Manowa - Chapter 363

◎ Lindo Kingdom, Trade City Uumin, Summoning Institute, Backyard

「Mm, mmm.」

Kazane's humming slightly echoed in the backyard dyed by the setting sun.

『Nya, nyaa』

And matching Kazane's humming, Yuuko-nee's thoughts were being transmitted with『Information Link』. Setting aside her body, it seemed her mind was properly conscious. And on top of Kazane's head, Tatsuo was also shaking his head to match the rhythm.

「Not yet? Not yet?」

Then Kazane suddenly skipped in front of the object that looked like a huge glowing egg. The glowing egg-like object right in front of the dancing Kazane was Yuuko-nee's cocoon.

A few hours ago, Kazane had the Childstone inhale the Magic Life Stone, and at the same time, Yuuko-nee's body began to shine, then gradually changed into this light cocoon. This state was called『Cocoonization』, and it appeared when monsters and summoned creatures evolved, regenerated, or were born. Before Tatsuo was born, he was also wrapped in a cocoon like this.

「Well, it should be any time now.」

Magna, who was with Kazane in that place, so replied. Considering Yuuko-nee's mental state, he thought it would be best for the place to be as calm as possible and sent the other researchers away, staying behind himself just in case.

「It seems it was a fairly high concentration Magic Life Stone, but judging from appearances, it seems to be working smoothly.」

As he watched Kazane skip, Magna said that with a smile. She was a little girl skipping from her feeling of excitement. He probably couldn't help but smile.

「Will Yuuko-nee become stronger?」

While looking at the cocoon, Kazane asked that, and Magna strongly nodded.

「I've heard that the evolution prompted by a Magic Life Stone basically strengthens the qualities a summoned creature already has rather than changing their attributes or nature. She's probably still changing even now to become your optimal partner.」

『I'm looking forward to it, Mother.』

「Right?」

『Nyaaaaa』

All three of them spoke after Magna’s words. Then Kazane started dancing again. Well, it probably didn't have any particular meaning. She was simply excited and couldn't help but move.

And while watching her, Magna pondered.

(She's a strange girl. She's a summoner, a warrior, and she should be a Dragon Knight candidate with that black dragon she's fostering. Well, I don't know the details.)

Magna never expected that he was her actual child. From Magna's point of view, the feature Kazane had that left the strongest impression was probably her many talents? Moreover, the fact that all the abilities she possessed were high level was the primary factor that surprised Magna, and since also possessed currently unknown or lost technology, he likely thought that there should be a limit to being outside the standard.

(Though as far as I can see, she seems to be a normal girl inside.)

Kazane becoming excited and restless strengthened Magna's feeling even further.

And when Magna was thinking about that, he noticed a figure was suddenly heading towards them from the depths of the backyard. It had truly appeared suddenly.

「Hm?」

Seeing it, Magna tilted his head. Magna and the others were the only ones in that place. There should be a few other researchers inside the Summoning Institute, but the direction the figure came from had a wall separating the yard from the city.

「Eh? Why?」

Kazane also noticed the figure. And when she understood who it was, her expression stiffened. Tatsuo noticed Kazane's state and followed her gaze, but Tatsuo didn't know the person heading towards them. Though even if he didn't know, he could understand from their presence that they were a dangerous existence.

『Mother……?』

After Tatsuo uttered that due to anxiety, Kazane simply stroked his head. She wanted to reassure her son, but she couldn't move her gaze. Until just now, even though they had grown that close, Kazane hadn't noticed them with『Dog's Sense of Smell』or『Intuition』. Kazane understood that they were too dangerous to take her eyes off of.

Then, from Kazane's expression, Magna also understood and picked up the staff he had set aside.

「Who are you?」

Magna resolutely asked.

Magna was the owner of this property. The person before their eyes seemed to be someone Kazane knew, but based on her reaction, it was difficult to believe that the opponent was friendly. Besides, Magna had no intention of being magnanimous towards someone who had illegally entered his own territory.

(What's with this guy?)

However, Magna's ardor gradually diminished as THAT approached. Magna had self-confidence in being a reasonably powerful person, but he felt overawed as he looked at THAT.

It was armor. It was a large, jet black, full-body armor with a huge black sword in its right hand and a greatshield with a floating hologram pattern in its left hand.

「Living Armor...?」

Magna said. The slight gaps in the armor didn't show any of the flesh that should exist. As far as Magna could see, it didn't seem like anyone was inside. But the blood curdling intimidating air was the genuine article, and he could tell that it was being emitted from the armor itself.

Then the jet black armor that slowly walked towards Kazane and the others calmly informed them.

『I am one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Gilbert of Wrath.』

Kazane clenched her teeth at those words. That was the armor devil that created the barrier around the Great Dragon Palace when the devils attacked the Dragon Village.

『Mother?』

「Tatsuo, stay with Magna-san. You absolutely must not use Mega Beam.」

So saying, Kazane took Tatsuo off her own head.

Then Kazane entrusted Tatsuo to Magna. Gilbert didn't try to stop her. It was hard to imagine that Kazane's glare was being effective, but if he was willing to wait for her, that was convenient.

(I wish I could at least take Rokuten-kun out...)

Kazane lamented. Rokuten-was currently in her Space Expansion's large storage space along with the Holy Skull Legion and Muscle Clay Minotaur. However, taking them out would create too many gaps, and the companions who could be entrusted with her protection during that time weren't here right now.

Therefore, the number of moves she could take were limited.

「So then, do you have some kind of business with me?」

In the middle of those words, it seemed an urgent email from Yumika arrived, but she didn't have the leeway to look at it. Kazane was watching Gilbert's every move as she assumed a stance with her Draghorn Tonfas.

『Starting now, we'll destroy this city.』

Gilbert spread his arms and announced.

Kazane, Tatsuo, and Magna's eyes opened wide at those words.

(De, destroy?)

Kazane's understanding couldn't catch up, but Gilbert continued to speak.

『Therefore, I will seal you, the biggest obstacle in the city, in this place.』

「Berserk Ogre! Go!!」

Together with Gilbert's declaration, the surroundings were wrapped in something black. At the same time, Kazane summoned the Berserk Ogre.

『Hou』

The giant black club of the Berserk Ogre, who suddenly appeared in midair, descended on Gilbert, and Gilbert blocked it with his greatshield. Gilbert blocked the Berserk Ogre's blow as if it were no big deal, but the ground supporting him didn't fare so well. Gilbert's feet sank into the ground. Then the Berserk Ogre tried to attack again,

『NUooOOOOOOOOO!!!』

But Gilbert immediately charged together with a shout. By that momentum, the Berserk Ogre was repelled, and he rolled across the ground. Kazane was ahead of Gilbert's charge.

「Kazane-san!」

『Mother!?』

One person and one creature shouted, but Kazane didn't mind them as she assumed a stance.

「Skill・Killing Leg!!」

『Nuu』

As Gilbert's greatshield assaulted her from the front, Kazane struck it with her Active Skill『Killing Leg』.

A tremendous metallic clank echoed in that place.

The power of her kick displayed even higher power due to her『Dragon Eating Ogre Army Armor (True)』. And above all else, thanks to the Skill『Flexible』, Kazane's body was no longer stiff, so she could now kick with perfect form. The overwhelming impact due to kicking with her entire body and not just her legs passed through Gilbert's greatshield, and Gilbert stopped moving. In fact, he sank into the ground and fell back a few steps.

(As expected, I'm able to stop him... ah!?)

Gilbert's greatsword was approaching overhead. Kazane tried to avoid with Intuition, but,

『Foolish.』

「What?!」

Gilbert forcibly curved the trajectory of the sword Kazane should have avoided and hit her with the flat part. Kazane couldn't completely avoid that.

『Motherーーー!』

Together with Tatsuo's cry, like a ball, Kazane's small body blew away, bounced on the ground, and then rolled even further.

『Apparently, you have power, but you're not that impressive an opponent.』

So saying, Gilbert turned toward the Berserk Ogre, who was attacking again.

「UGAaAAAA!!」

『The likes of a mere Ogre is trying to defeat me?』

Gilbert took a step forward into the Berserk Ogre's rush and broke it with a shield bash, then immediately swung his sword down. Then the Berserk Ogre's scream echoed.

(Ku, uuu)

Kazane watched that with half-open eyes and stood. The damage was not light. Her『Flexible』and『Nimble』Skills had reduced the damage, and her『Regenerate』Skill was continuously healing her, but the pain reaching her core wasn't disappearing quickly.

(As expected, challenging an opponent of that level alone is difficult? But I still have a trump card.)

She didn't know what her opponent was intending to do by destroying the city. However, Kazane had the power to break through. The Heroic Spirit Ring. He shouldn't be an opponent who couldn't be defeated with Sieg. She still had other cards in her hand, but he wasn't an opponent she should be stingy against. Tatsuo and Yuuko-nee were also behind Kazane. She had to protect those important existences.

And even if there were more enemies outside the jet black barrier surrounding them, at worst, she could overwhelm them with her second character... when Kazane thought that, she suddenly noticed that her finger was light.

As she looked at her right hand's index finger, which wasn't wearing anything, there was a boy standing to her side. Kazane's face stiffened even further as her gaze turned toward him.

「You're…… Age?」

Chills ran through Kazane's entire body. The devil with the appearance of a child who previously robbed Jinrai of his right arm. That figure, which shouldn't have been there until just now, was right before her eyes, but the thing Kazane saw in Age's right hand surprised her more than anything else.

「Yo, Kazane. It's been a long time.」

And Age nonchalantly said that. While playing with the『Heroic Spirit Ring』in his right hand.

「That ring?」

That shouldn't belong to Age. Age wasn't wearing one before, and that ring was probably the one Kazane had been wearing until just now...

「Come to think of it, did I not tell Kazane my Occupation?」

Age smiled.

「I'm a Thief.」

Then black lightning attacked Kazane.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Summoning Fighter

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King, Liberator

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragon Eating Ogre Army Armor (True), Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, White Magic Accumulator (Revised) ×2, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring, Angel Bracelet

Level : 38

Health: 152+20

Magic Power: 340+520

Strength: 72+45

Agility: 78+39

Endurance: 43+20

Wisdom : 75

Dexterity : 51

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror Shield』『Rabbit Speed』『Flare Mirage』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior's Memory: Lv2』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog's Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv4』『Aegis Shield』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition: Lv2』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link: Lv2』『Optical Camouflage』『High Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Hand Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『Sturdier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Devil King's Intimidation』『Stone Minotaur: Lv2』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『Space Expansion』『Pseudo-Silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur: Lv2』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』『Boost』『Monkey's Strong Arm』『Two-sword Style』『Boobies Plus』『Living Armor』『Alarm』『Six-sword Style』『Mental Attack Complete Protection』『Spider Web』『Wire Cutter』『Flexible』

Yumika: 「My best friend pretended she was Away.」

Kazane: 「That's wrong!」