Manowa

Chapter 426 – Let's Discover

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「This is steel.
Tatsuo, please give me the next one.」

『Yes, Mother.』

So saying, Kazane put the ingot in her hand down on the floor.

Due to being sunk in the sea for many years, the ingots in the workshop Kazane discovered were covered in filth and were practically indistinguishable from each other.
Kazane was wearing her Appraisal Glasses, an item indispensable for a merchant, and was sorting the ingots as she Appraised them.

She was inside the workshop in the sunken Tour City.
Kazane had needed to temporarily cancel Dragonization to start Appraising, so she was inside the water membrane made by Louise.
Then Tatsuo brought her another ingot from outside the water membrane.

『God Dragon Empre…
no, Kazane-sama is also a merchant.』

『Come to think of it, she entered the Merchants Guild when she made the Rock Hold Hot Spring, didn't she.』

Yumika and Yui's Water Knight were watching her.
They had tried to assist, but Tatsuo said『I want to be Mother's helper』and started diligently carrying the ingots, so Yumika and the others had nothing to do.
Also, since the surroundings were illuminated by Indestructible Crystal Lamps, it wasn't particularly dark.

And although most of the ingots in that place were of steel, there seemed to be a few rare ingots among them.
There were a few ingots of metals such as Adamantium, Hihiirokane, and Orichalcum.

Though the number one discovery was something else.

「It's burning.」

「Be careful.
That's a dreadfully valuable item.」

The item was placed next to the piles of sorted ingots.
It was a lantern.
And inside that strangely extravagant lantern, a transparent white flame was burning.

That fine item had been buried in the workshop's rubble.
It was already burning when Kazane and the others discovered it.
No one should have entered this place in the 600 years until now, so it had probably been burning for 600 years.
And the lantern was completely undamaged.

「The display says it's called Pilot Light of the Gods.」

The item's description was displayed in the Window thanks to the Appraisal Glasses.

Name: Pilot Light of the Gods

Rarity: S

Effect: Origin Flame source.
A furnace lit by this flame can melt even the highest ranking ore.

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Owner: Tachiki Yumika

「It looks like it's some kind of blacksmithing item, but the owner is Yumika?」

「…
Uwaa.」

After Kazane spoke with a mystified expression, Louise looked troubled.

『Eh? Eh? Why is Louise-san making a face like that?』

Yumika rapidly became anxious due to Louise's reaction.
Her dragon face looked dispirited, but it wasn't cute.
By anyone's standards, it was scary.
However, it was obvious from Louise's expression that there was something troubling.
And she opened her mouth.

「Umm.
About that Pilot Light of the Gods.
Those are extremely important to the dwarves.
They're valuable, and they're managed by smithing Mikos.」

『…
Huh?』

While Louise explained plainly, Yumika's eyes were blinking as she listened.

「If a furnace is lit with that flame, it will be able to forge things like Orichalcum, and it should probably even be able to forge Black Rock Dragon horns.
It's a very avidly desired item for smithing masters, or said another way, it's truly valuable.
Speaking frankly, having a workshop with a furnace lit by a Pilot Light of the Gods and maintaining that flame is an essential condition for being a highest ranking smithing master.
Johnz has been hoping to possess and has been applying for a pilot light since long ago.
Well, enough about that.
Because of that, by all rights, that Pilot Light shouldn't be in a place like this.」

After those words, Kazane tilted her head.
A natural question crossed her mind.

「Then why was it here?」

「Perhaps they were just that cornered during the war with Dragon Emperor Gaieru.
In the first place, this workshop is a small, private one.
Yet it has materials like these…
that's a little too strange.」

Exactly as Louise said, the workshop Kazane and the other were currently in was about the size of an ordinary arms shop.
To maintain a Pilot Light of the Gods, a larger furnace was necessary.

「The fact that this place is close to the aristocrat's mansion where we found the gold coins means this is that kind of area, right?」

After Kazane's words, Louise nodded.
The Water Knight controlled by Yui looked like it was listening with a serious expression.

「Perhaps they planned to secretly build a powerful weapon here.
If a Pilot Light is around, an average size furnace should have no problems as long as it's durable enough.
A Pilot Light and a Miko are a set, so if we look around, I'm guessing we'll find the remains of a smithing Miko?」

Louise looked around as she said that, but the building was quite broken down, so she couldn't find anything.
Then Kazane asked a question.

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「So then, why was it registered to Yumika? Is it because she touched it first?」

Kazane found it with the Infinite Key, but Yumika was the one who cleared away the rubble and picked it up.
That being the case, Kazane thought it was probably registered to her at that time.

「It's possible that it happened just because she touched it first, but…
it's probably because she's a Metamorphosis Miko, isn't it? The Pilot Light of the Gods isn't an ordinary flame, but it doesn't seem to be a type of spirit either…
I think it probably falls under the Metamorphosis category?」

Louise replied with words that ended in nothing more than speculation.
Then Yumika tilted her head and asked a question.

『Umm…
in short, what does that mean?』

After Yumika's question, Louise raised her hands in a congratulatory way and spoke.

「Congratulations on your inauguration as a smithing Miko.
Smithing masters from all over the continent will now be aiming for Yumika.」

『Eh?』

Yumika's dragon face stiffened.
Louise continued without giving Yumika a chance to catch up.

「If the Dwarves of the Bongo Empire learn about you, I think you will be treated as a super VIP.
You could get ahead in life by marrying a king.
Ah, but Yumika is now of the Hermit race, which is related to elves, so Megald Magic Kingdom might butt in.
Ah, Megald is the elf country.」

『Wait wait.』

Yumika's eyes were spinning due to suddenly being incessantly talked to.
The discussion grew too grand, so she didn't have a way to cope.

『So what should I do?』

「That depends on Yumika.
You can choose a future of being waited on by brawny dwarves.」

『They're all bearded geezers, aren't they?』

Yumika was into good-looking guys.
Middle-aged men were a no thank you.

「Gya, reverse harem?」

『Shut up!』

After Kazane's words, Yumika snapped.
Due to her excess forcefulness, she spit out Cold Breath, and the water in front of Yumika froze.
As might be expected, Kazane thought she shouldn't have said that, and she made a serious expression as she made a proposal.

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「For now, shall we talk to Yuuko-nee and ask her to take measures?」

Then Kazane dumped the problem on someone else for now.
It was the fastest problem dumping in her life.
She did have the calculation that the high usefulness of the Pilot Light of the Gods meant Yuuko-nee would act to solve every obstacle anyway, but this girl loved to drop problems in others' laps.

Though adventurers made their livings by exploring and selling the items they obtained for money, so in its own way, that was a proper act as an adventurer.

「Before that, it would be best to talk to someone from Tsuvara.
And luckily, the future queen is above us.」

「Ah, right.」

After Louise's words, Kazane nodded.
This was Tsuvara's territory, which meant it was likely a national matter, so they had to ask about it.
Then, as Kazane and the others were discussing with each other, Yui's Water Knight called out to them from the side.

『Um, it seems Onee-sama has something to talk about, so can we briefly go back up?』

Yuuko-nee's『Information Link』only included the members of the diving group, so the message was sent through Yui, who was remotely controlling from the ship.
For that reason, Kazane and the others decided to put the ingots in the Mysterious Warehouse and temporarily return to the surface.

『Wasn't this time supposed to be an easy, peaceful, and comfortable trip without any problems?』

「Who said something like that?」

In response to Yumika's teary voice, Louise shrugged and replied.
Problems were things that always turned up unexpectedly.

Yes; problems always turned up unexpectedly.

『Signs of dragons…』

『Gaieru's subordinates?…』

『Kill…
that Dragon Emperor's subordinates…』

『With the wrath of Tsuvara's navy.』

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『……
Kill』

『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』

『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』『Kill』

As Kazane and the others rose to the surface, they didn't yet notice that something was waking at the bottom of the sea.

And the sunken decayed warship at the bottom of the sea now quietly started to move.

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』

Yumika:「That, that's right.
All troubles should be dumped on Yuuko-nee.」

Kazane:「Yeah, let's drop everything on Yuuko-nee's lap.
That way, everything will turn out fine.」