Manowa

Chapter 81 -Tailing the Man

「That was more dangerous than the Minotaur . 」

Speaking of Zinray, Kazane carried him with Tatsuyoshi-kun and returned in a dash, and went straight to the healing hospital without pause . Although he was at death"s door with his Health at the limit, after they were finished it was like he had only been lightly injured . When they heard he was fine from the healer everyone was relieved and sat down on the spot .

『Normally he"d be dead . 』

Mefirus whispered . It was said that an experienced party would be in danger of annihilation if they encountered a Mimic-san and that it was impossible to escape death if alone . Furthermore, the super rare item『Panacea Drop』which was acquired by defeating a Mimic was a miracle drug that was said to rejuvenate the drinker by ten years .

If Kazane or Yumika drank it they would be a 5-year-old child, and it would be troublesome if Sieg became a 1-year-old baby, so they agreed that Zinray should drink it . 「If we sold it we would make a fortune」Zinray said, but Kazane had a policy of using whatever items they could themselves and forced Zinray to drink it .

「He didn"t change very much . 」

「It seems like Master still has gray hair . But it looks like he has fewer wrinkles . 」

After they had him drink and observed the changes, Kazane murmured with a little disappointment and Yumika followed up . Zinray originally looked young for his age, so his appearance did not change after he drank . According to the person himself「I"ve become sharper . 」His endurance had also noticeably improved . Well, the effect was good . But Kazane still had a strange feeling like it was a complete waste .

Anyway, they would let Zinray rest for one day for now and would take a break the next day . And although Kazane Hot Spring only opened today,

「It is a great success . 」

Zakuro told Kazane and the rest with a beaming face . It seemed like people couldn"t resist the appeal of entering a bath after returning exhausted from the dungeon . It seemed that with Louise"s connections hot spring manju, fruit juice, milk and the like would also be served in the future .
After that Kazane and the others slowly soaked in their reserved hot spring, ate dinner, then went to bed early .

◎ Hot Spring Cottage Near Rock Hold Cave - Morning

「Mu」

Kazane was alone in front of the cottage with a pensive look on her face .

「What"s with that weird face?」

Yumika came from inside the house and asked, and Kazane was mildly shocked as she replied「weird face…」

「The scent from the ones that were tailing us yesterday in the cave is around here . 」

Yumika"s face darkened at those words .

「Are we being targeted after all?」

Kazane groaned「umm . 」

「Perhaps they"re after Sieg or Tiara . Could Yumika and Louise-san stay with those two today?」

「That"s fine . 」

Louise came with them from the beginning as a guard-c.u.m-chaperone for Tiara, so them being together was the usual behavior . And Tiara spent a lot of time with Sieg . It was nearly the same circ.u.mstances as usual .

「I will follow this scent for a bit . 」

「Isn"t it dangerous?」

To Yumika"s question Kazane replied「maybe, but I"ll be invisible . 」

「That may be so, but don"t do anything rash . 」

「Yeah . I know . 」

Saying that Kazane activated Invisible and decided to follow the smell .

(Well, I really hope that they aren"t luring me in)

From the smell there were five people, and one of them seemed to be a beastman . Since Zinray hadn"t detected their presence it was likely that they had followed Kazane and the others" scent to tail them .

Many beastmen did spy work because of their nose . There was considerable demand even if their noses weren"t as good as Kazane or Gyao .

◎ In Front of Rock Hold Cave, Marketplace

As Kazane followed the smell it diverged into two trails in the market .

(Is this the beastman?)

Kazane decided to follow the solitary beastman"s scent for the time being .

(Yeah . It"s this inn . It was only his scent until just now . )

A person who had split from the beastman seemed to have met up with him again .

「Is that so? The group isn"t diving today?」

When Kazane arrived at the front of the inn she could hear a voice coming from the back with the scent .  

「Ah, but he"ll probably say he still wants you to stick with her when I meet him at noon . 」

The beastman and a man were talking in the back of the inn .

「Well, that"s fine, but I"d like to receive a higher reward . 」

「I think you"re being paid a splendid amount even now . 」

At the man"s reply, the beastman retorted with a grim face .

「You probably also saw that yesterday . The corpse of a Minotaur and a Mimic . Not only did they find a hidden room, but they defeated such big game . Isn"t taking on that cla.s.s a ridiculous story?」

「Well, that"s true . I understand, but I am also only an employee . I will check with my employer . 」

「Please do so . I really don"t want to have to wash a door while crying like those guys . 」

The man earnestly nodded at the beastman"s words .

「Good grief . Not only is it dangerous, but checking to see if some kids are getting together is such a strange request… such a thing is private . 」

「I completely understand what you"re saying . The method is also distasteful . They"re children after all, using my nose to check if they"re doing it together . . . 」

Saying so, both men wore dry smiles and sighed .

(Getting together? Doing it? What the h.e.l.l are these guys talking about?)

Kazane listened to their conversation while hiding with Invisible, and chaotic thoughts were swirling in her brain .

(Kids, so people who are not adults: Tiara, Yumika, Sieg, me?)

But the men said they were both kids . And though she didn"t want to admit it, Kazane was aware that she appeared to be the same age as Sieg .

(They"re seriously checking for ooh la la stuff between me and Sieg? They came to check that?)

A shudder ran through Kazane"s mind . Unfortunately, Kazane"s『Intuition』told her it was the correct answer .

(No way, like Yumika said, Yuuko-nee is trying to set me up with Sieg?)

However, even if Yuuko-nee were planning to do such a thing, would she really hire adventurers to check if they were doing it?

(No no, there"s no way?!)

Kazane shook her head . That was truly impossible .

(I doubt it, but Roger-san? Or is someone on the royal staff sniffing things out?)

It was more probable . . . Kazane was thinking such things with a distressed brain when the man who was talking with the beastman said「I"ll ask about the reward, so please do your best at noon」and left the spot .

(Oops, he"s going to talk with the employer . Maybe when they meet I"ll find something out)

Kazane forcibly switched over her thoughts and followed the man .

And Kazane tailed the man to a tavern inside a temporary tent .

The man entered the bar . It seemed this was their noon meeting place . There were few people, and they were all rigid military-style men sitting inside .

「Hey, I came as promised . 」

The man who was talking with the beastman stood in front of one the military-style men and greeted him .

「On time? That"s unusual for an adventurer . 」

「A good adventurer will not cause displeasure for their client . 」

He sat down in front of the military-style man .

He sat down in front of the military-style man .

「But, that might mean I am not a good adventurer . 」

The man said with an uncomfortable face, and the military-style man asked「what do you mean?」

「It"s nothing . I was talking with Ganzaza just before I came, but there were complaints . 」

「Does he want higher compensation?」

「As you guessed . 」

The man sweetly smiled and said to the military-style man .

「That face you"re making… you too?」

「Well, that"s a troublesome target . I submitted a report about yesterday, did you read it?」

「The Minotaur and Mimic? I couldn"t believe it, but a Minotaur horn was confirmed to be circulating in the market . It certainly shows that their true power is higher than we thought, so it can"t be helped . 」

The military-style man breathed a sigh and acknowledged the man"s opinion .

「So?」

「Unfortunately you"ll have to wait a little . I cannot make that judgment in my position . I"ll negotiate with my superiors . 」

「So you want the situation report from Ganzaza?」

「Since you were talking in the morning I wanted to meet once again . Was the rendezvous point at this Rockro bar fine?」

「As you please . 」

「Understood . And it"s more or less confirmed-」

「There is no sign of s.e.xual intercourse between that boy and girl . Just in case, he went to check again at dawn, but it was white . 」

Interrupting the military-style man"s words, the man foresaw the question and replied .

「So you"re saying there was no physical contact . 」

「Well, he said there was some of the boy"s scent remaining, but it was minute . 」

「That wasn"t in the report?」

The military-style man frowned and rebuked the man .

「Ah, is that so . No, it was a considerably inconsequential degree . 」

「However, there was no possibility of kissing . 」

「He could not say there was not, it is impossible to tell from the scent as expected . 」

「So there is a possibility . . . 」

「Well, I suppose that is so . Honestly, that . . . 」

The military-style man could guess what he was hesitating to say .
「Well, I suppose that is so . Honestly, that . . . 」

The military-style man could guess what he was hesitating to say .

「I know, but leave it there . It"s possibly disrespectful . 」

「Yes, understood . Well then, I will be on my way . 」

When the military-style man nodded to the man"s words, he quickly left the bar .

「Soldier-san are serious . 」

While Kazane overheard the man"s voice, the military-style man came outside .

(He said he was a soldier-san . Is it a matter of succession? Is he related to Minshiana? Ah, enough already . )

Kazane"s face was bright red from hearing words like s.e.xual intercourse and kissing . It was not like that, but it couldn"t be helped that she felt self-conscious from other people speaking about it . She had never been so grateful to be invisible to others as she was now .

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, War Spirit Summoning Ring

Level : 24

Health: 83

Magic Power: 140+300

Strength: 40

Agility: 30

Endurance: 21

Wisdom : 41

Dexterity : 25

Spell : 『Fly』 『Torch』 『Fire』 『Heal』『Firestorm』

Skill : 『Warrior"s Memory』 『Night Vision』 『Crushing Blow』 『Dog’s Sense of Smell』 『Golem Maker: Lv2』 『Rush』 『Fire Principle: Third Chapter』 『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』 『Air Jump: Lv2』 『Killing Leg』 『Fear Voice』 『Invisible』 『Tiger Eye』 『Wall Walking』 『Intuition』 『Cheat Death』 『Nimble』『Charge』『Material Shield』

Kazane:「What the h.e.l.l are they investigating…those guys!」

Yumika:「Going to investigate at dawn is graphic . 」