Published: July 3, 2025
After enjoying the all-you-can-eat at the guild cafeteria following the great tsunami, Ryo headed to the royal capital the next morning in a guild carriage.
It seems that the precious permission to use the Run Adventurers' Guild's guild carriage was granted due to the evaluation of their efforts during the great tsunami...
Feeling happy that his hard work had paid off, Ryo continued to sleep in the now reserved guild carriage.
He had been eating until dawn the night before...
By the afternoon of the next day, he safely arrived at the royal capital and immediately went to the Royal Castle Library to return the book he had borrowed for a long time, titled "Alchemy: Its Future and Prospects - Alchemy in All Aspects of Life."
At that time, the head librarian, Gasparlini, was noticeably emotional, almost in tears, bowing his head repeatedly in gratitude, which left a strong impression on Ryo.
He firmly vowed to himself.
He must return what he has borrowed.
If he didn't, it would make good people like the head librarian cry...
And at the royal castle's annex.
King Abel the First was not in bed...
He was swinging a sword in the courtyard of the annex.
"Abel... You shouldn't overexert yourself since you're recovering from illness."
"Oh, Ryo. It's been a while. What have you been up to?"
"I was saving the world from destruction."
"O-oh..."
Ryo was saying something that made no sense again... Abel thought this but chose not to press the issue.
He assumed Ryo had been engrossed in alchemy books or delicious food, something along those lines.
Ryo was a pitiful man.
After finishing his sword practice, Abel returned to his office, where Chancellor Marquis Heinlein had come with a report.
"It seems there was a great tsunami in the City of Run two days ago for the first time in three years..."
As he spoke, the marquis noticed Ryo was present in the room.
"A great tsunami, how nostalgic. What was the type and scale this time? By the way, I remember the adventurers in the City of Run are mostly c-rank; were they alright? Well, since you're reporting now, I suppose there were no issues?"
Returning his focus to the present, the marquis answered Abel's rapid-fire questions.
"Ah, yes... This time it was ogres, five thousand of them. The only b-rank party from Run was 'Coffee Maker' led by DeLong. To make matters worse, they were also dispatched for wyvern subjugation..."
"Speaking of which, I remember hearing that report! Two wyverns, right? Hmm? That means there are hardly any c-rank and above adventurers left..."
As he continued, Abel's expression grew increasingly serious.
He understood the difficulty of wyvern subjugation.
He had experienced it many times during his adventurer days.
And he had also experienced the great tsunami... Moreover, this time it was ogres... Arrows would bounce off their skin!
"It must be tough for the Run Knight Order too, right? There must have been significant casualties, no?"
"No, actually..."
Marquis Heinlein glanced briefly at Ryo.
Ryo, simultaneously responding, was lounging on the sofa reading a newly borrowed alchemy book... He seemed oblivious to the report.
"The damage was zero. The event occurred at three in the afternoon, and the ogre king was defeated by seven that same evening."
"Zero casualties! The current Guild Master is Ra, right? With Sue's high support abilities... Not too shabby. Or is it because the Run Knight Order is well-trained? Either way, good job... but... wait? Ogres' skin doesn't allow arrows to pass, right? So how is it that there's zero damage?"
When Abel said this, the marquis looked over at Ryo, who was still occupying the sofa, and replied.
"Yes, actually, other than the ogre king, they were dealt with using magic..."
"I see! Magic, huh... Magic? Five thousand ogres? Huh? ... Ah, yes, Marquis Heinlein, just to confirm, who was the one using that magic?"
While Abel posed the question, his gaze was already directed at the water attribute mage lounging on the sofa.
"Yes, as Your Majesty guessed, it was Duke Rondo."
"You?!"
"Yes?"