The Water Magician

As Ryo and Sera were ordering a cake set at the long-established café "Café de Chocolat Royal Capital Branch," a male swordsman entered the shop and sat at the table next to Ryo.

"Abel, is this your favorite place as well?"

"Even if you sit there, I won't treat you, you know?"

"I'm not expecting to be treated by my junior!"

Sera called out, Ryo rejected it before he could say anything, and Abel shouted back in a whispering voice... quite skillful.

"I see... you're trying to make Sera treat you, huh?"

"I thought Abel was making a decent income... but I guess it can't be helped."

Ryo sighed in exasperation, while Sera shook her head, trying to offer to treat.

"No, I'm not trying to get treated! I came here just to thank you for what happened earlier. Thank you for stopping it."

Abel bowed his head as he said this.

"Abel apologizing so honestly... Ah, it's because Sera is here, huh. If you were always this honest, it would be nice."

"What, Abel doesn't usually apologize this honestly?"

Ryo teased Abel while Sera tilted her head and asked.

"Yeah. Not at all. It's really troublesome. If only you could be a little more honest... You know, Abel, there's a good way to express your intention to apologize concisely. That is, giving me money. Come on, anytime, any amount is fine. I'm ready to accept!"

Ryo's absurd way of saying this made Abel furious.

"Well, as a token of my gratitude, I was thinking of introducing Ryo to a wonderful alchemist, but I think I'll pass!"

"Abel, I'm sorry. Abel is a really wonderful person!"

"Hehe. Watching the two of you is never boring."

Ryo turned his palm up to the furious Abel while Sera laughed at the sight.

"Sigh... Well, whatever. The alchemist is Baron Kenneth Hayward. He's still young, but he is a genius alchemist who represents the royal capital."

With a big sigh, Abel decided to introduce him.

"Baron... Abel, I don't really have much experience talking to nobles..."

"Now, you say that? Well, it's fine. Kenneth was originally a commoner, and with his exceptional alchemy skills and results, he became a noble. Moreover, he's from the City of Run. Don't you remember after hearing that? The house you bought..."

"House? The previous owner had a son who became an engineer and became a noble in the royal capital, calling his parents... No way!"

"Yeah, no way. That's the previous owner family of that house. I mentioned you when we drank a while back. They were grateful that you bought it all in cash, so I'm sure he'll help you with alchemy a bit. However, he's busy and since this country is the center for alchemy, don't trouble him too much."

Abel warned in advance.

"It's fine. I just want to ask him a few things, and if he could recommend me a good introductory book suitable for me right now... I'll study properly when I return to the City of Run."

Ryo possessed the alchemy notebook inherited from the leader of the assassination cult, Hasan, but he still couldn't understand its contents.

That said, he had no intention of showing that notebook to anyone else.

That notebook was something Hasan entrusted to him, saying he wanted Ryo to inherit it.

Ryo had to refine his alchemy skills and be able to understand the contents of the notebook.

He had made that determination.

"That's good then. His workplace is the Royal Alchemy Workshop. The location... is hard to explain. I'll contact him today, so come to my place tomorrow morning. I'll take you there."

"Understood. So, where is Abel staying?"

"I'm at the Kingdom Magic Research Institute. It's just two blocks away from here."

Saying that, Abel began explaining the location of the institute.

Ryo and Sera listened to his story while eating their cake.

"Did Abel order anything?"

"No, he's just occupying a seat without ordering anything..."

"Oh..."

Sera calmly pointed this out, Ryo highlighted the issue, leaving Abel stunned.

It goes without saying that Abel then properly ordered a cake set.

After the three finished their cake sets and chatted a bit, as they left the shop, they heard a voice from afar.

"Sera-sama!"