Published: July 5, 2025
Two days after Ryo and Abel spoke with Graham.
King Abel had yet to be summoned by either the Jerdan Royal Palace or the government.
"The authority of the Naitorei Kingdom has really fallen."
"Huh?"
"Has it been five days since our arrival? Not a word from the Jerdan government."
"Not a word? I don't really get it, but it can't be helped. Captain Paulina came to report yesterday."
"Yes, it was about the request to officially join the Eastern Provinces, wasn't it?"
In response to Abel's words, Ryo nodded, looking frustrated.
"What selfishness," he muttered. "We should have just left them to their fate back then."
"The information-gathering skills of Captain Paulina and the crew are commendable, but waiting around won't improve the situation."
"That’s true, but..."
"I have a great idea!"
"What could it be? I have this overwhelming feeling that I want to outright reject it without even hearing it."
Abel mumbled.
Ryo, brimming with confidence, turned to him.
"It's time to activate Abel's solo charge again!"
"Ah, I figured it would be something like that."
"We'll charge into the royal palace and confront the King of Jerdan directly. Since it's a dialogue between kings, I believe it will go well."
"By the time we get to that point, the situation will have deteriorated to the point where we can't even call it a 'dialogue.'"
"That's up to Abel’s way of handling it."
Ryo exuded a vibe of "I have nothing to do with this."
"Well, it was probably unnecessary to ask, but I reject it."
"Why!"
"Because it would seriously lead to war."
"Ugh."
"To be honest, I don't have any problems with the current situation."
"There are no problems, that's true. Training on the ship, studying, leisurely wandering around town, or relaxing at a café... If the kings of the world knew, they'd be consumed by jealousy."
"It's sad that I can't refute that. A king can't even obtain such happiness."
Abel shook his head slightly.
"I’m living a leisurely life where I don’t even have to worry about tomorrow's meals, so what is there that I can’t get a taste of ordinary happiness?"
"Yeah, I really don’t want to hear that from you, who just lounges on my sofa all the time."
"How rude! That’s my sofa."
"No, I can say clearly that it’s my sofa since it’s in my office."
A fierce debate between Ryo and Abel ensued.
It shouldn't be compared to a middle school argument.
If one backs down here, they would lose ownership of the sofa!
Yes, there are battles in life that one can never lose.
"When we return to the kingdom, let's have a match for the ownership of the sofa."
"Oh? What are we betting on?"
"Naturally, a cake-eating contest!"
"...Huh?"
"When you think of a sofa, it’s a set with coffee and cake. It’s only natural to settle it with a cake-eating contest."
Ryo asserted.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to pull the opponent onto favorable ground.
The opponent is the king, meaning the highest authority in the kingdom.
One could never know what dirty tricks he might pull.
"That won't do."
"I knew this would happen! You’re trying to pull me into your favorable ground..."
"If it's a coffee and cake set, then it has to be a coffee and cake eating contest."
"Huh..."
Ryo was left speechless by Abel's words.
This was completely unexpected.
He felt like he could somehow win if it were just the cake...
But if coffee is involved...
"I have a feeling my stomach will be sloshing around soon..."
"I don’t care about that. Deal with it yourself; you’re a mage of the water attribute, right?"
"What kind of talk is that!"
Abel laughed while brushing off Ryo's complaints, who was criticizing the king's tyranny.
By the way, while they were talking like this, they were walking through the town square.
Their escort was Scotty.
Scotty was already used to it, completely ignoring their conversation.
Well, as an escort, being vigilant of the surroundings was part of the job...
It was Ryo who, upon seeing someone approaching from the front, suddenly blurted out.
"Wait? Ms. Stefania?"
"…Duke Rondo."
Yes, it was Cardinal Stefania of the Western Church.