Published: July 4, 2025
"It was quite the disaster, wasn't it?"
While eating lunch, Abel expressed his thoughts on the troubles that had befallen Ryo.
"Yes, I was surprised. The captain is a very tall woman, and her sword unsheathing speed was incredibly fast. You're fast too, Abel, but... it might be a good match."
"That woman is the captain of the princess's guard, right? Mifa mentioned her before. I believe she's originally from the queen's personal guard. She's probably the vice-captain of that guard."
"I see. So it was a personnel decision made by the queen."
After saying this, Ryo nodded and then suddenly looked at Abel as if recalling something.
"Abel, please be careful."
"Careful of what?"
"If you sneak onto the first ship and try to steal valuables like usual, that captain might cut you down."
"Well, first of all, saying 'like usual' is strange. And I don't steal valuables."
"So you mean you're stealing things that aren't valuable? Generally, jewels and such are considered valuable."
"Right, I misspoke. I'm not sneaking on board or stealing anything."
"After that, Ryo's prediction would come true..."
"Don't say ominous things!"
Choosing words carefully is important to avoid misunderstandings.
That night.
The princess's party stayed in the city of Elyan.
Since the port call, Princess Shio Fen had been following a tight schedule minute by minute, and she was receiving a rare report in her room.
"...So, Bijis was about to kill an unrelated person. But that person easily received Bijis's full force blow with a sword. Is that what you're saying?"
"Yes, exactly. I truly apologize for my incompetence..."
"Well, we should send something as a gift to that person as a princess. They forgave you on the spot, didn't they?"
"Yes. They said they were just doing their job."
Bijis, who was reporting, remained on one knee with his head hung low.
Given the circumstances, it could have been an irreparable mistake, so reporting was a disheartening task.
However, not reporting would have been worse.
"Mifa, what do you think?"
Princess Shio Fen asked the only maid present in the room.
The only people in this space were the princess, Bijis, and Mifa.
"The fact that Bijis's full force blow was received... and that it was by a mage is surprising. We should be cautious about such a formidable person being part of the fleet."
At Mifa's words, Bijis also looked up, surprised.
"That's true. I know Bijis's swordsmanship. To receive that sword effortlessly? Mifa, could you do it?"
"No, that would be difficult for me."
"That's not true. Lady Mifa, your sword skills are quite considerable."
Bijis said.
"Thank you, Bijis. However, even if I could receive it... at the very least, it wouldn't be done effortlessly. But that mage was able to receive it effortlessly, right?"
"Yeah. Like singing a tune."
Bijis's words left Mifa and Princess Shio Fen silent.
After a moment, Princess Shio Fen opened her mouth.
"Do you not know the name of that mage?"
"Yes. I couldn't get a name."
"Who verified that person's identity?"
"Captain Ra Woo of the Tenth Ship."
"I see. I am curious about this. Bijis, could you go ask Captain Ra Woo about that person?"
"Understood."
Bijis nodded in response to Princess Shio Fen's request.
At that time, there is no record of Ryo sneezing continuously.
There is also no record of feeling a slight chill around his neck.
"I have some questions for Abel, who has experienced many attacks."
"What? Experienced attacks?"
"You must have experience from your active days, right? Attacking bandits?"
"That is indeed the case... but that expression could lead to misunderstandings. It would be better to say bandit subjugation."
"I see. So, based on your experience in bandit subjugation, if someone were to attack this party and try to take the princess's life, when would you target? When they are disembarking? Or while they are moving on the sea?"
When Ryo posed this binary question, Abel frowned.
Despite having corrected himself to say "bandit subjugation," it seemed Abel still had some dissatisfaction.
"I actually have a complaint about that question."