The Water Magician

"I know most of the names, but I can't seem to imagine the names of the two of you."

"I see. So, that's why you were going around with Deputy Ambassador Bansuno, Captain Gorick, and Lieutenant Rena."

"I can't quite match the names with the faces. After all, there wouldn't be portraits of everyone in the report."

At the words of Duke Helb, Ryo nodded in understanding, while Abel tilted his head in confusion.

"Indeed, the report only contained text, but it described the features of each person quite accurately."

"I see. The intelligence of the grand duchy is impressive."

"Somehow, Abel sounds a bit combative."

Abel's tone was sharper than usual in response to Duke Helb's explanation.

Ryo was concerned about that.

Unusually, Ryo was feeling anxious this time...

Duke Helb seemed to act as if he was not bothered by it.

"I don't have any particular issues with the grand duchy or Duke Helb. However, seeing the current situation in the Free City reminds me of my homeland, which was once occupied by a neighboring country. Please laugh at me for being an immature person who can't suppress their emotions."

"I see."

Duke Helb nodded, even showing a faint smile at Abel's words.

Duke Helb then asked, "If you don't mind me asking, who are you two?"

"I'm Abel from the Naitorei Kingdom in the Central Nations."

"Likewise, I'm Ryo."

"The Central Nations? That's quite far away..."

Duke Helb appeared genuinely surprised.

Just as it was for the Archipelago Sea Region, few people in this part of the southern continent accurately knew the location of the 'Central Nations.'

However, due to the widespread use of the 'Central Nations language,' he had heard the name before.

"I wasn't aware that the Sujay Kingdom had diplomatic relations with the Central Nations..."

Duke Helb pointed out that a person from the Central Nations was properly dressed and attending the garden party at the Sujay Kingdom Embassy.

"Oh, you weren't aware? The royal barge Bralcau, which belongs to the newly crowned Queen Iliriaja of the Sujay Kingdom, was built in our Naitorei Kingdom."

"Oh... That's interesting."

"By the way, did you know? Five ocean assault ships once attacked the Bralcau, with the queen aboard before her ascension. Of course, they were all sunk without a single scratch on her. I was also on board at that time, and it was terrifying. Being attacked by five ocean assault ships is quite something."

At this point, Abel began to smile slightly as he spoke.

Ryo, watching from the side, remained anxious.

He was seriously contemplating whether he should put the ice armor on Abel just in case.

However, the opponent in front of them was a sorcerer.

Moreover, he was one of the top-class sorcerers in this southern continent.

If there were any magical movements, he would immediately notice.

In the end, Ryo could only watch over the situation...

He understood Abel's feelings as well.

Being occupied by another country is not a pleasant experience.

Perhaps because Abel had taken the lead in liberating from that occupation, he had more thoughts and feelings about it than an ordinary person.

In fact, the man in front of him said that he did not deny the grand duchy's ambition to unify the entire southern continent.

He stated that they had taken large-scale military action.

He made that clear.

In other words, before long, the grand duchy would annex this Free City...

It is difficult to view the disastrous state of the Naitorei Kingdom, which had fallen into the hands of rebels and other countries, without overlapping it with half of the country, including the royal capital.

Once experienced, those memories tend to cling on.

Even if one understands with their head that the Debuhi Empire and the Duchy of Atinjo are entirely different entities.

Well, I can't help but think that a grand duchy, which is said to have dispatched five ocean assault ships to attack Queen Iliriaja and has incited civil wars in the Gegish-Lou Federation, is not exactly acting justly...

"It's impressive to easily repel five ocean assault ships. But recently, the seas have become dangerous, haven't they? Pirates have even come to possess ocean assault ships."