Water Magician-Chapter 672 : Individual Combat

Chapter 0672 Individual Combat

Translator: Jay_Forestieri

Editor: Tseirp

At one corner of the Darwei army's main camp stood a water-attribute magician, looking pleased as he quietly fulfilled his role.

“Winner takes all, huh.”

“Huh?”

“The wyvern magic stones are still lying where those wyverns fell. The side that wins this fight can take the magic stones from those wyverns and keep them all!”

“That’s true, but...”

“Abel, haven’t you changed since becoming a king—the way you think about money? When we were going from Rondo Forest to Rune, you said the wyvern magic stones were valuable and we should harvest them. Just because you’re a wealthy king now doesn’t mean you should mock valuable things.”

The moment Ryo said that—

It happened truly suddenly.

A man in white eastern attire appeared before the two of them, long black hair hanging down his back.

“Where the hell... did he come from?”

Abel managed to say.

Ryo couldn’t say anything.

Even Ryo, confident that his sonar had perfect detection of the surroundings, hadn't noticed the man’s arrival.

But what surprised Ryo even more than that was...

“Phantom King?”

This was the first time he’d met the Phantom King’s ‘true body’.

When they had fought at Kwebasa, Duke Helb had been possessed, so the appearance had been that of Duke Helb.

But now, the presence Ryo felt from the man in front of him was the same as that time.

So, though he asked, he was already certain.

“Long time no see, Duke Rondo. Well— this might be the first time we meet in this form. I am the Phantom King.”

At that moment, Chief Chamberlain Lin Shun and Captain Lu Yao stepped between Prince Ryun and the Phantom King to protect their lord.

Following them, Commander Tin of the Forbidden Army moved to shield Emperor Tsuin; chamberlain Wen Shu and other Forbidden Army soldiers moved into positions to guard their sovereign.

“Heh, fine subordinates you’ve got there, but I’m not interested in them.”

“You’re only interested in me, then.”

“That’s right. I heard you defeated Marie at the summer villa. That one is honestly strong. I thought you were pretty strong back at Kwebasa, but I didn’t honestly expect you to be able to defeat Marie. But then you beat her, and now I’m curious.”

“I already beat you at Kwebasa, so I don’t really have any newfound interest now.”

“You little...”

Ryo deliberately provoked him. The Phantom King’s cheek twitched in rising anger.

Ryo then started walking toward the battlefield.

The Phantom King, not understanding Ryo’s intention, stood watching.

“Hey, Phantom King, you’re in the way here. If you want to fight, we’ll do it over here.”

Ryo called out.

At the same time, Ryo gave Abel a small nod.

He was entrusting the rest to him.

Abel returned the small nod.

He understood.

And so, a little removed from the main battlefield and the Darwei main camp, the second match between Ryo and the Phantom King began.

“By the way, what happened to Marie-san?”

“Why do you ask that?”

After they faced off, Ryo asked; the Phantom King answered suspiciously.

“She said she wanted to go to the Western Countries and the Dark Continent. You wouldn’t have possessed her like you did Duke Helb, right?”

“Possess Marie? Impossible.”

“Is that because her mind is strong?”

“...I had the same thought when we met at Kwebasa, but how much do you actually know?”

“Duke Helb said it. If one’s heart doesn’t waver, you can’t be possessed. But he got possessed. Because he was forced to kill his brother, and his heart wavered then, right?”

“Yeah, that’s about right.”

The Phantom King answered Ryo’s observation as correct.

“How cowardly.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“So since you’re here now, you’re saying you can’t possess Duke Helb anymore?”

“Who knows?”

“That man will never again let his heart waver, I think.”

Ryo considered Duke Helb a dangerous opponent not to be underestimated.

He still thought the Duke might ultimately be someone they would have to fight as an enemy.

At the same time, Ryo highly regarded him as an excellent leader.

For the recently succeeded Grand Duchy of Atinjo, Ryo thought it best to thaw him as soon as possible.

So...

“<Ice Coffin: Thaw>”

“Huh?”

“Never mind. It’s nothing you need to worry about.”

“When you say that, it makes me more curious.”

Ryo had released the Ice Coffin in the Atinjo Grand Duchy capital, Cam Pho*, far from Darwei. (TLN: Prev. Kamfor)

Yes—the mana link once established transmits instantly regardless of distance.

Ryo found the phenomenon so uncanny that it made him think of ‘quantum entanglement’ from particle physics.

Quantum entanglement can’t be explained by classical physics.

Two entangled particles change ‘instantaneously’ together, no matter how far apart they are... almost as if distance doesn’t exist.

Are they connected by something like a black hole or a white hole? Or mediated by extra dimensions? It’s that level of strangeness.

And it’s not just theoretical—it’s been confirmed experimentally...

“Back to what we were talking about— could Marie-san have gone to open the ‘Wall’?”

“Hey, your topics jump around too much.”

“You dodged the question, so that means it’s true, right?”

“You little...”

“By the way, the Darwei Emperor said they drew blood to get a ‘key’ to open the Wall, didn’t he? I hear the Wall is still pretty leaky and people can get through in places, but Phantomkins have to properly open it to pass.”

“...”

“The Wall and the Corridor were built to prevent things from the Central Countries from getting in, right? So they don’t come in anymore? Once opened, can’t it be closed?”

“That’s something you don’t need to know.”

The Phantom King answered with a frown at Ryo’s words.

Ryo deliberately exchanged such a conversation before the fight because he wanted information.

Opportunities to gather information were rare.

And now was a valuable chance.

The Phantom King had existed—at least been around—for a very long time; chances to speak directly with him would be few.

“I’ve been speculating a bit. Things that are present in the Central Countries but not in the Eastern Countries, yet remain in old books and legends... maybe those were beings they didn’t want coming from the Central Countries. Of course, a few of them must have come and rampaged first. And those incidents were recorded in records like the ‘Romance’ style books.”

“...”

“It’s not dragons—they’re in the East too. It’s not Akumas, they still appear today. From what I know, one match is the ‘Djinn’.”

“...”

The Phantom King was silent, though a little stiffness showed in his facial muscles.

“Yes, ‘Djinn’ is how humans call them. They called themselves ‘Spellno’?”

“...Themselves? Called themselves? Do you mean to say you know anyone among the Spellno?”

“I do. It’s not something to be surprised at, is it?”

“That is surprising!”

To draw information from the other side, one must reveal some information oneself.

The more valuable the information you disclose, the more likely the other party will return valuable information.

If you have no worthwhile info, you’ll be looked down upon, right?

“You also mentioned dragons and Akumas earlier—do you really know those kinds of creatures too?”

“Not that I’m friends with them, but I fight them often. Twice with the Azure Dragon... about five times with Akumas. Those guys sure like fighting me. It’s troublesome.”

“...I see.”

Ryo spoke with a smile; the Phantom King replied, looking deflated.

By revealing several bits of information, Ryo’s value in the Phantom King’s eyes seemed to increase.

But... that, in effect, was a trigger pulled too early.

“Enough. I understand.”

“Pardon?”

“In the end, we’ll only know once we fight.”

“How did you come to that conclusion...”

Clang.

A sudden slash from the Phantom King.

Ryo parried with Murasame.

But Ryo noticed something about the sword the Phantom King wielded.

“That sword is the one Duke Helb had at Kwebasa...”

“Oh? You remember well. The Holy Sword Tatien.”

Right after he froze the Duke Helb in ice, Ryo had lost consciousness.

He had woken later in a place like an infirmary.

At that time, he’d asked Abel about the sword.

But Abel had said there was no sword.

He hadn’t expected the Phantom King to have it.

But how had he gotten it?

The Phantom King’s true body shouldn’t have been at Kwebasa...

“How did you get that sword?!”

“I got it back then.”

“How could you have gotten it in that situation?”

“No one can understand.”

The Phantom King said with a grin.

Ryo grimaced.

Because the Holy Sword Tatien’s trait was the worst possible for Ryo.

“When the ‘Holy Sword Sublimates’, it ignores ma—gi—c...”

“Exactly. For magicians, it’s basically a natural enemy. I thought it looked useful, so I took it.”

When the Holy Sword ‘sublimates’ it shines, but for now, it was an ordinary sword.

Even so, the Phantom King’s swordplay was sharp.

In handling the blade, he seemed smoother than when they had fought at Kwebasa.

“Fighting in this body is easier than the possessed one.”

He said with a boisterous laugh.

Ryo frowned and continued to receive the Phantom King’s downward strikes.

Tactically, focusing on defense is common, so that in itself was fine.

(Strong...)

Yes—the Phantom King was strong.

Far stronger than at Kwebasa: his strikes were more forceful, faster, and more technically skilled.

And...

“That diagonal low thrust from below—Marie-san used that too.”

“Yeah, one of her signature moves. I couldn’t do the quick draw-style thing, but I could imitate this.”

It was the troublesome sequence: a slashing overhead that flowed into a succession of diagonal low thrusts.

“You didn’t do that at Kwebasa!”

“Well, I wasn’t in my own body then. Looking back, I was pretty hampered.”

The Phantom King said with a laugh.

As expected of the Phantom King: even using one hand, the cuts were powerful.

And when he struck with both hands, Ryo sometimes couldn’t fully deflect... once he took a full hit and felt as if his Murasame-supporting arm would break from the impact.

That was how strong the blows were.

It’s always the troublesome gap in racial characteristics.

How fragile and vulnerable humans are.

But whining changes nothing.

If complaints could change things, he’d complain all he wanted, but usually nothing changes...

Ryo took a large backward step.

One deep breath.

“I’ll do whatever I can.”

He murmured and, as usual, raised Murasame to a ready stance.

That alone shifted the atmosphere.

“Hmm... your aura changes in an instant. Fascinating.”

The Phantom King murmured in response to Ryo’s change.

“This is why it was worth coming.”

He swung his sword up with both hands.

An atmosphere in which neither could move easily.

Building tension.

At some point, the tension would snap.

But then...

“Behind you!”

Suddenly Ryo shouted.

At that instant, the Darwei main camp’s curtain was cut open, and a sharp light attacked Emperor Tsuin.

Clang.

The high sound of steel on steel.

The only man who could move at Ryo’s shout.

“Well, long time no see, General Yun.”

Abel, wielding his crimson magic sword, intercepted General Yun’s slash as he charged—taking it in a way that shielded Emperor Tsuin.

Scouting units of the Choouchi Empire cut in as well.

At that moment, Prince Ryun, Commander Tin and others drew their swords and stood before the scouting unit.

“Ugh.”

General Yun grimaced.

His ambush had been foiled—he couldn’t look pleased.

But their charge had broken a certain balance somewhere.

“Don't let your guard down, Duke Rondo.”

The Phantom King’s Holy Sword Tatien pierced Ryo’s stomach.

It plunged deep; the Phantom King’s right arm was stained with Ryo’s blood up to the wrist.

“Was creating a balanced state itself... a trap?”

Ryo’s Murasame was also embedded in the Phantom King’s left shoulder despite his pained expression.

He couldn’t cut it off because it wasn’t a pure mutual strike—the damage Ryo had taken was greater.

“Of course. An opponent like you wouldn’t present an easy opening. But a direct raid on the main camp would at least make you glance that way for an instant. If the ambush itself succeeded, that’d be fine. Our emperor would be pleased.”

The Phantom King, despite bleeding on his shoulder, grinned.

He seemed pleased that a rather large-scale plan had worked.

“Suppose I should be honored that you devised such an elaborate scheme just to land a blow on me.”

“You’re awfully calm for someone with a sword stuck in your gut.”

“I’ve had my heart pierced by a Djinn’s arm before—compared to that...”

“Are you really human?”

Ryo tried to show he wasn’t affected, while actually breaking out in cold sweat; the Phantom King was exasperated.

“After all that ambush, you only managed to stab a sword into my stomach. What now?”

“...I’m amazed you’re still trying to provoke me in that state.”

Still exasperated, the Phantom King said.

There was a reason Ryo continued talking so long with a sword lodged in his belly.

He wanted to learn about the Holy Sword Tatien the Phantom King used.

Since Tatien was currently embedded in Ryo, it was essentially constantly being analyzed by Ryo’s water-attribute magic.

If Tatien’s trait was to ‘reflect magic’ or to ‘reject all magic’ rather than to ‘ignore magic’, Ryo’s water-attribute magic might not have been able to parse it.

But because its trait was to ‘ignore magic’.

For example, it would be impossible to bend or break Tatien with water-attribute magic.

In short, you can’t affect Tatien by magic... the meaning of ‘ignoring magic.’

But observing it with magic seemed possible...

Ryo felt that ‘observation’ itself might logically be ignored too... but perhaps its nature wasn’t strictly ‘ignore magic’.

He hadn’t read the manual after all...

The Phantom King just mentioned it back in Kwebasa...

In any case, sacrificing his own belly, Ryo gathered data.

Of course, he had formed an ice membrane over his organs and blood vessels to minimize bleeding.

Still, his limit was approaching.

(The pain is getting stronger.)

Meanwhile, the raiders’ side was embroiled in fierce close combat.

The most intense duel there was likely Abel versus General Yun.

The two were fighting for the second time.

Their first encounter had taken place at the Rondo Manor.

Because the indoor ceiling was low, they had to rely on thrusts and horizontal slashes.

Ryo’s comment that it looked cramped was well-founded.

But this time was different.

Although it was the Darwei main camp, there was no roof.

All around, Choouchi scouting units were fighting Darwei leaders, but Abel and General Yun’s duel was so fierce.

That people were gradually distancing themselves.

No one wants to be dragged into someone else’s fight...

“You were strong even at the Rondo Manor.”

“Thanks.”

Abel tried to draw information out with words, but General Yun kept his answers short.

“What, no time to chat while fighting?”

“You just want info from me. I won’t fall for that.”

“That’s a shame.”

Abel’s attempt was foiled.

But Abel noticed General Yun kept glancing at the crimson magic sword.

“What? Is this your first time seeing a magic sword? No—that can’t be. Phantomkins live a long time, right?”

“I’ve seen hundreds of magic swords. But that one is...”

Clang.

Abel and General Yun moved into a cross-guard clash.

That put Abel’s magic sword right before General Yun’s face...

“Looks like the sword Richard used.”

General Yun muttered.

That murmured remark surprised Abel.

Well, he was getting somewhat used to surprises these days.

He’d heard that his ancestor was quite an active character.

Fought Djinns, fought the ghost ship Ruri... probably other inhuman beings too, he guessed.

Phantomkins seemed to be among them as well.

“Yeah, apparently it was the sword used by my ancestor King Richard. I only learned myself recently.”

Abel said in a deliberately light tone.

“...A descendant of Richard?”

General Yun frowned.

“You must have fought King Richard. Did you lose?”

“I didn’t so much lose as... I simply couldn’t handle him.”

“Don’t feel bad.”

General Yun’s low voice carried an emotion like anger; Abel sensed it.

“Crimson swordsman, if you are Richard’s descendant, it’s just right for me to throw my full power at you.”

“No need to throw your full strength. We’ll both get hurt. And my name is Abel, General Yun.”

“Understood, Abel. You naming yourself is a provocation asking me to come at you with all I’ve got.”

“Were you even listening to me?”

For some reason, General Yun lost his previously calm composure and began to appear excited for battle.

Abel lamented that the conversation had ended.

“I tried to learn alchemy after I lost to Richard.”

“Yeah... King Richard is said to have reached the pinnacle of alchemy.”

“Descendant, take this.”

“Seriously?”

“‘Mimicry: Thousand-Hand Kannon’.”

At the moment General Yun chanted, his sword gave off a pale alchemy glow.

The next moment...

Dozens of invisible slashes attacked Abel!

Clang, clang, clang...

“You deflect them all! As befits Richard’s descendant.”

“You’re nothing like the calm, collected general from before!”

Abel pointed out the dramatic change in Yun.

“Wait—you’re a Phantomkin, right? How can you use alchemy?”

“Alchemy is made so anyone can use it, isn’t it?”

“Eh, really...?”

Abel faltered under what sounded like a logical counter.

Yes, alchemy tools are made for anyone to use.

That doesn’t mean alchemy itself is something anyone can just use.

“Then how about this! ‘Mimicry: Thousand-Hand Kannon — All-Range’.”

When Yun chanted, Abel felt something arise behind him.

He couldn’t look.

He had no time.

But he could sense it.

“An all-directional attack!”

He judged in an instant.

He acted in an instant.

He ran at Yun at full speed.

Clang.

They crossed blades; Abel lowered his posture, ran past Yun’s side and turned back.

By doing so, he put Yun between himself and the countless unseen blades coming from the air, using Yun as a shield.

“Quick decision.”

“To survive as an adventurer, quick judgment is everything.”

“But it’s a trap.”

The moment Yun said it, wind ran upward from under Abel’s feet.

Something like an <Air Slash>?

Yun had set it up, anticipating Abel’s move.

Clang, clang...

“What—?”

The running wind struck Abel and bounced off.

Yun was surprised.

“Ah... ice armor. That <Ice Armor: Mist> something.”

“Ice? Could it be Duke Rondo!”

“As expected of my partner. Even while facing a tough opponent, he’s protecting me.”

Abel said, laughing a little proudly.

That partner of Abel’s still had a sword stuck in his stomach.

Yet...

The Phantom King, who had been casually keeping the sword in, suddenly winced a little, pulled the blade out, and leapt far back.

Ryo, wounded with a large hole in his belly, naturally couldn’t pursue.

“Ugh...”

A groan came from the Phantom King, not Ryo.

“Hey, Duke Rondo... what did you do to my body?”

“I didn’t do anything. Probably just your imagination?”

“Like hell it is!”

His shout wasn’t loud.

Eventually, the Phantom King dropped to one knee.

“Holy Sword Sublimation: ‘Scatter’.”

The Phantom King chanted.

But nothing happened.

“Impossible...”

The Phantom King muttered, not loudly.

But his eyes were wide.

“That was the Holy Sword Sublimation that ‘scatters’ magical effects, right? Too bad—the power of Holy Sword Tatien has been sealed.”

“It can’t be...”

“I couldn’t fully analyze it, but I could seal the Holy Sword Sublimation.”

Ryo smiled brightly.

He seemed satisfied he could use the analysis data he’d obtained at the cost of his own belly.

“Damn, I can’t mobilize my strength...”

“You look in bad shape.”

Ryo walked slowly toward the Phantom King, who was on one knee and unable to move.

Holding Murasame in his right hand.

“Tell me again—what did you do?”

“I’ll answer again; it’s your imagination.”

Ryo looked the very embodiment of shamelessness.

Obviously, it wasn’t the Phantom King’s imagination.

He couldn’t move.

“Phantom King, then—farewell.”

At that moment, the Phantom King’s head was cut off and his heart pierced.

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