Water Magician-Chapter 590 : Moving Beneath the Surface

I will be away this Friday-Monday so there won’t be any releases on Sunday.

See you all on Tuesday!

Chapter 0590 Moving Beneath the Surface

Translator: Jay_Forestieri

Editor: Tseirp

“Ah, that was fun. Let’s do it again sometime.”

“Yeah. See you.”

Supported by his companions from ‘Spring View’, swordsman Jun Luo bid farewell, and Abel waved back in reply as they parted ways.

It seemed that the five members of ‘Spring View’ had rooms prepared for them at the Jade Clarity Inn, where their lord, Count Roche-Ten of Bashu, was staying.

Since the Jade Clarity Inn was located here in Holy Emperor Square, it would be safe for them to walk back even with unsteady steps.

They planned to stay one night in the Imperial Capital and depart for Boago the following morning.

“That was really fun. Their story about slaying a nue was amazing!”

“Yeah… so nue really do exist.”

“You said you’d never seen one before either, right, Abel?”

“Yeah, never. In fact, there hasn’t been a recorded sighting of one in the Central Countries for over a hundred years.”

According to Spring View’s description… a nue is a monster with the body and limbs of a tiger, the head of a monkey, a snake for a tail, and wings that allow it to fly.

In the Central Countries, they appear in books, but were believed to be extinct.

In the Eastern Countries, however, they still exist in small numbers.

Highly troublesome creatures that can even cast magic.

Ryo and Abel had listened to the tale of its subjugation with bated breath.

“Now that is what I call being an adventurer! Compared to them, we haven’t really done much adventuring.”

“Well, I can’t deny that. Still, I like flying.”

“Ah, that’s true. Flying might actually count as adventuring.”

Abel pointed out their training with the Flight Rings, and Ryo admitted that flying was certainly something ordinary people couldn’t do—therefore, an adventure in itself.

Yes, doing things ordinary people cannot—that is what makes an adventurer!

Flying… may be somewhat common here in Darwei’s ‘Chuo-Chuang’,

But in the wider world, it is most definitely extraordinary…

“Since we’ve learned that hiring adventurers to strengthen our forces is unrealistic, the only way to strengthen our forces is for us to grow stronger ourselves. Let’s get a good rest tonight, and tomorrow you can be back to flying.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

Ryo said this with a laugh, and Abel replied with a smile.

Both of them felt utterly at peace.

The five members of ‘Spring View’ returned to the Jade Clarity Inn in the same Holy Emperor Square and were immediately shown to Count Roche-Ten’s room.

There, they received unexpected news.

“I, Count Roche-Ten of Bashu, wish to request the third-rank party ‘Spring View’. I’d like you to remain in the Imperial Capital for a while and assist me.”

“…My lord?”

“Adventurers in the capital are showing suspicious movements.”

“Suspicious movements?”

“Yes. And they’re mostly senior adventurers of third-rank or higher.”

“What could that mean…?”

With a furrowed brow, Roche-Ten spoke, and Jun Luo and the others exchanged uneasy glances.

“In this climate, such movements might be connected to the princes—or perhaps to the Sixth Prince Ryun?”

“I cannot say for certain, but it seems likely.”

Roche-Ten looked Jun Luo straight in the eyes.

“I want you to find out what is behind these adventurers’ movements.”

Jun Luo glanced at the party’s magician, Barili,

who gave a small nod.

“Understood.”

Jun Luo brought the tips of his index, middle, ring, and little fingers together on both hands, placing one palm against the back of the other in the Darwei style of salute. The other four followed suit.

And thus, Spring View’s return was postponed.

The next morning, early.

Inspector Li Wu of the Inspectorate visited the Censorate headquarters.

Having apparently been cleared by Chief Zhuon, he was promptly shown to Chief Shau.

“Inspector Li Wu, here I am.”

“Oh, come in.”

From inside came Cheif Shau’s voice, and Li Wu stepped into the room.

But there was an unfamiliar guest already there.

An extremely rare occurrence.

The Censorate’s officials, beginning with Chief Shau himself, made it a point to avoid situations where strangers met within its halls.

“I’ve heard from Zhuon, Li Wu. This is Kabui Somal-dono, Lord Protector of the Suje Kingdom in the Archipelago region.”

Kabui Somal bowed at the introduction.

“The Archipelago Region…that’s quite far south. And the Suje Kingdom, if I recall correctly, is one of the great maritime powers alongside the Principality of Komakyuta.”

As Li Wu spoke, recalling the details, Kabui Somal’s face showed surprise.

And he expressed it aloud.

“I’m astonished. I’ve been introduced to many people before, but even the well-informed might know the Archipelago Region without knowing the Suje Kingdom itself. You, Li Wu-dono, are the first to know of my Suje Kingdom.”

“Hah! Didn’t I tell you? The officials of the Inspectorate, whose work is regional inspection, often know much about lands beyond…even foreign countries. They’re far more studious than the Ministry of Rites fellows who handle diplomacy.”

Chief Shau laughed heartily in praise.

Kabui Somal nodded in agreement over and over.

While Li Wu scratched his head in embarrassment.

When the pleasantries were over, Kabui Somal spoke.

“Well then, I’ll be taking my leave…”

“What? There’s no need to rush. You were touring the Darwei Navy until yesterday, were you not? Surely you’ve no other plans—why not stay in the capital for a while?”

“Even if you say so…I know no one in the capital besides you, Chief Shau.”

“Well now, you’ve just made another acquaintance, haven’t you?”

Laughing, Chief Shau indicated Li Wu with a nod of his chin.

Li Wu was startled to be suddenly brought into the conversation.

But could hardly deny it…

As a friend of his superior Zhuon, Chief Shau was like a second superior to Li Wu.

“O-of course, if I can be of service…”

Nearly two meters tall and with a completely shaven head, Li Wu stammered.

“Haha, don’t trouble yourself. The matter at hand has been resolved, so I’ll take my time returning home, reading along the way. The crew of the Lone Dark I came on are first-rate, so I’ll have plenty of leisure aboard.”

“Ah, a voyage steeped in books—how fine that sounds.”

Chief Shau looked on enviously at Kabui Somal’s words.

“By the way, I have that book translated into the Eastern Countries’ tongue. Would you like it, Shao-dono? It’s Her Majesty the Queen’s favorite reading.”

“Oh-ho, the favorite book of a young queen, is it?”

Kabui Somal handed Chief Shau a volume.

“Let’s see… ‘Abel, the Hungry Swordsman’? What a strange title.”

“Yes. But inside, it’s a very entertaining adventure tale.”

Chief Shau tilted his head at the title, while Kabui Somal smiled as he explained.

One person, however, tilted his head for a different reason.

Inspector Li Wu.

“Abel?”

It was a name he recognized.

Chief Shau caught his mutter.

“What is it, Li Wu? Something about Abel?”

“Ah, well, in fact the reason I came today was to ask for help in locating someone.”

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“One of the two people I’m seeking is named Abel.”

“What!?”

Even Chief Shau was startled.

“The name Abel…it’s not common around here—not in Darwei, and not in the Archipelago Region either, I’d wager?”

“No, I’ve never heard it in the Archipelago Region either. However…”

Nodding at Chief Shau’s remark, Kabui Somal continued with words that carried a hint of shock.

“I do know a swordsman by that name.”

“Oh?”

“In fact, he’s the very person on whom that book is based—Abel-dono.”

“I see.”

Chief Shau nodded once.

“Wait…did you say swordsman?”

“Yes.”

Li Wu’s eyes widened as he asked, and Kabui Somal nodded in reply.

“The Abel I’m seeking is also a swordsman…”

“Well, now…that is interesting.”

“And who is the other person you seek, Li Wu?”

“Yes, a man named Ryo-dono, a robed magician.”

“Well, well…”

At this point, even Kabui Somal couldn’t help but give a meaningful smile.

He then addressed Chief Shau.

“Shao-dono, look at the author of this book.”

“The author? Let’s see…Written by Ryo Mihara. This Ryo Mihara—could it be the robed magician?”

“Exactly.”

Kabui Somal nodded.

“Eh? So…what does that mean?”

Li Wu was the only one still confused.

“It means I know the two people you’re looking for. They’re the author and the model for this book.”

“My, my, the world is small indeed.”

Chief Shau chuckled at Kabui Somal’s explanation.

“So Ryo-dono and Abel-dono came from the Archipelago Region?”

“Well, yes… But to be precise, they’re from the Kingdom of Knightley in the Central Countries.”

“The Central Countries? The Central Countries way out west?”

“That’s right…far to the west from Darwei…”

Kabui Somal nodded repeatedly to Li Wu’s astonishment.

But another person tilted their head in confusion.

It was Chief Shau.

“The Kingdom of Knightley in the Central Countries? I’ve been hearing that a lot lately.”

“Lately? Hearing it a lot?”

“Yes. Why, that famous bard’s song. Don’t you know it, Li Wu? It’s all the rage in the capital.”

“No…I’ve been away from the capital for about a year.”

“And with King Abel stands a lone magician. His magic that dims the heavens, shatters the earth, and freezes the world—the great water magic. With a single spell, he crushed an army of a hundred thousand—this is no fantasy. People sing his praises as ‘The Icefall’ or the ‘Silver Duke’.”

Kabui Somal sang in a distinctive rhythm.

“Oh, that’s the one! And here an overseas Lord Protector knows it best.”

“Her Majesty the Queen sang it for me.”

Kabui Somal replied with a smile.

“My, my…the Queen of Suje Kingdom reads books and listens to bardic songs. More refined than even the Imperial Palace of Darwei.”

Chief Shau laughed in delight.

He then concluded.

“A pairing like Abel and Ryo—there can’t be many. I’d wager the people you’re searching for and these two are the same.”

“Yes, I think so too.”

Li Wu nodded at Chief Shau’s conclusion.

Indeed, such a pairing of names would be rare.

“We know the names, but finding them in this vast capital won’t be easy. Even if we’re looking for someone wearing a robe—which few Darwei people do.”

“True…”

Li Wu agreed with Chief Shau’s words.

Kabui Somal tilted his head slightly, though the other two didn’t notice.

(They don’t know that Abel-dono and Ryo-dono are King Abel and Duke Rondo?)

Kabui Somal thought to himself.

He’d heard of Duke Rondo presenting a huge blue magic stone at Prince Ryun’s wedding banquet.

And of the Emperor granting him a residence to stay in afterward.

And yet, though Duke Rondo’s stay was known, King Abel’s was not…were they not together now?

Is that possible?

Impossible!

(If King Abel has a magician with him…then they must be together. Which means he’s hiding his identity as ‘King Abel’. For some reason…)

Even a peerless admiral like Kabui Somal couldn’t guess that Abel had simply forgotten his Identity Proof, forcing Ryo to appear publicly as Duke Rondo.

Still, he hesitated.

If they weren’t revealing it, it would be wrong for him to spread it.

And in any case, Ryo = Duke Rondo was merely Queen Iliaja’s conjecture.

Though Kabui Somal trusted her judgment implicitly.

However…

Regardless, it wasn’t something he should say unprompted.

Chief Shau and Li Wu, of course, had no idea of Kabui Somal’s inner conflict.

After a moment, Chief Shau spoke.

“I do know one robed magician in the capital.”

“Really?! ”

Li Wu was astonished.

“Where does he live?”

“And what would you do with that information?”

“Obviously, I’d go see him directly.”

“Fool! He’s not someone you can just barging in on.”

“Eh?”

Chief Shau rebuked him sharply, but Li Wu only looked blank.

“That man is not only in the Emperor’s favor—he’s a powerful…no, a terrifying magician.”

Chief Shau recalled their first meeting.

When there had been no trace of the mana that should leak from anyone.

“The Ryo-dono I met didn’t seem terrifying at all…”

Li Wu instead remembered a calm face and demeanor.

“Perhaps it’s someone else, then?”

“Well… Does he appear calm? I never got that far—I was too surprised at the utter absence of magic power leakage.”

“In any case, I must confirm. Chief Zhuon has ordered me to find Ryo-dono and Abel-dono.”

“That’s right. Then I’ll come with you. I’m not a stranger to Duke Rondo. Even if it’s a case of mistaken identity, he won’t scold you for rudeness.”

Chief Shau shrugged as he made the suggestion.

“Wait—Duke Rondo?”

“The robed magician I know is Duke Rondo. You know that bard’s song Lord Kabui Somal just sang? That’s about Duke Rondo.”

“That incredible person…?”

“I told you—he’s in the Emperor’s good graces.”

Li Wu grimaced, and Chief Shau gave a small shake of his head.

Then, turning to Kabui Somal, Chief Shau said.

“Right, you’re coming too, Kabui Somal-dono.”

“Eh?”

Kabui Somal made a startled sound at the sudden suggestion.

He couldn’t understand why he was being included.

“It’s a rare chance to meet someone sung of by bards not only in Darwei but even far-off in the Archipelago Region. You’re coming.”

“Well, but…”

Kabui Somal flustered.

If it really was the Ryo-dono he knew…what expression should he wear?

Even Kabui Somal could be uncertain at times.

But in the end, no one could resist Chief Shau’s forcefulness…

| Main |

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!