Published: July 4, 2025
The only day they had to spare was the day of their arrival.
From the next day onward, the two were thrown into a grueling workload.
That said, it wasn't that they had no time to be lazy; rather, they were assigned very difficult tasks.
The job assigned to them was the protection of Princess Iliriaja.
Of course, the imperial guards were also involved in her protection and would take care of the more complex movements, so what the two were supposed to do was to stand at the right and left rear of Princess Iliriaja.
When she moved, they were to follow from behind.
"It feels like the old Warren."
At Ryo's muttering, Abel could only let out a small sigh.
By the way, Warren was a companion from Abel's adventurer days, a shield user with the title of ‘unyielding,’ and he was actually the son of the noble Halome family, which had produced the shields for the kings through generations.
Currently, he serves as the first count of the newly established Carlyle family, supporting the Naitorei Kingdom from the northern center.
When Abel first became king, Warren stood behind him in audiences, protecting him.
Ryo had likened him to that.
Abel was tall, but he was definitely not a “giant” like Warren.
However, he had a good appearance.
At the moment, he was wearing a uniform prepared for him, resembling that of the captain of the imperial knights, based mainly on white.
Since Princess Iliriaja often wore white, it seemed to have been prepared to match her.
Ryo wore his usual robe, which was also white in color.
Since it was the Robe of the Fairy King, it didn’t get dirty, so he always wore it… it seemed to be fine.
The workers in the “White Retreat,” where Princess Iliriaja resided, knew about Ryo and Abel.
In particular, Princess Iliriaja herself and her head butler, Lonk, treated them very courteously as they were, in a sense, guests of the princess.
Furthermore, the imperial guards, informed by Lord Protector Kavui Somaru that the two were strong allies and individuals whom Princess Iliriaja trusted greatly, treated them with respect.
Especially towards Abel, the imperial guards understood that he was not just anyone.
Their responses were as if addressing someone of a higher status.
"Lord Abel."
And Ryo was also referred to as "Lord Ryo."
Yes, it was in passing.
Ryo lamented the misfortunes of mages...
Now, Princess Iliriaja was receiving a lecture on poisons.
Ryo and Abel were listening along with her.
This seemed like knowledge that would be useful when they crossed to the continent...
"Most fast-acting lethal poisons have a taste that causes a tingling sensation at the tip of the tongue or a strong odor. Therefore, if you experience that, please spit it out immediately and move away."
An elderly man named Boyzan, who was also a healer, was explaining.
He had short-cropped white hair and wore white clothes reminiscent of a doctor, along with glasses.
Yes, glasses.
In the Central Nations, monocles were common, but Ryo couldn't recall seeing glasses that corrected both eyes.
However, it seemed that glasses were circulating in the Archipelago Sea Region.
In the Archipelago Sea Region, recovery from injuries or illnesses was conducted by healers.
It didn't seem that religious figures like the priests in the Central Nations or the clergy in the Western Nations monopolized it.
Perhaps because of that, the religious factions appeared to be quite weak...
"However, please be careful with this Shurin's Poison."
Saying this, the healer Boyzan held up a small vial.
Inside was a transparent liquid resembling water.
"It is completely tasteless and odorless. Once ingested, paralysis and numbness will occur, leading to near-certain death."
"Near-certain?"
Princess Iliriaja's murmuring was heard. Boyzan nodded once before continuing.
"In fact, the poison that Lord Protector Kavui Somaru received was this Shurin's Poison."
"Eh..."
Not only Princess Iliriaja but also Ryo and Abel were taken aback.
Come to think of it, it had been said that he wandered on the brink of death for three months.