Manowa

Minshiana Kingdom, Royal Castle Delgura.

In the Queen's Throne Room, General Dios Galbaros was facing Queen Yuko with a frown. The grievances of the city's residents had reached all the way up to General Dios, so he came to report.

「Your Majesty the Queen Yuuko, there have been complaints from the residents of the city.」

「Yes, I've heard.」

Queen Yuuko had naturally also acquired that information from her body double, Iria Noctal. So she knew the event that happened around the royal capital yesterday had caused an uproar in the city.

「I heard huge purple lightning crawled along the ground, making a thunderous roar as it ran riot around the royal capital. I actually confirmed that myself from the castle, and it certainly felt like an extraordinary thing.」

「So it seems. I didn't see it from the castle, though.」

It was about yesterday. A Baby Core was installed in the White Party's Hippomaru-kun, and a test run was done. That coincided with General Dios' report.

「I'm told that according to information from the Adventurers Guild, it closely resembles the new type of monster『Crawling Lightning』that was discovered in Hyvern. Though apparently there was more lightning than was previously reported.」

「Yeah. Since the power changed. It seems that it's considerably more powerful than when it was over there. Since it's recognized as a monster, should that be called growth?」

「Also, I heard that when it was about to hit a child who jumped out in front of it, it suddenly came to a stop.」

「It's a monster that doesn't hurt children.」

When Queen Yuuko nodded, veins emerged on General Dios' temples.

「And there was a report that when it stopped, a person who looked like Queen Yuuko was mounted on a horse and laughing loudly.」

Queen Yuuko, the person in question, knew best that it wasn't someone who looked like her. Because it was her.

In the first place, due to past experience, Kazane and the others wouldn't do something like running around the city. They were scolded for doing that once. So this time, the one who was riding and operating Hippomaru-kun was Queen Yuuko herself, who had never been scolded.

「It can erupt with lightning and suddenly stop. I was really surprised at that time.」

「Haa. Your Majesty seems to have become a little childish since that girl came.」

General Dios' temples were twitching as he said that. Queen Yuuko thought about replying with something like「Being seen as young is wonderful,」 but as might be expected, she stopped herself. Since it seemed likely she would be scolded for it.

「Well, that was an action to grasp the power it possesses. I hope you'll overlook it.」

Queen Yuuko replied with a smug expression. After that was said to him by the most important person in this country, even General Dios couldn't say anything. It was the moment when justice yielded to political power.

「Fine, I've had enough. So then, how was it? The purple lightning magical beast『Crawling Lightning』. Its power is unknown, but I've heard it looks flashy.」

「Its power matches its appearance. However, it can't be mass produced. That lightning isn't from the Golem horse, but is the unique ability of the summon. It can't be reproduced.」

After those words, General Dios' shoulders dropped, but the Golem horse part caught his interest.

「That Golem horse? It's the same thing as the one called Mighty that Agato from Magiria Magic Tool Workshop rides around, right?」

A vehicle that could move at high speed without getting tired and could even fly in the sky. It was something General Dios was very interested in for both personal and official reasons.

「Yes, that's right. Well, despite how it may seem, honestly speaking, its cost-effectiveness is too bad, to the point that I'd say to just ride a normal horse. Each one requires a Childstone and a large amount of Muscle Clay, so with that being case, it would be better to make Magic Accumulators.」

「Well, certainly...」

From a military standpoint, they would only be useful fighting power if they were mass produced. Leveraging their high movement speed to dispatch orders was one possible usage, but while there weren't many in Minshiana, Dragon Knights and Wyvern flights already existed for that.

「However, if people of my or your class place an order, Kazane should make one for us. I heard Agato’s Golem horse is a test case for that course.」

It was the Golem-selling Young Girl Kazane-chan plan. Kazane was thinking about her future in her own way and acting on it. At this point in time, she had already become the wife of the God Dragon Emperor and a feudal lord from Minshiana's royal family, so her financial future seemed secure, though.

「I see.」

Seeing Agato's Golem horse Mighty, General Dios had started wanting one of his own. If there was a possibility of private purchase, he could agree. There was a man there who had become very envious from watching Agato fly in the sky.

「And, speaking of Golems, did Toure Kingdom respond?」

Queen Yuuko changed the subject and asked General Dios, who was nodding to himself. However, when General Dios heard that question, he furrowed his brow and shook his head in reply.

「No, as before, it hasn't been favorable. There haven't been any reports other than their repeated single-minded demand to hand over the secret techniques and the Golem user who stole those secret techniques.」

「There's a limit to stupidity.」

Queen Yuuko replied.

The country of Golem users,『Toure Kingdom』. The recipe for Muscle Clay was certainly the secret technique of the superior rank Golem user, the Puppeteer. However, since the recipe had already been lost, the Toure Kingdom only had a meager amount, so there was no way they had stolen it. Even though the people themselves knew that, they still made such demands.

「As before, that reply isn't from the Queen, right?」

「Yes, it's from the Golem Master Church. Right now, the royal family has no political power in that country.」

Queen Yuuko's face became grim.

(As I thought, unchanged? Once the dungeon capture begins, Kazane and the others will be staying in one place, so it's clear they'll be contacted.)

「If worst comes to worst, there will be no choice but to crush them.」

Queen Yuuko muttered. General Dios' eyes narrowed.

「Will you use the army?」

「No. I want to avoid disputes between countries as much as possible. I want Golem users, but doing it through plunder wouldn't be good.」

The other party was already picking a fight. For that reason, there was debate about invading Toure Kingdom, but as might be expected, she couldn't approve of going that far.

「Thanks to Kazane, I've become able to fly unassisted, so if push comes to shove, I'll crush them by myself.」

After those words, General Dios caught his breath.

At the present point, Yuuko-nee also knew Fly magic. She was able to obtain it from the Grimoire Field in the Signa Ruins, which hadn't been discovered until now『for some reason』.

And when Queen Yuuko moved, there was a jingling sound. It was the sound of the 40 connected White Magic Accumulators (Revised) inside her bulging skirt colliding together. Since she was in the vanguard, Kazane limited her equipment to the Crimson Saint Coffin and two White Magic Accumulators (Revised) so her movements wouldn't be slowed down, but Queen Yuuko was different. Due to the Strength from her high Level combined with Fly magic, she loaded herself up with White Magic Accumulators (Revised) up to the limit of her ability to move.

Ever since her inauguration as Queen, Minshiana's military authorities had been Queen Yuuko's allies due to her extraordinary combat power, but with the things brought about by Kazane's appearance, her movement and continuous fighting ability had substantially improved.

In other words, she could fly quickly through the air to reach her enemies in a short time and annihilate them with a large amount of extremely destructive magic. That was what the current Queen Yuuko could do. The Queen was like a bomber aircraft.

「If I act, I will target the Golem Master Church alone. The situation should change if the Queen's political power returns.」

「You're planning to go that far?」

After General Dios' words, Queen Yuuko smiled. If she had power she could use, she would use it. That's how Queen Yuuko thought.

「And so, where is the party of girls that Her Majesty the Queen is willing to go so far to protect?」

「Protect, huh?...」

After General Dios' words, Queen Yuuko smiled wryly.

She thought it might be a bit questionable to call it protecting when it came to Kazane and the others. At least that party would likely be able to defend against anything Toure could attack them with. It might be more correct to call her an outrider who dealt with troublesome matters in their place. She didn't want to show her childlike friends the dirty circumstances of adults.

「Now then. They stopped by the Adventurers Guild yesterday, strolled around for a little after that, and said they would leave town today. Those kids are busy.」

So saying, Queen Yuuko smiled.

Then, two days after they left the royal capital, Kazane and the others arrived at Reisan City.

◎ Reisan City, In Front of the Main Gate

「Hmm. We've arrived.」

Jinrai said while looking around. It was a completely normal city with nothing out of the ordinary.

「This is Reisan City.」

『This is the city where King Tatsuyoshi and Mintia-sama once nurtured their love.』

「That's right.」

It was a conversation that seemed like it would easily invite a terrible misunderstanding. Although they said love, setting aside how Mintia felt, Tatsuyoshi's love was love in the sense of deep affection. Tatsuyoshi was a man who wouldn't violate child protection laws.

And Tiara and Mefirus knew that fact through the royal family's oral tradition. Also, Tatsuyoshi Copy was nonchalantly listening. I'm not trusted, am I... Tatsuyoshi Copy said with a sad smile, and Mefirus did a dogeza.

Kazane and the others had arrived at Reisan City, the city where Tatsuyoshi lived with Mintia after she became a slave.

It had been two days since they left Minshiana's Royal Capital Shubain, and it was currently noon.

Also, Kazane and the others' horses and carriage were as conspicuous as ever. They were being avoided. After all, it was a huge black armored carriage pulled by a huge black armored horse that was being escorted by boys on horses made of crystal; furthermore, two huge cats were curled up on top of the carriage. This time, it seemed the powerful magic gushing out of Hippomaru-kun was making the people around them even more afraid.

「Is there anything that can be done about this?」

Louise asked Kazane about the magical power emission that could be seen even from inside the carriage. Kazane shrugged as she answered.

「When Yuuko-nee made it sprint at full speed, the exterior melted, so it's leaking out. When we arrive at Gordios City, I plan to discuss repairing and strengthening it with Master, but until then, it will stay like this.」

Master, the first inhabitant of this world that Kazane met, was currently in Gordios City. It seemed Kazane and Yumika each had things they wanted to request from Master. And it seemed this situation of magical power leakage causing pressure could be solved by one such request to Master.

「So then, what shall we do?」

Then Kazane said that. Their destination was decided, but since there was no need to rush, Kazane asked for opinions. Yumika replied.

「It's already lunchtime, and the first floor of our aim, Sesu Inn, is apparently a restaurant, isn't it? Shouldn't we just go there without making any detours?」

After Yumika's words, the other companions nodded.

「Nn, that's true. So then, let's depart for Sesu Inn, Jinrai-san.」

「Roger.」

After Kazane's words, Jinrai nodded. Then, the party headed to Sesu Inn. There should be a Navigator Tatsuyoshi Copy waiting there.

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』

Kazane: 「Because of the Baby Core's high magical power output, Hippomaru-kun broke and started leaking magical power. Shall we name this Hippomaru-kun Overload? Or maybe Naked?」

Yumika: 「Let's not. That makes it seem like it will break apart in the middle of running.」