Water Magician

Vol 3. Chapter 678: Bonus Part: Ryo and Abel’s Journey Home (5)

0678 Visit to the Grand Duchy of Atinjo III

The next day.

As they continued on the road toward Camphor, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo, Zuruma kept feeding the two of them information as they traveled.

“My clan... it is called the Gyuga clan. We once served a country that was destroyed by the Grand Duke’s house. That ruler’s house is gone now. These days, they take assassination work for personal gain and selfish desire...”

“They sound like some assassin cult.”

“...”

At Zuruma’s explanation, Ryo reflexively cut in, and Abel gave a small shake of his head.

“I think House Bubly came up in yesterday’s conversation.”

“Yes. In the past... before the previous Grand Duke took the throne, they were the great noble house of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo second only to the Grand Duke’s house. But the previous Grand Duke stripped much of their power from them. Even now, they are by no means weak... If they were to raise a rebellion, then because of the standing of their house, the other nobles might follow them as well.”

“Can they win?”

“If they clash head-on, the Grand Duke’s house would likely win. But if the Gyuga clan were to assassinate the Grand Duke...”

Zuruma grimaced.

If it had been the previous Grand Duke, such a thing would never have happened.

Because he had been Phantomkin.

From the incident at the embassy, it seemed Zuruma did not know that Duke Helbe and the previous Grand Duke had been Phantomkin, but he had certainly understood that they were astonishingly powerful.

After all, even the Elder yesterday had described him as a monster.

Zuruma left the two of them in order to issue instructions.

“There’s conflict breaking out all over the country.”

Ryo complained while shaking his head.

“There are a certain number of people in any country who want power.”

Abel shrugged.

“In that respect, you’re fortunate, Abel.”

“Hm? Because Ryo doesn’t want power?”

“Because our Chancellor isn’t aiming for the throne.”

“That much is true.”

“If Chancellor Heinlein ever aimed for the throne, he would definitely take it.”

“That’s true too. Well, if that happened, I’d gladly hand it over.”

At Ryo’s words, Abel shrugged again.

This king, too, was the type who was not particularly attached to power.

“For the record, I’m the type who is attached to power.”

For some reason, Ryo puffed out his chest and said it with a villainous expression.

“Are you?”

Abel voiced his doubt.

“If you have power, you can secure cake privileges!”

“And if someone told you they’d treat you to cake and coffee for free every day if you gave up power, what would you do?”

“Obviously I’d give up power. It’s cake and coffee every day, you know? There’s nothing to think about.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely not the type attached to power. You’re the type attached to food.”

“Huh?”

One reason why the Knightley Kingdom was peaceful had just been revealed.

That afternoon, the party arrived at Camphor, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo.

As their group arrived, they passed a military force leaving Camphor in the opposite direction.

“That’s an army on the scale of tens of thousands, you know?”

“A campaign to suppress a provincial rebellion?”

Neither Ryo nor Abel really understood, and they simply watched it go.

Ryo and Abel were led into the royal palace by Zuruma.

“Welcome! We are honored by your presence!”

The new Grand Duke, Bashu, came all the way down from the top of the steps to greet the two of them.

He was smiling. Yes, it was a smile.

And yet, there was a shadow over it.

The reason was probably that the country had still not settled down.

“Duke Rondo, Lord Abel, I have drawn the two of you into the strife of my country. I am deeply sorry.”

“Ah, no, Your Grace, please raise your head.”

Bashu bowed his head, and Ryo responded in surprise.

“Mr. Zuruma gave us a general explanation.”

“Zuruma... did he perhaps tell you about his clan as well?”

“Yes. Since those who attacked last night seemed to be them, I imagine he had no choice but to tell us.”

“I see.”

From the way Bashu spoke, it seemed that not only Duke Helbe, but the new Grand Duke Bashu as well, knew about Zuruma’s origins and that his clan had turned against them.

The two were led by Bashu into a private chamber.

“First, this Saint Sword...”

“Thank you very much.”

And so, Saint Sword Tattien was returned from Ryo to Bashu.

“I must apologize for it coming to this at this timing.”

“Yes?”

“The truth is, the palace will be attacked tomorrow.”

“What??”

At Bashu’s sudden words, Ryo’s voice rose in shock.

Abel said nothing, but his eyes had widened.

“My apologies. No, I heard from Mr. Zuruma that House Gorge— no, House Bubly and the Gyuga clan and others are trying to destroy the Grand Duke’s house. This is related to that, correct?”

“Yes. The private armies of the nobles centered on House Bubly will attack tomorrow.”

Bashu stated it plainly.

Bashu had probably only just reached adulthood, yet there was neither hesitation nor wavering in his expression.

If anything, it conveyed strength.

“How do you know they’ll attack tomorrow?”

Abel asked without dressing up his words.

“Because I arranged things so that they would.”

Bashu answered without dressing up his own words either.

But he must have thought some explanation was necessary.

“This plan has been in motion for half a month. I believed the two of you would arrive a little later... after this matter had already ended. So I do regret that you have become entangled in it.”

“Well, that part can’t be helped. It probably happened sooner because of the currents and the wind.”

“During the attack, I had hoped the two of you could remain in a safe place within the palace...”

“Ah, don’t worry about that. Both Abel and I are capable of protecting ourselves... so fight as much as you like.”

Ryo answered with a smile.

At his side, Abel only shrugged, but he did not deny it.

Abel gave a small nod, then spoke.

“When we arrived in the capital earlier, an army was leaving. It was a sizable force. That has something to do with this, doesn’t it?”

“Yes. That was the main body of the national army, thirty thousand strong. Starting today, they have gone out for a two-night, three-day field exercise.”

“I see. So you created a vacuum of military strength in the palace... You’re trying to lure out House Bubly.”

“Exactly. This exercise was planned half a month ago... From the enemy’s perspective, a chance like this will not come often.”

“But wouldn’t they suspect it’s a trap?”

“They would. However, this is their last chance.”

Bashu stated it decisively in answer to Abel’s question.

“Because Duke Helbe is recovering day by day.”

“Yes. Once my uncle fully recovers, they will not have even the slightest opportunity. That is why, even knowing it is a trap, they have no choice but to act now.”

After speaking with Bashu a while longer, Ryo and Abel left his private chamber.

They were moving through the palace while being shown around.

“His Grace Bashu has changed.”

“He has.”

“Before, when we brought Duke Helbe’s ice coffin... this is a rude way to put it, but back then he felt fragile. But now...”

“A person is shaped by their position, or else experience shapes the face.”

Abel nodded as he answered Ryo’s impression.

“This is a defensive battle with his own life as bait. No one could do it without steeling himself.”

“It’s hard being a ruler, isn’t it? Though there’s also a strange swordsman standing beside me who made himself exactly that.”

“There was no other option. It couldn’t be helped.”

Abel shrugged.

“But both you and His Grace Bashu were educated as [N O V E L I G H T] royalty from childhood. I think that’s why you can stand up when the time comes.”

“Do you?”

“I don’t think most people can.”

“I don’t know about the royals of other countries, but at least I was taught that every action of royalty exists for the sake of the people. My elder brother died, I had no idea what had become of my father, and on top of that the royal capital had fallen... The idea of any choice other than standing as king never even entered my head. At the very least, I acted because I believed that would be for the good of the people of the kingdom.”

“I think that’s wonderful.”

Ryo praised Abel’s words and the principle behind his actions without reservation.

To sacrifice oneself, to offer everything one has to the people of the nation... that was not something an ordinary person could do.

That was exactly why Abel, who treated such an extraordinary thing as natural, received the support of the people.

And here in the Grand Duchy of Atinjo as well, there was a new Grand Duke preparing to place himself on a difficult path.

“Come to think of it, Duke Helbe also let the enemy attack him, didn’t he?”

“Could that be a tradition of the Grand Duke’s house?”

What Ryo and Abel were recalling was the attack on the Conference of the Eastern Countries held in the autonomous city of Kubebasa.

At the entrance to the conference venue, the carriage carrying the Grand Duke of Atinjo had been attacked.

But that had been a trap—the rebel elements had bitten into the bait Duke Helbe had scattered out for them.

The result had been total annihilation at Duke Helbe’s hands, leaving behind hundreds of corpses.

“But this time, it won’t be an easy battle for Grand Duke Bashu’s side.”

“There are people like the Gyuga clan attacking from the shadows too. If only Duke Helbe were in perfect condition...”

“It’s because he isn’t in perfect condition that they see this as their last chance to attack.”

“That’s right. It’s all very complicated.”

Both Abel and Ryo gave small shakes of their heads.

The place they were being guided to was a detached building within the palace grounds.

It was apparently something like a state guesthouse, a building where state guests would stay.

Grand Duke Bashu had recommended that they stay there rather than outside the palace, so that nothing unforeseen could happen to them.

“So the palace is supposedly going to be attacked, but this detached building is part of the palace too, isn’t it?”

“Well, the enemy’s main objective is the Grand Duke’s house... in this case, Lord Bashu, right? This place is a little removed from the main palace, so I suppose they consider it safe.”

The detached building was a splendid single-story structure made of stone like marble.

“This is incredible.”

“It really is impressive.”

Both Ryo and Abel were struck by its beauty.

Incidentally, this detached building also had stables attached, so the horses of visiting state guests would be kept there as well.

Naturally, this time Andalusia and Feiwan were there.

“Andalusia and Feiwan were eating very happily too.”

“You mean to say we can have high expectations as well.”

“Abel, don’t say it all out loud.”

“You already said all of it.”

That night, a banquet even finer than the two had hoped for was set before them, and it should be recorded here that they went to sleep fully satisfied.