Manowa 359

 Chapter 359 - Let's Leave the Mansion


◎ Lindo Kingdom, Trade City Uumin, Anglais' Mansion, Anglais' Room


After the negotiation with Kazane and the others was over, Anglais gave some instructions to his subordinates about the party's hotel arrangements, then immediately returned to his room. And in the room, Ougi, who had guided Kazane and the others to the mansion some time ago, was waiting.


「How was it?」

Ougi said to him immediately after he returned, and he smiled back.

「They're a considerably quirky lineup, but I think they aren't bad children?」

And after saying that, Anglais leaned on his dignified exclusive chair. Immediately after, he took a breath, then looked at Ougi and smiled.


「As expected, the hot spring offer was refused.」


Anglais said that, but he didn't show any signs of frustration or disappointment at all. If anything, his way of speaking made it seem like he thought the refusal was a matter of course. Ougi nodded and said「So it seems.」

「Well, now that it's like THAT, the amount presented here is nothing more than a scam.」

After Ougi's words, Anglais replied「Indeed.」

「I never expected she'd increase the value of the property and protect the hot springs. I don't know whether or not that was intentional, but she's a splendid girl.」

Anglais was smiling as he said that.

「I'd like to go to the hot spring town for a crystal hot spring inspection before the week is over, but I wonder if I should. I have a matter to negotiate with Makka-dono. I don't think it would be unnatural.」

Ougi also smiled after those words.

「Yes, that should be fine? I hear its exterior is exactly as if heaven were in this world. I'll accompany you.」

Then Anglais and Ougi smiled at each other. Their atmosphere showed they had walked together for many years.


The words crystal hot spring had appeared in the conversation between Anglais and Ougi. Exactly as stated, that was surely the bathhouse in Kazane Magic Got Spring Town that Kazane created.

However, that hot spring was created two days before the present time. And even though they had decided to travel together with the caravan on the way, it would be extremely difficult to reach Uumin faster than Kazane's group and convey that information to Anglais by any ordinary means of transportation.

The normal possibilities would be a fast horse or a messenger bird, but the means of communication they had used was completely different.


「I'll reply to Kanna's『email』. I'll tell her we uneventfully failed.」


So saying, Ougi started sending an email to the person named Kanna. Using the means Anglais couldn't see that Kazane and the others called the Window. In other words, Ougi was a player.


「Please. The devils loitering around right now are trouble. Tell her to be properly careful for me.」


Anglais told Ougi and looked out the window. Ahead of his gaze were the members of the White Party walking toward the main gate. Seeing them, Anglais naturally smiled. Anglais was a man in the prime of his life nearing middle age. And the closer one got to being an old man, the more effective Kazane's devilish female power. Anglais was in the process of being taken in by Kazane.

Then Anglais recalled what he was interested in from the conversation a short while ago.


「Ah, speaking of devils, as expected, they're also worried about the Black Potions.」


After Anglais spoke, Ougi's brow furrowed. But his eyes still remained closed. Even though he obviously acted as if he could see, Ougi's eyes always remained closed.

「Perhaps they came to investigate the relationship between us and the devils.」

Anglais groaned「Hmm」at Ougi's conjecture.

「That woman named Louise is from the devil-hunting Cancer family. Maybe she's simply on edge when it comes to matters related to that, but, they have a track record of devil subjugation. I think gaining them as allies would be a good idea.」

Anglais said, and Ougi agreed.

「It should be fine to obliquely confirm that during tomorrow's dinner party, don't you think? Also, that Queen Yuuko is likely backing them, so it could possibly take the form of a direct appeal.」

「Queen Yuuko? If I remember correctly, she's a player. Is winning them, including her, over as companions impossible after all?」

「I don't know whether or not it's impossible, but we can't deny the possibility that if she learns about us, we'll end up being used instead...」

Ougi cautiously replied to Anglais' question.

「However, I hear she's a scary woman, but she's likely a player?」

Anglais had heard that many players were residents of Japan, a country without war that resembled Japaness. But Ougi shook his head.

「It seems she's a person so cold and ruthless that it's hard to believe she's a player like us. She probably had no choice but to become an Asura when her husband was killed and her child was about to be taken away. Thinking about Minshiana's internal conditions for the last 10 years, that queen's actions aren't any different from what Soldard's king is doing right now.」

Annihilating opposing powers. The only difference between her and Soldard's king was whether or not they acted publicly. That being the case, Ougi was worried that for the sake of protecting her secrets, she might sever the likes of a foreign country merchant's life without a second thought.

「However, their player information network is hard to pass up.」

Anglais said.

As a matter of fact, Anglais' rise to his current position was largely due to the speed of the email information network between the multiple players he'd made his companions, along with Ougi's Unique Skill.

At the present point, Anglais was operating the company with Ougi, Kanna, and two other players. Speeding up information transmission. That was the driving force behind Messi Firm's rise within Lindo Kingdom.


「In that case, having only Kanna contact them to register as a party... that's a method we could use. That girl is fundamentally a free information shop.」


After careful thought, Ougi so replied.

「Kanna? We can't quite fully place our trust in that girl, but it can't be helped.」

And Anglais seemed reluctant, but he agreed with Ougi's words.


「So then, speaking of devils, did you grasp Yaku's trail?」

After Anglais' subsequent question, Ougi shook his head.

「It looks like his corpse was found this morning.」

Anglais frowned after Ougi's reply.

Yaku was the name of the person who had recommended investment in Kazane Magic Hot Spring Town (provisional), and he was the man who had actually been taking action. He was also the person who planned the takeover of Kazane Magic Hot Spring Town.

Due to that unnatural behavior, and furthermore, due to Ougi's Skill, Anglais had quickly discovered that he was possessed by a devil, but since he was actually doing good work, he expressly overlooked it.

Anglais knew as much about the Black Potions as Kazane and the others. Therefore, he also knew that the devil-possessed man wanted the magical hot spring for local production of Black Potions. He had planned to let him achieve a certain degree of results as bait, then confiscate the results and abandon him, but he suddenly disappeared when he heard that Kazane and the others were coming.

「He probably didn't want to be sniffed out by Kazane-dono's『Dog's Sense of Smell』Skill. I don't think Yaku was planning to die, so he was probably erased. Is that confirmation that a superior of his is in the city?」

「Good grief, what a troublesome group. I want them to leave our country as soon as possible.」

After Anglais said that, Ougi nodded deeply.

At the present point, the devil's erosion of Lindo Kingdom was quite dangerous. Anglais thought that if they didn't somehow do something about it, their own futures wouldn't be peaceful.


「Come think of it, where's Elizabeth?」

And after their conversation came to an end, Ougi suddenly said that. There was no figure of the white cat who usually often interrupted their conversations with painfully true remarks. However, when asked that, Anglais frowned and replied「I don't know.」

「She's acting arbitrarily again. Good grief.」

「Well, that's what she does. She won't make any blunders, you know?」

Ougi laughed and so replied to the indignant Anglais. For Elizabeth, this was a habitual thing. However, Anglais frowned even more deeply.

「That's what bothers me. Is having a cat that's smarter than its owner something I must endure?」

It goes without saying that Ougi laughed even harder after those words.



◎ Trade City Uumin, East Street


『This way.』


With her tail swaying, the white cat Elizabeth walked ahead.

Behind her was Yuuko-nee, who cried「Nya」; Kazane riding on Yuuko-nee's back, who said「I wonder where we're going?」; and Tatsuo on Kazane's head, who said『Me too.』


Currently, Kazane had left the hotel prepared by Anglais and was walking down the city's East Street with Yuuko-nee, Tatsuo, and Elizabeth. The reason they were walking together in this way was because Elizabeth appeared the moment they arrived at the hotel and invited Kazane and the other to go somewhere.


「So, could you tell us where we're going, Elizabeth-san?」

『Yes. I have a Summon Master. I think he can help that kitten.』

Elizabeth answered Kazane's question.

「Summon Master? It isn't Anglais-san?」

Elisabeth shakes her head when asked about the wind noise.

『He's my Contract Master. Well, I'm like his guard.』

After those words, Kazane wondered (Is it fine for her to leave his side even though she's his guard?), but it seemed Elizabeth thought there were no problems because Ougi was currently in the mansion.

According to Elizabeth's words, this Uumin had a summoning research facility called the Summoning Institute. She told them it was built in this eastern section.

『Ah, this corner.』

Past the corner Elizabeth rounded as she said that was a reasonably large building that looked old. Behind the building, there was something that looked like a large garden.

「It has a special aura.」

「Nyaa.」

『I agree.』

Yuuko-nee and Tatsuo responded to Kazane's words.


「Eh? That's Kazane-san, isn't it!?」


When they approached the Summoning Institute, a man standing in front suddenly called out to Kazane. And when she looked at the person who had suddenly called her name, Kazane's eyes opened wide..


「Umm... who?」


It was a stranger.



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』『Flexible』



Kazane:「Who?」

Yumika:「How should I know? I'm not looking at them...