The Water Magician

"The Duchy Castle is completely empty."

"The magical weapon at the spire has been destroyed."

"The remaining residents number about five hundred in total."

Reports came in one after another to Lord Aubrey.

However, the reports were all unfavorable.

(As expected... the duke's family escaped first. The magical weapon has been destroyed. Well, it can't be helped.)

Lord Aubrey let out a small sigh and walked to the plaza in front of the central command post.

His guards hurriedly followed.

Even though they had occupied the public capital, it couldn't be definitively said that there were no hidden archers or mages.

If something were to happen to Lord Aubrey...

Lumber, who was watching from the side, could easily understand the worries of the guards.

After all, Lumber was a similar victim.

That said, no matter how many times it was said, Lord Aubrey's actions did not change.

He would say, "I understand," but in reality, he understood nothing.

If he were a pure politician, he might be more concerned about his own life, but Lord Aubrey was originally a man of the battlefield.

Though he had no experience as an adventurer, he had been to many battlefields.

Because of that, he might have come to regard his own life lightly.

No matter how careful one is, one dies when it's time to die.

It's a rather bleak statement, but that's how Lord Aubrey came to think.

In the plaza, the surrendered defense team members were seated.

At the forefront was Captain Nigel of the defense team.

When Lord Aubrey stood before Nigel and the others, he introduced himself.

"I am Aubrey Hubble Coleman, appointed as the dictator of the allied forces. May I ask your names?"

Captain Nigel was clearly surprised.

It was remarkable that Aubrey introduced himself.

Moreover, he did so with his full name.

Even though it was a public capital of an occupied city, it was not common for someone to introduce themselves before mere defense troops and ask for their names.

The image that Nigel had of Aubrey was that of an excellent and famed general, but also an arrogant and haughty man.

Had he unconsciously ingrained such an image over time... or was the man before him merely acting as someone different?

In any case, he couldn't ignore being addressed by the leader of a nation.

"I... I am Nigel Madden, the captain of the public capital defense team. They are my subordinates... I don't care what happens to my life, but could you please refrain from harming them and the citizens of the public capital?"

Nigel bowed his head, cutting the greetings short.

"Captain..."

From the surrounding defense team members, quiet sobs and murmurs could be heard.

"Hmm. Lumber, are the citizens being harmed?"

"No, under your Excellency's name, all harm and looting against the populace is prohibited. So far, we have received no reports of such actions. In our army, if such acts are discovered, it results in beheading, regardless of rank."

"That is good. Under my name, I will guarantee the safety of the citizens."

"Is that really...?"

"Enough!"

It was Lumber who became agitated at Nigel's question.

Lord Aubrey answered quietly.

"Alright, Lumber. It's only natural to be concerned. However, Nigel, think about it. We are trying to take control of this city. Is there any benefit in earning the citizens' hatred? Moreover, if we were to commit massacres here... and that reputation spreads to the surrounding cities, wouldn't the resistance of those cities become obstinate? Not only out of compassion but also from the standpoint of governance, harm and looting against the populace is unacceptable. Rest assured."

Having been explained this rationally, even Nigel felt relieved.

"I have only one thing I want to ask. If possible, I would like you to answer..."

"There are things I cannot answer due to my position."

As Lord Aubrey's inquiry was met with a grimace from Nigel, he responded.

Though he was grateful for the assurance of the citizens' safety, there were indeed things he could not answer. In fact, most things fell into that category.

"Why are there still five hundred citizens remaining?"