The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life

With widened eyes and unstable breath, the guard gazed at the figures properly. And the pressure that’d weighed down on him like gravity itself suddenly alleviated, like it was naught but his imagination.

A young, blue-haired man, with calm blue eyes and a small smile on his lips, sat with crossed legs in the carriage, gazing at him.

Although the clothes he wore were rough and undignified, they did little to suffocate the prestige that radiated off of him.

A noble, the guard judged.

The other was masked, but his red eyes were, without a doubt, the most dangerous thing in that room.

The black masked man was dressed in an all-black outfit, a black robe. And he sat with crossed arms, gazing at the guard.

A fierce mage, probably above 6th-circle, the guard judged.

And then, in the middle of these wolves, a young lady sat calmly, smiling at the guard.

He blinked. She had beautiful blue eyes that contrasted with her blond hair.

The Count’s daughter.

"Ahem–!" The guard cleared his throat. "Good day, esteemed ones. I’m sorry for the delay; your carriages may pass now."

The two men said nothing.

Only Olive raised an arm, smiling.

"No, it’s nothing! You were just doing your job!"

The guard breathed out in relief.

That woman was an angel.

And, he had no other reason to stop them now. They were truly nobles heading to the capital. Maybe some high society event was about to take place again.

Maybe. The influx of nobles traveling to Rindell over the past few days had been quite high.

The guard quickly walked away from the window, gesturing for the coach to make their way.

***

As their carriage made its way into the city, Maxwell breathed out a sigh of satisfaction.

Olive, in front of him, next to Blank, smiled at Maxwell for what might’ve been the second time since they met. The first time was when he told her she had an unexpectedly bright personality, which she did have.

Turned out all that shyness hid a lovely youth who adored music and aimed to become a master pianist someday.

"The ball is tomorrow."

Their carriage was rolling through the streets of Rindell, on their way to an inn that Olive’s father had rented beforehand. Something about the inn’s owner being Lorenzo’s old friend, and he’d written to him and sent his letter through a messenger pigeon.

Speaking of pigeons, Maxwell was supposed to write a letter to Vin and Eithan as soon as he arrived in Rindell. He would do that the moment they arrived at that inn. After all, he had nowhere else to stay, and he had the money to pay for an inn.

Eithan. That guy. He’d begin traveling tomorrow or the day after.

Maxwell only prayed that he would achieve what he set out to.

The young mage’s eyes were closed, and his arms were crossed.

He was feeling the cool breeze of Rindell that blew through the open window. It was refreshing to say the least, a direct opposite of the stale air in Ludia.

The hustling and bustling in the streets outside their carriage was poignant. Carriages moved here and there, making loud, creaking noises, the sounds of people quarreling in the distance.

Max heard whistling from a not-so-far distance, and he could smell the scent of jasmine and ginger ale floating through the air.

Finally, he opened his eyes, gazing at the buildings outside the carriage.

The architecture of Rindell was far greater than that in Ludia. Higher buildings, fewer tenements, more spires, fewer wooden houses, too.

The designs were all still medieval to Maxwell, who’d seen better in his years, but still, they were a significant step up from the ones in Ludia.

’Rita is somewhere in this city.’

Maxwell finally gazed at Olive, who only blinked as her eyes met his.

It seemed after seven days of riding and traveling together, she could finally hold eye contact with Maxwell.

It made him smile.

"Tomorrow, huh?" Maxwell replied. "Enough time to rest and prepare, isn’t it?"

Olive nodded.

"Yes," she beamed, looking outside the window at the passersby, "And I’ll be heading to the Coisur, it’s been a long time since I visited that place. And I wonder if my friend’s father would let me visit her today, ahead of the ball..."

Speaking of her friend, Maxwell hadn’t had the opportunity to ask Olive about her friend throughout their trip here. Blank had always been in the way.

Maxwell uncrossed his arms.

"What is the Coisur? And where is it?"

"Oh!" Olive’s bright smile remained. "It’s a building, like a theatre, where they play pleasant music. I think it’s called," she held her chin with one finger, pouting as she seemingly tried to recall something. She blinked, gazing at Maxwell, "An opera?"

Max’s eyes widened, but narrowed back as he smiled, shaking his head and shrugging.

"As for me," Blank cut in, waving one hand. "I think it’s time for me to take my leave."

The masked man grunted, standing up from the carriage seat.

Maxwell only observed his posture.

"Aw, Mr. Ed," Olive interjected, "at least eat with us at the inn before you leave. It’ll be a bit sad seeing you leave just like that after all this time."

’Tsk. Let the man go.’

At this point, Frilo was already surrounding Blank’s head, flying around the man while blowing raspberries.

Blank chuckled, gazing at Olive.

"No, that’ll be undignified of me. I wouldn’t want to bother you further when I’ve already received a considerable favor from you."

Olive only sighed, gaze a bit downcast.

"It’s fine. If you insist."

Blank nodded, walking toward the carriage door, even as the carriage was rolling.

"Then–"

"Will I see you again, Mr. Ed?"

Blank turned to Olive, and he raised his mask, just slightly to reveal his beardless jaw and the grin on his lips.

Maxwell grimaced.

Olive’s eyes widened, and she smiled brightly.

"If fate wills it, we might."

Olive nodded. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Let me tell the coach to stop the–"

"No bother!"

Blank wore his mask properly, and he opened the carriage door, about to jump.

Max scoffed, not turning to gaze at Blank.

"Mr. Ed! No, don’t jump!"