The Water Magician

Episode "The Captive Abel"… This is the second night of a four-night consecutive posting.

"Pl-please have a seat, Your Majesty Abel, His Grace Duke Rondo."

The host of the room, Marquis Nyusha, guides Abel and Ryo to the sofa.

Though he is the host, he is sweating profusely.

"Actually, I came here without discussing it beforehand with Marquis Nyusha."

"Of course."

Lord Aubrey replies, and Abel nods in agreement.

Marquis Nyusha must have never imagined that the supreme authority of the alliance, Lord Aubrey, would come.

Of course, the two countries are not at war.

The difference in national power is considerable, but they are still neighboring countries.

When a country's leader visits a neighboring nation, there is supposed to be some kind of prior negotiation.

That should be the case, but...

"Well, I'm just a regent. So, I think it's not a problem to casually visit a neighboring country."

"Though the one being visited seems troubled?"

"Is that so?"

Abel raises a question, and Lord Aubrey deliberately ignores Marquis Nyusha's expression and laughs.

Meanwhile, while Abel and Lord Aubrey engage in their back-and-forth conversation, Ryo sits quietly beside Abel.

And he drinks the coffee that was served with a composed face.

"That said, I was quite surprised when I received the report."

"Yes?"

"The report that King Abel had appeared at the negotiation table in Fort Zalash."

"Did you hear that report all the way from Capital Jakelea?"

"Yes. If it's true, I thought it would be proper to escort you as a state guest when passing through our allied territory."

"Well, that's thoughtful."

Abel replies with a smile and continues speaking.

"I appreciate your consideration, but there's no need for an escort. Please don't worry about it."

"That won't do. If anything were to happen to Your Majesty within our alliance territory, it would be a serious matter."

"You mean there’s a possibility that something could happen?"

"Of course. While our alliance strives to maintain public order… It cannot be said that a third party would not take this opportunity to extend their schemes."

Lord Aubrey points out the possibility that the Empire might target Abel within the alliance territory.

"I see, that is indeed terrifying."

"Isn't it?"

Abel smiles again, and Lord Aubrey nods.

(Ryuko fighting… The whirlpool of intrigue and stratagem is becoming visible.)

Ryo thinks this from a third-party perspective.

The coffee served is satisfactory, so he watches the exchange between Abel and Lord Aubrey as a form of entertainment without any worries.

However, he knows he can't remain a mere spectator forever.

"As you know, I have the first duke by my side, so I believe it would be quite difficult to kill me easily."

Abel's words draw Ryo into the conversation.

"Oh, of course. The Silver Duke, or as he is famously known, His Grace Duke Rondo… I had heard rumors, but to think he was that adventurer I confronted back then."

Lord Aubrey refers to the battle in the Duchy of Inberri.

Ryo faced Lord Aubrey and the others.

The connection of Ryo being Duke Rondo has not spread widely yet.

Before the delegation was dispatched to the Western Nations, there were even rumors that "there's no such person as Duke Rondo."

Those working at Castle Naitorei knew quite well of Ryo as he walked around inside the castle… However, it seems that Count Heinlein's counterintelligence was so perfect that information was not easily leaked from the castle.

"It seems Lord Aubrey has brought around ten thousand knights with him."

"Yes, they are for my escort."

"That's quite a lot for an escort."

"Is it?"

Lord Aubrey answers with a laugh.

"Marquis Nyusha, did you not hesitate to let ten thousand elite knights cross the border?"

"I have received no such report. The diplomatic delegation was in a hurry, so they only mentioned crossing the border."

Marquis Nyusha answers Abel's question honestly.

"Yes, I came for diplomatic reasons. I mentioned I needed few escorts, but as a result of the officers adding various things, the number increased. Perhaps it has grown a bit too much."