The Water Magician: Arc 1 Volume 3 Part 1 by Tadashi Kubou

Author:Tadashi Kubou
Language: eng
Format: epub

The Hero’s Visit

A thin layer of snow falling from the gray morning sky blanketed Markdorf, the capital of the Debuhi Empire, in white. The city was the center of a massive economic bloc said to be the greatest in the Central Provinces, yet few people walked its streets at present. This emptiness was emblematic of the economic downturn of the Empire as a whole.

The main avenue running north-south through the center of Markdorf ended at the imperial castle, the center of the entire Empire. Emperor Rupert VI, master of the castle, listened to Premier Hans Kirchhoff’s report. The man also happened to be a member of the peerage. A count, to be exact.

“You say the Hero has arrived?” Rupert VI asked, visibly displeased.

Understanding the source of his aggravation, Premier Hans bowed his head in commiseration. “Yes, and as previously agreed, he’s requested an audience with you, Your Majesty.”

“Didn’t we receive a report that he had crossed the border? When was that? A week ago, I think? That means he headed straight here to the capital without stopping anywhere else.”

“Indeed. Clearly, he has some sort of objective... However, it is unclear to us at the moment since all he’s done is request an audience with you.”

Rupert’s obvious displeasure deepened. For him, the Hero was a being who brought only trouble and nothing else.

“What is this agreement you’re referring to? It’s the first I’m hearing of it, and with the Hero no less...”

“I myself had no knowledge of it, so I asked the head librarian Tulan at the imperial library to look into the matter. About three hundred years ago, when the Empire was still a monarchy, King Karl XII bestowed upon the Hero then a seal of approval. Tulan found a written record of this.”

“Three hundred years... That’s practically ancient history. What are the contents of the seal?”

“No matter the era, we are bound to help the Hero.”

Rupert VI sighed heavily. “Bloody hell, what a pain in my arse. Fine, I’ll grant him an audience at least. After that, our cooperation depends entirely on what the Hero seeks.”

◆

As the audience with the emperor was an informal one, there weren’t many courtiers in attendance. With the Hero Roman at the forefront, he and the six remaining members of his party knelt, each on one knee, before the stairs leading to the dais on which the ruler’s throne sat. They waited for Emperor Ruper VI to speak to them.

“Master Roman the Hero and friends, raise your heads.”

At Premier Hans Kirchhoff’s urging, the Hero’s party obeyed deferentially.

“Hero Roman as well as his comrades, I welcome you,” Rupert VI intoned.

“We are unworthy of your welcome, but nevertheless honored by it,” replied Graham, the party’s clergyman and oldest member. Though Roman, the Hero, was the party leader, he was only nineteen and inexperienced. As the eldest, Graham often acted as their representative during formal meetings.

“There’s no need for formalities in light of the informal nature of this audience. While I am of course honored by your

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