The Water Magician

"Many people from the island are gathering at the port."

"Ah, there are quite a few."

"Everyone looks so happy."

"Anyone who isn't happy probably wouldn't come out, right?"

"Abel, you're always so cynical! Can't you be a bit more straightforward? For the islanders, the Sujay Kingdom is a beacon of hope!"

Ryo spoke passionately for some reason.

"If this area is incorporated into the Sujay Kingdom, my books will spread to this island as well."

"Speaking of which, there was such a book..."

Ryo looked delighted, while Abel had completely forgotten about it.

Ryo's bag, filled with various books, was placed with the cash, frozen in ice to be kept hidden from view, among Andalusia and the others.

It was incredibly heavy, and with Andalusia and the others present, it should have been safe from theft.

The ship from the Sujay Kingdom, which had been slowly approaching from beyond the horizon, was finally about to dock.

"Too bad for you, Abel."

"What do you mean?"

"If you had been a bit faster, you could have turned this place into a territory of the Naitorei Kingdom and used it as a stepping stone for world domination, right?"

"I wouldn't think that."

His majesty the king firmly denied the first duke's words.

The policy of expanding control or exercising power over territories of other ethnicities or nations is known as imperialism...

"Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

Ryo tilted his head and raised his voice, causing Abel to pay attention.

"No, that ship from the Sujay Kingdom... could it be the Rondark?"

"Is that so? There were plenty of similar ships, right?"

Abel tilted his head at Ryo's words.

Of course, Ryo was not entirely sure either, so he didn't continue speaking...

As the ship docked, a man disembarked.

He tossed his cloak dramatically, exuding a commanding presence.

He stood about 180 centimeters tall.

In his mid-thirties, with hair closer to brown than black, and a tanned complexion; his light blue eyes stood out strikingly against his bronzed skin.

He had a well-defined face, but there was a faint scar from a blade on his right cheek...

"That is..."

"Without a doubt, it's Lord Protector Kavui Somaru."

Both Ryo and Abel could not mistake him.

"He is here with the Royal Decree to formally incorporate the territory. There's no one more suitable than Kavui Somaru."

Abel nodded.

"You used to visit places like darwei, right? Afterwards, your majesty the queen came to the Autonomous City of Kubevasa. The central government of the Sujay Kingdom is quite agile."

"Agile? I don't quite understand, but I suppose diplomacy is about visiting the other country, right? That's how you show them 'I trust you.'"

"Well, that's true, but... it can be scary if you're attacked while traveling."

"They're protected by sufficient guards, right?"

Ryo's concerns were valid, and Abel's thoughts aligned with that.

They both understood this well.

And both remembered what kind of person Kavui Somaru was.

"He specifically came to the Komakyuta Feudal Kingdom to meet Princess Iliriaja."

"That's right, on just one ship."

Both Ryo and Abel knew that Kavui Somaru was a bold man.

"Bold people are cool and popular, but Abel, please be moderate."

"Huh? Why's that?"

"Because you seem likely to charge in headfirst, beyond just being bold."

"...I can't accept that coming from Ryo."

"I'm a mage, focusing on safety and security as my motto. I don't want to be lumped together with a reckless swordsman."

"We should reevaluate the definition of a mage. Just using magic doesn't mean you can charge in swinging a sword; that's a different type of being altogether."

Ryo asserted confidently, and Abel countered.

While the two were having this conversation by the window, their eyes met with Kavui Somaru's.

Ryo inadvertently waved his hand.

Perhaps that's why, Kavui Somaru's eyes widened in surprise.

He must have recognized them as Ryo and Abel.

"He looked surprised to see us here."

"Wherever Abel goes, trouble follows... That proverb surely crossed his mind."

"Don't make up random proverbs."

Ryo and Abel then turned their attention to the person walking behind Kavui Somaru.