Manowa

Now, Kazane and the others had come back from the sea to Royal Capital Griffonia, but after staying in the royal capital for two days, they immediately set forth again.

From the beginning, Tiara was supposed to be in the middle of a training journey. Although it was temporary, she had abandoned her position as a member of the royal family. Properly speaking, she wasn't supposed to return to the royal capital.

Since she was allowed to return as a special exception due to the coronation ceremony, she naturally couldn't stay around as the princess for a long time, and she was sent out on her training journey again.

And so, they were currently traveling on the Thunder Chariot pulled by Hippomaru-kun. Their destination was Audin Tower. As the creator of that huge tower, Kazane was going there for an inspection to check just in case.

◎ Tsuvara Kingdom, Highway

「Mufufufufu」

And inside the carriage, there was a Shorty with a slightly revolting smile.

In her hands was a tonfa primer. It was the long-awaited second volume. Kazane had been reading that book ever since they left the royal capital.

「Did she obtain that thanks to Knight Leader Reigel?」

Yumika asked Tiara, who was snuggling up to Kazane from the side. Kazane had become a useless child. Thanks to that, it was faster to ask Tiara, who would know the situation, rather than the person herself.

And Knight Leader Reigel, whose name came out, was the unlucky man who had previously stalked Kazane and the others at Audin's order despite being a prestigious royal palace knight leader.

As a result of consulting with that reliable man and having him use his influence, Kazane had successfully obtained the second volume of the tonfa primer.

「Yeah. I heard part of the navy still uses tonfas as weapons. However, it seems Tsuvara's current tonfa instructor is on a training journey, so she could only just receive the book.」

Tiara answered Yumika's question.

「Heh. Is that so.」

Then Yumika looked at the tonfa primer Kazane was reading. Apparently, this time it seemed to be a book that described how to handle tonfas and not just kicks.

A catchphrase was written on the cover.

『Striking・thrusting・blocking・parrying・clinching・shooting・softly and gently hugging. A must-read book for those who want to completely master tonfas.』

…… It said.

Kazane was focused on reading the book; even though Tatsuo had gotten bored and started dancing on her head, it seemed she hadn't noticed at all. And that dance was reaching its climax.

『Fuu. Mother's power of concentration is amazing.』

Tatsuo's original dance ended, and while wiping off his sweat with an Indestructible Towel, he jumped on top of Yumika's head. Yumika was anxious about how his behavior had recently started resembling his mother's. She was worried about the future of the dragon race.

「Since long ago, when that guy concentrates on one thing, she becomes unable to see anything else.」

『Is that the secret of Mother's strength?』

After Tatsuo's words, Yumika groaned, and while they weren't completely so, she replied with affirmative words.

「Nn, I guess you could say that? Well, that is one of the secrets of her strength, isn't it?」

『I see. So it's not only that. I understand.』

Tatsuo cried Kuwaa. As Tatsuo rode on her head, Yumika looked out the front window.

「At any rate, looking at it again, it's huge.」

Yumika muttered. Those words had already been said countless times by different people.

She was referring to Audin Tower.

Despite being able to continuously see it since leaving Royal Capital Griffonia, the carriage still hadn't arrived. In the first place, Audin Tower was located in a place that took a normal carriage two days to reach from the royal capital. Just the fact that they could see it showed how abnormal its size was.

Also, Kazane and the others weren't going to reach the tower today; they were planning to stay overnight in a city along the way.

「Well, let's travel at leisure. There's nobody making us hurry.」

「Yeah, that's right. And after the tower, we're going straight to Louise-san's hotel. I'm looking forward to that too.」

After Louise spoke, Yumika replied with a smile.

As a matter of fact, if they made Hippomaru-kun run faster or flew on dragon Kazane, they would be able to arrive within the day.

However, they weren't currently undertaking any requests, and there was no need to build any houses. There was no particular reason to hurry on their trip.

Therefore, Kazane and the others chose to leisurely proceed at their own pace as before. They planned to enjoy the trip.

Moreover, their pace being leisurely was only the perception of the people themselves; even Louise and the others who weren't players were starting to forget.

At the present time, they were moving at a speed more than twice that of a normal carriage, so from an outsider's point of view, they were obviously traveling too quickly. Habituation is scary.

Then, that day, they spent the night at an inn in a city along the way, departed the next morning, and arrived at Audin Tower before noon.

◎ Tsuvara Kingdom, Audin Tower, In Front of Peripheral Lake

「Hoho, this is magnificent.」

『Indeed. If I had made something this impressive, my name would have gone down in history.』

Louise unconsciously spoke her mind when she saw the sight, and juvenile Griffon Mefirus, sandwiched between her arms and breasts, replied.

「Aah, I could have called it Mefirus Tower, huh. Saying something like the late King will watch over the kingdom forever.」

Kazane said, but it was too late. Mefirus only bitterly smiled and didn't say anything back.

The rocky area surrounding the tower had been gouged out in a shape like a rose and filled to the brim with water, creating a large lake.

「The water's clean, don't you think? Since it's just been made, normally, it should be muddy.」

Emily said. Tiara at her side interjected.

「I was told that water from a river called Roy River flowed to this place and created this lake. It seems the rocks in this area were solidified from the start, which would make it difficult for mud to mix in, right?」

When the tower was formed, the surrounding land itself was fixed in place to a certain extent. Therefore, the ground here became extremely solid, so it didn't easily become mud. And in the present, that created a beautiful scene of accumulated clean water.

The tower was on the other side of the water.

It seemed this lake had to be crossed to reach the huge Audin Tower.

「Now then, what will we do?」

From the coachman's seat, Jinrai asked Kazane inside. In response, Kazane looked at the air with a troubled expression. It seemed she had opened the Window and was doing something.

「Just barely enough Magic Power? Well, I'm responsible for creating it, so I have to do it properly to the end, right?」

『Ooh, you're going to build a bridge, Mother?』

Tatsuo, who could see Kazane's Window, said that and cried Kuwaa. When they heard those words, the surrounding companions made understanding expressions.

Naoki and Lyle, who were mounted on crystal horses outside, and Shippuu, who had been running with them, were making questioning expressions; it seemed they were looking inside the carriage Kazane and the others were riding. By the way, Yuuko-nee was taking a nap on top of the carriage as usual.

「Will your Magic Power truly last?」

「Er, I'll do my best.」

After Yumika's words, Kazane replied as she got off the carriage.

「Kazane's going to build a bridge?」

「So it seems. She's preparing with Golem Maker and seems to currently be calculating to tune the length.」

Yumika answered Tiara's question while recalling the Window's operation screen. In front of Yumika and the others, who were watching, Kazane went to the edge of the lake, held her staff『White Blaze』, and activated Golem Maker.

This『White Blaze』, which was given to her by Master a while ago, strengthened the effect of magic by 1.2 times and reduced Magic Power consumption to 85%. Since Kazane herself was in the vanguard, there were rarely opportunities to use it during battle, but she very frequently used it when doing magic. The lack of description made it easy to forget about its existence, but she was actually using it.

And when Kazane touched the ground with her staff, masses of soil gathered from the surroundings and stretched over the lake. The fenceless road that stretched over the water to create the bridge continued when it reached the land until it arrived at the tower's entrance. And when it was completely connected to the tower, fences started forming on the left and right sides of the bridge; from those fences, long and narrow rods extended diagonally toward the tower, connecting the bridge to the tower to anchor it as if it was hanging from the tower.

Then, a white bridge crossing the lake was completed.

It was a bridge wide enough to allow two rows of carriage traffic. Across the lake, a soldier standing by at the entrance of the tower looked at Kazane and the others with a surprised expression, but perhaps because he was noticed, he became even more flustered and entered the tower.

「It seems he noticed us as well.」

「Yeah. Well then, for now, shall we cross over? I'll ride on Yuuko-nee. If they see that figure, it should be easier to understand who we are.」

When Kazane said that, Yuuko-nee cried「Nyaa」while getting down from the top of the carriage. It seemed she had woken up before they noticed. Then Tatsuo came out from the carriage and said『Mother, me too.』

Kazane rode forward on Yuuko-nee with Tatsuo on her head; Hippomaru-kun, the Thunder Chariot, and the crystal horses Naoki and Lyle were riding followed behind her as they leisurely crossed the bridge.

「It looks like they're going to greet us.」

Kazane said from on top of Yuuko-nee.

It seemed the person who was at the entrance was a Griffon Knight, as a voice crying Kuee could be heard coming from inside the tower. Furthermore, a certain person led knights from the entrance and came to the front of the bridge.

「Welcome to Audin Tower.」

Then, when Kazane and the others arrived at the tower, King Audin in front of them greeted them with a smile.

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 (１)』『Halo』『Evolution Hand (１)』『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』『Battleship Tonfa Summoning』

Kazane: 「We arrived at Audin Tower, but it's huge, isn't it. It's about three times as big as the Sky Tree, so as you'd expect, it's impressive.」

Yumika: 「When we got down from the top of the tower before, just Kazane and Tiara flew to the royal capital before us, then we moved to Kazane's side with Naoki's Transfer, right? So, in actuality, this is also our first time seeing it from below.」