Two days later, the delegation departed Karnak after turning over the prisoners. Five days later, they finally arrived in Thebes, the capital of Twilightland. As they passed through the gates and entered the city, dozens of residents gathered on both sides of the main boulevard to welcome the Kingdom’s envoys. They held miniature versions of Twilight’s and Knightley’s flags in each hand, waving them happily.
“What an incredible sight...”
“You said it.”
Ryo and Abel were actually thinking completely opposite thoughts. The former had never imagined he’d see such a common sight on Earth play out on Phi, while Abel had never imagined that the people of Twilightland would welcome a foreign delegation so warmly. Regardless, they both appreciated the fanfare.
Immediately after arriving, the chief negotiator, Ignus, the civil servants, Abel, and Ryo were supposed to meet the archduke.
“I-I’m just an adventurer,” Ryo said, “so I really don’t think I need to be there...”
“You’re not getting out of it that easily! Do you know why we had the luxury of riding by carriage? ’Cuz these meetings are part of our job here. The Kingdom even went to the trouble of preparing ceremonial attire for you, so there isn’t a chance in hell you’re not going!” Abel argued.
“Uuurk...” Ryo groaned, unable to think of a counter.
It went without saying that he had no choice but to attend. The ceremony itself ended without incident. Ignus did all the talking on behalf of the delegation, while Abel and Ryo simply knelt on one knee and listened. The whole time, Ryo couldn’t help but think, I know he’s supposed to be Myu’s grandfather, but there isn’t much of a resemblance, hm?
Afterward, the delegation went to their accommodations, a guesthouse on the castle grounds.
“I thought for sure there’d be some kind of welcome party, but I guess I was wrong.”
“No, there is—it’s just scheduled for four days from now. Attendance is mandatory, by the way. That goes for me, the civil servants, and you.”
Ryo sighed. “Another one?”
“It’s part of the job,” Abel said, and he meant it.
Two hours later, Ryo’s gloom had lifted, all because—
“Nothing like a good soak, right, Abel?! The people of Twilight sure have their priorities straight, hm?”
“Jeez, you really love your baths, huh?”
—the guesthouse’s bathtub was enormous!
“Darn right! After all, we’re born in baths and we die in baths!” Judging by Ryo’s enthusiasm, he seemed convinced humanity’s future hinged on suds and hot water.
“Yeah, I don’t think that’s how life works.”
“Well, I for one plan to get the words ‘He lived and died by the bath’ engraved on my tombstone.”
“Whatever floats your boat, man.”
Abel had no idea where Ryo’s unwavering passion for bathing came from and didn’t much care about it either. But it didn’t matter as long as Ryo felt better, so he just shook his head with a wry smile.
✦ ✦ ✦
A butler entered The Study, an enormous private library lined with books. Today, as always, the owner sat engrossed in one of them. The butler approached him and bowed respectfully.
“Ah, Drab,” the man said. “Is it that time already?”
“Yes, my lord. One of your subordinates is ready to make his report.”
“I see,” the master said with a nod. “Let him in.”
“I have two pieces of news. First, a delegation from the Kingdom has arrived. Second, the civil war is slated to begin six days from now, two days after the banquet at the castle.”
“Expound on the latter, please.”
“Of course. The battlefield will stretch across the entirety of Thebes. Lord Vicente, Marquis of Espier, is the aggressor, while Lord Sandalio, Count of Contreras, is the defender. Each has the support of several dozen nobles.”
“Over a hundred nobles in total?” the master asked.
“That is correct, my lord,” the subordinate said with a nod.
“This may quickly become tedious...” the other man murmured. “Or perhaps not. I suppose we’ll have to wait and see.”
The subordinate watched, expression unchanging.
“I understand,” the man finally said. “Thank you for your efforts.”
The subordinate bowed and prepared to leave.
“Oh, one more thing,” the other said.
His subordinate immediately stopped and turned to face him.
“Knightley’s delegation...”
“Yes, my lord?”
“I’d like more information on its members. I’m in no particular hurry, so do send it in writing.”
“Understood.”
✦ ✦ ✦
The day after the delegation arrived in Thebes, bilateral negotiations finally began. Ignus and the civil servants held various meetings, sometimes simultaneously, at the reception hall adjacent to the guesthouse. Meanwhile, the knights and adventurers idled around, waiting to resume their duties on the journey home.
Abel and Ryo were exceptions, though. They were invited to the headquarters of Twilightland’s adventurers’ guild, where they attended several meetings and occasionally watched mock battles while attending to their other duties. At present, there were no active adventurers above A-rank in Twilightland, which explained why expectations were so high for Abel, an A-rank adventurer from the Kingdom.
Ryo, for his part, was a C-rank and Abel’s underling. Letting him go on his own wasn’t an option, so Abel dragged the water magician around with him...
“I have the worst luck...” Ryo said with a sigh.
His complaining went unheard.
Their first task was to attend a seminar at the headquarters of Twilightland’s adventurers’ guild, but it only briefly resembled an actual seminar. Halfway through Abel’s lecture, heated discussions erupted until attendees were on the cusp of trading blows. At that point, Abel raised his voice and herded everyone to the training grounds, where the seminar basically turned into a full-on mock battle.
“In the end, that’s just how adventurers are,” Ryo said. “They act before they think...”
“No argument there,” Abel replied. In a rare move, he’d actually agreed with the water magician.
The attendees became livelier in the training grounds. They bombarded Ryo with questions—about magic, the beginner’s course at Lune’s adventurers’ guild, and everything in between. He answered with confidence born of firsthand experience. And why shouldn’t he? He was far more than Abel’s lackey—or that was at least what he told himself.