Manowa 404

 Chapter 404 - Let's Strive


The time turns back to a little before Yumika confronted Assassin's Blade Ijika and Jinrai confronted Madoru.

Due to Madoru's stratagem, Yumika and Jinrai were separated from Tiara and the other people who were riding the Indestructible Carriage, but since the barrier was closed, the Borgiana Clowns naturally couldn't make a move on them either. And during that time when nothing was happening, they weren't just waiting around.


「As I thought, it's impossible, isn't it.」


Louise muttered. She was in an open space a little away from the Indestructible Carriage, which was parked at the roadside. Louise was standing at the center of a magic circle consisting of many intricate patterns. And because she had been circulating Magic Power through it until just now, it was emitting a slight magical glow.


「What is she doing with that, Tiara?」


Emily had been watching from inside the Indestructible Carriage and tried asking Tiara. She knew that Louise had been doing something for some time, but since it was outside the bow specialist Emily's area of expertise, she hadn't been told anything. But as might be expected, the longer the situation of nothing happening continued, the more curious she became, and now that it was over, she tried asking Tiara, who was sitting beside her.

「I also don't understand in detail, but she's trying to open a path to the outside with a summoning gate... I think. Right, grandpa?」

Perhaps due to anxiety, Tiara was hugging Mefirus in his juvenile Griffon form, and after Tiara said what she knew, she asked him.

『That's roughly correct.』

Mefirus replied to his grandchild. Louise was often seen as a big-breasted erotic elf, common name Erofu, who selected men for light snacking... which was true, but she was also an expert magician.

That was why she was Tiara's guard, and while it wasn't her main purpose, she could also teach her summoning techniques. And while Mefirus was formerly Tsuvara's king, he had also been a powerful Summoner who the Ruby Griffon obeyed. Therefore, he was much more knowledgeable about such things than the average sorcerer.

「If she succeeds, will we... be able to go out?」

Emily timidly asked Mefirus. She had thrown off reserve with Tiara, but Mefirus was a former king, albeit from another country. It seemed Emily didn't have the nerve to speak calmly to him.

『It would be impossible for a human being. However, a summoned being would be able to slip out. If I can go outside, I can contact Audin and call for help.』

Mefirus said. If it was only making contact, Yumika could also do it. However, as long as their whereabouts were unknown, being rescued from their imprisonment was difficult. Going outside to determine their present location was what Mefirus and the others were currently seeking.



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「Disperse!」


Louise destroyed the magic circle drawn on the ground with a spell.

Spell formulas were fundamentally secret. In particular, there was no way Louise would give even a hint to an enemy, so she wiped out the magic circle she had been using without leaving any trace.


「It's useless. There are almost no seams in the spell.」

Louise returned to the carriage and said that to Lyle, who was in the coachman's seat.

「Which means calling for outside help is difficult?」

Lyle asked that while handing Louise a towel. Louise took the towel and wiped her face as she thought about Lyle's question.

「That's right. Even inside here, Yumika can still contact Kazane, so those outside should know that we've been captured, but...」

Louise smiled bitterly.

「The most crucial part, our location, is unknown. If this barrier is fixed in place and can't be moved, I think Tsuvara's army will find us, but hoping for that might be asking too much.」

At the present point, Yumika knew that Kazane was flying toward them using Dragonization, but Louise and the others didn't know that yet.

「Otherwise... Naoki's ability?」

Lyle was talking about the long-distance Transfer that could be used once a day with『Return Stake』. The transfer destination, the Crystal Kazane-chan doll, was currently dancing inside the Indestructible Carriage. Whether it was irritating or soothing seemed to change depending on the composure of the human mind watching it.

「The one day restriction is difficult. How much time is left?」

After Louise's words, Lyle replied「About 10 hours, I think?」

There were clocks even in this world, but there were only around 2 or 3 per city. Confirming the time and ringing the city bell at noon was a daily scene in this world.

However, even without a clock, the time could usually be known to some extent by the height of the sun, but the inside of this barrier remained dim without any rising sun to indicate the passage of time.


「If Kazane can join us, I think we'll be able to break this barrier.」

「Seriously?」

After Lyle spoke, Louise replied「Seriously serious.」

「If it can't be broken with a spell, breaking it with brute force is a fallback method. When we were in Minshiana's capital and Kazane fought the Berserk Ogre inside a barrier, she told us that she broke it, right? Which means that if we can do the same thing here, we'll be fine, however...」

「However?」

As she said that, Lyle felt that Louise was hesitant. And after groaning a little, Louise continued speaking.

「Actually, my Judgement Bolt might be able to break the barrier.」

「Ah, that's a way... but there's a reason you haven't shot it, right?」

「That's right. As I said earlier, I think it will be possible if Kazane comes. Moreover, we've been separated from Jinrai-kun, and I think he would try to break the barrier with the Thunder God Cannon, but the fact that the barrier hasn't broken by now worries me.」

「Ah, that's true.」

Lyle nodded.

「Which means even『Judgement Bolt』may not be enough to break the barrier. It might end up being a wasted effort. If that happens, we'll lose one of our trump cards.」

Though while saying that, Louise was frowning as she wondered if her thinking was correct. If it went well, they might be able to get out... but there was no conclusive evidence. Furthermore, when they were lacking Jinrai and Yumika, losing the trump card of the『Greatest class of attack magic』would be severe.


「Naago」


Shippuu, who was separated from Jinrai and was now being vigilant of the area around the Indestructible Carriage, cried out.


「What's wrong, Shippuu?」


Lyle asked. In response to the words, Shippuu cried「Naon」and looked at Lyle for a moment, then looked upward.


「What are you... hey, wait a sec, it should be noon right now.」


When Lyle turned his gaze to the sky to match Shippuu, he saw that a huge red moon had appeared unnoticed.


「This is bad. Their activity may have resumed.」


While sensing the activation of magical power from the surroundings, Louise said that. There was no doubt that something had started. And the question was how the opponent would appear.


(They had stopped until now, but they suddenly started to act. Perhaps the barrier was taken away somewhere. Maybe the move has finished?)


Louise thought. Naturally, Louise didn't know that the enemy hadn't been able to act until now due to Yumika's spear and Jinrai's Thunder God Cannon. That being the case, it was reasonable to think that it was due to their enemy's intention.


「Louise-san, what do we do?」

Emily poked her head out of the carriage and asked. Louise thought a little about her words before saying「Let's stay.」

「If the Ghouls are our opponents, it will be the same as the first time. Since they'll be resurrected anyway, it would be better to destroy their limbs and keep them here.」

In the timeline, Louise talked about the tactic that Yumika would implement shortly in the future. However, Ghouls didn't come. Instead, before they noticed, two beings were respectively in front of and behind them on this looping road.


「Guruu」


「Ha... hahahaha... there's a kitten... and a beautiful carriage... wonderful...」


When viewed from the carriage, a large person covered with a cloak was standing in front, and something that looked like a mass of meat was standing behind. Lyle felt that both the beast-like sign approaching from the front and the bizarre sign coming from the back were dangerous.



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』



Kazane:「How long has it been since Yumika and the others were captured?」

Naoki:「Umm, about 17 hours.」

Kazane:「We have to find them quickly. However, I couldn't find anything around the highway. Where did they go?」

Naoki:「I don't know. Right now, Aneki's『Dog's Sense of Smell』is the only thing we can rely on.」