Manowa Chapter 198

Then Kazane spun in the air.

(This is baaad!?)

Kazane's face paled as she was thrown into the air. When she looked at her surroundings, a group of scaly bears were leaping towards her.

(Not cute. They're really not cuteーー!!)

In this situation, she probably wouldn't find them cute even if they had fur, but it was a momentary thought that took a fraction of a second. Please overlook it.

So, Kazane was in a big pinch right now. To put it simply,『Crawling Lightning』wasn't sustained. The Dragon Bears used their numbers advantage and forcibly stopped the movement of the『Crawling Lightning』charge by leaping in one after the other. And Kazane was tossed from the coachman's seat into the air by a crash.

(Aaaaaaaaah, I'll die!!!!)

She was screaming that in her mind, and in reality she was screaming「UwaAAAAAAAAA,」but like a conditioned reflex she released an omnidirectional Material s.h.i.+eld. Kazane's body shone for a moment, then the attacking Dragon Bears crashed into the invisible walls that were generated and were sent flying. With a sidelong glance at the blown away monsters, Kazane landed on all fours with the aid of her『Nimble』Skill, and without looking back she immediately cancelled her Thunder Chariot summoning.

「Yuuko-nee, come!」

Kazane called Yuuko-nee from her Childstone at the same time.

Other Dragon Bears that weren't blown away were approaching, and Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun Dragoon, who had been standing by inside the Thunder Chariot, repulsed them by thrusting with its Indestructible Shovel. Hippomaru-kun was also attacking by thrusting with the Black Rock Dragon horns.

「Nyaaaaa!!!」

Yuuko-nee also cut the Dragon Bears approaching from the front to pieces with her claws.

As she was protected by Yuuko-nee, Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun Dragoon, and Hippomaru-kun, Kazane took out her spell daggers and hurriedly loaded one with Fire Boost.

(I just barely have enough Magic Power? I can only use it once, but c'est la vie.)

So decided, Kazane held her spell dagger horizontally and activated Fire Boost, and she fired Mega Beam as her body spun.

And a blade of light was let loose in every direction.

Mega Beam was a shockingly high-cost Skill that required 350 Magic Power according to the Window's Status display, which was two times more Magic Power than an average magician possessed. The damage caused by a Beam attack was determined by how long the target was irradiated, so momentary exposure wouldn't cause much damage. But with Mega Beam's degree of output, it was possible to burn away the Dragon Bears in an instant. It was emitted in 360 degrees. The angle was slightly upward, so it should have pa.s.sed over Jinrai and the others' heads, but naturally that wasn't so for the nearby Dragon Bears.

Separating upper bodies from lower bodies or heads from torsos, a large number of Dragon Bears were burned away and collapsed at once.

Kazane leaked a sigh of relief as she watched that.

「Ha ha, that was dangerous! Dangerous! Dangerouuuus!!」

Then Kazane shouted while in a cold sweat. Mega Beam's output was high, but it was weak against things like reflection and Fog type protection, and that weakness to strange attributes meant there was the risk of receiving a highly damaging counter if it was carelessly used. Thoughtlessly shooting was like gambling.

「Nyanyanyaaa!」

But Yuuko-nee cried out in panic to the resting Kazane.

「What, Yuuko... Gyaaaaaaa!!!」

Kazane's scream was understandable. The monsters were pus.h.i.+ng aside their companions' corpses and scrambling towards Kazane. Apparently the dragon bears recognized Kazane as the biggest hindrance in the current situation. She really wasn't happy about that evaluation, but it could be considered the natural outcome.

(I'm out of Magic Power. But I have this!)

Then Kazane took a Mana Potion from her Item Box. She had bought two at Deer South's magic tool shop, and she had asked Benzel to requisition some in Param City.

Unfortunately, it seemed there had only been one in Param City, and it would only restore her own 205 Magic Power. With Mega Beam's Magic Power consumption of 350, it could no longer be fired, but it was enough to summon that guy.

「Skill・Stone Minotaur!」

Without hesitation, Kazane placed the tip of her staff『White Flame』on the ground and activated the Skill. Arms made of earth and stone thrust out of the ground, and Kazane took the 3 meter magic sword out of her Item Box and handed it over.

Even when they saw that figure, the Dragon Bears didn't stop, and the fully manifested Stone Minotaur faced the Dragons Bears and swung the 3 meter magic sword down with tremendous momentum.

The 3 meter magic sword's ability was weight reduction when it was being lifted. To use that, Kazane ordered the Stone Minotaur to move the sword up and down at high speed for its attacks. Kazane called that attack『Mincing』, and as its name suggested, it only took a short amount of time for the Dragon Bears to be turned into minced meat.

Then with the Stone Minotaur as her outrider, Kazane straddled Yuuko-nee's back and ran through the battlefield. Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun Dragoon riding Hippomaru-kun ran beside her.

「Naーgo!」

On the way, Yuuko-nee made that censuring cry as if to say「Don't be so rash.」Kazane earnestly apologized.

「I'm sorry. I thought I could do it.」

She had truly just barely gotten through that situation.

(Ah, I've used up all the Crimson Saint Coffin and Acc.u.mulators' Magic Power, so I won't be able to shoot any more today)

In any case, the crisis had been overcome. It wasn't difficult to pierce through the wall of monsters that had been thinned out by her Mega Beam attack, and beyond them was the party『Swordfish』and Jinrai's group. Then Kazane headed towards Jinrai,

「Jinrai-san, let's switch.」

「Leave it to me!」

And Jinrai bellowed after Kazane's request. Like a dog that had been forced to wait with food in front of it, Jinrai immediately started running towards his prey.

「Yuuko-nee, give Jinrai-san a ride.」

Yuuko-nee cried「Nya」after Kazane's words and started running to Jinrai. Jinrai shouted「Aye!」and mounted her, and they dashed to the battlefield.

The Stone Minotaur and Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun Dragoon riding Hippomaru-kun followed behind them.

「Fuiーー」

Kazane caught her breath as she saw that group off, then sat next to Louise.

「Thanks for the hard work.」

「Yeah. It really was hard work.」

Kazane nodded after Louise spoke. Kazane subsequently took an Indestructible Towel out of her Item Box, wiped her sweat, then took a swig from the canteen of lemonade she had taken out at the same time. Since her Level had also risen along the way, she took the opportunity and allocated her bonus points.

「Although that was tremendous momentum from Jinrai-san. Won't he annihilate them by himself with that momentum?」

「Maybe.」

Kazane and Louise smiled wryly. Then Kazane spoke to another person.

「Tiara, thanks for your hard work as well.」

「Kazane, please stop being so rash.」

Tiara had large teardrops in her eyes. She hadn't spoken earlier because she was so relieved at seeing Kazane safe that she was paralyzed.

「Sorry sorry. Yeah, this time I was quite scared.」

Kazane was strongly reflecting. She had thought it was really the end when she was thrown from the carriage and simultaneously attacked by the Dragon Bears. But now wasn't the right time to sit around reflecting. She checked the battlefield with her Circlet of Wisdom's Remote Viewing and called out to the fighting Glorias.

「Glorias-san, let's move towards Deidona City. Yumika and the others are doing their best, but it looks like their strength is a little insufficient.」

It looked like Deidona City's soldiers weren't as strong as expected, and although Yumika and the others were doing well, they seemed to be losing ground.

「OK. Understood, Ogre Killing Princess!」

Glorias shouted to Kazane as he sent a Dragon Bear's head flying with his battleaxe, then he called out to his companions. The ma.s.s production Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun models would continue to throw stones as they moved.

(Well then, will that big-shot start moving soon?)

Kazane looked at the huge black monster at the center of the swarm.

「Louise-san, is it that one in the center?」

「That's tricky.」

Louise was able to sense the indications of a devil to a certain extent. It wasn't as strong as Diablo, and there was no way she would miss the signs of a devil that wasn't trying to hide in the first place. Louise was certainly sensing the indications of a devil, but it was weak.

「Well, I don't think it's likely.」

It was considerably threatening as a monster, but Louise concluded that it wasn't possessed by a devil.

「What in the world is the aim?」

Kazane also pondered after Louise spoke.

(Everyone's here right now, but there have been no signs of us being targeted so far. Then what could be the enemy's aim?)

「Louise-san, Benzel-san is inside the city right now, isn't he?」

Louise nodded after Kazane's words.

The dragon mount Raiel was currently flying away from Deidona City and heading toward a certain place. Benzel's role in the transport of Hagasu's heart was essentially over.

But that was from the viewpoint of Kazane and the others, who knew the true circ.u.mstances.

「Perhaps Benzel-san is the one being targeted.」

After Kazane's words, Louise looked at Deidona City.

Guildmaster Benzel Boiler. In Kazane and the others' perception, he was like an observer and a road guide. But it wouldn't be strange for him to be seen as the center from the outside. Kazane pointed that out, but Louise shook her head.

「Leader, we were told at the beginning, weren't we?」

Kazane groaned「Muu」after Louise's words.

Benzel declared at the beginning that he would protect himself. That was also in consideration of the burden being placed on Kazane and the others from receiving this dangerous request, but in the first place, Benzel's status as a Guildmaster wasn't just for show. Although he no longer did fieldwork, he was still a free Dragon Knight, and his strength was by no means low, so even without his partner dragon mount Raiel he shouldn't fall behind against a devil opponent.

「If you understand, concentrate on properly protecting me.」

Louise said with a smile. And they inwardly prayed for Benzel's safety, but they didn't know yet that their prayers were already too late.

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 : 32

Health: 124

Magic Power: 235+420

Strength: 55+10

Agility: 50+4

Endurance: 32

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」』

Yumika:「Battle!」

Kazane:「Long!!」