The Water Magician

The seventh night of the consecutive seven-night postings is here, the final day.

"That's ridiculous..."

"Why...?"

Both Abel and Ryo were confused.

Of course, it wasn't just the two of them.

The soldiers at the fort, who had been discussing the proposal from Count Nyusha, were also watching with bated breath, expecting the two's comments...

The development was too unexpected, causing confusion.

"Huh?"

"Maintain independence?"

"Why?"

"Did you say you would withdraw the proposal?"

"...Total war?"

No one truly understood.

There was one person whose expression did not change.

Only Don Re, the deputy minister in charge of foreign affairs from the Eastern Eighth District, remained expressionless.

Ten seconds passed.

"I see, so that's the situation."

Abel muttered as if exhaling.

"Huh? Abel, did you understand it?"

"It's dark attribute magic."

"Huh..."

Ryo was left speechless by Abel's words.

"Perhaps Count Nyusha also suspected this after the initial meeting. That's why he insisted on having the meeting in public this time."

"If there are unnatural behaviors caused by dark attribute magic, it would raise doubts among the observers... just like we're doing now."

"I thought it was strange from the beginning. Both Count Nyusha and Chairman Peasek seemed normal. Yet, at the first meeting, both sides said they would never meet again? That's not normal."

"Dark attribute magic... was it called 'Slave'? If manipulated by something like that, it's understandable that they would act that way."

Both Abel and Ryo had experienced it.

After the turmoil in the royal capital, while returning to the City of Run, they had been subjected to the 'Slave' spell by a priest who manipulated dark attribute magic.

Thanks to his always-worn status recovery necklace, Abel was unaffected, while Ryo's unique constitution rendered it ineffective...

"I understand the reason, but what should we do?"

"There is only one way. We storm in there."

"Huh?"

Ryo raised an astonished voice at Abel's suggestion, which was oddly similar to his usual demeanor.

"You mean to restore Ryo's unique constitution... the one manipulated by dark attribute magic, right?"

"That's right! I remember healing Mr. Hugh."

They had once freed Hugh McGrath, who was under the control of Count Haskir's 'Slave'.

However, the center of the training ground was the meeting place.

Was it alright to approach on their own...?

"It can't be helped. I'll step up as a new mediator."

"Huh?"

Ryo did not understand what Abel meant.

"The memories while being controlled by 'Slave' remain even after breaking free, right?"

"It seems that was the case with Mr. Hugh."

"Then it's fine. Let's go."

"...Huh?"

Ryo still did not understand.

Yet, Abel proactively jumped down from the stands into the training ground.

"A reckless swordsman always swings around a calm and collected mage."

Grumbling, Ryo leaped down and followed Abel.

The training ground stands were thrown into chaos.

However, as the two figures descended from the stands and walked slowly towards the center, silence fell once more.

Not everyone in the fort knew them, but quite a few did.

Two adventurers who had been training the young guards in recent days.

The young trainees lived in the fort with their families.

Naturally, they talked about their training when they returned home.

It was known that the two were staying at the Sandman's Rest Inn.

It was also known that they dined at the Sandman's Dining Inn.

That meant they had attracted the attention of those in the fort who held relatively high positions.

Even in less than ten days, Ryo and Abel had become known to the soldiers.

The two of them approached slowly.

From one of the three 'three-person seats' in the middle, someone called out to them.

That was the military officer in charge of the fort.

"Lord Abel? Lord Ryo?"

"Ah, Chief Guard Molgar, actually, I have a proposal."

Abel smiled at Molgar.

As they walked closer to him, they turned to face Molgar.

Ryo stood beside Abel.

By getting this close, Ryo's unique constitution... the overflowing 'fairy factor' would bring him back to normal.