Water Magician

Editor: Tseirp

Chairman Bandelsh of the Blue Jade Trading Company.

In the city of Manyamya, he was such a well-known figure that anyone who didn’t know him was considered an outsider.

He was the fifth-generation leader of the Blue Jade Trading Company, managing the renowned inn called the Blue Jade Inn*, and his trade ships were said to conduct business with distant countries on the continent. (TLN: Sogokutei)

The Blue Jade Trading Company, under his leadership, was one of the most prominent merchant associations in the Komakyuta Principality and had consistently maintained its headquarters in Manyamya since its founding.

At fifty, Bandelsh’s business acumen had matured.

He was considered someone one should never make an enemy of if they wanted to live in Manyamya…

And Chief Remengesas had managed to anger this man.

Of course, Bandelsh didn’t shout or lose his temper.

“Chief… no, Remengesas-dono. Let me ask you once more. Do you understand the meaning of what you are saying?”

Asked this way, Chief Remengesas swallowed hard.

In the capital, Remengesas was known as a stubborn, unwavering bureaucrat who would speak bluntly even to the lord, but now he felt he needed to muster all his strength not to be crushed.

“Yes, Bandelsh-dono… I believe I understand.”

“You are asking me to provide the Bashteek, the only ship in our guild that can accommodate over two hundred people, excluding the crew. Is that correct?”

“Yes…”

“Providing the ship is one thing. However, naturally, a ship cannot set sail on its own. It needs a crew to operate it. A specialized ship like the Bashteek cannot be handled by inexperienced personnel. Only our company’s crew, who are familiar with the Bashteek, can operate it. So, you are asking us to have them cooperate with the government as well?”

“Y-Yes…”

“Despite knowing that the Suje Kingdom’s navy might attack. Are you telling my crew to die?”

“No, that’s not it. That’s not what I’m saying, Bandelsh-dono. Of course, we will also send a protective fleet from the Manyamya navy. We will put three hundred marines… one hundred on the Bashteek and two hundred on other escort ships. They will protect it. I am not suggesting we send them to their deaths.”

Chief Remengesas explained to Chairman Bandelsh.

What he said was true.

They wouldn’t ask civilians for cooperation without intending to protect them.

However, he had to admit that the possibility of an attack was high.

Naval battles in the archipelago were traditional.

There might be some attacks with bows and magic, but the real combat began once the ships were alongside each other.

Combatants would board the enemy ship or fend off boarders with swords and daggers.

Most of the combat took place on deck, so spears were rarely used, making it not much different from land combat.

Thus, differences in numbers and individual combat skills were easily noticeable.

Seasoned marines were strong, and both the Komakyuta Principality’s marines and the Suje Kingdom’s marines were considered elite.

“We will take all possible defense measures. The Manyamya navy will dispatch twenty ships for escort. Please… can you accept this?”

Chief Remengesas bowed his head.

Watching this, Chairman Bandelsh pondered.

(What the Chief is saying is not a lie. He genuinely wants to succeed in this transport. The people around the princess likely demanded to be on the same ship. But no ship in the Manyamya government fleet can carry that many. Even if you search the whole town, only we have such a ship… Refusing a request from the government, and by extension, the principality, is not realistically possible, I understand that. I understand, but…)

“Chief Remengesas. Please, raise your head.”

“Hmm?”

“You guarantee three hundred marines and twenty escort ships?”

“Of course! ”

“Whatever happens… you will also ensure full compensation?”

“Yes. On behalf of the Manyamya government, I guarantee that.”

Bandelsh paused for a moment.

Then he continued in an even lower voice than before.

“If even one person from our company becomes a casualty, I won’t forgive you or your family.”

“Ugh…”

The Blue Jade Trading Company has been in Manyamya for five generations, and the Remengesas family is prominent in Manyamya.

Naturally, the families have had ties since previous generations.

That statement was made in that context.

And Remengesas knew.

That wasn’t a threat.

If it happened, it would be carried out.

“Of course… I swear on the name of the government office, no, on my name. We will do everything to protect the Bashteek.”

“Yes, please do.”

Bandelsh returned from the Administrator’s Office to the Blue Jade Inn.

“Welcome back, Chairman.”

At the entrance, Banhu greeted him with a polite bow.

“Hmm. Banhu, gather the children in the Chairman’s office in fifteen minutes.”

“All four of them?”

“Yes, all of them.”

Fifteen minutes later.

The eldest son Banro, the second son Bansox, the eldest daughter Banshis, and the youngest son Banhu.

These are the children of Bandelsh currently at the Blue Jade Inn.

There are others, but they are leading caravans or fleets and engaged in the company’s trading activities.

Bandelsh explained the government’s request, the current situation, and possible scenarios to them.

“…In three days, the Bashteek will set sail for the capital. We are waiting for the government to provide the detailed itinerary. It’s an assignment with a very high risk of attack from the Suje Kingdom Navy.”

As Bandelsh said this, the four children nodded.

“The forty crew members of the Bashteek… they will be going into a dangerous situation.”

Bandersh paused, then turned to his second son, Bansox.

Bansox, a young man in his mid-twenties, unlike the others, had a rough demeanor.

But was neither crude nor foolish.

“Bansox… I want you to go into danger with them.”

Bandelsh bowed his head.

A father bowing to his son.

That’s certainly not a common sight.

“Hey, Dad, lift your head. I figured you’d ask.”

Bansox smirked and continued.

“If only the Bashteek crew go, they might become suspicious. No matter how loyal they are to you… the odds are too risky. But if I, your son, go with them, they’ll realize they haven’t been abandoned.”

“Bansox…”

Bansox guessed his intentions, and Banro, the eldest son, started to say something.

Banro was the one who had brought drinks to Ryo and Abel.

But Bansox interrupted him.

“No, brother, don’t say anything. As the head of the company’s security team. I’m the best suited to protect the crew on board, right?”

Bansox laughed.

He then looked at his father, Bandelsh.

“Dad. Honestly, it’s a risky gamble. It would be best if the Suje forces didn’t attack. If they do, we’ll have to repel them. But if we can’t… our top priority is the safety of the Bashteek crew, right?”

“Yes, that’s the most important thing.”

That confirmed that the crew’s safety took precedence over the princess.

“The Suje Kingdom Navy… while those in Tamako Province aren’t that formidable, this time, the central navy would come out, right?”

“Yes. To subdue Tamako Province. It’s been confirmed that the provincial government fell, and the entire province is now under the new government’s control as of the day before yesterday.”

In response to Bansox’s question, the eldest daughter Banshis answered.

She was the one who welcomed Ryo and Abel.

Although many work at the Blue Jade Inn, the children seemed to play an active role.

“So, there’s a high chance that the elite of the Suje Kingdom Central Navy might attack.”

Bansox pondered.

After about ten seconds, he raised his head.

“Dad, I have a proposal.”

“What is it?”

“I want to hire one, no, two people.”

“For this escort?”

“Yeah. I understand it’s a dangerous mission, but I don’t want anyone to die. According to the explanation, the Manyamya stationed navy is also putting a lot of effort into the escort. If they fall, the city of Manyamya’s defense could be compromised as they are deploying ships and marines. So, I want to take every possible measure for survival.”

Despite his rough appearance, Bansox is the type who prepares extensively before a fight.

“I’ve seen them at the inn a few times, a swordsman and a robed magician staying there. They’re in Room 1, which Banhu is managing.”

“Hmm.”

“I confirmed with Banhu, they’re trying to move to the capital to return to the Central Countries but are stuck because the port is closed. I want to hire those two as escorts.”

Bansox paused, and Banhu continued.

“The swordsman is Abel-sama, and the robed one is Ryo-sama. They’ve registered as being from the Knightley Kingdom of the Central Countries in the inn’s log.”

“I think they’re adventurers. There aren’t many adventurers in this archipelago, but there are on the continent. I’ve seen several, but those two are probably quite high-ranked. Especially that swordsman. He’s far stronger than I am.”

“Oohh…”

Banro, the eldest, was surprised that Bansox, who rarely praised anyone’s combat abilities, spoke so highly.

“Yeah, brother. That swordsman is something else. I can’t say much about the robed one… being a magician. But if they’re paired with that swordsman, they must be skilled.”

“Yes, I also think Abel-sama is an amazing swordsman.”

Banhu agreed, nodding vigorously.

“You think so too, Banhu!”

Bansox was pleased that even Banhu, who wasn’t inclined towards combat, recognized their strength.

“Alright. I’ll propose it to Abel-sama and Ryo-sama. But I’ll be completely honest about the situation, so they might not accept. It’s their decision to make.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

Bansox agreed, nodding at the company head, Bandelsh.

“If it increases our chances of survival, even a little…”

Bansox muttered.

The family meeting ended.

“Banhu, please call Abel-sama and Ryo-sama.”

“Understood.”

After the children left, Bandelsh smiled.

It wasn’t the smile of a company head but of a parent watching his children grow.

“Bansox and Banhu have both grown… but they still have a long way to go when it comes to judging people.”

Of course, it wasn’t out of disappointment.

He was glad they had room to grow.

“Swordsman Abel is indeed remarkable. Being a wielder of a magic sword is unusual… and his skill with the sword is likely unmatched in the country.”

He paused.

Then he continued.

“But the truly terrifying one is Ryo-sama… They haven’t realized that yet.”

Closing his eyes, he murmured.

“That one is a monster.”

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