Manowa Chapter 197

◎ Deidona City, Adventurers Guild Office

「Ha, hahahaha...」

Benzel laughed dryly inside the Adventurers Guild office.

His current duty was to take command of the entire city. Since the feudal lord had died, someone needed to communicate with the residents and move around for various things. He was organizing things by himself, so he would have to immediately go out again. But he laughed. The war situation report he had received was absurd; things were going almost too well.

「I was nervous when Louise-san glared at me this morning, but I'm guessing she knew this level of battle success would happen, so it seems I was being tested from the beginning.」

That was about the exchange with Louise when he made his request to Kazane to save Deidona City. Benzel had certainly been aware that he was asking for something unreasonable, but that had led to this result. The girl called the Ogre Killing Princess seemed to be comparable to an army.

「It might be best to consider somehow giving her a rank S t.i.tle.」

Benzel said. Rank S adventurers weren't simply one rank higher than rank A adventurers. Rank S was a t.i.tle given to those who could achieve tactical level results alone through any method, whether from simply being strong or having some kind of special ability. It was sometimes disparaged as a collar or marking, but for certain things it gave power equivalent to a Guildmaster.

And unlike other ranks, there was no promotion test to rank S. It could only be given at the recommendation of Guildmasters from several countries.

Benzel thought he should probably contact the Guildmasters in Mins.h.i.+ana and Tsuvara. With the thought that he should start the arrangements with the staff downstairs, he rose from his chair, which is when he noticed a boy was in front of the door.

「You are……?」

Benzel looked at the boy with a dumbfounded expression. It was a dark-eyed young boy with black hair.

And that was the last thing Benzel saw in this world.

◎ Near Deidona City, Konron Mountains Direction

「Fuu, that was dangerous!」

Kazane said while catching her breath.

She had cut through the swarm of Dragon Bears with『Crawling Lightning』. Dozens of Dragon Bears were killed from being run over and sent flying, but as might be expected, Hippomaru-kun's momentum was weakened by the tyranny of numbers. She was able to somehow recover and start running again, and now she was breaking away.

She confirmed that she wasn't being chased by any Dragon Bears with her Circlet of Wisdom, so her safety was secured for the time being.

「Is cutting through as difficult as might be expected with that number? It might have been dangerous if these hadn't evolved.」

So saying, Kazane looked at the brutal Black Rock Dragon horns protruding forward from the left and right sides of Hippomaru-kun. The appearance of those horns was now extremely different. They were thinner, flatter, and sharper than before. Furthermore, the tips of the left and right horns now met, and it looked like a giant arrowhead was protruding from Hippomaru-kun. Monster materials evolved from battle experience. Apparently that also applied to the Black Rock Dragon horns.

And the level of the Thunder Chariot that Hippomaru-kun was pulling had also risen. It became more streamlined overall, and the wheels became st.u.r.dier and thicker. It was also bigger, yet it seemed the Magic Power consumption remained the same.

But the biggest evolution from the level up wasn't on the outside. The interior was more extravagant. There was a hanging chandelier, the decorations were more refined, it was equipped with an air-conditioning magic tool, and the material and quality of the seats themselves seemed to be one step higher.

(I wish it had become more specialized for battle)

Kazane thought, but in any case, the Thunder Chariot that had already been satisfactory was now flouris.h.i.+ng. The Magic Power consumption was also unchanged, so there was nothing to complain about.

Then Kazane decided to check the state of the battlefield using the Remote Viewing of her Circlet of Wisdom.

(Yumika and the others are fighting in front of Deidona City as planned? The ma.s.s production stone throwing team is also moving in balance to avoid being crushed by the waves of monsters.)

Everything was going as planned.

「But the enemies are more densely packed than I thought. Should I only do one more『Crawling Lightning』before joining Tiara and the others?」

Contrary to her expectations, the Dragon Bears were heading forward without fearing death. Based on that situation, Kazane thought the likelihood that they were being controlled seemed high. And the controlling master seemed to be the huge black monster at the center of the swarm of Dragon Bears, but crus.h.i.+ng it solo like the Immortal Monkey seemed difficult. Even with『Crawling Lightning』, cutting through to the center of the swarm and defeating the black monster was probably impossible.

In that case, she should whittle down the number of enemies, and Kazane aimed at a relatively thinly packed group and once again made Hippomaru-kun start running.

◎ Near Deidona City, ​​Param City Direction

「You guys, protect the Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kuns!」

All members of Swordfish responded in unison to Glorias' yell as they battled against the swarm of Dragon Bears. As they put their lives on the line, 10 Flame Knights and 6 Crystal Golem Knight-sans were arranged to protect them, and they were also putting up a good fight. It was only to the degree of obstructing the Dragon Bears, but it seemed they were extremely useful as s.h.i.+elds that wouldn't collapse if they were struck or bathed in flames.

And behind them, the ma.s.s production models Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun A and B were industriously throwing stones, and the number of Dragon Bears was reliably being diminished. Four Knight-sans were transporting stones, and Tiara, Louise, and Jinrai were standing next to the ma.s.s production Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kuns.

「Tiara. Your sensitivity is high, so stay with minimum feedback. There's no need for delicate control in this situation. Remember that continuing to operate is the most important thing.」

「Yes.」

Louise spoke while steadily surveying the battlefield, and Tiara nodded with a frantic expression as she continued operating her summoned knights. Beads of sweat were running down her cheeks, dribbling from her chin, and splas.h.i.+ng on the ground.

「Good grief, don't be so tense. There are still many more enemies to go.」

Tiara nodded again after Louise's continuing words. Jinrai beside them was motionlessly alert to the surroundings. There were no signs of a devil. But he couldn't be negligent.

Glorias discontentedly looked at them from a distance, but Jinrai didn't care. Jinrai and Louise were staying there on the a.s.sumption of a battle against『another existence』. That was the maximum compromise the White Group could make for this battle.

(I don't know what's aiming at them, but it seems dangerous)

Glorias thought while finis.h.i.+ng off a Dragon Bear with a swing of his huge battle axe. There is a devil behind this Dragon Bear attack... Glorias was only half-convinced when he was told that, but he now understood that something wasn't normal about this battlefield's atmosphere.

(They don't look like they'll retreat no matter how many we kill. These guys in front of us are certainly strange)

Glorias was a skilled adventurer. He had fought Dragon Bears many times, and he knew their habits and behavior. First off, a herd of Dragon Bears normally numbered between 2-5. A group this large attacking was something that never happened. On top of that, the current Dragon Bears were strangely coordinated. That was impossible based on Glorias' common sense.

Although even if it was a strange herd of Dragon Bears, Glorias didn't think they would lose. That Ogre Killing Princess was certainly strong, and even though their fighting strength should already be sufficient, it looked like she was going to make incessant unilateral attacks.

Purple lightning was currently rus.h.i.+ng forward before his eyes. It seemed the technique was called『Crawling Lightning』, just like the monster discovered in Resurrect City, but it had terrifying power. After all, right now it was rus.h.i.+ng into that thick group of enemies without stopping...

「N?」

The light disappeared inside the swarm of monsters. Glorias' expression stiffened.

(It stopped?)

Jinrai shouted behind Glorias.

「That girl always gets carried away. I told her not to be negligent.」

「Ka, Kazaneーーーー!!?]

Tiara was also looking toward where the light had stopped with an uneasy expression.

(Wait a second, young lady. No way, being surrounding like that is)

It happened the moment Glorias was thinking that. Light whooshed horizontally over Glorias' head.

「Hah?」

He stared in wonder after he saw that. Then something huge appeared in the center of the battlefield.

「Good, she was safe?」

Jinrai said with a nod behind Glorias, and Glorias muttered「Seriously?」

As many Dragon Bears collapsed in pieces from that first light, a huge stone monster wielding a gigantic sword was standing up in the center of the battlefield.

Stone Minotaur. The monster with herculean strength known to be troublesome even for a dungeon suddenly manifested there.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

t.i.tle: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King

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

Level : 31

Health: 114

Magic Power: 205+420

Strength: 55+10

Agility: 48+4

Endurance: 31

Wisdom : 62

Dexterity : 39

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

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior's Memory』『Night Vision』『Crus.h.i.+ng Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell』『Golem Maker: Lv3』『Rush』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material s.h.i.+eld: Lv2』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『St.u.r.dier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Fabricated Coercion』『Stone Minotaur』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『s.p.a.ce Expansion』『Pseudo-silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』

Kazane:「The Thunder Chariot evolved.」

Yumika:「It seems like a relaxing evolution for traveling.」