Manowa

Now, Kazane and the others stopped by Drums City, but among the cities on the Dragon Road connecting the capital city Deer South and the East Dragon Village, it was the closest city to the village. In other words, it was the city with the most interaction with the East Dragon Village, and it seemed the connection with Dragonewt City was particularly strong.

People were dispatched from this city to clean up after the black devil turmoil, including partic.i.p.ation in the mountain hunting. Furthermore, as a precaution against the seeds, the consignment personnel for the material collection after the Dragon Eater subjugation were from its Adventurers Guild.

Also, many of the inhabitants were Dragonoids with thin blood, and faith in dragons was identical to Dragonewt City. From the start, this was Hyvern Dukedom. It was the country where the archduke served G.o.d Dragon Emperor Naga. Therefore, reverence for G.o.d Dragon Emperor Naga was naturally high.

And Kazane ordinarily approached such a city without any special preparation.

She noticed after entering, but she should have taken measures beforehand. If she wanted to be inconspicuous, making the necessary arrangements was required.

But Kazane entered the city as it was. The result was clear as day.

◎ Drums City, Center Street

Heave-ho, heave-ho

It was shaking.

Heave-ho, heave-ho

The palanquin Kazane was riding was shaking.

Heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho, heave-ho

(…… 『Again』, there"s too much merrymaking)

Kazane was astonished as she covered her face with her hands and looked down. Conspicuous. She was abnormally conspicuous. Once again, she was conspicuous.

「Look! Our G.o.d Dragon Empress is so moved she"s sobbing!!」

「She expressly Humanized and came down before us! More, make her even more happy!!」

Together with the shouts of the surrounding men, firecrackers of various colors were set off, and people with red lined monkey and dragon masks danced madly.

This was a scene she had seen before. Did they avoid proactively calling themselves Dragonoids because their blood was thin? But their actions were the same. Why did it become like this... Kazane was thinking such things.

When Kazane and the others entered the city, the entire city was already in warm welcoming mode. For some reason it was just before a festival.

And it seemed now was the crucial moment. The entire city was unified in working hard on the festival, so as might be expected, it was difficult for Kazane to say「Keep it within limits.」

Kazane was at an age where she wanted to hide behind a wall while saying「I don"t want to stand out,」but when she noticed, she was on a palanquin. She was severely conspicuous. Kazane was more conspicuous than anyone in the area. She ran through the conspicuous ranking at the fastest speed.

By the way, her companions weren"t accompanying her this time. Jinrai said「I"ll take care of Tatsuo and watch from here」with an extremely serious expression as he left, but it was clear from the swimming of his eyes that he just wanted to get away from the fuss. Jinrai also wasn"t used to being warmly welcomed by a crowd of people. d.a.m.n it, d.a.m.n it!... Kazane cursed in her mind, but she couldn"t drag her companions in because Tatsuo"s true ident.i.ty might be exposed if he accompanied her. Kazane was checkmated.

「G.o.d Dragon Empress-sama, how is it? Does it please you?」

This city"s feudal lord was sitting across from Kazane on the palanquin and anxiously asked.

For them, dragons were partners to hold the utmost respect toward and treat accordingly, but they were also simultaneously partners who could bring disaster if things went poorly. Even if Kazane appeared to be a strange short child, her true figure was a dragon who was G.o.d Dragon Emperor Naga"s empress. He thought that if they displeased her, this city would be lightly destroyed.

Especially since the feudal lord had heard that the G.o.d Dragon Empress came from a foreign land. The common sense of the dragon village may not be apply to a foreign dragon.

The premise behind the feudal lord"s words would be a complete surprise to Kazane if she heard about it, and she only said「For the time being, my public social position is an adventurer, so don"t tell others about me.」It"s a little late, but it should make my current treatment more normal... although she thought that, they were words that would likely conversely only make them fuss about her more. However, there was the maxim that once a rumor had started, it couldn"t be stopped, so Kazane didn"t expect much, but the lord replied「Ye, yes」with a pale face. It was a response that caused an awfully bad premonition.

********

『Mother is being carried.』

「That"s right.」

Tatsuo was using Invisible and Optical Camouflage as he perched on Yumika"s shoulder and watched Kazane being carried on the palanquin. Except Kazane, Yumika was the one Tatsuo liked the most in the party. He might have also perceived that Kazane was closest to Yumika, but like Byaku, it seemed he found the Dragon Spirit gushing forth from Yumika"s body comfortable.

So Kazane had left him with Yumika before tearfully going to ride the palanquin. For Kazane, Yumika was the one she trusted the most. Considering Tatsuo"s scarcity and her strength, she was also an effective bodyguard for Tatsuo.

『Many people become energized like this to accomplish one thing. This is the world of people.』

And Tatsuo was looking at the city and crowds of people with curiosity. Anything and everything was new and fresh.

「Nn, well, it would be tiring if every day were like this, though.」

Kazane certainly looks tired... Yumika accurately grasped as she watched her best friend"s current status.

『Even if they get tired, if Mother holds them tight, they"ll become full of energy.』

「There"s only one Kazane, though.」

Tatsuo said that as if it were natural, and Yumika so muttered.

『It would be nice if there were many Mothers.』

「Nn, well, yeah.」

Please no... Yumika thought, but without particularly objecting, she simply made suitable responses. Also, Yumika was currently alone. The adolescent group of Naoki, Lyle, Emily, and Tiara, along with Louise holding Mefirus as Tiara"s escort, were going around the festival, and it seemed Jinrai went to the bar.

And even though Yumika had been walking since some time ago, everyone ignored her.  It seemed she didn"t go completely unnoticed, but she was smoothly avoided.

In fact, Yumika was using a walking Skill called『Invisible Stride』that removed her from the recognition of surrounding people. It was a technique that Jinrai had previously learned from Iria, the Kunoichi that was currently Yuuko-nee"s body double, and Yumika learned it from him and mastered it. Apparently, Jinrai"s splendid dogeza was also due to Iria"s guidance.

(Come to think of it, Naoki"s acquaintance was also named Iria. Is it a popular name in this world?)

Even if it was a popular name, having them appear at the same time or be topics in the same conversation should be avoided. It would be peerlessly hard to understand if Iria and Iria"s names appeared side by side.

Then Yumika finished off the meat skewers she bought earlier from a stall and put the skewers in her Item Box. Yumika"s common sense was that garbage should be taken home.

By the way, even if she couldn"t see him, Yumika had sensed that Tatsuo was fixedly staring as she ate. She realized after buying that she had made a mistake, but it was too late. Yumika felt like he was holding back from asking for a bite the entire time, so she had quickly eaten.

Tatsuo"s food was still only Kazane"s Dragon Spirit. It seemed like he could probably eat normal meat from inheriting Kazane"s factor, but for the first three months after birth, he would only be given Dragon Spirit. He also wouldn"t grow during that time. It seemed it was necessary to stabilize the magical power body obtained from the Reincarnation Dragon ritual as a real substance. After that, they planned to feed him both Crystallized and normal food.

「Mm. Well, Kazane"s gone, so shall we go to the hot spring, Tatsuo? Kazane will return sooner or later.」

Yumika pulled herself together and asked Tatsuo, and Tatsuo nodded.

『Yes. I like their warmth.』

After Tatsuo spoke, Yumika stroked his head and said「Then let"s hot spring,」and they headed for that day"s inn.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

t.i.tle: Ogre Killer, Dragon Slayer, High Beast Summoner, Rea King

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Draghorn Tonfa (Incomplete) x2, Dragonscale Breastplate, Drake Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Sylphyn Skirt, Plasma Pants, Dragon Eating Ogre King"s Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Heroic Spirit Summoning Ring, Circlet of Wisdom, Aim Bracelet, Magic Acc.u.mulator, White Magic Acc.u.mulator, Rainbow Necklace, Rainbow Dragon Ring

Level : 33

Health: 135

Magic Power: 260+420

Strength: 57+20

Agility: 52+14

Endurance: 33

Wisdom : 65

Dexterity : 41

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

Skill : 『Kick Devil』『Warrior"s Memory』『Night Vision』『Crushing Blow』『Dog"s Sense of Smell: Lv2』『Golem Maker: Lv3』『Rush』『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』『Healing Principle: Fourth Chapter』『Air Jump: Lv2』『Killing Leg: Lv3』『Fear Voice』『Invisible』『Tiger Eye』『Wall Walking』『Intuition』『Cheat Death』『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield: Lv2』『Information Link: Lv2』『Optical Camouflage』『Dash』『Bloodsucking Blade』『Dragonization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Regenerate』『Soul Breaking Blade』『Stealthy Hand Placement』『Thunder Chariot: Lv2』『St.u.r.dier Teeth: Lv2「Dragon」』『Crystallization: Lv2「Dragon」』『Fabricated Coercion』『Stone Minotaur』『Mega Beam: Lv2』『s.p.a.ce Expansion』『Pseudo-silver Creation』『Poison Claw』『Fireball「Dragon」』『Cuticle「Dragon」』『Arms Creation: Black Flame』『Ingredient Connoisseur』『Dragon Pheromone「Dragon」』

Yumika:「Thanks for your hard work.」

Kazane:「Uu, I"m tired. I want to hug Tatsuo.」

Yumika:「That"s unfortunate. Tatsuo is sleeping next to me.」

Kazane:「What!」