The Water Magician

"Chief! The ship has returned!"

"That enormous one, right?"

The one who rushed into the Pishkan Kingdom's chief's office was Minister of Ports, Nonta.

The report brought back memories of nightmares to Chief Marta.

Yes, it had been a month since that ship last came.

Just as they had finally quelled the chaos among the people after its departure, it returned without any signs of learning from the past!

Marta himself had experienced a great deal of turmoil.

"Are they saying they went to some kingdom far east of the eastern sea and then returned? That's quite a stretch of the imagination!"

"Actually, it came from the western sea..."

"I thought it might be related to the Banban Kingdom in the west... but there's no way they could build such a ship."

"They said it came from the so-called Western Nations, further west."

"Can you believe it?"

As Minister Nonta recalled the details, Chief Marta expressed his frustration.

Marta didn't even need to think back.

Since that time, he had been tormented by nightmares repeatedly.

"Last time, I was overwhelmed by the sheer size of that ship. I admit it. But this time, it won't be the same! Aside from the crew, there were only three adventurers aboard. I will not endure such humiliation again!"

"You're absolutely right, Chief!"

"Alright, Nonta, quickly gather the chief's guard squad. And also call our 'monster', Mozzare. I want him standing behind me. Line up together with the guard squad. When that female captain disembarks, let her feel intimidated!"

The Pishkan Kingdom was a nation that constituted an entire island.

With a population of one hundred thousand, it was not small when considered for an island.

The top leader is called the chief, and the current chief, Marta, is a man in his early forties.

Recognized as Marta's right-hand man is Minister of Ports, Nonta.

Nonta is also a childhood friend of Marta, being the same age.

The Pishkan Kingdom, led by the two, has generally enjoyed high approval from the citizens and has avoided any significant political failures.

A month ago, a massive ship had docked in this nation.

It called itself the Skizblaznil Vessel and claimed to be registered to the Naitorei Kingdom in the Central Nations.

Of course, both Marta and Nonta had never heard of it.

Neither had anyone in the government.

When they inquired about the reason for docking, they received vague responses, indicating there was no particular reason.

They merely stopped because they saw the port.

For the Pishkan government, this was utterly nonsensical.

After all, it came from the western sea.

In that sea lay the Banban Kingdom, a long-standing rival of Pishkan.

Initially, they thought it might be related to those from Banban, but that turned out not to be the case.

Even though they had their suspicions... the moment Chief Marta met the captain of the Skizblaznil Vessel, he understood.

Such a beautiful woman could not possibly come from the Banban Kingdom.

At that moment, he had declared, "Become my wife."

When he was instantly met with a firm "I refuse," he couldn't comprehend it at all.

He had never experienced anyone rejecting the demands of a chief in the past decade.

Yet, the female captain had quickly returned to her ship, and the Skizblaznil Vessel departed the port.

She claimed she was headed to the Naitorei Kingdom to the east.

After that humiliation, Chief Marta was tormented by nightmares.

He swore to himself that he would have his revenge!

With determination in his heart, Chief Marta stood at the port.

Behind him stood the brawny warrior, 'monster' Mozzare, ready to welcome the female captain and her crew who would soon disembark.

A gangplank was lowered from the ship.

The first person to descend was...

A tall man clad in a dignified red and white formal attire.

He wasn't doing anything special.

He was merely walking down the gangplank.

However, nobody could take their eyes off him.

"What is that...?"

A whisper reached Chief Marta's ears.

It was Minister Nonta standing beside him.

Marta did not respond.

Rather, he wanted to ask himself... what exactly was that?