Manowa 347

 Chapter 347 - Let's Become a Pupil


◎ Royal Castle Delgura, Courtyard


「RaAA!!」


In Royal Castle Delgura's courtyard, the gleam of flame and the sparkle of rainbow intersected.

Those lights were from the magic blades of Naoki's dragon flame magic sword『Fang Blaze』and his Crystal Dragon magic sword『Rainbow Horn』. Then the blades made of magical power overlapped, and Naoki swung the violently sparking blades down on the opponent in front of him.


「Naive.」


However, the blow Naoki released with all his might cut through empty air. The woman who was in front of him just a second ago shimmered and disappeared like an illusion, and she completely disappeared from Naoki's sight.


(She disappeared? To where?)


The figure of the enemy he should defeat had disappeared before his eyes in an instant. But without panicking, Naoki explored the surroundings with his『Sense』Skill. Normally, he would be able to grasp the position of his opponent with this, but there was no reaction.


「Oh, a detection ability? How scary. I might wet myself.」


And the moment he judged that that sudden voice had echoed from behind, an impact like being hit with a huge mallet attacked Naoki's right side. That was Iria's striking technique called『Bursting Earth』, and immediately after Naoki understood that attack, he was blown away.


「Gu!?」


The strong momentum sent Naoki rolling across the ground until he struck the wall, but the damage was minor. His dragonscale armor fully displayed its defensive power. Then Naoki immediately tried to stand up and prepare his posture, but,


「「Checkmate.」」


Before he could stand, he heard simultaneous voices from his left and right. There were two Irias, and the katanas of both Irias were thrust before Naoki.

That was the reason he was attacked from the right side some time ago even though there was a voice from behind. The trick was obvious when he saw the real thing; there had actually been two Irias.

Then Naoki hung his head and said「I lost.」


「Amazing. It's a clone technique.」

「Hm. Her clone has substance. It's a considerably difficult technique.」


And as Naoki hung his head and Iria slightly waved around her katana, voices came from behind.

「「Hey, Jinrai. Stop with the spoilers!」」

Then Iria hurriedly turned around and rebuked the amazed Jinrai.

「You're too noisy when you're double. Go back to one at once.」

After Jinrai's words, one of the Irias disappeared.

「Mu, she disappeared.」

Kazane was surprised to see the situation, and with『Dog's Sense of Smell』, which could now sniff out even Astral bodies, she sensed that the gathered magical power in the place Iria had disappeared was being absorbed by the remaining Iria.

(She made a real body with magical power? I guess I didn't immediately notice because its structure is firmly closed?)

As Kazane contemplated the clone technique, the conversation between Jinrai and Iria continued to her side.

「It's obvious at a glance, so there should be no problem. In the first place, mixing real bodies and illusionary bodies is your favorite party trick, so it doesn't matter if your opponent knows that some of them are real.」

「Well, if the nature of my clone is exposed, I'll mix the two, but of course it's better to avoid that being exposed if I can, right?」

Iria protested against Jinrai's words with a sullen expression.

The woman whose face was still like a young girl's was Iria Noctal. She used to be in a party with Jinrai and the others, and she currently worked as Yuuko-nee's shadow warrior.

「By the way, what would Jinrai-san do against those clones?」

「Hm, in the end, they're Iria. It doesn't matter how many there are if I just defeat all of them.」

「Guu」

Iria, who had actually been defeated in the past, groaned. Iria had spent a considerable amount of time continuing to train up until now. If Jinrai were still the elderly man using one spear he was before he met Kazane and the others, it might have been possible, but she could understand from his atmosphere that she couldn't match the current Jinrai.


「So, how is it? This guy's ability?」


Then Jinrai's gaze turned to Naoki. Naoki groaned, but he couldn't hide the fact that he was on the ground. Naoki was self-aware that he had been completely played with when he was defeated, and he was dejected.

The reason that dejected Naoki was in the royal castle even though he wasn't summoned by Yuuko-nee was because he shamelessly entered the castle without permission to follow his sister... not. It was so Iria could teach him how to handle dual-wielding. And during the skill test to assess his ability, Naoki was completely defeated.


「That's right. At a glance, I feel like he relies too much on his magic swords.」

Naoki's face was cast down. That was something even he comprehended.

「Also, when he can't avoid being approached no matter what he does, he has trouble weathering through. That's a common tendency for those who change from rearguard to vanguard, though. Extending his swords to increase his range is nice, but he's too relieved by that distance, so it comes with the disadvantage that he gets cold feet when he's approached.」

「Well, I've done a lot to try and make him improve that, but...」

Jinrai had also judged that and tried to train that out of him, but since their weapons of choice were different, it seemed he couldn't easily fix it.

「Though his dual wield movements are passable? They're so standard that it's strange, but I was surprised that they had any form at all.」

「Ah, that. I taught him!」

Kazane raised her hand, surprising Iria.

「Kazane-chi? As ever, you're multitalented.」

The word multitalented itself could only be called terribly accurate. Even if it wasn't the result of her own efforts.

「It's the handed-down Odanobunaga Style.」

And Kazane talked about her own style. Though Iria possessed a different strong feelings about those words when she replied.

「Ah, you really defeated Odanobunagas, right? Honestly, it's unbelievable.」

The Dark Forest dwelling Odanobunaga species that Kazane and the others encountered was originally a monster that lived in the Dark Forest of Iria's birthplace, Japaness. Even though they lived there, Iria had never actually seen one. She had only heard that they were the worst kind of harmful animal, and that encountering one was certain death.

In the eastern country Japaness, there were periods a few times a year called Hyakki Yagyo where a fog of Magic Particles would spread. Since Dark Forest monsters could also be active in that fog, they would sometimes attack human habitation, and even among the Dark Forest monsters, the Odanobunaga species was particularly feared.


「How was it?」

「Hmm. Even you would probably be able to kill an Ashigaru, but they act in groups. I would recommend running away if you meet one.」

Jinrai was also self-aware that in the previous battle, he would have almost certainly been killed if they didn't have Heroic Spirit Sieg. The enemies were that strong.

「Ooh, it's unusual for Jinrai to say that so definitively.」

「My training is still insufficient to win against them by myself.」

If even Jinrai, who had finally put one foot on the peak of spearmanship thanks to Heroic Spirit Sieg, couldn't handle them, then Iria didn't stand a chance.


「Umm, so, what about my pupilship?」

And while watching the story digress, Naoki asked Iria that with a pathetic voice. A tone of resignation could be heard in that voice.

「Nn, it's no particular problem. Well, only after the coronation is over, though.」

But Iria replied without any hesitation.

「I received advance payment from Kazane-chi. Onee-san, I'll shortly make him able to endure any kind of intense play desired of him.」

「No, I don't desire something like that.」

Kazane was shaking her head. Naoki gulped after Iria's words, but fortunately, Kazane didn't notice.

Naoki loved his older sister, but he also loved erotic things and big boobs. Though there was no way Naoki would be able to compete with the lovemaking ability of a Kunoichi. If she trained him while using medicine, he was guaranteed to become upgraded to Iria's remote robot within three days. Let sleeping dogs lie.


「So then, what's the advance payment?」

In any case, Naoki pulled himself together and asked a question about her words just now.

「Ah, this.」

Then Iria took out a katana out of her handmade Mysterious Bag.

The scabbard and hilt were made using Adamantium. And when Iria pulled the katana out of its scabbard, a faintly glowing crimson crystal blade appeared.

「This thing……」

「A katana made from a Nobunaga claw strengthened by Husband's Crimson Crystal Breath.」

Kazane explained. In other words, Iria's sword was the same as Rokuten-kun's Odachis; anything slashed by it would be Crimson Crystallized, making it possible to slow down the movements of an enemy.

「Frankly, this weapon is so rare that if I took this back home and sold it, I wouldn't have to work again for the rest of my life. Can I really have it?」

Iria asked Kazane while rubbing her cheek against it. Although she was saying that with her mouth, it looked like she didn't have the slightest intention of letting go.

「Yeah. You'll be taking care of my younger brother, and if that will be helpful to Yuuko-nee, there's no problem.」

For Kazane, since it wasn't just for Noaki's sake, but for Yuuko-nee's as well, she didn't have any dissatisfaction in particular.

Also, she thought (Well, I still have quite a few)...  but Kazane didn't say that.

「If I can get something like this, I'll train any shit that comes along. I want you to feel confident in leaving it to me!」

Then Iria struck her chest. Behind her, Naoki was stunned and said「Am I shit?」


Also, Iria told them that she could train Naoki in the castle when Iria was free after the coronation. After the coronation, they were planning to head to the rank A dungeon Gordo Golden Ruins, but Kazane nodded and said that would be no problem.

That was because the goal was to have the travel distance problem solved by the time of the coronation.


「Well, Naoki should also be stronger by that time.」


Kazane laughed. She planned for him to obtain the key Artifact『Return Stake』when they went to Kazane Magic Hot Spring. Furthermore, Naoki's Magic Power would be greatly increased by handing over the White Accumulator.

With the essentials of her Strongest Younger Brother plan right before her eyes, Kazane couldn't stop laughing loudly.


Then Jinrai, Naoki, and Iria before her eyes pulled away when Kazane suddenly started laughing. While he had his strange parts, Naoki was a person of common sense, and he was bad with his sister's incomprehensible parts.



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, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, 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』



Kazane:「As a matter of fact, we have a ton of katanas, kodachis, and Adamantite equipment.」

Yuuko-nee:「Mmm, I definitely want to buy them for my army, but it would be tough with what I have.」

Yumika:「There are also other materials still in the warehouse. I think it would be best to cut it out with the pointless hoarding and consider selling them off.」

Kazane:「Well, maybe once everything's settled down.」