Water Magician-Chapter 541: Abel’s Dream

Instead, individuals who were granted lands and titles as Counts or Dukes, along with their families, or those who rose to power by passing the central examination and becoming high-ranking officials, formed the ruling class.

Collectively, they were referred to as the ‘Shitaifu class’.

Although different from nobility, the Shitaifu class was distinct from commoners and could be considered an aristocratic class of sorts.

“In the end, people always create privileged and upper classes.”

“What’s with the sudden observation?”

“Throughout history, in every place and era, such hierarchies emerge. It must be an inescapable part of human nature.”

“Is that really such a bad thing?”

Abel tilted his head.

“Hah…”

Ryo let out a deliberate sigh.

“His Majesty King Abel, being part of the privileged class, simply cannot understand the struggles of the common people. Truly, how unfortunate.”

“And you do? Says the premier duke.”

“Of course! I am premier duke who stands with the people!”

Ryo declared, his expression brimming with confidence.

“…Then let me ask the great premier duke who stands with the people—how exactly am I supposed to understand their struggles?”

“Simple! Just follow my example!”

“So… when I’m in the capital, I should eat cake sets at Cafe de Chocolat, lounge on the sofa in the royal office reading alchemy books, and have cake and coffee for snacks?” 𝖗А𝐍ố𝔟ЕṨ

“Th-That’s a malicious way to phrase it! I don’t do that all the time!”

“But sometimes…?”

“Sometimes… there may be days like that.”

“Yeah… I’m pretty sure that means you’re not standing with the people.”

As they bantered, the two of them were riding at the rear of Roche Ten’s procession as part of his retinue.

Of course, both were mounted on their beloved horses.

Since both Andalucia and Feiwan were intelligent, they followed the formation automatically without the need for guidance.

Auto-follow mode, cruise control engaged!

Later, the two were summoned by Roche Ten.

Despite his status, Roche Ten rode on horseback rather than in a carriage.

As Abel and Ryo approached, Roche Ten spoke.

“My uncle… Deputy Governor Fu Ten, has said that you two can be trusted.”

“That is an honor.”

Abel replied.

“From our previous conversation, you may have already guessed—my uncle was once a ruling noble, the Count of Barrow. However, he was caught up in the assassination of the Crown Prince and was demoted as a result. Now, he serves as my deputy governor.”

“Is that… really something you should be telling us?”

“It’s fine. Many within my domain already know. And they also know that my uncle bears no guilt.”

Roche Ten spoke with a bitter expression.

Ryo remained silent.

Letting Abel handle the conversation. From experience, he knew that in situations like this, it was best to leave the talking to him.

“I’ve heard that the three imperial princes are currently fighting over succession. Was the assassination of the Crown Prince related to that?”

“Not exactly. Rather, it was because the Crown Prince was assassinated that the struggle between the princes began.”

Roche Ten shook his head slightly before continuing.

“The late Crown Prince was a man of extraordinary character and wisdom, balanced in all respects. The current Emperor preferred arts over warfare. As a result, Darwei developed a cultural emphasis on the arts. However, the Crown Prince, while himself a distinguished general, also valued martial spirit. That said, he never persecuted the arts… Rather, he maintained a delicate balance between the two.”

“Hmm.”

“The Emperor, despite his different inclinations, trusted the Crown Prince deeply. He often stated in public that Darwei would be secure under his reign.”

“So the Crown Prince was highly regarded…”

Abel nodded.

His gaze seemed distant.

Perhaps he was thinking of his late older brother, Crown Prince Cain.

“That’s why, when the Crown Prince was killed, the Emperor was devastated… Even though five years have passed, no new Crown Prince has been appointed. Perhaps it is because the late Crown Prince’s presence was too great. The three imperial princes are all highly capable, but…”

“Losing an irreplaceable heir is a difficult situation.”

Abel shook his head slightly.

Ryo, who had been listening quietly, furrowed his brows.

“So, Deputy Governor Fu Ten was in charge the night the Crown Prince was killed… and he was held responsible?”

“Yes. The Crown Prince’s palace was supposed to have impenetrable security. Like the Emperor’s palace, it was protected by magic and sorcery, making external attacks or intrusions virtually impossible. For someone to break through those defenses and kill him by force would be one thing… but the assassination happened without anyone noticing.”

“So, both magical and human security failed to detect anything?”

“Exactly. Such a thing should have been impossible. And yet… the next morning, the Crown Prince was found with a dagger embedded in his chest…”

Roche Ten closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Why… are you telling us this?”

Abel’s question was one that Ryo also had in mind.

Roche Ten gave a wry smile.

“To be honest, even I’m not sure. As I mentioned earlier, my uncle said that you two could be trusted… but that doesn’t necessarily mean I had to tell you what I just did. It just somehow felt like the right thing to do. Please, don’t think too much about it.”

Ryo and Abel exchanged glances.

Neither of them had a clear answer written on their faces…

As they talked, a large signpost along the road came into view.

“From here… ‘Chuo Chuang’?”

Ryo muttered.

Roche Ten must have heard him.

He also checked the signpost.

“Ah, ‘Chuo Chuang’ refers to the central region of Dawei, where the imperial capital is located. That said, it’s quite vast. Currently, if you divide all of Darwei into nine administrative districts, the central hub would be ‘Chuo Chuang’.”

Roche explained.

Then, as if remembering something, he added,

“You two are from another country, from the Central Countries, correct? In that case, you probably haven’t seen this before.”

“Is there something interesting to see?”

“Yes.”

Roche Ten nodded with a smile to Abel’s inquiry.

Then he called one of his guards over.

“Would you mind demonstrating a little flight?”

“Understood!”

Hearing this conversation, Ryo and Abel were taken aback.

“Huh?”

“Flight?”

The guard drew his sword with his right hand and held it out in front.

And then…

He leaped diagonally upward.

No, it wasn’t just a leap or a jump—it was more like he floated, or rather, flew.

He was flying.

Then, mid-air, he changed direction and returned.

Landing once, he then flew forward again, this time just above the ground.

With his sword pointed straight ahead, it looked like a charging aerial assault.

The speed wasn’t particularly fast.

Maybe around 40 km/h.

In a one-on-one fight, it might require precise timing to be effective.

However, if multiple soldiers charged in formation, swords aligned…

Ryo, though astonished, analyzed the sight carefully.

Meanwhile, Abel… was completely captivated.

No, he was mesmerized.

He was even trembling slightly.

“Abel?”

“Huh? Oh… it’s incredible…”

When Ryo called out, Abel snapped out of his trance, but he still couldn’t take his eyes off the flying guard.

“I take it this is your first time seeing this?”

Roche Ten said, clearly pleased with their reaction.

“Yes. It’s amazing.”

Since Abel was too absorbed to respond properly, Ryo took over the conversation.

“This isn’t magic, but alchemy, right? That bracelet on his left arm?”

“Oh, exactly. Ryo-san, do you also practice alchemy?”

“Yes, as a hobby.”

Ryo had noticed the faint alchemical glow emanating from the jade-like bracelet on the guard’s left wrist.

Still… the flying guard was likely not a magician. But a swordsman.

Follow curr𝒆nt nov𝒆ls on fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com.

Which meant… a swordsman could fly?

“This only works in ‘Chuo Chuang,’ but with that bracelet and some training, anyone can learn to fly.”

“Anyone!?”

Ryo couldn’t help but raise his voice at Roche Ten’s explanation.

Since it was an alchemy tool, it made sense that it could be used by anyone.

However, the idea that ‘flight’ was as simple as wearing a bracelet… that couldn’t be right.

How do they control their posture?

Where does the propulsion come from?

What’s the principle behind direction changes?

Ryo knew firsthand how difficult flight was, having struggled with the .

Whether through magic or alchemy, flying was not supposed to be easy!

“I don’t know the full details myself, but… I hear that all 50,000 soldiers stationed in the imperial capital’s Forbidden Army can fly using these bracelets. So, calling it ‘something anyone can do’ isn’t an exaggeration, is it?”

“50,000… all of them…?”

Ryo nodded repeatedly, deep in thought.

And at that moment, he made up his mind.

He had to obtain one and study it!

“I really want one…”

Abel murmured.

Ryo turned to Abel in surprise.

It was probably the first time he’d ever seen Abel truly desire something for himself.

“Abel?”

“Yeah… I want to fly in the sky.”

Abel’s beautiful eyes gleamed as he answered.

They were pure.

The eyes of someone who truly longed for something from the bottom of his heart.

“Lord Roche Ten, where can we get those bracelets?”

“The imperial capital. They’re only manufactured at the Central Workshop there.”

“Are they… difficult to obtain?”

“They are expensive, but as long as you have the money, you can buy them. As you can see, even some of my guards have them, so they are widely available.”

“Even though they let you fly…?”

“As I mentioned earlier, they only work in ‘Chuo Chuang’. But since that area is vast, if you’re interested, you should get one when you visit the capital.”

Roche Ten smiled as he spoke.

“Is borrowing one… an option?”

“That’s not possible. It registers the user’s internal magic power. Once it’s registered, no one else can use it.”

At that moment, a certain swordsman was brimming with determination.

“Ryo, we are definitely going to the imperial capital!”

“Uh, yeah…”

Abel’s rare display of insistence left Ryo with no choice but to agree.

It was clear—Abel truly wanted to fly…

TLN: Please read my translations at tseirptranslations.com, I did not give permission to any site to host my translations.

If you like my translations, please support me on Patreon and unlock early chapter releases! 7 day free trial is available for Bronze tier now!