Water Magician

Editor: Tseirp

"Triple volley, fire!"

The voice of Captain Lu Yao of the Magic Artillery Unit rang out.

In that instant, from one hundred members of the magic artillery unit, one hundred trails of flame shot forth.

Followed by another volley.

And another.

Three times in total.

Three hundred fire-type attack spells were unleashed.

"Amazing!"

Ryo and Abel both exclaimed in admiration.

But then…

The fire spells, flying in straight lines, suddenly veered off course before hitting the monsters as if deflected by an invisible wall, shooting diagonally backward instead.

All three hundred of them.

"You've got to be kidding…"

"They weren't nullified… they were repelled."

Abel was stunned, while Ryo calmly analyzed the situation.

"That kind of repelling… I've seen it before."

Ryo's memory stirred.

He quickly pulled out his far-seeing telescope.

Back then, his spell had been deflected.

In midair…

"I knew it! Talismans!"

In front of the monsters, talismans floated in the air, lined up.

"So that's it. The spells were repelled by the talismans. That means it's not just monsters—we're also dealing with Illusionkins who can use sorcery."

"The Illusionkin who attacked the palace before… her name was Marie, right? She seemed more like a magician than a sorcerer… I guess there are different types?"

"The only Illusionkins we know aside from Marie are Duke Helb and Garibech of Tiger Mountain. Both were sorcerers, but there's too little data to say anything for sure."

Abel offered a reasonable assessment.

While the two spoke, another volley was launched by the magic artillery unit.

But again, just like before, all spells were deflected.

Captain Lu Yao turned to look at Prince Ryun and shook her head.

It seemed the artillery had no effect.

Prince Ryun then looked at Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun.

Lin Shun raised a single finger.

Seeing that, Prince Ryun nodded and issued an order.

"Black Banner Army, charge with one thousand riders!"

"Understood!"

General Bijan Lu of the Black Banner Army replied sharply to the command.

Beside him, Chamberlain Wen Shu looked satisfied.

Finally, the cavalry charge he had wished for was being carried out.

"Abel, I'm worried."

"How honest of you. But I feel the same."

Ryo said quietly, and Abel replied in a hushed voice.

"If the emperor hadn't declared that Prince Ryun would command, I'd want to intervene. We could reduce the casualties that way."

"I understand what you're saying. But those casualties are part of the prince's command. To be blunt, this is meant to teach him what it means to lose subordinates because of his orders."

"I really hate this."

Ryo grimaced.

But he didn't criticize Abel.

He knew that Abel had commanded battles like the one at Gold Hill, fully aware of the consequences.

There would be casualties.

People might die.

And yet, he would still command people to march out into battle.

A normal heart might not bear that burden.

But a ruler—or someone who aims to become one—must endure it.

Especially in Darwei, where the Emperor is not only the leader, but also the supreme commander.

He is both the political and military leader.

If one can't bear it, then they should abandon their position and retire from public life.

Ryo knew Abel had faced such trials.

That's why he didn't condemn him.

"I even thought about having everyone wear ."

"The ice armor spell?"

"With that, at the very least, they might not die."

"But that's not what the Emperor wants, is it?"

"No, which is why I didn't suggest it. What the Emperor wants him to experience… it's cruel."

"It is. Asking people to die for your sake, or your country… it's cruel. Which is exactly why the state must aim to avoid war as much as possible."

Ryo spoke from a citizen's perspective.

Abel spoke from the standpoint of statecraft.

There's no hierarchy in those values.

Both are equally important aspects of being human.

"Most likely, the Emperor believes that by experiencing hundreds or thousands of casualties now, Prince Ryun won't have to experience tens of thousands later in life."

"But that's not guaranteed."

"Of course not. Nothing about the future is."

Despite Ryo's hint of reproach, Abel answered gently.

"That's why it's about probability. Better he learns now, with fewer losses… it won't win humanitarian praise, though."

"This world is painfully cruel."

"Yeah. It truly is."

"Black Banner Army, charge!"

The charge of one thousand cavalry shook the ground.

Even Ryo, who moments earlier had been downcast, felt a surge of courage.

"Amazing! Those monsters don't stand a chance!"

"If they reach them, that is."

"Abel, you're so pessimistic."

Ryo knew Abel's grim words were all too plausible.

So he kept his telescope fixed on the battlefield.

When the Black Banner Army reached the midpoint between the suppression forces and the monsters—

The entire army disappeared.

"Huh?"

Ryo couldn't comprehend what had happened.

"They fell into a pit."

Abel explained bluntly.

But that was too concise for Ryo to grasp.

"A pitfall…? I could understand that in a forest, but on flat, visible ground like this? We'd notice something like that, wouldn't we?"

"You'd think. But they fell. That's the reality."

Prompted by Abel, Ryo examined the ground where the army had vanished.

"True.. .from here, it does look like cracks are running across the ground. But the Ryokusou Plains are supposed to be completely flat, right? Locals would've known about something like this. If it was created with magic… it wasn't there a moment ago. Was it made instantaneously?"

"Unlikely. To dig a hole that large with earth-attribute magic would take thirty magicians, three hours, and a large-scale magic circle. Even then, who knows if it would work. Alchemy is more realistic."

"Alchemy?"

Ryo was surprised by Abel's words.

"Just before they fell, I saw four points on the ground give off a faint glow. Those were the corners of the pit."

"The corners? Wait… something's stuck in the ground, like stakes. They barely stick out—you'd never notice them unless told."

"Those might be alchemy tools. Alchemy emits a faint glow when it activates. I think that's what I saw."

"That's true. But how do you know that, Abel?"

"I've had a lot of experience in the three years since becoming king."

Honestly, Abel hadn't seemed that knowledgeable about alchemy before becoming king.

But clearly, he had studied since then.

"You learned from Kenneth, didn't you?"

"Yeah, he took the time to teach me a lot."

Viscount Kenneth Hayward was the head of the Royal Alchemy Workshop.

He was also part of Abel's drinking circle, the 'Second Son Union'.

Though since becoming King, Abel hadn't been able to attend even once.

"Abel… don't drag Kenneth into silly stuff. He's busy."

"Silly…? Isn't it best to learn from the top expert?"

"That may be true, but Kenneth is wasted on you."

"Wasted…?"

"If you need a teacher, someone less qualified is fine."

"Less qualified, huh. Like you, Ryo."

"Ugh… well, yes, I'm certainly less qualified than Kenneth…"

As they spoke, movement occurred on the battlefield.

"The floating talismans moved?"

"They're heading toward the pit."

"No way…"

"It's a talisman-based magic attack."

Both had seen something similar at Queen Iliaja's coronation.

An attack into a pit with no escape and no room to dodge.

The two could only watch.

Most in the command center, including Prince Ryun, probably didn't understand what was happening.

But Ryo could see anguish and resignation in Prince Ryun's face.

He had known there might be a trap when he gave the charge order.

He knew it and still gave the order.

He had understood there could be death.

He had hoped there wouldn't be.

But… the moment they fell into the pit, he accepted the loss of a thousand lives.

Still, he didn't look away.

Because he had to take responsibility for his orders.

No matter what happened next.

()

Clang! Clang…!

A hard, metallic noise rang faintly through the command center.

No one else could grasp what was happening inside the pit.

Except Abel.

"Ryo…"

His tone wasn't reproachful.

Nor admiring.

It was more like a sigh…

He knew exactly what the sound meant: Ryo had raised ice walls to shield the soldiers from the talisman attack.

Even though they had just agreed not to intervene.

"I couldn't help it."

Ryo said, frowning.

He understood he might have hindered Prince Ryun's growth.

He understood that.

But he couldn't bear to watch a thousand people die.

Ryo was not a ruler.

He was a duke… with the heart of a good, ordinary citizen.

Even if it slowed Ryun's growth, he had to save those lives…

And so, he acted.

"I'm not as strong as you, Abel… or the Emperor, or Prince Ryun."

Ryo said, shaking his head.

He wondered if he could have handled things differently — but he didn't regret intervening.

In his heart, human lives were always precious.

"I think that's just fine, Ryo."

"What?"

"I'm not strong either. I just disconnect myself… I separate the part of me that feels when I make decisions."

"…"

"But yeah, stepping in… that's exactly what you'd do."

Abel smiled.

Maybe, in the end, that smile was what saved Ryo's heart.

Ryo lifted his face.

Resolute, and walked toward Prince Ryun.

"Your Highness, I have a recommendation."

"Uh? Duke Rondo?"

Clearly, Prince Ryun hadn't expected Ryo to step in.

They had even confirmed at Ryo's estate that he wouldn't interfere.

And that command authority lay with the prince.

"The command authority is yours, Your Highness. That is not in question."

He made that clear.

In front of the prince's attendants and General Lu of the Black Banner Army— who was assigned by the emperor— Ryo couldn't undermine the prince's authority.

Doing so would only make his advice harder to accept.

"However, I do have something I'd like to discuss with you in private."

The best way to preserve dignity was to talk one-on-one.

As long as the message is conveyed.

There's no need to show the process to others.

"Everyone, wait outside."

"But, Your Highness!"

"Wen Shu. Leave."

Prince Ryun ordered them out with firm authority.

Abel glanced at Ryo.

Ryo gave a small nod.

Abel, Chamberlain Wen Shu, and everyone else left the command tent, leaving only Prince Ryun and Ryo.

"Your Highness, I must apologize."

Ryo said, bowing his head abruptly.

"Duke Rondo?"

"I broke my promise and intervened on the battlefield earlier."

"The sound we heard back at the command post…"

"That was the sound of an ice wall blocking the enemy's talisman attack."

Even now, the faint noise could still be heard intermittently.

"I see."

Prince Ryun nodded slightly.

Then, clearly and without hesitation, he bowed his head.

"Thank you for saving my men."

At that moment, Ryo saw the true caliber of Prince Ryun.

Anyone would be offended if someone suddenly interfered with their command.

Especially someone who had explicitly said just days before that they would leave the command in their hands.

Yet Prince Ryun thanked such a person.

That's not something many could do.

And he was only nineteen.

From Prince Ryun's perspective, the situation was slightly different.

He had indeed been surprised to hear Ryo had interfered.

But more than that, he was grateful— lives he had already given up on had been saved.

A thousand elite troops, entrusted to him by the Emperor himself.

There was no anger—only gratitude.

Moreover, standing before him was a man of near-legendary status, sung of by bards. And that man had come and apologized sincerely… even if he had felt a flicker of indignation, it was immediately extinguished.

Captain Lu Yao had said that Duke Rondo might be connected to people humans shouldn't meddle with.

When such a man bows his head to you, you feel more awe than irritation…

"And Duke Rondo, you said you had a proposal?"

"Yes, Your Highness. If the enemy realizes talisman attacks are ineffective, they'll move to their next strategy. I can think of a few possibilities, but I don't think they'd leave those monsters stationed out front just for show."

"You mean they'll push the orcs forward into battle?"

With that, the moment of apologies and gratitude ended. It was time to get back to business.

Because this was a battlefield.

Naturally, the suppression force had a Plan B.

A follow-up strategy in case the Black Banner Army's charge failed.

Upon hearing this, Ryo made a suggestion.

"To execute that swiftly… there's a perfect water-attribute spell for the job."

Everyone who had been waiting outside was summoned back into the command tent.

Then, Prince Ryun announced to them.

"We will proceed with the cooperation of Duke Rondo."

That was all he said.

He gave no further explanation.

Nor did he need to.

Because he was the supreme commander.

He made all the decisions.

And bore all the responsibility.

Chamberlain Wen Shu frowned slightly.

Not with dissatisfaction, but with confusion.

Still, no further explanation was offered.

And so, the command tent returned to motion.

Among the returned was one spirited water-attribute magician.

"All problems have been cleared. Problem solved!"

"Pro…bleh…what?"

"Don't worry about it. Just a figure of speech."

Ryo replied, brushing it off.

In his right hand was a white folding fan.

He must've pulled it out from his bag— it had been bought specifically for this moment.

"From here on, I won't let a single person die."

"You're still protecting those who fell in the pit with the ice wall, right?"

"Yes, though some may have landed badly when they fell… I can't be sure about that."

"I see."

This was a battlefield—anything could happen.

"The enemy monsters are on the move…"

"It looks like they've begun their advance."

Chamberlain Wen Shu and General Bijan Lu of the Black Banner Army, who had been observing through telescopes, reported.

Hearing this, Prince Ryun looked to Ryo and nodded.

Ryo returned the nod.

The supreme commander had granted permission.

"Time to strike back."

Ryo said, then dramatically waved the white fan in his right hand once.

Then he chanted:

""

But nothing happened.

Wen Shu and General Bijan, puzzled, lowered their telescopes to glance at Ryo, then quickly returned to scanning the battlefield… but nothing had changed.

However, Abel and Prince Ryun continued watching the battlefield through their lenses.

Ryo had cast a spell.

Something was sure to happen.

The monsters had begun to charge.

About half their number—maybe a thousand.

Then suddenly— their height was halved.

Even Abel, who had been watching through his telescope the whole time, took several seconds to realize what had happened.

"A mudfield?"

He muttered what he thought aloud.

"Let them learn the terror of a muddy field."

Ryo said, confirming Abel's guess.

But how had the terrain suddenly turned to mud?

"I made a rice paddy."

"A rice paddy? Oh, you mean a rice field."

Ryo explained. Abel rephrased in his own way.

Apparently, there was no term for 'paddy' in the Kingdom of Knightley, so Abel always referred to it as a 'rice field'.

In the southern parts of the kingdom, rice was grown in paddies…

But they called them 'rice fields'.

"Wait, you created that field in an instant?"

"I've improved."

Ryo said proudly in response to Abel's amazement.

In Rondo Forest, he had created rice paddies many times.

At first, it took him over ten minutes—blasting countless into the ground, then pulverizing the soil with …

To onlookers, it had been a spectacularly flashy process.

But now, none of that was needed.

He increased the groundwater, then used countless ultra-small, ultra-short to pulverize the soil inside the ground…

Using sheer force of numbers—tens of thousands of in an instant— he could now create a paddy field almost immediately.

If the ground was exposed, there was no better way to halt a massive army.

It was a shining moment for a water-attribute magician!

"Your Highness, the advance has been halted."

"Well done, Duke Rondo."

The report and praise were delivered openly.

This was to demonstrate that Prince Ryun was the supreme commander and that Ryo respected that authority.

It was a simple, but crucial, formality.

"General Bijan Lu, have two thousand infantry from the Black Banner Army advance from each flank."

"Understood!"

Following this order, four thousand foot soldiers advanced—two thousand from each wing—skirting around the pitfall and the 'paddy field', pushing toward the enemy lines.

They bypassed both their trapped allies and the enemy monsters bogged down in the mud.

Scouts accompanied the infantry, checking to ensure there were no alchemy devices hidden in the ground like those used to create the pitfall.

The four thousand marching troops advanced in perfect order— their presence as overwhelming as the earlier cavalry charge.

But the enemy had sorcerers.

Those who used floating talismans to launch magic attacks.

The soldiers advanced without letting their guard down, shields raised high.

Fire-attribute magic shot out from the talismans.

But the shields deflected the spells.

"Those shields… that wasn't your water-attribute magic, was it, Ryo?"

"No, it wasn't. The Black Banner Army's shields have magic stones embedded in them. They produce an attribute-less spell on the surface."

"Ah, same principle as Warren's shield."

Abel nodded in understanding.

Abel nodded in understanding after Ryo's explanation.

"What? Warren's shield has magic stones embedded in it?"

Warren had once been the shield-bearer of the 'Crimson Sword' party led by Abel.

Nicknamed 'The Undefeated', he now governed the northern city of Carlisle as its count.

Ryo had never heard that Warren's shield had such a mechanism.

"You didn't know? Otherwise, how could he deflect all kinds of magic? Top-tier shield bearers like Warren only activate the shield barrier at the instant of impact. Thanks to that, he's never had issues with the magic stone running dry during battle."

"I had no idea."

Thinking about it, Ryo had probably never seen Warren actually block magic spells with his shield.

So it wasn't surprising he didn't know.

"Still, embedding magic stones into every shield in the army… that's incredible."

"Yes. Only a superpower could manage that."

In contrast, there were no armies in the Kingdom of Knightley with such provisions.

The infantry continued to march forward, undeterred by the talisman attacks.

These weren't conscripted farmers—they were professional soldiers.

Their tight formation didn't waver.

Finally, as if losing patience.

The remaining thousand orcs began to move… and clashed with the infantry.

"So far, everything's going according to plan, right? Once they're out of moves, they'll be forced to act."

Abel muttered.

It was a deduction based on the way the battle had unfolded—it must've matched what the suppression force had anticipated.

He hadn't heard the plan, but as a king with battlefield experience, he could tell whether things were proceeding as expected or not.

"Yeah, it's about time they came out. The Illusionkin."

Ryo responded to Abel's murmur.

In fact, the real battle would begin once the Illusionkin showed themselves.

And then…

A lone figure flew from the enemy camp and landed in front of the suppression force's command tent.

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!