The Water Magician

CHAPTER TEXT:

Around the time when Run's new neighbor was decided, there are no official records of whether Ryo was sneezing repeatedly.

Having lifted Harold's spirit curse and asked Merlin a few questions, Ryo's current concerns had vanished.

Naturally, this made him crave something sweet.

"This month's mille-feuille... I'm a bit curious about this."

The lounge of the kingdom delegation's residence serves quite delicious cakes, but unfortunately, there aren't many varieties... which means he has eaten all of them.

However, next to the residence, there was a café.

"Café Roma"

With a decent level of coffee and delicious cakes, it naturally became one of his favorite places.

After much deliberation, he ordered the "mille-feuille of the month" along with a Roman blend coffee, allowing Ryo to finally look around.

Seated diagonally two tables away was someone he recognized from somewhere.

They appeared incredibly fatigued, with a drooping posture and looking quite troubled.

However, when the ordered cake set arrived, they brightened up with a smile and began to eat it deliciously.

Before long, Ryo's mille-feuille and coffee arrived as well...

They both finished eating and exited the café at the same time.

"Ignis-san?"

The man was Ignis, the chief negotiator of the kingdom delegation.

"Ryo-san? Ah, we ended up at the same place. The cakes here are delicious."

Though the negotiations seemed tough, he still had his sense of taste.

Ryo knew that as long as someone could appreciate good food, they were likely doing okay.

Of course, Ryo himself had no direct experience, but he remembered acquaintances from Earth who had become so overwhelmed with work that they lost their ability to taste.

"Negotiations... look tough."

"Yes, well..."

Even though they were both from the same delegation, he couldn't disclose the details of the negotiations.

Ignis smiled wryly and gave an ambiguous response.

Ryo decided to speak discreetly.

"If there's anything you'd like to discuss with Abel in the royal capital, you can consult through me. If it comes to that, just let me know. After all, I am the first duke, so I have considerable authority to access classified information."

As he said this, Ryo gave a thumbs-up with his right hand.

Ignis probably didn’t understand the meaning behind it, but...

"With your majesty...? Is that true?"

Ryo had not informed Ignis about the "echo of the soul."

Aside from the exploration party, only the leader, Hugh, knew... and that was something he had reluctantly conveyed only recently.

Yet, seeing Ignis in such a fatigued state, Ryo couldn't just leave him be.

Of course, he had not been explicitly told not to share information about the "echo of the soul," and... he probably wouldn't get scolded.

"Well, I can't use it too frequently, but it's possible with alchemy."

That being said, he needed to make it clear that being relied on too much would be problematic.

Ryo may be kind-hearted, but he was also a strategist!

"Thank you. If necessary, I might seek your majesty's opinion."

Saying this, Ignis bowed his head.

He seemed much less burdened than before.

That alone might indicate that Ryo's suggestion had been worthwhile...

Being on the front lines of negotiations between nations brought unimaginable pressure...

After parting ways with Ignis, Ryo shook his head slightly.

Upon returning to the residence next to "Café Roma," he found Hugh McGrath, the leader, with a serious expression as he looked over several documents and letters in the lobby.

Ryo, not particularly conscious of it, tried to walk past him.

But then he was caught.

"Ryo!"

"Huh?"

He hadn't expected Hugh to call out to him.

Without thinking, Ryo gasped in surprise.

"Sorry, but I need a favor from you."

Hugh waved him over and showed him a letter.

"I need you to deliver this letter to a mage in the Mafalda Republic."

"A mage? In the Republic?"

Ryo tilted his head in response.

Then he suddenly realized.

"Huh? What about Nils and the others?"

"Oh, I've just sent them on urgent business to Room 10 and Room 11. Earlier today, I mean just a bit ago, the workload for the guards suddenly increased... all of them had to forgo their days off."