filled with a fresh, revitalizing atmosphere.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0685 Loyalty
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The First Assault Group, under the command of the Suje Kingdom Central Navy Headquarters.
In the Suje Kingdom Navy, it would not be an exaggeration to say that they were the strongest unit in deck and land combat.
Leading them was Assault Group Commander Monrashou.
However, the man standing beside Monrashou did not look strong at all.
He had just joined them moments ago after coming from the meeting room.
A middle-aged man who was not very tall, did not seem to have much muscle, and did not look as though he possessed any particular individual combat prowess.
As for his face, it was only the sort of face that some people might say was not bad, but not one that seemed likely to attract a devoted female following.
"Hey, Rockday, isn't it enough if an admiral doesn't come all the way to the front lines?"
Monrashou said with a frown, addressing the middle-aged man… Admiral Rockday.
"I thought so too, but I was directly ordered by Lord Kabui Somar… In a sense, I had no choice but to come out here."
Rockday replied, also frowning.
"Well, if I'm going to attend the meeting while also playing host to those terrifying people… or rather, keeping an eye on them, is pretty nerve-racking. In that case, this way really might be better."
"Terrifying people?"
Monrashou tilted his head at Rockday's words.
Monrashou thought of the people at the government's center and the staff at headquarters, but there was no one he would describe as 'terrifying'.
At most, perhaps his direct superior Kabui Somar, or the admirable Queen Iliaja?
But he could not imagine Rockday calling those two 'terrifying'.
"Yes. In fact, two terrifying people are staying in residence: Abel-san and Ryo-san. It seems they joined up with His Excellency in the newly acquired northern Lulu Island of our kingdom."
Rockday deliberately used the old way of referring to him, rather than calling him Duke Rondo.
"Abel and Ryo? I feel like I've heard those names somewhere…"
"Well, of course you have. It was Abel-san who boarded the flagship by crossing a two-hundred-meter-long ice bridge, cut off both your arms, and thrust a sword into my stomach."
"That magic sword guy!"
With Rockday's explanation, Monrashou remembered completely.
At the time, they had no choice but to attack the fleet of the Komakyuta Principality, which was transporting Princess Iliaja, then the Sixth Princess.
But during that attack, they had suffered a fierce counterattack, and those swordsmen had boarded the flagship, leaving them badly hurt.
"So that's right, that swordsman's name was Abel. Then Ryo must be his partner, the magician."
"Yes. He built that enormous ice bridge… I heard later that he created it all by himself. Impossible, really."
"Hey, hey…"
Rockday, who was also a magician, shook his head as he spoke. Monrashou, who could not use magic but understood it to a certain extent by virtue of his position as commander, frowned even more deeply.
"Oh, right. Speaking of Ryo, he's also famous right now as the author of 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel'."
"That one's hilarious!"
"Oh… an admirer here too."
Monrashou nodded vigorously, and Rockday was astonished by how widely the book's influence had spread.
Yes, 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel' was steadily on its way to becoming a bestseller.
"So that's why the name 'Abel' sounded familiar… from the character inside the book."
Monrashou nodded over and over again.
A scout returned.
"Well?"
"There are about a hundred enemies."
"Headquarters estimated fifty to seventy, but…"
"A little more, huh? Well, that is within the margin of error."
Monrashou shrugged at Rockday's report.
"The prince and the Federation delegation staying at the state guesthouse in one corner of the palace have already been surrounded and neutralized. So, according to His Excellency, this base is the main force of the Ghegish-Lu Federation."
"So if we crush this place, there will be no one left to harm Her Majesty the Queen."
Rockday reported, and Monrashou nodded firmly.
The assault group's senior officers around them also nodded repeatedly.
Everyone had determined expressions on their faces.
By nature, the First Assault Group was a unit that boarded enemy ships and broke open the battlefield.
But precisely for that reason, they took pride in their loyalty to the Suje Kingdom Navy and believed that their honor surpassed everyone else's.
Their loyalty to Kabui Somar, who had led the kingdom's navy, was second to none.
And recently, their loyalty to Queen Iliaja had become extremely strong as well.
"Wasn't he the second prince of the late king? If he comes out now, all he'll do is cause confusion."
The subordinates nodded at Monrashou's words.
Even Rockday, who in his position could not openly agree, shrugged and went along with it.
At long last, the Suje Kingdom was settling down, coming together, and beginning to move onto a growth path as a nation.
If he appeared at a time like this… he would not gain popular support, that much was obvious.
Though the Second Prince and the Ghegish-Lu Federation likely were not seeking such a thing in the first place.
The two of them continued with that trivial conversation, but all the while, the surrounding forces were moving.
The operation had already been planned long ago, and the enemy numbers were within expectations… Since Monrashou had called it 'margin of error', it was within expectations.
That being the case, there was no need for Monrashou to issue any special instructions, and no need for Rockday to meddle.
What was required of them was…
"Commander, all preparations are complete."
A subordinate reported.
"Good. Then commence the operation."
What Monrashou did was decide to launch the operation.
The courage of the Central Navy First Assault Group set the charge in motion.
Twenty minutes later.
"We have annihilated the enemy and secured the base. That is the report."
"Good."
At the subordinate's report, Commander Monrashou nodded with satisfaction.
But then he noticed that the admiral-magician beside him had an absent expression, as though his mind were elsewhere.
"What's wrong, Rockday?"
"I was setting the alchemy tools to prevent escape… Three targets spotted fleeing!"
Having said that, Admiral Rockday immediately started running.
Without a word, Monrashou followed after him.
"But the report said the enemy had been annihilated?"
As they ran, Monrashou asked.
"They probably had underground passages and such dug in advance for escape. With an earth-attribute magician, it is not that difficult."
"Sure sounds convincing coming from a user of earth-attribute magic."
Admiral Rockday was an earth-attribute magician.
"Anticipating that, I set alchemy tools quite a distance from the base. I'm glad I prepared in advance."
"You really are amazing."
Monrashou praised him as Rockday spoke in an offhand manner.
Since that painful defeat at Komakyuta, Monrashou had held Rockday in high regard.
Of course, even before that, he had regarded him more highly than the other Suje Kingdom Navy soldiers… but now he considered him to be about second only to Kabui Somar in competence.
"All three of them are running west, about a hundred meters ahead."
"West? There are several coves over there. Did they hide a ship there for escape?"
"A cove? If that is their destination, there is a nearby beast trail. If we follow from there, we can catch them before they reach the cove."
"How do you know that?"
"Before I became an admiral, I had quite a hard time on land too, you know?"
Rockday said that with a laugh, then moved ahead of Monrashou and took a side path.
Monrashou followed.
Five minutes later.
"We've caught up."
"Hold them there for me."
Monrashou answered Rockday's report.
"
When Rockday chanted, six stone spears flew.
Of the three running ahead, four legs were pierced.
Only the one running in the center, a person in a white robe, was not hit by the stone spears.
The reason became clear immediately.
"A talisman? That robe's wearer is a sorcerer."
Rockday shouted.
He must not have heard the shout, but the white-robed figure stopped and turned toward them.
Monrashou caught up to the two who had fallen to the ground with their legs pierced by stone spears, then kicked their heads up to knock them unconscious.
And then stone spears came flying in.
Of course, Rockday had not launched them.
Clang.
Thunk.
Two stone spears had been launched, both aimed at the two who had been knocked unconscious.
Monrashou deflected one with his sword.
The other was repelled by a stone wall created by Rockday.
The instant after deflecting it with his sword, Monrashou lunged in and slashed at the white robe.
Clang.
The white robe blocked Monrashou's blow with a sword.
"Silencing witnesses? That's a nasty thing to do."
Monrashou said this while continuing his chain of attacks, but the white robe silently took them all.
In the meantime, the two people who had been knocked unconscious by Rockday were enclosed behind a stone wall.
They were prisoners—or, perhaps, witnesses for this incident.
"Tch."
A small but sharp click of the tongue escaped the white robe's mouth.
"I knew it, right? That bastard's cautious to the point of cowardice."
"If you're not going to say anything useful, then hurry up and finish this."
Rockday must have heard Monrashou's words.
He issued a stern rebuke.
"No, Rockday, this white robe is good with the sword too?"
"The commander of the First Assault Group, right? There aren't that many swordsmen stronger than you. And that person is a sorcerer, you know?"
"Even if you say that…"
In fact, Monrashou's slashes were sharp.
The blade he held was a straight sword too short to be called a true sword, but too long to be called a knife.
It was his usual beloved blade, one he also wielded aboard ship.
The sword wielded by the white-robed person was also not long.
Perhaps it was about the same length as Monrashou's sword.
However, its appearance was completely different.
"You use a strange sword."
Monrashou murmured without thinking.
The sword wielded by the white robe was undulating.
That did not mean it was soft.
It was probably made of iron.
The iron sword itself had a shape that bent and twisted like a snake.
"I've seen one used in ceremonies before, but this is my first time seeing one in use."
"Then engrave it into your eyes as you die."
For the first time, the white robe opened his mouth, and immediately stepped in.
Shiiik.
Their swords 'slid' against each other.
The sliding blade attacked Monrashou's chest.
But…
"
Rockday's stone spears attacked the white robe from directly above.
The talisman did not activate in time, and the white robe pulled back his sword and leaped away.
"Annoying…"
The white robe glared at Rockday.
The next instant, his face tightened.
"I remember now—that name Rockday… the admiral of the Central Navy, and the magician known as the 'Tyrant Stone Emperor.'"
"That's an old nickname."
Rockday, on hearing it, also frowned.
It was not a nickname he liked very much.
Clang, clang…
Through the gaps in his conversation with the white robe, Monrashou once again lunged in and unleashed a flurry of attacks.
But every one of them was perfectly blocked by the white robe…
"What is this toughness?"
"First Assault Group Commander Monrashou was it? You're certainly trained differently from the rest of them."
"Stop spouting nonsense!"
An enraged Monrashou.
He increased the speed and force of his chain attacks… but the result did not change.
Rockday, watching the duel between the two swordsmen, began to tilt his head.
Monrashou caught sight of that out of the corner of his eye.
"What is it, Rockday!? Stop spacing out and give me a hand!"
"That white robe's swordsmanship is probably royal palace swordsmanship."
"What?"
Monrashou did not understand Rockday's words.
No, he understood what 'royal palace swordsmanship' meant.
It was the sword style handed down in the Suje Kingdom's royal palace.
It was not particularly amazing in itself; the people who could use it were special.
Aside from the successive swordsmanship instructors, only the royal family of the Suje Kingdom could use it.
Which meant that if someone could use it…
"That white robe is His Late Majesty's Second Prince, Hendrawa-sama."
"Oh…"
At Rockday's words, Monrashou frowned.
"Hmph, so you figured it out."
The white-robed Prince Hendrawa smiled with the corners of his mouth raised.
"What are you going to do? The Royal Navy that serves the royal family wouldn't be able to raise a sword against me, a prince, would it?"
"It's the other way around."
Saying that, Monrashou swung his sword with even greater sharpness.
"If you disappear, the people threatening Her Majesty's rule will calm down. There'll be no one left to prop them up. For the future of the Suje Kingdom, I'll kill you here."
Monrashou said 'you', not 'the prince' or 'Your Highness'.
"I am a member of the Suje royal family, you know?"
"So what?"
"…Is that the extent of the Royal Navy's loyalty?"
"Don't misunderstand, you little prince."
Monrashou said it with a clear frown.
"Do you think that simply because you're royal family, we'll devote loyalty to you unconditionally? That's why you're no good."
"What did you say?"
"The late king truly devoted himself to the people and the country. Because we knew that, the navy swore loyalty to him. And so did Her Majesty Iliaja. Not because they were royalty. We swear loyalty to the one who acts by casting everything aside for the sake of the people and the nation. That is what the Suje Kingdom Navy is."
Even while saying this, Monrashou never slowed the movement of his sword.
"Hmph. It was an interesting speech, at least. It didn't reach my heart at all, though."
"What?"
Hendrawa said it with a laugh, and Monrashou narrowed his eyes.
Clang.
Hendrawa knocked Monrashou's sword away hard and jumped back a great distance.
At the same time, a rain of fire descended.
"
Rockday chanted, and a stone wall appeared in front of Monrashou.
It repelled the fire attribute attack magic.
Then came a rain of arrows.
"This is…"
"Enemy reinforcements."
Rockday frowned as he answered Monrashou's words.
He expanded the stone wall further, covering the two of them and the two unconscious prisoners twice over.
"I suppose that's too much even for you?"
"Yes. Even now they're getting farther away… Ah, even the alchemy tool can no longer track them."
"Damn it."
"It cannot be helped. Just these two prisoners alone… that is already a sufficient result."
Monrashou looked frustrated, while Rockday shrugged.
And thus, the Ghegish-Lu Federation's assault unit was routed and destroyed.
The day after the Ghegish-Lu Federation's diplomatic delegation left the Suje Kingdom.
Ryo stood at the port looking northwest.
In that direction should be the Kingdom of Knightley.
By the way, Abel stood beside him.
"Shall we just cross the sea to the west? Rainshooter probably came through this sea too, so if we're lucky maybe…"
"I'd love to do that, of course…"
Ryo glanced behind him.
There, as if they had been brought out for a walk, were their two beloved horses.
"If something goes wrong, they'll be thrown into the sea. If it were just Abel and me, we could handle it somehow, but Andalusia and Feiwan…"
"What if Ryo protected them by surrounding them with ice?"
"I think the magic would still be taken away."
"Ah…"
Ryo looked frustrated, while Abel wore an expression of understanding.
Yes, even Ryo—who had come this far mastering water attribute magic and polishing his control over it—would have his magic constructs taken away by a Kraken.
Put simply, he would not be able to use magic.
If they were made through alchemy, they would not be taken away.
So if he were dealing with one of them, he should be able to manage somehow.
But if he were dealing with several of them… there was a pretty good chance they would be smashed by sheer physical violence.
"In the end, I'm still weak."
"No, that's just a matter of comparison."
"But this is not the end!"
"Y-yeah…"
"One day, I will definitely bend even the Kraken to my will with magic!"
Ryo declared this, raising his fist.
Abel watched over him.
In the rear, Andalusia and Feiwan were making small sounds.
Perhaps they were celebrating Ryo's declaration.
-x-X-x-
One month after the disturbance in the Suje Kingdom.
Ryo and Abel had returned to Hanlin, the imperial capital of Darwei.
"So, from the Suje Kingdom all the way here, nothing went wrong."
"Abel…"
At Abel's words, Ryo called his name with an exaggerated sigh.
"Hm? Did I say something weird?"
"Surely you realize that saying it like you're disappointed we weren't attacked by a kraken is a bit much?"
"No, that is not what I said."
"I could tell from the way you said it."
"That is a misunderstanding…"
Ryo said that with complete certainty, while Abel shook his head slightly and protested his innocence.
"It is because we were on the Lone Dark."
"Hm?"
"That ship is a lucky ship."
"That may well be true."
Abel had no particular reason to deny Ryo's claim, so he agreed.
The two of them decided to travel up the South River from Imperial Capital Hanlin, then pass through the 'Corridor' in the northwest of Darwei, and head over land to the Central Countries.
At one point, they had considered crossing by sea, but this trip was not just the two of them, able to endure any hardship.
"Andalusia's and Feiwan's safety comes first."
When Ryo said that, Andalusia pressed her cheek against him.
"Well, let's take our time and return over land."
When Abel said that, Feiwan licked Abel's face.
It was each of their beloved horses expressing affection.
The two men and the two horses successfully boarded a ship heading upstream.
It had the shape of a cargo ship, but with a movable roof for rainy weather… the same type of ship they had ridden when they went down the South River before.
"From the imperial capital to Sanzuoan, four days, meals included, for two people and two horses, four gold coins…"
"Same as when we boarded near Fenmu last time and came to the imperial capital."
"At that time, Ryo was completely useless, though."
"W-What are you talking about?"
Abel said with a sigh, and Ryo averted his gaze furtively.
"Ryo ate too much from breakfast onward, and I ended up having to look for the ship by myself."
"…I feel like something like that happened, and also like it didn't."
"Eating too much is dangerous."
"Yes, I'll keep it firmly in mind."
Ryo nodded obediently at Abel's warning.
The two of them unfolded the Darwei map they had received when they left the imperial capital.
"Sanzuoan is a city on the north side of the South River, opposite the city of Borgen where we boarded the ship to the imperial capital."
"Right. From there on, it is completely over land."
Looking at the map, Ryo and Abel considered the route ahead.
If they headed northwest from Sanzuoan, they would apparently reach the 'Corridor' leading to the Central Countries.
It was called the 'Corridor', but that did not mean there was actually a hallway there.
The relatively flat area sandwiched between the mountain ranges to the north and south was apparently called the 'Corridor'.
"For now, once we reach Sanzuoan, we need to buy a lot of supplies for the journey."
"Supplies for the journey? Buy a lot? What do you mean?"
"Until now, it was just you and me, so we could get by with rather makeshift travel preparations. Food could be procured locally, and living day to day was fine."
"Uh, yeah…"
"But from here on, that will not work."
Saying that, Ryo looked again at Andalusia and Feiwan, who were sitting comfortably on the deck.
The two horses somehow suited the deck very well…
"Well, for the sake of the two horses, it is true that we should make proper preparations for over land travel."
Abel nodded as well.
He did not want to make his beloved horse suffer, either.
"And Abel, from here on, I'm going back to being an adventurer."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
Abel tilted his head at Ryo's declaration.
"Duke Rondo is just a temporary disguise to hide my true identity. And that true identity is… Ryo, the water-attribute magician!"
"Yeah, I have no idea what you're saying."
"In other words, there's no need to keep wearing the mantle of being the Duke of Rondo anymore."
"Wear the mantle… well, being an adventurer does make a lot of things easier."
Even Abel, who was the king, understood that well.
Originally, in Fenmu, Ryo had revealed his identity as the Duke of Rondo in order to avoid combat.
But in the end, he even had to use it in the imperial capital…
But now, that necessity seemed mostly gone.
Both of them, as public identities, were sixth-rank adventurers.
Four days later, the city of Sanzuoan, where the two of them disembarked, was quite a large city.
As far as they knew, it could be said to be second only to Imperial Capital Hanlin.
"At this rate, we should be able to prepare for the journey perfectly."
"Yeah."
Abel also nodded at Ryo's words.
Two days later, the two of them mounted their beloved horses and set off from Sanzuoan.
From here, they would first head north.
Since there was a rather large road cut through the forest, they would begin by following that road north.
Riding the horse he trusted completely, Andalusia, Ryo looked delighted.
"With Andalusia, I can go anywhere! Today, we'll make it all the way to the city of Chuarou!"
He said things like that.
Beside that pair rode Abel and Feiwan.
Abel was originally skilled at riding, so he could handle any horse without difficulty.
But even among them, he felt that his compatibility with Feiwan was exceptional.
That said, Abel would occasionally look behind them.
No, 'would end up looking' would probably be the more accurate expression.
He just could not help looking.
This road was a major highway.
Many travelers passed through it.
Those who passed Ryo, Abel, and the two horses almost always glanced behind them as they went by.
"Hey, Ryo."
"What is it, Abel?"
"I think it is a good thing to prepare perfectly for a trip."
"Yes, yes."
"But this… isn't this going a little too far?"
Abel said while looking at the
There were four
"Only four dollies?"
Ryo answered with a puzzled tilt of his head.
If there were dozens of them, that would be one thing, but only four… from Ryo's point of view, he was honestly baffled.
"No, each one is huge."
Abel pointed out with a shake of his head.
Indeed, they were Ryo's usual
But normally, they were only about two meters square at most, like cargo beds.
This time, however, they were much larger
Of course, they were completely frozen in ice, and the reflectivity had been altered, so no one from the outside could tell what was inside.
"So Andalusia won't have to suffer."
Ryo answered with an expression full of determination.
In response, Andalusia neighed happily.
"I see… then it cannot be helped."
"Right?"
Abel had given up on everything, while Ryo misunderstood that as having been convinced.
People really could become happier by not letting everything bother them…
After the group had proceeded for a while, they saw several horse-drawn wagons stopped on the road for some reason.
"A dispute?"
"They probably bumped shoulders and got picked on for it."
"Picked on?"
"That's something scary people like Abel sometimes do. You have to be careful when passing by."
"For some reason, I feel like I'm being cast as the villain…"
Ryo explained forcefully, while Abel sighed in exasperation and shook his head.
"Hey, get out of the way!"
"You're the ones who should get out of the way!"
"You lot are the ones who hit us!"
"Don't fuck with us!"
The scene was one where about ten wagons had collided or overturned.
Dozens of men who looked intimidating were hurling abuse at one another.
"It was not merely shoulder-to-shoulder; the wagons themselves collided."
"Indeed, there are a lot of scary-looking people."
Ryo and Abel exchanged such remarks.
Around them were people who, like them, were watching the collision from a distance…
"Those are troublesome fellows."
"Ah! They finally started throwing punches."
Of course, Abel and Ryo did not go in to stop them.
And then, a fistfight broke out.
The area around the wagons grew heated.
But among them, the two noticed some people frowning, arms crossed, watching the fight.
"Those ten…"
"Despite being the most heavily armed, they are not joining the fight. I guess they're…"
"Adventurers hired as escorts, right?"
"Right."
Abel and Ryo reached the same conclusion.
They were probably escort adventurers hired by the two trading caravans that had collided.
They did not take part in the fight.
"Well, if those people joined in, it would turn into a blade incident in no time."
"A blade incident? Ah, yes, if someone were slashed with a sword, it would become that."
"Abel, please don't go charging in saying things like, 'My sword is aching!'"
"What do you mean, my sword is aching…? And I'm not going anywhere."
Ryo, pretending to be the voice of reason, tried to stop him, but Abel shook his head, since there was no need to stop anything.
"As expected, adventurers are reasonable."
"Seeing this scene, I suppose it does not look entirely unreasonable…"
"Do you mean there are adventurers like Abel who are quick to pick fights?"
"No, not me. You saw the Adventurers' Mutual Aid Society in the imperial capital, didn't you?"
"Ah…"
Indeed, Abel and Ryo had once visited the Adventurers' Mutual Aid Society in Imperial Capital Hanlin.
There, in the waiting room, adventurers had actually been fighting one another.
And according to the guide, it happened often.
"This is, of course, a different Adventurers' Mutual Aid Society from the one in the imperial capital, right?"
"Probably. We are quite far from the imperial capital, and the city of Sanzuoan we passed through was large as well."
"True, it could be the adventurers of Sanzuoan. Maybe it was the imperial capital's mutual aid society that was especially strange after all."
"I'm starting to think so too."
Since the two were adventurers, they had visited many adventurers' guilds and, in some places, Adventurers' Mutual Aid Societies, in many cities.
In Darwei, of course, and in other countries as well.
But in truth, the only time they had ever encountered adventurers fighting like that was that scene in Imperial Capital Hanlin.
"Maybe in the imperial capital, there are too many people and they get stressed out."
"What kind of conclusion is that…"
Abel was exasperated by Ryo's flippant observation.
Adventurers who spend their days fighting because of stress… not exactly the kind of people one would want to hire.
Of course, it should be made clear here that the first part was based entirely on Ryo's own imagination.
"They're spread all over the road fighting."
"So we cannot just pass through the side, then."
"Should we wait until we can get through?"
"That's true. But if it takes too long, we will not reach Chuarou today."
"Then we give up on the city of Chuarou…"
"I do not mind, but… in a small town or village, the horses probably would not be able to find a nice, comfortable stable."
At Abel's words, Ryo gasped.
And then he declared:
"That will not be allowed!"
"Uh, why say that to me."
For some reason, Ryo turned a frightening face toward Abel, but there was nothing Abel could do about it.
"Are you saying I should go into that fight and stop them by force? I do not really like that kind of attention-grabbing behavior."
Ryo said with a grimace.
"Am I the only one who thinks you are already drawing plenty of attention?"
Abel said, looking at the four enormous
"Whatever Ryo means by attention-grabbing and whatever I mean by it must be completely different."
"Did you say something?"
"No, nothing at all."
Abel was a pacifist.
He avoided conflict.
However…
"Pretty sure you were talking about how my definition of standing out is different, right?"
"So you did hear me?"
"I just guessed at random, and I was right…"
"Ah, what a pity."
"Grrr…"
For some reason, it was Ryo who ended up taking damage.
While they were having that conversation, people and wagons had begun to pile up on the road.
"There is no helping it."
Saying that, Ryo let out a small sigh.
Then he chanted inwardly:
(
Bypassing the site of the conflict, the trees in the forest were cut apart into fine pieces.
A path through the forest was created.
(And then,
The path through the forest was paved with ice.
"Oh, there is a road right here!"
"…"
"We should be able to get through this way! Come on, let's go!"
Ryo said in a loud voice that carried to everyone nearby who was having trouble.
It was very contrived, but Abel said nothing.
Then Ryo and Andalusia began moving forward.
Abel and Feiwan followed silently, shaking their heads slightly.
Behind them trailed the four enormous
Everyone who saw it… could not move.
Even the people who had been arguing could not move.
After a while, as though coming back to their senses, the people who had been stuck there began moving.
They started using the path Ryo and the others had cleared.
"Did you see that, Abel? This is what you call a smart solution."
"Is that so?"
Ryo was puffing his chest out with satisfaction, while Abel looked at him with a very skeptical gaze.
"I solved the problem without causing trouble or punching anyone, didn't I?"
"That is true, but… you stood out tremendously, did you not?"
"Huh? That cannot be…"
Ryo's eyes widened in surprise.
"Well, I suppose I may have raised my voice a little and drawn attention… but I made it look properly as though we had simply found a road that was already there. You must have just been taking a twisted view of it, Abel, and that is why you thought it stood out."
"Well, fine."
At Ryo's flustered explanation, Abel shrugged.
He had no particular desire to argue, so he did not press the matter.
In any case.
"At this rate, it looks like we will reach Chuarou today."
"Yes. In a big city, we should be able to find an inn with a stable where Andalusia and Feiwan can stay comfortably.
And at four in the afternoon, the group arrived at the city of Chuarou.
-x-X-x-
Chapter 0687 A Charming Inn and Visitors
-x-X-x-
"The clean straw bedding looked comfortable for Andalusia and Feiwan, too."
"Yeah. Just looking at the stable is enough to tell whether it is a good inn or not."
"Thank you very much."
Ryo praised them, Abel agreed, and the inn attendant guiding the two of them bowed with a smile.
Ryo, Abel, and their beloved horses were able to find lodging in the city of Chuarou.
And not just any lodging, but the best inn in town.
That was the result of Ryo asking a fruit seller with a street stall as soon as they entered the city.
It must have been nothing more than a coincidence that the fruit seller's face seemed to twitch under the invisible pressure from the giant
The inn the fruit seller named was called 'Rinshan Kaiho'.
"So, this
"Indoor storage would be difficult, but would it be all right outdoors? How about covering it with a large waterproof tarp?"
"Ah, outdoors is fine. We do not need a waterproof tarp. We would appreciate it if you could just leave it as it is."
"In that case, please bring it to the back garden. This way, please."
When Ryo asked where the four
A luxury inn can respond to every request a guest has.
That is precisely why people will stay there, even if it is a little expensive.
Even when something is physically or structurally impossible, the answer is not "we cannot do that," but rather a proposal for another method of solving the problem, such as "How about doing it this way?"
Truly the fruits of employee training!
That night, the two of them entered the inn's hot spring.
Yes, a hot spring!
"What? There's a hot spring here!"
Ryo, already excited after getting out of the bath, was practically vibrating with enthusiasm.
Honestly, Abel's calmness, despite not really understanding the difference between it and a normal bath, stood in stark contrast.
"Come to think of it, I heard there was a hot spring area near Imperial Capital Hanlin, but we never got to go there in the end. Being able to soak here is quite fortunate!"
"Y-yeah."
"So, if it is a hot spring inn, then the food must be delicious too!"
"Is that so?"
Ryo stated it confidently, and Abel asked.
"As far as I know, there is a very high probability of that being true."
"Well, the fruit seller did say it was the best inn in town. Let's look forward to it."
That night, in the dining room of the inn 'Rinshan Kaiho', the two of them were seen thoroughly enjoying a splendid dinner.
"That was delicious!"
"Yes, I was amazed. Especially the mapo tofu… was it called mapotofu? It was past the point of simply being spicy, but it had a flavor that really grew on you."
"Ah, that one. It felt like the deliciousness came rushing in between the waves of heat."
"As expected of Abel, that is a great description!"
Both Abel and Ryo thoroughly enjoyed their dinner.
After they had also finished dessert and were drinking tea slowly after the meal, the inn attendant came over.
"Did the dinner suit your tastes?"
"It was delicious."
"Absolutely exquisite."
In response to the attendant's question, both Abel and Ryo replied with satisfaction.
"That is wonderful to hear."
The attendant said that with a smile, then uttered something rather incomprehensible.
"The magistrate's office has come to see you."
"The magistrate's office?"
"Why us?"
Both Abel and Ryo tilted their heads.
"Sorry, but could this be some kind of mistake?"
Abel asked that naturally.
They did not know anyone there…
"They say they confirmed it after checking the large four pieces of luggage left in the back garden."
"Ah… those are indeed our belongings, yes."
Ryo admitted it, but still tilted his head in confusion.
"Well then, let us meet them."
"That is all we can do."
Abel and Ryo followed the attendant out of the dining room.
They were shown to a corner of the lobby, where chairs had been arranged so guests could spend time at leisure.
About ten people were seated there.
When Ryo and Abel arrived, the ten stood up.
"These are the people from the Chuarou magistrate's office who came to see you."
After making the introduction, the attendant bowed and left.
"I am Hyuran, deputy magistrate of the Chuarou magistrate's office. But before that… what do you think?"
After introducing himself, the deputy magistrate Hyuran, who looked to be in his mid-forties, asked the five people standing behind him, who clearly looked like adventurers.
"There is no mistake. Those are the two."
One of the adventurers answered.
Ryo and Abel exchanged a glance.
Both of them noticed it.
The five adventurers were the same people who had been looking with exasperation at the ruckus caused by the hired merchant caravan earlier that day.
In other words, they were the escort adventurers for that caravan.
The deputy magistrate Hyuran gave a small nod and opened his mouth.
"I am sure this sudden visit has surprised you. First, let us sit and talk."
And so, the deputy magistrate Hyuran, four men who seemed to be his subordinates, five adventurers, and the two of them, Ryo and Abel… a total of twelve people sat down on the unusually comfortable chairs.
"These five are the Third-Rank adventuring team Winter Thunder, affiliated with Chuarou."
The deputy magistrate Hyuran introduced the five adventurers.
The five gave small nods.
"May I ask your names?"
"Sixth-Rank adventurer Abel."
"Likewise, Sixth-Rank adventurer Ryo."
At Hyuran's question, both Abel and Ryo answered honestly.
There was no particular reason to hide it.
Upon hearing that, for some reason, the five of Winter Thunder nodded.
"Hm, as Winter Thunder said, they are adventurers. I thought they might be merchants, since they were carrying such large luggage."
"You saw us carrying it?"
"Yes. When the two of you passed by the side of the disturbance, we happened to be coming from behind. The luggage was so large that it left an impression."
Hyuran answered.
Hearing that, Ryo's eyes went wide.
He was muttering things like, "No way," and "I thought I was being inconspicuous."
As for Abel… he simply shook his head a little and said nothing more.
"I would like to confirm something. During the disturbance, you passed by using water-attribute magic, correct?"
"Uh…"
At Hyuran's question, Ryo hesitated for a moment before answering.
Questions like this were absolutely guaranteed to lead to trouble.
But….
"I-I suppose you could say that, yes."
He decided there was no need to lie and dodge the question, so he answered honestly.
"If you are a user of water-attribute magic and an adventurer, then that makes things easy."
Hyuran leaned forward and began explaining.
To put it simply, they wanted help with flood control works being led by the magistrate's office.
Changing the course of a river that overflows every time there is heavy rain… in every age and every place, this is one of those 'common examples' in which the interests of the people and the administration align.
Ryo, being a water-attribute magician, would certainly be useful.
But there were still questions.
"Even without water-attribute magicians, flood control work has been carried out before, hasn't it?"
Ryo voiced a simple question.
Yes, flood control works are carried out even without water-attribute magicians.
They are carried out all over the world.
They are carried out in every era.
Even on Earth, where there is no magic… or rather, according to Michael (pseudonym), even on Earth, where magic was no longer used, countless flood control projects without magic had been carried out.
So why was Ryo needed?
"Flood control works, you say… is it a river project? Changing the course of a river, or something like that?"
"No, the work being carried out this time is the relocation of a lake."
"The relocation of a lake?"
Ryo was shocked by Hyuran's answer.
River projects that change the course of rivers have been carried out often, in all ages and places.
But he had rarely heard of a lake being relocated artificially.
In general, lakes and ponds are not relocated; they are filled in and eliminated.
Hyuran was an experienced administrator.
Of course, he understood that there are hardly any projects involving the 'relocation of a lake'.
That was why he seemed to feel he should explain in more detail.
"There is an old lake called Kanro Lake, and it became necessary to reduce it as part of this flood control project. However, there was strong opposition from the local people… so we finally gained their understanding by relocating it about one kilometer away and routing it through a newly created tributary for irrigation."
Hyuran explained with a wry smile.
In many cases, large projects go ahead while ignoring the wishes of the local people…
Ryo's evaluation of Hyuran rose a little.
Ryo was fundamentally a good person, and that made him want to help.
"A new Kanro Lake has already been created. So we tried to stop water from flowing into the old Kanro Lake and connect the channel that would drain the lake's water…"
"And then?"
"But for some reason, every time we were about to begin the final stage of work on the drainage channel, the tools were destroyed, and the embankment meant to stop the inflow of water was broken during the night."
"What in the world…"
Ryo looked surprised, while Hyuran wore a troubled expression.
Abel said nothing, but his brows were furrowed.
Ryo was the sort of person who wanted to help when he saw someone in trouble.
Even so, this…
"That sounds… like it has nothing to do with water-attribute magicians…"
"That may be true. However, all of it has been happening around the lake… so we decided to have an excellent water-attribute magician take a look. Unfortunately, there is not a single water-attribute magician registered with the adventurer mutual aid association here in Chuarou."
"Ah…"
Ryo nodded slightly.
He had heard that there were hardly any water-attribute magicians even in the mutual aid association in Imperial Capital Hanlin.
In the first place, water-attribute magicians did not become adventurers…
"Honestly, I am not entirely sure, so…"
Ryo said that, then glanced at Abel.
Abel silently nodded.
That meant okay.
"I would like to at least see the site tomorrow."
"Oh, that would be greatly appreciated!"
At Ryo's words, Hyuran nodded happily.
"Er, whether we accept the request or not will be decided after that…"
"That is fine. Even if you only come to take a look, I will make sure the adventurer mutual aid association's reward money is paid. Of course, if you take the job, there will be more."
"Ah, okay…"
Ryo nodded under Hyuran's pressure.
They agreed that Hyuran would come to pick them up at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, and Hyuran and the other nine departed.
After the ten left, Ryo and Abel sat in the dining room again and drank tea.
"I have a bad feeling about this request."
Ryo muttered with a serious expression.
Abel, looking at him from the side, had a deadpan stare.
He seemed to have seen something through.
"What is it, Abel? What is that look supposed to mean!"
Ryo protested.
"No, you were just speaking without any basis, right?"
"Eh?"
Under Abel's sharp questioning, Ryo's gaze darted around.
"You were just saying it vaguely so you could look thoughtful or something, right?"
"How did you find out…"
"Just because it seems like something you would do, Ryo. I can tell now."
"Tch… all the skills I have polished up until now are being seen through one by one. I feel like an onion being peeled layer by layer."
"What kind of metaphor is that?"
Abel shrugged at Ryo's unusual comparison.
Ryo collected himself, took a sip of tea, and then opened his mouth again.
"Abel, you are a king."
"Yeah, I suppose I am the king."
"So that means you're familiar with flood control projects in the Kingdom of Knightley, right?"
"I am not sure whether I would call myself familiar… but I studied what I needed to."
In response to Ryo's prickly tone, Abel answered without the slightest sign of discomfort.
Adaptation is a terrifying thing.
"Among all that experience, was there anything like this case?"
"No. First of all, you do not relocate lakes."
"Right."
At Abel's answer, Ryo nodded vigorously in agreement.
That was the starting point, after all.
"When it comes to problems related to flood control projects… land rights, perhaps. But those are settled before the project begins, and only then does construction start."
"So it is the kind of thing you solve with money."
Ryo nodded at Abel's explanation.
If you throw enough money at a problem, you can usually solve it.
That is public works… in Ryo's head, something about public works had apparently become rather distorted.
"Still, if the tools are being destroyed, then it must be sabotage by someone. Which raises the question of who."
"I think it is the lake pirates."
"Lake pirates? What is that?"
Ryo answered confidently, and Abel tilted his head.
"There are bandits who appear in the mountains, so they are mountain bandits. Bandits who appear at sea are sea pirates. This time, they appear in a lake, so they are lake pirates."
"I have never heard of such bandits. What are they like?"
"How should I know?"
"Hey…"
"I just thought of it now."
"I was wrong to expect anything."
Abel gave a huge sigh.
Even if one gets used to it, perfection seems impossible.
"Maybe there is a secret base… a hideout inside the lake."
"Huh?"
"And at night, the lake splits open, and a lake-pirate-exclusive airborne battleship takes off."
"That is your imagination, right?"
"Yes, of course!"
"You sure come up with a lot of things."
Ryo declared it with his chest out, and Abel, beyond merely being exasperated, had begun to find it impressive.
Imagination is a valuable thing.
"But if you think about it that way, everything lines up, doesn't it?"
"It only lines up, that is all."
"Well, fine. I will make the righteous lake pirates appear as rivals in the sequel to 'The Hungry Swordsman Abel'."
"What?"
"They might become Abel's eternal rival!"
"And after hearing that, what exactly am I supposed to say?"
Abel shook his head slightly.
In the end, it was the same reaction as always.
The next early morning.
Ryo and Abel woke up a little early.
Naturally, it was to go into the hot spring.
When they got out of the hot spring…
"The morning hot spring is great!"
"Isn't it?"
Ryo nodded, feeling Abel's energetic, brisk words were absolutely right.
The two of them then ate breakfast with gusto.
After the energetic pair returned to their room, they looked down from the top of the stairs into the lobby at exactly eight o'clock and saw that their pickup had already arrived.
It had arrived, but…
"Those are just yesterday's adventurers, right?"
"Yes. It is only the five from Winter Thunder. Deputy magistrate Hyuran is not here."
Though Abel and Ryo tilted their heads in confusion, they descended the stairs.
The five from Winter Thunder bowed their heads.
The man in the center, who appeared to be a spearman, opened his mouth and began to explain.
"We are the Winter Thunder introduced yesterday. I am the team leader, Kyunlai; the scout, Ranwu; the earth-attribute magician, Go; the fire-attribute sorcerer, Ma; and the healer, Feiwei."
The spearman Kyunlai gave a brief introduction.
Ryo and Abel had already given their names yesterday.
Still, there was a question… and in situations like this, Abel was the first to speak up.
"The deputy magistrate Hyuran who came yesterday is not here, then? From the way he spoke yesterday, I thought he would also be coming to pick us up."
"Ah. Apparently, a strange occurrence has taken place at the site, and he has been over there since the middle of the night. Someone from the magistrate's office came to notify us. So it was just the five of us who came to pick you up."
"A strange occurrence?"
"We only heard the word 'strange occurrence,' so we do not know the details. Sorry about that."
Kyunlai, too, could not answer Abel's question.
He could only shrug.
Abel had noticed the water-attribute magician beside him squirming with impatience.
But since Abel and Kyunlai were talking, he had apparently been waiting quietly for that to finish.
"Ryo, is there something on your mind?"
"Thank you for asking, Abel. I have a question for Go-san and Ma-san!"
"Hmm?"
At Ryo's words, the magician Go and the sorcerer Ma uttered in unison.
The two of them looked very much alike.
Or rather, they were probably twins.
The colors of their clothes were different: Go's were a yellow-ochre shade, while Ma's were a maroon shade…
"First, I have a question for Ma-san, the sorcerer!"
"Yes?"
"Do sorcerers also have attributes?"
"Yes, they do."
"Oh…"
Ryo was surprised by Ma's answer.
Somehow until now, he did not recall ever asking that clearly.
Sorcerers use talismans.
Talismans can unleash magic of the four attributes… but when seen at the level of 'magic power', they are not divided into attributes.
For example, even if an ice spear is fired from a talisman, that does not mean water-attribute mana was used.
Ryo had previously confirmed this himself in battle against a sorcerer, so he was certain of it.
"It is said that the 'attribute' each person possesses is decided at birth. Therefore, whether one is a sorcerer or a magician, the attributes one can use are fixed."
"Ah, that makes sense."
At Ma's answer, Ryo nodded deeply.
As for things determined at birth, he had heard about them from Michael (pseudonym), who was something like the administrator of this world, 'Phi', so Ryo remembered that too.
Thinking about it that way, it would only be natural for sorcerers to have fixed attributes as well.
Rather, the thing that was unusual was the 'talisman' itself.
"So the talisman itself is attribute-less…"
Ryo's mutter was heard only by Abel beside him.
"Oh, right! Just one more question, this time for both Go-san and Ma-san!"
"Yes?"
"If the two of you fought each other, which one of you would come out on top?"
"I would."
The one who answered Ryo's question without the slightest delay was the magician Go.
"Ooh!"
Ryo, a little delighted as a magician himself, reacted happily.
"No, if I'm in peak condition, I would win, so there is hardly any difference."
That was the reply from the sorcerer Ma.
"Ooh…"
Ryo was startled by the force of that rebuttal.
"Ma… I have the higher win rate, do I not?"
"Elder brother, it is only about sixty percent at most. That is a small difference."
The argument between Go and Ma… was settled immediately.
"Both of you are weaker than me. Let's go to the site."
Spearman Kyunlai said that plainly.
Go and Ma glared at him with resentful eyes.
"So, both magicians and sorcerers' eternal enemies are front-liners."
"Yeah, don't just make them your eternal enemies on your own."
Ryo nodded as though he understood, and Abel, who was a front-line fighter himself, shrugged.
Meanwhile, the two women, the scout Ranwu and the healer Feiwei, remained silent throughout.
But Abel saw it.
Without making a sound, the two of them mouthed, "Here we go again?"