The Water Magician

The day after the meeting of Abel, Ryo, and Scotty at the café in Jerdan.

Ryo and Abel were on the deck of Skizblaznil, which had docked at Jerdan Port.

"It's almost ten o'clock, but... there's still been no contact from the Jerdan government, right?"

"It seems so. Well, they might be busy with various things?"

"The uncertainty is what makes people the most anxious. I wonder if the people in the Jerdan government understand that?"

"Who knows, it was the harbor chief Yoltar yesterday. He seemed serious... so it’s probably stuck at a higher level."

"Really, it’s quite troublesome."

Abel replied lazily, while Ryo expressed his frustration.

Both of them were in the midst of a coffee break.

From an outsider's perspective, they looked relaxed, the words "dazed" and "leisurely" fitting them perfectly.

"The beans are from the café we visited yesterday, but the taste is a bit different, isn’t it?"

"The one from yesterday is a bit lighter, I guess."

"I usually brew it with a French press, so the flavor comes out more directly. Maybe the café uses a different method."

"Well, I like both."

Ryo said while glancing at the ice French press, and Abel nodded in a relaxed manner.

As the two exchanged such conversations, it seemed a report had come in from the Royal Knight Order stationed at the port.

Captain Paulina approached after receiving the report.

"Your Majesty, the harbor chief Yoltar, who visited yesterday, is here. May I grant him an audience?"

"Ah, let’s meet."

Yoltar stepped onto the deck of Skizblaznil.

"Your Majesty, it’s a pleasure to see you..."

"Ah, Chief Yoltar, we are on a ship. Let’s skip the formalities."

Saying this, Abel offered the ice chair across from him.

"Forgive me... this is a beautiful chair and table."

Yoltar noticed the ice chair and table that seemed so out of place on the deck.

"They were created by our mage."

"Ice? But the chair isn't hard. I’m not sure if 'fluffy' is the right word, but it's very comfortable to sit on."

Ryo stood behind Abel, pretending to be composed, but inwardly, he was pumping his fist in triumph.

After some small talk, Yoltar bowed his head.

"I reported your arrival to the royal palace and the government, but... we are overwhelmed with pressing business, and an audience and hospitality will be difficult for a while."

"Ah, don’t worry about it."

"Your Majesty, we made you wait for no reason..."

"As I said yesterday, it was our convenience that we docked here. You don’t need to bow your head over that."

Abel nodded in a relaxed manner.

In fact, Abel wasn’t fond of banquets, so he even thought it was convenient.

"If you could wait a few days, I can assure you..."

"Ah, no... well, I want to take a look around the market, can I have your permission for that?"

"The market?"

"Yes. Since Jerdan belongs neither to the Eastern Provinces nor to the Western Nations Federation, it feels like a trading city where goods from both sides arrive."

"Indeed, that might be the case. There are many types. However, the trading volume isn't very large..."

"That's fine."

Abel seemed to have something in mind.

Ryo couldn't figure it out from behind...

"I understand. The market around the harbor is under the jurisdiction of the harbor office. If you need guidance or have any questions, please come to the office..."

"I understand."

Yoltar bowed his head multiple times and then left the ship.

"Abel, what do you want to see at the market?"

"I thought there might be something coming from the East and West of the dark continent."

"Something?"

"The mitriro ore, you know."

"Oh!"

Ryo struck his right fist against his left palm.

That was a realization.

Mitriro ore was used in Sera's sword and was said to only be found in the dark continent.

It was the ore that Abel had been told would be a great find during his trip to the West.

The concealed bracelet Ryo brought back from the Western Church and the fusion magic brooch utilized mitriro ore, making it a very important component.

It was said that due to the very limited transactions of this ore on the dark continent, mass production was extremely difficult.