Manowa 318

 Chapter 318 - Let's Go in Great Haste


Now, with their auspicious (?) withdrawal from Wombard City completed, the carriage Kazane and the others were riding was racing toward Urguska Dungeon Market. They planned to spend one night near the market town, then arrive at Shijiri City the next day.

And since Kazane and Louise were confined in the Dragon Boat Administration Bureau, they hadn't procured much outside information, so the members inside the carriage decided to exchange the information they had acquired.


「So then, did you get any information while Louise and I were locked up in that prison-like place?」

Deciding to set aside Wombard City for now, Kazane asked that while looking around the carriage.


(Prison……?)

(I saw Clark-san go out shopping with teary eyes)

(It looked like the room was extensively remodeled)


Also closing her ears to such backbiting, Kazane first pointed her finger at Naoki, who had raised his hand, and said「Yes, go ahead.」He probably wanted to show his older sister his good side. Naoki answered in high spirits.


「Aneki was worrying about Minaka-san, but it seems she's no longer in that city.」

That was an expected answer. Kazane and Louise had conversed about that topic and concluded that she probably would have come to see them at the administration bureau if she were in that city.

「It looks like she came this way and completed several subjugation requests after the Grand Tournament, though. It seems she left after doing those for a while.」

「I see. Well, is that how it is for an adventurer without a permanent residency? Do you know where she went?」

Naoki shook his head after Kazane spoke.

「It seems she said she was heading to the royal capital, but I don't know about after that. I suppose we'll have to ask at the royal capital's guild?」

Kazane was looking forward to meeting Minaka Raidou, the girl from the eastern country Japaness they met in Wombard City and passed the time with until the end of the Grand Tournament, but at the present point, her whereabouts were unclear.

However, since they didn't have any business that required meeting her, further investigation wasn't particularly necessary. So, since Emily had subsequently raised her hand, Kazane decided to let her talk.

「I heard about the black potions over here. It looks like the guild is still collecting information, but it seems that even in Minshiana Kingdom, it's spreading more than expected. I heard that even in the royal capital, several drug dealers have been arrested.」

After that talk, Louise in particular scowled.

「It's been going through the Dragon Boat after all?」

After Kazane's words, Emily tilted her head.

「Umm. As you'd expect, it looks like even the Adventurers Guild doesn't understand that much. In the first place, the Dragon Boat route wasn't known until Kazane exposed it, and the smuggling via the Dragon Boat is still being concealed for now.」

The Dragon Boat Administration Bureau probably couldn't so easily reveal publicly that its staff members were hiding and transporting black potions. Though since that had already become known to Yuuko-nee, the top of this country, it was unknown how Minshiana would judge the organization called the Dragon Boat Administration Bureau. The reason the Dragon Boat Administration Bureau strived to keep Kazane and the others happy while they were restrained was so Yuuko-nee's impression of them would be improved through Kazane.

「Well, if Soldard is the manufacturer, bringing them into Minshiana through any illegitimate route shouldn't be difficult, so I suppose it would be best to consider the Dragon Boat only one of many routes?」

After saying that much, Louise spoke as if she had just remembered.

「Ah, that's right. The raw material of the black potion is probably human being, so make sure you absolutely never use it.」

Everyone other than Jinrai, who was driving, and Mefirus, who had already heard from Louise, looked at Louise with startled eyes.

『I didn't see it, but white masks should have appeared when you fought that Hiruko. Those are the embodiments of the human souls that have been taken in. They're called Personas.』

From inside her arms, Mefirus added to Louise's words.

「Personas……」

A white face also appeared after Genzo became a Hiruko, and the monsters that attacked the dragon village were wearing white masks as well.

「It seems the Dragon Boat incident was caused by that man Nazare using the white mask he possessed to activate the other souls that had precipitated in the black potions.」

「But that Nazare was killed on the spot.」

Louise nodded after Naoki's questioning words.

「That's right. He might have thought he could control it. Well, in the end, he was also taken in.」

One among the many white masks had certainly had Nazare's face.

「Even though he didn't smell like a devil; he was just an ordinary person.」

「That's probably exactly why he was chosen as a smuggler. Moreover, there's a considerable number of people who desire the power of devils. It's one of the few ways to achieve eternal youth.」

A stable transformation into a spiritual life form. Devilization was a proven method of eliminating lifespan.

「That's why the black potions are so dangerous.」

Louise was afraid that the black potion would spread as a drug to transform oneself into a devil. If they were unlucky, a foolish scramble to use it was liable to occur.

「Even though becoming a devil's underling is nothing less than becoming a slave.」

「Louise Nee-san, how does that relate to the raw material of the black potions?」

「Ah, sorry. I digressed. Though, it's exactly like I said. I think they probably use the people who are crippled by the Astralization of the black potion as raw materials and mix them into some kind of liquid.」

After Jinrai's question, Louise spoke the repulsive conclusion.

『Are the innumerable white masks caused by divided souls being mixed together?』

「Probably. By mixing together innumerable consciousnesses, the user will maintain their own without being pulled by any single one.」

Everybody in that place was disgusted, but while that might be true, there was nothing they could do. Kazane was also making a displeased expression as she asked about a part of the conversation that weighed on her mind.

「Umm, even if the raw material is Devilized people, what is the liquid they're mixed into?」

「A magical power soluble liquid... I suppose?」

「Like a mana potion?」

Kazane had also used those as a trump card when she was in a pinch. But Louise shook her head.

「That would work, but they're too rare, so they're not suited for mass production.」

「In that case, how about Holy Water, Louise-san?」

Louise once again shook her head after Emily's subsequent question.

「Holy Water is usable as a medium for calling Holy Spirit-sama, so it would be suitable if it weren't for the fact that if Holy Water is used on a devil, they'll be extinguished.」

「I see. That's how it is?」

It was a natural story. Something about the idea of a liquid that contained magical power was tugging at Kazane's memory, but Kazane decided to set that aside for the time being.

「Well then, is there nothing else?」

「Now that you mention it, I heard a rank S adventurer is heading for the abandoned city.」

After Kazane's words, Lyle reported that, and everyone jumped and raised their faces.

「Eh, what?」

Lyle made a confused expression after their reactions. Jinrai bitterly smiled while looking at his grandson's face.

「Kazane. Did you not tell Lyle about Yohan in Muruage?」

Kazane also bitterly smiled.

「No... I think I told him we had an acquaintance in a place a little away from Shijiri City, though.」

「Yeah, I did hear that, but... nn? Perhaps he lives in the abandoned city? Isn't there a villainous Ghost King there?」

It seemed Lyle didn't understand the situation at all. By the way, Emily seemed to know, and she was making an「Uh oh」expression. A girls' information exchange network can't be looked on down.

「Well, setting aside whether or not he's villainous, there is.」

「Since a rank S is taking action, they were saying that he was almost certainly going there to subjugate him, but...」

Lyle's words made the atmosphere even heavier. Lyle's eyes were darting around strangely as he wondered if he had failed, but this would probably be considered his achievement. There was the possibility that they would have been too late if they had moved leisurely without knowing about that. Though at the present point, they didn't know if they would be in time even if they hurried.

In any case, Jinrai sitting by his side in the coachman's seat hit his shoulder and said「Well done!」and it seemed Lyle's tension was finally released. As a human being, he couldn't respect Jinrai, but as a warrior, Jinrai had a god-like position to Lyle, and he had been praised by him. Lyle clenched his fist and quietly muttered「Alright!」


「What will we do?」


Setting aside Lyle's feelings, the current problem was Yohan. Naturally, Jinrai looked at the leader, Kazane, and asked for instructions.

「No matter what we do, we have to go there first, right? I don't think Yohan is evil, but the title Ghost King is a serious thing.」

「There might be people aiming at him.」

Tiara said with a mysterious expression. Yohan was a person made solely of bones, but he was mild-mannered and didn't seem like he enjoyed fighting. When she thought about how unreasonable violence might be headed for him, impatient feelings were accelerated.

「At any rate, the fastest route goes through Shijiri City. Lyle, when did you hear that story?」

「I heard it in the Adventurers Guild yesterday, but they said he left 5 days ago.」

「Right at the limit?」

Kazane said. With the connecting towns and villages along the way, the fastest horse-drawn carriage would take about 5 days to travel from Wombard City to Abandoned Capital Muruage. It was possible that he had already arrived, but if the opponent wasn't hurrying, Hippomaru-kun and the Thunder Chariot might make it in time.

「It's dicey. Shall we hurry?」

「Nn, acknowledged. Let's go at the fastest speed.」

「Okay, leader!!」

A ferocious smile leaked from Jinrai's face. He was allowed to drive Hippomaru-kun at full power for the first time in a while. Moans leaked inside the carriage, but no one objected this time.


And that day was the first day that the legendary monster『Crawling Lightning』was observed in Minshiana Kingdom.



Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Summoning Fighter

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

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Eating Ogre King's Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring, Angel Bracelet

Level : 36

Health: 145

Magic Power: 304+420

Strength: 67+20

Agility: 71+14

Endurance: 38

Wisdom : 72

Dexterity : 47

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

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』『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』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』『Boost』『Monkey's Strong Arm』『Two-sword Style』『Boobies Plus』『Living Armor』『Alarm』『Six-sword Style』『Mental Attack Complete Protection』



Yumika:「Starting next time: Explosive Racing Legend～Kamikaze Thunderclap～will begin.」

Kazane:「It won't begin. Or perhaps I should say, you shouldn't reuse lines like that.」

Yumika:「*Dejected*」