The Water Magician

"Here is the main camp."

Hugh McGrath muttered softly.

There was no one around him anymore.

Just a few seconds ago, the four members of the "red sword," who had followed him to the end, had engaged in combat with the allied forces' imperial guards.

They were likely part of Lord Aubrey’s direct escort.

Abel and the others of the red sword had pulled away from Hugh to draw the guards away.

With his sword drawn in one hand, he passed through the camp's curtain and found a man sitting deeper inside.

"Finally, we meet, Aubrey."

The one seated was none other than the commander of the allied forces and dictator, Lord Aubrey.

"You arrived much faster than I imagined, Hugh McGrath. Impressive as always."

"It is an honor to be complimented by a 'famed general.'"

While exchanging light-hearted banter, Hugh approached Lord Aubrey without letting his guard down.

"Honestly, even if you were to defeat me now, the tide of battle would not change. Though, I suppose you understand that."

"Yes, I do. However, there is no other way to turn the tide. It's perfectly clear that it’s zero percent. However, if I can defeat you here, there’s a slim chance that things could be turned around. So, I must try, right?"

"That’s a lie."

Hugh countered with a smirk, lifting one corner of his mouth.

"If the allies completely engulf the duchy, the Naitorei Kingdom will have a long border with a greatly expanded allied force. Just dealing with the Empire is quite a burden, but adding a resurgent ally, whom we've already crushed in the great war, would be a real headache, wouldn’t it? Especially when the kingdom is in such turmoil."

"You speak with great confidence. Do you have any basis for that?"

Without affirming or denying Aubrey's lengthy explanation, Hugh chose to inquire.

He had judged that gathering information was crucial.

"Hehehe, your quick judgment is commendable. Yes, gathering information is important. Really... Why not become a minister in our country instead of just a guild master in the frontier? I would treat you well."

"Thanks, but no thanks. You know what information I seek, don’t you? I wouldn't be punished for letting you know before I die, would I?"

"I don't plan to die, however. I don't know exactly what information Master McGrath desires... but let's see, one piece of information you might want is that half of the chaos in the kingdom was instigated by me. The royal capital turmoil, for instance."

Lord Aubrey readily admitted this.

Even upon hearing it, Hugh remained silent.

His eyes suggested there was more to it.

"The collapse of Roh Bridge and the chaos in the east were not caused by me. Whitnash was my doing, however."

With that, the angle of his grin widened.

"I found out later that the organization I used was the same one 'over there' used. A very convenient organization, they do anything as long as you pay them."

"As a guild master myself, I can imagine what organization you used. I’ll be punishing them later."

It was likely the so-called "assassination cult" that Hugh’s own network of information had picked up on. And "over there" was almost certainly referring to the Empire.

However...

"From the way you're talking, it seems you don't know. That organization seems to have had its headquarters annihilated. When our people finally arrived, there were no bodies, but the entire village was frozen. I thought it was the kingdom's people, but it seems not."

No, it was the kingdom's people.

If Rhea were here, she would have thought so. After all, it was Rhea who had caused the destruction.

"The entire village was frozen..."

Hugh had a sudden realization.

He had too many realizations.

He thought it was almost certainly one of their adventurers.

However, he chose deliberately not to acknowledge it.

"Oh, I see. That sounds serious..."

"Hmm? Hugh, you know something, don’t you, judging by that expression?"

"No, I don’t know anything. It’s just your imagination."

He was not fooling anyone, but Lord Aubrey did not press further.

"Well then, that’s all the information I can provide."