The Water Magician

This post marks the completion of "Ryo and Abel's Return Journey"!

"We're finally back."

"Ah, it feels nostalgic."

Before the royal capital, Ryo and Abel have deep expressions on their faces.

"I've only been gone for about a year, but for Ryo, it must feel like much longer since he went to the Western Nations."

"Yes, that's correct."

"In the meantime, I have been waiting all this time."

Sera raises her voice in protest.

"Ah, yeah, I'm sorry..."

"Just kidding. For elves, a year or ten years doesn't change much."

Ryo apologizes, while Sera laughs, saying it was a joke.

Elves have a lifespan far longer than humans.

It seems that long-lived species have a different sense of time compared to humans.

"I found a lot of delicious places in the royal capital while Ryo was away."

"As expected of Sera! Let's definitely go."

"I thought you would say that."

Ryo replies eagerly, and Sera nods.

However, that's not all.

"But tonight, there should be a banquet to celebrate Abel's return, so we must attend that."

"Eh... Ah, since Abel is the main star, it should be fine if I'm not there..."

"Ryo is the first duke, and since he returned with Abel, he cannot be absent."

"Ugh..."

Ryo cannot resist.

Having given up on his objections, he takes out his frustration on the king, who is nodding approvingly across from him.

"It's all Abel's fault for nodding with such a smug face!"

"Me?"

"Yes. Because Abel wields such a sword, Garwin's rampaging magic caused trouble!"

"Even if you say that..."

Abel shrugs his shoulders.

Listening to their conversation, Sera looks at Abel's sword.

"That's the sword you’ve been using since long ago, right?"

"Yeah. I just grabbed it randomly from the treasure vault when I left the castle."

Abel nods in response to Sera's confirmation.

"That's theft!"

Ryo points out sharply.

"The statute of limitations has expired."

Abel replies with a laugh.

"Besides, it’s royal treasure, so as the second prince, I shouldn't be punished for it."

"Well, there could be charges of embezzlement or betrayal..."

"I don't know."

"What an outrageous thing to say!"

Abel shrugs, while Ryo scolds him.

Sera laughs beside them...

"Well, as long as Abel is king, he probably won’t be held accountable for it, right?"

"Of course, there are laws in the kingdom. If he breaks those laws, even a king can be punished, but... there are no laws regarding royal property."

"What?!"

Sera asks while laughing, Abel explains, and Ryo is left speechless.

"Ryo, even with your assets... for example, you can remodel or destroy the house in Run or the house in the Forest of Rondo as you please, right?"

"Well, of course. They're mine."

"Royal property is the same. It's been obtained by past kings and their families and placed in the treasure vault. The items in there are royal property, and there are no laws regarding them. It's intentionally left undefined."

"So the king can freely give treasures to the vassals who worked hard?"

"That's right."

Abel nods and continues speaking.

"That said, I think it's different to use everything during my reign. The future kings of Naitorei should inherit it."

"Is there also property that belongs to the kingdom itself, not just the royal family?"

"Of course. There are laws regarding that, so even a king can't claim it as his own."

"That puts me a bit at ease."

Ryo understands.

Historically, when monarchs mix up 'the nation's assets' with 'the king's assets,' it often leads to chaos in the country.

At the same time, he believes that Abel will not go down such a misguided path.

After all, they are human.

It is humans who can cause chaos in the country, and it is also humans who can guide the nation on the right path.

While they engage in such trivial conversations in the carriage, the group arrives at the royal capital entrance.

From here, Abel rides on horseback, showing his figure to the royal capital citizens as he proceeds to the Royal Castle.

Naturally, Ryo and Sera do as well.

"I-I'll stay in the carriage..."

"No way. Ryo and I will be on horseback."

Ryo resists, while Sera crushes his resistance with a smile.