The Water Magician

When Assault Explorer No. 3 arrived at the entrance of the ruins, chaos reigned.

Even Ryo and Abel could see that it was in disarray.

"Number 3, you can't pick up any sounds, huh?"

"Yeah, that's a big problem. The magical power, or rather the magical power line, doesn't transmit sound. I did think about using ice lines or something, but I couldn't come up with anything."

Ryo responded with a frown, regret evident on his face at Abel's inquiry.

"But, sound propagates through the air. That's a fact... Is there any way we could utilize the water vapor and water molecules floating in the air... If we could amplify the dampened sound and make it reach me somehow, wouldn't that work...?"

Ryo sank deeper into his thoughts.

"Hey, Ryo."

Abel interrupted him.

He felt it wasn't the right moment for that.

"Oh, sorry. Even though I can't hear anything, it’s clear that there's confusion, right?"

"Yeah."

Ryo was using the "Ora Ora Lift," while Abel was viewing it on a synchronized ice screen.

Both were on the deck of the Skizblaznil.

Assault Explorer No. 3 was remotely controlled at the entrance of the ruins.

By the way, the ice screen was large enough for others besides Abel to see.

It was a secret that Zack and Scotty were watching from behind Abel.

"According to the daimyo's explanation, two parties of alpha-class adventurers went in first, followed by the warrior legion, right?"

"That's right. The warrior legion made contact with that daimyo on their way back. Was it the first squad of the warrior legion? There should be about fifty of them."

"Yes, and there are a few others, including Daimyo Medi Alaji, and some people who seem like administrative officials. But..."

"There are no capable adventurers among them."

"Does it look that way to you too, Abel?"

Both Ryo and Abel were adventurers.

They could generally tell a capable adventurer just by looking.

However, none were at the entrance of the ruins now.

"In other words, something happened to the adventurers who went into the ruins first."

"Before the warrior legion could follow, right?"

"It means they can't deploy the warrior legion."

"The confusion over what to do next."

Ryo and Abel exchanged reasonable deductions.

"Then, it’s Assault Explorer No. 3's turn, isn’t it?!"

"...Is that so?"

"He should be able to handle it."

"...I don’t know what he’s supposed to do."

Abel looked at Ryo with a skeptical gaze.

However, Ryo, wearing the "Ora Ora Lift," couldn’t perceive Abel's look.

And finally, Assault Explorer No. 3 moved.

He approached Daimyo Medi Alaji, who was discussing something with a burly middle-aged man.

The two of them looked surprised as they saw No. 3.

[[ This is an ice golem of Lord Ryo Mihara from the Naitorei Kingdom. ]]

Words appeared on the ice slab that No. 3 held up.

Reading it, the two men were even more astonished.

[[ Something happened to the alpha-class adventurers who went in first, didn’t it? ]]

Medi Alaji and the middle-aged man nodded at the appearing text.

Then, they began to explain something.

Of course, Ryo and Abel couldn’t hear it.

[[ I can’t hear anything, sorry. For now, I’ll take this golem inside the ruins. ]]

After reading that, the two were surprised again.

After a moment of silence, they started speaking again, but Ryo and Abel couldn’t understand.

"How about coming here?"

"Eh? Here, to Skizblaznil?"

"Yeah."

Upon hearing that, Abel shifted his gaze.

There stood Captain Paulina.

The captain seemed to understand the situation as well. Without saying anything or asking questions, she nodded.

The capable ones can act even in such situations.

"Then..."

[[ We are on the Skizblaznil at the port, and from there, we can see the situation inside the ruins. You're welcome to come. ]]

After reading that, Daimyo Medi Alaji and the middle-aged man issued some instructions to their subordinates and then rode off on horses.

They were likely heading towards the Skizblaznil.

"With that, we can consider the permission granted, right?"

"Well, it should be fine. However, be cautious."

"Of course."

Ryo nodded.

For him, Assault Explorer No. 3 was like an extension of himself.