The Water Magician

"Finally, it seems that the prince is advancing."

"It's been tough up until now, but it's probably going to get even tougher from here on."

Ryo and Abel were discussing such topics on their way back to Rondo Mansion from their neighbor's house.

"Sibling rivalry is somehow painful, isn't it?"

"Abel, you were close to your older brother, Crown Prince Cain, weren't you?"

"Yeah, we were very close."

"Your father, Abel, is the younger brother who led a rebellion, right? Prince Raymond? You weren’t close to him, were you?"

"Well, that's true. But still... I don't think we fought each other to the point of wanting to take each other's lives when we were princes."

Abel replied while tilting his head.

Of course, given that Abel doesn't know the details of that time accurately, it's just a vague assumption.

"You never know. There might have been bloody conflicts that didn't make it to the history books. Powerful people tend to seal such conspiracies using every means necessary. Their thoroughness is terrifying."

"Don’t say it like you’ve seen it firsthand..."

"Well, I have seen it!"

Of course, he was talking about movies, dramas, and novels.

"Anyway, when Prince Lyun advances to the prince rank, there will definitely be power struggles within the Imperial Palace."

"Yeah... that aspect will probably be the most challenging. Most of the Shtaiif Layer is likely already aligned with one of the three princes, right? I wonder how they plan to deal with that."

"Numbers are power. We need to increase our numbers as well, but... we don’t have any more to increase."

Ryo also fell into thought.

The moment they reached the gate of their house, Ryo clapped his hands.

He expressed his thoughts with the action of his right fist lightly hitting his left palm.

However, in such cases...

"Whatever it is, it’s probably something bad."

Abel muttered.

"If we can't increase our numbers, we just need to reduce theirs."

"Reduce the enemies?"

"If you go around purging the Shtaiif Layer members aligned with the three princes one by one at night, the enemies will decrease."

"Yeah, I thought it would be something like that!"

"That's the usual pattern. Patterns solve many problems."

"A pattern? What’s that?"

"It's Abel's usual method, which looks very delightful."

"What makes you think I look delighted?!"

Just because his prediction was correct, it didn't necessarily mean he was pleased.

By the way, both of them had souvenirs in hand.

They were given to them by Princess Shio Fen.

"What I have is a snack called Pojou. They suggested that it fills you up quite a bit, so I was advised to eat it for lunch as well."

It was currently eleven-thirty in the morning.

"They said to have mine for dinner."

Abel was holding something similar to a stacked bento box.

It was something like a dinner bento.

"Since there are many people living next door or working there, they prepare three meals every day, right? It’s just leftovers, so they told me not to worry..."

"Having many people costs money."

Ryo expressed concern, and Abel shrugged.

As the king, Abel had been managing the country.

Knowing the kingdom's government, where many people worked, he understood that even food expenses were quite high.

"Thinking about it, the brilliance of the golem army, led by Precursor Officer No. 1, is remarkable because they don't cost any food!"

"True, they don't require food... but a golem army, huh?"

"Even now as a cleaning unit, they will surely become a battlefield army to protect their comrades in the future!"

Ryo asserted strongly.

Perhaps he envisioned a scene of golems dancing on the battlefield in his mind.

"For now, after we finish eating, we must fulfill our duty to deliver this box over there."

"Well, just being able to do that is already quite helpful."

The precursor officer and the others could not only serve as precursors but also return the dishes!

"However... aren't you just receiving food all the time, Ryo?"

"Huh?"

"You haven't given anything in return, have you?"

"Now that you mention it, that's true..."

Ryo was taken aback by Abel’s remark.