Manowa Chapter 116

Chapter 116 - Let's Take Care of the Stalkers

The girl named Minaka Raidou that Kazane met in Wombard's market was a『j.a.panese』person from an eastern country . She was also the daughter of the Raidou samurai family, one of the elite families among the j.a.panese .

This was a fact the person herself knew, but originally Minaka was a commoner child . However, with the swordsmans.h.i.+p talent she had been exhibiting since a very young age she became an adopted child of the Raidou family .

Because of those circ.u.mstances Minaka was strongly obsessed with becoming stronger . The parents who raised Minaka did so affectionately and she had felt their love, but she considered that goal the value of her existence and one she had to achieve at any cost . That was why she sealed her old memories to sever the relations.h.i.+ps she had before she became an adopted child, and it might have been unavoidable that she strongly felt that strength was her ident.i.ty .

And Minaka was now crossing the continent on a training journey . Even the women of a samurai family must be strong . The『j.a.panese』considered it their national character, and once Minaka turned 15 she was ordered to go on a training journey . She was forbidden to return until she became an adult at 20 . That was a tradition of the Raidou family .

Ever since, Minaka had been traveling alone .

And in the middle of her solitary journey she coincidentally discovered a black dagger that appeared to be some kind of magic sword . At that point Minaka didn't notice that the dagger was haunted by a devil, an incubus of l.u.s.t .

Minaka never wanted to remember the situation that happened afterwards again . Before she knew it her first time was taken, and not only was she no longer a virgin, she was successively indulging in pleasure with a devil night after night . When she thought about those days her ears turned red in shame . She wondered how things ended up like that . She couldn't believe she never did something about it .

But she was saved by the power of a woman named Louise . Right now she wasn't possessed by a devil, and she was in the middle of improving herself through a foreign country's Grand Tournament .

Yes, everything was how it should be .

(What do they want? Those guys)

Now Minaka was being followed . Although they never came excessively close, she was certain there were multiple people, and she was able to confirm that at least four people were following her .

Minaka could tell that each person's ability was equal to or greater than her own . She particularly sensed indications that the old man with the katana hanging from his waist and the man with the silver armor were similar to the old soldier in Kazane and Louise's party named Jinrai .

Even the other two showed clear signs of being powerful people, and she knew that she would eventually be caught by such skilled people cooperating together, so since she would definitely be finished once she was surrounded she was driven by fear to continue walking .

(Will I be okay if I return to the inn? But once my whereabouts become known they might immediately break in . )

She had no confidence in winning if she were caught . Minaka was impatiently racking her brain for a way to avoid checkmate . If things go on like this, how can I avoid being surrounded?

However, while she was thinking that and walking briskly Minaka didn't the other person that was currently approaching .

**********

Multiple running footsteps resounded in the alley .

「Hey, she disappeared . 」

The target they were following suddenly entered this rarely traveled alley and they followed after her, but no one was there .

「She was noticed, so she ran away?」

The man said, but there were no traces of someone starting to run with all their strength from this place .

「It seems to be different . It appears that she was able to successfully escape through some unknown means . 」

The man with silver armor laughed while saying that .

「Four adult men failed to catch one young girl . It is not a laughing matter . 」

The man with silver armor replied「Sorry」to the man's words .

「But how did she escape?」

Another man said . Originally they were not trying to catch Minaka . However, it seemed like she noticed them, so they followed after her to investigate the circ.u.mstances since they didn't understand the situation . And after watching the exchange the old man said「Maybe she was disposed of?」

「You're saying the devil hunting guys did it?」

One of the men looked at the old man and asked, looking vexed . The old man said「That possibility exists . 」

「Tch, has my share declined again?」

「That hasn't been decided yet . 」

That was uttered by the solidly built man wearing silver armor .

「Well, certainly . The connection is weak, and she may have escaped by herself . Arguing here won't solve anything anyway . 」

The man with silver armor nodded to the words of the old man .

「Anyway, with that ability she seems to be different from that『a.s.sa.s.sination』group . 」

「Certainly . Wouldn't it be useless to deliberately contact her to send a warning?」

The other two said .

「Well, it should be fine . The compet.i.tion bracket will soon be settled . For now, shall we leave here separately?」

The men nodded to the old man's words, and without saying anything more they left the scene at slightly staggered intervals .

**********

(Run away? a.s.sa.s.sination?)

Kazane had been hiding with Minaka in the alley above the talking men on the second floor wall by using『Wall Walking』and『Invisible』together . 『Invisible』was a skill that lowered the recognition ability of surrounding people . There was less worry of suddenly being noticed if they were in a blind spot .

Once she confirmed that the men were gone Kazane asked Minaka beside her .

「Minaksan, do you have any ideas?」

To that question Minaka shook her head . She knew nothing at all about those guys .

「I don't know, but . . . . . since they were talking about devil hunters, maybe they thought I was related to them?」

Minaka responded while surprised about Kazane's wall adhering and presence eliminating Skills . Kazane antic.i.p.ated that reply from Minaka and immediately agreed「It seems like that . 」Unlike Invisible, which applied the effect to anyone she was touching, Wall Walking only applied to Kazane, so Minaka's feet were on a gutter alongside the wall while Kazane was looking down and supporting her .

「It seems that people possessed by devils are being killed, so the things they were talking about are probably related to that . 」

After Kazane spoke Minaka looked at her with a surprised expression .

「People possessed by devils are being killed? No way, are those people…?」

Kazane replied「Maybe?」to Minaka's question . Kazane also didn't know anything beyond what she had heard from Brick .

「I don't know what relation they had to the ones killed, but from what we heard earlier it seems they suspected Minaksan . 」

「I wouldn't do such a thing . 」

After Minaka's fl.u.s.tered reply Kazane said「That is something to say to those guys!」But of course, after Minaka was pursued she didn't have enough courage to be interrogated by them .

「Maybe they were devil hunters?  But saying my share and the rest would then be quite strange things to say, right?」

(If they were devil hunters they wouldn't say『devil hunting guys』in the first place)

Kazane retorted to her own words in her mind .

「I don't know what kind of people they are, but at the very least I think they are skilled . The old man and that man in the silver armor seemed particularly strong . 」

「Yeah . I felt something similar to Jinrai-san; they seem like scary people . 」

Kazane said, and for now she decided to escort Minaka to the inn . She briefly told Jinrai what happened and left Minaka with him before she began heading to the Adventurers Guild office to meet with Louise .

◎ Resurrect City, Commercial District

「We meet again . Young lady . 」

Kazane was on her way to the guild . She was walking down the street when the old man was beside her before she noticed .

Kazane was startled by the sudden voice, but she feigned calm as she replied to the old man .

「Hmm . But I think this is the first time we've met . 」

There were a lot of pedestrians around . She was thinking that she shouldn't do anything reckless, but the indications from this old man was making Kazane's『Intuition』sound the alarm . Honestly speaking she felt like starting the attack immediately . If she did it now she could still deal with him . Kazane's『Intuition』was telling her so . Then she hurriedly a.n.a.lyzed the current situation .

(There was a scent, but I couldn't notice . It is similar to Invisible; does he have a recognition obstruction Skill?)

Some high ranking scouts possessed such Skills .

「No, not at all . The skill with which you helped that long-haired young lady just now was splendid . It would have been completely unnoticed if I wasn't there . 」

「No, not at all . The skill with which you helped that long-haired young lady just now was splendid . It would have been completely unnoticed if I wasn't there . 」

「So it was exposed?」

Apparently the old man before her eyes was aware of Kazane from the beginning .

「But you overlooked me earlier, didn't you?」

Kazane inquired while walking forward with deliberate steps . At first glance they could only be seen as an old man walking together with his grandchild .

(Help is . . . . . . no one will come, right?)

Unfortunately Jinrai was at the inn with Minaka and her other companions . It would be nice if Louise saw Kazane by chance, but the possibility was slim .

「I was worried it would become a battle if you became known to them . Pointless conflict is also undesirable here, even more so with somebody from the same birthplace . Yuihama Kazane-kun . 」

Those words were a surprise attack .

「Why do you know?」

This time Kazane stared at him in surprise . But the old man told her the answer with a calm expression .

「My Unique Skill is『Ninja Master』with a derived skill『Information Probe』that lets me see through an opponent's status . 」

Kazane suddenly understood the ident.i.ty of the old man in front of her with those words .

「Perhaps you are a『player』?」

The old man nodded after Kazane's words .

「I fell into this world two years ago . I have somehow managed to survive until today . I knew of the existence of players, but this is my first time meeting any comrades in a while . 」

The old man seemed to be missing something as he spoke .

「Ah, well that's good . But why were you aiming at Minaksan, and why did you get in contact with me now?」

Kazane asked in a firm tone . She wasn't particularly happy about being able to meet a player like her .

「Ah, turn right at that road . Let's get some distance from the guild . 」

However, the old man didn't answer Kazane's words, but issued instructions .

「Roーger」

Kazane kept walking according to the old man's words . Unlike before there weren't many people in the warehouse district . The place was a short distance away from the place where she set up Hippomaru-kun Mark 2 (Tentative) . Kazane was urged by the old man to sit down on some stairs in front of a warehouse entrance .

「So, what is it?」

「Well, I don't have anything in particular to talk about with you, but right now it would be a bit of a problem if you told that Louise Cancer about the details of our conversation . 」

「Hmm, what would happen if I broke through here and informed Louise-san?」

「Hmm, what would happen if I broke through here and informed Louise-san?」

「In the worst case the devil users would start to move all at once, and there is the possibility that it would s.h.i.+ft to a battle royal throughout the town . 」

Kazane frowned .

「If you don't tell her anything the qualifying rounds will end today, and there will be no problem once the compet.i.tion bracket is finalized . We will finish things among ourselves and won't cause trouble for the surroundings . So let's stay here until the final selection of the compet.i.tion bracket is announced . 」

「Well, I guess that's fine . 」

Kazane understood with『Intuition』that he wasn't lying . Although with the Skill『Ninja Master』he might be able to disguise intelligence-related information .

「So Ojii-chan is a devil user?」

Even if she wouldn't be allowed to move Kazane didn't see any signs of him planning anything unreasonable . At least she was able to confirm that he wasn't showing any hostility, so she changed her approach to get as much information as possible .

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

t.i.tle: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Adhesion Sword『Gum』, Spell Dagger, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphan Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Magic Acc.u.mulator, White Magic Acc.u.mulator

Level : 29

Health: 101

Magic Power: 170+420

Strength: 49+10

Agility: 40

Endurance: 29

Wisdom : 55

Dexterity : 33

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』

Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crus.h.i.+ng Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg: Lv2』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material s.h.i.+eld』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization』『Regenerate』『Rear Presence』『Stealthy Placement』『Thunder Chariot』

Yumika:「So Minaksan was adopted as a child . 」

Kazane:「Well, that's fine, but I have various retorts about that samurai family . 」

Yumika:「That is not j.a.pan . It's a mysterious country with an outrageous depiction of j.a.pan . 」

Chapter 116 - Let's Take Care of the Stalkers . The girl named Minaka Raidou that Kazane met in Wombard's market was a『j.a.panese』person from an eastern country . She was also the daughter of the Raidou samurai family, one of the elite families among the j.a.panese . This was a fact the person herself knew, but originally Minaka was a commoner child . However, with the swordsmans.h.i.+p talent she had been exhibiting since a very young age she became an adopted child of the Raidou family . Because of those circ.u.mstances Minaka was strongly obsessed with becoming stronger . The parents who raised Minaka did so affectionately and she had felt their love, but she considered that goal the value of her existence and one she had to achieve at any cost . That was why she sealed her old memories to sever the relations.h.i.+ps she had before she became an adopted child, and it might have been unavoidable that she strongly felt that strength was her ident.i.ty . And Minaka was now crossing the continent on a training journey . Even the women of a samurai family must be strong . The『j.a.panese』considered it their national character, and once Minaka turned 15 she was ordered to go on a training journey . She was forbidden to return until she became an adult at 20 . That was a tradition of the Raidou family . Ever since, Minaka had been traveling alone . And in the middle of her solitary journey she coincidentally discovered a black dagger that appeared to be some kind of magic sword . At that point Minaka didn't notice that the dagger was haunted by a devil, an incubus of l.u.s.t . Minaka never wanted to remember the situation that happened afterwards again . Before she knew it her first time was taken, and not only was she no longer a virgin, she was successively indulging in pleasure with a devil night after night . When she thought about those days her ears turned red in shame . She wondered how things ended up like that . She couldn't believe she never did something about it . But she was saved by the power of a woman named Louise . Right now she wasn't possessed by a devil, and she was in the middle of improving herself through a foreign country's Grand Tournament Yes, everything was how it should be (What do they want? Those guys) Now Minaka was being followed . Although they never came excessively close, she was certain there were multiple people, and she was able to confirm that at least four people were following her . Minaka could tell that each person's ability was equal to or greater than her own . She particularly sensed indications that the old man with the katana hanging from his waist and the man with the silver armor were similar to the old soldier in Kazane and Louise's party named Jinrai . Even the other two showed clear signs of being powerful people, and she knew that she would eventually be caught by such skilled people cooperating together, so since she would definitely be finished once she was surrounded she was driven by fear to continue walking . (Will I be okay if I return to the inn? But once my whereabouts become known they might immediately break in . ) She had no confidence in winning if she were caught . Minaka was impatiently racking her brain for a way to avoid checkmate . If things go on like this, how can I avoid being surrounded? However, while she was thinking that and walking briskly Minaka didn't the other person that was currently approaching . ********** Multiple running footsteps resounded in the alley . 「Hey, she disappeared . 」 The target they were following suddenly entered this rarely traveled alley and they followed after her, but no one was there . 「She was noticed, so she ran away?」 The man said, but there were no traces of someone starting to run with all their strength from this place . 「It seems to be different . It appears that she was able to successfully escape through some unknown means . 」 The man with silver armor laughed while saying that . 「Four adult men failed to catch one young girl . It is not a laughing matter . 」 The man with silver armor replied「Sorry」to the man's words . 「But how did she escape?」 Another man said . Originally they were not trying to catch Minaka . However, it seemed like she noticed them, so they followed after her to investigate the circ.u.mstances since they didn't understand the situation . And after watching the exchange the old man said「Maybe she was disposed of?」 「You're saying the devil hunting guys did it?」 One of the men looked at the old man and asked, looking vexed . The old man said「That possibility exists . 」 「Tch, has my share declined again?」 「That hasn't been decided yet . 」 That was uttered by the solidly built man wearing silver armor . 「Well, certainly . The connection is weak, and she may have escaped by herself . Arguing here won't solve anything anyway . 」 The man with silver armor nodded to the words of the old man . 「Anyway, with that ability she seems to be different from that『a.s.sa.s.sination』group . 」 「Certainly . Wouldn't it be useless to deliberately contact her to send a warning?」 The other two said . 「Well, it should be fine . The compet.i.tion bracket will soon be settled . For now, shall we leave here separately?」 The men nodded to the old man's words, and without saying anything more they left the scene at slightly staggered intervals . ********** (Run away? a.s.sa.s.sination?) Kazane had been hiding with Minaka in the alley above the talking men on the second floor wall by using『Wall Walking』and『Invisible』together . 『Invisible』was a skill that lowered the recognition ability of surrounding people . There was less worry of suddenly being noticed if they were in a blind spot . Once she confirmed that the men were gone Kazane asked Minaka beside her . 「Minaksan, do you have any ideas?」 To that question Minaka shook her head . She knew nothing at all about those guys . 「I don't know, but . since they were talking about devil hunters, maybe they thought I was related to them?」 Minaka responded while surprised about Kazane's wall adhering and presence eliminating Skills . Kazane antic.i.p.ated that reply from Minaka and immediately agreed「It seems like that . 」Unlike Invisible, which applied the effect to anyone she was touching, Wall Walking only applied to Kazane, so Minaka's feet were on a gutter alongside the wall while Kazane was looking down and supporting her . 「It seems that people possessed by devils are being killed, so the things they were talking about are probably related to that . 」 After Kazane spoke Minaka looked at her with a surprised expression . 「People possessed by devils are being killed? No way, are those people…?」 Kazane replied「Maybe?」to Minaka's question . Kazane also didn't know anything beyond what she had heard from Brick . 「I don't know what relation they had to the ones killed, but from what we heard earlier it seems they suspected Minaksan . 」 「I wouldn't do such a thing . 」 After Minaka's fl.u.s.tered reply Kazane said「That is something to say to those guys!」But of course, after Minaka was pursued she didn't have enough courage to be interrogated by them . 「Maybe they were devil hunters?  But saying my share and the rest would then be quite strange things to say, right?」 (If they were devil hunters they wouldn't say『devil hunting guys』in the first place) Kazane retorted to her own words in her mind . 「I don't know what kind of people they are, but at the very least I think they are skilled . The old man and that man in the silver armor seemed particularly strong . 」 「Yeah . I felt something similar to Jinrai-san; they seem like scary people . 」 Kazane said, and for now she decided to escort Minaka to the inn . She briefly told Jinrai what happened and left Minaka with him before she began heading to the Adventurers Guild office to meet with Louise . ◎ Resurrect City, Commercial District . 「We meet again . Young lady . 」 Kazane was on her way to the guild . She was walking down the street when the old man was beside her before she noticed . Kazane was startled by the sudden voice, but she feigned calm as she replied to the old man . 「Hmm . But I think this is the first time we've met . 」 There were a lot of pedestrians around . She was thinking that she shouldn't do anything reckless, but the indications from this old man was making Kazane's『Intuition』sound the alarm . Honestly speaking she felt like starting the attack immediately . If she did it now she could still deal with him . Kazane's『Intuition』was telling her so . Then she hurriedly a.n.a.lyzed the current situation . (There was a scent, but I couldn't notice . It is similar to Invisible; does he have a recognition obstruction Skill?) Some high ranking scouts possessed such Skills . 「No, not at all . The skill with which you helped that long-haired young lady just now was splendid . It would have been completely unnoticed if I wasn't there . 」 「So it was exposed?」 Apparently the old man before her eyes was aware of Kazane from the beginning . 「But you overlooked me earlier, didn't you?」 Kazane inquired while walking forward with deliberate steps . At first glance they could only be seen as an old man walking together with his grandchild . (Help is no one will come, right?) Unfortunately Jinrai was at the inn with Minaka and her other companions . It would be nice if Louise saw Kazane by chance, but the possibility was slim . 「I was worried it would become a battle if you became known to them . Pointless conflict is also undesirable here, even more so with somebody from the same birthplace . Yuihama Kazane-kun . 」 Those words were a surprise attack . 「Why do you know?」 This time Kazane stared at him in surprise . But the old man told her the answer with a calm expression . 「My Unique Skill is『Ninja Master』with a derived skill『Information Probe』that lets me see through an opponent's status . 」 Kazane suddenly understood the ident.i.ty of the old man in front of her with those words . 「Perhaps you are a『player』?」 The old man nodded after Kazane's words . 「I fell into this world two years ago . I have somehow managed to survive until today . I knew of the existence of players, but this is my first time meeting any comrades in a while . 」 The old man seemed to be missing something as he spoke . 「Ah, well that's good . But why were you aiming at Minaksan, and why did you get in contact with me now?」 Kazane asked in a firm tone . She wasn't particularly happy about being able to meet a player like her . 「Ah, turn right at that road . Let's get some distance from the guild . 」 However, the old man didn't answer Kazane's words, but issued instructions . 「Roーger」 Kazane kept walking according to the old man's words . Unlike before there weren't many people in the warehouse district . The place was a short distance away from the place where she set up Hippomaru-kun Mark 2 (Tentative) . Kazane was urged by the old man to sit down on some stairs in front of a warehouse entrance 「So, what is it?」 「Well, I don't have anything in particular to talk about with you, but right now it would be a bit of a problem if you told that Louise Cancer about the details of our conversation . 」 「Hmm, what would happen if I broke through here and informed Louise-san?」 「In the worst case the devil users would start to move all at once, and there is the possibility that it would s.h.i.+ft to a battle royal throughout the town . 」 Kazane frowned . 「If you don't tell her anything the qualifying rounds will end today, and there will be no problem once the compet.i.tion bracket is finalized . We will finish things among ourselves and won't cause trouble for the surroundings . So let's stay here until the final selection of the compet.i.tion bracket is announced . 」 「Well, I guess that's fine . 」 Kazane understood with『Intuition』that he wasn't lying . Although with the Skill『Ninja Master』he might be able to disguise intelligence-related information . 「So Ojii-chan is a devil user?」 Even if she wouldn't be allowed to move Kazane didn't see any signs of him planning anything unreasonable . At least she was able to confirm that he wasn't showing any hostility, so she changed her approach to get as much information as possible . Name: Yuihama Kazane Occupation: Magic Swordswoman t.i.tle: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Adhesion Sword『Gum』, Spell Dagger, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphan Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Magic Acc.u.mulator, White Magic Acc.u.mulator Level : 29 Health: 101 Magic Power: 170+420 Strength: 49+10 Agility: 40 Endurance: 29 Wisdom : 55 Dexterity : 33 Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』 Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crus.h.i.+ng Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg: Lv2』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material s.h.i.+eld』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization』『Regenerate』『Rear Presence』『Stealthy Placement』『Thunder Chariot』 Yumika:「So Minaksan was adopted as a child . 」 Kazane:「Well, that's fine, but I have various retorts about that samurai family . 」 Yumika:「That is not j.a.pan . It's a mysterious country with an outrageous depiction of j.a.pan . 」.