The Water Magician

"When did Ryo's name become Henohenomoheji?"

Abel said with a look of disbelief.

"It would be reckless to use a real name with someone who doesn't make any sense, right? It's a necessary risk management."

Ryo boldly asserted.

The handling of personal information should be done with caution.

"Abel, you never praise anyone, do you? With that attitude, your subordinates won't grow."

"Are you talking about Ryo? First of all, Ryo isn't my subordinate, and I think I praise him quite a bit."

"Not nearly enough. Unless you treat them to dinner every day, I don't think it counts as praise."

"Even if I praised him, I wouldn't treat him to dinner."

"What tyranny!"

Ryo lamented the absurdities of the world.

However, there was someone present who justly evaluated Ryo.

"Ryo, you did well."

Vice Daimyo Fu Ten properly praised him.

"No, I just did what any adventurer would do."

The line suited his composed face, but his shy expression created a stark contrast.

Right next to him, Abel shook his head, muttering something about "unfamiliar words."

Vice Daimyo Fu Ten praised Abel as well.

"Abel, you also bravely jumped out to save Jun Luo. That's not something just anyone can do."

"No, I just did what any decent person would do."

As Abel replied, a voice interrupted from the side.

"You’re copying me..."

It seemed Ryo muttered something.

Of course, Abel ignored it.

"Abel, you helped me earlier. Thank you."

Jun Luo came over to express his gratitude to Abel.

"No, I just did what anyone should do."

The phrase "just did what anyone should do" was repeated once again.

It seemed quite convenient to use.

"Jun Luo, if you can't answer, you don't have to..."

As he spoke, Vice Daimyo Fu Ten asked.

"Can you tell me how the documents from the daimyo specifically addressed this matter?"

"Vice Daimyo... It just said to handle things carefully, as anything could happen."

With that, Jun Luo handed over the documents.

Fu Ten took them and read through them.

His expression was grim.

After reading it a few times, he sighed deeply.

"Why is the content like this?"

His murmur was one of disbelief that surpassed anger.

After pondering for a while, he lifted his face.

There was a certain determination in his expression.

"Originally, this isn't something I could share with everyone. Therefore, I want you to keep this between us."

Jun Luo, Abel, and Ryo present nodded.

Ryo understood that this was likely about restricted information that they had held back from Abel.

"Actually, in other regions of Darwei, monsters have been coming down from the mountains and attacking villages since this month."

Vice Daimyo Fu Ten spoke in a rather small voice.

And he continued.

"There are even reports that soldiers from the city were sent to those villages, and they were defeated."

"I see. That's why you initially planned to prepare three times the fighting force."

Abel nodded and said.

"That's right. However, as you know, we have the marriage procession of the sixth prince's bride right now. People from inland cities are coming to connect with the influential figures in the city as they will be visible. We can't spare soldiers for security…"

Fu Ten replied with a look of regret.

He continued.

"I wanted to organize the subjugation team at a different time from the marriage procession, but…"

It seemed there were circumstances that made that impossible.

"To put it simply, it's a directive from higher up..."

"Ah…"

Vice Daimyo Fu Ten said regretfully.

Abel looked at him as if to say, "I thought so."

It wasn't that the higher-ups had issued orders to trouble the daimyo's office, but rather to assist the residents in distress as swiftly as possible.

However, instructions from people who don't know the situation on the ground can sometimes lead to even more misery.

While it's important to have the right directive, if the timing is wrong, it can result in irreparable consequences.

Ryo shook his head slightly.

It was a sad story.

"That's right, we should do that."

Vice Daimyo Fu Ten murmured, then looked at Ryo and Abel.

"Both of you, could you report about the phantom being to the daimyo's office and my lord?"