Manowa - Chapter 418: Let's Barge Into the Celebration

「It looks like they didn’t make it in time.」

The day of the coronation ceremony.

As if the heavens were blessing Audin, the sky was clear blue as far as the eye could see. Under that blue sky, Audin muttered that.

Audin was currently standing on a large balcony overlooking the central square of Royal Castle Griffonias.

On the balcony were Audin, Queen Keiran, and his younger brother Shelkin. In addition, Minshiana’s Queen Yuuko and her son Prince Sieg; Ao of the Blue Flame, who was an advisor to the Kingdom of Tsuvara; and General Jiraid, who had come along with Ao as a proxy for Archduke Rynox of Hyvern Dukedom; and leaders from other countries were lined up there as well.

Under the balcony, applause from the gathered populace and soldiers echoed.

And the coronation ceremony was already almost over.

A short while ago, Audin was declared king, received his crown, and officially succeeded the throne. With this, Audin was recognized as King in both name and reality. The coronation was proceeding smoothly without any accusations that he was robbing his daughter of the throne or the like.

Though all the masterminds of the Tiara assassination matter had already died. There was also the circumstance that the aristocrats affiliated with them thought that was Audin’s work, so they were frightened and didn’t show any further movement.

And the attendance of the Queen and Prince of the neighboring country Minshiana also served as a restraint against other neighboring countries like Soldard.

Audin was also grateful for the participation of General Jiraid and his beloved dragon Morde from Hyvern as well as the presence of Ao of the Blue Flame, the adjunct from West Dragon Village Laguna and an adviser to Tsuvara Kingdom. After Diablo was allowed to infiltrate the core of the country, the secret maneuvers of the devils was not a problem Audin could ignore. As long as the situation in other countries was unknown, cooperation with Minshiana and Hyvern to deal with them was necessary.

Also, as for the most important issue, the situation of Tiara and the White Party, Yumika contacted them through Ao the evening before to say they were safe. At that time, she also informed them that it would be difficult to participate in the coronation ceremony; since Kazane was out of commission, they had no means of transportation to the royal castle.

It seemed their location was the top of the suddenly formed white tower that could be seen from the balcony of Royal Castle Griffonias.

Apparently, the interior was properly equipped with rooms, passageways, and stairs, and it seemed that an elevator could be installed if there was a power source like a Childstone, but since the elevator also couldn’t be installed without Kazane, it seemed their only option right now was the stairs. Therefore, in order for the White Party to reach Royal Castle Griffonias, they would have to use the stairs to go down the 406 floors of the 1600 meter tower by their own power, then travel a distance that required a two day carriage ride in just half a day on foot… which was completely impossible.

Therefore, when Audin heard the circumstances, he had no choice but to smile bitterly.

「Your Majesty the King. This isn’t the time to make a face like that.」

Queen Keiran, who noticed Audin’s expression, chided him as she smiled and waved at the people. Audin shrugged slightly, then fixed his facial expression.

「That’s true. The ceremony is going smoothly, and our beloved daughter is safe. There are no problems. But…」

While keeping a smile on his face, Audin muttered. It was a different issue from the matter he had bitterly smiled at a moment ago, but it was something that had been troubling Audin for the past few months.

「As you’d expect, with the God Dragon Emperor as the opponent, stealing Kazane away would be difficult.」

「You’re still saying that?」

Keiran was dumbfounded and so replied to Audin. In particular, since Keiran was from Hyvern, God Dragon Emperor Naga was an existence equal to a god to her. As one would expect, even though her husband Audin was a king, Keiran thought their statuses were different.

Audin had heard through Mefirus that Kazane had already become the God Dragon Empress. And Audin also understood that the degree of difficulty had become far above making a girl from the street a queen.

「Even if she doesn’t become a queen, that’s fine. If that person will simply stay by my side, I won’t ask for anything more.」

Therefore, in Audin’s thinking, her becoming something a little less close than a queen was permissible. From the start, he didn’t have his eye on her due to her womanly qualities, so he was flexible when it came to that. After those words, Keiran replied「That would be difficult, wouldn’t it?」

「Queen Yuuko is already leaving nothing undone concerning that aspect.」

After Keiran’s words, Audin looked at Queen Yuuko, who was a slight distance away on the same balcony. Queen Yuuko noticed Audin’s gaze and sweetly smiled at him.

By this point, Audin had already obtained the information that Queen Yuuko had successfully installed Kazane as the feudal lord of Kazane Magic Hot Spring Town.

(You damn vixen. Are you planning to make my cute Kazane your own? But I won’t lose.)

Audin was smiling, but his heart was burning with hostility toward Queen Yuuko. At the same time, since Queen Yuuko was reading his mind with her Horus Eye Circlet, she cursed (there’s no way in hell I’d let Kazane marry an old man like you) in her own mind. Naturally, Audin wasn’t aware of that, but he sensed the hostility directed toward him.

Then Queen Yuuko looked at Prince Sieg, who was lined up beside her.

(That old man can be ignored, but my own situation is a little bad, isn’t it?)

Recently, Queen Yuuko had become concerned that her own son of all people was starting to resemble Naoki. While he was in love with Kazane, she felt danger from him starting to seduce the women around him.

And while Queen Yuuko was considerably shocked that her son Sieg was starting to resemble that revolting Naoki, the fact that he was changing in a way that Kazane would definitely reject was also giving her a headache.

If Naoki wasn’t her younger brother, he would be nothing more than trash to Kazane. If Sieg became like him, making her his lover or queen would be completely impossible.

(… I have to do something.)

Queen Yuuko thought. As one of her measures, she was currently adjusting Sieg’s training to build muscle. And the area around Sieg was also being reinforced with muscular men. That was causing his attendant Sakyure to make an unpleasant face, but since that Shotacon was starting to look at Sieg in a sexual way, Queen Yuuko thought it was good medicine for her.

In any case, it seemed that, as far as Queen Yuuko could see, Audin didn’t know what was about to happen. Judging from the expression that Ao, who was lined up next to him, was making, he did know, so he had apparently decided to keep it a surprise and not tell him.

(Oh, the wind suddenly…)

Then, the wind blew.

「What is that!?」

「Since when!?」

The sound of flapping wings could be heard. Thereupon, a huge dragon about 9 meters long suddenly appeared in front of the people.

「That’s a dragon, isn’t it!?」

The word dragon echoed in that place.

The appearance of the dragon that suddenly appeared was blue, with fluttering pure white wings like an angel’s and crystals all over its body that were reminiscent of God Dragon Emperor Naga. However, strangely enough, no one sensed hostility from that dragon covered with a rainbow glow.

「Terrifying. But, how beautiful…」

「Ah, what is this sublimity?」

Therefore, while the people were surprised and felt awe at its appearance, they didn’t try to run away. Furthermore, they also noticed the person standing on the dragon’s hand. And the eyes of Audin and the others on the balcony also captured that figure.

「Tiara…?」

Audin muttered. A girl in a pure white dress was standing on the dragon’s palm. Her appearance gave off a more dignified atmosphere than before, which seemed to give a sense of her growth.

That girl’s name was Tiara Tsurugu Tsuvara.

The princess of Tsuvara Kingdom, whose figure hadn’t been seen for half a year, had returned. Moreover, she was on the palm of a dragon that looked like a jewel. There were rumors that she had been willfully murdered, but it was obvious to everyone who saw her figure that those rumors were lies.

Then Tiara kneeled, lowered her head, and opened her mouth.

「I, Tiara Tsurugu Tsuvara, have returned, Your Majesty the King.」

「Thank you for returning. My daughter, First Princess Tiara Tsurugu Tsuvara.」

Audin responded to Tiara’s words. Then Tiara continued.

「As one in the middle of training, I cannot stand by Your Majesty’s side as of yet. However, I have temporarily returned to celebrate this auspicious day.」

After those words, the people cheered.

Then, a voice resounded from the dragon holding Tiara in her hand.

『I am God Dragon Emperor Naga’s wife, the God Dragon Empress.』

After those words, everyone stiffened. The dragon in front of them named herself the wife of the God Dragon Emperor, the head of the East Dragon Village.

『On this occasion, I alighted here with my sworn friend Tiara Tsurugu Tsuvara to congratulate His Majesty King Audin.』

The God Dragon Emperor’s wife… everyone was already surprised by those words, and they were once again surprised when the dragon in front of them called herself a sworn friend of their princess.

Then, many people looked at Ao by Audin’s side. It was a well-known fact in Tsuvara that Ao’s true appearance was a dragon, and it was also known that he had a close relationship with the God Dragon Emperor.

For those who knew the circumstances, the fact that Ao was watching without saying anything in particular was proof that the God Dragon Empress’ words were true. Then, the God Dragon Empress continued to open her mouth.

『We dragons bless the start of His Majesty King Audin’s reign. And we decided to give His Majesty a suitable gift for the occasion.』

After those words, Ao didn’t let anything show on his face, but he tilted his head. Thanks to emails, both Ao and Queen Yuuko knew that Kazane had woken up early that morning and would arrive with Tiara at the last moment, but this was the first time he had heard about a congratulatory gift. And that congratulatory gift was…

『The towering spire that can be seen to the south is our gift to the king. The white tower『Audin Tower』. I created it so the king could continue watching over all of Tsuvara. And now, I give it to His Majesty King Audin.』

After those words, everyone trembled.

Many people had thought it was eerie that a huge tower was suddenly created yesterday. The fact that it was created the day before the coronation ceremony made more than a few people consider it an ominous omen.

However, the people became aware. That huge tower was a gift from the dragons to their king so he could watch over this country. It was a building created for King Audin with power beyond human comprehension.

And the few people who knew the truth thought this.

Ah, this girl has the nerve to leave all the decision-making to others…..

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』『Halo』『Evolution Hand』『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』

Kazane: 「Trans・fer・com・plete.」

Yumika: 「That tower is troublesome to handle, huh. It has 406 floors… no, including the underground, it has 812 floors. And the layout of every floor is the same.」

Kazane: 「I mean, I did use one of my Childstones to install a powered elevator as a service.」

Yumik: 「However, it takes about 30 minutes to reach the rooftop from the first floor, so with the underground included, it would take an hour, right?」