Published: July 3, 2025
Chapter 1: Whitnash Port Festival, Day One
In the main venue set up in the central square of the city, the announcement of the port festival’s commencement was made, and the week-long celebration began.
"That... it definitely looks like Abel, doesn't it?"
"Yeah, it definitely looks like Mr. Abel..."
"Mr. Abel is in the guest seats, isn’t that something amazing?"
"As expected of Mr. Abel, he’s so impressive!"
These were the remarks made by Ryo, Eto, Amon, and Nils.
From their standing view in the audience, they could see the guest seats, and among the guests, there was someone who unmistakably looked like Abel.
However, he wasn’t in his usual adventurer's outfit; instead, he was dressed formally, giving him a very gallant appearance.
"Clothes make the man, I suppose."
Ryo muttered something disrespectful, but it was drowned out by the surrounding commotion, and even those sitting next to them in "Room 10" couldn't hear it.
"That woman in the guest seats is incredibly beautiful."
"Oh, you mean the red-haired one? She’s gorgeous."
Amon and Nils commented while gazing at the guest seats.
"I heard earlier she's the imperial princess. Nils, she's even more untouchable than Nina."
Eto mercilessly confronted Nils with this information.
"No, it’s not like I want to date her or anything, I just think she's beautiful."
Nils exaggeratedly shook his head.
"Nils, what if you could date her?"
"Ah, then I would date her."
Nils fell for Ryo's teasing.
Eto sighed, and Amon chuckled.
"Well, it’s only natural for a man to aim higher!"
"Nils, you need to surpass Abel first!"
"Yeah, but Mr. Abel is a bit out of reach..."
Just as Nils was about to give up on aiming higher, someone called out to the four of them.
"Oh, it’s Ryo and the others!"
When Ryo turned around, there was Lin from the "Red Sword."
Behind her, Rhea and Warren appeared.
"It's amazing to meet here in such a crowd."
When Rhea's voice was heard, Eto, who had been sighing just moments ago, tensed up.
"R-Rhea..."
"The fact that the three of you are here means... is that really Mr. Abel in the guest seats?"
Ryo still couldn’t believe it, but it certainly seemed to be Abel.
"Yes. Abel is here as a representative of the Guild Master of Run. Well, the Guild Master will come tomorrow, so he’ll be off duty then."
Rhea explained why Abel was in the guest seats.
"It happens sometimes. Once you become a b-rank adventurer, you may appear at events like this as the Guild Master’s proxy. Normally, in the case of Run, Phelps from the White Brigade often acts as the proxy, but right now the White Brigade is busy with food transportation duties. So this time, it fell to Abel, at least on the surface."
"On the surface?"
"As expected of Mr. Abel. So cool!"
Nils, not one to get caught up in details, praised his idol, Abel.
"The Guild Master’s true intention is probably to keep us out of the dungeon mission for the Royal Magic Guild. After what happened last time. It’s a sort of revenge on Lord Ilalion back in the royal capital."
The "Red Sword" ended up diving into a dungeon for the protection of the magical association after receiving a letter from Ilalion.
And they ended up having to fight a devil...
Hugh, who nearly lost a valuable asset, might indeed have something to say to Ilalion.
As Ryo pondered these things, Lin, who had been staring intently at the guest seats, let out a sound.
"Hmm. That barrier covering the guest seats is definitely a wind-type barrier... it’s incredibly thick."
"What? Is that wind? Isn’t it a regular magic barrier?"
Eto responded to Lin’s mutterings.
"Yes, it’s wind. It's more like a defensive membrane than a barrier. It resembles the wind’s protective membrane that wyverns usually deploy."
"I heard that the ancestral treasure of the House of the Lord of Whitnash can generate a wind protective membrane. I’ve heard it’s incredibly inefficient, so they rarely use it... Well, with the imperial prince and princess here... if there were any sabotage, it would lead to a war... they probably can’t afford to worry about efficiency."