Manowa Chapter 233

The dragon called Valaon witnessing their own natural enemy that day was a coincidence.

Valaon went further away from Mt. Konron for food, beyond where the Mist Barrier used to be, and saw something strange during his hunt.

Needless to say, the staple food of dragons was meat. Wild animals, monsters, and even the same dragons, such as Earth Dragons, were meals to them. Although they were fellow dragons, dragon species that lacked intelligence were basically recognized as distinct species. Or perhaps it could be considered something like human beings viewing uncivilized people as savages and discriminating against them.

In any case, Valaon was flying around searching for a small herd of Earth Dragons to eat, but a sweet smell was drifting from somewhere. The scent numbed his nerves and instantly s.n.a.t.c.hed away Valaon's mind; he flew toward it and met them.

Dragon Eaters and Dryad Lizards were there. Despite recognizing them with his eyes, Valaon was already a captive to the smell. He immediately descended without questioning their existence and was parasitized as it was.

However, while it was only slightly, Valaon's consciousness woke up for a moment when a foreign object entered his body. And in that short time, he mustered the last of his strength and roared. That was like a beacon warning his companions of danger.

Although Valaon didn't know if his fellow dragons had received it. Because Valaon's consciousness disappeared immediately after that, and he was parasitized as it was.

Valaon woke up later and noticed the pain from his right arm being blown off. Valaon's consciousness was roused by the sudden pain.

(What is happening? Am I ok?)

Valaon shouted inside his mind; he couldn't understand the situation in front of him, couldn't vocalize, and couldn't move his body. After observing the situation in front of him, he realized he was currently in the middle of battle.

It seemed like the ones attacking him were human beings, not his fellows. But he realized that the West Dragon Village's Blue Flame Ao was among them.

With that, Valon understood that the dragons had likely requested those humans to deal with himself. And it was instantly conceivable to Valion that among the humans currently in the village, they were probably the G.o.d Dragon Empress' companions.

In that case, it's fine... wis.h.i.+ng that this nightmare would end soon, Valaon roared.

**********

「Is his consciousness returning?」

Kazane muttered as she looked at the dragon eroded by a Dragon Eater. Kazane was able to understand that Valaon's roar was his wish to die. She was able to grasp the meaning due to her Dragonization Skill. But that made Kazane's will turn in the opposite direction of Valion's will.

(Ao, did you hear that just now?)

Kazane conversed with Ao through Information Link.

(Yes. However, it doesn't change our policy)

Naturally, Ao had also heard the roar just now. But the final notice had already come out of Kazane's own mouth. So with ruthless affectation, Ao so replied.

(But, although Dragon Eaters are plants, they're also monsters, right? They have a Core, don't they?)

However, Ao answered Kazane's repeated questioning.

(They do. Since they have no brain, that's what manipulates a dragon's body. However, the location is unknown. It's simply somewhere inside that body)

It wasn't in a specific place. And a dragon would be eroded and parasitized if they tried to search for it. Capturing a large bodied dragon would be difficult for human beings, and there was no reason to take that risk and search for the Core in a Dragon Eater's body.

「I can tell where it is!!」

But Kazane declared that.

Ao made a surprised sound, but it was certainly visible to Kazane. It was probably a very delicious『part』. It was plainly visible to Kazane. So she gave instructions.

「Berserk Ogre! Track it down and eat it!!」

Then the Berserk Ogre, who had arrived in front of the Dragon Eater, heard Kazane's voice from a distance and roared as it rushed forward.

Kazane's『Ingredient Connoisseur』Skill was accurately grasping its position. That flashed into the thoughts of the Berserk Ogre, who had been lured by the scent emitted by the Dragon Eater. The source of that delicious scent had been identified.

Drool overflowed like a waterfall when the Berserk Ogre opened his mouth. The Flame Power beside him with Tiara's consciousness was drawing away.

But the Berserk Ogre didn't restrain himself. Kazane said she would help him eat delicious food. In that case, the Berserk Ogre had to follow Kazane's instructions.

And with the Dragon Eater in front of the Berserk Ogre, the Stone Minotaur was summoned. Not only that, but a black flame welled up from the Stone Minotaur, and it was entirely covered in huge black armor with red lines. Then a black sasumata for capturing was held with both of its hands.

Originally, she planned to hit the Adult Dragon type with Mega Beam through Yuuko-nee, but Kazane summoned『Stone Minotaur』and used『Arms Creation: Black Flame』through her Aim Bracelet, which used up the Magic Power she would have used for Mega Beam. But Kazane pushed through. Jinrai had already approved her decision. He was smiling as he said they would somehow be able to manage the Adult Dragon type by themselves.

So Kazane decided she would use her full power.

「Black Mino-kun, restrain the Dragon Eater. Dragoon and Power, cover Berserk Ogre. Naoki and the others, deal with the Dryad Lizards!」

**********

In accordance with Kazane's words, Naoki and Lyle, with Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun Normal and Emily behind them, opposed the Dryad Lizards. The Flame Knights currently with them had decreased to 7.

Although the Dryad Lizards had parasitized Earth Dragons, it seemed they weren't as powerful as the original hosts. Otherwise, the Flame Knight wouldn't have been able to stop their initial charge. And as expected, among those members, Lyle was playing the biggest role.

「Oーrei」

Lyle pierced the Core with his dragon fang spear, and the Dryad Lizard stopped moving.

Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun Normal stopped the blows, and Lyle used those gaps. It was their established way of fighting, but Lyle would still receive attacks. However, the current Lyle was protected by armor and a s.h.i.+eld made with dragon materials, so he could step forward without hesitation. Like just now; he had blocked the Dryad Lizard's horn with his s.h.i.+eld as he stabbed the Core.

「Wow, brother. You're seriously in perfect form!」

「Even though I'm in a slump. What an unpleasant guy.」

Lyle laughed「Hehee」and scratched his nose after Emily and Naoki spoke.

And Lyle had the real feeling that his body and spear were unified like never before. Enlightenment like Jinrai... it wasn't to that degree, but it seemed Lyle had certainly taken a step forward.

「I'm stealing the spotlight. Don't let me be the only one playing an active role here.」

So saying, Lyle ran toward the next target.

Naoki was holding the magic sword『Fang Blaze』as he followed after him. A powerful flame magic sword containing a dragon's Flame Breath that was given to Naoki after his magic swords were all but destroyed in the battle against the devils. However, it seemed Naoki still couldn't perfectly handle that magic sword.

(Even though Lyle can do that well, I'm like this)

Naoki criticized himself. Although even though he hadn't mastered it, he could clad the blade with dragon flame, so it had good affinity against the wood covered Dryad Lizards.

It originally had the ability to spit out flames like a dragon's Breath, but he had been having unexpected difficulties figuring out how to control the magic sword, so he couldn't do that yet. Though the perception that he couldn't master it was actually different from the reality.

It was simply that Naoki couldn't master it based on his own standards. He still couldn't bring out the dragon Flame Breath because he was trying to understand that ability through theory instead of feeling out every sensation along the path... in fact, if he did it more properly, Naoki could immediately bring out flame. But Naoki didn't comprehend that. The surrounding people also weren't aware. No one, including Naoki himself, correctly understood the true value of Naoki's『Magic Sword Operator』Skill.

In any case, Naoki was swinging his sword with power limited by his own understanding. He was swinging his sword clad with the highest power of flames the magic sword could produce.

However, Naoki thinking he had become weak was, at the end of the day, not a problem with his magic swords being used up, but purely his lack of swordsmans.h.i.+p ability. That was simply exposed due to the increased number of scenes where he had to use his magic sword like a sword.

And Lyle, Naoki, Emily, and the Flame Knights' battle against the Dryad Lizards continued.

But among them, Emily's heart frankly wasn't calm.

Emily watching from behind had noticed. The summoned knights were controlled by the will of the caster. And those Flame Knights were always acting around Naoki.

She hadn't known until now because there wasn't an opportunity, but the Flame Knights were moving on the premise of protecting Naoki. Therefore, Emily knew there was another person who had the same feeling as herself.

(No way, Tiara, about Naoki...)

Although she was astonished, Emily wisely switched switched her thinking and concentrated on the battle.

You didn't notice until just now?... that retort will be left as is.

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 Feather x2, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Eating Ogre King's 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, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring

Level : 32

Health: 124

Magic Power: 235+420

Strength: 55+20

Agility: 50+14

Endurance: 32

Wisdom : 62

Dexterity : 39

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror s.h.i.+eld』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior's Memory』『Night Vision』『Crus.h.i.+ng Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell: Lv2』『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 Hand 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」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur』

Kazane:「One way or another, Lyle feels like the unpopular type, but I actually quite like that type.」

Yumika:「Well, I'll also give a vote for that. His face isn't bad, but he's a bit geekish, so there's no feeling of wanting to date him. Maybe he'll become like master in the future?」

Kazane:「But it seems Jinrai-san was terribly popular around Lyle's age.」

Yumika:「There were such stories, weren't there. Is it impossible? Well then, he won't. Sorry. By the way, Kazane, don't tell Naoki what you think about Lyle.」

Kazane:「W, why?」

Yumika:「Because a corpse might fall.」