Manowa Chapter 243

◎ Dolmu City, Ordonal Hotel

When Kazane, Naoki, and Tatsuo returned to the inn, Jinrai and the others were waiting with grave expressions. While Kazane's group stopped by the Shrine Magic Arms Workshop, Jinrai and the others decided to go to the Adventurers Guild to join the Demon Wolf subjugation, but it seemed the situation was extremely unfavorable.

「Nnーbeyond what you imagined?

「It looks like it.」

Jinrai so replied to Kazane's question. Then Jinrai began telling Kazane what he had heard at the Adventurers Guild.

First of all, according to Jinrai, the request to subjugate the Demon Wolf was still ongoing, so there was no particular problem with Kazane and the others partic.i.p.ating. However, it seemed the current situation was quite bad.

It seemed the Dragon Knight corps that went to subjugate it first couldn't find anything during their initial search. Then after a while, the corps was divided to expand the search range, and two pairs of Dragon Knights and dragon mounts were separately targeted and eaten.

「They were flying, weren't they?」

Jinrai nodded after Kazane's words.

「But it's inside the forest. They would have needed to descend to look around, and they were probably aimed at then. They weren't Adult Dragons, but they were still dragons. Although it might have been different if the opponent were in an open field, it should be a strong foe.」

Jinrai replied.

「If they're restricted in the forest, it's stronger than two dragons?」

「It seems so. To make matters worse, it's apparently leading a large number of companions. At present, around 200 Hyvern knights and about 90 adventurers around rank B are searching.」

Speaking of rank B, it was comparable to Naoki and Lyle in terms of ability. And even with 90 such people, they couldn't settle things yet. It could only be considered a correspondingly troublesome opponent.

「Ah, that's right, Naoki. It looks like Iria's party isn't partic.i.p.ating.」

Naoki looked up after Lyle's words.

「Is that so?」

Naoki had heard in Deidona City that they had left to partic.i.p.ate.

「It seems it was decided that it would be severe at their rank. It looks like they turned back.」

「Is that so? Well, the opponent defeated dragons. It can't be helped?」

So saying, Naoki was relieved. According to what he had heard, Iria and Ruinz certainly seemed to lack sufficient strength. Although that was the same for Naoki, Lyle, and Emily as they were now.

「So then, the question is what our policy will be.」

Jinrai started talking again once Lyle and Naoki's conversation ended.

「Basically, it seems the adventurers are united as one force while mountain hunting, but what will we do?」

The question was whether they would join them and work together or move independently as usual.

「Are beastkin noses also ineffective?」

「It seems tricky. Rather, it seems they're often specifically chased after to keep them from acting freely. It seems the opponent is quite smart.」

「Nn, if they let us take control then we'll partic.i.p.ate? Honestly, having to match ourselves to the pace of other parties seems dangerous.」

Lyle and Emily stared in wonder after her words. They weren't reacting to the possibility of independent action, but the part about taking control. The two had partic.i.p.ated in such large-scale quests before, but they had always been on the managed side. But that was a matter of course. Lyle and Emily were past their rookie period, but they were as yet young adventurers. But it seemed the other members had no particular thoughts and listened to the conversation without question.

「So we need the back up of numbers after all?」

Kazane nodded after Jinrai's words.

「Yeah. Dog's Sense of Smell might also have difficulty, so I think numbers are necessary this time.」

「Will we use Hippo-kuns for transportation?」

「That's right. If we have each one carry three people like during the Berserk Ogre subjugation, I should be able to manage transportation for everyone.」

「That's a nostalgic story.」

Jinrai briefly laughed. Yumika next to him replied「That's right.」That was a past only those three shared.

(Now that I think about it, it has become quite bustling, hasn't it)

Kazane thought. As she watched the other members tilt their heads, she was deeply moved and nodded.

********

「What do you mean?」

The sound of a table being struck resounded.

That sound resounded from the branch head's room in Dolmu City's Adventurers Guild. And that striking sound was made by the angry leader of the『Kairos』party, Boran.

「Did you think we would be able to agree to such a thing?」

Boran turned his sharp angry gaze to the Adventurers Guild branch head.

「Even if you say that, it's a decided matter. Leaders.h.i.+p of tomorrow's mountain hunt will change from『Kairos』to the『White Party』.」

He probably knew such a reaction would happen from the beginning, so he was prepared. The branch head replied without showing any concern at Boran's anger.

「Certainly, there haven't been any results under our leaders.h.i.+p. But suddenly handing it over to such inexperienced guys? Moreover, such an infamous group.」

And Boran's anger was also natural.

Boran was a diligent leader of the『Kairos』party; he was also a rank A adventurer who had partic.i.p.ated in Adult Dragon subjugations. No one in his party was below rank B, and his party was alongside O-Ring and the like as one of Hyvern's most powerful parties.

Even disregarding that, the topic of their conversation was entrusting things to a rookie party with at most rank B adventurers. There was no reason anger wouldn't well up.

Furthermore, the reputation of the White Party wasn't good.

As rookies, they had displayed exceptional activity in subjugating a horde of Ogres and killing a dragon. It was suspicious. The shadow of Mins.h.i.+ana's royal family flickered behind them, and the impression that the story itself was extremely exaggerated couldn't be wiped away.

There were also black rumors about them ma.s.sacring a bandit group and crus.h.i.+ng one Outer family.

He couldn't say that it wasn't partially because his pride as a skilled person was wounded by the leaders.h.i.+p being taken away, but above that was Boran's belief that they weren't a sufficiently credible group for Boran to entrust his companions to.

Boran's belief that a royalty connected group that suddenly gained famed was likely not made up of decent people wasn't unconditionally wrong. Although it had calmed down, the corruption of Mins.h.i.+ana's privileged cla.s.s was a famous story in other countries.

If it went poorly, they might die to help such a group gain further unjustified fame, which was intolerable to Boran. The branch head understood Boran's thinking, but that didn't overturn his statement.

「Your complaint is reasonable, but it's a decided matter. At least, we think the proposal presented by the White Party is worth considering.」

「What do you mean?」

「We'll explain when everyone's gathered in front of the city tomorrow. Actually seeing it will probably be faster.」

Boran tilted his head after the branch head spoke. Without responding to Boran's situation, the branch head continued.

「... And this is a story from yesterday, but there was an urgent notification from Drums City via the Communication Bulletin Board.」

Those words made Boran tilt his head even further. He couldn't see the connection to their conversation.

「The content was that『Drums City』and the『White Party』have no connection at all, and that we should disseminate that information if we're asked.」

「What did, you say?」

Boran asking for a repeated explanation was natural. Why would a notice saying something like『nothing happened』with mere adventurers be necessary?

「Of course, that doesn't mean that's actually how it is. It's a declaration from Drums City that they won't say anything else, no matter who asks. However, the problem is...」

「The White Party has the influence to impose such a demand on a city?」

The branch head nodded to the astonished Boran. That was already something no adventurer could do. Boran considered this matter to be far outside his common sense and asked the branch head another question with a pale face.

「But why tell me such a thing? That should be kept secret, right?」

「Yes, this is something that originally shouldn't be divulged. However, it's obvious that the other adventurers would react like you if we explained the same thing tomorrow.」

Boran thought that was probably so. He didn't think every adventurer would have the same state of mind as himself, but he thought the majority would more or less have the same thoughts.

「For that reason, we wanted you as one of the most powerful members of tomorrow's mountain hunt to know.」

「Why?」

「Whose side should we pick if some kind of problem occurs?... That sort of thing.」

Boran trembled after the branch head spoke.

「Backing them is not only Mins.h.i.+ana, but Hyvern and Tsuvara as well. Moreover, I'm told they're also related to the matter with Guildmaster Benzel half a month ago.」

The shocking news that Hyvern's Guildmaster Benzel was killed by a devil was already known by adventurers.

「It couldn't be, that group...」

「It's almost unmistakably that『it couldn't be』. There is a member of the renowned devil hunting Cancer family in that party. They probably『fought alongside the Guildmaster』」

Boran's eyes narrowed at the branch head's words.

「This is incidental, but the matter with Crimiona's Outer Family was a Guild request with the permission of Hyvern Dukedom and the Outer mediator『Orbos Family』」

「Seriously?!」

Sweat ran down Boran's cheek. From start to finish, it sounded like a top secret story. But after coming this far, Bolan started looking at that rookie party with a different perspective.

「In the first place, it's strange that they suddenly started gaining prominence these last several months, isn't it?」

「That's so.」

Even just recently, it was said that they partic.i.p.ated in the battle against the Dragon Bears at Deidona City. No matter how he looked at it, their constant conspicuous service was abnormal.

(Is that group a secret force for the countries or the Guild that comes running whenever a problem occurs?... Or maybe they're rapidly gaining fame for some kind of purpose)

He didn't know what that『some kind of purpose』could be. However, Boran noticed the smell of something huge happening that spanned countries.

「Tch, I was made to hear an unpleasant story.」

Boran expressed the thought coming from the bottom of his heart. He would have been happier not knowing. Boran noticed now that he had stepped too far.

「We also have a policy of treating them as untouchable existences and not stimulating them as much as possible. You understand why.」

Boran nodded after the branch head spoke.

「In other words, it will be fine if I act as a breakwater so that no problems occur between that group and the other adventurers.」

「It's helpful that you understand quickly. Particularly take care with their leader, Kazane.」

「Is there still something?」

The branch head nodded after Boran's question.

「Please absolutely avoid doing anything to rouse her anger. Some Outer far further than Crimiona City were punished by her long ago, and even our country's general will be punished if she's displeased. I don't know the reason, but I've heard he apparently roused her anger and was almost killed by her.」

As might be expected, when Boran heard that, the inside of his head felt like it would burst.

He heard after the Dragon Knights withdrew from the Demon Wolf affair that General Jiraid had been injured, but Boran couldn't understand the connection or meaning at all.

And he had choice but to nervously wonder what kind kind of meeting would happen tomorrow. Boran could only be astonished ahead of the ominous『White Party』whose true nature couldn't be seen.

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』, Draghorn Tonfa (Incomplete) 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 : 33

Health: 135

Magic Power: 260+420

Strength: 57+20

Agility: 52+14

Endurance: 33

Wisdom : 65

Dexterity : 41

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: Lv2』『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』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』

Kazane:「I don't really understand, but I feel like Jiraid-san is on the verge of death.」

Yumika:「Heh? Why?」

Kazane:「I'm not sure? Some kind of intuitive thing?」