Manowa

Previous installment's synopsis.

While saying it was because she wanted to enter the hot springs, an older friend who wanted to stay at her home had appeared. While she was at it, she talked to her about a risky business start-up and was trying to get her involved. It was awfully scary.

Listening to the conversation that had resumed, Kazane's perception was roughly like that. Looking objectively, she thought it was a pattern that would cause her a painful experience later, but she calmly planned to leave the conversation to the others and watch their reactions to make a decision.

Moreover, even the mind reading ability of Yuuko-nee's『Circlet of Reality Vision』couldn't learn about Kazane's inner thoughts. That was because Artifacts couldn't interfere with a player's thoughts due to restrictions from the game.

And then, unaware of Kazane's rude thoughts, Yuuko-nee spoke to Kazane with a slightly smug look on her face.

「Well, for now, Kazane should develop Kazane Magic Hot Spring Town in your own way. As long as you properly report to me, I'll do things from here to follow up.」

Kazane also understood that explanation correctly, so she replied「Roger.」And once the discussion in the Queen's Throne Room was over, it was private time.

After moving to the visitor's room, some facts were ascertained from Kazane asking Tatsuyoshi Copy questions.

「It's possible that Yasu-kun is still alive?」

Kazane asked if anyone else had come to receive Tatsuyoshi's Transfer Quest before now. Tatsuyoshi replied without any ambiguous wording.

「Yeah. That’s right. He visited Sesu Inn 121 years ago. At that time, he was around 30 years old, and his race had changed to Dwarf.」

「If I remember correctly, Dwarf lifespans are around 200 years, right? In that case, he could certainly be alive somewhere.」

Kazane made a happy expression, but Yuuko-nee looked at Tatsuyoshi Copy with a pout.

「Umm. I haven't heard that?」

「A Navigator fundamentally won't answer something they haven't been asked. Sorry.」

Tatsuyoshi Copy replied. That's how Navigators were.

「However, JINJIN came over 400 years ago? If it's that far back, as expected, it's impossible to find any traces of her?」

「I feel like that person would publish books, though.」

After Kazane's words, Yumika replied. Yumika didn't personally know JINJIN very well, but she knew JINJIN's hobby. JINJIN was a hobbyist who even dabbled in drawing and selling.

「By the way, Yasu was able to receive the gift, but it was impossible for JINJIN. Maybe I should have considered JINJIN's personality as well. She said『I've had enough. I'm going to go search for Yasu(poofpoof)』when she gave up and then never came back.]

Tatsuyoshi Copy said. It seemed her large breasts were shaking as she left.

「Breasts and the like... it seems you constantly look at such things.」

After Yumika's mutter, Tatsuyoshi dryly laughed「Ahahaha」in reply while sweating. Her gaze was cold.

「Well, it seems she didn't change even after coming here, which in a sense is a little relieving.」

「Unexpectedly, she might have become an Astral type or something like that and still be alive.」

After Kazane's words, Yuuko-nee replied. Kazane then said「That's true」, but she was being frivolous. Right now, Kazane and the others didn't know if going that far to stay alive would be a happy thing.

Then, when the topics were settled to a certain extent, the meeting disbanded, and after leaving the castle, Kazane went to Magiria Magic Tool Workshop.

◎ Magiria Magic Tool Workshop, Visitor's Room

「Ooh, Kazane-sama. I'm glad you came.」

「Oui.」

『It's been a long time.』

「Nyaa.」

This was the visitor's room of Magiria Magic Tool Workshop. Kazane raised her hand and greeted the workshop's head, Agato. This time, Tatsuo and Yuuko-nee came together with Kazane.

And the reason they came here was to pick up the items she had commissioned when she stopped by previously for the processing of the『Dragon Eating Ogre Army Armor』.

「Agato-san, how is Mighty's state?」

First of all, Kazane asked Agato about that. Mighty was the Golem horse『Hippomaru-kun Mk. 2』Kazane created. It was endowed with Fly magic, so it could fly in the air. As the creator, she was worried about whether there were any defects.

「He's doing well. It seems his flight time has also increased a little. Does that mean he's growing?」

Agato wasn't just riding Mighty aimlessly. He did research on Muscle Clay every day and made records about its practical uses.

「That's right. Golems optimize themselves according to their habitual movements. I think calling that growth isn't wrong. If you keep making one run, its movement speed will increase, and the Childstone's operation efficiency should increase as well. Well, that change is gradual and there are limits, though.」

「Wonderful.」

Agato honestly praised Kazane's explanation.

Furthermore, among the Golem types owned by Kazane, Lyle's Tatsuyoshi-kun Normal seemed to have the strongest tendency for optimization. That was because its skills as a spear user were being refined through daily training with Lyle.

Kazane was also transplanting the data from Normal to update the other Tatsuyoshi-kuns. Lyle was playing an active role in an unseen place.

「So then, how about the you-know-what?」

「Yes, the condition of the Crystal Dragon's Dragon Burial Soil Kazane-sama gave us was very good, and was successfully converted into Muscle Clay without any issues. The White Magic Accumulators that were completed using it are over here.」

So saying, Agato placed 5 White Magic Accumulators (Revised), a small White Magic Accumulator, and a large collar on the table.

「The White Magic Accumulator for Yuuko-nee turned out well.」

After Kazane's words, Agato nodded. It was a collar-shaped Magic Accumulator choker.

「So then, shall I put it on? Yuuko-nee.」

「Nyaa.」

The collar clattered as Kazane started attaching it to Yuuko-nee.

「Unyaa.」

「Err, wait a second. Ok, it's attached.」

Then Kazane confirmed Yuuko-nee's Status. Since it was decently sized, its Magic Power value was +221, and combined with Yuuko-nee's own Magic Power value of 206, she would be able to fire one Mega Beam when it was full. Though since it had to accumulate Magic Power first, the Magic Power value of the White Accumulator was zero at the moment.

「Ok. With this, I think Dragonization should last quite a while.」

「Unyannya.」

After Kazane's words, Yuuko-nee purred. Being able to become stronger was a very happy matter for a battle cat like Yuuko-nee.

『Motherー. Me tooー』

After Tatsuo spoke, Kazane said「Wait a second」as she picked up the small Magic Accumulator.

「Agato, this is made exactly as I ordered, right?」

「Of course.」

Seeing Agato nod, Kazane removed the Rainbow Necklace hanging from Tatsuo's neck. Then, she removed some of the chains, attached the thin miniature White Accumulator in their place, and put it back on Tatsuo's neck.

「This adds +50 Magic power. It's a little small, but it's enough to allow more uses of Tatsuo's Mega Beam than usual.」

After Kazane's words, Tatsuo cried Kuwaa with delight.

Magic Accumulators could also accumulate Dragon Spirit, so they were fit for use by Tatsuo, but it could only store the Dragon Spirit of the user. Yumika could also generate Dragon Spirit, but there was no way to make an Accumulator store only Dragon Spirit, so they concluded she wouldn't be able to use it like the Dragon Contract Bangle.

「Tatsuo has become very reliable; I want to meet Husband soon.」

『That's right. I want to meet Father.』

After Kazane's words, Tatsuo agreed.

As a matter of fact, after the coronation, Kazane asked Ao to carry a Crystal Kazane-chan Doll with a Return Stake engraving to the East Dragon Village. So they could go meet him right away. Since they had to discuss Yuuko-nee's Dragonization form as well, they were planning to go see him once the dungeon exploration was on track.

「And for the rest, there are two apiece for Louise-san and Tiara, and one for Naoki. Exactly as ordered. Thank you, Agaton-san.」

After Kazane's words, Agato said「No, not at all」while scratching his head. Then Kazane looked at the White Magic Accumulators with a complacent smile.

(In a dungeon, the ability to fight continually is essential. With this, everyone's Magic Power will roughly double, which should let us progress quite favorably.)

Particularly since Mefirus desired to constantly be a Flame Knight Leader nowadays, Tiara's mana consumption was considerable. Obtaining the White Magic Accumulators (Revised) was an indispensable strengthening measure for the dungeon exploration.

「However, it's becoming more and more difficult to procure Truesilver, right?」

Looking at that white glow, Kazane suddenly asked something she was wondering about. Truesilver was a rare mineral mined in Tsuvara that possessed a magical power absorption property. As materials for the Accumulator, a large quantity of it as well as Dragon Burial Soil should have been bought up.

「That's certainly the case, but it's not to the degree that it's unobtainable. Well, this was lent to me by Garua-dono.」

「I see. Come to think of it, I didn't meet Garua-san at the castle.」

「He's currently en route to Tsuvara to discuss the Magic Accumulator, so he's not here right now.」

Agato replied. There was no way that lolicon wouldn't come to say hello to Kazane.

「Which means we passed each other? In that case, please convey my thanks to Garua-san for me, Agato-san.」

「Understood.」

After Kazane's words, Agato nodded.

「And the remaining Muscle Clay has been carried to the entrance. There's about enough for 3 people, which is enough to use for a Golem, right?」

「Yeah. Thank you. I have plans that will use 1 portion, so I'll use it for that.」

She was planning to use leftover Childstones to build support Golems in Kazane Cottage.

「And so, Kazane-sama...」

「Yeah. I'll take a look right away.」

Seeing Agato's smile, Kazane couldn't help but nod. They were talking about the maintenance of the Golem Horse『Mighty Ultimus II』. Although it would take time, Kazane would be able to acquire optimization data, so it wasn't a waste.

However, it seemed likely she wouldn't be able to go to Minshiana's Adventurers Guild headquarters to receive their reward until tomorrow.

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』

Yuuko-nee: 「Yasu-kun is a Dwarf and might still be alive?...」

Kazane: 「Speaking of Dwarves, we heard about the country called the Bongo Empire a little bit ago.」

Yumika: 「Ah, the place I don't really want to get involved with.」