The Water Magician

When Ryo and Abel arrived at Bemberton Village, there was chaos everywhere.

It was no surprise; in these remote areas, it was rare to encounter a wyvern even once in a lifetime.

So, when one was spotted near their own village, it was only natural for there to be an uproar.

However, with the villagers in a complete state of panic, it was impossible to gather any reliable information. As the two were at a loss, a soldier-like man came running from a distance.

"You are the adventurers from Run's adventurers' guild, right? The swordsman and the mage."

The soldier approached them, asking with certainty.

Given the timing, anyone would assume that an unknown adventurer had shown up because the guild had sent word that two adventurers were coming.

"Yes, that's us," Abel answered on their behalf.

"Good! I have been waiting for you. I am Rinds, the chief of the defense team assigned by Baron Plague at this manor."

"Nice to meet you. Regarding this matter, it has been designated as confidential, so we cannot disclose our names."

"I understand. Now, about the wyvern incident…"

The sighting occurred just south of the village, approximately five hundred meters away.

Only one cow had been sacrificed, and no human casualties were reported yet.

"Got it. Then we will proceed with just the two of us. Please let the Guild carriage rest. The driver will handle the care, so just the location will suffice."

"Understood."

Was that really all that was needed? The look in Chief Rinds’ eyes seemed to say otherwise.

However, both Abel and Ryo chose to ignore that questioning gaze.

They began walking south.

"The defense chief was quite young, wasn't he? Probably around twenty, I'd say?"

"Yeah, probably. The defense team likely consists of just two people or, in some cases, just him alone."

"A one-man defense team…"

That phrase sounded like it could be the title of a story, but picturing that scene brought a sense of sorrow…

Still, in modern Earth too, it was common to have only one police officer or doctor assigned to an island, so it wasn’t entirely strange.

Ryo decided to forcibly think that way.

"An outcast wyvern and a lone defense team."

"What kind of story is that?"

As Ryo casually mentioned this, Abel quickly interjected.

Abel was certainly capable.

Less than ten minutes into their walk, they spotted a wyvern flying in the sky.

"It's flying normally."

"Of course, it would. If we hadn't found it, that would have been troublesome, and we have been relieved from the difficulty of discovery now."

"How big do you think it is?"

"Oddly enough, it's an outcast wyvern of full-grown size. Usually, outcasts are mostly young dragons. It seems the one Nils and the others defeated was also a young one."

"I see."

It looked about the same size as the wyverns they had over-hunted in the Forest of Rondo.

The one in that wyvern nest, it must have been a full-grown dragon.

"So, are there any conditions for this subjugation?"

"Conditions?"

"Like the method of defeat or the submission of evidence."

"No. The magic stones will belong to the two of us. As for proof of the kill… usually, a wyvern's right eye is taken as a subjugation proof, but… even the defense chief or the villagers wouldn't recognize just an eye…"

"I see…"

Ryo was contemplating something but nodded once.

"Well, let's take it down for now."

"O-Okay."

"＜Icicle Lance 2＞"

As Ryo chanted, two massive ice spears were created in the air, piercing through the wyvern's wing and pinning it to the ground.

"Alright!"

"You always make me doubt the wyvern's 'wind defense membrane.'"

"Compared to a flying swordsman, this is more normal."

"Yeah, that’s certainly unreasonable. First, people can't fly. Even if they're not a swordsman."

As Abel said this, Ryo glanced sideways at him.

His eyes seemed to shine.

"Abel, that is overly ignorant. There exists a technique called breakdown charge in this world."

"I feel like I’ve heard something nostalgic. Breakdown charge, right? That was what Ryo mentioned, the romance tactic."

"Romance tactic… what a way to put it."