Manowa

Let’s make decision

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“Berserk Ogre at Zarst ridge?”“Yup.” After Yumika finished her spear maintenance Kazane informs her about it.

“Between here and the royal capital, there’s a valley. It seems that the Ogre habitat is around that place.”

“Ogre is that three meter giants tribe right?”“Yup, a very tough enemy.” As Kazane said, even amongst monsters, ogre is one of the formidable side. Its strength can’t be compared with horned rabbits and raider dogs Kazane and Yumika had hunted before.

“And there, there’s a group boss called the berserk ogre.”

“What a scary name.” Towards Yumika’s impression, Kazane nods.

“That fellow also went rampage around two months ago. I heard after it annihilated around ten parties that are quite famous around here, that fellow went hiding.”

Hearing that Yumika turned speechless.

“Ten parties? Annihilated ?”

“I also heard the last three parties work together and finally able to drive it away, but both side ended up heavily injured and unable to finish each other. Only two people survived from those parties.”

“…”

Yumika looks at Kazane with a dumbfounded face, but partway she recalled something and asked timidly.

“By the way, why are you talking about this?”

“Well, of course because this is our next target.”

“Oh…” (TL: this is in Romaji… think something like Yumika goes “Oh My God”)

Yumika falls crestfallen to her knees.

“Actually there’s announcement that everyone with C rank or above have the obligation to participate. This is a forced participation event, right.”

Hearing tempest inducing words from Kazane, Yumika asked back.

“Is-is there no ‘evasion flag’?”

“It had been destroyed!”

With a manly attitude, Kazane slapped the written request to the table, creating ‘bam’ sound.

Yumika tried to summarize what Kazane said, in her head.

This morning, when Kazane encountered and talked with the two survivors—Garra and Anna, people from the guild had came and delivered the written request in a panic.

From the beginning Garra and Anna collects information so they could take revenge, and when they heard the berserk ogre returned the day before yesterday, they were determined to challenge it once again. However the circumstances they got from the guild is even crueller than what they imagined.

It seems that the berserk ogre returned while bringing 300 ogre tribe subordinates from Black Stone Forest ahead of the valley.

“In the Black Stone Forest, it seems like we can harvest black crystals. I thought we should drop by sometime later.”

Let’s ignore Kazane's words for now, most likely, the target of the berserk ogre is ‘here’ (TL: Winlard Town). Of course, it’s to take revenge towards the human who provoked it. Then the ogre groups who are coming to invade even now, most likely will arrive at this town the day after tomorrow.

“And somehow Minishia Kingdom's soldiers can’t move right now.”

“Why!?”

Hearing Yumika's query Kazane replied with a troubled look.

“Didn’t you also hear about it? The war. If they don’t keep the soldiers at the border, it might turn bad when the time comes. And even though they don’t really want to attack, if the Kingdom shows any opening, they might attack out of greed you see.”

“Ah, now that I think about it, that's plausible. That’s also the reason of the rise on the price of core stones, I think.”

Yumika said that while scratching her head until even her hair turned dishevelled.

“That’s why they tried to use whatever possible war potential they had, and decided to forced guild members to participate. That’s why if you tried to escape after you had accepted it, you’ll end up like this!”

Kazane makes a gesture of cutting her neck with her hand.

“No way…”

“I’m serious. They are desperate because this town is at stake.”

Kazane nods while making a sound of agreement ‘hum hum’.

“Well, our luck is excellent right? If we haven’t become C rank we will miss this rare event.”

“This is a bad luck I say!”

“Jirou weeped so hard hearing this.”

“Of course!”

There should be a limit to how bad one’s luck can be.

“Then, you accepted it?” Yumika asks in desperation.

“Yup. Even if it’s not an obligation, I think I’ll still accept it.” However…Kazane continues.

“You can choose as you like.”

“What do you mean?”“It’s just like what I said. Those who received this written request means that they’ve ‘accepted’ this quest. You can just pretend that you don’t know. That way if you have already returned to Mrs. Rinrie's beloved Conrad town, they won’t pursue anymore.”

“That is…”

Yumika's words came to halt. That would mean running away and leaving Kazane behind.

“Why you, why are you saying something like that?”“Well…I want to respect your free will too.”

Hearing Kazane's words, Yumika breathe a sigh.

(Good grief. Even if you said it with a light tone, your expression doesn’t fit…do you think you can deceive me?)

They’ve been in an inseparable relationship since middle school. She knew, even though this girl has bad habit of fearing strangers, she also has personality which easily succumb to loneliness.

(Ah I don’t care anymore! This troublesome fellow!)

That’s why at times like this, Yumika must act pushy.

“Noisy. Lend it to me!”

“Ah!”

Taking the written request forcibly, Yumika write her own name with a pen.

“Yeah yeah, now that I’ve decided to participate, don’t ever say something like step back.”

“Yumika, that’s reckless.”

Hearing that, Yumika laugh with ‘humph’. Since the beginning she doesn’t have the slightest intention to leave Kazane behind and go somewhere else.

(Even I--! I don’t want to return to that day when I can only listen to what Mrs. Rinrie said listlessly. I don’t want to return to the days where you’re not here, ever again)

Yumika thought something like that from the bottom of her heart.

“And since it’s you, you don’t even consider losing right?”

“Guess so.”

Kazane nods. Kazane’s expression has returned to the usual.

“Then there’s no problem. And also,” Yumika looks at the spear that leaned against the wall.

“Since I have the spear that Master selected especially for me, there’s no way I can run away.”

Hearing Yumika said it, Kazane remembers something.

“By the way, you went to Master's house right? Did you not hear about this incident?”

Not only Master is an influential person, he should also know this kind of affair, thought Kazane.

“Umm. It’s not house, but work place. But now that I thought about it, the uproar in the back was perhaps about this thing.”

(Then perhaps Master had also foresaw this and gave that spear as a farewell gift)

Thought Kazane. In addition, he also doesn’t tell her about this Ogre incident to give her an option to escape.

(…What a deep person, Master is)

Then inside Kazane, her friendship degree towards master increased.

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Name : Yuihama Kazane

Occupation : Magic Swordwoman

Equipment : Two Handed Steel Sword, Leather Jacket, Metal Gauntlet, Plain Clothes, Leather Trouser, Leather Shoes, Pouch

Level : 17

Vitality : 50

Magic Power : 83

Strength : 18

Agility : 13

Endurance : 13

Wisdom : 26

Dexterity : 15

Spell : [[Fly]] [[Fire]] [[Heal]]

Skill : [[Goblin Language]] [[Night Vision]] [[Crushing Blow]] [[Dog’s Sense of Smell]] [[Golem Maker]] [[Charge]] [[Fire Principle: Second Chapter]] [[Healing Principle: Second chapter]] [[Air Jump]]

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Yumika : Isn’t this development kind of fast?

Kazane : Not as fast as Jirou’s life