The Water Magician

The storage facility had been beautifully restored, leaving no traces of the bandits.

As a result, the group left the storage facility without gaining much information.

"Wait! Who are you?"

Outside the storage facility, they were questioned by a group of knights.

"Captain Bashrel, these are adventurers from the Holy See," a priest introduced the group to the knights.

"Hmm. Adventurers from the Holy See? I don't quite understand. I am André de Bashrel, captain of the Templar Knight Order's third division."

The most imposing knight introduced himself.

"I apologize for the rudeness. Since you are a division commander, you must be a priest. We are adventurers investigating on request from Cardinal Graham of the Holy See."

Eto said this and handed over a Holy Seal Certificate issued by the Holy See along with Cardinal Graham's permit.

"Indeed, confirmed. We are also searching for the items stolen from the storage facility. Please share the information you have gathered."

His tone was commanding.

Hearing that command, Ryo recalled something.

"Nils, these people were at the Onge Church when we returned from the centaurs."

"Onge? Ah, they couldn't get up because of Ryo's ice path magic..."

As Ryo whispered to Nils, Nils seemed to recall as well.

At that moment, almost simultaneously...

"Captain, these individuals were previously at the Onge Church."

A knight beside Captain Bashrel spoke up.

Upon hearing this, Captain Bashrel thought for a moment but quickly remembered.

"They were the ones who returned from the centaurs."

"After that, did the bishop perform the exorcism?"

Eto asked with a smile.

The knights believed they had been cursed with a spell that prevented them from getting up from the slippery ground, which led to calling the bishop from the neighboring town.

In the confusion, the group was able to leave.

Of course, it was all due to Ryo's ice path...

"Y-yes. There was no problem."

For Captain Bashrel, it seemed to be an unpleasant memory.

His complexion slightly worsened.

At that point, Eto turned to Nils and whispered.

"We don’t really have much useful information to give. Should we ask them?"

"I don't think they'll respond willingly... But I'll leave it to Eto."

Nils whispered back.

"Then let's switch to Ryo."

"Eh..."

Ryo was left speechless by Eto's sudden suggestion.

Unlike Abel, Eto rarely did such things. Why now...?

"We were told to share the information we have. Of course, we're willing to relay that."

"Hmm. That is commendable."

"However, there are aspects related to magic, so I will hand this over to our mage. Now, Ryo."

Eto introduced Ryo to Captain Bashrel.

Encouraged by Nils, Ryo took over.

"Ah, yes, then, excuse me. Um, the door was broken using fire attribute magic."

"Hmm, that is something we have heard as well."

"It seems there was quite a noise when it happened, but no one from the church noticed."

"That appears to be the case."

It seemed that everything Ryo explained was already known to Captain Bashrel.

With no other option, Ryo presented a speculative theory.

"There is a possibility there were wind attribute mages among the bandits."

"What? I have not heard such a report."

"Yes. Although the noise of breaking the door was quite loud, it seems everyone didn't hear it. I believe it was because a wind attribute mage obstructed the air... well, the wind, preventing the sound from carrying."

"Hmm... is such a thing possible?"

"Yes, theoretically it is possible. This seems to be the most plausible explanation for why the sound was not heard."

He repeated that it was just a speculation, of course.

However, if one could obstruct the air, it would prevent sound transmission, so he believed he wasn't wrong...

He didn't know if that could be done with wind attribute magic.

But, as the science fiction writer Jules Verne said,

"What man can imagine, he can achieve."

If that was the case in a world without magic, then in this world of Fai, it should be easier to realize!

Ryo believed that.

"In other words, among the bandits, there are both fire and wind attribute mages. It is highly likely that they are a very powerful organization of bandits."