The Water Magician (水属性の魔法使い)

Damn it! How could all this have happened?!

Best give the soundproofing devices a second thought.

That voice...

Prince Conrad!

And now it's gone.

As far as I know, this world doesn't have gunpowder.

So maybe that was magic and not fireworks.

But for what purpose...?

Aw, after I lined up to buy these...

Get away from her.

Damned rogues.

The likes of you ought never dare lay a hand on a woman of her station.

Sanctuary!

Eto!

Eto!

The backlash from Sanctuary is never this bad...

I am telling you to get away from her. Now.

You really think we'd listen to a madman like you?!

Sanctuary!

I will say it again. Get away from her.

What?

Ryo!

Ryo?

Mind explaining...

what you're doing to my friends?

Shut up. And you lot, get away from her.

What's the meaning of this?

You die first, then.

Ice Wall 10.

Impossible.

What? Is that all you've got?

Because if so, then it's my turn.

We're not done here.

Don't get cocky!

Ryo!

Hold it!

Both of you, sheathe your weapons!

Abel!

No one asked you, Abel.

If you butt in, I can freeze you solid, too.

J-Just give me a moment, Ryo.

You with the white hair... You're Oscar, right?

Oscar Luska, a lieutenant in the Debuhi Empire's Magic Division.

Who are you supposed to be?

My name is Abel.

I'm in town acting on behalf of Lune's guild master.

The four men you're fighting weren't part of the attack.

They're adventurers of Lune's guild.

Adventurers?

Yes, exactly.

They're not the sort that would've taken part in the raid on the lord's manor.

I fully understand you're acting out of concern for Her Imperial Highness.

So please, just hear me out.

Abel.

You've said your piece, haven't you?

So I'm going to kill him now.

Wait, why?!

After what he's done to my friends,

do you seriously expect me to go "Oh, okay" and make nice?

I'm not opposed to freezing the woman before giving her back, either.

The Fall of Heaven and Earth!

Water Jet.

Impressive, for a human, but that looks like the best you can do.

I can kill him now, right, Abel?

You idiot!

Of course not! This is an international incident!

If you keep it up, this could lead to war!

As for you, Oscar...

I was at the lord's manor.

Prince Conrad sent me here on orders to ensure Princess Fiona was all right.

He did?

That's right.

Your priority should be the prince and princess's safety,

then investigating the attack.

Does this skirmish serve any purpose whatsoever?

Ryo, I understand why you're mad, but I'm asking you to put your sword away.

Would you be convinced to stand down like this if someone had hurt Rihya?

Yes, I would.

Because I know she wouldn't want war between our kingdom and the empire.

Talk certainly is cheap.

Ryo!

Why didn't you dodge?

Because I refuse to see war ignited with you as the cause, Ryo.

I'd give my life stop it.

So I won't let things come to that.

Fine.

Out of respect for Abel, I'm willing to stay my blade.

Abel, can you take the princess to him?

Okay.

Nils, I'll take the princess off your hands!

Hey, help me out over here!

You mean the Rihya healed me?!

Yeah. At one of the temple clinics.

She stayed by you until you recovered.

I don't believe it...

She's truly a goddess!

Well, I'm just glad you're all feeling better.

All's well that ends well.

You're really saying that, Ryo?

Abel!

You look more tired than usual.

And whose fault is that?

I had a real mess on my hands after that.

Um, do we need to worry about any reprisals?

No, that won't be an issue.

I explained the situation to the prince and princess when she woke up,

and they understood.

Oscar even gave an apology.

Last night is being chalked up to a mutual misunderstanding.

Really?!

I was worried they might take our adventuring licenses.

He actually took responsibility? That's good to hear.

Seriously, Ryo? After you almost started a war?

Well, you guys may have made out all right,

but there were a fair number of casualties at the garden party.

That means no shortage of diplomatic complications in the near future.

Doesn't that fall on you,

considering you were present but didn't do anything?

It wasn't my fault!

I was doing business for the guild master in a separate building,

and by the time I returned, it was already a disaster.

Unbelievable. There's never an Abel around when you need one.

O-Oh, right! Princess Fiona wants to extend her thanks to the three of you.

The princess said that?

You saved her from smashing into the ground

and risked your lives to protect her from the raiders.

She's offering a monetary reward.

All right!

That would be appreciated!

Can we really accept?

There's nothing in it for you, Ryo.

W-Well...

By the time I arrived, the bad guys were already down,

and there was only some weird fire mage to deal with.

I wish you could appreciate the audacity of you calling the Inferno Magician

"some weird mage."

Looks like the festival's over.

Which means our first escort job is over, too.

Not yet.

The escort's not over until you arrive safely home.

Let's head back to Lune.

When? When's he going to be back?