Water Magician

Editor: Tseirp

The next day.

Ryo's estate was unusually crowded—dozens of times its usual population.

Normally, only Ryo and Abel lived there. But from the morning, personnel from the Censorate had arrived.

Within the Imperial Palace, it was well known that the estate's master, Duke Rondo, was highly favored by the Emperor.

Unless one were an exception like Workshop Chief Ron Shen, this was common knowledge…

However, some within the Censorate knew Ryo personally.

"Ah, Shau-san, it's been a while."

"Duke Rondo, we're most grateful for your cooperation."

Considering the prisoner was a powerful Phantomkin, this level of supervision was only natural.

It became clear to the visiting Censorate officials that Ryo wasn't just favored by the Emperor—but also personally acquainted with their own number two.

As such, they entered the estate with the utmost courtesy.

First, they were astonished by the size of the mansion.

Then, by the golem managing the estate.

Finally, by the frozen coffin quietly sitting in the garden.

"So, Duke Rondo… How shall we proceed with this interrogation of the Phantomkin?"

After staring at the coffin for a while, Shau posed the question.

"Remove the ice covering the head. He's currently in a state of suspended animation… unconscious, basically. Once the ice is removed, he'll gradually regain awareness. I heard you might have something to place on his head during questioning?"

"Yes. This is it."

At Shau's signal, an attendant stepped forward and presented a full-face helmet, completely enclosing the head.

"This is our trump card."

Shau said with a gentle smile.

Later, as promised, the workshop chief Ron Shen arrived, and soon the sound of a violin filled the mansion.

Listening to it, Ryo nodded to himself in satisfaction for some reason.

Throughout the interrogation of the Choouchi Empire's Seven-Star General, Yun Chen, Ryo remained seated in a place where he could see the proceedings.

Though he was reading an alchemy book the whole time.

General Yun had the ice removed only from his head. The rest of his body remained frozen.

To prevent any magical or sorcerous means, he remained encased in a large block of ice even during the interrogation.

The questioning was conducted by specialists from the Censorate, so Secretary Shau simply sipped tea beside them…

"What composure."

Seeing this, Ryo couldn't help but mutter.

Secretary Shau, over 70 years old and exuding the presence of a hale and hearty elder, sipping tea in such a relaxed manner, radiated overwhelming composure.

Whether it was the former Union King, His Majesty Roberto Pirlo, or Secretary Shau before him, the composure possessed by those who had gained years of experience was something Ryo could never acquire, no matter how hard he tried to act mature.

And that composure inevitably inspired a certain kind of admiration in those who observed it.

"One day, I'd like to be like that too…"

"Not likely, is it?"

The blunt remark of the tactless swordsman-king tore through Ryo's words of admiration.

"Abel, that's rude!"

Ryo barked.

"Let me ask you, Ryo, do you think you could become like that?"

"Guh…"

"Right? Same here, but I get the feeling it's impossible for you too."

Ryo looked frustrated while Abel shrugged.

Yes, they both knew it.

It wasn't something you could become just because you wanted to.

They knew it, and yet… precisely because they knew…

"I still admire it."

"Yeah, well, it's free to admire, at least."

With that, they both shook their heads at the same time.

While Abel had come to visit Ryo like this, the sound of a violin could still be heard from deeper within the residence.

"Mr. Ron is quite diligent."

"Yeah. With people like that, as long as they get proper instruction, they'll keep improving on their own."

Abel said this as he sipped tea that had been prepared without him even noticing.

Apparently, among the many Censorate personnel who had come for General Yun's interrogation, there were those whose job was to serve tea.

Of course, tea had been promptly prepared not only for Secretary Shau, but also for Ryo and Abel when he arrived.

"This tea is good."

Taking a sip, Abel praised it.

"Right? You can really tell whether someone takes their work seriously, even from something as simple as how they brew tea."

Ryo nodded.

Tea brewed with perfect technique and perfect timing was unbelievably delicious.

So delicious that anyone could tell immediately.

'It's the same no matter who makes it', was not true.

Now then, do you know the perfect method and perfect timing for brewing tea?

Most people do not.

If you don't learn and don't research, you won't know.

That's why those who know the perfect method and timing are people who have either studied or researched it themselves.

Why would they do that?

Because they knew it was necessary.

People like that, even if their roles change and they move on to other jobs, will be able to excel.

Because they know what they need to research.

Because they know by when they need to have researched it.

It's just tea, and yet, it is not "just" tea…

That day, the interrogation continued until evening.

Of course, the violin practice also continued until evening.

"Still, nothing's happening, huh."

"…Ryo, are you thinking up something bad again?"

"I'm always thinking about world peace…"

"Don't lie. I can see through it immediately."

Abel cut down Ryo's words with a single strike.

"No, I meant the prisoner—the one in ice."

"General Yun, you mean."

"Yes, that general, but he's being too quiet."

"…Huh?"

Abel tilted his head, not understanding.

Rather than being quiet, General Yun hadn't opened his mouth at all during the interrogation, remaining completely silent.

Certainly, one could call that quiet…

"I mean, magic… he's a sorcerer, right? I thought he'd try to go berserk with sorcery or something…"

"Isn't he surrounded by your ice walls?"

"Yes, he is, but they're transparent… I mean, you'd expect him to at least try once to attack with sorcery or something, wouldn't you?"

Ryo said this with a disappointed expression.

"If you were captured, Abel, wouldn't you at least try to escape?"

"…Yeah, I would."

"Right?"

That would be normal.

But General Yun did not move.

Even during interrogation, he remained silent, with his eyes mostly closed.

"It's creepy, actually."

"Now that you mention it, it is."

Ryo muttered, and Abel agreed.

The next day, the interrogation and practice resumed from morning until evening, just as before.

"Duke Rondo, we have gathered the necessary information."

After the day's interrogation ended, and General Yun was once again fully frozen, Secretary Shau informed Ryo.

Apparently, the information extraction using a helmet-type information collector was complete.

"It's terrifying… having the information inside your head extracted without even realizing it…"

Ryo shook his head slightly as he gave his honest impression.

"It simply means one cannot do evil."

Secretary Shau said with a laugh.

Then he continued:

"That said, we have merely extracted the information, and it has yet to be converted into something we can understand. It will take several days of analysis before it becomes readable. Well, we have no further use for that prisoner."

"Meaning you will no longer be visiting the residence. Thank you for your hard work."

"No, no, sorry for the trouble." Nееd сhаrасtеr shееts аnd glоssаriеs? Visit МV^LЕМ^РYR.

Ryo bowed his head politely, and Secretary Shau returned the gesture with hands folded.

Greetings are important.

Thus, the Censorate withdrew.

There was one person pleased by this development.

"Then, starting tomorrow, could you return to visiting the Chouonkaku again?!"

It was Workshop Chief Ron Shen.

"There, you can play the piano as much as you like!"

He said, turning toward Ryo.

"That's quite tempting."

Ryo seemed rather pleased as well.

And so, starting the next day, Ryo and Abel once again began visiting the Chouonkaku.

Meanwhile, in the Taiji Hall within the imperial palace:

"What? An envoy from the Chooouchi Empire?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The Emperor of Darwei, Tsuin Tsao, frowned and confirmed, while Prime Minister Byan Byan nodded respectfully.

The Prime Minister was the highest administrative authority in Darwei.

In the Central Countries, this would correspond to the Kingdom's Prime Minister or the Union's Governor.

Thus, Byan Byan, as Prime Minister, was the highest administrative authority within this vast Darwei Empire… but he was already over eighty years old.

He had long stood at the center of the palace, supporting Darwei as one of its senior officials, but age was catching up with him.

In fact, he had once retired ten years ago.

At that time, Darwei was under the effective governance of a wise and capable Crown Prince who excelled in both the civil and military arts, while the Emperor, who loved the arts, stepped back to enjoy his own interests.

This created a bright and joyful atmosphere throughout the nation.

Watching this, Prime Minister Byan Byan felt a sense of fulfillment and resigned his position to retire in the countryside.

Everyone believed that Darwei had a bright future ahead.

Until five years later, when the Crown Prince was assassinated.

The Crown Prince was assassinated in his Eastern Palace, and Emperor Tsuin, losing his will to govern, led to the gradual breakdown of Darwei's central administration.

Darwei's structure concentrated immense power in the Emperor and his immediate circle.

When the central administration faltered, the entire massive nation of Darwei began to malfunction.

Naturally, many among the Shitaifu class sensed the danger.

Some gathered under the remaining princes, forming factions…

Others, in hopes of restoring proper governance to the central administration, worked to recall the retired senior officials…

One of those recalled was Prime Minister Byan Byan.

However, Byan Byan himself knew best.

That he was no longer capable of shouldering the heavy burden of the Prime Minister's role.

Thus, he initially refused the recall.

He refused many times.

In the end, when the Emperor himself, rumored to have lost his will, personally requested it, he returned out of necessity.

However, he believed he should train a successor as quickly as possible and retire again.

In reality, he felt that he could no longer keep watch over every corner of Darwei as he once had.

In the past, he would even jump on a horse as soon as an issue arose and go directly to see the situation for himself.

He had even once ridden a horse for an entire day to reach a site.

That was the only way to truly address problems.

By the time official reports arrived, the people would already be exhausted.

Sometimes, such exhaustion could lead to riots or rebellions…

But now, he could no longer ride a horse.

"If only His Highness the Crown Prince were still alive…"

How many times had he whispered those words?

Undoubtedly, it wasn't just Byan Byan.

Many officials had likely whispered the same.

That was how significant the late Crown Prince had been, and how much hope he had represented for Darwei…

"You said the envoy from the Chooouchi Empire has arrived at 'Chuo Chuang' and wishes to visit the palace, correct? But I have received no report that such people crossed the northern border."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Prime Minister's Office also received no such information."

"…Meaning the administration is not functioning properly."

"My apologies."

Emperor Tsuin shook his head with a frown, while Prime Minister Byan Byan apologized.

As the Prime Minister, he bore ultimate responsibility for administration.

"No, it is not Prime Minister Byan's fault. This is the consequence of my own negligence since that time. It has caused trouble for many…"

Emperor Tsuin sighed.

Since the Crown Prince's death, he had abandoned his duties as Emperor, and he knew it.

As a result, the princes formed factions, splitting the Shitaifu class, and causing suffering among the people.

"If they are indeed official envoys, we shall receive them and hear what they have to say. Speaking of which, we did receive some information about this Chooouchi Empire."

"Yes. It is said to be a newly established country further north of Peiyu, which borders us in the north. However, that area…"

"Yes, I know what you wish to say, Prime Minister Byan."

Emperor Tsuin furrowed his brow, nodded deeply, and continued:

"For most of the year, it is covered in snow, and of course, crops cannot grow. It should not be a place where people can live at all…"

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

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