Manowa Chapter 69

◎ Argo Mountains Trailhead

「Skill・Golem Maker・Hippo-kun Mountain Man Edition」

Kazane thrust her staff and a Hippo-kun that was larger and st.u.r.dier than normal appeared. It was a type of Hippo-kun that didn't need to be straddled but instead had room inside to sit. The walls would block snow and wind from the environment.

Yuuko-nee and Roger, who had ridden Hippo-kun to come here from Conrad, once again raised their voices in surprise at the figure that appeared from the ground. It wasn't the first time that Yuuko-nee had seen golem creation in this world, but it seemed to be the best rock golem she had seen. And Kazane's abnormal level of control in golem creation was recognized by almost everyone, including most of Kazane's party.

「It looks quite st.u.r.dy, right?」

「Around the same as a Gray Golem. It's fast but the ride quality may be a bit uncomfortable.」

「That's fine isn't it? It may not be the Hippo-kun I'm used to but...」

「Idiot.」

She was. .h.i.t by Rock.

「Why did you hit me?」

It wasn't Paper. It was Rock.

「Don't take the mountain lightly, greenhorn.」

The number one green-looking child was crying something. Perhaps this scene of being hit by Rock would make this kid understand the danger of the mountains.

By the way, Yumika had a full set of proper climbing and cold weather gear from Conrad. Yumika had experience mountain climbing with her father, and although there was a nice mountain path, from the start she was not planning on taking it lightly.

「If you don't return quickly we won't be able to enter the hot spring together.」

Yumika only responded「yeah」to the pretext behind that and started ascending the mountain on Hippo-kun Mountain Man Edition.

「Isn't that a little too fast?」

Zinray was watching from the side and was a little nervous about how vigorously Hippo-kun was climbing the mountain. Won't Yumika be nervous riding inside?

She was looking forward to her impressions when she returned.

「I think it will be fine, it won't break unless it falls off a cliff.」

Kazane seemed to be saying something overconfident for someone who just said「Don't take it lightly.」Unlike with human eyes, even if the golem was completely covered in snow it could still see and wouldn't get lost ... Kazane understood the specifications of the game, which allowed her to say a remark like that.

Kazane and the others left the carriage in Conrad since they had decided to ride Hippo-kun, so they climbed on and also started up the mountain path towards the hot spring facility. On the way,

Kazane:「No dispersion, continuing to follow us.」

Yuuko-nee:「Roger.」

No one knew about the private chat other than those two people. If the other party seemed to follow Yumika, they did not plan to hold back, but it didn't seem to be necessary.

◎ Argo Mountains, Hot Spring Cottage - Evening

「Skill・Golem Maker・Plus・Remodeling」

When Kazane's Golem Maker reached Lv.2 the golems kept shape even after being released. It was also possible to alter the created golems again. In the game specification it became usable by adding Plus to the expression.

「As expected it's incredible. You could make a fantastic livelihood for your entire life as a civil engineer.」

「I do not plan on going down that road.」

Kazane was out of breath as she answered Yuuko-nee's remark. The Crimson Saint Coffin was already empty and her own Magical Power was almost entirely exhausted.

It was because the major remodeling of the Golem hot spring cottage she and Yuuko-nee had decided to undertake while on the the carriage yesterday was more ambitious than she had imagined. Yuuko-nee herself could not work with Golems, but it was possible to distribute the work through requesting party cooperation. Yuuko-nee's enthusiasm led to them working all night, and finally the Golem Cottage was drastically altered to something similar to a temple.

As the structure became complicated, magical power consumption was intense and Kazane had a lot of trouble.

「The outside hot water is flowing unchanged, so for the time being I'll let it acc.u.mulate and enter later.」

With that said Kazane changed the flow of hot water from the outside to let it enter the bath, then went inside her bedroom and started sleeping with an Indestructible Futon. After Yuuko-nee felt the texture of the futon she said「What is this, it's incredible」and entered the futon along with her. Yuuko-need also spent all night working on the cottage so she immediately fell fast asleep.

Tiara said「ahhhh」but as one would expect, three people would be unreasonable, so she resigned herself. Manhandling the Queen to take her place was also out of the question.

Roger and Zinray smiled wryly at such an exchange as they guarded outside. Although they could not understand through smell like Kazane, both of them were aware from the air that something was near.

「I wonder if she was luring them.」

「No, their intentions are just related to our meeting with Johnz-dono. Though I'm not saying it was unexpected.」

「Are you saying you have an idea of who they are?」

「I do」Roger said while nodding.

「They're likely subordinates of the anti-Queen faction. There has been intense criticism about the possibility of war with Soldard.」

「Is the opposing faction General Dios?」

From the recognition that the military would be the most likely to oppose war Zinray spoke the name of Mins.h.i.+ana's general, but Roger shook his head.

「Finance Minister Loren Khan. General Dios, no, the majority of the military have been in the Queen Faction from the beginning.」

That is to say that Queen Yuuko was able to take the throne due to strong support from the military authorities. It was thought that Loren's goal was to express the weak att.i.tude of the Queen in order to drive a wedge between the Queen and the military.

The truth was, however, that Queen Yuuko never neglected to consult with her senior military officials, including General Dios. The Queen's solo surprise attack was approved by Mins.h.i.+ana's army, including General Dios, and was a top secret mission given the name Operation『Queen's Walk.』Incidentally, the specific strategy was for her to pose as a soldier on patrol near the border, and the day of the operation was the same day that Kazane and her companions left the Royal Capital Griffonia. Despite the fact that more than half a month had already pa.s.sed, the evasion of the war was not general knowledge because Soldard was making stronger efforts to suppress the information than expected.

「Now that Soldard's efforts to hide the information about the evasion of war are starting to fail, it is impossible that sharp eyes will fail to notice the disappearance of that lady. I fear they were waiting for her to leave on one of her usual whims and are taking the chance to aim at her.」

Yareyare, Roger said with a sigh.

「You seem to be used to it.」

Roger hung his head at Zinray's remark.

「The lady has been doing the same thing over and over since she took the throne. To be honest, my stomach is too painful.」

Roger sighed again and Zinray had a bitter smile.

「Well, now that the Queen is relaxing as planned, when do you think the enemy will come?」

「The standard practice is dawn or just after midnight. Loren-sama has attempted many a.s.sa.s.sinations so far and is aware that the Queen isn't careless. Though it seems he has yet to understand the true abilities of Her Majesty.」

(True abilities......?)

Zinray did not know the Queen's level and her abilities.

They both stood watch until Kazane and Yuuko-nee woke up, but n.o.body came.

◎ Argo Mountains, Hot Spring Cottage, Late at Night

「So Jiro-kun collapsed, and in the end just hung from the horse. He made an「Eh, what's this?」face after that.」

「That's great. That person, let's go even further to build his persona. I will spread reports in the name of the Queen.」

「Mumumu, I will write a letter to my father to spread his success in Tsuvara.」

「Fumu. It'll be a nice test to see if the story sticks.」

Zinray thought the three women were boisterous as mules and they became even more noisy as the voice of the fourth person joined them in echoing from the bath. He ignored the case of a man's life starting to head in an even more ridiculous direction. By the way, Zinray was protecting outside and Roger was sleeping.

It was the second time that Kazane and the others entered the hot springs. This was not simply because they liked hot springs but because they noticed an unexpected effect of this hot spring.

「However, this is nice. How's your condition, Yuuko-nee?」

Kazane relaxed in the hot water while she watched her status and asked. The rise in her Magical Power was gradual, but it was visible.

「There is a Magical Power recovery effect like you said. Well, it's certainly not a dramatic restoration, but I wonder if the upper limit increases if you soak for a long time?」

「That would be nice.」

Anyway, there was no doubt that Kazane's Magical Power was recovering ahead of schedule. Full recovery was planned for dawn, but she was already replenished, and the Crimson Saint Coffin was filling and was already at a sufficient level.

「Mm, our hot spring did not have such an effect.」

Louise said. She seemed a little annoyed.

「Instead of sightseeing, why not start a magical production industry here?」

(Is it because if I got tired I could soak in the bath?)

Kazane was thoroughly disconnected from the correct path in life, so her imagination wasn't sufficient to grasp Tiara's words, but Yuuko-nee was enthusiastic. She was going to ask Master's point of view about whether such a place would be useful to a master blacksmith or the like.

「Well, Mortal Monkeys tend to show up around this area, so I wonder if it would be safe.」

「If you burn down the forest they will have no place to live and will either die or run away.」

Weren't elves friends of the forest ... Kazane thought, but did not say it. It was such an era. Perhaps.

(Nevertheless)

Kazane thought while turning the other way.

(There were 10 people keeping pace with us. They seem to have a beastman with a good nose, and right now they're gathered together and aren't moving. I wonder if they're resting.)

Kazane thought they would attack around dawn, but Yuuko-nee was enjoying the hot springs without a care.

(It seems like you have a plan, right?)

While watching Yuuko-nee, Kazane was submerged in the hot water up to her shoulders. Well, no matter what, she would rest her body to pa.s.s the time.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

t.i.tle: Ogre Killer

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Silver Breastplate, Silver Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Carapace Bull Trousers, Berserk Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Spirit Summoning Ring

Level : 22

Health: 77

Magic Power: 132+300

Strength: 33

Agility: 27

Endurance: 17

Wisdom : 34

Dexterity : 20

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』

Skill : 『Goblin Language』 『Night Vision』 『Crus.h.i.+ng Blow』 『Dog's Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』 『Air Jump』 『Killing Leg』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Insight』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』

Kazane:「That reminds me, we haven't met Jiro-kun in a while.」

Yumika:「It was a near miss last time.」

Yuuko-nee:「Should I invite him to the Royal Palace next time?」