The room assigned to Ryo and Abel was on the third deck.

While Princess Iliaja occupied the captain’s cabin at the stern, the rest of the accommodations were allocated across the second and third decks.

Separated merely by curtains rather than walls.

Consequently, the two spent most of their time either on the upper deck or in the dining hall.

They had no tasks to perform.

And were still getting paid.

A dream situation indeed!

Thus, the two living on such passive income were on the upper deck again today.

If this were a a galleon on Earth, the space wouldn’t be as ample...

However, the upper deck of the Bashteek was spacious.

With sailors bustling about.

Ryo was pondering the potential of manipulating wind-attribute magic using alchemy.

And hoped to learn more about it eventually.

However, since the voyage had just begun and he hadn’t yet grown close to the crew.

Timing was essential.

Thus, today he sat on an ice chair, reading an alchemy  book he had purchased in the city of Manyamya.

Books & Literature

The friendly armorer had recommended it, and Ryo found it very easy to understand, reading it with great pleasure.

A short distance away, Abel was practicing his swordsmanship.

He didn’t seem to be particularly conscious of the onlookers... but his sword movements naturally attracted attention.

Having been raised as the second prince, Abel was used to being watched.

So he didn’t mind the attention.

When Abel ‘practiced with his sword’, there were two main styles: fast and sharp, or slow and deliberate, checking his sword strokes.

Today, he was practicing slowly.

Ryo watched him from the corner of his eye and opened two bags on the ice table beside him.

He took out  coffee beans from each, placed them in the ice mill he had created, and began grinding them.

Coffee

He remembered the perfect blend of the Blue Jade Inn’s special coffee.

He predicted that Abel would soon finish his practice and come over.

Being a capable person, Ryo acted in anticipation.

As expected, just as he was letting the coffee steep in the coffee press, Abel came over.

Ryo had already prepared an ice chair for him.

Without a word, Abel sat down.

That much was fine.

It was a chair for Abel, after all.

But then...

“The ice chair is hard, though.”

“What a thing to say...”

Ryo was more astonished than angry at Abel’s rudeness.

“Oh, no, I do appreciate that you prepared a chair for me. Really, I do.”

“Hmph... You should be grateful it’s not cold!”

“Hmm? That’s true. Now that you mention it, your ice creations aren’t cold. The chairs, the coffee cups...”

“It’s a skill honed through unbelievable amounts of training! A crystallization of blood, sweat, and tears...”

“Magic training doesn’t involve blood, does it?”

“Why do you have to be so literal about it! This is where you say, ‘Well done, that’s amazing!’ and praise me!”

“Well done, that’s amazing.”

“So unconvincing...”

Abel repeated in a dry tone, and Ryo slumped over the ice table.

But quickly straightened up.

“I thought the ice chairs being hard was inevitable, but a  water bed is soft and comfortable. Maybe, for the seat, I can go with that sensation...”

Water & Marine Sciences

Ryo started muttering.

“The idea is like an ice pillow? The interior can be anything, but the problem is the outer shell. A water membrane could work... but it might burst if someone like Abel sits on it.”

“I feel like I’m being mocked.”

“Variable ice... that’s hard to picture. Wait, maybe it doesn’t have to be one solid piece of ice. If I use micro-thin layers... and if the interior is finely crushed ice...”

Ryo ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ continued, closing his eyes in concentration.

He spread his hands shoulder-width apart over the ice table and chanted.

“<Ice Create: Ice Cushion>”

In an instant, a blue chair cushion appeared on the table.

Resembling a gel cushion.

“Abel, try placing this on the chair and sitting on it.”

“M-Me?”

Ryo suggested, and Abel asked.

Clearly reluctant.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“Of course, I trust you, but... why not try it yourself first?”

“Isn’t it obvious? In case it fails...”

“Hey!”

“Just kidding. It’s because if it can support you, it’ll work for anyone.”

Abel, though not large for a swordsman, was well-muscled compared to an average person.

His build was akin to an athlete’s.

Muscle is heavier than fat, so Abel’s weight would be substantial.

Making him a good test subject...

Abel cautiously picked up the ice cushion from the table.

Half-expecting it to burst suddenly.

However, it was perfectly fine.

He placed it on his ice chair... and slowly, very slowly, sat down.

“Oh?”

The word slipped out in surprise.

He gradually applied his weight.

Then, shifted his balance forward, backward, and side to side. He even stood up slightly and sat down again...

After testing it thoroughly, he said.

“It’s good.”

“Right?”

Ryo nodded happily at Abel’s honest praise.

But then Abel’s expression changed.

Causing Ryo to look puzzled.

Had Abel discovered some major flaw?

Ryo asked nervously.

“Abel... is something wrong?”

“Ryo... you left the coffee unattended.”

Coffee

“Oh no!”

In the coffee press, the grounds had already settled at the bottom.

“W-well, sometimes it’s nice to drink something that’s been steeping for a long time.”

“Yeah...sure.”

They drank the coffee.

Which still turned out to be delicious...

While they enjoyed their coffee, a blond young man approached.

“Smells good.”

It was Bansox, the captain of the Blue Jade Trading Company’s guard unit.

“Would you like some, Bansox?”

“Oh, sure!”

Bansox replied enthusiastically.

Ryo generated another ice chair with a cushion, and Bansox promptly sat down.

After receiving a cup of  coffee in an ice cup, he first enjoyed the aroma.

After thoroughly savoring the smell, he took a sip.

He smiled slightly, then took another sip.

Finally, he opened his mouth.

“This is definitely Blue Jade Inn’s blend.”

“I’m glad to hear that. It’s reassuring to have someone from the place confirm it.”

Bansox praised, and Ryo smiled.

As Bansox drank his coffee, he looked at the ice cup in his hand.

“Ryo, you’re a water-attribute magician, right? This cup is amazing.”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Ryo replied, blushing a bit from the compliment.

“My father can use water-attribute magic too.”

“Really? Bandelsh-san, the chairman of the trading company? I didn’t know that.”

“A merchant who can use water-attribute magic has an incredible advantage. Especially at sea...”

“Yeah. Not needing to carry fresh water would be a huge benefit.”

Water & Marine Sciences

Bansox explained, and Ryo nodded in agreement.

The Gecko Trading Company in the Kingdom also included water-attribute magicians in their caravans.

Some of whom were Ryo’s disciples.

He felt a bit nostalgic thinking about them.

“Exactly. Without needing to carry fresh water, we can load more cargo.”

“That makes sense... more cargo means more profit...”

Abel added, nodding in agreement.

Indeed, the ability to ‘conjure  water’ gave merchants a significant advantage.

“Ryo, how about quitting adventuring and joining our company?”

“Sorry, but I’ll have to pass on that...”

“I figured as much.”

Ryo refused, and Bansox laughed heartily.

“Bansox, come over here!”

A voice called from a distance.

Judging by the voice, it was probably Captain Dao.

“Looks like I’m needed. Thanks for the coffee; it was great.”

Coffee

Bansox said as he left.

“I didn’t know the head of the trading company could use water magic... I knew he could use magic, but it turns out we share the same affinity.”

Ryo said happily.

Somehow, he always felt a kinship with other water-attribute magicians.

“I didn’t know either... but Ryo, you knew Chairman Bandelsh could use magic?”

“Yeah, I could tell.”

“How?”

“Hmm? Magic users kind of leak magic or magic power from their bodies.”

“Ho-hoo~.”

Abel was genuinely surprised.

Having never heard of that before.

“Central countries’ magic involves set incantations, right? There’s probably no spell for detecting leaked magic, so most people wouldn’t notice.”

“True... this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“But King Roberto Pilro of the Union could sense the magic leaking from people.”

“Really...?”

Former King Roberto Pilro, who accompanied the Western Countries delegation, was a renowned magician.

Thirteen years ago, during the Great War between the Kingdom and the Union, he was a key figure in the Union’s magical forces, fighting fierce battles against the Kingdom’s veteran magicians like Illarion and Arthur.

“Also, strong magicians have such a powerful presence that it’s impossible not to feel it. Etho mentioned it once. When he faced that Blazing something guy in Whitnash, he said he felt like he was being crushed by the sheer overflow of magic power.”

“The Blazing something guy... you could just call him the Explosive Blaze Magician.”

The Imperial magician Oscar Ruska, known as the Explosive Blaze Magician, had once crossed paths with ‘Room 10’.

Powerful magicians seemed to have magic or magic power constantly overflowing from them.

“Ryo... does your magic overflow too?”

Abel, unable to use magic himself, was curious.

“Hehehe, on the contrary, I completely shut it off.”

“Shut off... what?”

“There shouldn’t be any magic leaking from me at all. It was convenient for hunting in the Rondo Forest.”

“Is that even possible...?”

“It’s a result of rigorous training.”

As they talked, a commotion arose at the stern of the ship.

The source of the noise moved closer until it reached them...

“Good day, Abel-san, Ryo-san.”

It was Princess Iliaja, accompanied by Chief butler Ronk.

“Hello, Princess Iliaja.”

“Oh, right. Would you like some freshly brewed Blue Jade Inn’s special blend  coffee?”

Coffee

Abel greeted her, and Ryo offered her coffee.

Without waiting for a reply, Ryo conjured two ice chairs with cushions.

“Please, have a seat. Chief butler, you too.”

“No, I shouldn’t...”

“Ronk, Ryo-san has kindly offered. Let’s enjoy it together.”

Princess Iliaja insisted with a smile.

Reluctantly, the chief butler sat down, and they all enjoyed the special blend coffee.

“Is this... chair made of ice? Ryo-san, you must be a water-attribute magician.”

“Yes!”

“But the chair’s surface isn’t hard like ice. It’s soft and comfortable to sit on.”

“As expected of the princess, you have a keen eye. This is an ice cushion I just perfected, with Abel as the test subject.”

“Oh my! Abel-san has been sacrificed again...”

“Why is it always me...?”

Ryo explained, Princess Iliaja laughed, and Abel shook his head slightly.

Frontline warriors often sacrifice themselves to save others.

“But it’s fine. Abel has been making people happy by sacrificing himself since our time in the central countries. This is nothing compared to that.”

“That’s wonderful.”

“Kind of true, but still...”

Ryo praised Abel, the princess complimented him, and Abel couldn’t refute it since it wasn’t a lie.

A king’s duty is to ensure the happiness of his people... so Ryo’s statement wasn’t wrong.

In fact, it succinctly described the essence of a king’s role.

“I’ve sacrificed myself for Abel... but I have no regrets.”

“Weren’t you just lazing around on the sofa most of the time?”

“How rude! I was diligently working behind the scenes... where Abel couldn’t see.”

“I see... well, thank you for that.”

Abel said, shaking his head.

“So... I heard the central countries are quite far away. How did you two end up in this archipelago region?”

“Uh...”

Iliaja’s innocent question left both of them at a loss for words.

After exchanging glances, Ryo began to explain.

“It’s complicated... Due to several mistakes, misunderstandings, and a bit of magic mishap, we ended up here.”

“That’s not much of an explanation, but it certainly sounds complicated.”

In the end, neither Ryo nor Abel could fully explain.

The princess tilted her head, listening intently, but eventually smiled and said;

“It sounds like you’ve been through quite a lot.”

Thus, Ryo and Abel were relieved from further innocent questioning.