The Water Magician

"Ugh..."

"Ryo!"

A familiar voice reached Ryo's ears.

Opening his eyes, he saw the owner of the voice.

"Abel... where are we...?"

After confirming Abel's presence, Ryo surveyed his surroundings.

It seemed he was lying in a bed.

When he touched his abdomen, it was covered... perhaps someone had cast an extra heal on him.

With the leaders of various nations gathered, it was likely that among their attendants was a high-level healer.

The room where the bed was placed felt similar to a school infirmary.

"This is the medical room within the supreme council."

"Oh, that explains it."

It seemed he wasn’t mistaken in thinking it resembled a school infirmary.

"After the sounds of battle stopped, no one came out, so when I returned to the conference room, I found Duke Helb frozen in ice and you collapsed on the floor."

"Is that so! How about Duke Helb? Is he still properly frozen?"

"He's fine."

"What about his right wrist and the sword... I've heard it's called the Holy Sword Tati-en?"

"Right hand? There was no sword."

"What?!"

Ryo distinctly remembered severing Duke Helb's right wrist.

The sword had fallen to the floor along with the hand... but it was not there?

He felt a slight discomfort, but for now, it didn't seem to be a big issue... or so he thought.

Probably.

After that, many leaders visited the medical room to thank Ryo.

Realizing it was not the time to push Ryo further, they all left in quick succession.

The last to enter was Zuluma from the Duchy of Atinjo.

Once the second secretary.

It seemed he had been promoted to Deputy Foreign Minister.

"Lord Ryo, thank you for stopping Duke Helb."

He bowed deeply.

It was a heartfelt expression of gratitude.

Ryo and Abel only remembered being yelled at since their first encounter, but they didn't hold a negative impression of Zuluma.

With Duke Atinjo deceased and the grand duke's younger brother unable to act, it seemed Zuluma was now responsible for this diplomatic mission.

"I wish to take... Duke Helb to the public capital. Could you assist me?"

"Of course."

Ryo nodded without hesitation.

Then, he decided to ask something that had been on his mind.

"It may not be my place to interject, but... with the grand duke deceased and the grand duke's younger brother unable to move, what about the grand duchy?"

"In the event of something happening to his majesty the grand duke, it has already been decided that Prince Bash will inherit the grand duchy."

"Oh, I'm glad to hear that."

It seemed Duke Atinjo had already taken steps to secure the succession.

Zuluma said that he would explain the detailed arrangements later and left the medical room.

That left just Ryo and Abel.

Abel had noticed.

Ryo's expression had remained tense all along.

Of course, he understood the reason.

"It's not your fault, Ryo."

"Huh?"

"You’re worried about having to freeze Duke Helb, aren’t you?"

Abel's tone was gentle in moments like these.

He understood Ryo's torment.

"After all, you were told to take a life, but you managed to stop the rampage without killing him."

"But... I can't help but think I could have handled it better."

Ryo understood what Abel was saying.

At least, he understood it in his head.

But his heart couldn't lie.

"For example, if I could use alchemy to seal the phantom king like sealing a demon..."

"I see."

With Ryo discussing specifics, Abel completely understood.

Yes, he felt regret that he hadn't trained his alchemy more.

"In order to seal the demon, Kenneth and Frank de Verde collaborated to create alchemy tools and brought them to the battlefield."

"Those two!? They could be considered the pinnacle of alchemists in this era."

"They drained the demon's power and set up the best possible situation to capture him... but ultimately, they couldn't seal him."

"Unbelievable..."

"Even those two couldn't do it. Sealing a powerful being is truly difficult."

Abel shook his head slightly.

Ryo nodded in silence.

Conversely, it was those from hundreds of years ago who sealed demons that were extraordinary.

Legend has it that it was King Richard who did so... indeed, it might be impossible unless one is an alchemist celebrated in legends.