The Water Magician

Days after the group departed from the dark continent, the day before their arrival in Port Town Japorii of the Fundebie Kingdom.

"I have something to tell Ryo."

Abel said, cutting straight to the point.

However, his gaze was directed elsewhere, indicating he was avoiding eye contact.

In such cases, it usually meant he was about to say something inconvenient for Ryo.

"W-Well, I'm a bit busy," Ryo tried to escape.

But Abel grabbed the collar of his shirt firmly.

"Don't run away."

"I don't understand what you mean by running away. Right now, I'm about to provide showers for the crew."

As Ryo said this, he tried to step away from Abel, but Abel held onto his collar and wouldn't let go, so he gave up.

Seeing this, Abel began to explain.

"There is a delegation from the Central Nations in the Holy Capital."

"Yeah, I know of course. I was there too."

"The leader of the imperial delegation has been changed to Count Oscar Lusk."

"Oh, is that so? The count, huh? The alliance has former king Robert Pirlo, and the kingdom has Grand Master Hugh, so that must be a heavy load for the count... Wait? I feel like I've heard that name somewhere..."

"His wife is Lady Fiona, the Duchess Rubine."

"Fiona? Is that count possibly...?"

"Yes, the blazing flame mage."

Abel stated.

Ryo grimaced and stared at Abel.

"Abel, you've kept this quiet until now! Right until we arrived in the Western Nations!"

"Well, I thought if I mentioned it, you might say you wouldn't go to the Western Nations."

"What are you talking about! There are the three others from 'Room 10', right? What if we were threatened by that blazing flame mage? Of course, I'm going!"

Ryo was a loyal friend.

"This time, I'll settle the score with him. The ancient battle of water and fire... I'll show them in the Western Nations that fire can never defeat water."

"No, please don't do that."

"Abel, don't stop me!"

"I will stop you! Under no circumstances should you engage in conflict."

Abel clearly prohibited any confrontation.

Ryo thought for a moment.

It seemed he was considering the positions of himself and Oscar.

"He's a count while I'm the first duke. I won't let him act all high and mighty."

"Well, he's the leader of the imperial delegation..."

"I see. You intend to appoint me as the head of the kingdom delegation right in front of him, equalizing our status before we fight. Abel, I'm on board with that strategy!"

"There's no such strategy!"

Abel immediately denied Ryo's twisted interpretation.

"Why do you hate the blazing flame mage so much?"

"That's obvious. He hurt Eto."

The image of Eto spitting blood had never left Ryo's mind.

"But that was a misunderstanding, right? Eto unleashed a powerful spell that his body couldn't withstand..."

"If he hadn't attacked, Eto wouldn't have had to push herself to her limits."

Ryo asserted.

For Ryo, this was reasonable.

Of course, Oscar had his own circumstances...

Abel, who intervened in the ceasefire at that time, knew that the clash had occurred due to misunderstandings on both sides.

"Peace is the best, but..."

"If it's peace without the empire, then that's the best."

The peace that Abel and Ryo envisioned might have been different.

The Holy Capital Marromar of France was located inland.

Port Town Japorii served as one of the gateways to Marromar by sea.

Thus, it was a fairly large town.

"This military port is probably the base of the French navy, isn't it?"

"That seems likely. There are quite a few warships of the same design."

The Skizblaznil carrying Ryo and Abel entered the military port of Japorii.

It appeared they had docked there for the safety of Pope Graham.

"Being a high-ranking person is really tough, isn't it?"

"There's no freedom of action."

"With the delicious aromas wafting through this port town, Graham surely can't indulge in street food."

"Well... that's probably true."

Ryo shook his head in a pitiful manner, while Abel intended to imply that, in a broader sense, "freedom is lacking."

"Since you are a high-ranking person, you can't indulge in street food either."

"You too, Ryo, are a high-ranking person, so you can't indulge in street food."