Published: July 8, 2025
Ryo and Abel returned to the Skizblaznil Vessel.
While drinking coffee, they began an internal meeting.
In Ryo's line of sight was Amon, wielding his sword.
“It might be Amon's turn.”
Ryo murmured, sounding like he had come to a conclusion after deep contemplation.
“Amon?”
Following Ryo's gaze, Abel looked at Amon but didn't understand the meaning.
“We can fly straight through the air and ambush the enemy's leader!”
“Yeah, no way.”
Ryo proposed this, and Abel immediately rejected it.
He didn’t think such an attack would work against their opponent.
After all, he was a grand duke of vampires.
“Going one-on-one without backup is not good for anyone. I know he’s a strong opponent.”
“That's true.”
“Besides, Amon has only flown when he teamed up with Rokka, right? That was four years ago.”
“I see. So there's a possibility that Amon has forgotten how to fly. As expected of Abel.”
“Yeah, that’s not what I meant. I just think it’s not appropriate for a swordsman to fly.”
Ryo was impressed, while Abel shook his head.
At that moment, Amon didn’t sneeze at all.
The old saying that one sneezes when talked about might not be true after all...
Two days later.
A meeting was held again on the deck of the Archangel.
“There is a quite powerful barrier deployed above the mansion. Attacking from the air would be difficult.”
“There is a legend that Zoltan, unlike most vampires, is skilled in alchemy. Therefore, I believe the barrier is created using such alchemy tools.”
Graham supplemented Stefania's explanation.
After hearing the two’s explanation, Fiona, Oscar, and Robert Pirlo silently nodded.
What had the two representatives of the kingdom been doing...?
((Despite saying to come at us, they are holed up in a difficult-to-breach castle. This inconsistency reminds me of King Abel.))
((Yeah, I don't recall anything.))
Abel completely denied Ryo's assertion.
Generally, King Abel of the Naitorei Kingdom is beloved by the people as a hero king known for his consistency in word and action...
((Being a grand duke means powerful magic, right? I can’t imagine he would be weak in close combat either. Plus, being skilled in alchemy is unfair.))
((I completely agree.))
((Abel, why don’t you firmly tell Zoltan that it’s unfair?))
((What would change if I said that?))
((It’s highly unlikely anything would change, but there is still a possibility… maybe. It wouldn’t be like you to give up before trying!))
((Isn’t it true that I’m a king with inconsistent words and actions? Even if I say effort is important, if I actually make no effort, that should be fine, right?))
((It’s pathetic for a king to sulk over such little slander.))
((Yeah, if you’re saying it’s slander yourself, it’s pretty hopeless.))
Abel shrugged mentally.
After all, their conversation was through the echo of the soul, so on the surface, both maintained their composed expressions.
Abel decided to ask for the most desired information.
“By the way, how large is the estate?”
“Five kilometers north and south, five kilometers east and west.”
“...What?”
When Graham answered with a smile, Abel raised his voice in disbelief.
The others also frowned.
To put it bluntly...
“What kind of ridiculous size is that?”
“Living in such a vast area would be quite inconvenient.”
Abel expressed his honest thoughts, and Ryo pointed out that the size was unsuitable for practical living.
“From the sky, I can see the mansion at the far end, but I cannot see inside the estate.”
“Does that mean there is some optical… some alchemical invisibility at work?”
“Yes. It's something like ‘concealment.’”
“I see.”
Ryo nodded at Graham's words.
In other words, it meant the effect of an alchemy tool like the ‘Bracelet of Concealment’ that Ryo once obtained was in effect.
((In the occupied mine, there was no mine for mitriro ore... Could they have created something like the Bracelet of Concealment?))
((I don't know, but it’s not necessarily limited to the Etosha Kingdom’s mine that was occupied.))