The Water Magician

Chapter: The Way Back to Run Begins

Three weeks after the turmoil in the royal capital.

The royal capital finally regained its composure and, albeit slowly, began to walk the path of recovery.

On the third highway leading south from such a royal capital, two adventurers were walking.

The combination of a swordsman and a mage is a common pairing.

Earlier, along with the transportation team of the Run Knight Order, Sara and the other members of the Red Sword, except for Abel, returned to the City of Run.

At first, Sara was hesitant to leave, but in the end, she accepted that Ryo would return soon anyway.

The one who was not convinced was the priest Rhea... However, due to an urgent request that came to Rhea from the temple in Run through the Central Temple of the Royal Capital, she reluctantly decided to return with the transportation team.

Abel, called by his brother, the crown prince, was busy with various tasks and couldn't return...

Even though he was with the transportation team of the Run Knight Order, it was concerning to only send Rhea back, so Lin and Warren also returned to the City of Run in a protective role for Rhea.

Abel had been firmly told by Rhea that he must return with Ryo.

That’s because Rhea thought that if Ryo was with them, most problems would be resolved.

Thus, after a week of delay, Abel and Ryo finally set out from the royal capital on the way back to the City of Run.

"Still… nothing happened in the royal capital..."

"...Huh?"

Ryo's muttering was heard by Abel, who was walking beside him.

And Abel couldn't continue with a second sentence.

Upon Abel's reaction, Ryo became aware that his muttering had been louder than he intended.

"No, to clarify, I'm just saying that there weren’t any typical light novel events like the 'martial arts tournament' or 'school arc,' okay?"

"Yeah, I have no idea what you're talking about at all."

Despite Ryo's polite explanation, Abel couldn't understand it at all.

"No, normally, in a royal capital arc, there would be something like crashing a martial arts tournament and making a big splash, or entering a school and being told 'Ryo is super strong,' right? But that didn't happen in this royal capital."

"Oh, yeah, how should I put it... Ryo sometimes says things that don't make any sense. No, not sometimes, usually!"

"That's harsh..."

Ryo feigned being hurt by Abel's harsh words.

"Here’s the wounded Ryo."

"Somehow, I'm feeling like the bad guy here..."

"Abel, don’t worry about it."

"No, it's your fault!"

Before he knew it, Ryo found himself in the position of encouraging someone wrongfully accused, causing Abel to get angry.

"Sigh... By the way, there hasn't been a martial arts tournament held in the royal capital. At least not once in the last hundred years."

"Eh..."

"When it comes to martial arts tournaments, the ones in the imperial capital are famous."

Abel revealed a shocking fact, leading Ryo to despair while Abel ignited a new hope.

"The Debuhi Empire!"

"They hold them every four or five years. I think quite a few adventurers from other countries participated in those commemorative tournaments."

"I see, so that's going to be held soon!"

"No, it was held just last year, so there won't be one for a while."

As Ryo spoke with a glimmer of hope, he was directly denied by Abel.

Ryo became downcast.

"How unfortunate..."

"You were talking about a school, but Ryo is already an adult, right? You’re not at the age to enroll in a school anymore."

"That doesn’t matter. Entering a school and being told how strong I am, or how impossible it is, is part of the classic path!"

"Oh, yeah, I still don’t get it."

Abel waved his hand dismissively.

Ryo felt despair at such a response...

"By the way, Ryo, you were hanging out with Kenneth for the last week, right?"

Ignoring Ryo's despair, Abel asked.

"Yeah. He taught me everything from the basics to the advanced techniques of alchemy. We even created an amazing potion together. With this, I’m also a full-fledged member now!"

In an instant, Ryo returned to his cheerful self, emphasizing his achievements under the genius alchemist Baron Kenneth Hayward.