Manowa - Chapter 402

◎ ???

「... At last?」

Below the cliffs where there was nothing but silence, Yumika muttered that.

She had felt it a moment ago. The gaze of something.

The space that hadn't reacted up until now suddenly started possessing power.

Then Yumika, who had been sitting on the edge of the cliff to rest, slowly stood up.

In the current situation, the time on her Window's clock was already past 14:00.

As yet, Yumika hadn't been able to get out of this mysterious space and reunite with her companions. Also, ever since she was dropped into this area with cliffs, the previously ceaseless Ghoul swarms hadn't appeared, and there had been no disquieting signs. The big red moon in the sky had also been gone up until now.

However, that『big red moon』was currently in the sky.

It was unclear what kind of role it played, but it seemed it was necessary for operating this space. It was also evidence that the owner who had created this space was finally resuming their actions.

(Are they wary of me?)

While thinking that, Yumika looked around. Yumika certainly felt like something was looking at her, but she couldn't grasp the crucial origin of that gaze. And she could subtly sense a will preventing her from grasping it. Or perhaps she was just excessively self-conscious.

(Well, I can't do the same thing as a while ago?)

And there were no signs of anything moving yet. So Yumika opened a Window and looked at the email from Kazane that arrived a moment ago. It wasn't marked as an important email, so it seemed to be a personal matter. And written there was only a single sentence.

『I, I'm no longer human (planned)』

She didn't understand the meaning. This email in this current situation. Her best friend was as nonsensical as ever. And Yumika replied『Unaware wwww』. She could become a dragon, cave in the ground with intimidation alone, and had an army of Ogres obeying her; Kazane's recent actions didn't seem very human. The meaning「What are you saying at this point?」was summarized in her reply.

Yumika obviously wasn't in a position to say that, so it was like the pot calling the kettle black, but she was acting blind to her own shortcomings with all her might.

(So then, the problem is Tiara and the others, right?)

Yumika had been separated from her companions for more than half a day.

As for the safety of the members other than Yumika at the present point, Kazane had messaged her saying that Yuuko-nee was still linked to Shippuu and Audin was still linked to Tiara through the Ruby Griffon, so it seemed at least Mefirus, Tiara, and Shippuu were alive.

No email about the link being broken had arrived since then, so Yumika judged that they were likely still safe. If they had been captured, they could be rescued. Yumika stifled her pessimistic feelings and maintained her presence of mind. That was the result of being properly tempered up until now by her experiences and Jinrai's guidance.

「However, I guess break time is over?」

The signs began to appear. At the same time as Yumika's words, Demon Wolf Kuromaru, who was watching the surroundings, began to growl. He was probably sensitive to the increasing signs of beings in the surrounding area.

And as expected, countless hands popped out of the ground. Lumps of soil rose, and dozens of humans with rotten bodies appeared. They were the Ghouls that had attacked the carriage earlier.

「The same? Uninspiring.」

Uumika muttered and attacked the corrosive demons.

「Kuromaru, you mustn't kill them.」

「Woof!」

Kuromaru spiritedly replied to Yumika's words. He had been constantly on guard up until now. It seemed Kuromaru was fired up about finally switching to attacking.

And the true meaning of Yumika's order『Don't kill』was clear from the scene before their eyes. Yumika cut off the Ghouls' limbs one after another while Kuromaru bit them off. In other words, their strategy was to destroy the arms and legs of the Ghouls, then leave them alone.

That strategy resulted from reconsidering the situation when they were with the carriage. Whenever the Ghouls were defeated or disintegrated after becoming too distant from the carriage, they were resummoned. In that case, Yumika thought keeping them nearby but in a disabled condition should work well.

When she put it into practice, the pitiful figures of the fallen limbless Ghouls squirming across the ground was an obviously abnormal scene, but Yumika was putting her life on the line. Telling herself that there was no choice but to do it, she continued carrying out the strategy that looked like she was doing something worse than the lowest of the low.

(If they're aiming to exhaust my stamina, I have to show them that it's useless)

Not only did she have to fight against the Ghouls like before she fell, she also had to drag this out. The moment Yumika thought (I can't let this become an infinite loop), it appeared from inside a Ghoul.

「What!?」

Yumika's eyes opened wide at the sudden event. A sword popped out from a Ghoul's stomach towards her. Yumika repelled it with her beloved spear Silky. She was surprised by the sudden assault, but it was also the chance to escape outside that Yumika had been intently waiting for. Therefore, Yumika had been vigilant, making her able to repel it. However, when she saw the existence accompanying that chance, she was further astonished. It was someone she knew.

「Haa, we're finally able to meet, young lady.」

「Assassin's Blade Ijika? Why are you here!?」

Standing there was a man who was once defeated by Yumika. After Ijika had been repelled by Yumika's spear, he smiled as he stood in front of the Ghouls, which were gradually falling back. Therefore, it was obvious that Ijika was an enemy allied with the Ghouls.

「Why, you ask. That's obvious, isn't it?」

Then Ijika laughed at Yumika's question and replied.

「I'm here to make you mine. I'm here to rob you of everything. I came here to kill, murder, slaughter you until there's nothing left.」

So saying, Ijika smiled and licked his own sword. Yumika felt a visceral disgust at his words and actions, but in any case, she decided to open her mouth and listen to her opponent's reactions.

「I thought I already won our match, though?」

Yumika replied. It had been more than three months since she defeated Ijika in Hyvern and handed him over to Hyvern's soldiers. During that time, Yumika had continued to grow. She didn't feel like there was any chance she would lose against an opponent she was able to beat at that time. Yumika perceived that now, she would be able to win even without her God Wolf Transformation; that wasn't negligence, but a real feeling.

Ijika laughed after those words.

「Kukuku, it's not finished yet. Well, I won't betray your expectations, so go along with me for a little.」

Then his sword

(He threw it?)

Was thrown toward Yumika. But Yumika didn't try to avoid it. Because she had a guard named Demon Wolf Kuromaru, who ran to protect his master and caught the sword with his mouth. Then,

「Gyan!?」

Kuromaru was suddenly cut to pieces. Yumika saw that the sword and Kuromaru's torso were immediately cut in half. Then the opponent who cut them headed toward Yumika

「Hyahahahahaha!!」

And swung down a『katana』. Then silver light was emitted in that place.

Yumika, who had silver hair and a canine snout from her God Wolf Transformation, blocked the katana that gave off an impression like it was a mass of maliciousness. With the set Skill『Intuition』from her『Metamorphosis Divine Protection』, she had sensed it. Blocking that attack as her plain self would have been dangerous.

「Oh. As expected, you blocked it?」

「You! What is that appearance...」

Yumika remained astonished as she looked at Ijika. That attack, which had cut through Kuromaru with just a single blow, was strangely heavy. The ground was creaking as her legs sank into it. Her spear was bending to the limit. If her beloved spear Silky hadn't been strengthened by the resonance with the God Wolf Transformation, it may have snapped. However, the problem was Ijika's current appearance. Ijika seemed truly amused as he laughed at Yumika's surprised expression.

「Hahaha, I'm the same kind as you, young lady. Assassin's Blade Ijika. Just like how you become a Beastkin, I become a blade.」

Katanas were growing from his arms. And Ijika gradually transformed into a figure like sharp blades stacked on top of each other. He was an existence that could no longer be called a human being.

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊

「Hm. What's your business?」

At the same time, Jinrai was standing alone in a wasteland. The surrounding area was in ruins, as if someone had done their utmost to destroy the place. That was done by Jinrai. In that wasteland, a small man with a cramped expression had suddenly appeared in front of Jinrai, and he opened his mouth.

「Ah, that's right. Because you were rampaging inside the barrier, the repairs took longer?」

After the small man's words, Jinrai muttered「Hoh.」

「Since there was no response at all, I gave up, but it was unexpectedly meaningful?」

Like Yumika, Jinrai was separated from Tiara and the others. Then he was dropped into this empty wilderness alone, and like Yumika, he was stranded in that place. But unlike Yumika, Jinrai had a powerful means of attack.

In other words, he started shooting the Thunder God Cannon at the surroundings. The result was the ruined state of the area. However, since even that attack didn't cause a reaction, Jinrai had thought it was useless. But according to the words of the small man in front of him, it looked that didn't mean it hadn't had any effect. In fact, if the Thunder God Cannon were a magical attack rather than a physical one, it was very likely that the barrier would have already broken.

「So then, who are you? The assassin clan?」

「Aah, I am... gah?」

The small man tried to reply to Jinrai's words, but his words were interrupted midway. When he noticed, the small man called Maboro among the Borgiana Clowns had a spear piercing his chest. It was the fastest throwing technique used for surprise attacks called『Blink』. Accordingly, its power was low, but the spear piercing him was the black dragon fang spear『Evil Eater』. It wasn't something that an average human being with ordinary armor could defend against.

「Hmph. In any case, only an idiot would appear in front of their target. You probably don't have any decent information.」

「Hyu... fu, you...」

Mobaro looked at Jinrai with a disbelieving expression.

Naturally, Mobaro hadn't stood in front of Jinrai without any prospects of victory. He possessed a means to make a surprise attack from behind as he used himself as a decoy.

Yorumun's Stinger. It was a weapon that could transfer a short distance for a surprise attack, but in order to create an opening to fire it, he tried to attract attention... and immediately after, he was killed and was now lying in a pool of his own blood.

「Hm. If they all come to me, this will be settled quickly.」

Jinrai muttered. Jinrai was an adventurer. Their job involved killing『every kind of thing』, so there was no way a person whose job was killing only people could win against them; Jinrai seriously thought that and acted accordingly.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Summoning Fighter

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

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

Level : 40

Health: 156+20

Magic Power: 378+520

Strength: 81+45

Agility: 83+39

Endurance: 45+20

Wisdom : 75

Dexterity : 53

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

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Kick Decapitation Wave』『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: Lv3』『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』『Magic Power Absorption』『Red Body Transformation』『Friendship Tag-team』

Naoki: 「So Aneki, which one will you choose?」

Kazane: 「I'll put it on hold for now? I want to consult with Husband a little.」

Naoki: 「Ye, yeah. That's fine, isn't it? You could also consult with your younger brother, right?」

Kazane: 「Well then, listen. It says the Achromatic Dragon Emperor's species is a dragon, but isn't Husband's species actually subtly different from a dragon? I'm curious about what Husband thinks.」

Naoki: 「Who cares about that!?」

Kazane: 「Eh, why'd you flip out?」