The Water Magician

"That's ridiculous... We sent a full 20% of the regular army, a massive force of 20,000! Why... could it be that the Western Nations have betrayed us?"

"No, the Western Nations Federation army has also been annihilated. The head of state of the federation is reported missing," the reporter shook his head in response to the question of the Crown Prince Zorn.

In Zorn's memory, the Western Nations Federation had also sent a military force of about 20,000, similar to the Eastern provinces.

In other words, a total of 40,000 regular troops have been obliterated by the Oasis Nation.

"Can you believe that...?"

Whether he believed it or not, action had to be taken.

The chief, his father, who had always decided the nation's policies, was no longer present.

On the contrary, he was in the hands of the enemy!

"Gather the generals. We will hold a military council."

"Yes, sir!"

In Bardale Principality, information control was implemented regarding the annihilation of the army and the chief being captured, keeping it from the public.

As a result, the party from the Naitorei Kingdom, who were staying there, remained uninformed...

In the desert country of Jurban Kingdom, its capital, Tantoga.

Tantoga is also the name of a large oasis that has existed since ancient times.

A city named Tantoga was built there, and it has been centuries since people settled.

Although Jurban Kingdom is a small nation compared to the two major nations on the Northern Shore of the Dark Continent, the Eastern Provinces and Western Nations Federation, it still maintained its appearance as a country.

No, it had maintained it.

Until those who seized control arrived.

Those individuals occupied the royal palace in the city of Tantoga.

They were occupying it, yet in reality, they were doing nothing.

Most of those who had been involved in the governance of the country before their arrival continued to manage the city's politics as usual.

Those who had been engaged in trade in the city before their arrival continued to do so.

All the royalty of Jurban Kingdom had either died in battle or been exiled.

As for the rest, they remained unchanged.

The phrase that they had replaced the royalty... that was indeed the most fitting.

They occupied the royal palace, occasionally conducting sword training in the courtyard.

What was expected of the administrative personnel was simply to continue managing the country as before.

And, to prepare three meals for them.

In extreme terms, that was all.

Lastly, to obey the central figure among them.

That figure was referred to as "Lord Garwin."

In the courtyard of the royal palace, the sounds of fierce sword fights echoed.

Two men were clashing swords.

It was a mock battle, but... it was intense enough to be mistaken for a real fight.

Four people watched over them.

A man in his sixties sat in a chair.

Behind him stood a beautiful woman of considerable age.

A man who brought fruits and drinks to the table... a caretaker.

And a sturdy man in his mid-twenties... who wore a frown.

The two men engaged in a fierce sword fight.

One was the demon Garwin.

The other was his kin, Orenju.

Orenju's sword was knocked away.

"Ugh... I need to train more. At this rate, I can't win against Abel."

Words slipped from Orenju's mouth.

"Orenju, I've always thought this, but wasn’t it the elf who defeated you, not Abel? Why is Abel the target?" Garwin asked.

"Even if you ask me why... I wonder why," Orenju replied.

"Huh?"

"That elf doesn't trigger those kinds of feelings in me. Something like 'I absolutely want to defeat him.' In my mind, it's Abel that I should be defeating."

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Even you, Lord Garwin, always say, 'Ryo, I will definitely defeat you!'"

"Of course. This time, I plan to set multiple traps and crush him."

Garwin responded with a hearty laugh at Orenju's words.

However, Orenju seemed displeased with Garwin's response.

"Setting traps... isn’t that cowardly?"

"Cowardly? What do you mean by cowardly?"

"I believe I should defeat him face to face, fairly..."

"Claims of cowardice are nothing more than the howls of a defeated dog."