Manowa Chapter 65

◎ Zaltsu Pa.s.s

Kazane and the others boarded the carriages with Roger and the other knights and headed for the Mins.h.i.+ana Royal Capital, Shubain.

「The two of you are strong, especially Zinray's pupil Yumikdono. There's no way I could win.」

Roger tried his best to act cheerful even though he was a little depressed. With a hmph Zinray gave him a sharp look and spoke his mind about the previous battle.

「Your loss wasn't a problem of ability. You suddenly thrust forward like a wild boar.」

Roger shrunk a little bit. He rushed in without confirming the opponent's ability and was defeated by a counter. There was nothing to say in defense.

「Well, I understand that you wanted to get the advantage by making the first move. But Kazane is the worst opponent.」

Mumu ... ... Kazane frowned about being suddenly brought up.

「Perhaps I was afraid and wanted to withdraw based on the rumors, but while Kazane's swordsmans.h.i.+p is certainly a cut above the average person and I wasn't able to get a blow in, dealing with her wasn't impossible. I wasn't helplessly defeated.」

The people around him changed so slightly and quickly that it seemed like an illusion.

「This Kazane has many more abilities. Don't you think it's shameful to not be able to tell when someone is going easy on you? Really!」

「I, I think so.」

Roger barely managed to squeeze out those words.

Kazane sealed her magic, Killing Leg, and other skills. If Yuuko-nee and Tatsuyos.h.i.+-kun joined the battle they'd be a match for every knight at once.

「Well, putting aside my inadequacy, I understand that the two of you are strong.」

「And? What was the purpose of testing the abilities of those two?」

Zinray gave another sharp glare as he asked. There wasn't a noticeable reason to send knights to personally confirm the abilities of a mere adventurer for a lord's request. If they had a request for Kazane's party they could simply make a designated request with the guild. It was certain to be a troublesome task if the royal family refused to use intermediaries and prevented them from refusing it.

「No, there isn't anything in particular we need. For now the instructions were only to see their abilities.」

However, Roger's reply was contrary to expectations.

「Then what was the point in challenging them?」

Tiara raised her voice in amazement.

「Haa. I'm sorry. Anyway, someone just wants to meet the two girls and their companions.」

「You can't tell us who it is?」

「I am sorry. There was also such an instruction.」

Roger responded to Louise's question apologetically.

Kazane's party and the knights stayed overnight in the village of Caronzo, left the village in the morning, and reached the Royal Capital Shubain at noon.

◎ Royal Capital Shubain, Delgura Castle

「It's so white.」

Kazane murmured.

They had pa.s.sed through the Royal Capital without stopping and had been guided to this room. Everything about the castle they had seen, both inside and outside, was white.

「It's kind of unsettling, like a hospital.」

「Oh, don't think like that.」

Occasionally Kazane and Yumika say incomprehensible words ... ... Tiara thought while looking on from beside them.

(Is it the language of their hometown?)

Tiara hadn't asked about Kazane's hometown. Kazane's face had fallen so much when she said she might not be able to see her parents again that Tiara felt it would be thoughtless to ask.

「Mins.h.i.+ana has a preference for white-themed decorations. I hear that it is because their national treasure is the『White Sword.』」

Kazaned murmured「Hee」at Zinray's words. Something about it seemed familiar.

(That, White Sword?)

She remembered hearing that name somewhere.

(Did I hear it at Master's place?)

But she could not remember. It couldn't be helped that she forgot, since she hadn't heard the details and had only heard it once when she received Black Fang.

「Hey Zinray-san, what is that White Sword?」

「Hmm, you do not know?」

Though he replied that way to Kazane's query, Zinray obediently nodded.

「It was wielded by the king that founded the nation 500 years ago and has a blade like white marble. It is said to be so hard that it never breaks. In fact, it seems that the blade doesn't have a single chip.」

(Ah, that's what Master and the others were talking about)

Thought Kazane as her memory returned. She remembered them saying that the sword Kazane had picked up was of the same lineage.

「I hear that it has two blades side by side and can fire a white attack that can hit distant opponents. It also seems that possessing the sword grants fearsome sword skill regardless of the owner's competence.」

「... ... White Divider.」

When she heard the characteristics of the sword, Kazane whispered the name of the weapon that was consistent with her memory.

It was a weapon used by a woman that Kazane used to play with. She was originally a magician but wanted a method to deal with opponents that got close, so she obtained a weapon that would allow her to attack at a level beyond an ordinary swordsman simply by equipping it.

(What kind of fate is this? Well, even if she came here, that doesn't necessarily mean she was the founding king, but...)

「It's said that the sword is now inherited by the kingdom's prince. Are you listening, Kazane?」

「Oh, yes. I am sorry.」

「What's the matter?」

Zinray was worried when he saw Kazane's inattention. He wasn't angry because Kazane had never suddenly stopped listening to a story before. That being the case, Zinray presumed that something important had caught her attention and asked if there was anything wrong.

「Well. The sword you spoke of sounds like White Divider, a sword I have heard of.」

「I do not know a sword of that name. What kind of thing is it?」

「A sword with two blades side by side. It can fire a long distance non-elemental attack from between the two blades. A warrior's memory is engraved on the hilt, allowing anyone to swing it in the same way. Additionally, stamina becomes unlimited.」

「It certainly resembles the White Sword.」

「It might be the same thing. It's a story from a very long time ago.」

Zinray was amazed that there was such a legend.

While Kazane and the others were having light conversation, Roger entered the room.

「Honorable guests, soon you will visit them.」

Roger does not say who. It seemed it would be this way to the end.

「Understood.」

Zinray returned in reply. They would understand soon, so there was no point in asking at this point.

(I wonder who it is?)

(I hope it's not some middle-aged guy with weird facial hair)

(No way)

Kazane and Yumika whispered to each other, but finally became quiet from the tense atmosphere.

The door opened.

All of the knights simultaneously straightened their posture with a loud clanking of armor.

And Roger raised his voice.

「Her Majesty the Queen, Yuuko・Waiti・Shubaina!」

At those words Zinray, Tiara, Louise, and Mefirus were amazed. It was entirely unexpected that the name of Mins.h.i.+ana's most powerful person came out here, much less imagining the grand introduction of the person herself.

However, Kazane and Yumika were surprised for a completely different reason.

The person they saw when the door opened was someone they knew, someone whose face they didn't know if they would ever see again.

「... ... huh?」

「No way!」

Both were truly surprised. It wasn't impossible. Based on the example of Tatsuyos.h.i.+ it was possible. However, if it suddenly happened before their eyes, how many people would be able to instantly accept it?

At least for Kazane and Yumika, it was impossible.

「It's truly been a long time, both of you. It has already been 20 years.」

The woman smiled and laughed as she saw Kazane and Yumika.

「Oh, but I guess it was only recently for you? It somehow seems that way.」

However, the two people couldn't smile. It was a sight they had only seen in their dreams.

「Really? Is this real?」

「Uu ...... Uuu.」

Yumika's eyes moistened, and Kazane was already weeping as she rushed over to that person. The knights stirred for a moment but Roger restrained them with a wave of his hand.

「Yuuko-nee, it's Yuuko-neeee.」

Kazane clung to her. The woman gently embraced Kazane and stroked her head.

「No way, it's really Yuuko-nee.」

「You are too moved to to come and hug me, Yumika?」

Tears gathered in the eyes of the woman as she said that.

「I don't understand. I'm too happy, I don't understand.」

Yumika broke down crying as she headed to her and was tenderly embraced. The three people embraced and wept tears.

The surrounding people were dumbfounded, but they felt the special air around the three and didn't dare intrude.

Thus three close friends reunited in a distant world.

Yuuko・Waiti・Shubaina. A woman once called Yuuko-nee, Yuuko Miihara, became a queen and lived in this country.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

t.i.tle: Ogre Killer

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Silver Breastplate, Silver Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Carapace Bull Trousers, Berserk Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Spirit Summoning Ring

Level : 22

Health: 77

Magic Power: 132+300

Strength: 33

Agility: 27

Endurance: 17

Wisdom : 34

Dexterity : 20

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』

Skill : 『Goblin Language』 『Night Vision』 『Crus.h.i.+ng Blow』 『Dog's Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Second Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』 『Air Jump』 『Killing Leg』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Insight』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』

Kazane:「Uuuu, I'm so glad we met.」

Yuuko-nee:「Don't, you'll make me cry, Kazane.」

Yumika:「Uuuu, I'm so happy. But Yuuko-nee, how are you talking here?」

Yuuko-nee:「Because this is the Text Chat Window. So there's a name next to the「」and you can talk to fellow players.」

Kazane:「Ah, that's the way it is.」