The Water Magician

Episode "Abel the Prisoner"…… This is the first night of a four-night consecutive posting.

"Abel, I feel like we are heading south."

"Ryo, what a coincidence, I think so too."

"Abel, I believe the kingdom is to the west."

"Ryo, what a coincidence, I think so too."

"Abel, we must be taken as slaves."

"Ryo, I don't think that's the case."

The two are riding in a carriage.

It is a carriage arranged by Marquis Nyusha, with knights of the marquis guarding them from all sides.

"We are moving because Marquis Nyusha insisted we visit his estate."

"That's right. It's supposed to take two days from Fort Zalash… or rather, the Free City of Zalash."

Both Ryo and Abel are talking while looking out the window at the scenery.

Since it is the second day of their carriage journey, it seems they will arrive today.

"The marquis returned ahead to arrange a welcome for us, but…"

"I don't want to be overly publicized."

"That's because Abel crashed the meeting."

"Well, that couldn't be helped, could it?"

Abel counters Ryo's words.

Of course, Ryo understands.

In that situation, Abel's actions were indeed the most correct.

"What will we do if the allied forces are lined up in front of the estate and Abel becomes a prisoner?"

"That's not going to happen."

"There is a possibility that they will capture Abel and demand a ransom from the kingdom."

"If that happens, we would be discarded."

"…Huh?"

Abel shrugs in response, causing Ryo to be surprised.

"The kingdom government would abandon Abel?"

"Of course. They would probably discard the first duke who was captured alongside him as well."

"That's troubling! Regardless of Abel, they need to pay my ransom!"

"What a selfish first duke."

In the evening, Abel's group arrived at the capital of the marquisate, Nansha.

There, more than ten thousand fully armed soldiers were present...

"Look!"

"No way…"

Ryo points out, and Abel is astonished.

The flags lined up are those of the Handalu Federation.

Of course, Marquis Nyusha is not a noble of the federation.

His territory does not belong to the federation either.

It is true that the area is geopolitically influenced by the federation...

"We must have been offered to the federation!"

"I don't think that's the case..."

"We are being offered up, and Marquis Nyusha is trying to make a favorable treaty with the federation."

"I don't think so..."

Ryo asserts this, and though Abel believes it to be different, his words lose strength compared to the beginning.

As they proceeded through the entrance of the capital, the carriage carrying Ryo and Abel slowly moved further into the city, passing between the lined-up knights of the federation.

After a while, they arrived in front of the marquis's estate.

"Your Majesty Abel, we have arrived."

The carriage door opened, and a soldier from the Nyusha marquisate army, who had been escorting them, spoke.

The two exited the carriage and were guided inside the estate.

Weapons have not been disarmed.

Disarm?

They haven't taken our weapons.

Ah, I see. After all, I am the king. If they tried to take my sword, it would certainly break our relationship.

Abel responds to Ryo's observation with a sense of inevitability.

But still, Abel is known as a dangerous swordsman, right? A former a-rank swordsman after all.

Ryo is more so than I am.

I am a peace-loving water attribute magician recognized by myself and others.

As for "myself," maybe, but I don't think "others" agree.

It seems there are differences in perception among people.

The room they were led into was a fairly spacious reception room.

In the center of the room, two men were seated on a sofa, but they stood up as Ryo and Abel entered.

One was the master of the estate, Marquis Nyusha, who had invited them.

His face seemed slightly strained.

The reason for that is probably because of the other person...

As for who that other person is, Abel knows him as well.

They had met four years ago, just before the decisive battle with demon Garwin.

"Surely not…"

However, it would be unreasonable to expect this person to be present.

"It has been a while, your majesty Abel."