Manowa Chapter 73

What is the difference between falling in love and being charmed by someone?

There may not be a difference, but being charmed by someone implies a level of respect. Well, how that person fell in love may be more important.

Anyway, the prince was charmed by Kazane. His mother said nothing and she was an adventurer, but if she could use the White Sword there was no doubt she was related to the Minshiana royal family. If so, perhaps that girl named Kazane was a person that was invited to be the prince's future spouse ... ... the prince concluded.

After Kazane mastered the White Sword, they conversed for a while before Kazane and the others went back to the hotel. At that time, there were introductions with Zinray's group, but they did not enter the prince's head. It was because his head was full of the matter of his future spouse.

That night, the prince heard the heroic saga of Kazane's many exploits over the past two months from his mother. Despite being the same age (no one told the prince about the age difference so he decided it was so), respect was born within him. His mother Yuuko-nee thought it was a different emotion from love, but also that it was only a matter of time for it to change to romantic love.

She did not know the future, and she would respect their will. However, Yuuko-nee wouldn't hesitate to open the way to the future she wanted.

Therefore, she would make her move to prepare the way.

◎ Royal Capital Shubain, Crier's Hotel, Night

「You acquired『Warrior's Memory?』What the heck is that?」

Yumika heard from Kazane and raised a surprise voice.

「Hey, I already told you what it is, you should remember. Really.」

「Err, you didn't steal it from the White Sword, right?」

It would be terrible if that were so. It would be an unprecedented crime to steal the capabilities of the treasured sword. Immediate arrest. Immediate death sentence.

「No, it doesn't look that way. It seem a copy was made and I obtained it.」

Yumika wracked her brain at that remark, but since there were no worries for the time being she kept saying「then」while thinking about it.

「So you're saying you can now use swordsmanship like an amazingly strong warrior?」

「No, the sword's Warrior's Memory doesn't go that far. I don't think I can beat Yumika or Zinray-san.」

But combined with other skills it was another story. Kazane did not understand yet, but it was because it was combined with the pa.s.sive skills『Insight』and『Nimble』that she was able to easily overwhelm the skilled Sakyure.

「So the latter half of what you said was that it was an a.s.sist skill? You should test its usefulness in personal combat right away.」

「That's the way the skill is. Well, I think that it will be quite useful for battle, and I think that even more can be expected from it while hunting.」

「I see.」

Yumika nodded.

「Well, I guess she's preparing something. There's probably some reason she told me to use the White Divider in front of the prince and the others, right?」

「Huh, I didn't expect she would scheme to get you and the prince married. If you can use that sword, isn't the condition for succeeding the throne cleared?」

「Hahaha, no way.」

Kazane smiled and returned「no no,」but Yumika thought it was a possibility from Yuuko-nee's att.i.tude at that time.

(Well, I guess they only look like they're the same age)

The appearance of the prince felt close to Yuuko-nee with a little bit of foreigner mixed in. He seemed to have a gentle aura and it felt like he was a rich kid. That's because he was.

And when the two were lined up Yumika could only see them as young children of the same age. In that sense they were a perfect match.

「She seems to be coming to request something tomorrow, it's a bit scary.」

「I don't think she'll tell us to fight the a.s.sa.s.sin group again, but...」

Ahahahaha…..the two laughed together. It probably would not be the same thing, but the two felt it would be a troublesome matter.

And the next morning, Kazane and the others were woken up by the surprised voice of the hotel guide. Kazane and the others were suddenly called to the Minshiana Adventurer's Guild headquarters.

◎ Adventurer's Guild Minkiana Headquarters

「Guildmaster, the guests have arrived.」

Kazane and the others immediately appeared at the Adventurer's Guild headquarters and talked to the receptionist, who told them they should hear the matter directly from the Minshiana Guildmaster, so they were guided to the guildmaster's room.

「Thank you for the hard work. You may leave.」

「Yes.」

In accordance with the guildmaster's words, the female receptionist left the room and closed the door.

Kazane and the others stood in front of the guildmaster in the room.

(Is this uncle an elf?)

The guildmaster was a man with long ears and had the air of a businessman.

「Hmm, you are the rookie party that has made various achievements recently. It seems there are a few faces that I recognize.」

Zinray bowed his head to that remark, and Louise said「yes~」and waved.

「And Miss Tiara, I'm fully aware of your ident.i.ty, but I received word that you are to be treated as a mere adventurer, so I will behave as such in this guild.」

「Yes, please treat me well.」

Tiara bowed her head.

The guildmaster was aware of all the circ.u.mstances, so Kazane said「hee」in admiration.

「So Uncle Master, what is it?」

Kazane immediately cut in. She was impatient.

「You are Kazane? It seems your character is as I've heard. Well, I also like to get to the point, so I won't say anything more about it.」

The guildmaster seemed to be a capable businessman, and from the desk he was sitting at he pulled out a request form.

「Let's talk about work. This is a nominated request for your group. Please read it.」

Kazane picked up the doc.u.ment and read it.

「What, what? Subjugation of the Childstone possessing Black Rock Dragon Giove in the Rock Hold Cave?」

The surrounding people raised surprise voices at the contents. It was common to bring together 50 skilled adventurers for dragon subjugation nowadays. Any more just means more casualties, and any less may not be able to handle it. Even rank S adventurers want to bring at least five people.

「For this subjugation you will be bringing someone along. The accompanying person is」

Kazane's voice became shrill as she read what was written afterwards.

「Prince Sieg Waiti Shubaina… this is…」

When Kazane barely managed to read those word the other members stared in amazement.

「Is she seriously intending for us to do this?」

Kazane asked the guildmaster with a look.

「I don't know. Doing or not doing it depends on you, but the client also said that you should look over the reward.」

「What is the reward?」

Kazane looked over the doc.u.ment again. The reward was 200,000 kirigia. The request fee for dealing with a harmful dragon that attacked a city or the like would be more expensive, but it was not bad for a dungeon subjugation. The battle would occur in a fixed place in the dungeon and only that place would be damaged by the battle, and the difficulty was different from outside in the first place. There was also a subjugation reward for a Childstone owner, so there was not much reason to make a particular request to defeat them. Since dungeon monsters usually didn't leave the dungeon on their own and attack people their danger level was effectively zero, so there was no reason to make a request to defeat them in the first place.

In addition, the dungeon's monsters were not treated as harmful enemies but as resources. Dungeon capturing adventurers were like miners. The subjugation reward for Childstone owners was like a bonus, and guarding wasn't the purpose of dungeon attackers; the goal was obtaining money by selling materials from monsters, items from treasure chests, and anything else they could excavate like magical steel.

「Dragon materials are said to be rare, is that true?」

「Ah, that is so. The materials from defeating a single one would be worth more than the reward. There is also the Childstone owner reward.」

Zinray nodded. Zinray's spear was made of dragon bone. Though it was still unknown if they could defeat it. And Zinray asked Kazane about the possibility.

「Kazane, can Sieg beat a dragon?」

「It's conditional, but I think it would go well.」

Kazane nodded at Zinray's question. In fact, he had defeated many in the game. The problem was that the time limit was only 10 minutes, but Kazane thought that he would manage if they covered him. Especially since Tatsuyoshi-kun's stone throwing should be very effective for large monsters.

「Is Her Majesty the Queen aware of that?」

「She's aware. As you heard from her, the prince was named after him.」

「I see.」

Zinray thought the content of the request was unreasonable, but if she had some basis for believing it was possible it wasn't strange, and he might have to rea.s.sess.

「Anything else...uhh」

Kazane narrowed her eyes as she looked at the subsequent contents.

「What's the matter, Kazane?」

Tiara asked that to Kazane's reaction, and Kazane groaned「well」in reply. She thought that she couldn't judge the contents herself and shared them with her best friend.

「Yumika, the reward is information about returning to our original world.」

「Eh?」

Yumika did not understand the meaning at first. She had already given up.

「Yuuko-nee wrote that she is aware of a method to return to our original world.」

Kazane looked at Yumika with a face that showed she didn't know how to judge it.

「What do you think about this?」

「I do not think that Yuuko-nee would write such a thing as a joke.」

「I think the same thing.」

Kazane nodded at Yumika's remark. While watching the exchange, the guildmaster judged it was a suitable time to open his mouth.

「If you can receive it I will be saved as a guildmaster, since based on the contents the kingdom doesn't want you to refuse.」

「What do you mean?」

Kazane asked after the guildmaster suddenly spoke.

「Hmm, read the request form carefully. No penalty even if you fail, you will not be blamed for the life or death of the prince.」

At those words, Kazane once again reviewed the request.

「Wow, Yuuko-nee. You must be serious to go that far.」

Kazane said. The words were there, exactly as the guildmaster had stated.

「What will we do?」

Everyone's gaze centered on Kazane after Zinray's question. Command during battle was lately requested of Zinray, but the leader was Kazane. Zinray stubbornly maintained that such a judgment should be done by the leader, and Kazane's mind was decided from the beginning.

「We'll do it. Anyway, the original plan was to go dungeon capturing in the first place.」

For the time being, Kazane thought she would need to prepare two more Indestructible Cloaks. Breath attacks were dangerous, even with a dragon fighting strategy centered on Sieg. Perhaps Tatsuyoshi-kun would be the main force, and protecting the prince would be essential. Kazane was already starting to think based on the premise of fighting.

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, War 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』『Firestorm』

Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog's Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』 『Air Jump』 『Killing Leg』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Insight』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』

Kazane:「Yuuko-nee, how can we return home?」

Yuuko-nee:「Se・cret」

Yumika:「No matter how much time goes by Yuuko-nee is still a little frustrating.」

Kazane:「Think of your age. Your ageーーーUgagaga」

Yumika:「Ah, what dreadful things are happening to Kazane's cheeks!?」