Manowa - Chapter 366

『ooOOOON!』

『oooOOOOONN!!』

The howling of two wolves resounded. Those howls were from Yumika, who had done a Complete Wolf Transformation through her Skill『Deepening』, and the Holy Cerberus, which was a fusion of Kuromaru and the two Silver Wolves. That double scream was erasing the approaching dark flames. With the calming effect of the Holy attribute those howls possessed, the Dark attribute flames were purified.

「……Hmm.」

Seeing that, Ougi nodded.

「How should I put it? Even though you’re young, you’ve stopped being human.」

『Please don’t say such a thing!?』

Ougi said earnestly, and Yumika replied with a tearful voice.

「However, as expected, she’s strong.」

While saying that, Ougi slipped through a gap where the flames had been extinguished and stepped before Hagasu in one go.

『Fast!??』

Exactly as Yumika stated, Ougi charged at a tremendous speed like he was teleporting, pulled his katana out of its sheath, and slashed. Then the arm Ougi slashed at exploded.

『Ougi-san!?』

Yumika shouted. Ougi was flung out of the smoke from the explosion and started rolling across the ground.

「Ku」

『Kuromaru, fetch!!』

The silver three-headed dog with a total length of 3 meters dashed to approach the moaning Ougi, grabbed him with his mouth, and barely dodged the dragon Breath sent to attack the downed enemy. Then Kuromaru carried Ougi until they were near Yumika, where Ougi said「I’m okay」and disembarked.

『That was too rash!?』

「Sorry, I wanted to give it a try.」

After Yumika called out to him, Ougi replied, then looked at Black Dragon Hagasu in front of them and muttered「We’re at a loss.」

Then Black Dragon Hagasu screamed, and the surrounding buildings crumbled. The scream became a shockwave that attacked the surrounding area. Yumika and Ougi escaped out of range with backsteps.

Since Jin Bahar was in a place where he couldn’t escape, he forcibly made a suicidal attack. With the Gungnir he possessed, he could cause damage,

『Gugaaah!!?』

But even so, attacking the scales would cause them to explode and damage the attacker. He took too much damage and was on the verge of disappearing.

「But, this is troublesome.」

Ougi muttered. As was apparent from the fighting just now, even if Yumika and the others attacked, it seemed Hagasu’s scales would explode from the inside to the outside when they were about to be scraped off.

(Isn’t a dragon with reactive armor foul play?)

Ougi murmured in his mind.

Reactive armor. He didn’t know if that dragon’s defense was actually called that, but Ougi recalled the tank auxiliary armor that exploded from the inside to the outside to reduce the impact from received damage.

For those who fought in close combat like Ougi and Yumika, that dragon was an opponent with the worst compatibility. If a certain amount of damage was caused to shave off the scales, they would explode from the inside, and the attacker would be the only one damaged. Furthermore, the scales regenerated quickly, so they couldn’t attack again in time.

Ougi had tried and failed twice. When he stepped in just now, he tried to cut with a double slash, but he was disturbed by the explosion and couldn’t reach past the scales. In other words, Ougi and the others were as yet unable to effectively attack Black Dragon Hagasu.

The currently Complete Wolf Transformed Yumika and Holy Cerberus had somehow managed to keep Black Dragon Hagasu in that place by harassing with speed, but Ougi understood that Black Dragon Hagasu was gradually becoming accustomed to their movements.

(She’s becoming stronger in the middle of the battle?)

Ougi wasn’t the only one who perceived that; Yumika was also able to understand that.

(If only Kazane or master were here, we would be able to manage)

So thinking, she ground her teeth. Ougi himself was very strong; if he weren’t there, they would have had no choice but to escape by this point, but it still wasn’t enough.

(If I use Thunder God Spear with an Adamantium spear… but I don’t have the leeway)

Jin Bahar had thrown several a while ago to deal some damage, but as expected, when they were fired one at a time, they were repelled by the reactive armor explosion.

If it was a combined attack, they would likely cause damage, but Yumika and the Holy Cerberus were almost wholly responsible for disturbing the enemy before their eyes due to their high mobility. Unfortunately, while the Flame Knights were somewhat useful as decoys, they were basically useless as fighting power. The Lightning Sphere also launched attacks when there were any opportunities, but it seemed to be difficult.

Also, the mass-produced Tatsuyoshi-kuns couldn’t be used right now. That was because Yumika and the others had no means of preventing Hagasu from leaping toward the rearguard and attacking if she felt threatened by the Tatsuyoshi-kuns. As long as Hate management wasn’t possible, there was no choice but to make Hagasu focus on Yumika and the others on the front line.

『Come to think of it, Ougi-san, you cut an Adult Dragon in half with one blow before, right?』

「What are you expecting from an elderly man?」

After Yumika tried questioning him, Ougi shrugged and replied.

「Against that class of opponent, if I attack at full power, I’d say I could take one arm?」

『Ooh, you can do it!?』

Yumika said with expectant eyes, but after Ougi sweetly smiled and replied「I’d die from that explosion, though,」Yumika groaned.

「However, at worst, I may have no choice but to do that.」

『No, no. Please don’t!』

Yumika said that, but in actuality, the time limit for Yumika’s Complete Wolf Transformation was approaching. As a second helping, she could also use Complete Dragon Transformation, but that was inferior to her Complete Wolf Transformation.

If we don’t decide it soon…… Yumika thought in a panic.

(We have to do something about that explosion… mm? Explosion? Ah, explosion?)

Then Yumika remembered a certain thing. At the same time, an email arrived.

『Ah, that guy’s coming!?』

「What’s wrong?」

Ougi looked at Yumika and asked after she suddenly raised her voice. Ougi realized from her gaze that she was probably looking at her Window, but he didn’t know what she was doing.

『Umm, I feel like we might be able to manage somehow. Let’s see… here, here.』

Yumika continued to operate the Window while avoiding Hagasu’s attacks. She wrote the location where Kazane should be on their shared Map Window.

Then in the sky, one sword flew past Yumika and the others.

◎ Trade City Uumin, In Front of Main Gate

This was a little before Yumika operated her Window and a little bit more before Jinrai looked up at the sky.

1104 soldiers were lined up in front of Trade City Uumin’s main gate. They were standing by to intercept the Odo Eater Leeches approaching from the northeast. At this point in time, few people knew the largeness of the number of monsters, and when they were suddenly summoned, they didn’t know much about the situation in the city, so their sense of impending crisis was still limited. Something passed by in the sky above their heads.

「Nn, what?」

「What’s wrong, Osa?」

「Ah, look at that.」

In the direction the soldier called Osa pointed, there was something long and narrow flying towards the city.

「What is that?」

「I don’t know, but it doesn’t look like a bird or the like.」

「Should we report to the captain?」

「Yeah.」

In front of the soldiers who were talking to each other, the object crossed over the wall and disappeared into the city.

◎ Trade City Uumin, Slum District

「What the hell. These guys!?」

It was the militia captain who furiously hounded Kazane and the others at noon.

He was now in a fit of rage.

「Why have you guys been using Black Potions?!」

When a large number of Devil Hirukos sprang forth in a place that was completely unobserved, they came running, and they were currently fighting against that large number of Hirukos.

This was the slum district. It was a district where people who were homeless and not considered citizens of the city lived, but they had simultaneously transformed into Devil Hirukos. Almost everyone, from elderly to children.

「Captain, there are too many!?」

「Endure. If we don’t stop them in this district, this city won’t last!」

The captain replied to his subordinate’s shout. Individual Hirukos weren’t that strong, but if the original material was good, their abilities would increase accordingly. Also, when they gathered, Hirukos would fuse and turn into a giant humanoid shape.

Currently, Hirukos in the 4-6 meter class could be seen everywhere in the slums. They were fundamentally slow and didn’t have any particular will beyond attacking any person who appeared before them.

However, that was expected to change as time passed. From past experience, it was clear that their contents, which were currently disordered, would eventually settle, giving birth to monster instincts that they would start acting in accordance with. Consequently, there was no time.

But even so, the situation was grim. They couldn’t even contact their employer. Then a sword passed over the head of the impatient captain. They didn’t notice.

◎ Trade City Uumin, Commercial District.

「Flare, burn!」

Maar, the Summoning Swordsman, ordered his summoned『Dragflame』Flare to burn the attacking Hirukos.

「Thank you, warrior-sama.」

The fleeing people raised their voices, but Marl simply waved his hand lightly and immediately started running again.

The city was currently dominated by a despair that made his calm reunion time with Kazane just past noon seem like a lie. A huge black sphere had formed in the eastern district, and a story about a dragon appearing in the central district had barged in earlier, seemingly making the screaming grow even fiercer.

「Even if it’s nonsense, it’s an awful rumor.」

Maar didn’t believe the report about that dragon. With the Odo Eater Leech invasion outside and Devil Hiruko transformations suddenly happening next, the likes of a dragon appearing on the heels of all that seemed absolutely impossible, and Maar shook his head.

However, the black thing covering the area in the eastern district around the Summoning Institute was a worrying topic. Kazane and Magna were at the Summoning Institute. Perhaps someone there had made a barrier to protect only themselves, but he had never heard that there was anyone who could use such great magic at the Summoning Institute.

(Are Kazane-san and the others really okay?)

Maar was worrying, but while that might be true, he could only do what he could do. Right now, he had his hands full escorting the residents who were trying to evacuate.

「Huh?」

At that time, something passed by in the sky.

「Was that a white sword just now…?」

It seemed like it was heading toward the eastern district, where the Summoning Institute was located.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Summoning Fighter

Title: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King, Liberator

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Draghorn Tonfa x2, Dragon Eating Ogre Army Armor (True), Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, White Magic Accumulator (Revised) ×2, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring, Angel Bracelet

Level : 38

Health: 152+20

Magic Power: 340+520

Strength: 72+45

Agility: 78+39

Endurance: 43+20

Wisdom : 75

Dexterity : 51

Spell : 『Fly』『Torch』『Fire』『Heal』『Firestorm』『Healer Ray』『High Heal』『Golden Dusk「Dragon Exclusive」』『Mirror Shield』『Rabbit Speed』『Flare Mirage』

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『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: Lv2「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: Lv2』『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』

Yumika: 「Well, I’m off!」

Kazane: 「Offf, offff」

Yumik: 「No, restrain yourself a little.」

Kazane: 「ShibiShibi…」

[TL: No idea what’s going on here. Might be a pun or something, since Yumika uses ittekoi. Then Kazane repeats koi twice, drawing them out differently each time, so there might be some kind of joke there. Or she might just be changing up her noises for kicks and Yumika shuts her down. IDK]