Chapter 0687 A Charming Inn and Visitors

Translator: Jay_Forestieri

Editor: Tseirp

“The clean straw bedding looked comfortable for Andalusia and Feiwan, too.”

“Yeah. Just looking at the stable is enough to tell whether it is a good inn or not.”

“Thank you very much.”

Ryo praised them, Abel agreed, and the inn attendant guiding the two of them bowed with a smile.

Ryo, Abel, and their beloved horses were able to find lodging in the city of Chuarou.

And not just any lodging, but the best inn in town.

That was the result of Ryo asking a fruit seller with a street stall as soon as they entered the city.

It must have been nothing more than a coincidence that the fruit seller’s face seemed to twitch under the invisible pressure from the giant <Dolly>...

The inn the fruit seller named was called ‘Rinshan Kaiho’.

“So, this <Dolly>...it is a bit of a large piece of luggage. Is there somewhere we can leave it?”

“Indoor storage would be difficult, but would it be all right outdoors? How about covering it with a large waterproof tarp?”

“Ah, outdoors is fine. We do not need a waterproof tarp. We would appreciate it if you could just leave it as it is.”

“In that case, please bring it to the back garden. This way, please.”

When Ryo asked where the four <Dollies> could be left, the attendant guided them to the back garden.

A luxury inn can respond to every request a guest has.

That is precisely why people will stay there, even if it is a little expensive.

Even when something is physically or structurally impossible, the answer is not “we cannot do that,” but rather a proposal for another method of solving the problem, such as “How about doing it this way?”

Truly the fruits of employee training!

That night, the two of them entered the inn’s hot spring.

Yes, a hot spring!

“What? There’s a hot spring here!”

Ryo, already excited after getting out of the bath, was practically vibrating with enthusiasm.

Honestly, Abel’s calmness, despite not really understanding the difference between it and a normal bath, stood in stark contrast.

“Come to think of it, I heard there was a hot spring area near Imperial Capital Hanlin, but we never got to go there in the end. Being able to soak here is quite fortunate!”

“Y-yeah.”

“So, if it is a hot spring inn, then the food must be delicious too!”

“Is that so?”

Ryo stated it confidently, and Abel asked.

“As far as I know, there is a very high probability of that being true.”

“Well, the fruit seller did say it was the best inn in town. Let’s look forward to it.”

That night, in the dining room of the inn ‘Rinshan Kaiho’, the two of them were seen thoroughly enjoying a splendid dinner.

“That was delicious!”

“Yes, I was amazed. Especially the mapo tofu... was it called mapotofu? It was past the point of simply being spicy, but it had a flavor that really grew on you.”

“Ah, that one. It felt like the deliciousness came rushing in between the waves of heat.”

“As expected of Abel, that is a great description!”

Both Abel and Ryo thoroughly enjoyed their dinner.

After they had also finished dessert and were drinking tea slowly after the meal, the inn attendant came over.

“Did the dinner suit your tastes?”

“It was delicious.”

“Absolutely exquisite.”

In response to the attendant’s question, both Abel and Ryo replied with satisfaction.

“That is wonderful to hear.” 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

The attendant said that with a smile, then uttered something rather incomprehensible.

“The magistrate’s office has come to see you.”

“The magistrate’s office?”

“Why us?”

Both Abel and Ryo tilted their heads.

“Sorry, but could this be some kind of mistake?”

Abel asked that naturally.

They did not know anyone there...

“They say they confirmed it after checking the large four pieces of luggage left in the back garden.”

“Ah... those are indeed our belongings, yes.”

Ryo admitted it, but still tilted his head in confusion.

“Well then, let us meet them.”

“That is all we can do.”

Abel and Ryo followed the attendant out of the dining room.

They were shown to a corner of the lobby, where chairs had been arranged so guests could spend time at leisure.

About ten people were seated there.

When Ryo and Abel arrived, the ten stood up.

“These are the people from the Chuarou magistrate’s office who came to see you.”

After making the introduction, the attendant bowed and left.

“I am Hyuran, deputy magistrate of the Chuarou magistrate’s office. But before that... what do you think?”

After introducing himself, the deputy magistrate Hyuran, who looked to be in his mid-forties, asked the five people standing behind him, who clearly looked like adventurers.

“There is no mistake. Those are the two.”

One of the adventurers answered.

Ryo and Abel exchanged a glance.

Both of them noticed it.

The five adventurers were the same people who had been looking with exasperation at the ruckus caused by the hired merchant caravan earlier that day.

In other words, they were the escort adventurers for that caravan.

The deputy magistrate Hyuran gave a small nod and opened his mouth.

“I am sure this sudden visit has surprised you. First, let us sit and talk.”

And so, the deputy magistrate Hyuran, four men who seemed to be his subordinates, five adventurers, and the two of them, Ryo and Abel... a total of twelve people sat down on the unusually comfortable chairs.

“These five are the Third-Rank adventuring team Winter Thunder, affiliated with Chuarou.”

The deputy magistrate Hyuran introduced the five adventurers.

The five gave small nods.

“May I ask your names?”

“Sixth-Rank adventurer Abel.”

“Likewise, Sixth-Rank adventurer Ryo.”

At Hyuran’s question, both Abel and Ryo answered honestly.

There was no particular reason to hide it.

Upon hearing that, for some reason, the five of Winter Thunder nodded.

“Hm, as Winter Thunder said, they are adventurers. I thought they might be merchants, since they were carrying such large luggage.”

“You saw us carrying it?”

“Yes. When the two of you passed by the side of the disturbance, we happened to be coming from behind. The luggage was so large that it left an impression.”

Hyuran answered.

Hearing that, Ryo’s eyes went wide.

He was muttering things like, “No way,” and “I thought I was being inconspicuous.”

As for Abel... he simply shook his head a little and said nothing more.

“I would like to confirm something. During the disturbance, you passed by using water-attribute magic, correct?”

“Uh...”

At Hyuran’s question, Ryo hesitated for a moment before answering.

Questions like this were absolutely guaranteed to lead to trouble.

But....

“I-I suppose you could say that, yes.”

He decided there was no need to lie and dodge the question, so he answered honestly.

“If you are a user of water-attribute magic and an adventurer, then that makes things easy.”

Hyuran leaned forward and began explaining.

To put it simply, they wanted help with flood control works being led by the magistrate’s office.

Changing the course of a river that overflows every time there is heavy rain... in every age and every place, this is one of those ‘common examples’ in which the interests of the people and the administration align.

Ryo, being a water-attribute magician, would certainly be useful.

But there were still questions.

“Even without water-attribute magicians, flood control work has been carried out before, hasn’t it?”

Ryo voiced a simple question.

Yes, flood control works are carried out even without water-attribute magicians.

They are carried out all over the world.

They are carried out in every era.

Even on Earth, where there is no magic... or rather, according to Michael (pseudonym), even on Earth, where magic was no longer used, countless flood control projects without magic had been carried out.

So why was Ryo needed?

“Flood control works, you say... is it a river project? Changing the course of a river, or something like that?”

“No, the work being carried out this time is the relocation of a lake.”

“The relocation of a lake?”

Ryo was shocked by Hyuran’s answer.

River projects that change the course of rivers have been carried out often, in all ages and places.

But he had rarely heard of a lake being relocated artificially.

In general, lakes and ponds are not relocated; they are filled in and eliminated.

Hyuran was an experienced administrator.

Of course, he understood that there are hardly any projects involving the ‘relocation of a lake’.

That was why he seemed to feel he should explain in more detail.

“There is an old lake called Kanro Lake, and it became necessary to reduce it as part of this flood control project. However, there was strong opposition from the local people... so we finally gained their understanding by relocating it about one kilometer away and routing it through a newly created tributary for irrigation.”

Hyuran explained with a wry smile.

In many cases, large projects go ahead while ignoring the wishes of the local people...

Ryo’s evaluation of Hyuran rose a little.

Ryo was fundamentally a good person, and that made him want to help.

“A new Kanro Lake has already been created. So we tried to stop water from flowing into the old Kanro Lake and connect the channel that would drain the lake’s water...”

“And then?”

“But for some reason, every time we were about to begin the final stage of work on the drainage channel, the tools were destroyed, and the embankment meant to stop the inflow of water was broken during the night.”

“What in the world...”

Ryo looked surprised, while Hyuran wore a troubled expression.

Abel said nothing, but his brows were furrowed.

Ryo was the sort of person who wanted to help when he saw someone in trouble.

Even so, this...

“That sounds... like it has nothing to do with water-attribute magicians...”

“That may be true. However, all of it has been happening around the lake... so we decided to have an excellent water-attribute magician take a look. Unfortunately, there is not a single water-attribute magician registered with the adventurer mutual aid association here in Chuarou.”

“Ah...”

Ryo nodded slightly.

He had heard that there were hardly any water-attribute magicians even in the mutual aid association in Imperial Capital Hanlin.

In the first place, water-attribute magicians did not become adventurers...

“Honestly, I am not entirely sure, so...”

Ryo said that, then glanced at Abel.

Abel silently nodded.

That meant okay.

“I would like to at least see the site tomorrow.”

“Oh, that would be greatly appreciated!”

At Ryo’s words, Hyuran nodded happily.

“Er, whether we accept the request or not will be decided after that...”

“That is fine. Even if you only come to take a look, I will make sure the adventurer mutual aid association’s reward money is paid. Of course, if you take the job, there will be more.”

“Ah, okay...”

Ryo nodded under Hyuran’s pressure.

They agreed that Hyuran would come to pick them up at eight o’clock tomorrow morning, and Hyuran and the other nine departed.

After the ten left, Ryo and Abel sat in the dining room again and drank tea.

“I have a bad feeling about this request.”

Ryo muttered with a serious expression.

Abel, looking at him from the side, had a deadpan stare.

He seemed to have seen something through.

“What is it, Abel? What is that look supposed to mean!”

Ryo protested.

“No, you were just speaking without any basis, right?”

“Eh?”

Under Abel’s sharp questioning, Ryo’s gaze darted around.

“You were just saying it vaguely so you could look thoughtful or something, right?”

“How did you find out...”

“Just because it seems like something you would do, Ryo. I can tell now.”

“Tch... all the skills I have polished up until now are being seen through one by one. I feel like an onion being peeled layer by layer.”

“What kind of metaphor is that?”

Abel shrugged at Ryo’s unusual comparison.

Ryo collected himself, took a sip of tea, and then opened his mouth again.

“Abel, you are a king.”

“Yeah, I suppose I am the king.”

“So that means you’re familiar with flood control projects in the Kingdom of Knightley, right?”

“I am not sure whether I would call myself familiar... but I studied what I needed to.”

In response to Ryo’s prickly tone, Abel answered without the slightest sign of discomfort.

Adaptation is a terrifying thing.

“Among all that experience, was there anything like this case?”

“No. First of all, you do not relocate lakes.”

“Right.”

At Abel’s answer, Ryo nodded vigorously in agreement.

That was the starting point, after all.

“When it comes to problems related to flood control projects... land rights, perhaps. But those are settled before the project begins, and only then does construction start.”

“So it is the kind of thing you solve with money.”

Ryo nodded at Abel’s explanation.

If you throw enough money at a problem, you can usually solve it.

That is public works... in Ryo’s head, something about public works had apparently become rather distorted.

“Still, if the tools are being destroyed, then it must be sabotage by someone. Which raises the question of who.”

“I think it is the lake pirates.”

“Lake pirates? What is that?”

Ryo answered confidently, and Abel tilted his head.

“There are bandits who appear in the mountains, so they are mountain bandits. Bandits who appear at sea are sea pirates. This time, they appear in a lake, so they are lake pirates.”

“I have never heard of such bandits. What are they like?”

“How should I know?”

“Hey...”

“I just thought of it now.”

“I was wrong to expect anything.”

Abel gave a huge sigh.

Even if one gets used to it, perfection seems impossible.

“Maybe there is a secret base... a hideout inside the lake.”

“Huh?”

“And at night, the lake splits open, and a lake-pirate-exclusive airborne battleship takes off.”

“That is your imagination, right?”

“Yes, of course!”

“You sure come up with a lot of things.”

Ryo declared it with his chest out, and Abel, beyond merely being exasperated, had begun to find it impressive.

Imagination is a valuable thing.

“But if you think about it that way, everything lines up, doesn’t it?”

“It only lines up, that is all.”

“Well, fine. I will make the righteous lake pirates appear as rivals in the sequel to ‘The Hungry Swordsman Abel’.”

“What?”

“They might become Abel’s eternal rival!”

“And after hearing that, what exactly am I supposed to say?”

Abel shook his head slightly.

In the end, it was the same reaction as always.

The next early morning.

Ryo and Abel woke up a little early.

Naturally, it was to go into the hot spring.

When they got out of the hot spring...

“The morning hot spring is great!”

“Isn’t it?”

Ryo nodded, feeling Abel’s energetic, brisk words were absolutely right.

The two of them then ate breakfast with gusto.

After the energetic pair returned to their room, they looked down from the top of the stairs into the lobby at exactly eight o’clock and saw that their pickup had already arrived.

It had arrived, but...

“Those are just yesterday’s adventurers, right?”

“Yes. It is only the five from Winter Thunder. Deputy magistrate Hyuran is not here.”

Though Abel and Ryo tilted their heads in confusion, they descended the stairs.

The five from Winter Thunder bowed their heads.

The man in the center, who appeared to be a spearman, opened his mouth and began to explain.

“We are the Winter Thunder introduced yesterday. I am the team leader, Kyunlai; the scout, Ranwu; the earth-attribute magician, Go; the fire-attribute sorcerer, Ma; and the healer, Feiwei.”

The spearman Kyunlai gave a brief introduction.

Ryo and Abel had already given their names yesterday.

Still, there was a question... and in situations like this, Abel was the first to speak up.

“The deputy magistrate Hyuran who came yesterday is not here, then? From the way he spoke yesterday, I thought he would also be coming to pick us up.”

“Ah. Apparently, a strange occurrence has taken place at the site, and he has been over there since the middle of the night. Someone from the magistrate’s office came to notify us. So it was just the five of us who came to pick you up.”

“A strange occurrence?”

“We only heard the word ‘strange occurrence,’ so we do not know the details. Sorry about that.”

Kyunlai, too, could not answer Abel’s question.

He could only shrug.

Abel had noticed the water-attribute magician beside him squirming with impatience.

But since Abel and Kyunlai were talking, he had apparently been waiting quietly for that to finish.

“Ryo, is there something on your mind?”

“Thank you for asking, Abel. I have a question for Go-san and Ma-san!”

“Hmm?”

At Ryo’s words, the magician Go and the sorcerer Ma uttered in unison.

The two of them looked very much alike.

Or rather, they were probably twins.

The colors of their clothes were different: Go’s were a yellow-ochre shade, while Ma’s were a maroon shade...

“First, I have a question for Ma-san, the sorcerer!”

“Yes?”

“Do sorcerers also have attributes?”

“Yes, they do.”

“Oh...”

Ryo was surprised by Ma’s answer.

Somehow until now, he did not recall ever asking that clearly.

Sorcerers use talismans.

Talismans can unleash magic of the four attributes... but when seen at the level of ‘magic power’, they are not divided into attributes.

For example, even if an ice spear is fired from a talisman, that does not mean water-attribute mana was used.

Ryo had previously confirmed this himself in battle against a sorcerer, so he was certain of it.

“It is said that the ‘attribute’ each person possesses is decided at birth. Therefore, whether one is a sorcerer or a magician, the attributes one can use are fixed.”

“Ah, that makes sense.”

At Ma’s answer, Ryo nodded deeply.

As for things determined at birth, he had heard about them from Michael (pseudonym), who was something like the administrator of this world, ‘Phi’, so Ryo remembered that too.

Thinking about it that way, it would only be natural for sorcerers to have fixed attributes as well.

Rather, the thing that was unusual was the ‘talisman’ itself.

“So the talisman itself is attribute-less...”

Ryo’s mutter was heard only by Abel beside him.

“Oh, right! Just one more question, this time for both Go-san and Ma-san!”

“Yes?”

“If the two of you fought each other, which one of you would come out on top?”

“I would.”

The one who answered Ryo’s question without the slightest delay was the magician Go.

“Ooh!”

Ryo, a little delighted as a magician himself, reacted happily.

“No, if I’m in peak condition, I would win, so there is hardly any difference.”

That was the reply from the sorcerer Ma.

“Ooh...”

Ryo was startled by the force of that rebuttal.

“Ma... I have the higher win rate, do I not?”

“Elder brother, it is only about sixty percent at most. That is a small difference.”

The argument between Go and Ma... was settled immediately.

“Both of you are weaker than me. Let’s go to the site.”

Spearman Kyunlai said that plainly.

Go and Ma glared at him with resentful eyes.

“So, both magicians and sorcerers’ eternal enemies are front-liners.”

“Yeah, don’t just make them your eternal enemies on your own.”

Ryo nodded as though he understood, and Abel, who was a front-line fighter himself, shrugged.

Meanwhile, the two women, the scout Ranwu and the healer Feiwei, remained silent throughout.

But Abel saw it.

Without making a sound, the two of them mouthed, “Here we go again?”

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