Manowa - Chapter 421: Let's Advance Through the Sky

『The seaーthe seaーー』

『I’m looking forward to it.』

After Kazane’s crooning, Tatsuo cried Kuwaa. Actually, that conversation was being held 500 meters in the sky.

That day, the figure of a rainbow-colored blue dragon was witnessed flying in the sky in some areas of Tsuvara; naturally, its identity was Kazane.

Kazane was using Angelization together with Dragonization, so her dragon form had angel wings as she flew through the sky. Since her Skill’s level had increased, her total length had grown to 9 meters; the bird-like white wings had also evolved to become larger, so she could fly faster than before. And Tatsuo was flying alongside the dragon Kazane.

『Tatsuo. You’re not used to flying yet, so if you get tired, get on my back.』

After Kazane’s words, Tatuso cried Kuwaa and responded『I’m fine, Mother.』

For Tatsuo, finally being allowed to fly at high altitude meant his growth had been recognized by his mother.

Moreover, as Ao had already returned to East Dragon Village Zegan, Naga had approved of Tatuso flying by himself through email, so he had been acknowledged by both his parents. Tatsuo was no longer bound to flying near the ground, but could finally fly freely through the wide open sky.

Although it was while he was still under the influence of dragon Kazane’s『Divine Protection of Wind』, Tatsuo was deeply moved about being able to fly high in the sky with his own wings. His first high altitude flight filled Tatsuo’s heart. He was proud at being able to fly beside his mother. And he was crying Kuwaa.

「Oh my, Audin Tower is visible, Onee-sama.」

「Oh, that’s true. We were on top of that place.」

On dragon Kazane’s back, Tiara’s cousin Yui was in high spirits and was enjoying herself talking with Tiara. Yumika and Emily were also present.

「In the end, that tower is under Tsuvara’s control, right Yumika?」

「Yeah. It seems Kazane received Childstones from the King and added three more elevators, so it’s now easier to move between levels. With that said, reaching the top would still take time, though.」

Yumika answered Emily’s question. It seemed Tsuvara’s leaders were currently discussing how to use the huge tower. After all, it was ridiculously large, and there were thousands of rooms inside. They could be used for anything, and it seemed impossible to use all of them with normal operation.

While they weren’t yet sure about actually doing it, there was discussion about relocating the royal capital.

「Come to think of it, I heard from my father that due to the surrounding rock that was removed to create the tower, a cavity was formed, and water is flowing into it from a nearby river. It seems there’s now a huge lake surrounding the tower.」

Tiara added to the conversation between Yumika and Emily. Since the Griffon Rider unit of the kingdom’s army was currently patrolling around the tower, such information often reached the royal castle. And since she had actually been at the top, they sometimes asked questions to Tiara herself.

「I’d like to see that.」

After Emily’s upfront words, Yumika nodded. The view from the top had been spectacular, but since Yumika and the others had moved directly from the top to the royal castle with Naoki’s Transfer, they hadn’t seen the view from anywhere else in the tower. It seemed like that could also be worth seeing. So Yumika opened her mouth.

「Well then, why don’t we stop by on our way back?」

『Sure. I’m more or less responsible for making it, so I need to go once to check the condition of the tower.』

「Kya!?」

Yui made a surprised cry at Kazane’s sudden participation in the conversation.

『Muuu…』

Kazane thought that surprise was from fear and dejectedly lowered her head, but Yui became flustered and bowed her head.

「No, um. I’m sorry. I didn’t expect God Dragon Empress-sama to speak…」

「Well, words coming from such a fiendish face is surprising, isn’t it?」

Yumika laughed lightly after saying that, but Emily beside her stared in wonder and thought (Eh, are you seriously saying that, Yumika?). Emily remembered the bloodcurdling dread from the Complete Dragon Transformation Yumika used during the battle with Marie. When she ran toward Tiara, Emily wondered if she was going to gulp her down and almost screamed. Or rather, her hand had reached toward her bowstring.

「No, that’s not it. I just never thought I’d be so close to God Dragon Empress-sama.」

「Yui. Like I said at the beginning, Kazane is Kazane. Forget that position here.」

「Ah, yes. I’m sorry, Onee-sama.」

Yui obediently bowed her head after Tiara’s precaution. Saying something about how she wasn’t used to being called God Dragon Empress would be a difficult subject for Kazane to bring up.

『Mother is Mother.』

『That’s right, Tatsuo.』

Kazane nodded after her son’s words.

The dragon Kazane air trip proceeded like that, but another aircraft was flying behind them. It was the miniature Dragon Boat piloted by Naoki. And on the underside of that dragon boat, a Thunder Chariot Mk. 2 created by Yuuko-nee was installed; inside, Jinrai was surrounded by the two cats Yuuko-nee and Shippuu, and he was currently enjoying his life. Jinrai had reached this world’s paradise.

「Um, Master Jinrai laughing has been audible the entire time…」

Inside the miniature Dragon Boat, Naoki said that. Behind him in the passenger seats were Lyle, Louise, and Mefirus.

「Ah, well, Jinrai-kun seems to be enjoying himself, so it’s fine, isn’t it?」

『That guy wasn’t like that in the old days, though.』

Louise and Mefirus replied with bitter smiles. Lyle had been ignoring it and looking at the sky. Ignoring is justice.

「However, we’re moving much faster than last time.」

『That’s because Kazane’s Divine Protection of Wind is affecting this ship. Therefore, the Dragon Boat’s speed is higher than it could manage with its own ability.』

Lyle’s question was answered by Gieve’s spear. Naoki heard that Lyle and Gieve would someday fuse, but there seemed to be a grace period of about 100 years until that time. It seemed this manzai-like situation would continue for at least as long as Naoki would be alive.

「Hah, it looks like you’ve also become quite close?」

「Ah? Close, or rather, it’s like talking to myself.」

Lyle answered Naoki’s question. Subsequently, Gieve also spoke.

『Since we’re connected at the root. Well, the fusion isn’t complete yet, so there are individual divergences.』

「Even if you say that. It feels weird.」

『Hm. So cheeky, even though you’re my younger brother.』

「I’m not your younger brother!」

Naoki lightly retorted after Gieve’s words, but at the moment, Kazane and Lyle were sibling dragons due to their Gieve Factors, so just like with the West Dragon Village’s gatekeeper Aka, they could be called siblings. Therefore, the relationship between Lyle and Naoki as stepbrothers was also established.

「Or perhaps I should say, Aneki’s relationships have gotten too complicated. Even though just myself as her younger brother is enough.」

Naoki grumbled, but even Naoki was now a member of Minshiana’s royal family. Unnoticed by the person himself.

At the present point, Yumika was the only one without any such backing.

「Well, various things have happened. It’s been a while since we’ve traveled at leisure like this, hasn’t it?」

「Ah, that’s certainly true. Ever since I met Louise-san and everyone, I’ve been constantly dragged into something or other.」

Lyle replied to Louise’s words. And they thought about what had happened so far.

「Let’s see… there was the assassination group. Before that were the Brutuzas, and before that was the battle with the devils, dragon, and monster horde, so our last relaxed time was when we were in the royal capital, right?」

「But before that was the group of massive spiders, the devil and okama, and the Hiruko extermination.」

「And even further back, there were the six-armed skeletons, wyverns, Oda Nobunagas, Demon Wolf, the devils… ah, just remembering makes me feel depressed.」

Louise, Lyle, then Naoki spoke about what had happened up until now, and everyone sighed.

『… Terrible.』

Everyone had no choice but to nod after Mefirus spoke.

「Well, everything was mostly due to the devils.」

And after Naoki spoke that conclusion, the topic ended.

By the way, if a devil heard Naoki’s words, they would probably greatly protest.

Except for the incident with Hagasu’s Heart, Trade City Uumin was the only time the devils actively targeted Kazane and the others. Moreover, that was also after Kazane and the others barged into Uumin, where the devils originally had plans. Considering the fact that the Seven Deadly Sins were being defeated one after another, for the devils, the White Party was nothing more than a god of pestilence. Though unsurprisingly, Naoki and the others didn’t know that fact.

「Ah, it looks like Aneki’s descending.」

Then, seeing Kazane flutter her tail and start descending, Naoki also made the miniature Dragon Boat descend. Naoki’s pervert level wasn’t high enough for him to lust after the dragon butt before his eyes, so he was able to land without any problems.

Today, they would stay on a plateau located a little before the sea. After Kazane prepared Kazane Cottage, the party entered and passed the night 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』『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』

Yumika: 「It’s peaceful.」

Kazane: 「Hmm. My guess is that, even now, a large group of Behemoths is heading towards us, and if we don’t manage to stop them, Tsuvara will be destroyed… or some kind of event like that.」

Yumika: 「No, for heaven’s sake, don’t try to forcibly set up a flag.」