Water Magician

Editor: Tseirp

Ryo and Abel arrived at the Prime Minister’s residence in the carriage of the Suje Kingdom’s embassy.

After a quick check, they were escorted to the carriage turnaround.

When the two stepped out, they were greeted by over twenty guards.

While this was a ‘welcome’, it wasn’t in the literal sense.

The two were evidently considered dangerous individuals.

The guards were visibly tense.

Surrounding the pair, the group began moving together.

“It seems even the guards at the Prime Minister’s residence are aware of Abel’s notorious reputation.”

“Come now, I’m a harmless, gentle magician, no matter how you look at it. Unlike you—a terrifying swordsman who exudes fear.”

“Sometimes. I’m amazed at how you can spout such nonsense so effortlessly. It’s almost a talent.”

“Rude! It’s precisely because I’m always thinking that I can come up with things so quickly. It’s the result of effort.”

“What a waste of effort…”

Their banter, of course, was audible to the surrounding guards.

Though none dared to speak.

“But ignorance is frightening, isn’t it?”

“What are you talking about?”

Ryo continued at a normal conversational volume.

Abel asked, puzzled.

“The guards don’t realize they’re within range of the fearsome swordsman Abel’s strike. A single swing of his sword could send twenty heads flying—it’s terrifying.”

“Hey…”

Abel interjected, noticing the guards visibly tense at Ryo’s words.

Abel exclaimed in shock, noticing some even instinctively reached for their weapons, though they refrained from drawing them.

It seemed Ryo and Abel were notorious individuals, or at least deemed highly dangerous.

“Don’t worry so much. Even I couldn’t cut down twenty people with a single stroke.”

Abel tried to reassure them.

But of course, the guards were not reassured.

If anything, his words only made the guards’ expressions grow stiffer.

Abel tilted his head in confusion, unsure of what caused their fear.

Ryo shook his head slightly and quipped.

“You’re only scaring them more.”

“I was trying to reassure them…”

“In what world is ‘I can’t cut down twenty people in one stroke’ a comforting statement…?”

“Is that so?”

“They know, you see. That you can kill without even using a sword, Abel.”

At Ryo’s remark, several guards glanced nervously at the two men as they walked.

“Hmm… even after all that, they don’t run away. These guys are pretty well-trained.”

“Well, they’re the Prime Minister’s security detail. It’s like the royal guard in the kingdom. They’re the nation’s elite.”

“And you’re bullying such elite people with your words…”

“Information gathering is necessary, isn’t it? We need to understand just how well-trained they are.”

The two deliberately spoke loud enough for all twenty guards to hear.

It wasn’t malice.

Their conversation was simply part of their reconnaissance.

…Probably.

After a while, they arrived at a large door.

The guards opened it and gestured for them to enter.

“Abel-dono and Ryo-dono have arrived.”

Someone who appeared to be the guard captain announced into the room.

“Ah, let them in.”

A familiar voice replied.

Inside, three men awaited them.

Two of them were people Ryo and Abel recognized.

One was their objective, Duke Helb.

The other was Zlurma, the second secretary from the embassy.

“Wait, didn’t Abel kill that secretary?”

“Yeah.”

“You cut off his head, severed his limbs, and stabbed his heart, right?”

“Yeah, I cut off his head, severed his limbs, and stabbed his heart.”

They stepped forward to stand before Duke Helb, who was seated on a sofa.

“How dare you two shamelessly appear before His Excellency again, you scoundrels!”

Second Secretary Zlurma, who should have been chopped to pieces, berated them angrily.

Ryo stared at his neck intently.

Before nodding and remarking.

“Looks like your head was stitched back on with string.”

“Pftt.”

Duke Helb let out a stifled laugh at Ryo’s observation.

“Uh…”

“Ah, my apologies. Ryo-dono, could you refrain from commenting further? The procedure was mine, but the scars can’t vanish overnight.”

“Procedure…”

Duke Helb explained with a laugh, leaving Ryo momentarily at a loss for words.

“Allow me to introduce everyone. You already know myself and Zlurma. The other gentleman here is the Prime Minister of this Free City, Prime Minister Noson.”

Still seated, Duke Helb made the introductions.

The Prime Minister gave a silent nod with an impassive expression.

“Are you controlling the Prime Minister with sorcery too?”

“No, he’s quite normal.”

Abel asked, and Duke Helb responded.

“But using sorcery for control… how did you figure that out? I did indeed do so for the other ministers. How did you guess?”

“Just a hunch.”

Abel replied blandly, unamused by the question.

“A hunch, you say…”

“A swordsman’s intuition is truly remarkable.”

“Indeed.”

Abel responded curtly, Ryo nodded gravely, and Duke Helb agreed.

“Now then, let’s discuss the reason for your visit. I hear it concerns the island.”

Duke Helb gestured to the sofa opposite him, inviting them to sit, and urged them on.

“That island is the ‘Blue Island’ you mentioned to the Deputy Minister of Ports, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“What’s on that island?”

Abel’s question was met with a brief silence from Duke Helb.

After some thought, he finally spoke.

“And if I tell you, what will you do?”

“Depending on what it is, Ryo and I will take care of it.”

Abel declared firmly.

With Ryo nodding silently in agreement.

Duke Helb’s eyes widened in surprise.

At their unwavering determination.

“Indeed… the two of you are strong. Among humans, you could certainly be considered quite powerful. However…”

“Can’t you tell us what exactly is there?”

“Well… there are several possibilities. But one thing is certain, the presence of Death Dragons.”

“Death Dragons?”

Ryo and Abel said in unison.

The term completely unfamiliar to both of them.

“Quite literally, they are dragons that have died.”

“Dragons can die?”

“Yes. Dragons live for hundreds of thousands, even millions of years. But like all living things, they eventually die. However, when they die, their souls typically inhabit a newly born body. In that sense, calling them eternal beings isn’t entirely inaccurate.”

No one interjected as Duke Helb continued his explanation.

“Normally, their soul leaves the body, and the body perishes. But some dragons fail to fully shed their soul. These dragons, with fragments of their soul lingering in their decaying bodies, are what we call Death Dragons. To put it simply, that’s what they are.”

“Such a thing exists…”

“Rather than a fragment of their soul, it might be closer to a ‘phantom of the soul’. You see, the true soul has already moved on to a new body. Death Dragons are like empty shells… or garbage. As the dragons themselves might call them. Eventually, they rot away completely… to dragons, they’re nothing worth worrying about.”

“But to humans…?”

“Yes, they have a significant impact. For dragons, things like time and power are trivial, but for us… it’s a big problem. Even if they eventually decay, some individuals take hundreds of years to do so.”

Both Abel and Duke Helb frowned as they discussed the matter.

“Is the reason people are turning into zombies because of the Death Dragon?”

“Yes. You’re referring to the Free City Fleet’s main force, I assume. Indeed… they rot everything around them. That is the essence of a Death Dragon. So, yes, it’s certain there is one present.”

“But there might be something else as well?”

“Exactly. There is undoubtedly something else. But what it is, I can’t say…”

“Hmm.”

Duke Helb gave a small shake of his head. And Abel nodded.

Throughout the conversation, Ryo remained silent.

Ryo knew about dragons.

He was on friendly terms with the Dragon King Lewin, exchanging gifts akin to seasonal presents… and even receiving personal lessons on techniques like exerting one’s ‘pressure’.

To Ryo… the Dragon King was an opponent he couldn’t imagine defeating.

No, it wasn’t even a matter of winning or losing. If the Dragon King so much as twitched his little finger, Ryo would likely vanish from existence…

The difference in their power was akin to that between a god and an ant.

“If it were a living dragon, we’d have no chance, but can something be done about a Death Dragon?”

“Perhaps… Ryo-dono, do you know about dragons?”

“Uh… ah, well, just a little…”

Ryo couldn’t quite cover it up.

“Truly remarkable individuals, the two of you. To know of Akumas, the ghost ship Ruri, and now even dragons…”

Duke Helb marveled.

“I don’t know them. They’re just in Ryo’s territory, aren’t they?”

“Yes, they’re my neighbors.”

Abel asked, and Ryo nodded.

“…Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that. For the sake of my own safety in the future.”

“Eh?”

Duke Helb said with a wry smile, leaving Ryo tilting his head in confusion.

Unable to understand the meaning.

“At any rate, the Death Dragon. I don’t know why it’s there or what caused it to be there, but… Are the two of you still going to try to slay it?”

“Yes, we are.”

Abel replied without hesitation.

“Understood. In that case, I shall accompany you as well.”

“What?”

Duke Helb’s words surprised both Ryo and Abel.

“I’ve been conserving my magic power for that reason. The creature is moving, albeit slowly, toward the west. In other words, toward the southern part of this continent.”

“What…?”

“My brother had warned me about this possibility. That’s why I was sent to this Free City… however, its movement has accelerated beyond expectations.”

Duke Helb said with a tilt of his head.

Suspecting that something besides the Death Dragon was influencing the increased movement.

“I was planning to depart tomorrow morning with a fleet detachment. If the two of you wish to join, I will grant you permission.”

“Then we’ll take you up on that. We’ll board the Lone Dark of the Suje Kingdom.”

Abel firmly stated.

Ryo felt a little sorry for Captain Gorik and his crew.

Knowing they would now have to work alongside the Grand Duchy’s fleet…

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