The Water Magician

The day after the unexpected meeting of the three leaders.

The Central Nations Delegation departed from the last country of the Corridor Nations, the Sfor Kingdom.

They proceeded in the order of the Empire, the Alliance, and the Kingdom, but the distances between each delegation were not very far apart.

Naturally, at the rear of all the delegations were Ryo and the seven others.

“If the Sfor Kingdom decides to attack us to get back the food they graciously provided, we will be the first to face them,” Ryo remarked.

“Ryo... don’t say such ominous things,” Nils replied, frowning.

“It’ll be fine. I have a plan,” Ryo assured.

“...I can’t help but feel like I don’t want to hear it,” Nils said, remembering a bad premonition as Ryo thumped his chest and gestured for him to trust him.

“If we offer up Nils’s big body as a sacrifice, we can buy some time!”

“I thought it would be something like that!”

As usual, the rear was peaceful.

At the front, the Empire's delegation was taking a break at their first rest stop.

Around the leader, Former Emperor Rupert, many people surrounded him.

At the forefront was Count Hans Kirchhoff, who had served as a right-hand man since the days of the emperor, alongside the imperial guards and chefs, all of them exceptional individuals.

Many of them also looked quite good.

It wasn't that they were all handsome or beautiful, but rather that they bore the distinctive faces of those who took pride and confidence in their work.

There were quite a few like that.

However, among them, one page in his mid-thirties always had a nervous expression and demeanor.

Within the Empire's delegation, the page naturally took care of the needs of Former Emperor Rupert.

Although his position was not particularly high, being a page for the emperor or former emperor meant that even nobles would not treat him with disdain.

After all, they were the ones serving closest to the emperor and former emperor.

Because of this, many pages took pride in their work.

In fact, the salary was quite high, making it a popular position within the Imperial Castle.

Among the nine pages serving Former Emperor Rupert in this Empire delegation, all took pride in their work and did so with good faces... except for one page known as Harg.

“Harg, Count Kirchhoff is calling for you. Please go immediately.”

“Yes, right away.”

Harg, the page in his mid-thirties called by the chief page, left the task of arranging the dishes to another page and headed toward Count Kirchhoff’s tent.

“Damn it, why do I have to do this...”

Harg muttered to himself.

Unlike the other eight pages, he did not take pride in this job.

On the contrary, he hated it.

Before joining this delegation, he had been doing a different job.

That job was harsh, but Harg had taken pride in it.

Because, within the vast Empire, or even the entire Central Nations, he had a unique ability that no one else possessed, and he felt proud to support the entire Imperial military.

The tent being set up during this short break was only for Former Emperor Rupert and Count Hans Kirchhoff.

“Excuse me.”

Pages were allowed to enter the tent without introducing themselves.

Inside, Count Hans Kirchhoff was writing some documents.

“Ah, Harg, I was hoping you could deliver this letter for me. Please wait a moment.”

Hans said that, quickly finishing the letter and sealing it.

As he handed it to Harg, he inquired, “So, how are you getting on with your work?”

“Yes, somehow...”

“Don’t overdo it.”

Those may have been excessive words for the count to say to a page.

“Yes, thank you very much.”

Harg bowed respectfully, accepted the letter, and left the tent.

“Oh, Hans, just the person I needed!”

As Count Hans Kirchhoff entered Former Emperor Rupert's tent, Rupert immediately beckoned him over.

“What can I do for you?”

There was coffee placed in front of Rupert.

“Hans, I was just asking if there were any better beans available,” Rupert said.

“Really...?”

Hans tilted his head.

He hadn’t heard any news of changes in the coffee beans.