The Water Magician

Today, I am posting the second episode.

The previous chapter, "0115", was posted at noon.

A new chapter begins.

For a while, the story will progress centering around Abel.

Please wait a moment for Ryo's reunion...

In a village about two kilometers from the Crystal Palace in the royal capital of Naitorei Kingdom...

In the evening, four adventurers visited the church in that village.

The priest who opened the door showed a momentary expression of surprise, but without saying anything, welcomed the four inside.

Then, he took one of them and entered the study in the back.

The priest placed his hand on the side of the bookshelf at the back of the study and recited something.

Then, the bookshelf moved, revealing a wall behind it.

On that wall, there was a hole large enough for a person to pass through.

When the man entered the hole, the priest placed his hand back on the bookshelf, returned it to its original position, and left the study.

The man who entered the hole placed his hand on a stone nearby and recited something.

Then, light began to illuminate the hole all the way to the back.

It seemed that the passage ahead was very long, making it impossible to see how far it continued.

The man let out a small sigh and began to walk toward the end of the passage.

After walking for about thirty minutes, he reached a place where the previously straight passage split into three.

Without hesitation, the man entered the right passage.

After walking for a while, he found a spiral staircase and climbed up.

At the end, there was a stone door, and the man placed his hand on the door, reciting something again.

Then, the stone door opened on its own, and the man entered.

After walking about fifty meters, he encountered another stone door.

The man slid his sword halfway out of its sheath and knocked on the door three times with the hilt.

After a moment, he heard a knock in response from the other side of the door.

Confirming that, the man knocked seven times this time.

Finally, he heard the sound of a key and bolt being removed on the other side, and the door opened.

"Welcome, Albert."

"I apologize for the intrusion, your royal highness."

Inside the room was a pale-faced man in his thirties referred to as the "crown prince."

And the one who entered the room was Abel, the b-rank adventurer from the City of Run.

"Since it's just the two of us, call me Elder Brother again after a long time."

The person referred to as the crown prince said, slowly sitting down on the bed with a wry smile.

"Understood, Elder Brother."

Abel said shyly.

Hearing that, the crown prince nodded happily.

"The reason I asked you to come discreetly, away from everyone else, is because a very important and troublesome issue has arisen."

The crown prince spoke, slightly out of breath, as if the walk to the hidden door had taken its toll.

"His Majesty has abandoned the key to the 'Chamber of Heroes.'"

"What..."

At the crown prince's words, Abel found himself at a loss for words.

The "Chamber of Heroes."

It was a place that could be called the true treasure vault, located deep within the royal castle's treasure vault.

It was created by King Richard, the restorer of the Naitorei Kingdom, who was said to have mastered all attributes of magic and alchemy to an extreme, and has existed for hundreds of years since then.

Many treasures that are said to disrupt the balance of the world have been housed there since King Richard's time.

Additionally, there is a testament from King Richard stating that none of the items within the Chamber of Heroes should be bestowed upon anyone.

It is said that the items contained within are not meant to be exposed to the world.

Only two individuals registered within the Chamber of Heroes can open it.

"The key has been held by the king and the crown prince for generations..."

Abel recalled the words he had been taught when he was still at the royal castle.

"Ah, that's right. His Majesty has abandoned that key, which means he has relinquished the right to open the Chamber of Heroes."

Upon saying this, the crown prince stood up, poured water into a glass from a water jug on the desk, and took a sip.