Manowa

◎ Winlard City, Ricard Inn

「What, what is this. This is terrible, Kazane.」

It was around noon, and Yumika was finished with morning practice and was thinking「I wonder what to do for lunch」when she glanced out the window and saw a certain something that made her cry out to Kazane across the room.

「Muu, what is it, Yumika?」

Kazane was remodeling Tatsuyoshi. She was wondering if she could make Tatsuyoshi-kun able to automatically rearrange its Muscle Clay for throwing, moving, and battle according to its own situational judgement. Kazane saved and closed the Advanced Mode Editor and headed to Yumika"s side.

「Really, you have to see for yourself.」

「Eh, what?」

At Yumika"s urging face she looked outside.

「Wow, what is this?」

There were about 20 knights surrounding the inn.

「Did you hear if some famous person is staying at the inn? Are they looking for Tiara?」

Tiara, who had been receiving summoning instruction from Mefirus and Louise further in, approached the window.

『Hm. They seem to be knights of Minshiana.』

「What should I do?」

Kazane asked Mefirus, who appeared at her side.

『Well now. Although her qualifications as royalty have been frozen for now, if they know about Princess Tiara, there may be messengers from the Royal Palace. However, this is too ostentatious for that. Shouldn"t it be the business that Johnz fellow mentioned when we visited him?』

「Oh, that!」

It seemed that someone important in Minshiana was looking for Kazane and the others, but they had no idea why.

「Nevertheless, I wonder why they came with such a large armed group.」

As Kazane said that someone knocked on the door loudly.

With a bloodless face the receptionist of the inn arrived to say「messengers from the Royal Palace have come.]

◎ Winlard City, In Front of Ricard Inn

「So you came?」

Kazane and the others went outside and Zinray was with the knights.

「Zinray-san, what"s wrong?」

「I don"t know. I was only called here.」

After saying that he scowled at the lead knight.

「Can you finally talk now, Roger?」

They seemed to be acquaintances.

「I"m afraid not. My orders are to keep things confidential. I deeply apologize that I cannot say more to you, Zinray-sama, since I am indebted to you.」

「Do you know Zinray-san?」

「For two or three months these guys once came to practice at the dojo.」

To Kazane"s question Zinray returned that short reply.

「Are you Kazane-dono and Yumikdono?」

The man called Roger cleared his throat with a cough and asked.

「That is so. Who are you, oji-san?」

「It seems you are not a timid child. I am Roger Rootberg, Head of the Royal Knights of Minshiana.」

『Well now, he"s in the same position as our Reigel.』

Mefirus said from Louise"s arms.

「I see.」

Kazane recalled the Tsuvaran middle-aged bald man who commanded the soldiers against Diablo; she felt he did so well and seemed like a good warrior. Well, those precise commands were crushed by Audin.

『They exist to protect the royal family, not the country. Royalty rely on them, and they are a group used for private purposes that deal with many troublesome things.』

As Mefirus chattered on the knights stirred and murmured amongst themselves; they did not know about a summon like this but they did not ask. They would be surprised if they knew.

「That is to say, someone of the royal family has a use for us?」

『It would seem so. Right, Roger?』

「Why are abruptly calling me? Eh? That voice just now…」

Roger made a displeased face at the blunt manner of speaking, but something about Mefirus" voice caught his attention.

「No, no way.」

Roger seemed to notice Mefirus" ident.i.ty.

『Hm. It is as you are thinking. I do not feel like explaining why, though. 」

「Ha, haha.」

Roger suddenly saluted and the surrounding knights look at him with puzzled expressions, but Roger turned to talk to Kazane again.

「Kazane-dono, Yumikdono, and their party have been summoned to the Royal Capital by the Minshiana royal family. Here is the summons. We request that you immediately come to the Royal Capital with us.」

Kazane shrunk back from Roger"s loud voice and asked Mefirus.

「Is it okay to refuse?」

『It is impossible. If there is a summons, it is a formal request from the kingdom, so refusing is to oppose the country.』

「Well, there is no reason to refuse, so it can"t be helped. Is it fine for you guys?」

『No problem. Rather, accepting in this circ.u.mstance would be best for Tiara. Immediately offending our allies with thoughtless behavior would be unwise.』

He said to Kazane with a smile.

「But, before that.」

Roger broke in.

「I wish to have a match right here, first strike wins.」

「What?」

It was a sudden remark. With a face like what is this guy saying, Kazane looked at Roger.

「Mm, this wasn"t my idea. I was ordered to do so.」

「Haa ...」

While Kazane sighed with a face that didn"t understand, Yumika spoke from behind.

「A match with who, me or Kazane?」

「The instructions were for both. At the same time, but...」

Roger"s voice became shriller at Kazane"s reproachful gaze.

(That"s just what he was told.)

Louise thought from beside her.

It seemed that Roger knew that it was truly reckless to challenge the Ogre Killing Princess and her partner by himself.

「I"ll go first. Is that fine, Kazane?」

「Go ahead, if you please.」

Yumika came out and Kazane stepped back.

「Is it okay?」

Roger asked. It seemed that he was sorry for making such an unreasonable request.

「You"re saying that at this point? No need to go easy on me.」

Yumika prepared the spear on her back. Yumika had asked Master to apply a rabbit decoration to the spear, and it brilliantly gleamed in the sunshine, enchanting the surrounding onlookers. All the knights recognized that the spear was a considerably fine item.

Roger once again looked at Yumika and prepared his spear with a serious face.

「Will it be OK?」

「No problem.」

Zinray bluntly replied to Kazane from beside her.

「This isn"t a battle to take each others" lives. Neither side can use their full strength.」

Although ... ... and Zinray continued.

「But their skill level is about the same.」

One of the knights signalled「Start.」

Yumika took a stance and Roger rushed forward in a flash.

The match lasted an instant.

「There is no way my tempered disciple Yumika would lose to an opponent of Roger"s degree.」

Roger"s line of sight revolved.

「Gua!?」

With a cry he fell to the floor and Yumika"s spear pressed against his throat.

(What happened?)

Roger stared dumbfounded at the girl in front of his eyes.

「Wow, it looks like Aikido.」

Roger who was on the receiving end could not understand, but Kazane, who was in a distant position, was able to see the tricks well.

「『Spin』is an application of『Weeping Willow.』I didn"t think she was prepared for it yet, really, that girl.」

Zinray grumbled. Seeing an opponent"s attack and dodging with the slightest movement was『Weeping Willow.』Tripping an opponent with the spear"s shaft just before dodging at the right timing was『Spin.』Roger spun as if he were dancing, and immediately hit the ground.

「Mumumu, what tremendous skill.」

Yumika extended her hand and helped Roger rise.

「Roger-san"s thrust was just so strong that I had to use it.」

Yumika returned.

Then, Kazane advanced to the standing Roger.

「Well then, my turn.」

She said and tapped Yumika out.

「U, mu.」

Though Roger lost to Yumika, he wasn"t really tired or injured. It was for another match.

「Oh, you"re using a sword?」

Yumika tilted her head slightly at seeing Kazane.

「Hm.」

Zinray said as he examined the sword.

A knight once again raised his hand to start the match.

「Munununu.」

Roger fell into a stance and faced Kazane without rushing forward this time.

(He seems to be cautious about being caught in another counter)

Kazane thought, but unfortunately Kazane could not do such a trick.

「Well then. Skill・Rush」

Kazane activated her skill and stepped forward.

『Nuu?」

Roger was surprised that Kazane closed the distance instantly, but was able to block her attack.

(As expected, you"re skilled)

Kazane was astonished. If it was a monster that would have been a finishing blow, but not against a skilled opponent.

「Tei, yaa.」

Kazane swung her sword according to her intuition. Although she was certainly an amateur fencer, Roger couldn"t hide his surprise after his spear was blocked when he attacked her obvious blind spot.

「Fu」

After dodging away while blocking with her sword Kazane stepped back into range. Roger blocked Kazane"s attack with his spear and gauntlets.

「To, tototo」

While Roger staggered from the repeated shocks from her attacks Kazane struck the spear"s shaft.

「Oops」

Kazane spun towards him to get behind him.

「Naive.」

Roger could guess that Kazane was now beside him, even if she was『Hidden.』It was easy to hit an unseen opponent as long as their movements were predicted. However, he never hit Kazane.

(What!?)

Roger was surprised as Kazane descended behind him. She hadn"t tried to turn all the way around him to get to his back but Air Jumped to take advantage of the blindspot over his head to get behind him instead. Perhaps it was thanks to the『Nimble』skill that she could do it fast enough that he could not notice. And Kazane thrust the two handed sword Black Fang against Roger"s back.

「Yosh, my win!」

Roger was dumbfounded as he turned and saw Kazane behind him. He didn"t understand how she got behind him. Kazane was making a V-sign at Roger. Both rounds were Roger"s complete defeat.

Name: Yuihama Kazane

Occupation: Magic Swordswoman

t.i.tle: Ogre Killer

Equipment: Staff 『White Blaze』, Two Handed Sword『Black Fang』, Silver Breastplate, Silver Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Carapace Bull Trousers, Berserk Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Spirit Summoning Ring

Level : 22

Health: 77

Magic Power: 132+300

Strength: 33

Agility: 27

Endurance: 17

Wisdom : 34

Dexterity : 20

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』

Skill : 『Goblin Language』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog"s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Second Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』 『Air Jump』 『Killing Leg』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Insight』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』

Kazane: 「I made him bite the dust but in battle strength evaluation Roger is about as strong as Kimberly-san.」

Yumika: 「The Guild Rank would be about equivalent to Rank B or a newly Rank A. According to teacher, Kazane would have been defeated if she fought head on.」

Kazane: 「Well, maybe. After all, I ended up winning with tricky movements. I wanted to win with only the sword.」