Water Magician

Volume 3, Part 3, Bosuntar Kingdom

Editor: Tseirp

“Abel… why are we walking through a jungle… or rather, a dense rainforest?”

“…Because the Dragon King’s city is in the jungle, obviously. There’s no way around it.”

Ryo and Abel were once again making their way through the dense jungle.

As Abel had said, they needed to cross it… to continue on their journey.

“I feel like we’ve been walking through jungles ever since we got caught up in Djinn Garwin’s magic outburst and teleported here.”

“Now that you mention it…we had to trek through a jungle when we first went from the coastline to Manyamya City too.”

“Ah, how nostalgic. It feels like it was years ago.”

“Time really flies. Maybe we’ll meet Dragon King Nullus very soon.”

“Could be.”

“Abel, you might even become a grandpa before you know it.”

“What…?! Even if time flies, it’s not that fast.”

Abel protested.

“Abel, you’re skilled with a bow, right?”

“Yeah, I guess I can handle one decently enough.”

Abel had once demonstrated exceptional archery skills during the Whitnash Port Festival.

His abilities were undoubtedly top-notch.

“There’s a saying: ‘Time flies like an arrow’. It reminds us that time moves swiftly. If you let your guard down, you’ll become an old man before accomplishing anything.”

“That’s a fair point… So, the idea is to live every day to the fullest, right?”

“Exactly.”

Abel nodded with determination, and Ryo nodded in agreement.

Thirty minutes later.

“Abel, let’s stop for the day. I’m bored of looking at the same scenery over and over again.”

“Wait a minute… weren’t you just saying we should live every day to the fullest?”

The human heart is indeed fickle.

Six days after parting with Dragon King Nullus, the two finally emerged from the jungle.

“We’re out at last!”

“Look at the vast grasslands! This is exactly the kind of view I was hoping for! “

Abel gave him a sidelong glance.

“You’re just going to complain about the grasslands being monotonous next, aren’t you?”

“How rude! My complaints are driven by a desire to use time creatively!”

“A desire to what now?”

“Uh, to engage in creative thinking… or something like that.”

Ryo hurriedly explained, but in the end, Abel didn’t seem to understand.

Tilting his head in confusion.

“Do you know, Abel? That certain environments make people more likely to have brilliant ideas? This has been known for over a thousand years!”

“Hohooo.”

“There’s an old saying by a scholar named Ouyang Xiu: The three places of inspiration are on horseback, on the pillow, and in the restroom.”

“On horseback… as in, while riding a horse? That makes sense, I guess.”

Abel nodded.

Perhaps from personal experience.

“Exactly. What I want to talk about today is ‘on horseback’. It applies not just to riding a horse but to travel and movement in general. Traveling itself fosters inspiration. When you place yourself in a different environment, you tend to have fresh ideas. That’s why famous authors of the past used to retreat to hot spring inns and produce masterpieces. Being constantly in an ‘inspiration-boost’ state makes it natural to create something better than if they wrote at home.”

“I’m not sure I get the last part, but… are you saying a change of scenery helps?”

“Exactly.”

“So… are you working on something that needs inspiration? Like a novel?”

“Uh? N-no… um…y-yes! I’m brainstorming ideas for the next volume of the ‘Starving Swordsman Abel’ series!”

“Ooh!”

Abel’s expression grew suspicious.

“What’s with that look? Don’t you believe me?

“I believe the ‘on horseback’ idea, but believing you is another matter…”

“How mean…”

The two continued north across the grasslands.

“Hey, Ryo.”

“What is it, Abel? There are no cakes here.”

“Why would you think I’d ask for cake?”

“Well, it’s nearly three in the afternoon. Time for a snack…”

“We didn’t eat snacks while we were in the jungle either, right?”

“That’s because the jungle was covered with trees blocking the sky. But here, the sky is open! Cakes could fall from it anytime.”

“Not happening!”

The world, alas, is not that kind.

“Yeah, that was a bit far-fetched. I need to work on smoother transitions to make it more engaging… it’s tough. Professionals in any field are amazing.”

“Yeah, I have no idea what you’re talking about, though.”

Ryo gave a small shake of his head while Abel shook his head emphatically.

In the end, no cakes fell from the sky that day…

For dinner, they roasted a rabbit… just an ordinary animal, not a monster—with salt and pepper.

The day passed peacefully.

The next morning, trouble arose.

“Abel, we’re being surrounded.”

“What?”

Ryo announced as they finished breakfast, sipping coffee leisurely.

“They haven’t fully encircled us, but their gear looks uniform. It’s not bandits or highwaymen.”

“Not adventurers either. Maybe knights or city guards.”

“By the way, we’re running low on coffee beans we brought from the Free City. We should restock soon. But…”

Ryo trailed off.

Glancing at the .

“That thing stands out, doesn’t it?”

“Yeah… it does.”

Even though it was a small , it held all their belongings.

When boarding the Grand Duchy’s ship, they had carried it along with the rest of their luggage, but the weight of the gold coins made it quite heavy.

Carrying it individually wouldn’t look natural, making travel difficult.

It would surely arouse suspicion.

“Why not… just report it and leave it in safekeeping?”

Five minutes later, the two were surrounded.

“We are the patrol squad from the city of Mifasoshi. We have some questions to ask as part of our duties.”

“Ah, yes, yes. Thank you for your hard work. And what exactly would you like to ask?”

A group of twenty patrolmen had encircled Ryo and Abel. The leader, clad in what appeared to be the finest leather armor, stepped forward and addressed them.

Ryo responded with unnecessary politeness.

Dressed in a robe, with a slender frame and a gentle, soft demeanor, Ryo’s respectful tone seemed to defuse any hostility in the patrol leader’s voice.

By maintaining a calm and composed tone, one could often influence others to mirror that calmness.

An essential principle in conversation and negotiation.

“Hmm, commendable. I am Solon, the captain. A local hunter reported seeing smoke rising from this area yesterday evening. We came to investigate, and just now, we saw smoke again from afar. Both instances… were your doing, correct?”

“Yes, that is most likely the case.”

Ryo answered with a nod.

He kept his response as brief as possible.

Providing only the bare minimum of information.

“Where have you come from? And where are you headed?”

“Okay. We came from the Free City… or rather, now the Autonomous City of Kwebasa. We are transporting goods north for trade.”

“I see, merchants, then.”

Ryo wasn’t lying. It was Captain Solon who jumped to the conclusion that they were merchants.

“Hmm? Just now, you referred to Kwebasa as an Autonomous City after first calling it a Free City. Why the correction?”

“Ah, yes. The Free City of Kwebasa was recently occupied by the neighboring Atinjo Grand Duchy. A formal declaration was made that it would come under the Grand Duchy’s protection. However, just a few days ago… the Grand Duchy granted it autonomy, so it is now known as the Autonomous City of Kwebasa.”

“Is that true?!”

Captain Solon was visibly surprised by Ryo’s explanation.

The patrolmen, still holding their spears, began whispering amongst themselves.

“You two… I need you to report this matter to the city’s magistrate’s office.”

“Huh?”

And so, Ryo and Abel were escorted to the magistrate’s office.

Not as prisoners.

But with utmost courtesy.

However…

“Is that… all of your belongings?”

Captain Solon’s eyes fell on the ice chest at their feet.

The ice was cloudy, concealing its contents.

Protruding from the chest were rods of ice, making it easier for the two to carry it together…

“Yes, it contains our trade funds. We don’t mind going to the city, but carrying this will take us some time…”

“That’s fine. We will transport it for you.”

At Solon’s command, two particularly burly patrolmen stepped forward and hefted the ice chest.

“Ah, as expected, impressive strength. Thank you very much for your help.”

Thus, Ryo and Abel headed toward the city’s magistrate’s office.

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