The Water Magician

One hour's walk from the place where Ryo and Abel were staying, "Blossoms on the Peak," the group arrived at the problematic lake.

There were quite a few people around the lake.

People likely involved in construction, people who seemed to be from the daimyo's office, and locals...

"Isn't it strange that there are so many people here even though an anomaly has occurred? Are they really okay?"

"Maybe the anomaly doesn't harm people?"

Both Ryo and Abel had no idea what was happening.

As the group approached, a man came toward them.

A familiar face.

"Lord Ryo, Lord Abel, thank you for coming. I apologize for not being able to greet you this morning."

The one who said this was Vice-Daimyo Hylan.

"Was there an anomaly?"

"Yes. Well, it appeared, to be precise..."

"Appeared?"

Hylan frowned at Abel's question, and Ryo tilted his head in confusion.

"It was on the other side of the lake. Let me guide you."

Saying that, Hylan began to walk.

Ryo, Abel, and the five members of "Winter Thunder" followed him.

"Are there people praying here?"

Ryo asked while looking at the gathered people.

"Yes, they are locals."

After answering, Hylan continued.

"I've informed the construction workers not to go ahead. So only those from the daimyo's office are on the other side of the lake."

After walking for a while, they reached the other side of the lake.

In a somewhat distant spot, an elderly man wearing blue stood.

However, that was...

"He is not human."

When Abel said this with conviction, Hylan nodded.

The blue elder appeared to be flickering slightly.

Suddenly... the elder began to walk.

It seemed he recognized the group and was approaching them.

"He hadn't moved at all since appearing last night..."

That was Hylan's whispered observation.

Perhaps those words brought them back to their senses.

The five members of "Winter Thunder" took a combat stance.

"Wait!"

However, it was a sharp voice of restraint.

It was Ryo who spoke.

"Ryo?"

Abel asked suspiciously.

"He feels similar to my master."

"Master?"

"Yes. My sword master, the one who gave me this robe and sword."

"Ah..."

Abel nodded at Ryo's explanation.

An existence that is not a person... in the Forest of Rondo.

As the blue elder approached, Ryo took a step forward.

He moved just enough so that any conversation exchanged would be audible to Hylan and the others without going too far ahead...

The blue elder stopped about five meters in front of Ryo and opened his mouth.

"Hmm."

He simply muttered that one word and began to observe Ryo from head to toe.

"Nice to meet you. I am Ryo, an adventurer."

Ryo decided to greet him first.

"My name cannot be spoken by human mouths. But it would be difficult to converse like that. You may call me Sanptou."

"Then, Sanptou-san."

A conversation was established between Sanptou and Ryo.

Once it was clear that a conversation could happen, many issues would begin to resolve... in most cases.

"You... said Ryo. You wear the robe of a king, the shoes of a king, and carry the sword of a king... You must be rather favored."

"Ah, so you are related to my master."

Ryo's robe was given to him by the dullahan who trained him in swordsmanship in the Forest of Rondo.

That dullahan is said to be the water fairy king.

Does that mean the blue elder in front of him is... related to the water fairy king?

"Hmm, to call the king your master... and that 'droplet' overflowing from your body. You are not human. Yet you are not an elf, spelno, or vampire... nor are you a demon or dragon... quite vexing."

"No, I am human."

Ryo declared this confidently.

It seemed that reaction was unexpected.

The blue elder blinked in surprise.

"Well, but..."

"I am human."

"Even so..."

"I am human."

"I see... understood, human Ryo."

"Yes, please recognize me as such."

The blue elder gave up resisting, and Ryo nodded vigorously.

In the back, someone whispered, "Ryo's insistence is strong," but it was a secret.

"Um, the one who broke the tools and the dam is you, Sanptou-san, right?"

"Yes."

Ryo abruptly got to the point, and Sanptou affirmed it.

That was not the issue.

From Ryo's perspective, Sanptou, a companion... or perhaps a relative of the water fairy king, was not a bad existence.