The Water Magician

"Ryo, I have something I'd like to discuss."

After finishing the grilled meat and tidying up a bit, Abel asked.

"What's up?"

"Actually, I want to go to the beach where I was washed up. There's something I need to check. Sorry, but could you guide me there?"

"Sure, no problem. Let's go."

Ryo was wearing his usual loincloth, sandals, and carrying two knives.

Recently, he had stopped using the bamboo spear with the knife attached.

Originally, he used the bamboo spear because its long reach provided a sense of security during combat.

However, after daily sword fights with the dullahan and close combat with the one-eyed assassin hawk, he had grown accustomed to using Murakumo in close quarters, making the long reach unnecessary.

Yes, Ryo had grown.

But it wasn't the same for Abel.

"Ryo, you said you're a water attribute mage, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

"Are you not bringing a mage's staff?"

"Huh...?"

In the Central Nations, mages typically carry a staff.

The mage's staff acts as a magical conductor, assisting in the activation and effectiveness of spells.

Without a staff, a mage needs ten times more magical power to cast spells, and the resulting effects can be reduced to a tenth of their original power.

In other words, it's practically useless.

However, Ryo had never used a staff until now...

"Ah, well... I don’t have one."

Upon hearing that answer, Abel felt deep regret.

(Another failure... If I had lived a poor life, I might have lost my staff. I embarrassed my savior. What a foolish question to ask...)

"Ah, yeah, there are cases like that. I'm a swordsman, so as long as I have this sword, I'm fine."

Saying this, Abel patted his sword at his waist.

"If anything happens, I'll take the front lines while you watch from the back."

"No, it doesn't work that way..."

"Please, let me do at least that much. I can't just keep being saved by you, my savior; it would hurt my pride."

With that, Abel moved his face closer to Ryo's.

"Uh, okay, then I'll count on you if that happens."

That was all Ryo could manage to say.

At the beach, there were no bodies left.

It had only been about five hours since Ryo had carried Abel, but it seemed the two bodies of the smugglers had already been cleared away.

Of course, Ryo was not the one who cleared them.

It was probably something in the sea.

"There were two dead, but I guess they got eaten or dragged into the sea."

Ryo explained monotonously, without much emotional fluctuation.

However, it was different for Abel.

"So, if you hadn't pulled me away, I would have ended up like that too?"

Cold sweat trickled down Abel's back.

"Guess you're lucky, Mr. Abel."

Ryo smiled brightly.

"Yeah... I guess so. By the way, Ryo, could you drop the honorifics and just call me by my name? It's hard for me to be called Mr. by my savior while I call you by your name."

"But I think you’re older, Mr. Abel... Well, if that's okay with you, then understood. Abel."

"Thanks. The others all call me by my name. It's better that way."

"Comrades..."

(I wanted to be alone, and I told Michael (alias) to go somewhere without people... But the idea of comrades makes me a little envious. After all, twenty years is a long time...)

Ryo thought deeply.

In contrast to Ryo's thoughts, Abel was searching for something.

(Ah, I guess I still don't have it, the proof. Did it sink to the seabed? Or is it in the kraken's belly? Well, it can't be helped; I should regroup with everyone for now.)

"Ryo, thanks. It seems there's nothing to find after all."

"That's too bad. What will you do now?"

"For now, I want to regroup with my comrades. Once we get to the City of Run, I should be able to get in touch..."

Ryo shook his head as he answered.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know where this City of Run is. I think it's quite far to the north from here... We would have to travel quite a distance since there aren't even any people around here."

"I see... I guess I have no choice but to brace myself."

Abel paused for a moment before thinking and then said to Ryo.

"Hey, why don't you come with me?"

Abel's invitation was unexpected for Ryo, or rather, it was outside of his expectations.