The Water Magician

In front of the main camp, a single man landed.

He had chestnut brown hair and matching eyes.

While his face could be considered handsome, he bore a somewhat displeased expression.

"Stop there, enemy general," Ryo's voice echoed.

The chestnut brown man came to a halt.

"Your highness, please leave this to me," Ryo promptly said to Prince Lyun, who nodded in silence.

"Enemy general, my name is Henohenomoheji. You may also introduce yourself," Ryo's dignified voice resonated.

However, from Abel's perspective, who knew Ryo's usual tone and demeanor, it all seemed quite exaggerated.

(Perhaps the strategist, whatever that is, behaves like that.)

Abel concluded, and was not far from the truth.

Although it was just the image of Ryo as a strategist.

"You have no need to introduce yourselves," the chestnut brown man declared.

He attempted to step forward but stopped in his tracks.

It seemed he noticed the [Dynamic Steam Mine II].

"A trap...?"

"I would not summon a phantom being into my fold without any preparation," Ryo responded.

"...What did you say?"

The chestnut brown man’s eyes widened in surprise at Ryo's words.

"I said 'phantom being.' Did you not hear me?" Ryo reiterated clearly.

The contrast in expressions between the chestnut brown man and Ryo reflected the difference in the information they possessed.

"Still, you refuse to introduce yourself? Surely, you were told to come and measure Darwei's strength? The leader is quite a terrible person... no, a dreadful phantom being," the man continued.

"You... how much do you know?"

"I know quite a bit," Ryo replied.

The information slipped from the phantom being Garibechi, whom they had met at Tiger Mountain.

In moments like this, Ryo's memory was sharp.

(Sometimes, it’s quite irritating when he flaps his white fan like that.)

That was merely Abel's personal opinion.

Ryo decided to deliver the decisive blow.

"By the way, is Marie Cloche-san your colleague?"

"…"

The chestnut brown man was rendered speechless at the mention of the proper noun by Ryo.

"That's not surprising. She appeared at Darwei Imperial Palace recently and introduced herself as one of the Seven Star Generals of the Chououchi Empire, Marie Cloche. Moreover, she was told to report to the higher-ups, you know. I wouldn’t want to say I’m a citizen of the Chououchi Empire either. They should consider a name that sounds a bit cooler."

"What do you mean…?"

"You weren't informed, were you? Could it be that you’re ranked lower than a Seven Star General?"

"Don't be ridiculous... I am also a Seven Star General..."

At that moment, Ryo smirked inwardly.

It was the kind of smile that Abel and Nils occasionally pointed out, one that hinted at ill intentions.

Of course, it was a misunderstanding.

A harmless mage could not possibly be thinking such things!

"Then let’s introduce ourselves again. I am Henohenomoheji. And your name?"

"I am Yun Chen, one of the Seven Star Generals of the Chououchi Empire. It is indeed my duty to measure your strength. And the person over there is probably a member of the royal family. Won't the master introduce himself instead of just saying Henohenomoheji?"

The chestnut brown man, Yun Chen, looked toward Prince Lyun.

"Very well. I am the sixth prince, Lyun."

"Truly a member of the royal family. And a prince at that... finally."

"Finally?"

"My duty is to measure your strength. But I have another task as well. That is to lure out and kill the royalty!"

Yun Chen declared and then began to chant.

"[Flame Chain Break]"

In that instant, hundreds of flames were unleashed from Yun Chen, aimed at Prince Lyun.

However...

There was already a 'trap' in front of Yun Chen.

He recognized it merely as a 'trap', but the name of that trap was [Dynamic Steam Mine II].

A magic that freezes all physical and magical attacks that enter its vicinity with steam.

If the magic’s power is too strong to be frozen, it will disappear in an annihilation effect along with the attack.

The [Dynamic Steam Mine II] performed its role perfectly.

The thickly spread mines emitted a light of annihilation while vanishing along with the attack magic.