Manowa 102

Chapter 102 - Proposing Marriage


Yuihama Naoki came to this world three years ago.

Naoki was dropped in the outskirts of Hyvern at the beginning, and was chased by a large lizard called Earth Dragon Modoki, but he was in the vicinity of Talba City and barely managed to reach it. Having learned what this world was like Naoki immediately became an adventurer. Without social status or a place to live Naoki needed money for his daily living, so he thought becoming an adventurer would be the simplest way to earn income. That kind of story was not limited to Naoki; the fact was that the vast majority of adventurers in this world became adventurers for the same kind of reasons. Only a handful were successful people who were admired by everyone.

Also, this world resembled the game called Zexiaharts he was playing just before coming here. The world was a harsher place than Naoki imagined, but he was aware that the Zexiaharts System Window could be used, and he obtained the Unique Skill『Magic Sword Manipulation』and was able to make a living as an adventurer.


For many months Naoki lived as a solo adventurer and looked for a way to return to his original world. In the middle of his quest he became acquainted with a boy the same age and his two years younger sister; they immediately hit it off, and he formed a party with those Barnes siblings. At that time Naoki became known as a competent adventurer and earned a nickname similar to his Unique Skill name『Magic Sword Operator.』


Two years passed like that before Naoki became aware of the existence of Queen Yuuko・Waiti・Shubaina six months ago.


Naoki couldn't stop thinking about the Japanese name and found her portrait being sold as a souvenir in a market, and he realized that her features were exactly like a person he knew. He felt like she was visibly older, but she was too similar for it to be an accidental resemblance.

Naoki then investigated that Queen Yuuko and learned she was previously an adventurer known as『The Witch of Annihilation』just like Yuuko-nee's game character. There were too many similarities for it to be a coincidence ... with that thought Naoki decided to head to Minshiana to meet Queen Yuuko.

After promising he would return to the Barnes siblings, he departed to Minshiana on the Dragon Boat a month ago. However, although he had no problem reaching the Royal Capital, he was turned away at the gate and couldn't find any way to meet Queen Yuuko.

After that, Naoki visited the Royal Castle several times, but he was bluntly driven out every time, and in the end he was briefly thrown in prison. Naoki understood it would be impossible for him to meet the Queen without something changing, and he returned to Shijiri City to rely on Organ, an acquaintance he had made in the middle of his journey. And he was awaiting his opportunity to meet Queen Yuuko.


◎ Shijiri City, Gin Sword Tavern


「What is it, it's noisy.」

Naoki woke up in the tavern's inner room, and voices making a fuss could be heard.

He had come back to this place after subjugating Ogres in the Black Stone Forest that morning.

「Hmm, is it evening? Time to work, then?」

Naoki looked out the window and muttered. Rough Outer people gathered at this tavern. Uproars were an everyday thing. Naoki often acted as a bouncer.


「Gugyaa」


A man's scream could be heard from the tavern.

「Damn, bothersome.」

Somebody seemed to have been injured. If that was the case, it was Naoki's turn. Naoki took his beloved sword out of his Item Box, then opened the door and entered the tavern


「Hey hey, is there trouble?」

While saying that Naoki made his way to the center of the tavern. A man who knew Naoki took a step back and got out of the way. The tavern regular knew Naoki's power. He didn't want to carelessly get dragged in if a fight started.

And when he approached the location of the uproar an old man he didn't recognize vigilantly looked over him.

(Wait a minute, that guy is dangerous)

Naoki instantly noticed that old man's strength. The two spears he was carrying also gave off unusual pressure. It seemed like an opponent he didn't stand a chance against.

While Naoki nervously observed the old man, Organ shrugged his shoulders and told Naoki.

「Hey, there was no need for you to come out. We were just settling things.」

「Huh, perhaps that was bad timing?」

The moment Organ nodded the tension in Naoki's shoulders relaxed.

(Oops)

It seemed there was no need to come out. However, Naoki wondered what the problem was, and he was casually surveying the surroundings when his eyes suddenly stopped on the figure of a girl.

「Oh, huh?」

While blinking in surprise Noaki stared at the girl. The girl was also surprised to see Naoki, but Naoki didn't notice that.

「Oh, ohohohohoh」

(Ah, my Aneki. A girl exactly like my Aneki is here.) [TL: Naoki almost always refers to Kazane as Aneki, which is a both familiar and respectful way to refer to an older sister. It's like nicknaming her Big Sis, but also conveys respect along with the casualness.]

There was a girl that looked exactly like Naoki's beloved sister. Naoki loved his『Aneki』and would marry her instantly if he could. Even now he could recall when her cherry fruits would peek out from the sides of her sleeveless T-shirt while she played games, and when his sister's panties were somehow found in his pocket (obviously he did it intentionally) he nearly masturbated himself to death; that was Naoki. In her rebellious phase, or more precisely (for reasons he didn't understand) her embarrassed and completely ignoring and not talking to him time he said「Onee-chan, have you come to hate me?」while clinging to her and crying with a pierced heart. Naoki's love for his Aneki hadn't changed in the three years he had been here, and now in front of him was a girl with an identical appearance.

(Oh, she's exactly like my Aneki. My lovely Aneki. It's a different world, so it's a different person! Marriage OK! Ecchi OK! All I want cherry fruit viewing Oh Yeah Oh Yeah!!)

Gross.

Naoki's excitement rose to its peak in an instant, and he stared at Kazane like he was trying to bore a hole through her and thought (here I go!), then with a decision that was impossible for an ordinary person to understand he suddenly fell to his knees and bowed his head before saying loudly.



「I fell in love with you at first sight. Please marry me.」


「「「「「Huh?」」」」」


Everyone was dumbfounded at that situation, and Kazane groaned「umm」before loudly sighing and speaking.


「You still haven't changed, Naoki.」

「Huh, Aneki?」


When he looked properly it was his Aneki.


****************


「Truly, thank you.」

「「ank youー」」

The woman and her children bowed their heads to Kazane and the others.

Louise and the others came to Shijiri City after them and immediately took the man to the healing center. The internal organs seemed to be uninjured, so shortly after that the man's consciousness returned. And for the subsequent continuous treatment the man was taken from the healing center to the clinic. The horse Lucy was also safe. She was exhausted from running too much, but when the woman came to lead her away her liveliness returned.

Incidentally, the man's medical expenses would be paid with they bounty on Kargei's subordinates. Although they hadn't been turned in yet. From the start Organ was suspicious when Kargei's gang showed up at the tavern. And when his beastman subordinate showed up he reported that Kargei's subordinates smelled of blood.

Provoking the Merchant Guild was already bad enough, but beyond that they had lied to him. Organ said he would make them pay for their mistakes, and his subordinates dragged them away. He said they more or less wouldn't kill them, and he asked Kazane's group to entrust the cleanup to him. Then they all returned to Gin Sword Tavern.


「Welcome to my castle.」

Organ invited Kazane and the others in with exaggerated gestures. As one would expect the tavern was filling up as the night went on, so they were invited to the back room. By the way 「hey, I heard that's」「idiot, you'll have to polish a door」were whispered from a few tables. Her infamy seemed to be spreading nicely.


Then Kazane's group, Naoki, then finally Organ entered the room, and the door was closed. The moment it closed the outside noise was blocked.

「Excuse me. Since outside seems to be noisy I thought I would do that, is that fine?」

Everyone nodded to Organ's remark.

「But it would be even better if it didn't smell of blood.」

To Kazane's grumble Organ said「I see, Naoki's older sister seems to be scary」with a wry smile. The inner part of a rough man's castle was a soundproof room. It wasn't hard to guess how this room was sometimes used.

「So, you are Naoki's older sister?」

「That's right. You are Naoki's friend?」

Organ nodded after Kazane's words.

「I met him when he came from Hyvern for an errand. I'm a little indebted to him.」

At Organ's carefree words Naoki nodded.

「I would say I'm more indebted. Even now I am still being taken care of.」

His behavior was subtly pretentious, but except for matters related to his sister Naoki was a composed and cool young man. Well, he was dumb, so he used to say he was KOOL before. Naoki was a middle school student three years ago and talked accordingly. By the way, his compulsory education had stopped, so his way of thinking was still KOOL.

「I never thought this guy would be here too.」

Yumika was greatly troubled.

「Oh my, but wasn't he your boyfriend? Yumikaa.」

From Kazane's remark the inquisitive eyes of her companions concentrated on Yumika, but Yumika shook her head.

「That's an old story, a very old story.」

「Yes, that's right. That's an old story. It's already been many years.」

Naoki said.

「Well, sure. It's three more years ago to Naoki. Is that what Naoki means by an old story?」

Kazane had somewhat teary eyes.

As expected, Kazane had a「wow」feeling from the impact of their encounter, but she was now talking to a relative. Kazane's tears were overflowing from thinking about the hardship he must have endured over the last three years.

「Ah, no. Aneki, don't. I don't know what's wrong, but don't cry.」

「Yeah, I know. Sorry. I'm sorry for being a crying older sister.」

Large teardrops were spilling out of Kazane's eyes, and Organ laughed at the flustered Naoki.

「Kukuku, what's this. I was thinking you were a pretentious brat, but you can also make a face appropriate for your age, Naoki.」

「Shut up.」

Naoki pouted from Organ's remark.

「Ah, well, I'm glad I met you. I'm really glad, Aneki.」

「Yeah, me too.」

「Ah, that's right. Aneki, Yuuko-nee is also here. I thought if I came this way I could meet Yuuko-nee.」

「Yeah, I know she's here. Just now I sent her an email.」

「Eh, you met her?」

Kazane wiped away her tears as she nodded to the shocked Naoki.


By the way, the content of the email exchange with Yuuko-nee was


Kazane:「Naoki was here. We met in Shijiri City.」

Yuuko-nee:「Oh, how wonderful. What were the circumstances?」

Kazane:「He suddenly proposed to me.」

Yuuko-nee:「As revolting as ever.」


That was her impression. It seemed that Yuuko-nee also thought he was gross. He was a sinful man.

With their reunion exchange finished they decided to talk about their respective situations, and Naoki talked first about the three years since he came to this world.

He was playing the game when before he knew it he was in Hyvern. He had been able to make a living as an adventurer up until now, and when he spoke the name of the Barnes siblings Jinrai was surprised, so Naoki said「They said they had a remarkably strong grandfather, is that you? I see.」Jinrai made an embarrassed, but not at all displeased, face.

「Well that being the case, I have been working as an adventurer in Hyvern. I couldn't find a way home and I was troubled by Yuuko-nee's name. Because of that I came to meet her, but when I went to the Royal Capital I was turned away at the gate.」

「Of course. Someone coming to the gate and saying they're the acquaintance of the Queen would seem like an insane fool. Honestly.」

Organ cackled and gulped down his alcohol.

「Well, that's right. That's how it was. Although I was thinking I would be able to meet her if only my name was conveyed to her. So I thought I'd come back here and do some meritorious deed.」

「Well, as long as you're skilled enough to do it.」

Organ said, and Naoki responded「shut up.」

「So what has my Aneki been doing?」

「I met Yumika near Conrad City, then .......」


Kazane gave a broad outline of her story, like the Ogre subjugation, traveling in Tsuvara, finding a hot spring near Conrad, meeting with Yuuko-nee, taking Prince Sieg dungeon diving, and exterminating a dragon.


「Is that so? So that was you? As you might expect I have also heard the name Ogre Killing Princess.」

Naoki stared in wonder from the contents, but it was Organ who showed a strong reaction instead.

「The hero who saved Winlard, the Ogre Killing Princess with the White Party. A monster cat and dolls follow her, she massacred a thief group, beat the guardian beast to death with her fists, a heroine who recently kicked a named dragon to death, such impossible......」

After talking for a little he decided to stop. With the thief group massacre (though that was a misunderstanding) anecdote, the anecdotes about a powerful adventurer named Kazane had persisted among Rock Hold's Outer, and since Outer had heard she was a troublemaker she was treated like a scary target of worship.「Do you want to polish a door?」had already become a general threat in the neighborhood, and he could ask about that part.

Organ thought that in case she was worse than imagined he shouldn't say anything careless and should hold his tongue. However, even if his intention was to avoid saying careless things Kazane and the others were bewildered by his words.


「White Party?」

「Ah, isn't it because we wear the Indestructible Cloaks?」

「Thief group massacre? If I'm not mistaken they're overlapping with another story.」

「I didn't beat the guardian beast to death.」

「No, even though Audin-kun is King he is not wearing the Ruby Beast Ring, so that rumor is reviving.」

『Well, we can't hand it over to Audin since he doesn't have the contract, so that can't be helped.』


By the way, it was Louise who said Audin-kun. Naturally Tiara was wearing the ring.

And Kazane sighed loudly to lament the spread of her infamy.

「However, the Ogre Killing Princess is your relative. Naoki, your future is safe.」

「Hey hey, don't say things that seem premised on me marrying my Aneki, Organ.」

With a when did I say something like that expression, Organ pulled himself together and looked at Kazane.

「Kazane Dragon Pair Hot Spring and Kazane Magic Hot Spring were made in Tsuvara and Minshiana respectively. This Ogre Killing Princess is the source owner of those hot springs, so there should be no need to worry about ever missing a meal.」

By the way, considering the future demand of Muscle Clay it was likely that there would be no problem making a living for her entire life just from the license fee.

「And yet, she's also close friends with the Queen of Minshiana; she's gone beyond a big shot, seriously.」

「No, I wouldn't go that far, but…is it true?」

Kazane's weak points were getting caught up in the moment and defenselessness. That was how her younger brother was able to see her cherry fruits.

「However, there is that.」

Organ looked at Naoki.

「I was trying to think of a way you could meet the Queen, and since you met your sister it may not be necessary any more, but I brought along a request.」

While saying that Organ put a guild request form on the table.

「This is?」

「I heard a ghost king appeared in the abandoned city, so I thought a request would be coming. It seems that Minshiana's soldiers will charge in depending on the circumstances, so I thought if you cleared this it would pass in front of the Queen's eyes. I suppose it's unnecessary now.」

「Ah, that's right. At least for me.」

Naoki was reunited with his precious sister, so he thought that he shouldn't purposely jump into danger, but Kazane intently stared at the request by his side, then spoke.

「Come to think of it, I haven't fought that type before. Yosh, let's accept it.」

His Aneki readily jumped into danger.



Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Carapace Bull Trousers, Dragon Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator

Level : 29

Health: 101

Magic Power: 170+420

Strength: 49+10

Agility: 40

Endurance: 29

Wisdom : 55

Dexterity : 33

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』

Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg: Lv2』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization』『Regenerate』



Yumika:「So that guy is coming.......」

Kazane:「Ahahahaha, sorry about my revolting younger brother. First of all is a normal quest after a long time.」

Yumika:「Like you said it has been a long time; I feel like we haven't done any free ones since we left Conrad.」



[TL: So Naoki calls Kazane Aneki. I'm torn about whether to translate that as older sister every time or just make a TL note for the next few chapters and leave it Aneki, because he calls her that probably every time he talks to her, and he's a party member now, so there's a lot of that. Opinions?]