Water Magician-Chapter 622: A Scary World

Volume 3, Final Part 6, Phantomkin Military Campaign

Editor: Tseirp

“Ah, the world is so peaceful and wonderful!”

Saying that as he ate with delight was a water-attribute magician.

“You only think that because you’re eating, right?”

A swordsman who always argued with the magician’s worldview responded.

In truth, Ryo and Abel were simply having lunch.

“Has it already been two months since the Royal Residence was attacked?”

“A lot has changed since then.”

“The biggest change is Prince Ryun’s increased influence.”

“Indeed. He’s attending the conference held in the Autonomous City of Kwebasa as Darwei’s representative.”

“They say representatives from every country will gather, and Darwei’s representative… that is, the Emperor’s relative by proxy, will attend. Without doubt, he’s one of the candidates for the next emperor.”

Both Abel and Ryo were backing Prince Ryun.

Naturally, they were pleased if Emperor Tsuin’s evaluation of Prince Ryun had risen.

By the way, the meeting in the Autonomous City of Kwebasa was a conference against the Choouchi Empire.

Interestingly, the host is the Duchy of Atinjo, which governs Kwebasa.

The problem with the Choouchi Empire is the phantomkins.

And the Duke of Atinjo himself is a phantomkin, and his younger brother, Duke Helb, is also a phantomkin.

“They might gather everyone and massacre them all at once!”

“Atinjo would become an enemy of Darwei and all the eastern countries.”

Though Ryo said it and Abel deflected it, both thought such a thing was unlikely.

They thought so, but…

“The world is full of things you never would have imagined.”

“The world is scary.”

In fact, unexpected things had indeed occurred in the capital.

“I thought Prince Bin, who attacked Prince Ryun’s Royal Residence, would at least be stripped of his title if not executed…”

“Yeah, he’s still an imperial prince.”

Yes—they had not expected that outcome.

“But hasn’t Prince Bin been under house arrest in the Bin Residence these past two months?”

“Of course. His troops were also returned to his domain… but they weren’t disbanded. Who knows when they might bare their fangs again?”

“For the Emperor, he’s still his son… They can’t so easily strip him of his imperial prince rank.”

“We really should have stormed the Bin Residence after that commotion and executed him.”

“Don’t say that even as a joke…”

Actually, after Ryo repaired Friendship Token No.2, he wanted to rush into the Bin Residence to take vengeance.

It was Abel, as always, who desperately stopped him.

Abel said that Prince Bin would surely be punished.

Indeed, he was punished and placed under house arrest in his residence…

Abel had thought that at least he might be demoted from imperial prince back to merely a prince.

But that did not happen either.

“Perhaps the real reason is the Emperor’s poor health.”

“He collapsed in the imperial palace after that commotion, right?”

“It’s strange that he suddenly collapsed! Perhaps he was poisoned.”

“It’s possible… but there’s nothing we can do about it.”

Ryo and Abel both knit their brows.

In the Knightley Kingdom, Abel’s father, Stafford IV, had been poisoned over a long period.

It had been the groundwork for Prince Raymond and the Empire’s invasion of the Kingdom.

They had not forgotten that bitter memory.

Afterwards, they had visited the Emperor…

“As amateurs, there was nothing we could do.”

“It can’t be helped—of course. Court physicians were attending him; leaving it to them was best.”

“They say he’s better now…”

Although Ryo and Abel were basically unrelated to the Darwei imperial court, they still possessed some internal connections.

For example, Workshop Chief Ron Shen and Censorate official Secretary Shau.

Yet even they were unaware of some facts.

Almost at the same time Emperor Tsuin collapsed, Chancellor Byan-Byan had also fallen ill.

Prime Minister Byan was well over eighty, so at the time, many did not doubt his collapse.

Incidentally, the Prime Minister is comparable to the Prime Minister in the Knightley Kingdom.

The post held by Marquis Heinlein.

He is the top administrator of state affairs.

Prime Minister Byan seldom appeared in public due to his age.

He had not attended the recent Kyoonkai gathering.

So the two men barely knew him.

Shortly after Prime Minister Byan collapsed, Emperor Tsuin also fell ill.

Only then did some people begin to sense something strange.

The Emperor had collapsed; the Prime Minister could not attend to state matters.

Moreover, the Crown Prince who should assist them was not in place.

What happens in Darwei in such a case?

A prince acts as regent.

And among them, the one who has held the imperial prince title the longest.

This time, naturally, that was Prince Kouri, the Second Prince.

In fact, this is not strictly defined by law.

The law states only that the Crown Prince acts as regent.

But several generations ago, there had been an occasion when the Emperor, the Prime Minister, and the Crown Prince could not perform state duties.

At that time, the person who had been an imperial prince for the longest took over administration as regent.

It lasted only about ten days, and no particular problems arose.

From that precedent, Prince Kouri became acting regent this time as well.

Of course, heated debates were held in the Taiji Hall without the Emperor present.

Only Prince Kouri remained silent, arms folded and eyes closed.

He himself did not need to speak.

By that point, all arrangements were already in place.

The heated debates included high-ranking Shitaifu members such as the six ministers.

Third Prince Churei was present and participated in the discussion.

But Fourth Prince Bin was not there… he had been confined in his own residence after attacking Prince Ryun’s Royal Residence.

And Sixth Prince Ryun was absent as well… He had not yet returned from the expedition against Peiyu.

Under those circumstances, no matter how much Third Prince Churei argued, it was obvious that Prince Kouri, who had the support of a majority of the Shitaifu class, would prevail. ɽ𝓪ℕȎＢƐṧ

In the end, within less than an hour, it was decided that Prince Kouri would act as regent.

They had expected the Emperor to recover enough to stand within a week or so, but his recovery took unexpectedly long—about thirty days.

During that time, Prince Kouri energetically pushed reforms, especially regarding the economy and military.

Some measures had immediate effects; others were still steadily producing results.

“Well, Prince Kouri wasn’t bad.”

“Why so condescending…?”

“I think we should just have every imperial prince run affairs for one month each and make them compete.”

“That would throw the lower officials into chaos; that won’t do.”

“Serious citizens work day and night for the people. Compared to them, officials could still try harder!”

“What a prejudice…”

Ryo insisted strongly while Abel shook his head faintly.

“Of course, I know there are serious officials who work hard for the people… well, some… quite a few… I know that, right?”

As Ryo spoke, his words shifted because he remembered that Secretary Shau, Captain Li Chu of the White Flame Army, Captain La Wu, and Captain Myun were all ‘officials’.

Everyone was earnest…

“…Because it would be troublesome if rulers changed so frequently, I’d like His Majesty the Emperor to continue to do his best.”

“Why can’t you just withdraw your proposal?”

Ryo forced that conclusion, and Abel complained.

Acknowledging many difficulties, Ryo and Abel finished a delicious lunch and left the eatery.

At Prince Ryun’s Royal Residence.

The prince they supported had also finished lunch and was taking an after-tea.

Princess Shio Fen sat beside him.

“In these two months, the gap with Prince Kouri has widened.”

Prince Ryun muttered a complaint.

There were only two people to whom he could complain.

Chief chamberlain Lin Shun, whom he trusted most, and his beloved wife, Princess Shio Fen.

He felt their love had deepened over the two months… but politically the results had not been satisfactory.

“Prince Ryun, do not be impatient.”

Princess Shio Fen said this with a smile.

Of course, Prince Ryun did not shout, “You don’t understand!”.

Rather, he sometimes felt that she understood more than he did.

She was someone to vent to— and at the same time someone to seek advice from.

“First, we did manage to reduce Prince Bin’s power—that is a result of these two months.”

“That’s true.”

“And after the late Crown Prince’s death five years ago, Prince Kouri had been inactive publicly; in these two months, he has actively and deliberately stepped into the spotlight. Why do you think that is?”

“…Because of me?”

“Yes.”

At Prince Ryun’s answer, Princess Shio Fen nodded with a smile.

“Your power has increased, and thus he was forced to act publicly. One cannot easily see whether one’s own strength has grown. But you can judge by watching the opponent’s actions. Your power has unquestionably increased.”

“…As expected of Shio. When you say it, I really do feel that way.”

At Princess Shio Fen’s explanation, Prince Ryun finally smiled and nodded.

Two who trust and work hand in hand, aiming higher together…

In a different part of the Royal Residence training grounds, fierce swordplay was underway.

These mock battles had been held occasionally over the past two months.

On one side stood Princess Shio Fen’s maid Mifa.

Opposing her was Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun.

Watching were Captain Lu Yao of Prince Ryun’s Yulin Guard and Friendship Token No.2, the captain of the Rondo Manor Oniwaban Second Unit.

A few hundred Royal Residence troops watched from a distance.

Mifa and Lin Shun’s mock duel had already lasted thirty minutes.

During that time, spectators led by Captain Lu Yao watched with bated breath.

Mifa lunged.

Partway through, she feinted with a shoulder move.

That made Lin Shun’s sword waver slightly.

Mifa executed a rising cut from a lower stance.

Lin Shun inserted his sword to block… then deflected, changing the direction of Mifa’s blade.

While deflecting, he spun and aimed from behind.

But that was within Mifa’s reading.

She moved with precise steps to match Lin Shun’s spin.

She slipped into his blind spot.

She thrust her sword out…

At that instant, Lin Shun disappeared.

“Huh?”

She realized he had crouched only after feeling a blade pressing under her throat from below.

“I yield.”

Mifa declared it clearly.

“Whoa—! ”

“As expected of the chief chamberlain.”

“No, Mifa is amazing too!”

“She’s only sixteen!”

“You two are incredible…”

Among the cheers, Lin Shun spoke to Mifa.

“As expected, Mifa. That final blind-spot move was dangerous.”

“No, Lin Shun, you were amazing. That makes thirteen wins and fourteen losses—you’ve overtaken me.” 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“A sixteen-year-old with that swordsmanship… terrifying, or rather, I’m relieved she’s by the Princess’s side.”

Lin Shun said with a laugh.

Such a swordswoman serving as a maid next to the Princess was astonishingly rare.

And not because of money or honor.

She stayed there out of a heartfelt desire to protect Princess Shio Fen.

Lin Shun also knew that Prince Ryun loved Princess Shio Fen deeply.

Having such a strong protector for the one he loved was truly reassuring.

“Let’s spar again.”

“Yes. I would be honored.”

At Lin Shun’s words, Mifa nodded with a smile.

And returned to the Princess.

“Lin Shun-dono, that was a fine display.”

The speaker was Captain Lu Yao, who had come with Friendship Token No.2.

“Lu Yao. Mifa’s sword is incredible—and she’s only sixteen… honestly, it’s frightening.”

Lu Yao noticed Lin Shun’s voice was slightly higher than his usual composed tone.

“Indeed, her sword is amazing… but Lin Shun-dono looks pleased.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, never mind.”

Lu Yao said and lightly patted Friendship Token No.2’s head.

Friendship Token No.2 looked at the two with a penetrating gaze.

If he could speak… what might he have said?

At the same time, in a corner of Prince Kouri’s mansion.

“As expected, Your Highness. In just one month, you have set Darwei on the path to regain strength.”

The speaker was an old man over eighty.

Lord Rowon, said to be Darwei’s foremost water-attribute magician and alchemist.

“But Lord Rowon, after seeing all the reports that came through administration, I realized how weakened Darwei had been.”

Prince Kouri answered, shaking his head slightly.

He had suspected as much.

Even though he was not the Emperor, as a prince, his intelligence network brought him information from across Darwei.

He prided himself that the amount of information he received was not much different from the Emperor’s.

Yet inconvenient truths were often suppressed at the local level before reaching the central government.

“In just five years, corruption advanced astonishingly.”

Prince Kouri sighed.

“With respect, Your Highness, it is not only five years.”

“Huh?”

“For a quarter century since His Majesty ascended twenty-five years ago, Darwei’s strength has steadily declined.”

“As expected of Lord Rowon, who has guarded the nation’s front lines in military affairs for half a century—your words carry weight.”

Lord Rowon spoke frankly, his face stern; Prince Kouri likewise frowned and conceded it might be true.

“But my father is the Emperor. We can only follow.”

“…Indeed.”

“There was only a month, but I hope the path I set is not undone by my father.”

Prince Kouri said with a wry smile.

Afterward, Lord Rowon left Prince Kouri’s chamber.

“With the Choouchi Empire on the rise, there is no time to spare. For the country, for the people… unavoidable measures must be taken.”

His muttered words were soft and reached no one’s ears.

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