Manowa - Chapter 139

Chapter 139 - Climbing the Volcano

Kazane submitted the application form to the Guild to officially accept the Crystal Dragon subjugation quest the next morning. The subjugation members on the application were Kazane, Yumika, Jinrai, Tiara, Louise, and Naoki, but at the Guild's request, four other dragon hunters and York also joined.

The four people were survivors of the previous subjugation attempt. The adventurers said they wanted to participate in order to save their companions. The men had a somewhat rough atmosphere, and from what Kazane could see, none of them would be able to endure the battle, although it felt like the leader Eibra was only slightly too weak. Jinrai had the same evaluation. Therefore, Kazane had to find a way to tell those members to refrain from participating in the battle. Speaking frankly, they were lacking in ability.

It was commonly said it would take 50 people to take down a Crystal Dragon, so adding those 4 people was meaningless. Kazane thought they would only expose her companions to danger if they participated, so she instructed them to rescue the crystallized adventurers with Naoki and the normal Tatsuyoshi-kun. The leader Eibra was dumbfounded, but there was no particular objection.

They guessed that Kazane and the others were planning to act as decoys while they saved their companions. Even if Kazane recognized their thoughts, them coming would only pointlessly cause deaths, so she wouldn't say anything in particular. Although she noticed that while their gazes definitely weren't hostile, she was being looked at strangely. With such uncertain feelings toward her new partners they left the Guild, and when the dragon hunters went outside and saw Hippomaru-kun and the Thunder Chariot, they were speechless, and for a moment her chest stirred with satisfaction. As expected of Hippomaru-kun! As expected of the Thunder Chariot!! And with those thoughts, her belief in them further deepened.

Then the party departed for the Morogo Mountains to subjugate the Crystal Dragon.

◎ Morogo Mountains Trail

「Somehow, the atmosphere is bad.」

Kazane and the others were riding the Thunder Chariot powered by Hippomaru-kun. Kazane muttered that while looking at the adventurers following behind them. Eibra's group didn't talk with Kazane's group, but were strangely distant, and didn't seem like they wanted to close the distance. Whenever they asked something, Eibra yelled their reply to York to make him act as an intermediary.

Kazane thought her stupid and perverted younger brother wouldn't have many friends, so she considered York a valuable friend for her pathetic brother. She got angry about that unfair treatment, but York said「It's fine」to pacify her. He also said Eibra normally wasn't that kind of person.

「Are they angry about us getting involved with the Crystal Dragon after we defeated so many Earth Dragon's yesterday?」

「Well, that's also possible, but I don't think it's just that.」

Kazane guessed the reason for Eibra and the others' reactions, and Jinrai replied while driving the carriage. Kazane was sitting beside him on the coachman's seat and looking back, and Jinrai did the same, but he wasn't able to figure out the reason either. Then he saw that Eibra's group looked guilty.

He guessed that they thought Jinrai's group didn't stand a chance against the Crystal Dragon. It was probably because they were previously defeated by the Crystal Dragon. Their previous group probably had combat power equivalent to 50 people, since that was considered necessary. And they lost. They also didn't know the strength of Jinrai and the rest. At best, they would only have heard rumors. So they were feeling guilty because they were thinking about using a young girl as a decoy so that they could save their companions. Jinrai guessed they were keeping their distance from Kazane and the rest so their emotions wouldn't get the best of them. Or maybe they really were just irritated about their hunting ground being invaded by outsiders like Kazane said. The answer to that question would come after the battle was over. Jinrai prayed that his guess was right. If he was right, they would become battle comrades and would be able to share drinks afterwards.

In any case, Jinrai wasn't planning to convey such uncertain thoughts to the worried girl beside him. The results would appear soon. So he chose inoffensive words to reply.

「Well, at most there will be 7 crystallized adventurers. To carry that number they would need two carriages. It's give and take, and there's no need to worry about the rest. We just have to do our job.」

Jinrai instructed Kazane, who was still puzzled and looking back.

「Well, I suppose that's right.」

And Kazane understood that as well. Her Thunder Chariot certainly wouldn't be able to bring everyone out. Some would need to be carried out on foot. Kazane thought about how she would need to use all her power to convince them to be satisfied with only the crystallized adventurers rescue reward.

◎ Morogo Mountains, Near the Mountain Summit

Five hours had passed since Kazane and the rest entered the mountain path. The surroundings became filled with rocks, and according to the map, they would soon be arriving at the habitat of the Crystal Dragon.

If they were unlucky, they would immediately encounter the Crystal Dragon after coming this close, so with that danger in mind Eibra's group kept their talking to a minimum and vigilantly watched the surroundings. That was natural, considering they were adventurers who made their living hunting dragons.

Then Eibra thought they shouldn't act without having a preparatory battle meeting, so he galloped over to Kazane.

「Hey, we're nearly at the Crystal Dragon's..... are you sleeping?」

Eibra pulled up next to the coachman's seat where Kazane was sitting, but Kazane was wearing an eye mask.

「Wh, what is it?」

Kazane was startled by the abrupt criticizing voice, but Jinrai asked「Don't worry about that, what about the enemy?」Kazane replied「Ah, yeah.」

「The Crystal Dragon isn't moving, but its head has turned this way. It has probably noticed us. Even though we're still quite far away.」

After Kazane spoke, Eibra guessed the situation and kept his mouth shut. He thought she was probably using a spell to observe the Crystal Dragon. Well, she was looking at it with the remote viewing of the Circle of Wisdom, but he was essentially correct. She had prepared the eye mask to block her vision so she could better concentrate on the remote viewing.

「It probably won't move because it's guarding some crystallized objects.」

Eibra reacted with a twitch to those words.

「Can you make the dragon move?」

「If it won't move, that's fine. We'll just defeat it where it is.」

Kazane said without taking off her eye mask, and Eibra said「Defeat?」but Kazane didn't worry about that and took off her eye mask while saying「Prepare for battle!」

Her companions streamed out of the carriage, and the Tatsuyoshi-kun series all activated.

The frontline was Kazane, Yumika, Jinrai, Yuuko-nee, Tatsuyoshi Kun Dragoon (Equipped with the magic sword), Crawling Lightning (Hippomaru-kun + Thunder Chariot), and Flame Knight × 10. The backline was Louise, Tiara, and the mass production models Tatsuyoshi-kun A and B. Naoki and Tatsuyoshi-kun normal were on the collecting team with High Hippo-kun.

The number of battle participants was just over 20, and if Yumika used her Wolf God Transformation, two more silver wolves could also participate; before they noticed, they became a large family. The Flame Knights mostly just padded the numbers, but they could be very useful as decoys. York and Eibra's group were stunned by that number, and Naoki came over to Eibra and York and addressed them.

「Well then, once Aneki starts, we'll go around the Crystal Dragon and save the adventurers. Is everyone prepared?」

「Ah, yeah, it's a little amazing... that.」

York answered in a daze, and Eibra started to give instructions to his companions with a different face. Eibra and his group had arbitrarily given the role of decoy to Kazane and the rest on the way here, and they were probably finally beginning to notice the ability of the White Party. At least it was certain they were finally taking Kazane's group seriously.

「Alright, let's do it.」

All members responded to Kazane's yell, including Eibra's group.

**********

On that day, the 8 meter monster『Crystal Dragon』born from the remains of an Earth Core Dragon perceived suspicious beings approaching with its eyes. Crystal Dragons' eyes were called Crystal Eyes and could see distant presences. It was a rare material used in the Circlet of Wisdom and similar magic tools.

There were presences that came with the group a few days ago and also some different ones, but it didn't consider such small creatures a real opponent, after all. It was more afraid of its food being stolen in front of its eyes. The small creatures were weak, but numerous. If it moved from here, one of the small ones might come and steal its food. Thinking so, the Crystal Dragon decided not to move from this spot. It still had food. There were still plenty of crystallized Earth Dragons. There was no need to increase the amount now. But after approaching to a certain distance, the attack from the little ones began.

Naturally, the Crystal Dragon didn't know it was the Tatsuyoshi-kun mass production models A and B's stone throwing attack. The Crystal Dragon groaned as the rock attacks struck with unparalleled accuracy due to the Circlet of Wisdom and Information Link combination. Although the skin of the Crystal Dragon wasn't as soft as those rocks, objects with that mass thrown at that speed naturally still gave damage, and they couldn't be blocked with the dragon's natural projectile protection magic. In addition, the throwing spears used against the Black Rock Dragon were again used with『Thunder God Spear』by the teacher and student combination of Jinrai and Yumika. Staying in place to guard the food was out of the question. It wouldn't happen quickly, but as long as it was continually attacked like this, it would be defeated. The Crystal Dragon thought that, so it finally rose and started running toward Jinrai and the rest. At the same time, it confirmed that a group of small creatures split off with its Crystal Eyes, but right now the Crystal Dragon had to defeat the attackers. It could easily break such weak and fragile creatures if it approached. It thought so.

But as soon as it moved, one of the little things started to rush forward as well. It was something brilliant, and THAT rushed forward to collide with it while emitting the aura of a superior dragon.

The sound of their dreadful crash resounded.

The Crystal Dragon groaned at the shock of the impact, and its movement stopped. The Crystal Dragon didn't know what the opponent was, but it had certainly been hit by something with the same power as itself. The Crystal Dragon finally understood the dangerous situation it was now in.

And that sense was right. The adventurer group in front of the Crystal Dragon was the White Party with the title Dragon Slayer. The Crystal Dragon realized by instinct that the attacking people were not easy foes, even for a dragon.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Adhesion Sword『Gum』, Spell Dagger, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Accumulator, White Magic Accumulator

Level : 30

Health: 107

Magic Power: 181+420

Strength: 52+10

Agility: 43+4

Endurance: 29

Wisdom : 57

Dexterity : 38

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』

Skill : 『Warrior's Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv3』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg: Lv2』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield』『Information Link』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Placement』『Thunder Chariot』『Sturdy Teeth』

Yumika:「Striking repeatedly with stone throwing and throwing spears is really effective, isn't it.」

Kazane:「It was also our first move against the Black Rock Dragon, so it's an important pattern for our party, right?」