The Water Magician

Two people returned to the "Inn of Free Winds."

At the counter, another pair was receiving their room keys.

"Are you two returning now?"

"Lord Abel, Ryo-san. We just got back from work."

The one who answered Abel was Soushi, the head chef.

The other, Lieutenant Rena, nodded as well.

"Abel, this is how a person should be."

"Yeah, I really don't want to hear that from Ryo."

Abel retorted after Ryo said it while they were out playing.

Indeed, he wouldn’t want to hear it from Ryo.

"Welcome back, Lord Abel, Ryo-san. A letter has arrived for you two."

The refined-looking young man at the counter handed the letter to them.

"An invitation?"

"Sujay Embassy?"

Their murmurs were probably loud enough to catch attention.

The pair of women who were about to leave after receiving their keys turned around.

Lieutenant Rena and Soushi both wore puzzled expressions.

Seeing that, Abel opened the seal.

He thought the contents inside would interest the two of them.

"An invitation to the garden party?"

"Ah… I knew it."

At Abel's murmur, Soushi shook his head slightly as he spoke.

Lieutenant Rena also frowned.

"What is it? Is this an invitation we should avoid?"

"Yes... honestly, it might be troublesome."

"Why did the embassy send an invitation to you two?"

In response to Abel's question, Soushi answered honestly, and Lieutenant Rena raised her doubts.

"If we refuse that invitation, would it be seen poorly by the Sujay Kingdom?"

Ryo asked, as he didn’t fully understand the significance of this 'invitation.'

"You would lose face."

"Someone who was counting on you two might be saddened."

"That means there will be food left for two people."

Abel, Lieutenant Rena, and Soushi each answered with their own thoughts.

The statement that struck Ryo the hardest was obviously the last one.

"Um, leaving food behind is a bad thing. We have to reduce food waste! Abel, regardless of the traps that might be set, we must attend!"

"You just want to eat the embassy's food..."

Abel replied with an exasperated tone to Ryo's answer.

"The current chef at the embassy, Rogo Bagirush, is exceptional at both meat and fish dishes. As a chef, I would love for you to try it if you have the chance… but this time…"

"Let's go, Abel!"

"…Well, I suppose it's fine."

Though Soushi was hesitant about the potential trouble it might bring, Ryo, thinking it would somehow work out, encouraged Abel.

Abel also accepted it, thinking it might just work out.

In the end, the two might actually be a good pair.

"Huh? You issued invitations to Lord Abel and Ryo-san?"

"Yes, we did. Is there a problem?"

Captain Gorick casually asked in a loud voice.

Ambassador Randassa responded with a dubious look.

This was the Sujay Kingdom Embassy, in the ambassador's office.

"We received an official reply from the Duchy of Atinjo's embassy. The new ambassador, Duke Helb, will attend the garden party. That's a very strong force. If something happens, our current embassy's strength won’t be enough, even with the seasoned crew of the Rondark."

"Well, that's true…"

"You said those two are quite a strong force, didn't you, Captain? It's an incredible stroke of luck that they are in the Free City right now. Of course, there's no such thing as free. Since they are adventurers, I am considering appropriate compensation."

"…Has that matter already been reported back to the homeland?"

"Yes, I just did that. We haven't received a reply yet."

In response to Captain Gorick's question, Ambassador Randassa nodded broadly.

A "magic communication device" was placed between the embassy and the Sujay Kingdom Royal Castle.

It is a kind of long-distance communication, but it's not real-time two-way communication.

It's like a fax or email.

You send a message and wait for a reply.

Depending on the distance, it takes about two hours one way from the Free City to the royal capital.

The reply would arrive, at the earliest, tonight.

"Honestly, even with that level of strength, I don't think we can hold back Duke Helb, but I believe it will be of help to us."

"No, are you planning to start a war at the embassy…"