The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 4 E-Book

Tadashi Kubou

• Herausgeber: J-Novel Club
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Serie: The Water Magician
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 492

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2025

Beschreibung

After escorting Prince Willie to the capital of Knightley, Ryo feels a weight lift off his shoulders. He’s even managed to secure a position teaching the young prince how to use water magic. Life couldn’t be better!

Before long, Ryo and Sera happily go on a sweets tour together. The two of them bond as they visit the other elves, but after they go their separate ways, a horde of monsters emerges from underneath the Temple! And then while he and Abel are trying to find the cause of this outbreak, an “island” falls from the sky and crashes right through the royal castle! As one crisis crops up after another, Sera struggles to protect her friends and is attacked by a powerful opponent.

“Do you really think I’ll let you hurt the people I care about?!” Ryo will use his superhigh-pressure water currents to stave off a scheming enemy nation that has bared its fangs! The adventures of the strongest, freewheeling water magician continue in this frenetic fourth volume!

Leseprobe

Table of Contents

Cover

Prologue

Converging in the Royal Capital

Mayhem in the Royal Capital

The Fallen Island

Defensive Battle at the Enclave

The Road Back to Lune

Epilogue

The Fire Magician IV: Fiona

The Fire Magician IV: Fate in Motion

Afterword

Color Illustrations

Character Bios

Map of Phi

About J-Novel Club

Copyright

Landmarks

Color Images

Table of Contents

Prologue

The Kingdom’s Second Highway ran from the royal capital of Crystal Palace, through Wingston, the largest city in the eastern region, to the town of Redpost on the country’s eastern border. Redpost bordered the Principality of Inverey and the Handalieu Federation.

Ryo, Prince Willie, Rodrigo, their four guards, and the six adventurers led by Cohn headed west along the Second Highway toward the royal capital. The carriage Prince Willie and his companions rode in was relatively large and fairly well-made, and had been newly purchased in Wingston. The prince had lost all of his letters of credit during the Sect of Assassins’s attack on their group, so Ryo had advanced him the funds. Because once they’d entered the Kingdom, Ryo was basically a rich man.

Currently, he was acting as Prince Willie’s guide.

“What was it that we ate last night? Gratin, you called it? I must say, it was quite delectable. Never could I have imagined an inn in such a small town serving something along those lines... I’m reminded once again of what a powerhouse the Kingdom of Knightley truly is.” Prince Willie was singing the praises of the dinner they’d eaten last night on one of the pit stops during their journey.

“I know, right? I couldn’t agree more,” Ryo said, nodding enthusiastically beside him, as if he personally had something to do with the meal.

The rest of the group—Rodrigo, the four bodyguards, and six adventurers including Cohn, who led them—watched over the pair with indulgent smiles.

“In fact, I feel like I’m ready to go all out tonight during our magical training!” the prince declared eagerly.

“Your Highness, please don’t push yourself too much...” Ryo rushed to caution. As the boy’s guide, stopping him whenever necessary was also part of his job. If you were curious about why, it was because...

“I know, I know. I ran out of magic last night. But! I have a strong feeling I’ll be just fine tonight.”

“Respectfully, I have a strong feeling the exact same thing will happen tonight since you have a tendency to try too hard...”

Prince Willie was very much enjoying his water magic training. Even Ryo was surprised by how gung ho the boy was. Consequently, more often than not, he passed out from exhausting his stores of mana due to his zealousness.

Everyone in their group, Ryo and Willie included, understood that with the problem of the Sect of Assassins settled, they no longer had to fear any surprise attacks. And this explained why the young prince trained to the point of—well, actually, beyond the point of exhaustion. The others were happy enough to indulge him with their biggest threat eliminated.

Rodrigo had been the prince’s attendant since his birth and it delighted him to see the changes in the boy now. As the eighth son of the royal bloodline of the Monarchy of Joux, Prince Willie had endured much during his life in the palace. His inherently gentle personality was likely the reason he had spent so long being considerate to so many. As a result, those around came to view him as weak and forgettable, which had, in fact, been the general consensus of Willie up until he left Joux for his studies abroad.

However, he’d been different as a wee boy. His kindness endured, but he’d also retained his strength of heart. Moreover, he had also been a hard worker who dedicated himself single-mindedly to every pursuit.

So Rodrigo was overjoyed to see the prince steadily recover traces of his old self on this trip. He was well aware that the catalyst for the change was none other than Prince Willie’s body double and bodyguard, the water magician named Ryo. And for this reason, he was grateful to Ryo from the bottom of his heart.

That night...

“Just a little bit longer. Just a liiittle bit. Please. The teensiest longer.”

“Your Highness, you know what happens every time you say that...”

“I’m fine... Ah...”

“I hate to say I told you so...but I told you so...”

Tonight, just like the evenings prior, Prince Willie fell asleep after exhausting all of his magic and Ryo sighed at the entirely expected result. None of the others commented though, having grown used to the sight by now.

Still, Ryo worried a bit about him. Ideally, the boy should stop right before his mana ran out and then go to bed. Over their time together, Ryo had somehow come to understand when the prince was about to cross the threshold and always tried to stop. However...Willie just kept charging forward. And then eventually collapsed from running out of magic.

It’s tough for a servant to have a master who tries too hard.

In any case, with so many of their problems now solved, the group continued on the road to the royal capital.

◆

In a village roughly two miles from Crystal Palace, the capital of the Kingdom of Knightley, four adventurers visited its church in the evening. The priest who opened the door seemed a bit surprised, but welcomed them without a word. He beckoned for one of them to follow him to his den.

The priest placed his hand on the side of a bookshelf situated farthest back in the room and chanted something. The bookshelf slid aside, revealing the wall behind it. There was a hole just large enough for a single person to pass through. When the man stepped through it, the priest placed his hand once again on the bookshelf and after returning it to its original position, he left his den.

The man who had walked through the hole immediately placed his hand on a stone nearby and chanted something. Light illuminated the hole all the way to the back at his words. A very long corridor stretched so far ahead that it was difficult to estimate its length.

Exhaling quietly, the man started walking down the path.

After thirty minutes of walking, he arrived at a spot where the path split into three. He unhesitatingly chose the one on the right. After more walking, he reached a spiral staircase, which he climbed up. A stone door stood at his destination. He placed his hand on it and chanted something again. The door opened on its own and the man stepped through. He walked forward another fifty meters before he met another stone door.

He unsheathed his sword halfway and tapped the door three times with the butt of the hilt. A short time later, he heard three taps coming from the other side. That was his signal to tap another seven times.

Then, finally, came the sounds of the lock being undone and the bolt unfastened, after which the door opened.

“Welcome, Albert.”

“Begging your pardon, Your Royal Highness, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Knightley.”

The man who welcomed him inside, addressed as the crown prince, looked to be around thirty years old with a sickly complexion. And the man who entered the room, addressed as Albert, was...Abel, Lune’s B-rank adventurer.

“It’s just us. Plus, I haven’t heard you call me ‘Brother’ in a while, so indulge me, won’t you?” With a rueful smile, the crown prince slowly sat down on the bed.

“As you wish, Brother,” Abel said a little bashfully.

The crown prince nodded happily in response. “Unfortunately, this isn’t a social call. I asked you to rush here under the utmost secrecy because we have a serious problem on our hands.” The Crown Prince panted as he spoke, likely due to overexerting himself physically.

“His Majesty has relinquished his key to the Hall of Champions.”

“Wha...?” Abel could say nothing else in response to the crown prince’s announcement.

The Hall of Champions. Known as the true treasure vault, it was a place located deep in the royal family’s official treasure house. King Richard, who had restored the Kingdom of Knightley’s fortunes, built it several hundred years ago during his reign in the extreme north of the country. It was protected by all the elemental magics as well as alchemical safeguards.

Since the time of King Richard’s reign, several treasures said to be capable of destroying the world’s balance rested inside. Moreover, as part of his dying wish, he demanded that everything within the Hall of Champions must not fall into the hands of the lower social classes. Such were the unimaginable things contained within the Hall, things that must not be released into the world. And only two specific individuals were allowed to open it.

“For generations, the king and the crown prince have been in charge of the keys...” Abel said, recalling the information he had learned once upon a time in the royal castle.

“Exactly right. And Majesty has relinquished his right to open the Hall of Champions.”

At this point, the crown prince stood up, picked up a jug of water on a nearby table, and poured himself a cup. He took a sip.

“If one of the two people with a key abandons it or dies, the other will know. So, I became aware of what happened, but...I don’t know why His Majesty has done such a thing. Though I may have an inkling.”

“What do you mean?” Abel asked his older brother.

“These past two years...I don’t know how to describe it, but...it’s as if our father has lost his spirit, his drive... He’s often...dazed? That’s how he seems to me... Yet there are also times when he’s back to his old, animated self. In short, he’s very unstable.”

“That can’t be... Is he ill? Would that explain it?”

That was the first possibility Abel thought of upon hearing the crown prince’s explanation.

“It’s possible. But there’s another possibility too.”

“Such as?”

“Poison or magic controlling his mind.”

Abel’s eyes widened in shock then.

“Don’t be ridiculous! All of us in the royal family never take off our necklaces of tranquility. That should be true of His Majesty too. Those necklaces are specifically designed to ward against every poison and mind-control magic known to man. For him to be under the influence of one of those while wearing it is absurd...”

“Yes, all of that would be true if he were wearing a true necklace.” In direct contrast to Abel’s agitation, the crown prince spoke calmly. “Having said that, unlike us, His Majesty has to attend all sorts of ceremonies, some of which he must perform without wearing any clothes at all.”

“Ah...”

It was easy for Abel to imagine the scene as his brother pointed out. Their father definitely took off his necklace during ceremonies like that. So if someone had switched it out for a fake...

“That possibility never even occurred to me...”

“To be clear, it’s still just a possibility. Because there’s still a chance he’s simply sick. Even though the high priest from the central temple has visited Father several times to cast Cure.”

The Heal spell healed wounds and Cure healed poisons and illnesses.

“The same one whom Father has known for ages...?”

“Yes. He visits despite his busy schedule. While there is improvement in his state after the high priest’s use of Cure, he reverts back in a matter of days. Since Cure isn’t anywhere near as powerful as Heal, it’s difficult to determine whether poison or illness is at work...” The prince remarked with a frown.

If it is poison, then someone close to His Majesty is responsible...?

With that thought, Abel looked at the crown prince. His older brother inclined his head just a bit. Of course, the crown prince had already considered this and made his move.

“In any case, he evidently gave his key away during one of his more lively periods.” The crown prince took another sip of water. “That is why I asked you here, Albert. I’m the only one at the moment with a key to the Hall. Which is why I’m going to register you as the second holder.”

“Me...?”

“Yes. His Majesty gave his away when he was lucid. It’s impossible otherwise to hand over a key and register another holder. I don’t really understand the mechanism behind it, but the alchemy is apparently King Richard’s doing. And once a key has been relinquished, the same holder can not be registered again. This makes you the only logical choice, since you’re second in line for the throne, Albert. We don’t have a moment to spare.” Then the crown prince shrugged and continued jokingly. “With my body being what it is, who knows when I’ll shrug off these mortal coils, eh?”

“Brother, don’t even joke about that, do you hear me?!” Abel raised his voice, his face twisted in an angry scowl.

“Forgive me, forgive me,” the crown prince said, brushing off his younger brother’s anger. Then his expression became a bit grave again as he continued. “Another thing I wanted to discuss... It won’t be right away, but...you may have to come home earlier than planned.”

“I...see.” Abel gave the crown prince a slight nod. He had suspected this topic might come up after he’d received his brother’s summons.

“You’ve already accomplished your original goal of becoming a famous adventurer. After all, there aren’t many in the nation who don’t know the name of Abel the B-rank adventurer from Lune, eh?”

The crown prince chuckled softly as Abel’s cheeks reddened a bit.

“Since the reign of King Richard, the Kingdom has been a country of adventurers. They are a mighty fighting force for our national defense. In which case, as one who will someday lead our military, I must learn how an adventurer thinks. And that is why I wish for you to return to the royal family because you have the necessary experience as an adventurer. When you do, I’m confident the Kingdom’s adventurers will gladly dedicate themselves even more passionately for the sake of our country and its people... Once upon a time, you told me exactly that, Albert, and I believed you. How could I not, when my little brother is a prodigy?” Beaming, the crown prince recalled from memory the words the second prince had declared in his younger days.

“Brother, please stop teasing me...” And said second prince blushed furiously at having them repeated back to him.

“But I’m not. I truly believe in your vision.” The crown prince looked at Abel gently. “I’ll manage the political side of things and you’ll handle the military... That was our dream, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. Yes, it was...”

For a while, a comfortable silence stretched between the two brothers. Perhaps each was thinking back to his memories of the past.

The crown prince broke the quiet first.

“Well, there you have all the sordid details. Right now, I need you to come with me to the Hall of Champions so I can register you as the second key keeper.”

“Are you absolutely certain? At the moment, I’m technically not a part of the royal family. Don’t you think Harold would be a better choice?”

Harold was the crown prince’s son.

“He’s only twelve years old. Much too young for such a burden. Once you return home, you’ll be reinstated into the line of succession, Albert. After me and you, he’ll be third in line for the throne. Except he is still only a child. Logically, it would be better to register him after you, in the event something happens to either of us.”

Abel responded after a brief, thoughtful pause. “I understand.” He would do what his older brother had asked of him. However, something troubled him. “I’m fine with you registering me as the second keeper, Brother, but I’m worried about your health...”

“Today is actually a relatively good day. So long as you lend me your shoulder, I can manage sneaking into the Hall of Champions and returning without anyone the wiser.”

At this point, the crown prince picked up two robes and handed one to Abel.

“This is known as a ‘recluse’s robe.’ It was created at the Royal Center for Alchemy, allowing the wearer to pass by undetected no matter how much noise they make. Needless to say, its misuse is strictly prohibited, eh?”

Then the two brothers quietly slipped out of the room.

◆

After they finished doing what they needed to do, Abel entered the underground path from the same set of hidden doors and walked the two miles back to the church in the village from the royal capital of Crystal Palace. When he entered the church’s canteen, he saw the other three members of the Crimson Sword eating dinner.

“Welcome baaack, Abel,” said Lynn, the air magician.

“Thanks,” he replied.

“They’ve kindly prepared a plate for you as well, Abel,” Rihya, the priestess said as she motioned to an empty chair.

He sat down and began eating in silence. The other three continued eating without saying a word as well. He finally spoke once he’d polished off his plate.

“I’m going to the capital tomorrow. There’s something I need to check.”

“Oh? Are you going to drop by the guild?” Rihya inquired.

“No. I’m gonna do things without involving them for a while,” Abel answered with a shake of his head.

“But all inns and hotels in the capital have strict background checks. What do you plan on doing about that?” Lyn asked.

She spoke only the truth. Guests couldn’t book lodgings without showing proof of identity, and guards frequently checked the approved guest lists. In the case of Abel and his party, their guild cards acted as identification. However, if he used it when reserving a room at an inn, the inn would reach out to the guild to perform a reference check. In other words, there was a very good chance that the guild would find out anyway that the B-rank party Crimson Sword was in the royal capital.

“Don’t worry about it. I have an idea,” Abel said with a grin.

Lyn got a bad feeling at the sight of his unnerving smile...

◆

The four members of Crimson Sword entered the royal capital without incident and arrived at their destination.

“I knew it...” With those words, Lyn fell to her knees.

This was the Royal Institute for Magical Research, also known informally as Hilarion’s Estate. As the chief royal magician of the Kingdom of Knightley, Hilarion Baraha was also in charge of the Institute. Both guests and staff could stay overnight in the research facility since it was equipped with numerous lodging areas inside.

The breed of people known as researchers dedicated themselves so intently to their work that they were often reluctant to go home... But this mindset was how you became a top-tier scholar. And for these people, a place that combined both a laboratory and dormitory was nothing short of heaven.

However, the same couldn’t be said for Lyn, the Crimson Sword’s air magician. She had once assisted Hilarion with his research and conducted her own here. Her time at the Institute had been challenging to say the least, which probably explained why she considered the Institute one of the most depressing places of her life.

The Institute was equipped with buildings for both research and experiments, as well as other outdoor and indoor facilities for conducting experiments. It occupied a vast area despite being located within the royal capital.

The four of them headed to the topmost floor of the research building...the laboratory of Hilarion Baraha, the origin of the Institute’s nickname. When they arrived in front of the lab, Abel opened the door without even bothering to knock.

“Old man, you in here?”

Such a casual greeting defined the relationship between Abel and Hilarion.

“I know that voice. Abel, that you? Take a seat anywhere over there.”

For whatever reason, the voice came from the other side of the office desk...even though no one was there. Ignoring the instruction, Abel looked to where the voice originated. There, he saw Hilarion’s chair on the other side of the desk and...a wooden box, roughly the size of an adult head, with slightly rounded corners resting on the seat.

The voice was coming from inside the box. When Abel reached out to grasp it, the connecting door to the adjacent room opened and an elderly man appeared.

“I told you to sit down, didn’t I?”

Abel flinched and jerked his hand back immediately. Naturally, the other three had already sat down obediently like they’d been told from the get-go.

“Good grief, boy. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you never grew up.”

Shaking his head, Hilarion Baraha sat down on one of the sofas in the room.

“I mean, technically, I have grown...”

“Bah, as if anyone would believe you.”

Then Hilarion rang the tabletop bell twice. Exactly ten seconds later, a knock sounded on the door and a young woman entered.

“How may I help you, Chief?”

“We have guests. Pour us five cups of tea... No, coffee, please.”

“Right away, Sir.” The woman bowed and departed.

Abel stared at Hilarion with interest. “Sooo, guess the Institute’s serving coffee now too, huh?”

“You just met Sura and she hails from the south. The coffee she makes is delicious,” Hilarion answered with a nod.

Sura came back with five cups of coffee and set them down in front of them before leaving again. Hilarion placed a palm-sized box on top of the coffee table and pushed what looked to be a switch.

“It’s an alchemical box designed to prevent eavesdropping. We finally received our own supply of them.”

“Wow. The developments in alchemy really are outstanding... One of my friends is obsessed with alchemy, you know. I wonder if he’ll be able to make something like this someday.” Abel sounded impressed as he stared at the anti-eavesdropping device.

“Albert, you have a friend? Well, color me shocked. I guess you have indeed grown, eh? Oh, I remember Arthur mentioning a water magician. Is that who you’re talking about?”

By Arthur, he likely meant Arthur Berasus, special advisor at the Bureau of Royal Magicians. He had visited the city of Lune to investigate the Great Tidal Bore and had narrowly escaped death in the dungeon, alongside Abel and his party.

“Wait, you know about him too, old man? Well, did you know he also saved my life?”

“Hm... Lyn, your eyes tell me you have thoughts on this water magician. His name is Ryo, right? Tell me, is he powerful?”

“Why the heck are you asking her and not me...?” Abel protested.

“Because you don’t know what makes a good magician; that’s why. Lyn, on the other hand, does.” Hilarion’s blunt assertion made Abel puff his cheeks in annoyance. Next to him, Rihya chuckled quietly at the sight.

“Master, Ryo’s basically a monster when it comes to magic,” Lyn declared in answer to Hilarion’s question.

The elderly man frowned slightly. “For you to call someone a monster is serious business indeed... Now, tell me in detail what you mean by that.”

“He uses a lot of original spells. I don’t know how he does it though.”

Abel nodded vigorously in agreement as he listened to Lyn’s report. And for some reason...his arms were folded proudly, like he had something to do with Ryo’s abilities.

“Hm... Arthur had told me as much too, but...he really is a fascinating young man, eh? I’d love to meet him and talk to him myself.”

Upon hearing those words, Abel stared at Hilarion in surprise. “Old man, make sure you stick to just conversation if you ever meet him, okay? Don’t ever make him mad.”

“What would happen if I did make him mad?”

“He’ll freeze a village or even an entire city like it’s nothing...” Abel had never witnessed the scene for himself, but he ended up blurting out the first thing that came to mind... If only he knew exactly what he’d described had actually happened in the Kingdom’s east.

“Oooh, a water magician who can freeze an entire city, eh? I bet it’d be a sight to behold,” Hilarion said while sipping on his cup of coffee.

“You’re not taking my warning seriously at all, are you?” Abel remarked, his expression exasperated as he stared at the old man.

“Don’t get your britches in a knot, boy. I believe you. Sounds just like one of those stories about the Inferno Magician. What was it again? He supposedly burned down entire cities?”

“Speaking of, I’m pretty sure I saw that spell. I think he called it ‘The Fall of Heaven and Earth.’”

Hilarion’s eyes widened. It was the first time the chief of the Institute looked truly astounded since their little gathering started.

“Albert, no, Abel, why do you know the name of that spell?” Hilarion practically pounced on Abel. There was nothing ordinary about the vigor or intensity of his reply.

As a researcher of magic, there was still much Hilarion had yet to see with his eyes concerning magic... So it was no wonder the unexpected news roused his excitement. No less because one of his own pupils before his very eyes possessed the heretofore unknown data!

It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that Hilarion had dedicated his entire life to the study of magic. His zeal was such that he might even have dissected Abel just to extract the information... Perhaps that was how it felt to the young man in question at least.

“Right, well, um, we kinda met him in Whitnash. The Inferno Magician was enraged and he used that spell to rain down countless flames from the sky. Back then, his target was much smaller, but it was obvious to me that the magic is originally a destructive one meant to be used on a much wider range, so I figured it could burn a city to ash...” Abel answered while recalling the incident in Whitnash.

“Ah, you’re talking about the surprise attack then. I heard about the imperial prince and princess in attendance, but I had no idea the infamous Inferno Magician was there too. But hell and damn, boy, I can’t believe you survived an attack like that up close.”

“Yeah, ’cuz Ryo’s the one who countered The Fall of Heaven and Earth,” Abel said quietly.

“What did you say...?” Stunned, Hilarion was at a loss for words.

And then...

“That does it. I’m off to Lune right now. I’ll see you all when I see you.”

Hilarion stood up, ready to leave. Abel and the others rushed to stop him.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold your horses, old man. First of all, Ryo isn’t even in Lune right now.”

“What? Then where the heck is he?”

“Before we came here, we were in Redpost, where he just so happened to be too. But he and the group he was traveling with were heading to the Principality of Inverey on a job, so...even if everything went fine, there’s no way he’s back in Lune already.”

“No. This can’t be...” Hilarion dropped to the floor on his hands and knees in the classic pose of despair.

“Yeeeah, I’m never gonna understand the species known as researchers...”

Hilarion didn’t hear Abel’s mutter.

After some time passed, Hilarion finally stood up. Then he sat down on the sofa again, looking completely unruffled and recovered from the shock.

“Ya know, I just realized I didn’t ask you young’uns why you’re here in the first place.”

“Wow, you really are gonna act like nothing happened, huh... And you ask us now?” Abel responded, exasperated, before continuing. “Well, let’s just say things are happening in the palace and I wanted to investigate a few of them in secret. Which is why I want you to let us use this place as our inn while we’re here.”

“Hm... Sure, I don’t mind. Besides, we have plenty of vacant rooms. As for the ‘things happening in the palace’... I’m guessing you mean His Majesty’s sudden change in behavior?”

“Yeah... You noticed too, huh, old man?” Unsurprised, Abel confirmed Hilarion’s suspicion.

“’Course I did. I am technically the head royal magician and that takes me to the palace quite a bit. However, your father and I haven’t had our one-on-ones like we used to.” Hilarion looked a bit sad.

Unlike Abel, Knightley’s current king, Stafford IV, could not only use magic, he also possessed a profound well of knowledge on the topic, so he and Hilarion had always engaged in lively discussions on the subject for decades now. Both of their rise in the political ranks meant their late-night debates had dwindled. Even so, they regularly chatted over tea.

Unfortunately, those casual meetings had also vanished these last two years.

“Hey, old man, got a question for you. Who’s become the most powerful person in the capital over the past three years or so?”

Suspect anyone who benefits. The fundamental truth of the world.

“Hm...a good question indeed, boy... Off the top of my head, I can think of Knight Commander Baccala, Grand Chamberlain Sorel, and Minister of Finance Fuca.”

“Interesting...”

Abel, too, knew all three individuals. Eight years ago, when Abel still lived in the royal palace, they had already been working as civil servants. Except, compared to now, their standings back then had been low...

“Well, thanks for the info.”

“Don’t do anything crazy now, ya hear?”

Then Hilarion downed the rest of his coffee.

◆

Crystal Palace, the capital of the Kingdom of Knightley. Originally, the name of the royal palace itself had been Crystal Palace, but at some point in time, it became the name of the capital itself, turning the royal palace into simply “the royal palace” or just “the palace.”

In the Kingdom, the windows of the various lords’ mansions were fitted with plate glass. However, the royal castle, true to its name, had thin crystals embedded in its windows instead, making its facade glitter. As the central palace of a great nation, it was lavishly decorated with crystals, its interior kept bright at all times by alchemical tools. It was even popular with visiting ambassadors as well as those in residence in the country.

The headquarters of the Royal Order of Knights was located in a section of the castle grounds. Currently, a total of five hundred knights belonged to the Royal Order. Two hundred of them were stationed in the headquarters while the rest were either in branch offices scattered across the royal capital or working at training centers.

In the Central Provinces, a knight was a profession and not a member of the peerage. Duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron—these were the five ranks of the aristocracy. Though a few countries had the position of baronet, just below baron, it was limited to one generation and therefore not considered strictly nobility.

Having said that, most of the knights in the Royal Order were those of noble blood who weren’t heads or heirs of their houses. Typically, they were third sons or beyond. However, a hierarchy still existed among these folks depending on their exact position, which resulted in clear discrimination. In short, even aristocrats came in all shapes and sizes.

The knight commander of the Royal Order was Baccala Tow, the current Earl of Ware. He had an imposing physique and wielded a powerful sword, as one might imagine given his size. He was originally the second in line, but after his father and brother both died in the Great War ten years ago, the seat of the earl had come to him. From there, he used the fortune he inherited to send all manner of bribes to all manner of individuals... After many twists and turns, and a pinch of luck, he succeeded in becoming the knight commander.

Of course, even though he gained the position through rampant bribery, he was originally a skilled swordsman and one of the best knights in the Kingdom. Behind his back, people questioned whether his skills had declined since becoming commander. However, today he was practicing his swordsmanship in a corner of the headquarters.

Commander Baccala’s adjutant rushed over. “Commander,” the adjutant said, “Earl Peergynt is here to see you.”

“Hm? Did we have an appointment?”

“No, he isn’t on your schedule for the day.”

“I see. I’ll be right there, then. Serve him a glass of our finest spirit while he waits.”

After wiping off his sweat, Baccala headed off to meet his guest.

◆

“I hope you haven’t been waiting too long, Earl Peergynt.”

Those were the first words out of Baccala’s mouth when he stepped into the parlor.

“Oh, no, not at all, Lord Commander. I’m the one imposing on you out of the blue. Please, don’t worry about it.”

Earl Peergynt had done plenty of dastardly things to earn his terrible reputation among the royals and nobility at court. At the same time, he was well-known as someone who could solve most problems so long as you paid him enough. A character like him was valued by a select few in any time period and society. Which meant there were also others who reviled him as a snake in the grass.

It went without saying that Peergynt had been instrumental in helping Baccala rise to his current position.

“So... To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?” Baccala asked after his adjutant poured his tea and left the room.

“You see, I have a boon to ask of you, Lord Commander.” Earl Peergynt then placed a bag stuffed with something on the edge of the table before continuing. The contents jangled when he did so. Most people would undoubtedly realize money was inside. “The truth is, Baron Washer’s third son is seeking employment, so he reached out to consult with me on the possibility of the boy joining the Royal Order of Knights.”

“Hm.”

“What say you, Lord Commander? Won’t you use your power for the greater good?”

“Well, that could be a mite tricky, since the Order has hit its quota.”

At Commander Baccala’s reply, Earl Peergynt took out a second bag similar to the first and placed it on the edge of the table.

“I understand completely and am deeply sympathetic. Please, isn’t there anything you can do...”

“You say that, but frankly, my hands are tied.”

So Earl Peergynt took out a third bag similar to its previous two counterparts and placed it on the edge of the table too. All three were lined up neatly. Commander Baccala spared them a brief glance.

“Well, since you’re the one asking, Lord Courtesy, I suppose I can figure something out,” the knight commander said with a shake of his head.

“Oh ho, you never disappoint, Lord Commander. You have my sincerest thanks.”

And with that, Earl Peergynt rose briskly, his attitude saying he didn’t wish to linger. After shaking hands with Baccala, he exited the room. Neither man had alluded to the bags on the table the whole time.

Once he made sure Peergynt was gone, Baccala picked up the three bags and carelessly tossed them into a nearby box in the adjoining room. The box, situated in a corner of the room, was large enough to hold a person. Other similar bags took up roughly seventy percent of the space inside. To no one’s surprise, they were all bribes he’d received thus far.

Ever since becoming the knight commander, Baccala’s position changed splendidly from the one giving bribes to the one receiving them. Which side of the equation were you on? The answer could be an indicator of your status in the current Kingdom of Knightley.

Once upon a time, becoming a knight of the Royal Order had been the most popular professional aspiration among men in the Kingdom. In fact, during the time of the previous knight commander, Alexis Heinlein, the royal knights had been feared for their daring. However, though only ten years had passed since the former commander’s retirement, the core of the organization was already rotting...

◆

In a straight line about a hundred meters from the Royal Order’s headquarters was the center of the royal palace, where King Stafford IV’s study was located. Two rooms from there was the room where Grand Chamberlain Sorel waited.

He was fifty-five years old this year, a balding man who was starting to put on weight. According to court hearsay, the king trusted him deeply. It was the grand chamberlain’s job to oversee the king’s official duties.

If a king was of sound mind, it was highly unlikely that the grand chamberlain would have much power. However, throughout Earth’s history, because the position put the individual so close to the most powerful person in a country, there had often been cases where a grand chamberlain mistakenly gained power... And so the current Kingdom of Knightley was heading in the wrong direction.

Today as well, Grand Chamberlain Sorel had a mountain of bribes waiting for him. If anyone dared to incur his wrath, it would cause all kinds of problems, from not being granted an audience with the king to not having their documents approved. Sorel would harass them by leaving out papers or refusing to let the king sign them. But if a small gift could pave the way, surely many would choose that option.

“I couldn’t get it done because of the Grand Chamberlain’s ire.”

Anyone would scoff at such an excuse.

However, there was someone that even Grand Chamberlain Sorel couldn’t hold a candle to—the Minister of Finance, Fuca. In the Kingdom, overseeing the Ministry of Finance was synonymous with holding the power to collect taxes. Tax was levied on income, but Sorel was, of course, evading taxes. How could he possibly declare the money obtained through bribery?

And Minister Fuca was aware of this. He knew, yet turned a blind eye. This was humiliating to Sorel. Still, he tried not to think about it. Thinking about it made him irritated, but as long as he didn’t, he could just think of it as something that didn’t concern him... That was how he came to terms with the situation. Since you couldn’t always get what you wanted, some sacrifices had to be made. Grand Chamberlain Sorel had experienced this necessity more than enough in his life thus far.

Before him stood said Minister of Finance. Behind him was the Minister of Domestic Affairs, Earl Harold Lawrence. Fuca had brought the other man along on this visit.

“Grand Chamberlain. There is something of which I must inform His Majesty as soon as possible. Might I be granted an audience with him now?”

Though Fuca posed it as a question, it was, naturally, an order designed to force the meeting with the king. Sorel had no choice but to comply.

“Of course, Your Excellencies. Please follow me.”

Sorel stood up first and knocked on the door of the king’s office.

“Your Majesty, Earls Fuca and Lawrence are here to request your permission on an urgent matter.”

“Let them in.”

Sorel did just that. His job ended here. He needed to withdraw from the room quickly. Fuca was especially strict on such matters of formality. Even so, Sorel heard the voices from behind him as he walked away.

“Your Majesty, it has come to light that we’ll need more funds than expected to repair the collapsed Lowe Bridge. As such, we would like to temporarily allocate some of the development funds for Vedra to the bridge’s repair...”

That was all Sorel heard before closing the door behind him.

“Vedra”? What in the world is that? I’ve never heard of it...

Being the grand chamberlain meant he was in charge of the king’s official duties. But this was something wholly unfamiliar to him, an unusual circumstance when it came to knowing what went on within the walls of this castle... It made him very curious.

However, Sorel chose to seal his curiosity away. There were many things in this world he was better off not knowing. This was especially true in the world of nobility. And even more so in the royal castle, where, in some cases, knowing certain things could put your life in danger.

Yes, best not to know about things like “Vedra.”

◆

“Our prospects have much improved thanks to you, Earl Lawrence. You have my gratitude.”

“Not at all. This too is for the sake of the Kingdom. Everything depends on the domestic circulation of goods. Ergo, restoration of the Lowe Bridge is our highest priority. I admire Your Excellency as well for your hard work in securing the funds.”

After exiting the king’s office, Minister of Finance Fuca and Minister of Domestic Affairs Harold Lawrence were strolling through the castle grounds.

“You have very much earned your reputation for your keen insight, Earl Lawrence. The other ministers could stand to learn a thing or two from you.”

Fuca was fed up with the constant negotiations he had to conduct with the other ministers, who were reluctant to have their budgets cut.

“It is, of course, vital that we develop Vedra as quickly as possible, considering its importance to national defense. However, the peaceful governance of the Kingdom, including the lives of its people, depends on restoring the business of commerce to normal. As the one in charge of the Ministry of Domestic Affairs overseeing Vedra’s development, you understand this fact better than anyone else and I admire that about you.”

Fuca was in a good mood since it was almost guaranteed that they’d secured the additional funds for repairing the Lowe Bridge.

“You flatter me, Your Excellency,” Harold Lawrence said with a slight bow of his head.

Compared to Minister of Finance Fuca, who was already in his fifties, the Minister of Domestic Affairs was only thirty-five years old. Though the age gap wasn’t quite to the level of a parent and child, it was still considerable. There was also the power of the Ministry of Finance to consider, since it had the authority to allocate budgets for each ministry and collect taxes in the country. This was reflected in the difference in status between the Finance Minister and Home Minister.

Of course, the Ministry of Domestic Affairs, responsible for domestic security and defense, was by no means a small one. In fact, in terms of the number of people it employed, it could even be considered one of the largest ministries, as it was also responsible for the development of the national guard and defense weapons. The fact that Harold Lawrence was in charge of this ministry in his mid-thirties was a testament to his tremendous ability, a point on which everyone agreed.

“Oh, good, I’m glad I found you, Your Excellent. We have a problem regarding the matter in the east.”

“Again?!”

At his subordinate’s explanation, Fuca’s jovial mood vanished as a scowl marred his face.

“My apologies, Earl Lawrence. Duty calls. Until we meet again.”

With those words, Fuca headed toward his own, practically jogging while listening to his subordinate’s report.

Harold Lawrence watched him surreptitiously, a corner of his mouth lifting almost imperceptibly. Then he started walking toward his own office.

◆

Abel spent a few days gathering information.

“Hearts as black as coal, huh...” he muttered quietly.

Rihya and Lyn, who’d been talking to each other next to him, stopped and faced him expectantly.

“Knight Commander Baccala and Grand Chamberlain Sorel are completely corrupt, every inch of them stained dark. I still don’t know if the Finance Minister Fuca is directly involved, but he seems to be tacitly condoning both of their wrongdoings.” After saying this to the pair, Abel reflected on the information he had gathered.

Sure, they’re corrupt, but...I don’t think they’ve gone as far as committing high treason against the king.

That was what he felt.

“Barely five days have passed and you’ve already learned all this? Well done,” Lyn said, impressed, as she stared at the pages lying on top of the desk.

“All thanks to a few old acquaintances of mine.”

“The order of knights has a strong presence in His Majesty’s direct vicinity...which makes sense why your old friends would occupy such posts. It’s also precisely why none of them are in the Ministry of Finance, hm?” Rihya teased him when he disclosed the source of his information.

“I have a lead on the possibility that the Minister of Finance is connected to both the Knight Commander and the Grand Chamberlain.”

“But that information must have come from one of those two, right?” Rihya crushed Abel’s resistance with a single twist.

“Ugggh... Well, not like I had a choice... No matter how much I wrack my brain, I can’t think of anyone good enough with numbers to infiltrate the Ministry of Finance...”

“You know, Abel, for some reason, I can imagine what you and your entourage were like as little kids...” With her arms folded across her chest, Lyn nodded repeatedly.

◆

A few more days passed after Abel read his report out loud.

“What’s the meaning of this?!” The raised voice came from the design office of the Royal Center for Alchemy situated near the east gate of the royal capital.

“Director...” the man’s subordinate said with a disappointed expression. Of course, the subordinate knew they weren’t being scolded. It was just the director’s anger at the unreasonable notice.

“Vedra’s development budget has been temporarily frozen...” the man in charge said, reciting the words through gritted teeth.

“Yes, Sir...” In turn, the subordinate nodded, their expression even more grave now.

“Do they even understand?! Vedra is our trump card in this futile war with the Empire, one in which we’re at an overwhelming disadvantage!” Unable to endure it, the director shouted again.

“Director...” the subordinate said helplessly.

“In the first place, this enterprise is under the direct control of His Royal Majesty!”

“Until last year, Sir, when control was transferred to the Minister of Domestic Affairs...” the subordinate pointed out calmly.

The director grimaced at the unfortunately true fact. “I know... I know, but...” he murmured, still scowling. Then he abruptly stood. “I’ll be back. I’m going to the Ministry of Domestic Affairs!”

And with that, the director flew out of the design office.

◆

“Your Excellency, Baron Kenneth Hayward, Director of the Royal Center for Alchemy, is urgently seeking an audience with you,” a staff member announced.

“Let him in,” replied Harold Lawrence, Minister of Domestic Affairs.

Kenneth spoke the moment he stepped inside the office.

“Your Excellency, I am Kenneth Hayward, Director of the Royal Center for Alchemy and I come here today to discuss the temporary freeze of the Vedra project’s development funds.”

“Baron Hayward, I was actually about to call on you to explain the situation. Please, take a seat on that sofa.” So saying, Harold moved to the one across from Kenneth’s and sat down.

“Your Excellency, Vedra’s development is the most important thing we can do for our country’s defense as well as solve its most pressing problems. Allow me to be blunt: We do not stand a chance against the Empire without it.”

“Baron, although I happen to agree with you...I’d suggest you refrain from saying such things out loud. Particularly within the walls of this castle.”

“Ah...” Even Kenneth realized his words implied the direct obsolescence of the Royal Order and Bureau of Royal Magicians.

“I understand what you want to say, Baron, and I feel the same. However, there are those in the nucleus of political power who don’t understand this. Your funds have been temporarily diverted for the reconstruction of the Lowe Bridge.”

“The Lowe Bridge...”

Kenneth also knew about the collapse of the bridge and the resulting disruption in travel and trade between the southern and eastern parts of the Kingdom. He also knew the direct and indirect damage was massive enough to require a hefty sum in repair costs. Even so...

“I realize that doesn’t change the fact that national defense is essential. It’s a major factor in why Vedra’s development has been rushed in the first place. Unfortunately, I’m powerless in this particular situation, so I ask that you curb your disappointment.” After saying his piece, Harold bowed his head.

As a member of the aristocracy himself, Kenneth understood the gravity of Earl Harold Lawrence’s action. The other man outranked him not just politically, but socially too.

“Please raise your head, Your Excellency. I let my emotions run wild and for that, I sincerely apologize.”

“Thank you, Baron. Perhaps you understand the difficult position I’m in now?”

When Kenneth also bowed his head, Harold took both of his hands in his with a smile.

“Your Excellency, if I might confirm one thing... The budget includes the purchase of a second unit of the magic stone I need, yes?”

“You refer to the wyvern magic stone?”

Kenneth nodded in response to Harold’s answer.

“It does, and I’m pleased to inform you we did in fact successfully buy the second one. However, that is the last one. It will arrive from Lune in less than a month’s time.”

Kenneth decided to content himself with the news of the second stone’s acquisition. Now he had a way to solve the problem of low output that had plagued him and his team up until now.

“Understood. Thank you very much for seeing me today. I’ll excuse myself now,” he said, then exited the Finance Minister’s office.

Harold Lawrence watched him walk away with an indescribable light burning in his eyes.

◆

“Well, well, if it isn’t Kenneth in the flesh. How long has it been?!” a voice called out from behind Kenneth just after he left the Ministry of Finance.

“Zach. It’s Baron Kenneth Hayward to you. B. A. R. O. N! We’re not like those lousy second sons of the nobility who can’t inherit titles, so have some manners for once in your bloody life.”

“Ope, when you’re right, you’re right, Scotty. Baron Kenneth Hayward, Lord Bombast, it has been much too long since our last meeting.” Then the man named Zach gave him an excruciatingly polite bow.

“Zach, you cheeky dog, don’t think I don’t know you’re deliberately riling me up. Not to mention you’ve been repeating the same tired old joke for the past year... Anyway, you know damn well I’m just an upstart who received my title after having one of my inventions recognized.” Shaking his head, Kenneth approached the two men.

Zach Kuhler and Scotty Cobouc were both second sons of their respective aristocratic families and knights in the Royal Order. The two of them and Kenneth had also been drinking buddies for many years now, members of an unofficial organization called the Alliance of Second Sons.

“But I want to be an upstart too,” Zach grumbled.

“Just be grateful you’re even getting a salary as a knight,” Scotty retorted.

“Anyway, pretty unusual to see you in Domestic Affairs, Kenneth,” Zach commented idly.

“Oh, wait, the Center for Alchemy is under their jurisdiction now, right?” Scotty recalled.

“That’s right. I had a complaint about the budget...” Kenneth replied with a sigh.

“Senior researchers sure have it tough, huh?” Zach thumped a heavy hand on Kenneth’s shoulder and nodded in vigorous sympathy. Then he spoke again, as if suddenly remembering something. “Which reminds me: Kenneth, did you know Abel’s in the capital right now?”

“Abel?”

“Yup. The president of our Alliance of Second Sons,” Zach said, bursting into laughter.

“Now that you mention it, despite being a member of the Alliance, I don’t think I’ve ever met the President...” Kenneth tilted his head thoughtfully while searching through his memories.

“That’s because Abel works out of Lune, in the south. You wouldn’t meet him unless a job or some other business brought him to the capital, like this time,” Scotty answered Kenneth’s unspoken question.

However, neither of the other two men expected the alchemist’s reaction.

His eyes widened. “Lune?!” he practically shouted. “Did you say ‘Lune’?!”

“Ahhh, I remember now. You’re originally from Lune, aren’t you, Kenneth?” Scotty spoke, recalling what he’d told them once upon a time.

“All right, it’s settled! The four of us are drinking tonight! Between you and Abel, I’m sure you two will have a ton of stories about Lune. Plus, you should meet the president of our Alliance at least once.” Zach decided on the get-together without their input.

“Huh...” Kenneth the alchemist was at a loss for words by the sudden turn of events.

“Zach, you dolt, you know Abel’s a busy man,” Scotty, the knight, said, expressing his concern.

“If he can’t make it, then the three of us will drink the night away instead!” Zach said, devising a plan B. “Kenneth, my man, just drink your worries away!” Zach laughed heartily.

◆

At precisely seven in the evening, Kenneth Hayward, alchemist and baron, arrived at Let Those Who Are Drowning Drown in Their Cups, the tavern the Alliance of Second Sons always frequented. Despite its incredibly unique name, the establishment had plenty of private rooms to go along with the delicious alcohol and delectable food. No wonder it was popular among a certain sect of the capital’s residents. Because private rooms were vital to provide space for the upper echelons of society to or those in professions like the knighthood—who needed to maintain decorum at all times—to drink in peace.

The usual proprietress held up four fingers in greeting, indicating the fourth private room. Kenneth raised a hand in thanks and walked to the designated location, then opened the door.

“Aha, he’s here!”

Zach Kuhler was the first to notice him. As for Scotty Cobouc, his reaction was a bit delayed, engrossed as he was in perusing the menu.

“You’re both early, huh?”

“No, we actually just arrived a few minutes before you,” Scotty replied, looking up from the menu.

When Kenneth sat down, a knock sounded on the door almost simultaneously.

“Your fourth has arrived,” the proprietress said. A moment later, the door opened and a man walked in.

“Zach, Scotty, isn’t this the same place we came three days ago?”

It was Abel, Lune’s B-rank adventurer.

◆

“Today is the first meeting between Abel, President of the Alliance of Second Sons, and Baron Kenneth Hayward, a member of said Alliance who claimed the title of baron with his own hands and is making a name for himself as a genius alchemist in the royal capital.”

“Wow, an alchemist and a baron? That’s amazing!” Abel exclaimed, sounding genuinely impressed.

“Zach, please,” Kenneth protested, embarrassed. “Let’s not get carried away...”

“Pish posh, Kenneth. You’re the only member of our alliance who’s currently a noble. Don’t be so shy.” For some reason, Zach said this proudly.

“Which means...the other fourteen still haven’t acquired titles of their own, right?” Abel asked, wanting to confirm the facts.

“Yup, including you, Abel,” Zach said affirmatively.

Then the two of them howled with laughter.

“Anyway, let’s drink, boys. We’ll start with beer. Sound good to everyone?” Zach suggested.

“Not ale?” Abel said with a quizzical tilt of his head.

“Heh heh heh. Abel, Abel, Abel. The trend in the capital now is to start with beer then move on to wine, ale, and what have you,” Zach explained, his right index finger raised like a pompous educator’s.

“Huh. I had no idea...”

Zach’s words had made Abel notice the passage of time.

“So. The three of you met here three days ago as well, right?” Kenneth, the alchemist, inquired.

“You got it. Abel told us to hand over super-duper top secret information, so we did exactly that here, in a super-duper top secret way. Thanks to all the skullduggery, I even had to skip the ‘We’ll start with beer’ line... Tragic, don’t you think?” Zach answered dramatically, as if acting out his own one-man play.

“Do you really have to make it sound like ‘And the source of our pain is Abel...’? Jeez.” Abel stared exasperatedly at Zach.

“You’d better watch out, Kenneth. Abel’s the kind of man who’ll take things by force from people who don’t want to give them up,” Zach said, pretending to whisper the words to him even as he spoke in a normal volume.

“All right, Zach, you wanna go? Let’s go. Challenge accepted. Sorry, Scotty, but just think of Zach as having never existed in the first place. ’Cuz he won’t after today.” There was menace in Abel’s voice.

“Well, that’s unfortunate. Gents, raise a glass to our fallen brother, Zach. He was a good man...” Scotty accepted the threat blithely.

“Guys, stop,” Zach said. “It doesn’t sound like a joke when you jerks say that, so seriously, cut it out.”

Kenneth, meanwhile, was laughing hysterically at the exchange. After he caught his breath, he spoke. “Abel, I heard you’re an adventurer in Lune.”

“Yeah, you heard right,” Abel answered.

“Contrary to appearances, he’s a brilliant B-rank,” Zach said, strangely proud.

“The truth is, my family hails from Lune.”

“Whoa, really?! What a small world... I set Lune as my base, let’s see...seven years ago now.”

“Ahhh, then I must have just missed you. I moved to the capital from Lune right around that time.”

Abel and Kenneth opined over their shared circumstances.

“I invited my parents to live with me about a year ago.”

“Oh, that’s right. You moved them into the manor that came with your new title, Kenneth,” Scotty remarked.

“I did. We’re originally farmers, but the condition of my father’s leg worsened, making it difficult for him to tend to our vast holdings. So I asked him if he’d be willing to oversee my new estate’s management and he agreed. Now he and my mother are both enjoying life there with my vassals.” Kenneth sounded happy.

Simply put, a manor in the Kingdom of Knightley was a village bestowed upon a noble. They tended to be either under the direct control of the royal family or part of the territory of a noble family that had died out. Though the history of such estates varied, generally speaking, they weren’t very large. The taxes collected from the manor went to the noble or lord who owned it, so as long as they didn’t live a lavish lifestyle, they could live comfortably on the taxes alone.

In the case of Baron Kenneth Hayward, in addition to his manor, he also had income from his position as the chief researcher at the Royal Center for Alchemy. So for a newly appointed member of the peerage, his income was quite high.

“Man, you sure put the rest of us to shame, huh?” Abel remarked while eating bandit’s fried chicken. He was impressed by Kenneth’s filial piety.

“The house we left behind in Lune finally sold not too long ago. Thanks to that, my anxiety for the future disappeared completely. I can’t tell you how relieved I am.”

Abel nodded in understanding even as he continued munching enthusiastically on various dishes.

“Oh, yeah, the house you told us about, the one with the rugged stonework in the kitchen.”

“That’s right, Zach. My mother said she wanted a spacious counter because she loves to cook, so my father had a stonemason acquaintance of his make a custom one for her.”

Upon hearing this, Abel, who’d been busy eating until now, froze.

“What’s wrong, Abel?”

“Wait a sec. Kenneth, this kitchen of yours, is it made of a huge, imposing, black stone called ‘granite’? And does the house itself have doors in three places...?” Abel ignored Zach, who stared quizzically at him because of how suddenly he’d stopped eating, and questioned Kenneth instead.

“I’m not sure about the name of the stone, but everything else in your description is correct. And yes, the house does have doors in three locations. Why do you know all that though?”

“Ummm... ’Cuz my friend is probably the one who bought your house...” For whatever reason, Abel clearly found it difficult to admit this.

Kenneth’s eyes widened in response. “You don’t say! Wow. Then please convey my appreciation to the buyer. It was on the market for more than six months. I almost asked my parents whether we should lower the price when the sale finally went through. Not to mention, the buyer paid all in cash.”

“Yeah, well, he has money...”

“Abel, why are you acting so strange?” Scotty asked pointedly, seeing Abel sweat.

“Uh...so the guy who bought Kenneth’s house...sort of remodeled it... But don’t worry! It still looks the same!”

“Huh?”

“The thing is, your house didn’t have a bathtub, right, Kenneth?”