Chapter 470: What is a King?

Chapter 470: What is a King?

Editor: Tseirp

After the two had decided on their travel plans, Queen Iliaja began visiting them whenever she could find time.

Alternatively, they were often invited to tea parties with her.

Today as well, the three of them had just finished a tea party.

“It really must be tough to become a king. Both the Queen and you, Abel, are remarkable.”

“...Even if you suddenly praise me, I won’t give you anything.”

“You should be more honest and accept the compliment.”

“That’s because of how Ryo usually acts...”

“That’s so mean...”

Ryo pretended to be hurt by Abel’s words.

Of course, he wasn’t hurt at all.

It was just playful banter.

“Still, it’s surprising.”

“What is?”

Ryo picked up on Abel’s murmured words.

“I thought Queen Iliaja would try to keep us here... but she hasn’t even suggested it once.”

“Hmm? Are you trying to say that someone as capable as you should obviously be kept around? Abel, that’s a bit too self-centered.”

“No, that’s not what I meant...”

“Besides, even if we were asked to stay, we’d have to refuse anyway.”

“Well, that’s true, but...”

“Abel, you’re such an attention-seeker.”

“I am not!”

Ryo shook his head with a sad expression, pointing it out, and Abel denied it.

“Kabui Somal tried to make me stay. Didn’t they say anything to you, Ryo?”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I kind of remember something like that... but I don’t really recall. I wasn’t going to stay anyway.”

“Y-yeah.”

Abel was at a loss for words in response to Ryo’s blunt remark.

Though what Ryo said was true...

As usual, more words would follow, contradicting Ryo’s previous statement.

“I think Abel should take life more seriously.”

“Why do I feel like I’m being told this by the wrong person? It’s so unfair.”

“Because I’m really serious. I always live my life with full effort.”

“I’ve never seen a truly serious person say that about themselves...”

“If I don’t promote myself sometimes, no one else will say it.”

“Maybe no one says it because you’re not serious, Ryo...”

“Did you say something?”

“No, nothing at all.”

Ryo sharply questioned, and Abel smoothly dodged it.

Sharp attacks shouldn’t be taken head-on.

While exchanging their usual banter, Ryo’s behavior during the first week after their departure plans were set was odd.

Though one could say, “Isn’t he always odd?”.

Whenever he found spare time, he started writing something.

At first, Abel thought it was his usual alchemy.

But after a bit of thought, he realized something was off.

Normally, in such cases, Ryo would bring out an ice slab and start drawing magic formulas or magic circles on it.

But this time, he was writing on paper with a pen.

Naturally curious, Abel approached him and asked, “What are you writing?”.

But Ryo blatantly hid it.

“Could you show me?”

“No.”

He was clearly refused.

Since then, Ryo became even more cautious about Abel approaching him.

At that point, Abel’s curiosity grew stronger.

He really wanted to know what Ryo was up to.

However, Ryo’s defenses were solid.

In the end, he even encased himself in an ice wall and began writing inside an ice room...

This strange behavior lasted for just one week.

After that, for the next two weeks, there was nothing of the sort...

And before long, even Abel forgot about Ryo’s peculiar actions.

After all, Ryo being odd was nothing new.

“Do you think a king is a lonely existence?”

Queen Iliaja’s words were spoken so softly they could almost be considered a whisper.

Still, Ryo and Abel, who were sitting at the same table, sipping coffee, heard her.

Ryo simply tilted his head, saying nothing.

He recognized that this was not a question for him to answer, but rather for his companion.

However, Abel currently didn’t have a dagger.

When he led the army as a king to battle against the demon.

He brought his beloved magic sword to the battlefield but didn’t carry a dagger.

After being transported to the archipelago region in that state.

He hadn’t acquired any new daggers or knives.

While Ryo was working on strategies against the Kraken, Abel had prepared meals.

Using his large magic sword for most things...

For tasks that required finer work, he borrowed Ryo’s knife.

The one crafted by Michael.

Although they had opportunities to buy one in places like the city of Manyamya, staying at high-class inns like the Blue Jade Inn meant he had little need for a knife.

So, he ended up never getting one, which brings us to the present.

“This one is for you, Sir Ryo.”

“Huh? For me? I already got my book published, so I don’t need anything else.”

“No, since you have agreed to donate all the proceeds from the book, it ends up being a considerable debt the kingdom owes you. There’s also the matter of the bracelet.”

“Is that so? Oh? A book. A new one? ‘The Abyss of Alchemy?’ Wait, is this an alchemy book?”

“Yes. We couldn’t give you the original, so this is a copy. It is one of the royal family’s forbidden books, containing much advanced alchemy knowledge. Even the alchemists currently residing in the royal castle are not permitted to read it. And even those who were granted permission found it completely incomprehensible. However, we believe that perhaps, in your case, Sir Ryo...”

“Oh...”

“Even if it’s difficult now, we thought that one day, you might be able to understand it.”

“Yes, yes! Of course, I will! I’ll definitely be able to read it someday! Oh, what a wonderful gift... Lord Protector, Your Majesty, thank you so much.”

Ryo said this as he beamed with joy.

He genuinely looked happy, bowing his head in gratitude.

“This life of mine was saved by you, Sir Ryo. I should be the one thanking you.”

Queen Iliaja also smiled warmly as she bowed her head in return.

“May favorable winds guide you both on your journey.”

With Queen Iliaja’s words seeing them off, the two left the Suje Kingdom.

The cruiser that carried them continued until it disappeared beyond the horizon. Queen Iliaja and Kabui Somal watched them from the harbor until they were out of sight.

“I have something to apologize for to Your Majesty.”

“What is it, Lord Protector?”

“I actually proposed to Sir Abel and Sir Ryo that they stay in the kingdom...”

“They declined, didn’t they?”

Queen Iliaja smiled knowingly.

“Yes. I made every suggestion I could within my authority, but...”

“Lord Protector, it was never possible to keep those two here. It is not your fault.”

“...With such talent. I thought Your Majesty would want them to stay...”

“Of course, it would have been best if they stayed... However, it seems that you weren’t aware of something, Lord Protector.”

“Hmm?”

Queen Iliaja smiled as she continued speaking.

“They are both from the Kingdom of Knightley in the Central Countries.”

“Yes.”

“How much do you know about the Kingdom of Knightley, Lord Protector?”

“Since it’s a distant country, not much... But I do know it’s one of the three great powers of the Central Countries... and that there was a civil war three years ago. The current king, the second prince, led half of the nation’s forces and defeated the former king’s brother, who had allied with the army of the Debuhi Empire, and became the reigning monarch.”

“Correct. And what is the name of this second prince, now the current king?”

“King Abel I, if I remember correctly.”

“Yes. The once-famous adventurer, and unparalleled swordsman—Abel-san.”

At that moment, Kabui Somal’s body trembled.

“No way! Sir Abel... is King Abel I?! I did sense he held a high position in the kingdom, but, I never imagined...”

“Almost certainly. I was fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with him. During that time, he spoke many words as a king. His words carried the weight of someone who had led half a nation, driven out foreign invaders, unified his country, and continued to stand on equal footing with surrounding great powers... such feats are no easy matter. To love one’s people and one’s country. That is the mark of a true king.”

Iliaja was convinced that Abel was indeed King Abel I.

“If that is the case... then it would be impossible to keep him in this land. But then, the man traveling with him, Sir Ryo...?”

“Don’t you see?”

“I’m ashamed of my ignorance...”

“If the famous Lord Protector Kabui Somal, feared as the undefeated admiral by the neighboring nations, doesn’t know, then it’s understandable. I only know because I enjoy listening to the tales of wandering minstrels.”

Kabui Somal bowed his head in embarrassment, and Queen Iliaja responded with a gentle smile.

“They say that King Abel is accompanied by a single magician. His magic can erase the skies, shatter the earth, and freeze the world with mighty water magic. It was no illusion when he defeated an army of a hundred thousand with a single strike. The people call him ‘Ice Fall’ or ‘Silver Duke’.”

Princess Iliaja sang in a unique rhythm.

Like a minstrel.

“That’s...”

“It’s ‘The Song of Duke Rondo’. Ryo-san is Duke Rondo... the highest-ranking duke of the kingdom. Minstrels are singing about him everywhere. I always thought it was an exaggeration when they sang about him defeating a hundred thousand with one blow, but... after seeing that ice spear from the ship, I began to believe it might have actually happened.”

“I see...”

Both Queen Iliaja and Lord Protector Kabui Somal recalled Ryo’s , which he unleashed from the Rain Shooter upon the five ships blocking their path.

“I have a feeling... that we will meet those two again someday.”

Iliaja’s whispered words were heard by no one...

TLN: Please read my translations at , I did not give permission to any site to host my translations.

If you like my translations, please support me on Patreon and unlock early chapter releases! 7 day free trial is available for Bronze tier now!