The Water Magician

CHAPTER TEXT:

Following the results of the mock battle.

Ryo gracefully descended into the arena and approached the center.

There stood Count Oscar Lusk, the blazing flame mage who defeated the three members of Room 10.

Ryo declared,

"Blazing flame! I'm here to challenge you!"

"I must decline."

The voice was not Oscar's.

It was the strong-willed voice of a woman.

"Fiona..."

Oscar called her name while shaking his head slightly.

"It's been a while, your grace Duke Rondo."

"Ah, it is the lady of explosive flames, Miss Fiona."

Ryo and Fiona exchanged greetings.

Just then, Abel and Graham arrived.

"I didn't know that Duke Rubine had come to the Western Nations."

"I arrived a month ago, your majesty Abel."

Fiona paid her respects to the royalty.

"I want to ask Duke Rubine, why are you refusing my mock battle with the blazing flame?"

Ryo asked directly, looking Fiona in the eye.

"Count Lusk has just recently finished a mock battle. Moreover, it was not against an easy opponent, but a B-class party representing the Naitorei Kingdom. Under such circumstances, I cannot allow a mock battle with Duke Rondo as the leader of the imperial delegation."

"I see."

Abel nodded at Fiona's response.

Ryo remained silent with a frown on his face.

At that moment, the three members of Room 10 arrived.

"Your majesty Abel."

They knelt before Abel and offered their respects.

"Nils, Eto, Amon, you've all gotten stronger."

"I apologize for not being able to deliver a victory."

"It's just a mock battle; there's no need to worry."

Abel replied to Nils' apology with a smile.

"Lady Fiona, thank you once again for permitting the mock battle."

"No, Lord Nils, I also wanted Oscar to relieve some stress."

Nils thanked Fiona, who responded with a smile.

Oscar, the one involved, wore a sullen expression.

Finally, the three turned their attention to Ryo.

"Ryo, I heard you suddenly disappeared, then fought a demon and got sent somewhere else."

"Y-Yes, that's true, but it was all Abel's fault..."

"Why is that?"

Nils gently pressed for an explanation, while Ryo made excuses, and Abel shook his head slightly.

"More importantly, why are you having a mock battle with the blazing flame?"

"Well, it's because I want to fight a strong opponent. The strongest in the delegation is undoubtedly Count Lusk, right?"

"That may be true, but... he's too strong."

Ryo grimaced and glanced at Oscar.

"This would be my fourth time in this month."

"...What’s your record?"

"Zero wins and four losses."

"All losses..."

"Indeed, I’ve lost, but I feel that I’m getting a bit stronger each time."

"That's true; losing is frustrating, but I feel like I’m almost close to reaching him with my sword."

Nils and Amon replied with sparkling eyes.

"Well, that's how it is."

Eto said with a wry smile.

"Even if it doesn't happen today, I will fight next time!"

"Huh...?"

Ryo declared, surprising Fiona and Abel slightly.

After thinking for a moment, Fiona spoke up.

"When that time comes, let's have Oscar and me take you on. Facing both of us at the same time would surely be a challenge, even for the first duke of the kingdom, wouldn’t it?"

Fiona said with a laugh.

With a slightly frustrated expression, Ryo turned to Abel.

"Abel, let's call Sera over as well."

"Huh?"

"If I call, Sera will come. With the combination of the first duke and the head knight, these two can also fight!"

"Yeah, I'm definitely not calling her."

Thus, the mock battle between Room 10 and the blazing flame mage came to an end.

On the way back from the mock battle, the imperial delegation.

"Even without Lady Sera, having Duke Rondo and your majesty Abel alone is powerful."

"Your majesty Abel has become... an abomination."

Oscar muttered in a restrained voice at Fiona's words.

"Oscar, I understand what you mean, but please don't call the king of a neighboring country an abomination."

Fiona gently admonished him with a smile.

"You know, Fiona, it's true. The person I met when I went to the royal capital to inquire about King Abel's condition is not the same person. Of course, I felt his dignity as a king back then, but..."