Manowa Chapter 57.4

※ This story is the story of Kenji Tatsuyoshi which was 600 years ago.

◎ Leysin City, Sesu Inn

「Master, wake up.」

Tatsuyoshi's slave Mintia woke up early in the morning.

「Ah, is it already morning?」

Rather than saying already, it was quite late in the morning.

「I wish to eat.」

「There's leftovers from yesterday in the refrigerator.」

「There is not.  The refrigerator was open but there was no food to be found.」

Mintia said with tears in her eyes.

「Oh that's right, I didn't stock up yesterday.  Not going shopping is bad, isn't it.」

So troublesome… While saying that, Tatsuyoshi rose from the bed with a grunt.

「Will we eat at Shara's dining room today?」

「Is it fine to go there?」

「It's normal. I am fine with such things.」

While they were talking Tatsuyoshi changed into his normal clothes. As expected, he will not go out wearing pajamas.

◎ Leysin City, Sesu Dining Room

Tatsuyoshi and Mintia left the room and descended the stairs to the first floor's dining room.

「Ara, what a rare morning. Good morning, Tatsuyoshi and Mintichan」

Shara's mother greeted them.

「Good morning.」

「Good morning, Mamsan. I'm really hungry.」

With a understanding expression on her face Shara's mother guided Mintia to a table. Tatsuyoshi also followed accordingly.

「Ara, Tatsuyoshi. It is unusual for you to be awake at this time.」

「It really is.」

Tatsuyoshi said as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

「Well, it's convenient that you are already awake.」

「?」

When Tatsuyoshi tilted his head in confusion, Shara pointed to a person on the other side of the room and said 「over there.」

「The usual person has come.」

Even though it was d.a.m.n hot, there was a man whose entire body was covered in black garb.

「Ah, Ao-san. To what do I owe the pleasure?」

Tatsuyoshi was sleepy but he greeted the person called Ao with a genuine smile.

「I was just taking a break. May I take that seat?」

And Ao pointed to the seat next to Tatsuyoshi.

「Please do.」

Tatsuyoshi pulled out the chair and offered it to Ao.

(I wonder what kind of person he is)

Thought Shara, who had only been told that he was a person related to Tatsuyoshi's job. Although he had a gentle face, something felt weird about him. Truthfully, people avoided the seats close to where this man sat. However, Tatsuyoshi readily sits beside him. Shara went back to work while thinking of such things.

「As for the previous auction, here's the list of items I was able to acquire.」

Ao handed the auction list book to Tatsuyoshi. Tatsuyoshi flipped through it.

「Was the Brachio Heart Orb impossible?」

Tatsuyoshi asked, a little disappointed. A dungeon Heart Orb not under the control of a country was rare; very few appeared that were available for purchase.

「Unfortunately, there was a shortage of funds. Other people were able to purchase it.」

「I should have gone out to work earlier.  I apologize.」

「Don't apologize, you've been extremely helpful.」

「Ah, I also got another dragon heart.」

「You've already recovered three.」

Ao answered with a relieved face.

「This will make number four. You're recovering them at a very nice pace.」

「That's how it is.  Well then, here.」

Tatsuyoshi took a pulsating red gem from his item box and handed it to Ao.

「No doubt. Giove was becoming especially problematic as he advanced in age.」

「Will it also become a new dragon?」

Ao nodded in response to Tatsuyoshi's question.

「Yes, I think a dragon with an excellent disposition will be born. If it is diligently raised it will become a fine dragon.」

As he said that he placed the dragon heart in his Strange Bag.

「At this rate the restoration of the Western Tribe will not be far away.」

As he said those words a long tongue flicked out of Ao's mouth.

「Sorry, that was rude of me.」

「No, don't worry about it.」

A race of lizardmen existed. Such a thing was not an especially rare scene.

And the person named Ao in front of him was actually not a person. It was a dragon using humanization magic.

The Western Dragon Tribe Laguna's representative Ao's true form was the blue dragon known as Ao of the Blue Flame.

Since the collapse of the Western Tribe, Ao had been doing everything in his power to restore the tribe for the sake of its... people(?). Collecting『Dragon Hearts』was one means of doing so.

And he had a purpose for partic.i.p.ating in the rare item auction as Tatsuyoshi's agent. For Tatsuyoshi having Ao partic.i.p.ate in the auctions instead of going himself was very helpful, while Ao can partic.i.p.ate in the auction to accomplish his goal of obtaining 『Dragon Hearts』.

Dragon Hearts are second in magical power only to a dungeon Heart Orb, and along with the Dragon Tribe's secret spells, a dragon can be reborn from the crystal. This is a very important means to increase the number of their species, since dragons have very weak fertility. And Ao was able to conceal his aim of only acquiring Dragon Hearts by acting as Tatsuyoshi's agent.

By purchasing Dragon Hearts directly from Tatsuyoshi, Ao had succeeded in collecting Dragon Hearts much faster than he had in recent years.

「Well then, I will be counting on your a.s.sistance when the time comes to make our move.」

Ao nodded at Tatsuyoshi's words. The existence of a dragon tribe was a big deal in the political arena. Neighboring countries would worry about the damage they could receive and receiving the support of a tribe was effective in increasing a country's prestige.

「Certainly」

Saying that, Ao looked at Mintia.

「Although, everything will be up to her.」

「I am aware of that. If she wishes to do nothing then there is no problem.」

Tatsuyoshi answered with a serious look. Ao responded with an amused laugh.

「Even though you might war against a whole country, you truly say such careless things.」

「Everything depends on her. For the time being my aim is to let her live freely. I'm not necessarily looking to restore her country.」

Tatsuyoshi left it at that and took a drink of his water.

There was a country called Tsuvara Kingdom. There was still a kingdom of that name, but it was under the control of the Soldard Kingdom and was basically a destroyed kingdom.

Tsuvara was originally a small country characterized only by the marine products it traded with other countries on the continent, but 20 years ago silver veins were discovered and the country suddenly became wealthy. At the same time, that was the primary reason it became targeted by other countries. When the Allied Kingdoms of Iota were divided due to civil war and the Minshiana Dominion had internal problems, the Soldard Kingdom to the north judged that the neighboring countries wouldn't be able to interfere and so decided to invade Tsuvara.

As a result the king and queen were killed, the other royalty were placed under the Soldard's supervision, and the princess Mintia went missing. A n.o.ble of Soldard used his influence to get his hands on the princess because of his preference for very young girls, the details of which Tatsuyoshi saw.

And now Princess Mintia was Tatsuyoshi's slave. Because of the status window Tatsuyoshi was already aware of Mintia's lineage. Tsuvaran Princess was clearly written there.

Due to a cross-border framework the official position was that Mingham Slave Contracts transcended the rights of countries to interfere with slaves. Tatsuyoshi judged that it would be inconvenient at this point to undo the contract and so maintained the status quo as much as possible.

But sometime the day may come. If that day never comes it's fine. If she wants to run away then they can run away together. However, in case the day comes when that girl wishes to rise up for the sake of her kingdom, Tatsuyoshi made all the necessary preparations he could think of to accomplish that goal.

「Master, you aren't going to eat?」

Mintia spoke to Tatsuyoshi, who had been lost in his thoughts.

(Ao-san ... ... already left?)

Tatsuyoshi saw that the seat next to him was vacant. He put his hand on Mintia's head and said 「We can eat now」 before ordering from Shara.

Midnight.

The door opened noisily.

Mintia was sleeping. Tatsuyoshi confirmed it before going through the doorway.

Beyond was a warehouse he had expanded using MOD tool. Inside was a large number of weapons, armor, and magic tools, a collection beyond any the world had ever seen.

Taking on high paying quests by himself, doing excavations, taking dragons' treasure and everything else he did were all means to gather this armory of powerful weapons. They were armaments prepared in antic.i.p.ation of fighting a war against an entire country.

While looking over them Tatsuyoshi thought to himself.

My parents aren't here. My friends aren't here. No one I know is here. And the only thing I could focus on was this solitary girl.

That day, I vomited after that girl kissed me and ran away. That brave girl pursued me until she fell over from exhaustion, so I couldn't abandon her. When I came here the only thing I saw was this girl in trouble. If that's the case, isn't my purpose for coming here to help this girl? Tatsuyoshi thought so.

(Well, if Mintia says she's running away I'll go along with whatever she wants)

While thinking that he would just have to wait and see, Tatsuyoshi closed the door of the warehouse. He put the door in his item box, entered his bed, and closed his eyes.

Thus Tatsuyoshi's great adventure did not begin. He was a gamer, not an adventurer.

Taking every measure, making every preparation, and crushing with overwhelming forces until there was nothing left. That was the style of gamer he was.

That's why everything was already over when he made his move. The opponent would not even know there was an enemy until he was already there. His friends sometimes complained that his way of doing things was boring, but please overlook it this time. It is for the future of an important girl.

While having such thoughts Tatsuyoshi fell asleep and dreamed. He dreamed of the girl friends he used to game with. While viewing this dream, Tatsuyoshi smiled as he cried.

And another day began.

「Master, wake up.  There is no food.」