The Water Magician

Three days had passed since the kingdom delegation arrived at Aiteke Bo.

"Maraarta, are you mocking me?"

"Y-Your Majesty... I would never dream of it."

In a room of the Aiteke Bo Lord of the Realm's Hall.

On his knees, with his head bowed, was Knight Commander Maraarta, being reprimanded in front of Duke Zlaransu.

Other than the chamberlain who served the lord, there was only one other person in the room.

That person had a faint smile and looked mockingly at the reprimanded knight commander.

However, he kept his mouth shut.

He knew that Duke Zlaransu hated it more than anything when someone interrupted him.

"Maraarta, it's been two months. What does it mean that even after two months, you still can't confirm the state of the World Tree?!"

"We have sent out the knights and adventurers, but not a single one has returned..."

"I've heard that! It is your duty as the knight commander to do something about it!"

"Haha. I apologize."

Saying that, Knight Commander Maraarta bowed his head even lower in apology.

"Really. If you had even a tenth of Guja's abilities, you would be able to handle this much... Right, Guja?"

Duke Zlaransu said as he looked at the captain of the guard Guja standing beside him.

Guja's faint smile had already disappeared, and he bowed his head with a serious expression.

"Though I am honored by your words, there are various circumstances that prevent the knight commander from proceeding as he wishes. I have heard that discipline in the knight order has loosened recently. It is only natural that with such subordinates, reaching the World Tree would be impossible."

"You bastard!"

Maraarta, furious at Guja's sarcasm, shouted.

But...

"Hold your tongue!"

Duke Zlaransu reprimanded once more.

"Ugh... I apologize."

Knight Commander Maraarta, having completely lost the lord's trust, could only apologize.

"At least Guja has managed to cut down branches from the World Tree and bring them back. He has produced results!"

"However, I fear that those results may be the cause of the World Tree passing away..."

"Are you arguing back with that pathetic performance? Are you saying that my order to cut down the branches of the World Tree was wrong?"

"N-no..."

With Duke Zlaransu saying that, Maraarta had nothing to retort.

The command to cut down branches from the World Tree was indeed given by Duke Zlaransu three months ago.

And Guja, standing beside him, had brought back the cut branches from the World Tree to Aiteke Bo.

These facts were undeniable.

Simultaneously, it was also true that reports of disturbances in the forest began to emerge afterward.

Those reports should have reached Duke Zlaransu, but...

They likely did not reach him personally.

Those around him were suppressing them.

Because such reports would undoubtedly upset Duke Zlaransu.

Such reports, which would make no one happy, were meant to be suppressed.

"If the knight order is unreliable... then what should we do..."

Duke Zlaransu pondered.

Even he wanted to know what the current state of the World Tree was.

It was just a tree, but...

Then a thought struck him.

"Hmm. Speaking of which, there are useful people staying here."

"Lord Dan, what does this mean?"

This was the office of the deputy chancellor.

Deputy Chancellor Dan was the negotiation head from the Aiteke Bo side.

Entering the room with a piece of paper in hand was Ignis, the chief negotiator from the kingdom side.

That said, Ignis was not one to storm in angrily.

He remained polite and soft-spoken.

"Ah, Ignis, I apologize. The majesty has..."

Deputy Chancellor Dan frowned and spoke sincerely with regret.

Of course.

The negotiations between the two nations had reached a critical point.

They had reached a stage where signing could be possible within the next day or two.

However, if the lord intervened and the content endangers the adventurers of the other country, it would be a heavy burden to bear...

The request from the lord of Aiteke Bo was, "Until the kingdom's adventurers observe the state of the World Tree and report to the Aiteke Bo government, all negotiations must be suspended."