The Water Magician

"Here is the person responsible for this experiment, Mr. Pastra."

"Experiment?"

Ryo explained, while Abel tilted his head in question.

"Yes, an experiment. A grand one... I don't know the details either."

"Hey..."

"It's only natural that understanding is difficult when the research fields are different."

Ryo said this while gesturing to adjust his glasses.

It seems that in Ryo's mind, researchers are associated with wearing glasses...

"The fact that Ryo is a researcher in the first place..."

"I am a researcher of water attribute magic and alchemy."

"Ah, yes..."

Ryo declared this solemnly, in a tone that allowed no rebuttal, and Abel accepted it without hesitation.

If he claims so, then it must be true.

As long as there are no qualifications required, being a researcher is based on self-declaration.

"That's right, Abel. Please show respect towards Mr. Pastra, as he is a very strong individual."

"Why only me...?"

"Duke Helb, being a human, will surely show respect to someone he meets for the first time."

"Yes, of course."

Duke Helb said this and elegantly bowed to Pastra.

"Oh... That was a perfect bow for a phantom being. Even someone dedicated to research like me was a little impressed."

Pastra nodded happily.

"I almost forgot... Duke Helb does have a way of commanding a room with a perfect bow."

"Yes, that's correct."

Abel remembered the garden party, and Ryo agreed.

Thus, he is skilled at showing respect.

"To show respect, huh..."

"If I say that Mr. Pastra is on par with Leonor, would that make sense?"

"No way..."

"Yes, exactly that way."

While saying this, Ryo raised just his right index finger and brought it in front of his lips.

It was a gesture that meant to be silent.

Indeed, the word 'demon' is not something to be spoken lightly.

In this place, besides the two of them, Duke Helb is present.

Though they fought together this time, he is certainly not an absolute ally.

Somehow, Ryo thought so.

There was no clear basis for it; it was just a feeling.

After all, it was the first time Ryo heard of the 'phantom being' that seemed to belong to Duke Helb's race.

Most likely, the part he felt was "mixed with humans" was that.

"I would like to confirm, but we will not see any... mutations caused by the Death Dragon from here on out, correct?"

Duke Helb politely asked Pastra.

"Yes. It seems the Death Dragon has decayed as well. I plan to do it again when we find the next Death Dragon... but they are rarely found. This one was the first in two thousand years..."

Pastra shot a slightly resentful glance at Ryo.

"It would have been better if you had done it in my absence; you did it right in front of me. It's not my fault."

"Hmph."

Ryo stated clearly, causing Pastra to pucker his lips in discontent.

"In return, Ryo could cooperate with the experiment..."

"I refuse!"

"W-What if it's not a dissection experiment? I can't do it at my laboratory, so I can come to your place. How about an observation experiment? If it's just measuring that 'droplet', it won't hurt..."

"What benefit do I gain from this?"

"B-Benefit? Collaborating to promote research is a duty of all living beings..."

"Rejected."

Ryo promptly dismissed Pastra's explanation.

His expression was stern, and his words were heavy.

"Please think of a benefit that I can accept and propose it. Depending on the content, I might consider cooperating."

"R-Really!"

Pastra, almost jumping up, confirmed while hugging Ryo.

"Y-Yes, but please think it through before proposing. If the benefit is something I can't accept, the negotiations will end."

"Ugh..."

"Please take your time to think it over thoroughly."

Ryo emphasized the part about "taking time."

(Ryo, that's just postponing the problem.)

Abel thought so in his mind, shaking his head slightly.

(This demon's 'time' should be incredibly long, so I should be able to gain decades or even centuries! By then, I probably won't even be around anymore.)

Of course, Ryo had his own intentions.

Whether those would turn out to be good or bad, nobody knows...

Pastra left.

The way he departed was through the usual pitch-black 'gate', just like Leonor and Jean-Jacques.