Manowa

「Kazane. Honestly speaking, it's incredibly scary.」

「Ah, yeah. I know, I know. Dangerous. This feels seriously dangerous.」

Kazane trembled as she replied to Audin's words.

「Umm, we fell from even higher up, right?」

「This is irresistibly scary. Uhh, I can't stand up due to fear... I'm sorry, but somebody... help.」

Louise staggered backwards, and Tiara, who was unable to stand due to fear, was carried away in Naoki's arms.

「Is it frightening?」

「Nnn, maybe it's because I'm already a dragon, but I have no problem in particular.」

After Jinrai's words, Lyle responded while tilting his head.

『It's scary? I don't really understand.』

『Me neither. I don't really understand the essence of human fear.』

Next to Lyle, Tatsuo and Gieve's Spear were conversing. It seemed they had common points of understanding as fellow dragons.

Right now, Kazane's purpose in coming to this Audin Tower was to check the current status of the tower, but she had also planned to modify the bridgeless entrance and the barren rooftop.

After her Magic Power recovered, Kazane used the elevator to go up to the rooftop 1600 meters above to create fences, several small buildings, a throne for Audin, etc. Furthermore, she tried making something similar to a thing she saw on TV a long time ago, but it had more destructive power than she had imagined.

「I wonder if it's even more scary because it's windy?」

A crystal balcony with a transparent floor was protruding from the tower. Kazane created it with Golem Maker and Crystallization. And the scenery below could be clearly seen through the balcony's floor. It could be seen too well. The terror of looking down from a height of 1600 meters could probably only be understood by those who had actually experienced it.

「Err, look, you know. How about making something like an adulthood ritual where you'll be recognized as an adult if you can stoically stand there?」

「I see. However, I'm already an adult, so I'm fine, Kazane. I'm King.」

Kazane and Audin were trembling as they talked to each other. The moment the topic of her becoming Queen disappeared, Kazane was able to get along with him normally; she had a considerably self-interested personality. Naoki's eyes were sharp, but Audin looked happy, so it was fine.

「But it's strange; even though I don't mind at all when I become a dragon, when I'm still human, it's scary.」

「There are probably intuitive aspects involved, but Aneki, you're fine when using Fly as well, right? How to put it... I think that if you can't physically perceive your ability to fly in the sky, you'll feel afraid of falling, or something?」

After Kazane spoke nonchalantly, Naoki, who had come to stand by her, spoke as well. Kazane replied「Is that so?」with a groan. Incidentally, Yuuko-nee and Shippuu were turning around in circles, crying「Nyaa」「Naago」as they deliberated over whether or not to jump on top of the railing.

「Fu, Tiara. How is it? The view here?」

Then, Audin left Kazane and the others and headed for his listless daughter, who was alone. Seemingly unable to stand or move, Tiara only turned her face to Audin and opened her mouth.

「I don't want to look down there ever again, Father.」

After her father spoke, Tiara expressed her honest feelings. Tiara fell unconscious during the assassin battle, so she had no memory of their fall. It seemed she had even less resistance due to that.

「Hm, you're that scared? Like Kazane said, should I arrange for it to become a monarch's trial?」

「Father, if that becomes a condition, I will abandon my hometown and never come back.」

「No, it's a joke.」

Audin's words made Tiara turn away in a huff.

「Ahーno, um, that's not what I wanted to talk about.」

「What is it?」

Audin bitterly smiled at Tiara's displeased expression.

「I heard you can now summon the Ruby Griffon.」

「From Grandfather.」

So saying, Tiara looked at Mefirus, who was a slight distance away in Louise's arms.

「I heard you're only Level 27, but you successfully summoned the Ruby Griffon, which is the final condition for returning from your training journey. You have the option of returning to the country.」

「I'm not returning. I haven't exceeded Level 30 yet... I want to strengthen myself more.」

Tiara decisively replied.

「Don't you just want to travel with Kazane and the others?」

「I won't deny that.」

After Tiara once again made a displeased expression, Audin laughed. He thought his daughter had become much less formal.

「It's good to be honest. Well, I was on my training journey for 6 years, and my father for 5 years. Our Levels didn't rise as rapidly as yours has.」

「Is that so?」

Tiara asked. A person who traveled normally as an adventurer wouldn't raise their Level quickly. Tiara didn't have anyone to compare with, so she didn't know, but fighting alongside Kazane and the others had raised her Level extremely quickly.

「Accordingly, it's okay to travel as you like for the time being. Being with Kazane should lead to more meaningful things than idling at the castle.」

「Father……」

「And you could bring a husband home while you're at it.」

Seeing Audin's gaze turn toward Naoki, Tiara's face turned red.

「Hey! Father?」

「Kukuku, it seems the younger brother has become part of Minshiana's royal family. In that case, there's no problem with him becoming an official husband instead of just a lover. Moreover, I'll become related to Kazane, so maybe I can get her to call me Father?」

「The kin relationship would still be separated, so I think that surely won't happen.」

Even if he became Naoki's father-in-law, he would just be the father-in-law of Kazane's younger brother. It didn't seem likely he would ever be called Father. Upon hearing that, Audin regretfully muttered「Is that so?」but his good mood returned immediately.

「Well, do your best. I'm supporting you.」

「Yes!」

After her father said that with a grin, Tiara nodded with a resolved smile.

And the next day.

With the rooftop renovation and reinforcement of the bridge finished, Kazane and the others were seen off by Audin and the knights as they left Audin Tower behind. And while traveling on the highway, they stayed the night at Kazane Cottage, and the next day, they arrived at Torda Hot Spring Town, where Louise Hotel was located.

◎ Tsuvara Kingdom, Torda Hot Spring Town, Central Plaza

ーGeneration of Transfer Quest from Tatsuyoshi confirmed. Please complete the Quest at the applicable location『Reisan City  Sesu Inn』to obtain the Transfer Item.ー

「Oh, a Window appeared. Is this the Transfer Quest from Tatsuyoshi-san?」

After arriving at Torda Hot Spring Town, Kazane and Yumika took Naoki to Tatsuyoshi's stone monument. The last time Naoki came here, there was too much disorder due to the Brutuza battle, so he wasn't able to approach. And as soon as Naoki read the monument, the Window to start the Transfer Quest was displayed.

「Hmm. Let me see... Reisan City's Sesu Inn? As I thought, it's the same as us.」

While peering at the Window, Kazane said that.

「Where is that? It's a quest from 600 years ago, so has it disappeared by now?」

「No, we've confirmed that the city and inn still exist. We can stop by on our way to Gordios City, so I was planning to go there from the start, but...」

After Kazane's words, Yumika finished her sentence.

「It looks like Yuuko-nee turned back.」

Naoki frowned when he heard that. Yuuko-nee's current Level was 96. With their perception based on what was said in the Zexiaharts game, a person in this world above Level 50 was a master, and someone close to 100 was a hero who had the power to save the continent. Above Level 100 was the domain of the nonhuman, and many of the choices for the second Superiorization went beyond humanity. Yuuko-nee told them that consequently, she was currently trying not to raise her Level so she wouldn't exceed 100 yet. Yuuko-nee was planning to go past Level 100 and do her second Superiorization after she handed the throne over to Prince Sieg once he became an adult.

Also, the choices for Ao and Kazane's first Superiorization were obviously irregular.

In any case, Yuuko-nee was currently Level 96, but with the powers of player skill and auxiliary magic tools combined, she was strong enough to compete with level capped characters, making her one of mankind's strongest existences. It was no surprise that Naoki frowned when he heard that even she had turned back.

「Is it that dangerous?」

「Mm, dangerous, or rather...」

After Naoki's question, Kazane groaned.

「She wrote in her email that she would directly tell me the reason she turned back later, so she didn't explain. However, she did check the details of the Transfer Quest. It seems to be a guardian created by Tatsuyoshi-kun.」

「Guardian?」

After Naoki's question, Kazane nodded.

「Yes, a treasure guard created by Tatsuyoshi-kun. Err, here, look.」

Kazane opened her email list and pressed the email from Yuuko-nee with her finger to display the full text of the email. Then Kazane pointed to the sentence among the writing.

「Let's see here... what on earth is this!?」

The transcript of the email from Yuuko-nee that Kazane showed Naoki is as follows.

Individual's Name: Koromi Alternative・White School Swimsuit Edition

Level: 278

Status: Unknown

Equipment:

Right equipment: Subspace Connection Pseudo-infinite Cycle Rail Cannon (Non-lethal)

Left equipment: Convergence Laser Sword TAIYO x 100 (Non-lethal)

Backpack: Heavy Metal Particle Beam Diffuse Emission-type Freely Maneuverable Missile Launcher Juren-series (Non-lethal)

Accessories: Gravity Canceller

Items: Ether Flare, Gravity Bomb, Energizing Injector

Special Moves: Yes

[TL: I'm not sure what to do about the name; it seems like it would be pronounced as the actual name Koromi, but it's spelled with the kanji 殺 from kill and 魅 from bewitch/charm, so the atmosphere of the name would be something like Killing Bewitcher. I dunno if I should put (Killing Bewitcher) after the name sometimes to keep that aspect intact or not.]

「Those aren't the kind of things you can just slap non-lethal onto!」

Naoki shouted.

ーThey're meager, but I've left gifts.

BY Kenji Tatsuyoshiー

The details made those characters written on the stone monument feel irritating now.

「That part? I thought the name part was the biggest issue, though.」

「No, well, it's Tatsuyoshi-san.」

「It's Tatsuyoshi-kun.」

After Yumika's words, the siblings replied like that.

「Tatsuyoshi-kun's Koromi wore a navy blue school swimsuit, so that school swimsuit was probably changed to white.」

「He said he was particular about dark blue, but did his tastes change with age?」

The words of the two people gave Yumika a headache.

「Well, with the added factors of non-lethality and retries being allowed, it seems he raised the difficulty of the battle to match.」

「Or rather, it feels like that fatty didn't want to hand items over at all.」

After Yumika's complaints, Kazane bitterly smiled. Kazane had no choice but to agree with those words.

In any case, it seemed that Tatsuyoshi's Transfer Items couldn't be obtained unless they defeated that something in a white school swimsuit. And it smacked of being an impossibly hard game.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Dragon and Beast Ruling Tenma Monarch (Apprentice)

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 : 『Apprenticeship Cancellation』『Nil Principle』『Skill Hand (１)』『Halo』『Evolution Hand (１)』『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: Lv3「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』『Battleship Tonfa Summoning』

Yumika: 「Or perhaps I should say, that equipment doesn't seem fantasy-like at all. What is that?」

Kazane: 「They're weapons from Futures War, the preceding work from Zexiaharts' staff. With MOD, they can be used even in Zexiaharts.」

Yumika: 「Why such things...」

Kazane: 「Those weapons are excessively powerful, but they can have non-lethal restrictions, so that's probably why he used them?」