(AIZEN: I’m guessing this WN volume was skipped/altered in the LN or placed differently

because I can’t find where to place LN vol.11 illustrations here. This next illustration if
for the previous volume)
When I woke up, right in front of my eyes and nose was an object that looked like a
black ball of fur.

I don’t know what I’m saying, but there really is a black ball of fur right in front of me,
and it’s tickling the tip of my nose.

“Hmmm……?”

Is this the rescue’s quarters?

I look out the window and it still looks light but……

“Why am I here……?”

I’m sure I’ve been doing everything I can to get the knights away from the fireballs
falling from the sky during the battle against the Demon King’s army,…… but maybe
I’ve fainted again?

Little by little, as I was going through my memories, the black ball of fur in front of me
twitched, two ears stood up and red eyes turned towards me.

“Kyuul!”

“Ah, Kukuru. It’s you, isn’t it? No wonder I felt so ticklish.”

What I thought was a black ball of fur was Kukuru, the Leader’s pet noir rabbit. He put
his face to my cheek and rubbed it with a friendly gesture.

As always, he is a demonic, deceptive creature.

I get up from my bed, stroking Kukuru, and find something black lying on the floor.

Looking closely, I saw that it was an owl rolling its eyes.

“……Nea?”
“……Ha!? Why am I on the floor!

“That’s what I want to hear.”

Why was Nea, who had transformed into an owl, sleeping on the floor?

She woke up at the sound of my voice, found Kukuru on my shoulder, and spread her
wings wide as if in anger.

“Aaaaaaahhh, you did this! The one who pushed me out of bed!”

“Kuh.”

Nea flaps her wings and pushes Kukuru out of the way, landing on my shoulder. As a
bystander, I have no idea what is going on…

So you were sleeping in bed and Kukuru knocked you out?

“Fuuuh! Fuuuh!”

“Well, well, calm down. Anyway, Nea. I know you’re in the rescue quarters here……,
but why am I here? What about the leader? Is everyone okay?”

Nea, who is threatening Kukuru, who has turned to the opposite shoulder, asks her
what is happening now

“You were asleep for three days after the battle. The moment after that attack from the
sky was over, you collapsed.”

“……Well, I remember that much too. So, everyone is……”

“All the rescues are fine. Rose was seriously injured in the fight with Nero, but
somehow she is still alive and well. But you were the only one who was too tired to
wake up right away, so they brought you here.”

“……I see.”

“By the way, the only members of the group who came back were me and Ferrum. The
others are on the battlefield treating the wounded.”
……Rose is seriously injured, huh?

I thought I wouldn’t be unscathed against Nero Argents of…… though. But from the
way Nea was talking, I’m glad to see she’s doing well.

I’m sure she’s still taking the initiative as a rescue.

It’s not just the fatigue that has put me back here, though I should be back there too.

As I was getting out of bed, the door to my room was opened and a dark-haired boy
named Nack came in.

He shouted in surprise at me as I stepped off the bed.

“……Usato-san! You’re awake!!!!”

“Yeah, Nack. I’m home.”

“Welcome back!”

I finally get up, somewhat relieved to see Nack greeting me cheerfully.

“You were at the castle while we were away?”

“Yes. I’ve been helping out with various things. When I heard that Usato-san had
returned after the battle, I came back here.”

“I see……”

I’m so glad I made it back here alive.

It’s like my home in this world.

As I think about this, Nack looks as if he has remembered something, and he looks
huffing and puffing.

“Yes, Amako-san and her friends are just preparing a meal for us.”

“Amako is?”
“Yes. It seems that she saw Usato-san wake up in her premonition, and just now, she
and Suzune-san went to…… make a meal.”

“What? Senpai’s here too?”

It is true that I was hungry, but I didn’t think that my senpai was here.

No, though I was happy to see that he was safe.

“Kazuki is here too.”

“Kazuki too…… then we’d better get downstairs as soon as possible…… Nea, Nack,
would you mind waiting downstairs for me to change?”

“Yes. Nack, let’s go!”

“Oh, yes!”

Nack follows Nea out the door with a flutter of his wings.

I put down Kukuru from my shoulder and went to change clothes — suddenly I saw a
group uniform hanging on the wall.

“……”

I had Rose fix my troupe uniform, but because of the battle it got dirty again and I got
a lot of small scratches and things like that.

It’s a shame, too.

There are some people I couldn’t help.

“But…… I’m still……”

“Kyu?”

I huff at Kukuru, who tilts his little head and looks up at me, and pat him again.

And I remember. I remember the Leader who saved me in the middle of the battle,
when Nero Argents was about to finish me off.
“……Kukuru, your master is still a great woman.”

What you have lost will never come back.

I’m not going to stop there, even though I feel helpless and regretful.

Even after the battle is over, it doesn’t mean that the struggle against the Demon King’s
army is over.

After getting dressed, I went downstairs to find that the lower floor was more crowded
than I had expected.

Kazuki, Nack, Ferrum and Nea were sitting on the chairs at the long table where the
tough guys usually sit, while senpai and Amako were standing and serving dishes and
food.

It was around noon at that time of the day?

The time of day is probably around midday.

“Oh, Usato-kun! You’ve come down!”

“Senpai……”

Noticing us, senpai smiles like a flower and beckons us over.

I’m glad to see that both senpai and Kazuki seem to be doing well.

With relief, as I try to sit down in the empty seat next to Kazuki, Amako approaches
me.

“I’m home. Amako.”

“……Yeah, welcome back. Usato.”

I take the bowl of bread she’s holding and talk to her.

I’m not sure if she was looking after me when I passed out or not.
When I saw Amako’s sleepy eyes, I guessed it, so I lightly touched her shoulder and
cast a healing spell on her.

“Did I make you worry?”

“No. I trusted that Usato would be fine.”

“I see…… But thank you.”

Once I thanked her firmly, Amako looked away slightly and gave me a troubled look.

“Um, there’s something I want to talk to you about later.”

“Something you want to talk about?”

“Yeah.”

“……Okay.”

When Amako replies, she and senpai go back towards the kitchen.

What is it? It seemed to be a thought, but was it something to do with foreknowledge?

It was somewhat like the time in the land of the wicked dragons and beastmen, though.

……No, we’ll talk about it later, for now let’s sit down.

While placing the bowl of bread on the table, I greet Kazuki next to me.

“Good morning. Kazuki.”

“Good morning. You’re awake at last. Usato.”

At any rate, after exchanging reunion greetings with Kazuki, I was thirsty, so I took a
sip of the water at hand, and saw Ferum, who was sitting diagonally in front of me,
glaring at me in a rather unfaithful manner.

“Finally, you’re awake. You’ve been sleeping too long. You.”

“Have I been sleeping that long?”

“Three days is a lot of sleep.”

I didn’t want to pass out at all.

I laughed bitterly, and Nea, who was leaning her elbows on the table next to Ferrum,
spoke up.

“It’s not the first time he’s fainted, you know. He fainted and collapsed at least three
or four times in the course of his travels.”

“What, are you kidding me?”

Ferrum looks at me delicately and is incredulous.

No, well, I admit that I faint every time there’s an incident.

And when I thought about it, I looked at Ferm and remembered something that
concerned me throughout the fight.

“……Oh, yeah.”

“What?”

“I’m glad I was able to un-assimilate with you, because there was a possibility that……
I would have stayed like that forever. Hahaha.”

It’s hard for me, too, to remain assimilated with Ferrum all the time.

It’s not that I don’t want to be with her, it’s just that it must be hard for both of us to
be in our group clothes all the time and to be with each other 24/7.

When I say this somewhat jokingly, Ferrum, who is extremely upset, glares at me even
more.

“I-I-I-I too was so excited to get away from you, too! First of all, don’t forget that my
magic just likes you!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry about that……?”

It wasn’t a good idea to make fun of her, because it was her own magic. And in Ferrum’s
case, unlike me, she might have been taking it very seriously.

I don’t know what Ferrum thought of my apology, but she starts to groan with her head
in her hands.

“Ugh~……”

“Pfft, you’re not being honest.”

“Shut up!”

I’m kind of grinning and talking to her, and I’ll leave Ferrum to Nea.

Feeling somewhat hungry, I was looking at the food on the table when this time Kazuki
approached me.

“Looks like we both made it home safely, huh?”

“Yes, we did. It was really hard, but…… yeah, it’s strange that we’re doing this now.”

How many times have I almost died……?

When I stalled Nero Argents, I didn’t feel like living.

“You got it for Kazuki and Senpai, right? The hero’s weapon.”

“Yeah. I’m a gauntlet case like Usato, and senpai became a katana.”

“Senpai is a katana, huh? Well, yes, in a way it is as expected……”

In fact, I had a feeling that senpai would be a weapon with a cool image, like a sword
or chain sickle.

Combined with blitz, she looks like a fighter.

When Kazuki says he has a gauntlet similar to mine,…… could it be the wristband-like
thing wrapped around his left wrist? Mine is a bracelet, but it’s very different from
Kazuki’s.

“When I first used this, I also talked to Shinryu…… Falga-sama.”

“Falga-sama? What did he say?”

“He gave me some advice on how to use it and how to form my mind after……”

Falga-sama has helped me a lot.

He must be exhausted from making two armour…… too.

If I could, I would meet him again and thank him.

“The end of the battle against the…… demon king’s army,”

Nea and Nack told me that the battle was over, but I don’t feel that way at all.

In fact, it seems as if the situation is not over yet.

“Kazuki, what’s going on in the kingdom of Lingle now? It’s not like after the last battle,
is it?”

“Yes, it is. The battle was won, but the damage done by that last attack was too much.
Now everything is moving so fast that there is not enough time to celebrate the
victory.”

“……Are the injured knights still on that battlefield?”

Kazuki nodded at my words.

The reason why all the rescues are not here is because they are treating the injured
people in the battlefield.

Probably Gerna and the others who came in extra numbers will have joined them, so
if it’s true, I should probably head there too, now that I’ve woken up from my stupor.

Or rather, if I can go, I want to head there right away.

“……I’m not the only one who was sent back to the Lingle Kingdom because I fainted,
am I?”

“Yeah. It seems to be the same reason why we, the heroes, were sent back here.”
“Kazuki and senpai……?”

I couldn’t predict that much.

If the two heroes are involved, it might be something serious.

“Sorry for the wait. I’ve brought the food!”

“It’s mostly leftovers, though.”

As I was thinking this, senpai and Amako appeared from the kitchen carrying plates
with food on them.

When Kazuki saw them, his stern expression relaxed.

“Now that the food is served, let’s talk about it later. You’re hungry, aren’t you, Usato?”

“Sure, I haven’t eaten anything in three days.”

Whatever we’re going to do, we have to get back in shape first.

Amako sits next to me, and I sit in front of her, and she smiles at me as usual.

“I’m really glad you’re awake.”

“Haha, you’re overreacting……”

“You’re not overreacting. I’d be nothing without you, you know.”

What do you mean you’d be…… nothing?

I’m not sure if she’s being serious or joking, but I know she’s worried about me, so I’ll
take that as a yes.

“Don’t take yourself too lightly, Usato.”

“What?”

“I’m sure everyone is worried about you. Including all of us here.”

“……”

Even senpai, who is usually playful, is decisive when she has to be.

I guess that’s why I never miss her……

“Hey. Why are you sitting next to me?”

“Hmm?”

As I was thinking about this, Ferrum was talking to senpai sitting next to her with a
troublesome look on her face.

For a moment, she reacted with a puzzled look, but soon her face became full of
confidence.

“I’ve always wanted to talk to you. It’s the first time we’ve talked…… face to face, isn’t
it? My name is Suzune. Do you mind if I touch your horns or something?”

“How can you talk to someone who almost killed you in a normal way……?”

“Well, that’s all in the past now. If you’re a friend of Usato’s, you’re a friend of mine……!

“I know that’s not right, even though I know that! You’ve never talked to me properly!”

Oh, it’s the usual senpai.

No, if there’s no rut, I’m happy for her, but senpai is being too aggressive and Ferrum
is being pushed.

“I would love to be friends with a tsundere boxy silver-haired brown demon race or
something! Ferrum! Let’s make friends with me!”

“Whoa! Usato, help! I can’t understand a word you’re saying!”

But what about Kazuki?

I’m sure he was almost killed by the black knight as well.

He lowered the hand he was holding to his chin and spoke to Kazuki, who was
watching the exchange between Ferrum and his senpai next to him.

“Kazuki is…… about Ferme.”

“Hmm? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have feelings for her……”

Kazuki’s gaze turns to Ferme.

“When I see the way you’re fitting in here like this, I know you’re not as horrible as
you were then.”

“……Yes, you’re right. Even from my point of view, she’s changed.”

“Besides, you worked to help Usato in this battle, didn’t you? Then I don’t have
anything to worry about.”

If Kazuki says so, it’s okay.

With a sense of relief, I looked at Ferrum and senpai, and while I was looking away,
Fermu had grabbed onto the chair where Nea was sitting.

“Nea, exchange seats! I don’t want to get involved with this girl! That’s him! She’s a
pain in the ass, just like Ururu!”

“No! You’ll sit there as a sacrifice to Suzune!”

“You, you, you!

Nea clings to her seat holding onto dear life, and Ferrum tries to take the chair from
her.

When senpai sees them, her expression lights up as if she has had a flash of inspiration.

“Ferum, if it’s my seat, it’s ok to exchange it!”

“Nea, you’re coming down with me!!”

“Hoorah!”

A noisy and joyful scene, unrelated to the battle.

The smiling senpai and the desperate faces of Ferrum and Nea.

Amako, Kazuki, and Nack look at these girls with a wry smile.

I looked around at them once more, and finally, with a sense of relief, I reached for my
first meal in three days.
After we finished eating, me, senpai, Kazuki, Nea and Ferrum moved outside to the
training area.

The reason for the training ground is that while Amako and Nack were cleaning up the
dishes, we were shown the armour of the two heroes as we talked about what we were
going to do.

“You haven’t even come home, Bluerin……”

As I look at the empty stables and mutter this, Nea, who was nearby, speaks to me.

“They say he’s still over there because he’s so powerful.”

“I wonder if he’ll cause trouble for the people over there……”

“Don’t worry about it.”

……Well, it’s all right, isn’t it?

When I arrived at the training ground after visiting the stables, I first heard from
Kazuki and his senpai why I was sent back to the kingdom first.

“The reason we were sent back here hasn’t been revealed yet, you know.”

“The king has only told us to rest in case things go wrong.”

“When you say it hasn’t been revealed, you mean……”

Kazuki nodded his head at the words of senpai.

As if to prepare for a situation. Is it like Lloyd-sama brought us back here in

anticipation of what happens next?

“I think it was probably a decision to keep us from worrying about the battle that just
ended.”
“I see……”

I understand that, but why did Nea and Ferrum come back?

I ask Nea and Ferrum, who came to the training ground with me, and Nea answers me.

“Rose said she was going to accompany me.”

“……That’s it?”

“She’s a capable woman, she’s got to have an idea, doesn’t she?”

“Well, she’s not the kind of person who makes decisions without thinking……”

I do think about it, though, and sometimes I’m unreasonable.

“I guess we’ll just have to wait until we hear from the kingdom now……”

“Right. The castle is also busy dealing with the aftermath of the war, so it’s not a
situation where you can get an audience right away.”

After the war, they’re probably busy processing communications to the various
kingdoms, operating supplies, and so on……

The knights are also out, so they are likely to be genuinely understaffed.

Oh, and speaking of knights,……

“I heard that Leona-san is coming over here, but……”.

In the middle of the battle, Miarak’s hero, Leona-san, came to the rescue.

If she is coming here, I should go and tell her thank you right away, I thought, and
senpai answered me.

“Oh, she’s at the castle now. I was talking to the people at the castle when I came here,
but I think I can see her if I go.”

“Then I’ll have to say hello to her when I get to the castle.”
When we do, shall we take Nea and Amako with us?

I’d really like to have Arc-san with me, but I don’t know if he’s back this way……

“But, Usato-kun. The connections you’ve made in this world are tremendous.”

“No, it’s not—“

When I was about to say “no”, I saw a lot of faces in my mind.

I have known people like Halfa, Eva, Lucas and others who are so powerful that the
word ‘strong’ is not enough, so I nodded to senpai while breaking out in a cold sweat.

“……Well, well, I’m aware of it.”

“It’s true that his friendships and normal ones seem to be few and far between.”

“You could say that.”

“……”

And don’t forget that you’re in the unusual category too, right?

I stare at Ferrum and Nea, who are nodding, sighing and speaking to senpai.

“The best part of it, though, is that you’re my senpai.”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?”

I smile back at senpai who tilts her head with a smile on her face.

“You are the most characterful. You’re the best by far.”

“That’s not something you say with a smile, is it?”

“Yes, you have a point.”

“Even Kazuki-kun!”

Her cheeks relax as Kazuki smiles funny.

In case you’re wondering, Eva is in the same league as her senpai.

The impact when I first met her was so strong that I still remember it.

The Norn-sama, Leona-san, Kanoko-san and others I met afterwards were also
considerable, though…

“Now that we’ve digressed, I think it’s time for me and Kazuki-kun to show you the
armour of the hero.”

“I guess so.”

Kazuki nods at senpai’s words.

Nea, reacting to the Armour of the heroes, transforms into an owl and jumps on my
shoulder.

Apparently, she wants to see it up close.

“The armour of the brave, eh?”

“After all, Nea is also concerned about it?”

Of course not. Unlike you, she has unique abilities.

“My gauntlet has abilities, too.”

“It’s not as if there was no such thing. It’s just a hard gauntlet that doesn’t allow magic
to pass through.”

That’s true, but……

A gauntlet that is just hard enough to be impervious to magic, sorcery and all kinds of
things.

The ability is plain, but I like it, so it’s not a problem for me.

“It’s a great thing that you can do with no risk of magic outbursts, you know?”

“……I think it’s just that you’re crazy. I wonder how you ended up fighting the way you
are now……”

Nea gives a small sigh and her cheeks twitch as she wonders if that’s as far as it goes.

As we are talking, Kazuki steps out into the middle of the training area.

Apparently, he’ll be the first to show off his armour.

“Let’s start with me. Usato, I’m going to do a little magic here, if that’s okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

“Okay,……”

He nodded and held his left hand up in front of him, as if to remind himself of
something.

Then the wristband on his wrist was enveloped in light, and in the next moment it had
transformed into a silver gauntlet.

A pulsating glow emanated from the scaly ripples carved into it, and it seemed to take
on a slightly sharper and more aggressive shape than my own.

“My armour is a gauntlet case that encourages the manipulation of magic. It allows me
to handle light magic as danger-free magic, and it also allows me to strengthen my
system.”

Having said that, Kazuki, who created the magic bullet, touches it with his right hand,
which is not caged.

As he grips and crushes it like a softball, could it be possible to adjust its hardness and
elasticity?

As I looked at his magic and pondered this, Kazuki lightly released a magic bullet held
in his right hand towards me.

“Here!”

“Oh!?”
Quickly, he deploys his right arm to catch it.

What returned was the feel of a resilient ball. Fearfully, when I touched it with my left
hand, the light system magic did not disappear and I could touch it normally.

“Is it really magic power, this?”

“I want to touch it too!”

Nea on his shoulder is also interested, and when he gets down to his palms, he starts
poking them with his wings, as if he’s drinking.

I notice that Ferum is also looking at my hand, blinking his eyes.

“Wow. I don’t think it’s magic if you’re just touching it…… It’s a simplified version of
light magic that makes anything you touch disappear?

As she spits out an exclamation of admiration, the magic bullet on her palm returns to
Kazuki.

Kazuki nimbly catches the magic bullet with a snap and makes it float in the palm of
his gauntlet.

“I’ve had to worry about a lot of things when using this magic, but with this Kagome, I
don’t have to worry about that.”

“Wow, it’s like a rubber ball……”

“Haha, I realised that later, but I can also give hardness and elasticity to magic bullets
like now, so I guess I can apply this to something too.”

So saying, Kazuki slams the magic bullet to the ground and bounces it

I’ve never thought of adding elasticity to the magic bullet itself.

“Kazuki, is it your basket hand’s ability to make magic bullets elastic?”

“No, this is a kind of benefit from the assistance of magical manipulation. It’s more like
weaving magic into a sphere. “
“Weave the magic power in……”

Weaving in is only a metaphor, and in reality it is probably a technique that is achieved

through meticulous manipulation of magic.

……I wonder if I could do it too?

He takes a small deep breath as he puts his hand to his chin and stares at the magic
bullet, catching it with a snap as it rebounds from the ground.

“And……!”

Kazuki begins to pour magic power into the magic bullet floating in his palm.

The magic bullets that were poured in and converged became more and more
luminous——

“—This is it.”

As Kazuki mutters this, the magic power fizzles into the air as the magic bullet in his
palm is squeezed.

The residue of magic power overflows from the pattern on gauntlet’s hand as if smoke
is releasing heat.

“It’s a great way to make sure you’re getting the most out of your money. It’s still
difficult to adjust the output, and after using it, the function of the gauntlets will be
restricted for a while, though.”

“No, it still felt pretty bad, but……”

“Yeah, it’s really dangerous, to be honest. At least not in the presence of allies.”

In the event that you have any questions regarding where and the best way to get in
touch with us, please do not hesitate to contact us.

If at all possible, I can only hope that he doesn’t have any opponents who would use
his systemic enhancement.

“Well then, I guess that’s the end of my introduction.”

“Yep. Well then, I guess it’s my turn next.”

Senpai stepped forward to replace Kazuki.

On her left wrist is a sort of yellow and black ribbon, and when it glows as it did on
Kazuki’s, it reveals a sword in a scabbard.

Clutching the scabbard with his left hand, the senpai turns to me with a smile that
cannot hide his happiness.

“Mine is a sword! It’s a Japanese sword!”

“I understand that you are happy, so please calm down a little.”

How happy are you? I know how you feel.

But…… I like my current gauntlets, but I also like swords.

I didn’t intend to pick up a weapon that could hurt people, so it took the form of a
gauntlet, but if I hadn’t been a healing wizard in the rescue squad, it would have taken
the form of a sword like my senpai.

“Nea. If my armour was not a gauntlet, but a sword–“

“It heals the person you cut. Or maybe a sword that only gives pain.”

“I haven’t told you anything yet.”

What kind of sword only gives pain to the opponent?

Is that it? Is it the sword version of the healing punch?

Either way, I don’t know how to handle a sword, so I’ll probably just use it as a blunt
instrument while it’s in its sheath.

“Its name is Inumaru.”

Senpai who spoke proudly turned back to herself and looked at the sword closely.

The black scabbard has a lightning-like pattern engraved on the tsuba.

It’s the first time I’ve seen a real sword, but it’s more massive than I expected.

Moreover, the name Inumaru is……

“I see, so you put “Inugami senpai” (Inugami senpai’s “dog”) on top of it? Did you go
for a daring simplicity?”

“Do you understand? Do you get it?”

“Yes, of course. I like the simplicity of it.”

I nodded my head in agreement.

If you give it an elaborate name, you might forget it later on.

“How do you know that……?”

“I know it’s lame. Other than that, I don’t know.”

Nea and Ferrum, who are puzzled by the exchange between me and senpai, are
muttering something, but let’s concentrate on talking with senpai for now.

Now, it seems that he will teach us the abilities of the hero’s armour —- the Inumaru.
A little further away from us, senpai put her hand on the hilt and pulled out the sword
from the scabbard.

The blade of the sword, which has a pale yellow light and a wet sheen, is exposed.

An electric shock then gushes from the blade to the hilt, flowing into senpai’s body
and electrifying it as it is.

“My sword’s main abilities are to assist with magical power output, enhance
sharpness, and provide additional attacks with electric shocks. By the way, I’m in what
used to be called ‘Thunder Beast Mode’. If I had to name it, I would call it…… Thunder
Beast Mode 2.”

When you say thunder beast mode 2, you mean that the operation has not only been
improved, but also genuinely strengthened.

“It used to be very violent, but now…… it’s much calmer.”

“Yes, it is. Before, the thunder beast mode wasted a lot of electricity and the duration
was extremely short. That’s what this sword has solved.”

Senpai swung her sword lightly, and just like that, she instantly scuttled out of sight.

I manage to follow her with my eyes, but her speed has increased and she is more
difficult to catch.

Senpai’s figure, which is moving in a slow and steady manner as if stepping on a step,
gives the illusion that it is an alter ego.

“Amazing……”

“Wow. I’m going to pull it off here. Humans can move this fast, can’t they?”

“Yes, we can. It’s nothing compared to me.”

“……You’re human, but you’re not in the human category, are you……?”

Feeling unaccountable to Nea, who turned her gaze away from me with a subtle
expression, I returned my gaze to senpai, who glided to her original position and
landed on her feet.

Having dispelled the sword and scattered the electric shocks, senpai slowly sheathed
the sword while taking zanshin.

With a mindlessly smug look on her face, she calls out to her after she has delivered
the sword.

“Senpai.”

“……Hoo, what’s that? In case you’re wondering, I’m the type of person who thrives on
praise.”

“What? Well, it was cool.”

“……”

Why are you embarrassed when you’re the one who prompted me to praise you?……?
Why are you making me embarrassed too……

I cough and talk to her to get her mind off it.

“That said, you’ve practised, haven’t you?”

“Yes!”

Wow, what a great smile.

After returning the sword to its ribbon state in a good mood, senpai comes back to us.

“Well, next is Usato-kun, isn’t it?”

“What? Me?”

“Yes, yes.”

“But you both know the characteristics of my gauntlet, don’t you?”

“Oh, no. What I want to know is–“

Senpai, her eyes blazing, broke off and then opened her mouth.

“I’m talking about the black and white Usato-kun I saw on the battlefield!”

“Black and white? Oh, you mean that!

I remember that time you said, “I’ll look forward to it later!” I had forgotten.

I forgot all about it, but I didn’t think I’d have to explain it here and now.
After being shown the armour of the hero by Inugami-senpai and Kazuki, I was asked
by senpai to show me the state in which I was assimilated with Ferrum.

I knew that senpai would be interested in me in that form, but……

“But you know……”

“It’s……”

I glanced at Ferrum and got a jittery look back.

Ferrum doesn’t seem to like being in that state, and I don’t want to force her.

Ah, right.

“Ferrum, can I have just my arm?”

“What about……? What do you mean, just my arm?”

She tilts her head, and I raise my left arm.

“Well, it’s like, you can partially attach your magic to my arm.”

“If only in the form of……”

“Okay, then, please.”

“……”

Ferrum, who somehow became miffed, extends dark-system black magic from his
palm to my left arm, and it turns into a sharply shaped gauntlet, similar to the one at
the time of the war, covering me up to my elbow.

“Yes!”
A sharp black gauntlet, reminiscent of the black knights of old, contrasting with the
silver gauntlet on my right.

When senpai saw the change in my left arm, she tilted her head with a smile on his
face.

“Hmm? Hmm?”

“Whoa, Usato! What’s going on with that!”

“Will we now be borrowing the magic of Ferrum’s dark magic? The rest can be
done…… this way……”

The black gauntlet covering my left arm is transformed into a sword that seems to
extend from my forearm.

The sword is shown to the two heroes, extended with a light shuffling sound.

“It can change its shape like a sword.”

“You can do that too? That’s cool!”

Feeling better about Kazuki, who nodded in admiration, I decided to explain the
techniques that could be activated in this state.

“‘Hmph, by the way, the technique to be unleashed with this is the Darkne–‘

“Healing Burst Slash. Isn’t that right, Usato?”

“Eh bu—-.”

“Isn’t that right?”

“……Yes.”

Nea corrected me with a bite.

Stared at by her cold eyes, I had no choice but to nod meekly, my shoulders drooping.

I knew I should have used ‘Dark Sword, Healing Raging Wave’……

“For now, it’s like this.”

“Wa- wa- wa- wait a —……

In the event that you’ve got a lot more than one, you’ll be able to get a lot more.

“Usato-kun! What is the meaning of this?”

“Yeah, no, so it’s like I’m borrowing Ferrum’s magic.”

“You can’t normally borrow someone else’s magic, can you?

“That’s a fair question.”

Nea nod on my shoulder.

You’re right, I didn’t explain it well enough.

“As Ferrum lived here, her dark magic trait changed from ‘reversal’ to the ability to
‘assimilate’. And by “assimilation”, I mean merging with others? Assimilation? That’s
how I was able to borrow Ferrum’s power.”

“Yugou? Robot? Henkei?”

The first thing that comes out of that phrase is the genre of anime that senpai was
watching in the original world.

“No, it’s not a robot or anything like that, it’s just that Ferrum assimilates with me so
that I can use my abilities.”

“……No, wait, I know. I know that’s the case but, it’s more like an instinct, or a refusal
of the brain to understand……!”

“……Hmmm, how should I put it……?”

As I was twisting my head around senpai holding her head, Ferrum walked up to me,
perhaps unable to watch.

When I looked at her face, I saw that her eyes were glazed over and her mouth was in
a heap, and she looked unhappy as I could tell.
“Ferrum?”

“Wouldn’t it be quicker if I showed you in person?”

“Yeah, but I thought you didn’t want to…”

“Forget it! Just be quiet!”

Ferrum told me, taking a small deep breath and closing her eyes.

Then her body was sucked into the shadow at her feet, and a black-coloured magic
overflowed from where the shadow had been.

Senpai and Kazuki are surprised when Ferrum disappears before their eyes.

“”Eh!””

The shadow in which Ferrum disappeared moves on the ground like a living thing, and
when it enters my shadow, it travels down my legs and covers my body.

As I am not wearing a team uniform, my entire body is transformed into a black racing
suit, except for the gauntlet on my left arm and the armor on my legs.

Assimilation” with Ferrum.

This is a way of fighting that is made possible by her altered characteristics.

It is also a state in which the power of Ferrume and I can be fully demonstrated.

But…

“You’d be surprised what comes out of nowhere……”

“If you look closely, you can see that they are clothed rather than assimilated……”

For me too, it’s heartbreaking to be assimilated out of the blue.

There’s nothing unpleasant about the sensation, but you have to be prepared.

“It’s quicker this way.”

“Not at all, I can’t help it……”

Ferrum’s voice echoes from inside me.

“U-U-U-U-Usato-kun and Ferrum, they’ve combined!”

“Wow, what’s going on……?”

For now, I should explain to the two surprised people about my current state.

I explain Ferrum’s ‘assimilation’ dark magic and the benefits of it to senpai and Kazuki
briefly.

“Oh, I see, so that means that the figure is clothed in Ferrum’s dark magic……”

Senpai mutters this and looks at me with a stern gaze.

I think her gaze is fixed, if not for her mind.

“W-what is it?”

“I’m jealous! Usato-kun!”

“Uh-huh……”

In a way, it’s what I expected, but it’s not out of jealousy, it’s out of tension and I take a
step backwards.

“So you’re saying that by merging with Ferrum, you’ve become able to handle its
power!”

“Yeah, yeah, well, it’s assimilation to be exact……”

“What happens when you put a messenger Nea-chan on your shoulders, and even the
demon Ferrum is clothed as magic! I have mixed feelings about equipping a girl, but I
envy you more than that!

She spoke so fast that all I could reply was “What? Huh?”

I knew the tension, but even I couldn’t cope with it.

Kazuki was watching from the back with a cheery smile on his face, but I couldn’t rely
on him.

“So, Ferrum! Fusion with me!”

I’m not sure what she means by that, but she pulls away from me and spreads her
arms wide, her eyes full of anticipation.

Is it a streamlined attempt to assimilate with Ferrum?

……Well, we all know that senpai is stronger with dark magic than me, so let’s have
Ferrum try it.

“I can’t.”

“Why!”

She was rejected in a quick attack.

While looking at the severely upset senpai, I ask Ferrum the question.

“Ferrum, why can’t you?”

“Because my magical power refuses. Also, Suzune is usually annoying, so it’s

impossible.”

“What?”

“S-senpai!”

Senpai falls backwards as if blown away by something invisible.

I’m sure you’ve jumped yourself.

Or rather, why are you so eager to do the gag-callum move?

When I quickly ran over to her and hugged her up, senpai smiled and stood up, her
legs shaking.

“Fu- Fu fu fu this won’t break my heart……! So I’m just going to have to break the walls
of Ferrum’s mind……!”

“No, let me open my heart in a normal way:……”

“The nickname of the indomitable Suzune is not justified……!”

When did you get called that……?

Ferrum, who is assimilated with me, and Nea, who is on my shoulder, are both pulling
away.

“Suzune, you’re not a hero, you’re just a disappointing person……”

“What the hell is this guy……?”

Senpai was undaunted by these two words.

Her eyes lit up when she saw the gauntlet on my left arm and the leg armour on both
feet as she crowded towards me.

“Your legs and your left arm! It looks just like the Black Knight’s!”

“Yes, it does…… Oh, by the way, Ferrum. Did you decide on this shape?”

When I ask Ferrum inside, she replies without seeming particularly lost.

“No, it just came about on its own. Maybe the black knight’s form made a strong
impression on me? It’s nothing personal.”

I see. Certainly, the period of time they were clothed seems to be longer in the form of
black knights.

Does it mean that maybe, over the course of her life in the rescue squad, this form of
armour might gradually change?

That’s something I’d like to see.

“She wears the armour of a black knight who was once an enemy of……! That’s a truly
fiery development……!”
“Usato. I don’t understand a word he’s saying……”

Hmmm, I get it.

And then I realised, “If you ask me,……”.

In any case, in order to reduce his tension, I explained to him that my current
appearance was not intentional, but an accident.

“No, you see, even for me and Ferrum, we did not expect this appearance. We were in
the middle of a fight with Koga, and we had to fight in this state of mind……, so it was
like an accident.”

“So it’s not intentional, but an unexpected appearance……?”

“……”

No! The more you explain, the more romantic attributes you add to me!

I want to deny it, but I’m embarrassed that I’m the one who has to convince……!

“A-anyway! I’ll tell you what we can do now!”

Let’s move on to explaining our capabilities before we are exposed to any more shame.

In order to avoid any danger, I move away from senpai and Kazuki.

“First of all, the main ability is the ability to change the shape of the magic power of
dark magic, right?”

“When it comes to the shape of magic, that is, like the Black Knight?”

“Yes. For example,…… Ferrum.”

“Okay.”

When I call out to Ferrum, my left arm, which is covered by a dark magic cage,
transforms.

She transforms it into a weapon several times, including becoming a sword and a
shield, and then turns to senpai and Kazuki.

“It’s like this. On the battlefield, you can ride on Bluerin’s back and make his armour.
Well, to some extent, if you recognize that it’s an ability that can be flexible in form,
you’ll be fine.”

“Transformation…… that can be used in all aspects. It’s different from mine and
Kazuki’s. It’s your……, or rather your own, way of fighting.”

“It’s not that big of a deal. Most of the time, you can’t handle it well, so it ends up being
a fist.”

Rather, I think it would be more convenient for me to transform it into a shield, a

hammer or a club, rather than a sword or something.

It would be somewhat easier on me.

“Oh, and I can now perform magic outbursts with my whole body.”

“……whole body?”

Oh, I’d better add this.

They’ll think I’m doing something reckless again.

“The state of being assimilated by dark magic is the same as when you are wearing
this gauntlet, so no matter how much magic power you unleash, I myself will not be
hurt.”

As a test, I aim at a nearby tree and unleash a healing flying fist with his left arm.

A fist-sized shockwave is released from the black Kagote with a popping sound,
striking the tree.

Senpai and Kazuki return their gaze from the small swaying tree to Senpai and Kazuki.

“After that, you can now activate it with the sole of your foot to increase your jumping
power or use it for acceleration.”

“……That means you can do boosting moves, right?”

“I don’t know, but please don’t compare me to a robot:……”

I know I move like I’m supposed to, but I’m too sick to be called a monster, a monster,
and then treated like a weapon……

“That second corps commander…… Koga used a similar technique, but that was
memorised from watching Usato’s moves……”

“What? Kazuki, did you say something?”

I put my hand on my chin and nodded my head at Kazuki, who muttered something
like that.

I only heard the name Koga, but anything related to that guy is like trouble for me, so
I asked him in passing, and Kazuki smiled and waved his hand to the side as if it was
nothing.

“Nah, it’s nothing. You don’t have to worry about it.”

“Oh, yeah? If it’s Koga-related, just tell me. Next time I see him, I’ll punch him in the
face.”

“Oh, yeah?”

I said with a smile, and Kazuki nodded with a shudder.

I’ve heard that Koga has retreated from the battle, but that’s just him. I’m sure he’ll
stand in front of us again.

Maybe he’ll be stronger than when he fought me and bare his fangs. I don’t know for
sure, but after two fights I have a vague idea of what he’s like.

“That idiot army commander. He’s the kind of guy you can punch and he’ll punch you
back while laughing.”

“Then I’ll hit him back, too.”

“I think that’s one of the reasons why they target you, because you hit each other……?”

……That’s true.
I’m sure you’re right. You can’t avoid a fight when you’re on the radar of Koga……

Whatever role I play, whatever the circumstances, it doesn’t matter to him, he’ll just
smile and threaten everyone around him.

“Maybe I should be looking for a new way to fight the next battle……”

What I need now is not a means of attack, but defence.

The fight with Nero Argents made me realise that, completely and completely.

At the very least, I would have died at least once if not for Nea’s resistance spell back
then.

“Don’t just prevent it……”

A defence that relies on the hardness of the cage would be useful, but it would not get
through to a superior opponent.

If Nero had wanted to, I would have been cut down in an instant.

If that is the case, my task from now on will be to search for a means of defence that
can be connected to the next move, rather than just catching or playing it off.

“Magic, with the image of weaving.”

I raise my right arm, covered by a silver basket hand, and look at my open palm.

I continue to focus my consciousness and knead magic in a different way than before.

“…Can’t huh.”

The magic bullet that covered my hand showed a slight shimmer, but that’s all.

It was far from the elasticity of Kazuki’s magic bullet.

“……Usato, what are you doing?”

“I was wondering if we could make the magic as elastic as Kazuki’s.”

Show Nea, who has noticed my actions, the magic of the healing magic that surrounds
the basket hand.

She looks at it for a few seconds, then looks at me with a frown.

“What are you going to do with it, make it elastic?”

“I don’t have a particular idea, but…… you could cover the gauntlets when defending
to soften the impact, or…… you could also use a healing counterattack palm to make
the opponent cower… I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that works for you.

“Can you…… do that?”

To these words, I looked at my own gauntlet once and nodded firmly.

“It’s not impossible.”

“Yes. I’ll help you with that. I’m sure I’m better at handling magic than you are.”

“Thanks.”

All I can do is keep practising steadily so that I can eventually do this with my whole
arm.

After removing the magic from the gauntlet, I clench my open palm.

If I can master this technique, I should be able to make a difference in my own

movements.

“I think we’ve decided what we’re going to do.”

I still can’t predict what will happen next.

But I do know that I can’t live in peace and quiet forever.

Then I have to find out what I can do now and prepare for it.

“Hmmm.”

“? Senpai, what’s wrong?”

I don’t know why senpai is groaning nearby.

Senpai who looked up at my voice had an extremely serious expression.

“What is your name in that form, Usato-kun?”

“……By the way, you didn’t decide on a name.”

“Yes. Then let’s decide now. It’s inconvenient not to have a name.”

It’s true, it’s inconvenient without a name.

I nodded at senpai’s words, put my hand on my chin, and tried to think of a name for
my current appearance.

Black knight…… dark magic…… black, group uniform…… white…… white black……

“How about White and Black mode?”

“Oh, I like that!”

I put polar bears and black bears together to make a bear connection, which is pretty
good, right?

Senpai nodded her head in admiration.

I’m going to use that name from now on…

“”No!””

“Why not?”

“No. It’s too fluffy.”

“If you’re going to do that, I’d rather be in black knight mode.”

I couldn’t help but shout at the strong denial coming from my shoulders and inside.

Due to the opposition of Nea and Ferrum, who strongly refused, and Kazuki, who softly
uttered “I don’t think that’s……”, the name Shirokuro Mode was rejected without a
name.

Kazuki’s sober rejection of the name left me and my senpai almost heartbroken.
After senpai and Kazuki went back to the castle, it was me, Nack, Nea, Ferrum and
Amako who were in the rescue squad.

When the sun was setting and it was getting dark outside, I sat down on a chair in the
dining room after dinner and practised creating the elastic magic that Kazuki had
shown me.

The practice was not that exaggerated, but rather a rather simple one of manipulating
the density of the magic power that floated in my palms.

They were practising this with the help of Nea, but…

“No, I can’t do it anymore.”

“It’s been less than five minutes.”

After a few minutes of practice, I was given a drubbing.

The magic that surrounds my right hand just flickers and shows no signs of changing.

“You can’t do it without me. I’ve seen a bit of it and I know that Kazuki’s magical
manipulation is not something that can be learned with a lot of practice.”

“……magic manipulation,”

“To begin with, when they can manipulate the formless magical hardness of light, they
must be using different senses to handle magic than we do.”

Kazuki once said that he handles magic with natural movements, as if he were
handling his hands.

In other words, for Kazuki, the magic power is the same as the hand that he usually
moves.
It’s easy to express in words, but it’s not so easy to do in practice.

“But… You can’t do it by yourself, but with that gauntlet you’ll never know?”

Nea pointed to the bracelet on my right arm.

A gauntlet, formerly a hero’s sword, given to me by Falga-sama.

“In addition to its ridiculous hardness, the gauntlet has the ability to assist magic
power. It’s not impossible to use that ability to make magic power elastic.

“So, I should use this gauntlet when I practice, right?”

“That’s what I mean. But it’s still not easy.”

So does this mean that even if you learn this technique, you can only handle elastic
magic with your right arm?

“……No, wait.”

“? What’s wrong?”

How about moving the magic bullets created by the basket hand through my body?

When I visited Luxvis for the first time before, I had a mock battle with Halfa.

At that time, I tried to move magic from my arms to my legs in order to confirm Halfa-
san’s “anticipation of movement with fluctuations in magic power” magic vision.

At that time, I wasn’t particularly conscious of it, but…… I might be able to make use
of that technique.

“If you decide to do so, you can practice this as well.”

“Yeah, what are you going to do again? Just the story of making magic elastic is
unrealistic……”

“No, this is something that’s not that hard.”

I spread my palm out in front of Nea and lit up my index finger with magic power.
Show Nea, who tilted her head curiously at the sight of it, the transfer of magic power
from her index finger to her middle finger via her palm.

“Wow, you’re really handy.”

“You should be able to do this as fast and as quickly as possible. The more you improve
this, the more refined the flow of magic power will be, and the more efficient the
healing magic will be…… Maybe.

When she says this confidently, Nea looks at the magic moving from finger to finger in
a curious way.

“When I’m on your shoulder in owl form, I’m channelling my magic in the same way,
you know?”

“Oh, really?”

Thinking back, it was only natural that the principle was the same, since they were
sending magic from Nea through my body, into my arms, legs and so on.

“I’m surprised that you have such basic knowledge.”

“……basic, this?”

“You didn’t know?”

“I learned how to handle magic while running……”

“Yeah, yeah……”

No, now that I think about it, it’s quite a way to learn.

As a result, though, thanks to healing magic, I was able to get through that horrible
training that I can’t even describe in words.

“Most magicians don’t think about training too much because it’s enough to pour
magic power into the hands that emit the magic from the centre of themselves, but……
for you, it might be an effective training.

“You can move the magic from your arms to your legs, but ultimately, you want to be
able to move it the moment you think about it……”

“As for this, it won’t take long. From what I’ve seen, it’s a very smooth transfer of magic
from finger to finger.”

Nea tells me this as I transfer magic power from my index finger to my thumb and
from my thumb to my pinky.

“In the meantime, I’m going to practise…… this ‘magic power transfer’ at the same
time.”

“Don’t get too attached to it, okay? It’s like I’m watching you to make sure you don’t.”

“So, you’re an out-of-control kid. I am.”

“You’re worse than that. Oh, I really can’t take my eyes off you!”

My cheeks twitching, Nea sighs and props her elbows on the table.

She rests her cheek on the table and looks me straight in the eye.

“I’m your familiar, you know. I’ll still be around after the battle is over.”

“……haha, what if I have to go back to my world?”

As soon as I said that to myself, I immediately regretted it.

I haven’t found a way to go back, but if I could, it would mean saying goodbye to the
people of this world.

She was not surprised to see me upset after I said it, on the contrary, she smiled and
stuck her index finger at me.

“Of course I’m going to follow you. As long as there’s an unknown I’m looking for, I’ll
follow you everywhere.”

I knew at once that these confident words were not a lie.

That’s why I couldn’t help but smile unconsciously, even though I was taken aback.
“I think…… you would really follow me.”

“I told you. I’ll be following you for the rest of my life.”

Surely, you said something like that when you were forced to sign a messenger
contract.

It wasn’t that long ago, but it feels like a long time has passed since that incident with
the evil dragon.

While remembering what happened a while ago and having such an exchange with
Nea, Amako came out from the kitchen.

“Usato is having it tough. He’s been possessed by Nea.”

“Did you hear that?”

“Yes, a little bit.”

“Hey, what do you mean, a little bit?”

Overhearing Nea’s voice, Amako put her apron on the table and sat down across the
table from her.

“Usato. Where are Nack and Ferum?”

“Nack went back to his room first. Ferrum is at……”

“You’re keeping a daily diary, aren’t you? She’s very diligent.”

I didn’t know she still kept a diary at……

I’m glad to see that she still keeps a diary, even though I recommended it to her.

Well, it’s probably just complaining about me, but it’s still a good thing.

“So, Amako. Can you tell me your…… story?”

“……Yes.”
This is what Amako wants to tell me.

I’m sure it’s not something she’s in a hurry to tell me, but from the look on her face as
she ponders it, it seems to be complicated.

“I saw a premonition.”

“……while you were asleep?”

“Yes.”

Then this expression makes sense.

But apparently it’s not the only thing that’s bothering her now.

“It was the same as my usual prediction until halfway…… through, but it was a little
different.”

“Different……?”

Amako began to tell me and Nea, who tilted her head, about the premonition she had
seen.

Me and senpai going on a journey.

The past of the demon king’s territory and the heroes — and a swing of the sword of
the previous generation of heroes.

That and the mysterious woman who spoke directly to Amako from the scenery she
was seeing with the precognition magic.

As far as the first part of the…… prediction is concerned, you could have guessed what
was going to happen.

“Hmm, a fox beastman like Amako, with a sword, you know. You’ve never met her, have
you?”

“She didn’t say his name, and she disappeared without saying a word to me.”

Beastmen, swords and precognitive magic.

And she looks like Amako’s mother, Kanoko.

That’s about all the information we know.

“Did you tell the people at the castle about the precognition?”

“Yes.”

“And what about the beastman woman who appeared in your dream?”

Amako shakes her head at Nea’s words.

Well, even if she saw it as part of a precognition spell, the beast woman is very
uncertain information.

If it is bad, the prediction that Amaco saw could itself be false.

“That’s why I wanted to talk to Usato. That woman said something incomprehensible,
that she was watching me through him, so I thought maybe that was Usato……”

“Me? Why me?”

I don’t think I had anything to do with it, just from what I heard.

The “she” said she had seen her through something, and I’m pretty sure I had nothing
to do with it.

As I tilt my head, Amako awkwardly lowers her gaze at an angle.

“Because it’s Usato……”

“Uh,……”

“You guys. First of all, let’s change the perception that I’m always getting into trouble,
shall we?”

For some reason, even Nea agrees with me, so I deny it.

“I’m from another world, you know? And the only connections we have are the ones
we’ve had since we came into this world, right?”
It’s a total false accusation.

No matter how many places I go, I’m involved in incidents related to the previous
generation of heroes, it is indeed something I don’t remember.

“It’s impossible to see anything through me in the first place. It is more believable that
someone like Master Falga, who can use magic, could have seen it.”

“……Well, I’m just saying.”

You’re right, but what about your suspicious glances?

How much trouble do they think you’re in?

After all we’ve been through, it’s not surprising.

“Anyway, from what I’ve read, I’m sure we’ll be approached soon. Amako was one of
those who travelled, wasn’t she?”

“Yes. But I didn’t recognize any of the other members except Suzune and Kazuki.”

……Is this any way to think about it?

Maybe the prediction will come true soon, and until that day we can go on with our
lives as usual.

Let’s finish talking about the prediction and then we’ll talk about tomorrow.

“Tomorrow I am going to see Leona at the castle, do you want to go too Amako?”

“I really want to go, but I have to help in the shop tomorrow…… Tell Leona I said hello
when you see her.”

“Yeah, okay.”

Nea doesn’t have to ask, because of course she wants to go.

“……Leona, how was she? You met her on the battlefield, didn’t you?”

“She was very reliable. If she hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have been able to move. Thank
you so much for coming.”

“She was so generous to give me that rare stuff, the magic recovery potion.”

“I thought they were expensive?”

“Yes. A lot more than you think.”

I’d like to know the value of that potion, even though he didn’t mention it during the
fight.

“In the first place, potions that work just by drinking them are basically expensive. The
potions that restore magic power, which can only be restored naturally, are made in a
special process and it is apparently difficult to make a lot of them.”

“I see……”

Even in the middle of a battle, I didn’t know that I had drunk such a rare thing.

Thanks to that, I was able to keep moving afterwards, and I really can’t thank you
enough for that.

“Anyway, I’ll be sure to thank you tomorrow.”

“Then you should get some rest today for tomorrow. You woke up today, so you’re not
in the best shape, are you?”

Yes, that’s true.

But before we rest…

“Amako, are you going to stay in your dormitory? If you’re going home, can I take you
home?”

“No, I’m not. I’m staying here today.”

So you’re staying here today, which means you’ll be here for the next three days until
I wake up.

I must have really worried you.

Once again, I think about it and continue to talk to her.

“Do you have a place to sleep?”

“Don’t worry, we’ve got bedding in mine and Ferrum’s room. Amako is small, so it
won’t take up too much space.”

“Muu!”

Nea smiles at Amako, who glares at her with an annoyed expression.

If I don’t have to take her home, I think I’ll go to bed early.

Nea is right, I just woke up today and I don’t really feel like it, so I’ll get some sleep and
get back into shape.

Author’s Note:

Nea is a heroine in a special position.

She sits in the closest position of a familiar, so it feels like she doesn’t need to ask for
more.

In addition, it appears that she has a biggest enemy in the mascot sense called Kukuru.
The day after I woke up from my fainting spell.

Early in the morning, after dropping Amako off at home, I was on my way to the castle
with Nea.

I’ve let senpai and Kazuki know in advance that I’m heading to the castle, so I don’t
think they can’t get in, but the situation is what it is, so if I’m in the way I’m going to
leave before I cause any trouble.

“I wonder if Arc-san will be there……”

“I doubt it. Maybe he’s still on the battlefield.”

When we reach the castle gate, there are knights guarding it, and among them I spot a
man with red hair that I recognize.

When he noticed us approaching the castle gate, he smiled and waved at us.

“Usato-dono!”

“Arc-san!”

We ran up to him a short distance to check on Arc-san’s safety nearby.

He had bandages on his head and arms, but other than that, he didn’t appear to be
injured.

They probably pushed some injuries back here.

I hold out my hand, which is covered in healing magic, and he responds with a wry
smile.

“Thank you.”

“No, no, I’m just glad that Arc-san is safe.”

“I’m glad to hear that Usato-dono is also in good health. I heard that he woke up
yesterday.

You’ve heard from senpai and kazuki?

Nodding at Alc’s words, Nea, in her owl state, cowered her shoulders in dismay.

“Yesterday, finally. And all the while, I was sleeping with a carefree look on my face,
you know? I don’t know how worried they made me when I suddenly collapsed on the
battlefield……”

“Haha, you’ve done so much good work. It’s no wonder you’re tired.”

“It’s a matter of how you fall. It’s really bad for your heart when you turn white and
fall down without warning……”

“Oh, I’ve fallen like that?”

I remembered collapsing, but had I fainted in such a spectacular way?

I didn’t even think about what it looked like to the people around me, because it was
kind of like I went black without warning.

“The people around me were in a panic. The knights who were there carried Usato-
dono to the base where Ururu-san and the others were, and he just looked like he had
done all he could and fell asleep.

“I was there when it happened, and it was amazing. There were a lot of people rushing
to the scene, including Kazuki-dono and Suzune-dono.”

It never occurred to me that my fainting would cause such a multi-faceted worry.

No, it was my fault for falling in a confusing way.

“When did you come back here, Arc-san?”

“Yesterday, I think. There are many knights who are injured and can’t move, so the
strength of this place will be thin, so only knights who can move, including me, came
back here.”
“I didn’t know that…… If any of you are injured, do you want me to fix you up?”

When I suggested this, Arc-san shook his head.

“No, we can’t make you take that much trouble. I’m sure you’ve already been treated
by the lifeguards on the battlefield, and you’re probably sick as well, right?”

“Speaking of sickness, I feel sick too……”

In the morning, I ran around with Nack and Ferrum as much as I could, doing my
morning training.

To my subtle expression, Arc-san continued.

“Then don’t take it too hard. Your heart is probably weaker than you think. Take this
opportunity to get some rest and relax your body and mind.”

I hadn’t been aware of this, but I guess it’s true if you’ve traveled with them.

I nodded at Arc-san’s words and he turned his gaze to Nea, who was on my shoulder,
and spoke to her.

“Nea, will you take care of Usato-dono?”

“Yes, leave it to me.”

Nea nodded confidently at Arc-san’s words.

……hmm? Arc-san. Why is Nea treating me like my guardian……?

“Well, I guess it’s time for me to get back to my duties.”

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“No, no, I’m rather pleased to see you again in one piece.”

After exchanging a few words, they were about to part when two figures appeared
from the castle.

“Oi! Usato!”
“You must be Kazuki and…… Flana. She’s back here too, isn’t she?”

Someone from the guard told them, and apparently they’ve come to pick us up.

After bowing to Arc-san and all the guards nearby, I join them and step into the castle.

“I haven’t seen you since the battlefield. Thanks for helping me out back then.”

“I’m glad to see you’re doing well too.”

The battle with the Third LegionNeae was different from the other LegionNeaes,
wasn’t it……?

But I’m really glad that I was able to neutralise the Third LegionNeae.

If they had ignored me and flown away in the sky like that, I wouldn’t have been able
to chase them down, as I should have.

“Kazuki. Where are you headed now?”

“Towards the training grounds, I guess. I heard that Leona-san is there now.”

“Training ground,…… Speaking of which, where’s senpai?”

I realise now that I can’t see my senpai and ask Kazuki.

“Yeah, they’re going to be compiling information on the enemy from the war today.
We’ll be there later, so we went out to pick up Usato before that.”

“I see……”

So am I going to be told about the debriefing?

I’m sure Alfie-san will be in charge of it then.

“Hmm.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong with you, Flana?”

I tilt my head at Flana, who is watching me from next to Kazuki.

Was there something on her face?

“……Usato has a completely different atmosphere when he’s fighting and when he’s
normal, doesn’t he?”

“Well, I’m…… aware of that. Rather, I have recently become aware of it.”

If you’re always playing dumb, Amako will be angry with you……

But no matter what they say, I am still a human being.

No matter what anyone says, I will never give up on that.

“Certainly, Usato is more reliable than ever when it comes time to fight. Yup.”

“Sometimes I’m afraid of Kazuki’s purity,……”

“I know he’s dependable, but. I’m sure you’ll be able to understand why.

Nea and Flana react slightly, taken back by Kazuki, who nods away.

For me, it’s a little itchy, although I’m happy to be told I’m reliable.

“But from the point of view of the people you’re fighting, Usato must be incredibly
scary.”

“Is that so?”

“In fact, the Third Corps commander who captured him, albeit temporarily, and the
way his men were frightened was not normal. Now I ask you, what on earth did you
do then?”

“That’s what I want to know, isn’t it……? No, really.”

I understand that you were confused because your own illusion magic didn’t work,
but you suddenly tried to stick a knife in your own leg, and suddenly started
apologising for something you didn’t do.

And to top it all off, you’re treating me like a demon.

Why should my staple food be turned into a soul?

Well, I’ve got a pretty good idea of the cause of all this.

“I’ll try to find out from Ferme and Nea in their quarters later…… I’m sure they know
what they’ve done, don’t they?”

“Hee!”

He smiled at Nea, who had turned into a mute owl, trying not to get mixed up in the
conversation.

I’d forgotten about it due to my fainting spell, but I need to make sure I get it right.

As she looked forward from Nea, whose face had turned blue, she suddenly
remembered Amako’s prediction.

“……”

Speaking of which, have Kazuki and Frana heard about Amako’s prediction?

……No, I probably shouldn’t talk about it here.

You never know where people’s eyes will be, and they may not have been told about
the prediction by Lloyd-sama in the first place.

It is better not to say anything than to confuse people.

“Usato, what’s wrong?”

“……No, it’s nothing.”

“? Well, if it’s nothing, that’s fine…… We’re almost at the training grounds.”

Kazuki’s voice makes me look forward and I see the castle training grounds, which I
also use all the time.

At the location, they find a woman swinging a spear.

“Phew!”
It’s Leona, a woman with beautiful golden hair tied in one behind her back.

She was holding a spear, the armour of the brave, and was cleaving, cleaving, cleaving
and thrusting, and doing so fluidly and without any disorder at all.

Her movements were even more refined than when they met in Mialak, and Frana’s
voice was slightly buoyant.

“Leona-san is a cool person, isn’t she? I think I admire her a little.”

I really understand that feeling.

It was really cool when they rushed in to fight Barzinak.

When we reached the vicinity of the training ground, Kazuki stopped and turned to
us.

“Well, I guess we’re off to report in.”

“Yeah. Thanks for the ride so far, Kazuki.”

……Oh, yeah.

Before I leave Kazuki here, I have to ask him if he can teach me how to make my magic
more elastic.

“I’m trying to figure out if I can make my magic as elastic as Kazuki’s, and I was
wondering if you had any tips for me? Of course, only if you have time.”

“I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that I’m not the only one…… I see, that’s totally
fine!”

Kazuki nodded at me with a smile, and I thanked him again too.

If I can be taught by the one and only Kazuki, then it’s a good thing I’m a demon, yes.

“If it’s time, how about this afternoon?”

“Yes. I’ll be fine with that time.”

“……It’s not that I’m okay, it’s just that I’ve only had basic training.”

Nea, who whispered this in a whisper, nodded, although she was being illustrated.

“Well, then, we’ll meet at the training ground in the afternoon, then, Usato! Nea! See
you later!”

“Yeah, see you later, Kazuki.”

“Thanks for the directions!”

After discussing the training schedule, Kazuki and Frana parted ways with me and
Nea, and we walked directly to the training grounds.

In the training ground, there is Leona-san who is still wielding a spear, but as expected,
we can not interfere with the training, so we decided to wait at the edge of the training
ground until it is settled.

“I’ve fought people with spears before, but…… Leona-san’s spear movement feels
different from that.”

It’s kind of like there’s a core to the attack.

She thrusts, cleaves, dispels, and just repeats it, but there is no stagnation or gap in
her movements.

“I once heard that if you get down to the basics of spear fighting, you don’t need any
other techniques……”

“Well, who told you that?”

“From some spearman who controlled it about a hundred years ago.”

“You’re that guy,……”

“To be honest, I didn’t understand what he meant either, so I let him go.”

You can’t help but sigh when you see Nea being so nonchalant about it.

While we were exchanging such exchanges, Leona, who was training with a spear,
noticed us.

“U-Usato! Y-Y-Y-You were here the whole time?!”

“Is that so surprising……?”

Leona’s face changed from the dignified expression of a moment ago to one of
surprise.

She walked over to us, upset, and smiled a troubled smile.

“You’re so mean. If you were here, you should have called out to me.”

“No, I’m sorry to disturb you indeed…… Can I talk to you now?”

“Of course. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Leona turned the spear in her hand, along with the light, into a pendant.

For now, she sits down in a nearby field to talk calmly.

“Nea, I’m glad to see you’re doing well too.”

“You’ve become more brave than before, haven’t you?”

“Is that so?”

Leona looks slightly embarrassed at Nea’s words.

……I’ve got to thank you while I can.

“Leona-san. Once again, thank you for coming to help me.”

“You don’t have to thank me. As I told you during the battle, I came to repay my debt
to you. In fact, I’ve done more than enough to repay you.”

“But, but–“

“But!”
Leona, interrupting me, held up her forefinger.

“I’m sure you’re not going to be satisfied with that, given your personality, so why don’t
we just call it even? I’ve been saved by you, too.”

“That’s not fair……”

She laughed at my embarrassment.

I’m sure you can tell by the look on her face, can’t you? Hmmm, she can read my
thoughts.

“Huh, I’m glad to see your age appropriate reaction.”

“Yeah,……”

You make it sound as if I’m not usually old enough to be……

Slightly embarrassed, I averted my gaze and the Nea on my shoulder nodded in

agreement with Leona-san.

“From the way you usually do things, you’re so hands on that you think you’re a child,
but you’re also seventeen.”

“That’s very convincing coming from you who is about three hundred years old.”

“Huh, by vampire standards, I’m the same age as you.”

“……What?”

I’ve never heard of that.

No, she’s still older than me just by standards, but vampires have such a long life span.

Astonished by the fact that I hadn’t paid attention to it before, I regained my

composure and turned towards Leona again.

“Leona, in the Kingdom of Lingle after the battle was over?”

“Yeah, I was ordered by Falga-sama to wait in the Lingle Kingdom before I went to
battle.”

“I see……”

With the current situation in Miarak, Leona-san assumed that she would have to
return home immediately, but maybe Falga-sama had some ideas and ordered her to
do so.

“Right now, Norn-sama and Falga-sama, who are in Miarak, and Lloyd-sama, the king
of the Lingle Kingdom, are exchanging information and holding discussions through
Hubard.”

“When you say discussions, do you mean something like post-war measures?”

“I have not been informed of the contents of the discussion itself, but it seems to be a
little different.”

Maybe it’s a discussion about the journey to defeat the demon king that Amako
predicted.

If that’s the case, it would explain why they are discussing it with Falga-sama, who is
a secretive entity.

“You seem to have a general idea of what’s going on.”

“I’m sorry…… It’s…… now.”

“I know. It’s to avoid unnecessary confusion, right?”

Do I really have a face?

Leona turns her gaze from me, who is tilting her head as she touches her own cheek,
to the training ground.

“It’s so unsettling after the battle, isn’t it……?”

“Yes, it is. Maybe it’s because somewhere in my mind, I’m convinced that I shouldn’t
feel safe.”

I nodded my head in agreement with her and let the magic float in my palm.
It is because I believe that the turmoil is not over yet that I have been trying to acquire
skills that can compensate for my weaknesses.

I’m sure you’re interested in the magic power floating in my palm, Leona asks me a
question.

“What is it, Usato? It doesn’t seem to be the same as the one that triggers the outburst
of lineage reinforcement you mentioned before.”

“Oh, this is–“

Explain that you are practising to make your magic more resilient.

Hearing this, Leona-san showed a somewhat shuddering reaction.

“Well, again you are trying to grow in a strange direction…… Although this time I’m
relieved to see that it’s a non-dangerous direction……”

“Hahaha……”

“Elasticity to magic, huh? This is a technique that can be done because of the indefinite
magic power that is different from attributes like fire and lightning. Due to the
characteristics of my magic, it is impossible to do…… interesting.”

Leona murmurs as she puts a finger to her chin.

“Is it possible?”

“Only if you use Falga-sama’s gauntlet. You can’t tell if it’s possible or not until you try
it.”

Even if it’s impossible, it’s good if you can grab something.

You can use it as a healing glove to control your hands, even if it’s not as hard as elastic,
to be honest.

“And next time, Kazuki…… a hero who can make magic resilient, he can watch you
train.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. We’re going to do it this afternoon.”

Perhaps senpai will be there, so I’m looking forward to it, even without the training.

When Leona heard about the training, she looked up from her pondering.

“Can I take part in that training?”

“……What!?”

I was surprised by her sudden offer.

She looks at me in surprise and shows a somewhat uneasy expression.

“……I’m sorry, I’m sorry. If it’s too much trouble–“

“No, no! It’s a great offer! But…… are you sure? Leona, I thought you were busy……”

“No, my position does not allow me to interfere in the meetings of other countries. I
have a lot of time on my hands until Master Falga and Master Norn give me my next
orders.”

If that’s the case……

“Well then, Leona-san, I guess you’ll be joining us for training this afternoon.”

“I’m not sure if I can help you, but I’ll try my best to be.”

But to train together with three heroes is a luxury for me.

I’ll have to try my best to grab something today so that the three of us won’t be
disappointed.

“Anyway, how do you like the Kingdom of Lingle?”

“I’ve never been here before, but I think it’s a nice place. Unlike Miarak, it’s surrounded
by trees…… What can I say, it’s a relaxing place.”

Miarak is a city surrounded by lakes, so everything looks different compared to the

Kingdom of Lingle…… Is there still time until the afternoon?
“There’s still time, so why don’t I show you around the city? I’d like you to meet
Amako.”

“Mmm, you don’t mind?”

“He showed me around Mia rak before. I’m returning the favour.”

“In that case, I’ll take you up on your kind offer.”

He stood up and started to walk towards the castle gate.

Even though it was because of the war, they came to the Kingdom of Lingle at the
wrong time.

Let’s let them know a little bit about the good things about this place.

“First of all, the good thing about this place is. I’m not surprised that I’m running with
a burin on my back.”

“……The people of the Lingle Kingdom are strong, aren’t they?”

“They’re used to it. I think they’re probably more determined than people from other
kingdoms, right?”

Hmmm? That’s not the reaction I was expecting?

Leona seemed a little withdrawn, and while tilting her head, we went out into the city.
We went to the castle, and I and Nea, along with Leona, whom we met there again,
were given a tour of the city of Lingle until the afternoon training.

It’s not the most popular place to be because the battle has just ended, and the streets
haven’t yet returned to their former glory, but the shops are still open, so we showed
them around and visited the shops that Amako helps with.

And in the afternoon, when the training with Kazuki was about to begin, Leona and I
were doing some light hand-to-hand combat to warm up.

“There!”

“Sweet!”

The fist that I thrust out was hit by the handle of the spear that Leona-san rotated in
her hand.

Leona-san, who had regripped the spear as it was, launched a stone thrust at my leg.

“Aha!”

She avoids it by stepping back, but Leona steps in and simultaneously swings her
spear in a large horizontal cleave.

Cleave with reach! You can’t take a bad distance!

I repel the tip of the spear with my right arm, and while keeping my distance, I bring
Leona’s figure into view once again.

“I thought I could do it at close range, but I guess there are ways of fighting that don’t
let the opponent get close to you…”

Originally, she is so much better than Kazuki and senpai in terms of technique.

If you try to forcefully approach her, she will counterattack you like she did earlier.
“I said I was going to do a mock battle with a casual attitude, but it got more and more
heated.

“Haha……”

No, at first, it was supposed to be a casual affair,……, but as we continued to attack and
defend several times, it became quite stiff.

Of course, Leona’s hero spear is ice-bladed, and we both follow the rule of not taking
each other seriously.

“We don’t even have Nea right now……”

Nea was left alone with Amako as she headed off to her afternoon training.

”You’re not coming? I asked her if she was coming and she said, “No, I don’t want to
follow you all the time.”

So now I’m fighting without her support.

“Leona. It’s time to use some magic.”

“I don’t mind, but are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, I am. Besides, I want to review the use of this gauntlet.”

Normally, I only use my gauntlets as shields.

Although the assimilation of Ferrum has eliminated the advantage of unleashing

magic unharmed, the cage has another property of assisting in the manipulation of
magic.

We have not been able to make use of it, but we need to understand it better in
developing techniques to make magic more resilient.

“If that’s the case, then as someone who, like you, has been entrusted with Falga-
sama’s armor, I should be able to help.”

“Eh?”
Leona said, waving the spear in her right hand once, with a metallic sound, the spear
took shape. I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a great idea.

I was surprised at the transformation, which was too cool to say the least.

“What? Can it be a sword too?”

“The original form was a staff. It’s a good idea to have a good idea of what you’re doing.

Ta, it was certainly an axe when Ms Karon was using it, and it’s not surprising that it
can change into other forms.

Seeing my surprise, Leona-san’s smile grew stronger and she took a stance, releasing
cold air from her sword.

Behind her, four ice swords float in the air.

“Now, you already know how I fight with my swords, don’t you?”

“……, good!”

This one also creates healing magic bullets in both hands.

It’s not serious, but it’s still an interesting match.

After taking a small deep breath, she runs towards Leona.

“Healing magic bullet!”

“Intercept!”

The two healing magic bullets I threw while running and the ice sword that Leona
released collide in mid-air.

It’s the same battle as the one we had in Mia Rak.

The difference was that Leona was not hesitating in the fight.
Although I myself am aware that I have grown up since then, Leona-san skillfully
played with me with her technique and magic, and did not allow me to approach her.

I was happy to see her strength as a brave warrior without hesitation, as if it were my
own, but at the same time I felt frustrated at myself for not being able to fully handle
the armour of a brave warrior like she could.

After a few minutes had passed, she raised her voice in surprise at me as I used my
Healing Accelerated Fist to distance myself while avoiding Leona’s ice sword.

“I’ve been away for a while, and you’ve started using some crazy moves again! You
are!”

“It’s called the Healing Acceleration Fist! This is also a technique that applies the
outburst of magic power!”

“I’m sorry! If you ask me now, you’ll get confused, so I’ll ask you later!”

It was treated as a far-fetched and unintelligible technique.

He tried to close the distance again, but was stopped in his tracks by a tracking ice
sword released by Leona.

“Its anomalous acceleration is troublesome, but–“

Leona raised her sword high in the air, and the blade was covered with magic.

Looking at the translucent blade that began to emit a white cold air, I had a bad feeling.

“For those of you who are fast on your feet, this kind of technique would be effective,
wouldn’t it?”

The moment she swung her sword down, a powerful cold magic power was released
from the blade.

It spread sideways and came towards me, freezing the ground.

“What? Healing magic ruptured fist!”

While being taken aback, she released a shockwave of magic power from her palm to
block the oncoming cold air.

However, the cold air was only stopped for a moment and was immediately pushed
back.

She backed up and stared at the wall of cold air that still did not stop gaining
momentum.

“No?……!”

A torrent of cold air that freezes the ground as it moves forward! If this is properly
decided, movement will be restricted!

A healing magic rupture palm is not enough to properly stall the cold air.

—If only!

“If the ruptured fist does not work, you can strengthen it further!”

She holds her right arm at her waist and creates a magic bullet in her palm.

The magic bullet, which would normally grow so large that it is filled with magic
power, is kept at the same size and continues to be filled with magic power by applying
gauntlet’s magic manipulation ability and lineage reinforcement.

“? Usato, what were you——”

To hold down the magic power that is about to overflow, she puts her left hand on the
gauntlet hand.

The magic bullet is distorted in shape while overflowing with green light.

The magic power is released by pushing the palm forward.

“Hah!”

At the same time as the sound of air bursting, the healing magic bullet compressed by
the palm bursts out of control, and a shock wave beyond the healing burst palm is
released in a fan shape as it is.
With it, a recoil incomparable to that of the Healing Burst Palm struck.

“Nu………!”

The impact almost knocked him down, but he braced himself on his feet and held on.

The green shockwave emitted from the outburst magic projectile pushed back the
oncoming cold air and tore away the ice covering the ground.

The green magic particles of healing magic and the ice that shattered and scattered
into the air glinted in the sun, creating a fantastic scene.

“Whew……”

I exhale lightly as I lower my palm from my stance.

For a spur-of-the-moment move, you’ve succeeded……

If Healing Flying Fist is an enhanced version of Healing Punch, would this technique
be an enhanced version of Healing Magic Bullet?

I tilt my head to look at the green light that is glowing and drifting in the air where I
am standing.

“Did the magic power of healing magic fly with the shockwave?……”

It feels as if healing magic is being applied just by being here, so it must be as if not
only the cold air is offset, but the caged healing magic is also dispersed into the air.

……If you use this technique well, you can heal a lot of people without having to touch
them directly, can’t you?

The effect is drastically reduced, but I think it’s quite useful to heal wounds just by
being there.

“Widespread healing magic. If I had to name it, I’d say either healing flash or healing
blast wave……”

As I was muttering these things while being blinded by the scenery in front of me, I
noticed Leona running up to me at a short distance.
“……ah”

Leona, who can use lineage enhancement, must know on what principle I used the
technique earlier.

Well, she might get angry again……

I can bear being angry at Rose, but I can’t bear being angry at Leona-san, so I talk to
Leona-san, who approaches me in a slumber.

“Oh, uh, uh, Leona-san, this is……”

“Usato. Would you mind removing the cage on your right arm?”

“Ha, yes.”

When I did as I was told and released the gauntlet, Leona-san grabbed my wrist and
looked at my entire right arm as if she were observing me.

After about a dozen seconds of doing as she was told, she patted her chest in relief.

“Thank God. You don’t seem to be hurt.”

“What?”

“It’s such a skill. You could have been seriously injured, you know. I just wanted to
make sure.”

“Oh, you’re not angry? I mean, I’m not mad at you for that……”

“No, I’m not angry…… I’m just not going to argue with your methods. In general, the
techniques you use are too dangerous, but only you can apply them and think of them.”

Leona chuckles as she removes her hand from her right arm as she says this.

“Then, what I should do is not to blame you, but to help you and encourage you to
grow as a user of the same systemic enhancement.”

“Leona-san……”
“Well, as expected, I was surprised by the technique you used just now:……”

As she said this to me, looking embarrassed, I felt a surge of excitement, and then I
noticed two signs approaching the training area where we were.

It seems that senpai and Kazuki have arrived.

“‘Yahoo Usato-ku—–, why is there diamond dust dancing in the cold? And it’s glowing
green!”

“Oh, it’s so beautiful!”

I’ll have to explain the current situation to you two first.

At any rate, I met up with senpai and Kazuki, and briefly explained that we had been
engaged in a mock battle, and that as part of that we had created the scene we see
today.

Senpai said “I should have come earlier……!” I should have come earlier.

After that, as planned, they were to train to make magic elastic.

“Well, Kazuki?”

He showed Kazuki the magic bullets that he had created in his gauntlet-covered palms.

I’ve not even found a clue yet, but if Kazuki can see it, he might be able to figure it out.

“Maybe Usato is creating this magic in the manner of a lineage enhancement.”

“What, that’s not good enough?”

“What can I say?……”

Kazuki, with his hand on his chin and his head twisted, speaks brokenly, with a magic
bullet floating in his own palm.

“If this magic bullet is compared to a water bowl, and the magic power that is poured
into it is water, then the systematic strengthening is to exceed the capacity of this
water bowl and pour water into it so that it does not break.”
“Yes.”

“So, making the magic elastic is…… a puzzle, if you like to call it that. It’s like……
weaving and stacking layers and layers of it, aligning the shapes so tightly that there
are no gaps between the magical forces……”

Having said this, Kazuki’s voice gradually lowered and he began to feel visibly
depressed.

“Sorry, I guess I’m not very good at explaining things.”

“No, no, it’s okay, I can kind of understand!”

I follow Kazuki, whose shoulders droop.

To be honest, I could visualise parts of it, but I couldn’t understand the important
parts.

I am ashamed of my clumsy comprehension, but Leona and Senpai, who were listening
next to me, were nodding in agreement.

“Making magic more resilient…… or, since it’s so long, let’s call it resilience imparting.’
So the first step in getting there is different between that resilience grant and lineage
enhancement, is it?”

“Is that right……?”

“Hm, it seems that Kazuki-dono is a sensualist.”

Like Kazuki, I nodded my head.

And then Leona turned to me.

“Usato. It’s not like normal magic where Kazuki’s magic starts out. It’s not just a matter
of releasing it from your body, it’s easier to say that you’ve created its contents.”

“So it’s not like you’re just releasing magic?”

“Yes. Kazuki-dono, Suzune-dono, can you make a magic bullet for me to try?”
“Ah, yes.”

“Okay.”

Leona said, Kazuki creates a magic bullet.

If you look closely, you can see that a sphere is being formed as the magic power wraps
around the centre.

On the other hand, senpai’s magic bullets are familiar to me as well, the mass of magic
power overflowing from his palm is solidifying as if it is being fleshed out.

“Do you understand the difference?”

“Yes!”

“In the case of a normal release of magic power, its contents are empty. However, the
magic power that is inside is actually the magic power that has been created.”

So we were starting from the wrong place in the first place.

I used to leave the release of magical power to my senses, but from now on I have to
be aware of that too.

“I’ve heard that you’ve mastered systematic strengthening, Kazuki-dono, but…… I

think you’ve had a lot of trouble mastering systematic strengthening, haven’t you?”

“Yes, I did. It was only with the help of Master Falga’s gauntlet that I finally succeeded.

How did you know that? Kazuki was surprised like that.

Leona-san nodded to him as if she was satisfied.

“I thought it was strange that someone as skilled as you in handling magic power had
not succeeded in strengthening the lineage,……, but with such precise magic power.
There was probably no room for the magic power to be inserted into the system, even
if it were to be strengthened.”

“So, that’s why there were so many failures…… I didn’t know that……”
So it’s because they were too precise that they couldn’t strengthen the system?

It’s amazing that you can see it right away, but most of all, it’s amazing that you can
teach it so clearly.

I think it’s considerable when I can still keep up with what I’m talking about.

“Have you got something, Usato?”

“It’s a bit vague, I think.”

I stood up, replying to senpai.

The principle is understood.

The question is whether I can perform the outstanding magical manipulation that
Kazuki would be doing unconsciously, but that can only be managed with the power
and perseverance of Gauntlet.

“Try first. Then.”

“I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that works for you. Yes, it’s Usato-kun.”

What is it about me that you’re referring to?

While my legs almost lose strength at senpai muttering this happily for some reason,
I raise my right arm, which is covered by a gauntlet.

I don’t think there is any danger, but if something happens, Leona-san will stop me.

Thinking this, I close my eyes and concentrate on manipulating my magical power.

Be aware of the release of magic power.

Instead of releasing the magic gathered in the right arm as it is, weave and layer it.

Make the most of the gauntlet’s magical auxiliary capacity to the maximum extent.

You have to concentrate a lot, but you feel a different sensation than before, and you
feel a faint sense of control.

“……”

After a minute or so of weaving, the magic is released from the palm.

Feeling that the magic power has enveloped you from the wrist onwards, you open
your eyes.

In your open vision, you see your right hand covered in the same green magic as usual.

“……looks normal, doesn’t it?”

“Mmm, yes.”

The eyes of the senpai, Kazuki and Leona gather on the hand covered with magic
power.

It looks nothing special, but you can try it out and touch it.

When I touched the magic of my right hand with my left hand, it returned with an
elasticity that almost sounded onomatopoeic: ‘Puyot’.

“Y-You can do it, Usato!”

“Is it working? Is it working? It’s so puffy!

When I am impatient with the delighted Kazuki, the magic power in my palm instantly
fizzles out.

As Kazuki and I are stunned by the magical power that has vanished into thin air, a
senpai speaks to us with a difficult look on his face.

“Apparently, if you relax, it will unravel. No, maybe it’s simply a short duration.”

“You mean……?”

“I guess that means you just have to practice.”

I knew that would be the case.

It takes some getting used to before you can activate it, and still, it’s far from a real
battle.

“But I’m impressed. I can’t believe you almost got it right the first time.”

“It’s because of Leona’s explanation. It was so easy to understand that even I could
understand it.”

“Oh, really? If you say so, it was worth it.”

It was the same with Mia Rak, but Leona-san is still teaching me all the time.

Now, thanks to Leona, I’ve got a good start, and all I have to do now is to do it in
numbers, just like before, until I get it right.

Fortunately, I don’t have to hurt my own hands every time I do it, like I did when I was
strengthening the lineage, and it’s a lot easier on my mind.

“I’d like to try the elasticization as soon as possible.”

“Oh, you’re using it right away, aren’t you? Elasticizing.”

“It’s inconvenient without a name.”

It’s easy to understand, and it’s not always easy to say “elasticity” to the magic power.

While smiling at the senpai who looks awfully happy, I clothe my palms with magic
power that has given them elasticity.

As much as possible, I try not to lose my concentration and hold my gauntlet in front
of me in the shape of a hand sword.

“I was thinking about……, how does Usato-kun intend to use it?

“Senpai, right now, Usato is concentrating on……”

“Hmm, that’s something I’m curious about too……”

Watch the space in front of you and imagine the enemy.

The image is of Koga, the most memorable demon tribe as an enemy.

The black-masked one is about to swing its claws down towards you, and you hit it
with your elasticised gauntlet as if you were trying to dispel it.

“Hmmph!”

I move my right arm as if it were played with the magic power of the elasticity grant,
without exerting any force.

If the Healing Accelerated Fist is a technique to add changes to my movements, the

Elasticity Grant is a technique to eliminate waste from my movements.

It is a fighting method for conserving magic power, replacing the outburst of system
reinforcement, which consumes a lot of magic power, by repelling the opponent’s
attack with the minimum amount of magic power and movement.

Aiming at the gap where my arm is forcibly and significantly bounced by the elasticity,
I thrust my left fist into the defenceless bosom of the opponent with a step forward.

“……”

After all, an image is an image.

Ideally, this is how it should be, but it doesn’t work like this as it is.

……The current sequence of movements must be incomprehensible from the other

side.

What if the three of them look at me strangely?

With this anxiety in mind, I dispelled the magic power in my right hand, which had
burst, and turned to the three of them.

“You force your opponent to roll over with your right gauntlet, and then you can use
your free left fist to knock him down with your left fist.”

“You’ve become even stronger in close combat. Usato.”

“That’s the kind of skill the enemy wouldn’t want to deal with……”

“Aree?!”

It’s not too much of an insight, is it?

I didn’t have to explain it to him, he understood the full extent of the technique.

My cheeks twitched with so much comprehension.

“Anyway. The purpose of the training has been achieved sooner than I expected. Now
we can work on the areas we want to improve?”

“That’s right. I’m sure you’ll be able to find something that works for you.

Kazuki and senpai nodded at his words.

As expected, I didn’t want him to ruin his training time just for me, so I agreed with
him.

Then, senpai turned to Leona-san, who was watching where the conversation was
going.

“Leona-san. Can you tell me about systematic strengthening?”

“Hmm? Yes, that’s fine. But do you mind if I take some risks?”

“I know it’s dangerous! In the future, if we want to fight against the Demon King’s
army, we’ll need techniques like system strengthening!”

Senpai makes a clenched fist with strong-willed eyes.

Her enthusiasm seems to motivate Leona, too…… I can tell.

“What do you really mean?”

“I want to use a special technique like the two of you!……?

When I spoke to her in a voice that sounded like a blur, I was immediately ragged.

Senpai makes a huffing face, but Leona is somewhat taken back when she hears this.

“No, I’m the only one who hasn’t mastered the system reinforcement, or else I’d lose
all face as a senpai! Or rather, I was told not to practise because it’s dangerous, but
Kazuki-kun was practising behind my back, isn’t that unfair!”

“So you’re jumping on my bandwagon?”

Kazuki, who was watching our exchange with a smiling face, is surprised, as if he didn’t
expect the story to come round.

But it was only for a moment that Kazuki took the brunt of it, and the senpai’s gaze
immediately turned to me.

“In the first place, it’s not fair that Usato-kun learned it first!”

“No, I didn’t have any prior knowledge of it, I just noticed it when I let my magic
outburst on my own.”

“No idea! How did that happen?”

When I was in Olga-san’s clinic, I was trying to darken the colour of healing magic.

Well, when I think about it, that was probably the beginning of my current fighting
style.

“Wait a minute, Usato. What did you just……? I’m sure you’ve heard of it. What were
you trying to do when you didn’t know how to strengthen the system……?”
Oh no, I’ve dug my own grave……!

I try to change the subject, laughing and fooling around with Leona, who looks at me
with suspicious eyes.I try to change the subject, laughing and fooling around with
Leona, who looks at me with suspicious eyes.

“Kazuki! I heard that senpai and Leona-san are training to strengthen their lineage, so
why don’t we do something together?”

“Ah, Ouh. Then will you accompany me in my sword training? Because in the fight with
Koga, I felt I wasn’t strong enough in melee combat.”

I nodded at Kazuki’s words and hurried him to get started on his training.

The training was to end before dusk.

After that, we had to train with different training partners, but the training in lineage
strengthening with senpai was full of surprises.

By surprise, I don’t mean that the senpai had a hard time learning the systemic
strengthening, but on the contrary, they were acquiring it at an unbelievably fast pace.

I don’t know whether Leona’s teaching was skillful or whether senpai was a genius,
but even including that, I was surprised.

“Hmmmmm.”

“You are in a good mood. Senpai.”

“I’ve finally learned to strengthen my system. I’m sure you’ll be happy.”

On the way back from the castle, he smiled at her, because she was in a good mood.

I don’t know why she said “I’ll walk you home! I don’t know why. I agreed without
question, but I wondered if there was something she wanted to talk about.

“Well, partly because I’ve included it, but also because the lineage enhancement was
a necessary technology for me now.”
“……?”

“In the fight with Amira, I found out that just being fast is not enough against certain
people. I thought I needed a special move.”

“Was she as strong as you thought she was?”

I’ve only met her twice.

I knew she was strong, but I didn’t know what she was capable of.

“She was a tremendous opponent. He had more experience, more swordplay, more
magic than I did. I think it was the power of Falga-sama’s armour that allowed me to
win…… In that sense, I guess you could say I’ve been saved by you again.”

“No, that’s not true……”

“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. It was the same in the first battle, and it was
the same in the second.”

With that, the older woman turns her attention to the ribbon around her wrist.

She touches it with her left hand and utters the words as if muttering.

“I am still weak. So I have to become more…… stronger.”

As I walked next to her, I didn’t know how much meaning she had put into those words.

At this time, the image of the previous generation of heroes that I was made to watch
in Samaria flashed through my mind.

The previous generation of heroes who fought alone against the tyrannical wicked
dragon.

The overwhelming power and lonely back.

“Hey, who’s the one in the wrong? The king? The scary dragon? Or the…… hero?”

I remember the words of a nameless girl, one of the souls bound to Samarial by the
sorcerer’s magic.
A force to be feared even by those who try to help.

I don’t want…… senpai to become like that.

“Then I have to train myself to be as good as my senpai.”

“Yeah, why do you do that?”

Senpai’s face turns pensive at my sudden words.

“Because if I leave you alone, you might end up in a strange situation.”

“Strange? You don’t trust me, do you?

I shrug my shoulders, feeling the sunken air lighten.

“I’m sure you’ll be able to understand why I’m so excited about this.

“I was being serious! I’ve been doing it, I Need More Power!”

“Oh, I don’t look good like that, so I’m usually in trouble.”

“You don’t like me being serious, do you?”

I don’t understand why you don’t like me.

But I don’t think it’s typical for senpai to be gloomy.

I open my mouth, while passing over the senpai who are poking at me with a bit of a
bite.

“We won’t let you fight alone like the heroes before you. You have us with you.”

“!”

I think there was someone else next to the previous hero.

I think the owner of the “Memoirs of a Hero” about him is that “someone”, but that
person was solemnly regretting letting the previous generation of heroes fight alone.
The previous hero who fought alone was betrayed by the people who believed in him,
the people who were supposed to protect him, and he himself could not believe in
anyone, he became lonely.

I can’t imagine how painful that must be for you.

But I don’t want senpai or Kazuki to feel that way.

“Let’s be strong together and face it together.”

“……Yeah. Thank you, Usato-kun.”

Reassured by the cheerful smile of senpai, I walked through the city, which was getting
dark.

Then a senpai walking on the left side of the road noticed something and pointed to
my right hand.

“……Huh? Usato, you’re still wearing your gauntlet?”

“What? Oh, you’re right.”

Looking at his right arm, it was indeed still deployed, with Lady Falga’s gauntlet still
in place.

I thought I put it away at the end of training, but maybe I took it out unconsciously or
didn’t put it away in the first place?

At any rate, I put the gauntlet back in the form of a bracelet.

“……I’m sure I unequipped it……”

“I didn’t pay much attention to it either, so I didn’t notice it until now.”

So much has happened today, I guess I must be tired?

Well, it’s probably nothing to worry about.

I thought lightly about this, and after once looking at the bracelet on my right hand, I
turned around to face forward again.
The day after the training with Kazuki and the rest.

A messenger from the castle arrived.

It was the first time I’d ever been to the castle.

I immediately put on my white uniform, the formal attire of a member of the Rescue
Squad, and left the Rescue Squad quarters, leaving Nack and the others to look after
me. After meeting up with Amako on the way to the Royal Castle, they followed the
castle staff’s directions to the hall where Lloyd-sama was.

“Usato, how was your day yesterday? You trained with Leona and the others, didn’t
you?”

“We got a lot out of it. And don’t be surprised to hear that? We came up with a wide
range of healing magic bullets.”

“You’ve come up with another funny trick.”

“That’s rude. Don’t make it sound as if I’m always coming up with weird tricks.”

You can drown out your opponent’s attacks and support your allies, right?

Cowering with a sense of relief, she smiles at Amako, who walks next to her.

“There isn’t a technique that Usato has come up with that isn’t weird, is there?”

“How dare you!”

He said this to me with very clear eyes.

That’s it.

That’s what this little fox really thinks.

“I was just thinking that this time I’ll create a magic trick to blow away a lot of enemies.
That’s the kind of thing Usato would do.”

“Yo, it’s not fair to use predictive magic!”

“……What?”

“Huh?”

Amako looks up at me with a seriously surprised look on her face.

Realising that I had dug my grave, I cough falsely and look forward.

“Hmmm, there are ways to use it like that, but it’s mainly a technique to release it
upwards to spread the healing magic.”

“Hmm, I see. It’s an amazing technique. Mm-hmm.”

“Ugugu……”

What a sense of defeat.

What is this feeling of defeat?

As you feel a strange sense of defeat at the smirking Amako, you arrive at the hall
where Lloyd-sama is.

There, I found Lloyd-sama, Sergio, Welshy, Kazuki, senpai and Leona.

When Lloyd-sama noticed me stepping into the hall, his somewhat haggard
expression turned cheerful.

“Oh, you’ve come, Usato. I’m sorry, you’re sick.”

“No, no. Don’t worry about it.”

“Thank you, Amako, for coming.”

“Yes, Lloyd-sama.”
It’s very kind of you to think of me, but I’m more worried about Lloyd-sama.

Perhaps because of the post-war processing and handling of the situation, his
expression is exhausted and he has dark circles that are visible even from a distance.

With no time to care for her, she is urged to sit where Kazuki, senpai and Leona are
standing side by side.

“Good morning. Usato-kun, Amako.”

“Good morning.”

“Good morning, Suzune.”

As I whispered my greetings, the door to the hall was closed, as if we were all here.

After a few seconds of silence, Lloyd-sama looks around at everyone present, and then
turns his gaze to me.

“Usato, I’ve heard about your exploits this time. As a rescue squad, you fought well.”

“……Yes.”

“Normally, we should give you a long rest instead of such a short period of time…… I’m
sorry.”

“No, I think I know what’s going on by myself.”

“I see…… You have heard from Amako, haven’t you?”

I nodded to Lloyd-sama’s words.

Kazuki and senpai looked at me with a curious expression, but I think Amako’s
prediction will be explained later, so let’s keep quiet for now.

“The contents of this convocation are confidential. Therefore, there are only a limited
number of people who have been gathered here. I will tell you that first.”

At Lloyd-sama’s words, Leona shows a puzzled expression.

She is a Mi’arak person, so she seems to have doubts about being here.

Perhaps sensing this doubt, Lloyd-sama turns his gaze to her.

“This is a story that also concerns you, the hero of Miarak. If I were you, I should have
told you in advance, but Falga-sama reminded me not to leak any information as much
as possible.”

“No, I think it was a natural decision.”

As I should have expected, is Falga-sama involved in this matter?

“The Coalition was victorious in the battle against the Demon King’s Army, but we
were dealt a heavy blow by the Demon King’s Army’s super wide-range magic attack.
The damage was by no means small, and we fell into a state where we could not even
pursue the defeated Demon King’s Army.”

I don’t know if it was because I fainted, or how much damage was done there, but it
was an attack of that magnitude. A lot of people must have been injured.

At the very least, there are more injured people than the healing magicians of the
Rescue Squad could heal in a few days.

“At that time, an urgent message was delivered by Falga, the divine dragon of Mia rak.
Its contents suggested the fact that the attack made at the end of the battle was due to
sorcery exercised by the Demon King.”

“The Demon King……!?”

The master of the demon race, who has not interfered directly until now.

When I learnt that the previous large-scale attack was carried out by the Demon King,
I understood how powerful he is.

And at the same time, I finally understood the intention of that attack.

It was also an attack to share the pain, and to let the demon race escape.

“We were hurt by the attack of the powerful demon king, but on the contrary, we were
able to know the existence of the demon king, which we could not even catch a glimpse
of until now.

IHowever, it can be said that, on the contrary, it was a witness to the overwhelming
strength of the Demon Lord.

I’m not sure if it’s possible for a mere mortal to compete with a demon king who can
attack like that. In some parts of my mind, I feel uneasy about that.

I listen to Lloyd-sama’s words, trying not to let this anxiety show on my face.

“”The demon king is weak,”” is the conclusion drawn by the divine dragon, Falga-sama.

“Weakened……? What does that mean?”

“The current Demon Lord seems to be less powerful than before he was sealed, and
Falga-sama said that he had used up a lot of his strength in carrying out this attack.”

I see, so the Demon King did not carry out the method of invasion as described in the
memoirs of the heroes.

Because if the gruesome invasion had been carried out as described in the memoirs,
the Coalition would have fallen without a fight……

“Over the past few days, I’ve been talking with my ministers, and I’ve come up with a
plan.”

Lloyd-sama falls silent as it is.

I could see the regret and confusion on his face.

After a dozen seconds or so, Master Lloyd verbalises his plan as if he is trying to
squeeze it out.

“A small number of troops to defeat the demon king army. The three heroes, Suzune,
Kazuki and Leona, and the healing magician Usato, who assists them, form a squad of
the most elite of the elite, and are sent to the demon king’s territory.”

“””!”””

“For us, now is an opportune time when the Demon King is probably weakened. We
will use the best forces on the human side to seize the opportunity and launch an
offensive at once.”

The faces of everyone except me and Amako look astonished.

The three heroes, including Kazuki, senpai and Leona, and me, the healing magic user?

……When I think about it again, I wonder why me? The most important thing to
remember is that you can’t just take a chance on a new person and expect to be able
to get a new job.

To be honest, I can’t think of anything else.

“To be honest, I couldn’t agree more with this plan. I could not agree to this plan,
because it would drive you, who have fought to the death and survived, back to the
dead. I have appealed to Falga-sama to find some other way, but no alternative has
been found. In addition -“

Lloyd-sama’s gaze turns to me and Amako.

“Since Amako has seen the prediction that you guys will go on a journey to defeat the
Demon King, it has been decided that the plan will be carried out.”

Amako’s prediction never came true.

It must have already been decided that Amako herself, myself, my senpai and Kazuki,
who appeared in her prediction, would go on the journey.

Even so, Lloyd-sama raises her head and looks at us with straightforward eyes.

“But I will still ask you guys. I’m not sure what to make of it. Of course, I won’t blame
you if you refuse. I want you to give me an honest answer.”

Silence reigned in the room.

The first person to break the silence was the senior.

“Lloyd-sama, I am already prepared for this. Although I have only been summoned to
this world for a short time, for me, the Kingdom of Lingle is my second home. If it is
for the sake of the people living in this land, I will take up this sword.”
“I, too, feel the same as my senpai. If I can protect the lives of the people here with my
power, I will fight the Demon King.”

Kazuki then puts it into words.

Like senpai, I’m ready for it.

Once I turn to look at Amako next to me, she grasps the sleeve of my corps uniform.

“If it’s Usato’s decision, I won’t say anything, okay?”

I nodded at her words and turned to Lloyd-sama.

“Lloyd-sama, I will also participate in the defeat of the demon king as a member of the
rescue squad.”

“……, you don’t mind, do you?”

“Yes.”

If I shy away from the mission here, I’ll be yelled at by the Commander again.

And apart from my mission as a squad, I also have a great desire to help my senpai and
Kazuki.

I’ll do something that only I, a healing magic user, can do, not anyone else.

The three of us declared this, and at the end, Leona-san took one last step forward.

As it was, she kneeled down in front of Lloyd-sama, and after one pause, she opened
her mouth.

“From the very beginning, I came to this land on a mission as a brave warrior. If that is
the case, there is no reason for me to refuse the task of defeating the Demon King. And
besides–“

Leona-san takes one look at me.

She smiles a little at my tilted head, and continues with her words.
“He, Usato, and I have been through the death line together. I’m not sure what to do,
but I’m sure I can do it.

“L-Leona-san:……”

“At the oath of office, an appeal says……!”

When put into words like that, I am usually embarrassed.

For some reason, senpai is frustrated in a small voice, but even for me, having Leona-
sama on my side is very reassuring.

After hearing the four of us, including me, reply, Lloyd-sama lowered his shoulders as
if he were deflated.

“I entrust the fate of the Lingle Kingdom, or rather, the people living on the continent,
to you guys.”

“””Yes!”””

“Suzune, Kazuki, Usato. I’m sorry that I have to put this burden on you again, but as an
adult, I feel ashamed. But still, let me say this. Be sure to…… and come back alive.”

You can’t imagine how difficult the journey of defeating the demon king is.

Nevertheless, now that it has been entrusted to us, we must absolutely fulfil its
mission.

We must make it back alive.

So, having made a mental note of Lloyd-sama’s words, I replied strongly.

After announcing our participation in the mission to defeat the demon king, we were
taken to a separate room where we were briefed on the full details of the mission to
defeat the demon king and Amako’s prediction.

We were sitting on chairs lined up in a room where documents and maps had been
collected, and Welshy-san, who had the documents on the table, was telling us about
the Demon Lord’s territory where we would be heading.

“Now that the Demon Lord is weakening, it is preferable to leave as soon as

possible…… First of all, we need to familiarise you with the geography and information
about the Demon Lord’s territory, otherwise it will be dangerous.”

Welsey-san, who has a map of the continent on her desk, points to a black piece of land
marked Demon Lord’s territory.

It is the territory of the demon king, which is adjacent to the country of the beast man
across the territory of the demon.

While looking at the map carefully, I listened to Welsey-san’s explanation.

“To be honest, the Demon King’s Domain is an unknown land for us, just like the
beastman’s country.”

“Has anyone tried to enter it or anything?”

“I heard that there were many people who tried to enter, but few of them came back
alive.”

Is that how harsh the land is?

No, it could simply be that the demon side is well protected.

“If there are only a few pieces of information, it is that the demon king’s territory is
inhabited by ferocious demons.

“Then it may be difficult to make the horse run properly, isn’t it?”

“Yes, that would be very likely.”

Leona-san pointed out, and Welsey-san nodded.

If it is impossible to travel by horse, then we will be limited to walking.

Due to the fact that we carry luggage, we don’t want to have to carry heavy luggage,……,
but if you’re in Bluerin, you might be able to move around without fear of demons.
“The problem is that you don’t know how to get to the place where the demon king is,
right?”

“Yes. We have interrogated the prisoners, but in this short period of time, we have not
received any convincing information. To be honest, it would be very difficult to head
to the Demon Lord’s territory at this stage.”

“……We can’t let the captured demons guide us on our way. I’m sure you’ll be able to
understand why.

Senpai crosses her arms and utters this.

If you’re a prisoner of war, there’s a good chance that you’ll be taken to a false location
or trapped and endangered.

In the first place, it is far from comforting when you are travelling with hostile demon
captives.

“He’ll show you the way, demon tribe.”

I have an idea of what I’m talking about.

But I’m not sure if I should ask her out.

……No, there’s no point in me being the only one wondering now.

“Welsey-san, I have an idea.”

“Is it her, by any chance?”

“Yes. But would you mind if I waited just one day?”

“That’s fine, but…… are you sure?”

Welsey-san looks worried, but I tell him not to worry.

She is no longer a danger, but she is definitely in a difficult position, both on the human
side and on the demon tribe side.

Besides, considering her past, she might refuse to go to the Demon Lord’s territory.
First, let’s go back to the inn and talk with her — Ferrum.
“A guide to the Demon King? You can do it.”

“Areee?!”

It was the night when I was ordered by Lloyd-sama to defeat the Demon King.

I went back to the dormitory, and with a serious look on my face, I asked Ferrum about
guiding me to the Demon King’s territory, but the answer was too simple.

Ferrum, sitting across the table from me in the dining room, looked at me curiously in
surprise.

“Why are you surprised?”

“No, no, no! You don’t have a very good memory of the Demon Lord’s territory, do
you?”

“You’re treating me like a child……!”

She gets grumpy for some reason and I don’t know why.

Nea, sitting next to me, laughs at my confusion.

“I knew it, you’re so worried, you’re taking it more seriously than Ferrum herself. Does
she seem like such a sensitive person?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t answer so quickly.”

I know that Ferrum is quite sensitive.

To be honest, I’ve been aware of it since she was locked in the cell.

After taking a deep breath to regain her composure, she sat back in her chair with
vigor and crossed her arms.

“Mostly, the Demon Lord’s domain was not a good place for me, but that’s all. I’ve
already cut ties with the village where I was born,……, and I’ve already betrayed the
Demon Lord’s army, so there’s no need to worry about it now.”

“……Are you sure? Is it okay?”

“No. I’m not sure what to say, but I’m sure it’s a good idea. Besides…”

Ferrum points at me with a stern look.

She lifted her eyes and shook her shoulders.

“I haven’t forgotten! After you threw me in the lifeboat, you immediately went on a
letter-carrying trip and left me there!”

“Hmm? Yes, that’s right.”

I don’t think they left him there, I think they just couldn’t let him out of the kingdom
because of his position.

“Do you know how much hell Rose put me through after that?”

“……?”

“Hey, how come you can look so strange there……?”

“You look like you’re wondering why now……”

Well, as I said, I feel bad that I was the cause of Ferrum joining the lifeguard team, that
I left her alone and went on a journey.

But you wanted to go on a journey so badly, didn’t you……?

If you are so rooted in your feelings, it shows how strong they are.

“Either way, it’s reassuring to have you to guide me. I’d be very grateful for you to be
there, too.”
“……I’m not your armour.”

“No, I’m not. I’m just a good friend.”

“……”

It’s true that she’s strong when she’s with Ferrum.

But more than that, it’s reassuring to have friends close by that you can rely on.

I’m not sure what I was thinking, but I stopped trying to talk to Nea, who was resting
her cheek on the table, from Ferrum, who was lying face down and shaking her
shoulder.

“Nea, well, she’s going, so I don’t have to ask her.”

“No, you should listen. I’ll follow you.”

“Then you don’t have to listen.”

Then Nea raises herself up from the table with a grim smile.

“Don’t you understand? You’ll be lonely if you don’t get the right amount of attention.”

“Are you a maiden or something?”

Oh my gosh, how proud are you……?

When you say it with such a confident face, it makes me feel like a man, on the contrary.

Slightly shuddering, he looks from Nea back to Ferrum.

“Ferrum, if you’re willing to follow me on my journey to defeat the Demon King, I’d be
happy to have you come to the castle with me tomorrow.”

“Oh, what am I supposed to tell you?”

“Probably about the terrain of the Demon Lord’s territory and the demons……”

“……It’s true, the Demon Lord’s territory is far away from here. I understand.”
Ferrum nods with her hand on her chin.

Seeing her like that, I suddenly asked her what was bothering her.

“What kind of place is the Demon Lord’s Domain?”

“A gloomy place.”

“Well, even though it’s your hometown, you’re really saying a lot……”

Ferum snickers at Nea and I, who are both a little taken aback.

“At least that was the case in the village where I grew up. It was a place where it was
difficult to grow crops, so we had to eat for the day, and there were always dangers in
the forests, because only ferocious demons were allowed to hunt there.”

“……Vicious demons?”

“You’ve probably heard this already, but you can safely assume it’s almost impossible
to get around on a horse. If you ride a horse in a place like that, you’ll soon be targeted
by demons or by hungry people.”

“Are they that needy? The demons?”

“Before the Demon Lord woke up, it was much worse.”

After mentioning the name of the Demon Lord with disinterest, Ferrum looks out the
window at the view outside.

“I don’t know how he did it, but the Demon Lord gave power to a land called the
Demon Lord’s Domain. Thanks to him, crops have been able to grow and the water is
rather clean.”

“……is so out of the ordinary. He’s a demon king.”

“Is it witchcraft……? Even if that were the case, the magic power to cover the vast area
of the Demon Lord’s territory is too much……”

But from what we’ve heard, does that mean that the Demon Lords of the current era
worked for the Demon Lords living in the Demon Lords’ territory?
Could it be that he challenged the human side to a fight…… No, that would be a naive
idea.

If the Demon King was the kind of person who would take the methods described in
the memoirs, it is normal to think of it as a means to create an army to serve as his
own limbs.

I’ll keep this in my heart as just one thought.

However—–

“Defeating the demon king is a mission as a hero?”

Then, after defeating the demon king, what happens to the demon race?

We don’t even know the respective reasons they fight.

Can we challenge the Demon King without knowing that?

“I should see the demon lordship with my own eyes.”

I’m still lacking in awareness.

To what it means to defeat the Demon King.

To know that, you have to know.

“Hey, Usato.”

“Yes?”

When I came to my senses and looked at Nea, who had called out to me, she plopped
down on the table again and spoke to me in a somewhat sleepy manner.

“When are you leaving on this journey to defeat the Demon King?”

“From the Demon King’s condition, they don’t know when he’ll recover, so they want
to leave as soon as possible. Welshy says…… that they will leave the Lingle Kingdom
as early as within three days, and once they have made final preparations at the base
where the battle took place, they will enter the Demon Lord’s territory.”
“Hmm, you’re pretty impatient, aren’t you?”

“I’m sure you’re right. It’s not easy to know when the demon king will recover.”

I feel like rushing, but I’ve been warned by Welshy to ‘keep calm, because haste dulls
your judgement’. I have to proceed with caution and not be in a hurry.

As I was thinking about this, I noticed that Nea looked distressed.

“I know we’re leaving soon, but then Nack will be alone again, won’t he?”

“……I guess so.”

If me, Nea and Ferum, who are here, leave, then Nack will be the only one left here.

Now that Rose and the others haven’t come back, we’ll be left with him here at the age
of twelve.

“I’m thinking about him all right. I’ve told him we’ll talk afterwards.”

“Oh, really? Well, I guess it’s all right then.”

I had been thinking about Nack too, so I promised to talk to him later.

As we were talking, Nack came into the dining room.

Just in time, I stood up and talked to him.

“You’re here. Nack.”

“Yes, I am. Um, I heard you wanted to talk to me……”

“Oh.”

……I could talk to you here, but I think I’ll just walk outside and talk to you for a change.

“Nea, would you mind making dinner for me?”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

“I know it’s a lot to do on your own, so I’ll help you after I’m done talking to Nack.”

“That’s fine, just go and have a good talk with Nack. I’ll let Ferrum help you.”

“What? Why me?”

Ferrum objected. “Come on, let’s go!” said Nea, heading towards the kitchen.

I saw them off and turned to Nack to urge him to go outside.

I turned to Nack and urged him to go outside.

On the way from the rescue squad’s quarters to the training ground, I gave Nack a brief
explanation of my journey to defeat the Demon King.

Although this information has not yet been revealed to the general public, I thought it
was important to tell Nack, so I did —- and Nack’s reaction on hearing this seemed
somewhat shocking.

“Why……?”

After all, he was shocked that he might be left here alone,……

I was about to continue talking to him when he spoke up before I could.

“Why do you always do such life-threatening things, Usato-san……”

“Nack……?”

“We’ve just finished a battle, and now the Demon King is next…… If you keep this up,
Usato-san will die……”

……I’m such an idiot.

Shocked that Nack would be alone, I am ashamed of myself for thinking so.

“No matter how impossibly sturdy Usato-san is.”

“Yeah,……”

“How impossibly tough Usato-san is, and how brazen his nerves are to take a bite out
of Rose.”

“Uh-huh……”

“Even if he is sometimes so lethargic that you wonder if he has a double personality.”

“……Nack?”

Isn’t that a bit much?

But that doesn’t stop the downcast Nack.

“Even if you’re insensitive to the fact that you like it so much that you can see it from
the side.”

“……Hmm?”

“Even if your naming sense is broken.”

“……”

“Even if your moves are so polished that you can’t believe you’re human.”

“……”

“As you can see, it’s impossible for a demon king to be an opponent…… Maybe.”

“Oh, wait a minute. Nack.”

More than ever before! I’m already overflowing with my innermost feelings!

And I know I sound depressed, but I’m saying quite a lot, you know?

What? Maybe you’re still angry at being left behind?

“I’m sorry. I said about half of what I said.”

“It’s not half, is it? It’s all of it, isn’t it?”

“No, I meant that I said half of what I wanted to say……”

That’s what you mean by half.

I’m afraid to ask about the other half.

“To be honest, I think I know why Usato-san had to go to a dangerous place. Because
when I was helping out at the castle, I heard about Usato-san and his team’s activities.”

“I see……”

“So, you don’t have to worry about me.”

“Hmm? Why?”

I wondered honestly at Nack’s words.

In response to my question, he continued, somewhat surprised.

“To be honest, I think I understand why Usato-san has to go to dangerous places. When
I was helping at the castle, I heard about the activities of Usato-san and the others.”

“Nack.”

I stop and call out his name.

I showed Nack the way to join the rescue squad.

After that, it’s up to Rose to guide him, but I’m still responsible for him.

“Okay? I never thought of you as a distraction.”

“……”

“You’re my protege, my subordinate, and a fellow rescue squad. It doesn’t matter how
old you are. Of course the mission is important to me, but I’m not so divisive that I’d
neglect you because of it.”
I understand how Nack feels.

But still, I can’t neglect him.

“Nack, why don’t you come and help the Commander and his men?”

“……What? Help is…… you guys now……”

“Yes, we are currently treating the injured at our base in the plains. Maybe there is not
enough manpower there.”

No matter how many Gerna you guys are, there is a limit.

If Rose is also seriously injured, she would want even one more person to help her.

“In the near future, we are going to head to the base to head to the demon king
territory. There we will leave you in the hands of the Commander…… After that, it’s up
to you what you want to do.”

There is no danger because the battle is over, but it may still be a painful sight for Nack.

I don’t know if it’s right for me to take him back to the base.

After explaining this to him again, I ask him if he wants to go.

“I don’t know?”

“I’ll go……! It’s a lot better than being smoked out here all by myself!”

“It’s settled.”

Nack is strong.

He’s been through a lot, he’s been knocked down a lot, but his spirit is strong and he’s
not going to let anything break him. I’m sure he’ll be able to handle it in my absence.

……Because I can’t stay in my base.

While watching over Nack, who is making a clenched fist and looking motivated, she
notices that the training ground she always uses is visible nearby.
“……It’s still too early to go back.”

Nea and Ferum are cooking dinner for us, but if we go back now we’ll have to wait a
bit.

“Okay, Nack, don’t tell Nea, okay?”

“What? What?”

“I’m going to teach you a few of my tricks.”

Nea had warned me about this before, but I was willing to give him a few tips to help
him grow.

We walked to the training ground and I walked up to a tree near the training ground.

The raised fist is covered with magic power, which is then shown to Nack.

“The Healing Punch is simply a technique of punching with a fist covered in healing
magic. It’s a simple technique that does nothing else, but with this one you can render
any opponent unconscious and unharmed.”

“It’s pretty simple, isn’t it? I guess I could do it too, but…… probably won’t be able to
do it as well as Usato-san……”

“That’s where, like I said before, you just have to find your own unique technique. Mine
is just a wild technique.”

The next step is to gather the magic power in his hands into his palms and create a
magic bullet.

“And a healing magic bullet. You know this one well, don’t you?”

“Yes!!! Because I guessed so badly!”

That’s a tricky thing to say,……

No, I know you don’t mean any harm.

To regain his composure, he throws a healing magic bullet at a tree in his line of sight.
With a bang, the magic bullet that hit the tree bursts free.

“But you can’t throw a magic bullet as powerfully as that if you throw it normally, can
you? I tried to copy that once, but I couldn’t do it at all.”

“Hmm? Hahaha, you don’t need to throw this technique.”

“What? Is that so?”

It is easy to be misunderstood, but my healing magic bullet is just a technique of

throwing magic bullets by force.

If you can release a magic bullet normally, there is no need to throw it.

“I thought it was a technique like that……”

“I had no talent for shooting magic, so I had no choice but to throw it. So, if you want
to shoot magic bullets, anyone can do it.”

“Even me?”

“Yes. You can do it your way, your way. I’m more like a role model. Don’t use me as an
example, okay?”

“Ha, ha, I understand.”

He nodded at my words and, like me, created a magic bullet in his right hand.

He then held his palm in front of him with a magic bullet floating on it and released
the magic bullet forward. The magic projectile was released, slightly missing the target
tree and flew backwards.

“It missed……”

“But it was successful. Nack, this is your healing magic bullet.”

“My, healing magic bullet……”

Nack says this with a slight quiver in his voice.

It seems that the aim is the same as the healing flying fist. I’m sure I can give you some
advice on that.

I walk up next to him, straighten my right arm, and put my hand on his shoulder.

“Straighten your arm from the shoulder to the palm. The image is like a magic bullet
through the space between the shoulder and the palm.”

“Yes.”

“It’s okay if you miss. Take your time and aim well.”

“Take your time……”

This is the first time I’ve ever seen him shoot a magic bullet from his palm.

As I watched him from behind, I felt – just a little – that I understood the feelings of
Rose, who was training me.

I felt a little bit like I understood how Rose felt when she was training me.

Author’s Note:

Nack’s non-throwing healing magic bullet is a normal support recovery technique.

The healing magic bullet thrown by Usato will have a shock in addition to the recovery
effect.
Usato brought Ferrum as a guide for the journey to defeat the Demon King.

I’m not going to lie, I’m still a little scared of him.

I know that she is not a bad girl.

The dark and heavy atmosphere of the black knight that we met on the battlefield is
gone.

Senpai was trying to make contact with Ferrum again today, showing an odd response
with his characteristic speed of switching, but she was so enthusiastic that she hid
behind Usato’s back to keep her distance from senpai all the time.

At times like this, I envied my senpai’s quickness to switch sides.

“Kazuki, I’m going to stay here.”

“……I see.”

And I nodded at Flana’s words as she visited me after our second discussion was over.

“I knew my father wouldn’t allow it.”

“Well, she’s the only daughter of the chief, so I can’t blame her.”

“Yes, I know. I know…… If I could, I’d follow you even if you ignored me……”

“But?”

She sits in her chair and looks up from her prone position.

The smile on her face was powerless.

“Honestly, I just thought that if I went, it would slow me down.”

“That’s not true.”

“During the battle against the demon king’s army, I put all the knights who followed
me in danger because of my lack of strength. If Usato hadn’t rushed to the scene at that
time, I don’t think I would have been able to neutralize the Third Army Commander
either.”

As it turns out, the bad premonition I had during the battle came true.

Flana and the knights were in danger, and Usato himself had to use a lot of magic.

“I am not strong enough to keep up with you on your journey. And I can see that I
would be a burden to Kazuki.”

“You’ve already made up your mind about……, haven’t you?”

“Yes. I’m going to stay here with Celia and wait for your return.”

In that case, I’m not going to say anything more.

Given her character, I’m sure she’s more frustrated than I am.

“Oh, yes. Don’t be reckless just because I’m not here. Don’t do anything like you did
when you hurt your hand badly.”

“I-I know.”

I know I made you worry so much, but I don’t want you to have to be reminded every
time you use a systemic enhancement that you’re not ready for.

“Also, you should keep a close eye on Usato.”

“Watch Usato?”

“Yeah. He’s probably worse than Kazuki.”

“He’s worse?”

“Why do you look so happy?”

No, he didn’t look that happy.

She tilts her head at Flana, who blatantly twitches her mouth, and she clears her throat
to regain her composure.

“A few times, I’ve seen him fight and he’s not normal in terms of ability. Well, I guess
that’s because of the help of Nea and the people who help him. Still, it was a mess of a
fight from what I saw.”

“Well, if I were asked to fight the real Usato, I would want to refrain from doing so.

One reason is that Usato cannot use light magic, which could kill his opponent, but
even before that, the “techniques” he uses are troublesome.

Healing Accelerated Fist, Healing Bursting Palm, and the Healing Explosion Wave,
which he had recently developed.

And a fighting technique that makes use of the elasticity of magic power.

Although they have almost no physical offensive power, almost all of the techniques
he has developed are sure to strike his opponents with his best weapon, his fist.

“Well, there’s no way I’m ever going to have a real fight with Usato, so I don’t think
you’ll have to worry about it.”

“I know that. But when he was about to head to the next battlefield while nearly
running out of magic power, he was…… scary.”

We’ve heard about Usato’s actions in the war against the Demon King’s army.

Usato was running around the battlefield, helping injured and pinned down people.

In the midst of it all, he also dealt with the Commander of the Legion, and kept moving
despite being worn out.

“I got scared when I saw how strong his mental heart was.”

“……Flana.”

“No, to be frank, I’ve been scared of him since the time I saw him fight Rose, but…”
“Hey, you’re being too frank.”

He said with such a serious look on his face that I almost fell over.

“Because you know what? I’m not sure what to make of it, but I think it’s a good idea.

“Don’t compare Usato to the guardian god of the elves!”

“What? It’s the greatest compliment to the Elves.”

“That’s not the point:……”

Ciche Conrad is a gorilla demon from Flana’s homeland.

It is said to be a kind of guardian deity of the elven race and a symbol of power and
knowledge.

So I know you are praising it. I know what you mean, but I’m not sure I’d compare it
to a gorilla……

“Anyway, it’s better to keep a close eye on Usato, you know. Also, be careful that Suzune
doesn’t get out of control.”

“I’ll leave senpai to Usato, it’s fine.”

“Oh, really? Well, it’s better for Suzune too, isn’t it?”

I responded immediately, and Flana replied in a slightly reluctant manner.

Senpai would spin out of control if you give them bad advice.

To use a baseball analogy, if the coach tells you to bunt, you take a full swing……?

“……After all, I’m not a good metaphor……”

Once again, as I realise this and feel depressed, Frana stands up after we finish talking.

“Well then, now that we’ve finished what we wanted to talk about, let’s go to Celia’s.
Kazuki’s leaving in a few minutes, so we’ve got a lot to talk about.”
“……Ah, yes, you’re right. You’re right.”

I nodded to Flana and I stood up and left my room with her.

The journey to defeat the demon king.

Given the premonitions Amako has seen, there is a strong possibility that something
else will happen besides the Demon Lord.

I am anxious and scared, but at the same time I am also a little excited. After all, senpai,
Usato and I, the three of us who came to this world together, will be travelling together.

It’s different from when we travelled separately in Lukvis.

Joining forces, believing in each other and moving forward together…… How can we
not be excited?

Today I took Ferrum to the castle.

Thanks to Ferrum’s presence, we were able to make a lot of progress with our plans
and set a date for the trip.

After that, I went to greet Mr. Alk and Lady Celia on my way home, and told them in
person that I would be following them on their journey.

“You’ve got a lot of letters,……”

When I left, I was handed a letter addressed to me.

In addition to that, I had recently received a letter from Amaco from the Land of the
Beasts, so there were a lot of letters stacked on my desk.

From Samarial, Lady Lucas and Eva.

From Mia Rak, the Norn.

From Hinomoto, there were letters from Rinka, Hayate and…… Kanoko, Amako’s
mother, for some reason.
Surprisingly, it also came from Princess Naiya of Calm Helio.

“I heard that she also came to Kazuki with senpai, so it’s not just me, but she’s a very
disciplined person.”

Once again, you’ve been sent by some really amazing people.

I’m afraid, what can I say?……

“Alright!”

I’ll have to write a reply before I go.

I pick up my pen and go to my desk…

“Usato, do you have any books here?”

I hear a carefree voice behind me.

Sighing, I turn around to see Nea lying on my bed.

She’s asking me for my book, and she’s being very arrogant.

“Nea, why are you here? It’s my room.”

“Well, I’m not busy.”

“If you’re not busy, get out.”

“No, I don’t want to. I’m not busy.”

Well, that’s all right…… No, what do you mean, you’re not busy?

Are you in my room because you’re bored? No, I told you to leave because I can’t
concentrate, and you don’t want to because you’re bored? What? What do you mean?

I’m confused by Nea’s clever way of talking.

“Look what you’re doing, you’re answering letters. Wow, that’s a lot of letters.”
“……As for me, I’m very grateful.”

“Do you write to all of them?”

Nea peers at my hand from behind and lets out a disgusted “Uhee”.

“It’s also a way to let people know that I’m okay. And you don’t know how long the
journey to the demon lord’s domain will take.”

“Hmm. That’s why you’re not training, unusually.”

You make it sound like I’m training all the time.

But you’re not wrong.

“Huh, while I’m sitting here, I’m training in magical transference.”

“What?”

He shows his left hand and shows a magic bullet the size of a marble moving through
his palm at high speed.

The advantage of this “magic spinning” is that it can be practised as casually as ayatori
or pen spinning.

Nea reacts by blatantly pulling back when he shows the transfer of magic from finger
to finger, finger to wrist, wrist to elbow and elbow to wrist.

“You’re still the same training idiot and I’m still pulling. The fact that the magic bullet
is moving around like a living thing is beyond amazing, it’s disgusting.”

“Isn’t it awful?”

I admit that I do a lot of training.

But when Nea is around, it’s hard to concentrate……

He pulls out an old, battered book that he keeps in a nearby drawer and holds it out to
Nea.
“Here.”

“Hmm? I’m sure you’ll be pleased to know that I’m not the only one who’s a fan of your
work. I forgot to mention that you had one of these.”

“Is that okay?”

“Hmmm. Thanks, it’s a good way to pass the time.”

I fall into bed in a good mood and carefully flip through the pages.

It’s a journal full of worm-eaten pages, but Nea has filled in some of the gaps and
corrected some of the text.

When I saw the letter in front of me, I slowly stretched away from her, absorbed in
reading.

“Well, let’s read it.”

Anyway, I have to read through the letters first.

I pick up the first letter I see and it is addressed to “Rinka”.

It’s from Amako’s friend, Rinka, the wolf-beast girl.

She opened the letter as carefully as she could and read through the contents.

—Yoo-hoo! Usato!

—It’s Rinka!

“Oh, you look energetic.”

It’s amazing how emotions can be conveyed through letters.

I could tell in two lines what Linka was feeling when she wrote this letter.

Looking at the first sentence, I chuckled and followed the girlish, slightly round letters
with my eyes.
 

Yoo-hoo! Usato!

It’s Rinka!

It’s been a while since Usato left Hinomoto.

I miss Amako a bit, but I’m doing well.

Since my father took over Hinomoto, I’ve been going back and forth between the
hidden village and Hinomoto.

It’s a bit annoying to be told to wear a kimono, to be a lady, and so on, but it’s not so
boring when my dad is in charge.

I remembered that there had been a bit of a commotion after Usato and his friends
left.

Some time ago, Amako’s mother wandered around Hinomoto on her own, and there
was a big commotion.

At that time, the whole country was in a panic.

All the soldiers were looking for Amako’s mother.

My father said, “It’s the same old thing. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the
usual……”, he muttered over and over, holding his stomach.

Eventually, Amako’s mother went for a walk, and after half a day or so, she came back
to where she was.

When I went to talk to her later, she said nostalgically, “I met her when we went for a
walk too.

I’ve known since I was little that Amako’s mother is a funny person!

The rest of the story is about how my mother came back to…… Hinomoto and how my
father got angry with her.
I wrote the same thing in the letter I sent to Amako, but I want my human friend Usato
to come back to Hinomoto to visit me.

If you have any funny tricks like before, please show them to me again!

I might send you another letter, so please do!

“I want to go back to…… Hinomoto.”

After reading Rinka’s letter, I remembered Hinomoto, the land of the beasts.

It was a land full of nature, just like the Kingdom of Lingle.

The landscape of Hinomoto reminded me of the landscape of the original world, with
its nostalgic rows of Japanese houses.

When I came here, I was caught up in the turmoil involving Jinya-san, so I didn’t have
time to enjoy the surroundings, but I still know the great nature that surrounds
Hinomoto and the strength of the beast people who live there.

If senpai were to visit Hinomoto, he would probably be overwhelmed.

It was a place full of charm.

“By the way, Kanoko-san, aren’t you going at your own pace too……?”

From Hayate’s mutterings that are noted, it seemed like she was doing the same thing
up to two years ago, though……

However, Kanoko, who was weak when she first woke up, is now able to walk……

This must be good news for Amako.

“Hey, Usato.”

“Hmm? What’s the matter? Did you tear the page or something?”

“No, it was there from the beginning. If you have any more paper and pens, please give
them to me.”

I turned around and handed Nea a few sheets of paper and a spare pen, which I had
prepared for the letter.

She began to write something down on the paper, looking through the journal of the
hero.

“What are you doing?”

“Deciphering……? It’s just something to pass the time.”

“I think that’s a lot of blurry text and worm-eaten pages……”

I can read some of it, but I can’t read some of it, so in the end I can’t understand what
it says.

I can read the part that Nea deciphered for me, but that’s it.

“The content and the form of the letters. It’s just a matter of predicting the text based
on the content, the shape of the letters and the tendency of the writing style, and then
fixing it so that it’s readable in parts, unless the whole page is ruined.”

I was frankly surprised when Nea turned to me with a smug look on her face.

“Nea looks smart……”

“That’s rude! I’m always smart!”

It’s true that she is smart, but look at how she usually is.

I’ve been saved by her many times.

“Can I see that later?”

“Hmm? Sure. But it doesn’t have anything interesting in it, does it?”

Nea said this, but she immediately thought of something and raised her body to look
back at us.
“Oh, but. There’s one thing I did notice.”

“What? What?”

“You’ll be able to find a lot more information on the web. It’s authentic, both
chronologically and in terms of content, but there’s something distinctly unnatural
about it.”

She smiles tentatively and shows her journal.

“There is no mention of the name of the previous hero anywhere in the book.”

I’m sure you’ll agree that it doesn’t, but at the same time I’m getting chills.

The more I thought about the significance of this little fact, the more frightened I
became.

The reason why the name of the brave man was not written in the memoirs — the
previous brave man was treated so badly that he was not even called by his original
name, I thought.

“Usato?”

“……No, it’s nothing.”

Nea, who had fallen silent, replied and went back to reading the letter.

The previous generation of heroes who fought the demons for the people.

The previous generation of heroes were respected by the beastmen as the hope of a
saviour.

But… Did anyone ever really see him for what he really was? Was there anyone who
called him by his first name?

These questions kept going round and round in my head, but I tried to concentrate on
what was in front of me.
Author’s Note:

Ciche Conrad, a divine beast from the Elvish tradition.

The first name is Grand Gorilla.

I tried my best to come up with a name that didn’t sound like this, but the name
“Gorilla” itself sounded perfect and complete, so I decided to go with something that
sounded like a guardian god.
“—“

I hear a voice.

I feel like it’s trying to tell me something important.

But I don’t know what it is.

The echoing voices are like echoes of a mountain echo, and they come to me in pieces.

“—! —!”

I can’t let that voice go unheard.

In a blur of consciousness, I vaguely feel this, and I concentrate my attention to hear

the voice.

I put my hands to my ears and listen carefully.

“Come…… waste. I…… am not fooled by the voice……”

The voice was faint and fragmented.

When I finally heard it, the view that I had only been drifting through changed in an
instant.

My vision turns from dark to dizzying.

I closed my eyes, bored with the sight of what seemed like an eternity, and when I
opened them again…

“Oh, Usato-kun. Are you awake?”

“……Senpai?”
There was senpai looking into my face.

Looking around, Kazuki, senpai and Leona are in a familiar room with Ferrum, Amako
and Nack.

Including me, the seven of us are sitting facing each other, and the room – the carriage
– is rattling and shaking.

“Ah, I see. You’ve left the Kingdom of Lingle, I’m……”

We who received the mission of defeating the demon king were riding in the carriage
that the castle prepared for us to go to the base, the place where we prepare to leave
for the demon king’s territory.

As I wipe my sweat-soaked forehead and try to rest my back against the backrest again
where I’m sitting, I notice Nea taking a nap in an owl-like state on my shoulder.

“I thought you were gone, but you were on my shoulder:……”

“Ho……”

No, you were supposed to be sitting in your normal seat when we got in the carriage,
weren’t you? When did you come on my shoulder?

Amako, who was sitting next to me and the senpai in front of me, speaks to me as I am
tilting my head looking at Nea on my shoulder.

“Usato-kun, what’s wrong?”

“You look pale, but……”

“Oh, um, I had a weird dream. I don’t remember what kind of…… dream I had, though.”

Amako tilts her head at the mention of a dream.

“A scary dream?”

“No, I don’t think it was scary.”

I don’t really remember the content.

But I feel a sense of loss, like I’ve forgotten something I shouldn’t have.

While pretending to be a little troubled, Amako continues to speak to me in question.

“So, the dream of being trained by Rose?”

“You said you weren’t afraid, right?”

“I thought Usato loved training so much that he finally started training in his sleep.”

“……”

“Oh, sorry, no, not now. So don’t give me that ‘I knew you had it in you’ look. Don’t
make a face like that.”

You train in your dreams.

It’s like an extension of imagery training.

“Well, I don’t think it’s too much to worry about.”

“Yes, it does. Unlike my dream, Usato’s is probably just a normal dream.”

I rather wonder what would happen if I had a premonitory dream.

“Umm, I thought I’d be able to bite your knee again while you were taking a nap, but I
couldn’t.”

“Suzune-dono, isn’t it not a good idea to do something like that……?”

“Leona, please don’t stop me. It’s the only way I can……!”

There is something about senpai talking to Leona in a whisper.

From the feel of it, though, it doesn’t sound like the senior is annoying Leona-san……

“Kazuki, how long has it been since we left?”

“Roughly about an hour.”

“An hour? That wasn’t much time passed, was it……?”

I was so overcome with sleep as soon as I got into the carriage that I don’t even
remember going through the gates of the kingdom of Lingle.

Maybe I was more nervous than I thought I was……

“We finally left, didn’t we……?”

“I guess so. We’ll stop at the base once, but we may not be able to return to the Lingle
Kingdom for the time being.”

He nodded at Kazuki’s words, then spoke to Nack, who was looking nervously and
impatiently at the scenery outside.

“Is this your first time riding in a carriage, Nack?”

“No, no! I’ve ridden in them a few times when I was little……”

We asked for permission to take Nack for a ride to take him to the base where Rose
and her friends were.

Both Welshie and Sergio knew Nack from his work at the castle and were happy to
allow him to ride in the carriage.

Nack, who looked hunched over, glanced at senpai.

“I was nervous to think that I was sitting in the carriage with Suzune-san, Kazuki-san,
and Leona-san, who was chosen as the hero of Miarak,……”

“Haha, I’ve never met Leona-san before, so it’s no wonder I’m nervous.”

We’d already been introduced, but I suppose it made it even more nerve-wracking for
Nack.

“I wonder if I’m easily distanced from my…… children, I’m……”.

And while I was thinking about it, Leona, who was listening to the conversation, was
sober and depressed.
When I try to talk to her to follow up on this, she calls out to me from another seat.

“Hmm, you’re not ready to be nervous at this level, are you?”

It was from the far end of the carriage that such a voice came from.

Ferrum, who sat at the very end, about two people’s distance away, and Nack returned
the words with a jittery look.

“Why are you sitting at the end of the table like that, Ferrum?”

“……I just don’t get on with people unnecessarily.”

I’m not a big fan of this kind of thing.

I’m not sure if he noticed her, but he stood up with a big smile on his face.

“Ferrum! Don’t stay in such a dark place, come over here!”

“Absolutely not! Who would go to a freak like you!!!”

“Don’t say that. We’re on the road together.”

“Don’t come near me! I’m scared of you!”

As senpai slowly made his way towards Ferrum.

“Don’t make a fuss, Suzune.”

“No, I’m a child who’s about to be lonely–“

“Don’t try to jump on Usato.”

“No, I won’t!”

……What? Did you just try to jump me at this point? It was a surprise?

Amako speaks plainly to senpai who react loudly

“I saw it in my premonition.”
“You’re falsely accused of premonition! Usato-kun! I’m sure you’re not the only one.

“……No, I mean,…… uh,……”

“How much do you not trust me?

I have a troubled reaction, and senpai is shocked with gabion.

“Well, I didn’t expect that a few seconds ahead of me I would take such a bold
action……! No! Rather, isn’t it destined to be carried out by the future me! Doesn’t that
mean that it’s OK to do it now? Wait a minute, I’m going to get caught in the swing of
the carriage and pretend to be a coincidence…”

Senpai is saying something very fast.

Amako, who had been giggling at the exchange between me and her senpai, suddenly
looks perturbed.

Did something happen?

“Jeez, I’m just kidding. Suzune.”

“If you decide to do so,……, huh? A joke?”

“Yes. I was just teasing.”

I was taken aback.

I knew it was a joke, but I was glad it wasn’t a real prediction.

Whether you prevent it or avoid it, it would be a disaster if senpai got hurt in any
way……

“Huh, huh, that was a close one. I was just about to jump on you like this, if that’s what
the prediction says.”

“Why are you so on the spot……?”

T-That’s dangerous.
If he had continued, his joking prediction would have come true.

Amako is also in a cold sweat, saying that she didn’t foresee it that well, and she is still
a terrifying person.

Seeing senpai returning to their seats maturely, Ferrum, who had almost been stuffed
earlier, is letting out a sigh of relief.

He is still keeping his distance from us, but…… hmm, I wonder if he will be okay.

The most important thing to remember is that you can’t just sit there and wait for
someone to talk to you, you have to talk to them.

“Usato, can I talk to Ferrum for a moment?”

“What? You?”

I’m surprised to hear Amako next to me whisper the suggestion.

Amako was in the dormitory to take care of me when I fainted, but even then she didn’t
seem to be talking to Ferrum.

It’s probably the first time they’ve spoken properly, but will they be okay?

“I wanted to talk to him for once. He’s just like me and Flana.”

“Yes, that’s true. You should talk to her…… She’s a good person, even if she doesn’t talk
much.”

“Yes.”

Amako said and went to the empty seat next to Ferrum.

I look away from the girls as she sits down next to Ferrum and the three of us start
talking with Nack.

“……Let’s read a book to pass the time.”

I put my bag on my lap at my feet to take out the book that Nair told me to take with
me.
The majority of the luggage for the trip has been packed away elsewhere, so the only
things in the bag are books and hand towels.

In the meantime, as you try to get the journal of the hero you want, you will notice that
your bag has moved.

Hmm? What’s that?

When I tilt my head back, a black ear and a small head pops out of a gap in my bag.

“Kukuru? What, you’re here?”

“Kukuru!”

The Commander’s pet, Kukuru the Noir Rabbit.

I was actually looking for this guy before I left, but he was hiding in my bag.

I should be angry at him for not coming out sooner, but I’m not so angry if I think he
wanted to surprise me.

Kukuru leaps out of his bag, runs his arm up my hand, and kicks the owl-like Nea off
my shoulder with his back foot.

“Oops!…… Totally, this girl is……”

“Ugh…… hoo.”

I quickly catch Nea with both hands, but the important thing is that she just does not
wake up in a doze.

I don’t know what to do, so I keep it in my palm and warn Kukuru.

“Hey, don’t start a fight.”

“Cu……”

“Huh, if you’re sorry, fine.”

He nudges Kukuru’s head with his finger, disappointed.

No, I know it’s sweet, but I can’t help but hate it.

He knows this, and that’s why he’s a little devil.

“U-u-u-u-u, Usato-kun! What’s with that explosively cute girl?”

“Usato. Do you have another errand boy?”

“……Noir Rabbit? This is also…… very rare……”

I noticed that my senpai, Kazuki, and Leona were all looking at the Kukuru on my
shoulder.

My senpai, in a way, reacted as I had expected……

“Huh? Didn’t I tell you?”

Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve taught you anything about Kukuru for some
reason……

It’s no surprise that Leona doesn’t know about it, and neither her senpai nor Kazuki
came to the lifeguard quarters that many times.

Kukuru itself is not moving around freely, and.

“I’ve never seen you before! And now I’m fascinated!”

“I’m sorry. Please speak to me in a language I understand.”

I understand, but I can’t keep up with the momentum of……

After crossing his arms as if he couldn’t help it, the senpai switched to a crisp
expression and held his hands out in front of him in a theatrical manner.

“Oh, jet-black you! My heart has been stolen by those beautiful, fruit-red, sinful
eyes……!”

“Who can say that in style……?”

It’s sad to say that Kukuru is the one who got it, although he almost won the heart of
the same gender.

The Kukuru, in fact, looks uninterested and is grooming itself.

In the meantime, he points to Kukuru on his shoulder, paying attention to Nea on his
left hand.

“This child is not my errand boy, but the Commander’s pet. As Leona-san said, it’s a
demon called Noir Rabbit, and its name is Kukuru.”

“Heh, Rose’s…… what a surprise.”

“Haha, I thought the same thing at first.”

I agree with Kazuki, who looks at Kukuru with interest.

In fact, it’s a demon that is both intelligent and unreasonable, suitable for Rose’s
partner.

Well, it’s definitely cute in appearance and gesture,……, and you can’t help but be
fooled.

“I never thought I’d see a Noir rabbit here……”

“You know them, don’t you, Leona?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that they are…… very timid and cautious. Because of their exceptional
detection skills, they are rarely seen in the presence of humans. I’ve never seen one in
person before.”

……Cowardly? What? This guy?

I think it’s more like a rabbit that takes the initiative to try and trick you……

“You really are a demon’s favourite, aren’t you?”

“Is that so?”

Leona says this when she sees Kukulu lazily sitting on her shoulder and Nea sleeping
in her palm.
Kazuki nodded in agreement.

In the meantime, senpai silently stared at us.

I’m scared.

“Indeed. I’m not sure what to make of it. That child is also said to be Rose’s pet, maybe
she feels something close to Rose and misses her.”

“Maybe she simply wants to fight with Nea, though.”

And he’s always picking fights with her every time they see each other.

As we were having this conversation, suddenly and without warning, Kukuru jumped
off my shoulder.

“Hmm? Kukuru.”

“Kyuu.”

He landed on my lap, jumped again and jumped on the lap of the senior student in the
seat in front of me.

Naturally, senpai fell into a panic.

“—! —!”

“Usato, Suzune-dono is looking at you as if asking for help……”

“Uh, yes. Senpai, that guy is basically harmless, so it’s okay.”

The senpai was shocked beyond words and was unable to even move from the spot.

Knowing or not knowing such a senpai, Kukuru, who had moved his head to scurry
around on her lap, looked up, climbed up so that he could run down her arm, jumped
on her shoulder — and jumped on her head.

“Kyu!”

“Usato-kun, I can die now. I have no more regrets.”

“What are you saying with your enlightened face, this guy……?”

What happened to your trip to defeat the demon king……?

Kukuru jumped happily on the head of the senior with a pitter-patter.

The senpai looked full of life.

Kukulu’s behaviour appeared to be the same as what he had previously done to Nea
in her human state.

“……Could it be?”

Kukuru you…… only sees senpai as a playmate like Nea……?

Kazuki and Leona, who were watching from the side, also noticed this, and glanced at
me with an indescribable look on their faces.

Ummm, what to do?

“Kyu, Kyu!”

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t be rude. Hahaha.”

……Yeah, senpai seems to be happy and I think I can leave him alone until we reach the
base.

I look over at the two of them and lean my back against the carriage wall.

I take out the hero’s journal from my half-open bag, and with one hand, I roll the pages
and read through the parts that Nea has deciphered for me.

We are almost there.

At the base are all the rescue squad and…… Rose.

I’m worried because I’ve heard that Nero Agence has wounded you.
To the base for the first time in about a week.

Perhaps because the battle with the Demon King's army had been over for some time,
the supplies and weapons in the base had been packed up, and the many knights were
about to return to their respective countries.

After getting off the carriage, we were divided into senpai and Kazuki, who were to
report to Sigurth-san on the details of the "journey to defeat the Demon King," and me,
who was going to meet Rose, my direct boss.

Leona-san accompanied Senpai and Kazuki, while I was accompanied by Nea, Ferrum,
Rescue Squad Nack, and Amako.

Kukuru got out of the carriage and immediately went somewhere, but, well, I knew
where he was headed, so I let him go.

“…Is it right for me to come here?"

Nack, who looked around the base as we were heading to where Rose and the others
were, muttered anxiously.

The knights I passed had scowls on their faces as if they were exhausted, and some of
them had blood-soaked bandages on. Just because the battle is over doesn't mean it's
over.

Talk to him to reassure him that he will be aware of this again.

"It'll be fine. If something goes wrong, all I have to do is take a beating."

"So you're assuming you're going to get punched, not get scolded…”

Amako looks stunned.

To cheer up Nack, who is looking gloomy, I will tell him a joke here.
"Well, it ends with a beating, it's quicker that way. Hahaha."

""""…”"""

"Oh, guys. I'm kidding, okay? It was a joke, so don't try to keep Nack away from me."

Ferrum looks at me like, "Seriously, this guy?" meanwhile, Nea and Amako keep Nack,
who is pulling away from me just as much as Ferrum is.

As expected, I didn't say I'd rather be punched, either?

It's just a quick way to get the thing done, you know?

“…I know. Usato likes pain, right? Do you want me to hit you?"

"If I nod, I'm finished as a human being!!"

I was told in a very gentle voice that I was going to get hit.

Moreover, she has a rare bright smile.

"You are already finished as a species who is called a human being."

"Indeed"

You're noisy! Vampire and demon-kin girl over there!!

Seeing my reaction, Amako broke into a smile and touched both cheeks as she leaned
forward.

"Nn, just kidding."

"Eh…”

"I wouldn't do that to Usato."

Before I knew it, the joke was returned with a joke.

…I should come up with a milder joke next time.

As we exchange these words, we can see the base of operations of the rescue squad.
The many tents lined up in a row, the supplies piled up, though somewhat reduced―,

"U-Usato-kun!!"

Among them, we find the figure of a woman who looked at us and raised a surprised
voice.

I wave to Ururu-san, the woman who dropped the box she was holding and came over
to us.

"Ah"

"Hmm? Amako, what's wrong?"

"Unn. Well, this is okay, I guess. Unn."

"Haa?"

While listening to the conversation between Amako and Nea next to me, I tried to
speak to Ururu-san, but she showed no sign of stopping.

Eh? At the moment Ururu-san, who did not stop, caught me off guard, she jumped
toward me with such force that it could be mistaken for a body blow.

"Usato-kuuuun!? I'm glad you're okaaaay!!"

"Ogoh!?"

Even though Nea, who used to play a village girl, has done the same thing to me before,
but the momentum is so strong.

As I manage to step back and let the impact go so as not to hurt her, I notice that Ururu-
san is crying.

"I've been worried for a long time when I heard that Usato-kun collapsed and had to
be carried to the kingdom…!"

"Ururu-san…”
"Tong and the others weren't worried at all, but I couldn't help but feel uneasy…”

"I'll hit those tough-looking guys later."

They should at least worry about me a little.

…I’ve caused Ururu-san to worry.

I know this person is not whiny, but she continued to heal the wounded on the
battlefield until today.

The burden and the anxiety she has had to this day must be considerable.

Understanding that, instead of pulling Ururu-san off of me, I decided to wait until she
stopped crying.

After a little while, Ururu-san regained her composure and welcomed us into the base
of operations with an embarrassed smile.

Once inside the tent, there were few injuries.

After the battle, this place would have been full of injured people, but I guess it means
that everyone in the rescue squad had been working hard until today.

"Ururu-san, where is Olga-san…”

"Onii-chan… collapsed yesterday."

"Eh!? Where is he!?"

"Ah, aah! When I say "collapsed," I mean overworked! As long as he rests, he'll be fine!
Besides, Sharun-san is with him!"

"I see… That's good…”

Olga-san, who is frail, was healing people to the limit to the point of collapse.

Ururu-san is also acting strong, but it is clear that she is quite forcing herself.
The other members of the group were cleaning up supplies and disused tents, so we
left the tent for the time being, only to find something approaching us.

"Hmm?"

I look at Ururu-san and feel a bit of deja vu, but when I turn toward him, a blue mass
approaches with thudding, heavy footsteps.

"Gruar!"

"Bluerin!!"

Recognizing him, Bluerin, I spread my arms wide to catch him as he leaps at me.

Unlike with Ururu-san, thanks to being prepared in advance, he puts down Bluerin
without much recoil.

"Did you miss me!?"

"Gruar!"

"Hahaha, don't bite, don't bite, I'm happy to see you again. You're not causing trouble
for everyone, are you?"

"Guruu!!"

As if to say, "Of course", I stroked the bottom of Bluerin's chin.

Bluerin really worked hard.

He carried wounded people on his back, and he ran into the enemy with me.

"This guy didn't even back away when he just got rammed by Bluerin, did he…?"

When I was dealing with Bluerin, who was playing around with his front paws, Ferrum
muttered something like that behind me.

I thought it was nothing to worry about and tried to let it pass, but then Nea and the
others responded to her voice.
"That shouldn't be a surprise now, right?"

"Yes"

"If it's Usato-san, well…”

"You guys may be used to it, but I'm not…!!"

As for me, I'm not sure if I should be happy about that.

"Amako, can I leave Bluerin to you?"

"Fine, but… What do you want to do, Usato?"

"It's time for me to go see the Commander. Nack's coming too, right?"

"Yes!"

Nodding to Knack, who replies, I ask Ururu-san where Rose is.

"Ururu-san, where is the Commander?"

"She's resting in the tent over there."

"I heard she was injured…”

"It looks like she's still in a state where her injuries can't be healed yet… I think. but I
think he'll be fine. But the Commander is a person who forces herself as much as
Usato-kun does…”

…Well, there is no way that person would behave in a way that would make Ururu-san
and the others uneasy.

First, I would have to see Rose and ask her about the condition of the wound to know
for sure.

After a short break from Amako and the others, I walk with Nack to the tent where
Rose is staying.

"…”
The last time I saw her was when she was swallowed by the tornado created by Nero
Agence's lineage strengthening.

From beginning to end, Nero Agence was taking it easy on me.

And even though he took it easy on me, I still got slashed on top of the magic
resistance… if he got serious, I might have been killed without being able to do
anything.

When I heard that she was injured fighting such an opponent, how could I not have
considered the possibility of what might have happened?

In silence, we reach the entrance to the tent where Rose is supposed to be, and Nack
and I speak out so that she can hear us inside.

"Commander, this is Usato. I have just returned from the Kingdom of Lingle."

After a few seconds or so, a short reply comes back, 'Come in,' in the same voice as
usual.

I walked through the entrance and stepped into the tent with Nack to find Rose sitting
on two wooden bunks that had been laid out.

She wears her usual squad uniform over her shoulders, with a black inner garment
underneath. Her wounds do not seem to have healed yet, as she supports her left arm
as if it were threaded through a cloth around her neck.

And, as might be expected, on her uninjured right shoulder was Kukuru, who had been
with us not long ago.

"I just now changed the bandages."

"Kyu"

Looking at it, a blood-soaked bandage is discarded on the bunk on which Rose is

sitting.

Nack gasps at the sight of blood.

…First of all, I should explain about bringing Nack with me.

"I've already heard that you and the heroes are going on a journey with a letter from
the Kingdom."

"Yes. I, a healing magic user, was chosen to support Senpai and Kazuki."

"After the battle, another battle, huh… Good grief, you don't have time to rest, do you."

"Hahaha…”

I gave a wry smile to Rose who sighed in amazement.

She shifted her gaze from me, who was laughing, to Nack, who was nervous.

"I can guess it, but… Why did you bring Nack?"

"I brought Nack here because we are going on a journey and he will be alone. Even
though he is twelve years old, he is also a fine member of the Rescue Squad. We can't
let him join the fight, but he should be able to help with the work here."

When I put that much into words, Nack, who is standing by my side, steps forward.

At the sight of Rose's gaze, he looks frightened, but he still raises his voice.

"I-I! I came here because I want to help everyone! I will never complain!!"

"…”

After a moment of silence, Rose opened her mouth.

"Because you've come this far… Fine."

"! Thank you!!"

"Alex and the others are cleaning up the base outside. Go help them."

"Yes!"

Nack's face lit up and he said, "Excuse me!" He bowed deeply and walked out of the
tent with a short run.
After seeing his happy back, I turned to face Rose in front of me again.

"May I sit down?"

"Suit yourself"

I sit in the other bunk next to the one Rose is sitting in.

"Are you okay with your injuries?"

"It's not as serious as it looks. It's not a problem for me as long as I behave properly"

"Eh? Are you sure you're okay? It's not like you're just being cheerful, is it?"

I heard that she got a slash on her left shoulder.

She sighed at me, doubting that she was really well with that.

"Who do you think I am?"

"…”

What should I do? Those words alone make me think she is okay now.

To tell the truth, I was really, really worried about her, but seeing her in front of me
like this reminds me that my fears were groundless.

…Although she is my mentor, she is truly a supernormal person.

"Is the curse of the magic sword of Nero Agence still remaining?"

"The curse other than on me was lifted in about four days."

“…What about the curse on you, Commander?"

"The annoying thing is, it's still there. This."

With a look of great disgust on her face, Rose put her hand on her left shoulder.

"That irksome guy, When I hit that blonde, I had no choice but to take his sword with
my left shoulder, and he seemed to be putting a lot of force into it, too. I guess that has
put a stronger curse on my shoulder wound than the others."

“…So that's how persistent he is"

"I guess so. It's nothing more than a nuisance to me."

Rose's expression of annoyance suggests that Nero's presence may be perceived by

Rose as "just another enemy standing in the way".

"Can the curse be lifted?"

"It will take a little time, but it can be lifted. In the meantime, my left arm will be
useless."

Actually, I tried on the battlefield to see if I could manage to break it with Nea's Release
Spell, but I couldn't.

The power of Nero's magic sword is a curse, but it seems that it is not a magic curse,
but a simpler one, a pure feeling of human hatred that is imprinted on the sword as a
curse.

I am not surprised that he can wield such a thing normally and remain unaffected by
it.

Isn't it likely that it's possessed by a ghost or something? At the very least, I would
have been so freaked out the moment I held it that I would have smashed it on the
spot.

After thinking that far, I suddenly look at Rose's left arm and a thought comes to mind.

“…If I were to fight you right now, would I win?"

"Haa, if you think you can win, try it."

"…”

Ah, it's impossible.

Even if she can't use both arms, I can't imagine winning.

I can easily imagine myself being kicked to the far side of the room with a full strength
spinning kick.

Rose smiled happily at me as I quietly acknowledged my defeat.

"You seem to have gone on a rampage this time as well."

"For me, it wasn't my intention… Near death, being followed by an annoying stalker,
And to top it all off, they call me devil baselessly, you know?"

"Haa, the devil? That's pretty hilarious, oi."

"It's no laughing matter…”

Calling me the devil is not so widespread, though, so I don't mind.

"Whatever the case, I'm glad you made it back alive "

“…Yes"

"Oops, you're not going to start crying this time?"

"You bring that out now?"

When the first battle was over, I unconsciously cried when Rose praised me.

I remember it vividly as an honestly embarrassing memory at the time, and my face

gets hot when it is mentioned now.

"Haha, don't glare at me. My bad."

As Rose laughed when she saw me, I felt even more embarrassed, and I tried to think
of something to say back to her.
Noon on the day we arrived at the base.

After meeting Rose again, I next came face to face with the tough-looking guys.

Although they still looked as horrifying as ever, I was inwardly relieved that no one
was missing and that they had made it back alive.

…Well, after that, we almost got into a fight after the stirring, and Rose kicked me out
of the tent, but that, well, is a familiar sight at the Rescue Squad, so it's probably not
an unusual view.

After exchanging greetings with all the members of the Squad, I was called by Sigurth-
san to the meeting tent in the center of the base.

Passing through the banner, there were four people in the tent, Sigurth-san, Senpai,
Kazuki, and Leona-san.

"Well, now that Usato-sama has arrived and we are all here, let's start the talk."

The reason why the four of us were gathered here this time was to discuss the raid
into the demon king's territory tomorrow.

Although the general plan was done in the Kingdom of Lingle, this base will be used
to discuss other issues that may arise as we move into the Demon King's territory.

"The biggest problem is the great river that flows between the demon king's territory
and the human territory…”

"Yeah, we've already come up with a solution for this."

"Is that so?"

Senpai replies to Sigurth-san's words.

"Leona-san, the hero of Mialak, magically builds a hastily constructed bridge. Then
Usato-kun, who has been assimilated with Ferrum, will reinforce the bridge with black
magic, and Nea will use her magic to make it resistant. With this, we should be able to
build a bridge big enough for us to cross."

To be honest, I doubt whether it is necessary for me to assimilate with Ferrum.

No, if you want me to focus on the combination of Nea and Ferrum, should I be there?

"I really wish I could have helped."

"My and Kazuki-kun's magic are specialized in attacking, so it can’t be helped."

Kazuki has a light system that destroys anything he touches.

Senpai has lightning system that manipulates powerful thunderbolts.

Both are powerful magic, but not for building bridges.

"Fumu. I understand the theory, but is it possible? I would like to ask your opinion,
Leona-dono."

Sigurth-san, who put his hand on his chin, asked Leona-san.

"We have confirmed the width of the Great River itself, so it should not be impossible.
If possible, it would be nice to see with my own eyes the proper place to build the
bridge once it is in place."

"Then, would you like to go see the Great River today? If you go now, you will be back
before dark."

Leona-san looks hesitant for a while at Sigurth-san's suggestion.

Perhaps collecting her thoughts for a moment, she nodded to Sigurth-san.

"I guess so. I should probably go check it out myself first. May I borrow a horse?"

"Of course"

…Is Leona-san going to go to the great river now to find a point to build a bridge?
Well then, I better check with them too, since I will be involved in building the bridge.

I raise my hand and talk to Sigurth-san, who is instructing his subordinate knight to
arrange horses.

"Sigurth-san. Can I follow Leona-san too? I'd like to check on the great river, too."

"Eh?"

"Understood. Then, let's also prepare a horse for Usato-sama."

For some reason, Leona-san was surprised, but I was more surprised that a horse
would be provided for me.

…No, wait a minute.

I've never ridden a horse before.

"Uhm, no need for a horse!! I can't ride a horse!!"

"Mu? Then leave the reins to my subordinate and---"

"No!"

As expected, I can't cause trouble for the knight.

Besides, it shouldn't be too far from here to the great river.

"I'm going for a run, don't worry!"

At that moment, the expressions of Sigurth-san and his subordinate knights hardened.

And the very next moment, they gave me an enlightened look as if to say, "Aah, I see."

Plains area.

In front of the tattered wooden defense wall after the battle, Leona-san and I were
getting ready to leave.
"I didn't think you'd come along too."

"If it's for tomorrow, then I should go too."

Nea, perched on my shoulder in her owl form, fuhn fuhn, puffing her chest out in a
good mood.

As I was doing my preparation exercises with a wry smile on my face, Leona-san

approached me on her horse, perhaps having finished her preparations earlier.

"Usato, I'm ready anytime."

"Yes, I'm ready, too."

"I think I understand your high physical prowess, but… it feels strange."

Leona-san says such things with an indescribable expression on her face.

"You'd better get used to it. This guy starts doing even crazier than when he was in
Mialak."

"H-Hmm?"

"When we were in the beastmen's country, whenever I took my eyes off of him for a
second, he would come up with insane tricks."

This owl. What a thing to say to Leona-san?

To Nea's advice, Leona-san responds vaguely with concern for me.

Good grief, how much you don't trust me.

…Let's hide the Healing Blast Wave from Nea a little longer.

"Leona-san, it's time to go."

"Eh? Ah, yeah!"

Let's get going quickly before anything more is said.

At the same time that Leona-san's horse starts running, I also jump forward.

[…?… Hihn!?]

Leona-san's horse makes a funny cry when it sees me running alongside.

"You really are a monster when you have someone to compare yourself to, aren't you?
And the horse did a beautiful double take."

“…You'll bite your tongue!"

Nea mutters something like that when she sees me and the horse that Leona-san is
riding alongside.

While ignoring her words, I ran across the plains with the horse.

The plains where the battle took place were in a terrible state.

Although the bodies of the monsters had been cleared away, the wounds inflicted on
the ground by the demon king's last aerial attack were extensive.

In the worst parts, the land was so burned up that one could not even tell that it had
once been a grassland, reminding me once again of how powerful the Demon King's
attacks were.

We passed from the plains, where the aftermath of the battle remained strong,
through a thick forest of trees, and soon arrived at our destination, the great river.

“…This is the place, is it?"

"Yeah. You guys have seen similar rivers when you've been on a ship, haven't you?"

"At that time, though, we met Suzune on the way and didn't come all the way here."

A river flows under the cliff which has a certain height.

I looked down at the wide, fast-flowing river and spoke to Leona-san.

"Did you find the ideal location?"

“…If the current is this bad, it should be safe to support it with ice. The question is
where to hang it… The foothold is unstable here. Let's move."

"Got it"

I follow her as she dismounts from her horse.

I'll have to watch my step to make sure I don't accidentally fall off.

“…Now that I think about it, it's strange."

"What is it?"

"I remember the first time I met you. Although that time it was on a frozen lake, not a
river."

Speaking of the first time we met, is that when we fought the out-of-control Karon-san
for the first time.

At the time, I mistook Leona-san for a man…

Now that I think about it, I did something really rude.

"At that time, you didn't have gauntlets yet, you were just some kind of ogre with a
psychic resistance."

"I am not an ogre, you know?"

“…Ah, and before that, you just hit an ogre once and knocked it into unconsciousness,
so you are not an ogre. Sorry."

Arereh? She apologized, but I don't feel like she apologized.

The person in question seems genuinely apologetic, but for some reason, the words
don't seem to fit her.

"You two are still as close as ever."

"That's obvious. Because I'm his familiar. If anything, there is no other familiar who
can go along with his recklessness, except me."

"You're gonna say that much?"

Nea, in a good mood, flaps her wings against my cheek.

No, it's true that she went along with my recklessness many times, but I don't think
it's something to be that bragging about.

As I am annoyed by the tickling sensation on my cheek, I notice Leona-san giggling

happily as she walks along, pulling her horse.

"Leona-san…?"

"I've enjoyed talking with you guys."

"Eh? Enjoy, you said…”

"It's refreshing for me to have this kind of casual exchange."

I'm not aware that I'm saying anything that interesting, but… from the side, it may be
quite an amusing sight.

Having a good mood owl on my shoulder endlessly flapping at my cheeks is a

moderately surreal sight.

"I joined this journey as a Hero, but it was because of you that I was able to make that
decision."

"Me…?"

When I tilted my head at those words, Leona-san who suddenly stopped her foot let
out a voice of "Ah".

She turned to me in a bit of a panic and opened her mouth, moving her hands
awkwardly.

"N-No, I don't mean anything deep. It's just that it's reassuring to know that you
participated in the war with me, how should I put it…”
"Etto, do you mean that you are reassured by my presence as a healing magician?"

“…That's not right. I didn't make my decision because you are a healing magician. I
can't say it well, but I assure you of that."

"Y-Yes…”

I was pressured by Leona-san, who corrected my misunderstanding with a serious

look on her face.

Can I assume that she participated because of me as an individual rather than me as a

healing magician… I guess?

Either Leona-san trusts me that much or she's worried about things… When I reflect
on my own behavior, there's a good chance she's just plain worried… Yeah.

"Thank you. As for me, that… I'm glad to hear it"

"I-I see! I'm relieved that you thought so too!"

Leona-san's expression brightened from her anxiety and she looked back to the front.

"W-We've come to a halt, haven't we? It's time to move on!"

"Right…”

"Hmm, this stubborn Hero and training idiot. Both of them were clumsy and don't
mesh well."

Seeing me and Leona-san nod to each other and start to walk, Nea muttered such a
rude thing in a whisper.

What do you mean don't mesh well…?

I followed Leona-san with these questions in mind.

“…Looks good here. Usato, can you hold the reins?"

"Okay"
Then, Leona-san stopped and handed me the reins of the horse.

Slightly freaked out, I accept the reins, and Leona-san crouches down on the spot and
puts her hands on the ground.

"Hmm. This looks like a good place for a scaffold. If it doesn't rain today, we can build
a bridge here tomorrow."

"Do you want to put a marker on it?"

"A marker?… Yes, let's do it."

Leona-san nodded at my words, stood up, and let the cold air drift into her palms.

What in the world…? Before I can even think about it, the color of the magic emanating
from her hand darkens and its shape changes to that of a stick.

"--System Enhancement"

When she muttered so, an ice spear formed in the air and pierced the ground.

…She is a better user than I am, and when I see her up close, the process of System
Enhancement is extremely detailed.

"Okay, this should help us find it quickly."

Leona-san, who had wrapped a cloth around her ice spear, which was covered with a
white haze, as a marker, turned around to face us.

"Won't it melt?"

"It's due to the system enhancement, so it should last well until tomorrow morning."

"He~e, with such cold air around it, the monsters can't touch it, so there's no need to
worry about losing it."

And now that we've decided where to build the bridge, all we have to do is go home.

Before I do that, I too will look at the other side of the river from the point where the
cloth-wrapped spear --- flag is located.
Let's see how far away it is, albeit visually.

"Looking at it again, it's quite far away… Hmm?"

"What's wrong?"

"No, I think I heard the sound of a ravenous beast from the other side of the river…”

Nea, with a dubious expression on her face, listens as I do, and sure enough, I hear
something whining from the other side of the river.

The voice of a beast, neither human nor demon tribe.

And there are quite a few of them.

“…Sounds like monsters."

"All of them!?"

"The war may be causing the monsters to become more active. If we go to the other
side of the river like this, we might be attacked."

"So, should we change locations?"

Nea shakes her head at Leona-san's words.

"If it's like that here, it's probably like that everywhere else. Then it's better to
prioritize crossing safely."

I guess that means I'll have to pay attention to what's going on on the other side of the
river tomorrow?

Fortunately, we have a reliable partner, Bluerin, who will drive the monsters away if
we let him cross first.

…But the fact that the monsters are making noise over there means that they are also
affected by the war.

"Usato. Now that we have decided where to build the bridge, let's go back to the base.
We have to report about the monsters on the other side of the river."
"Right"

While handing the reins of the horse to Leona-san, I turn my back against the great
river and start to walk away.

Tomorrow, we will cross here and invade the Demon King's territory.

It is a different journey from the letter-delivering journey, a journey with a mission to

defeat the other party directly. There is no way that I myself can go forward with the
same naive thinking that I have had up to now.

I have to brace myself.

"When we cross tomorrow. Maybe we should let Usato go first."

"W-Why?"

"To ward off the monsters. Monsters basically don't attack their own kind who are
superior in strength."

"Don't treat me naturally like I'm a monster"

When I replied in a sullen tone, she seemed to feel bad and apologized to me in a
lighter tone.

"I'm sorry. Don't be so sulky… But, you know, you, who have assimilated with Ferrum,
are almost like a monster, right. That appearance is as similar as possible to Karon in
his out-of-control state, right?"

"Eeh, don't say scary things…”

When you put it that way, it's scary.

Is that it? If I continue to assimilate with Ferrum, one day my body will no longer be
human?

Well, it is only said to be close, so it should not be that dangerous.

"U-Usato-san! May I see Suzune-sama!"

It was a terrifying situation for me.

After checking the great river that flows between the demon king's territory and the
human territory, I had returned and parted ways with Leona-san inside the base,
returning to the Rescue Squad's base of operations.

Departure to the demon king's territory is tomorrow.

Just as I was thinking that I would spend the night at the base, relaxing my mind, Kate-
san came to visit me and asked me in a somewhat uneasy manner for such a thing.

"Oi, Kate. Don't trouble Usato-san."

Gerna-kun, who came to visit me with her, warned her.

But that didn't stop Kate-san.

"Now is the only chance. If you stop me now, Gerna-kun… I will hold a grudge against
you for the rest of my life."

"Could you please don’t say scary things in a cheerful voice…?"

Judging by the way Kate-san is acting, there shouldn't be any malice… right?

I have to ask permission from Senpai and others, but as for me, I can't ignore Kate-
san's request, who has worked so hard to help the Rescue Squad until today.

"I get it. But can I ask permission from senpai first? Maybe she'll say no…”

"I don't mind that! I'd rather have it that way!"

"Well, so it's okay that way…”

I don't know, it's like being excited just to be near a celebrity… huh?

But Senpai is very popular too.

In Calm Helio, the popularity of women is usually very serious.

"If that's the case, let's get there as soon as possible. Gerna-kun, are you coming?"

"I'm……… following along just in case this girl does anything."

Gerna-kun points to the dreamy state of mind Kate-san and says so.

Together with Kate-san and Gerna-kun, we left the Rescue Squad's base of operations
and headed for Senpai.

As I was making my way through the torch-lit area, Kate-san spoke to me as if she
suddenly remembered something.

"Ah, come to think of it, there was something I wanted to ask Usato-san after the war
was over!"

"Hmm? The rumors about me and Senpai are misunderstood…”

"I'm not talking about that. I was wondering how Usato-san became the healing
magician that you are today…”

Kate-san's question makes Gerna-kun stiffen for a moment.

A healing magician as I am now, you mean in that direction, right?

But the problem is that… Kate-san has taken out what looks like a notepad. What in
the world is she going to write on it.

"Etto, what's the notebook for?"

"To write down Usato-san training methods!"

"For what purpose? Perhaps you yourself are trying to put it into practice…?"

"No! It is because I was asked to do so by the higher-ups in the kingdom when I was
sent here!"

Oh my, this girl is amazingly honest.

It's a different format, but it's the one I feared in the beginning.

However, the lady in question, Kate-san, came to find out the inside of the Rescue
Squad…, but she seems to have been so fascinated with Senpai that she forgot about it
until just now.

In other words, fine play (?) by Senpai.

"Are the Calm Helio trying to make healing magicians like me and the Commander…”

"Eh, is that so? I think it's impossible."

"You don't have to deny it. Are you not aware that you're a spy?"

"Spy?"

"Enough…”

Gerna-kun retorted at Kate-san, who tilted her head, and he looks tired.

"So, who's the higher-ups? Princess Naia?"

"It was Kyle-sama and the Prime Minister, not Naia-sama."

“…Aa, I see. Un."

I didn't expect it was Prince Kyle.

How should I judge? Is this an attempt to find out my secret as a healing magician?

Considering that they sent her to me right after the meeting, it seems like too much of
a quick move…, but it's not surprising if you think that they were burning with rivalry.

"Kate-san. When you return to Calm Helio, do you have a chance to have an audience
with Princess Naia?"
"Uwh, I heard that Naia-sama is very busy. If it were Kyle-sama, I would be able to see
him at a reasonable hour."

Prince Kyle… No, I'm sure it's different now, maybe.

But is it not so easy to meet Princess Naia?

"Then is it possible for you to just give her the notebook?"

"Ah, I can do that! They may check the contents for inspection, though!"

"Then, can you lend me that notebook for a moment?"

"Yes!"

I stop in my tracks and pick up the pen I had tucked in, conversely surprised that she
handed me the notebook without hesitation.

The content is… this text is written by me and to ask that the healing magician not be
subjected to harsh training and that the healing magician who was sent -- Kate-san
not be harmed in any way.

Also, although not so much an alternative, I noted that instead of raising healing
magicians like us, it would be better to raise healing magicians who specialize in
healing, such as Olga-san and Ururu-san.

In addition, I will write as much detail as possible about how much healing magicians
like Kate-san have played an active role in this war, and appeal the usefulness of their
work.

"This is all right. Here you go."

"Thank you very much!"

"Y-Yeah?"

…Why did she thank me? I'm…? Is that an autograph or something?

Once we start walking again, we soon arrive at our destination.

There were several small tents lined up in a row, with a campfire in the center of them
brightly illuminating the surroundings.

“…Ah, there she is."

In the light of the campfire, I find senpai, Leona-san, who is sitting on a log that has
been used as a chair, and Kazuki, who is sitting the same way across from the campfire.

For now, let Kate-san and Gerna-kun wait on the spot and I approach the three.

"Hmm? Isn't it Usato-kun. What's wrong?"

At the sound of Senpai's voice noticing me, Kazuki and Leona-san look at me.

While scratching my cheeks in trouble, I reply to senpai.

"Actually, there's a girl who wants to meet senpai."

"A girl who wants to meet me?"

"It seems she's a passionate fan of senpai."

When I said so in a rather joking manner, Senpai, who put her hand on her forehead,
let out a giggle.

"A passionate fan, huh? Then, as a hero, I must live up… to that expectation!"

"Does that mean it's OK?"

"Of course!! Leona, are you ready…!!"

"S-Suzune! I-I have nothing to do with it!?"

Today's tension is even higher.

Leona-san next to her is in total bewilderment, but when did they start calling name
each other by name?

Anyway, I get her consent and I beckon to the two behind me.
Then Kate-san, with a sparkle in her eyes, comes running over to us on a short run.

"Usato-san! Thank you very much!!"

" Don't worry about it. Now, go talk to senpai as much as you want. The person next to
senpai is Leona-san. She's a hero of Mialak. And the one in front of me is Kazuki,
another hero of the Lingle Kingdom."

"!? Another hero, Kazuki-sama, and Leona-sama, who solved the big incident that
happened in Mialak together with Usato-san!? What fortuitous luck! I won't complain
if someone tells me I've already used up a lifetime's worth of luck!!"

After thanking me deeply once again, Kate-san made her way to the Senpai, who was
beckoning her with a smile.

"Suzune-sama, Leona-sama! It is my pleasure to meet you! I'm a healing magician from

Calm Helio Kingdom! My name is Kate!!"

"Un un, your name is Kate. Nice to meet you, I am Inukami Suzune. I'm a hero of the
Kingdom of Lingle."

"I-I'm Leona. Mialak's… you know, hero."

Senpai confidently introduces herself, and Leona-san shyly identifies herself.

Kate-san, in front of the two contrasting people, is overjoyed.

…Un, somehow it seems to be okay.

"O~i Usato~"

Kazuki, who is sitting on a separate log from Senpai and Leona-san, is raising his hand.

"I'm coming. Come on, Gerna-kun, you too."

"Eh, is that okay?"

"I don't mind at all. Besides, we're close in age."

Together with Gerna-kun, I approach Kazuki and sit down in an open space on the log.
There's plenty of space for three people to sit down.

"Usato, who is he?"

"Gerna-kun, who came from the Kingdom of Nirvarna to reinforce the Rescue Squad.
He's a healing magician like me."

"I-It is nice to meet you, I am Gerna. I know Kazuki-sama very well, as you have visited
Nirvarna."

Gerna-kun bowed his head in awe, and Kazuki scratched his cheek as if he too was
troubled.

"E-Etto, you don't have to add "sama", okay? From your looks, we're the same age, and
there's no need to force yourself to speak formally in honorifics."

"No, that kind of…”

Having Gerna-kun, who is about the same age as me, speak to me in a polite manner
makes me itch a little too.

Regardless if it's someone who uses polite dialect on a daily basis, like Halfa-san from
Luxvis, but Gerna-kun's usual way of speaking is different.

"It's a little late, but you don't have to speak to me in a polite way either. I don't mind
if it's the same tone as when we first met."

“…U-Unders… Got it"

"Well then, a pleasure to meet you once again. Gerna."

Kazuki smiles brightly at Gerna-kun, who nods in puzzlement.

Kazuki then turns his attention to Senpai and others who are talking across the
campfire.

"Did Usato come here to take that girl to see senpai?"

"Right. She's a healing magician from Calm Helio… She asked me if she could see
Senpai, so I brought her here."
"I see. Senpai was adored before, but it looks like it's no different in this world."

"That before means…”

"Yeah, that's what I meant."

Perhaps out of consideration for Gerna-kun, Kazuki blurred the wording.

By "before," I assume he means the world before we were summoned.

"But I guess she was looking forward to it."

"I've been hearing about heroes at every opportunity for the past week…”

"T-That much… as expected of Calm Helio's people…”

At Gerna-kun's dejected look, even Kazuki smiles bitterly.

Since Carm Helio has a heroic faith, Kate-san's degree of obsession may be in some
ways obvious.

…Looking at it from the side, though, it looks like they're just absurdly happy to see a
celebrity.

"Usato saw the great river during the day, didn't you? What was it like?"

"That's right… From what I saw today, the current wasn't that fast. It was a little wide,
but with Leona-san's magic, I don't think it would be hard to build a bridge."

"I see. I'm a little relieved, because it would be a big problem if we stumbled before
entering the demon king's territory."

"Hahaha, indeed."

If that happens, we'll probably figure out another way, but we'll certainly be stuck
there for nothing.

“…You two are going to an awesome place."

"From Gerna-kun's point of view, what kind of place is the Demon King's territory?"
"I, or rather most people, don't know what the Demon King's territory is like. We have
been hating each other for hundreds of years."

Saying that, Gerna-kun stares at the bonfire.

"In my imagination, a demon race is a terrifying subhuman race. Maybe it's because
I've been told the legends of my ancestors who fought against the Demon King's army
when they were the previous generation of heroes, but even without that, this battle
made me… honestly tremble from the bottom of my heart."

Nirvarna is a country with many warrior people.

Such a country might have boldly challenged the demon king's army in the days of the
previous generation of heroes.

That is, against the demon king army led by the "terrifying demon king" who did
everything he could to be as villainous as it was written in his notes.

“…I shouldn't have said this to the two of you who are leaving tomorrow. I'm sorry."

"No, that was informative. Thank you."

Kazuki shook his head at Gerna-kun who apologized with an apologetic look.

People's perception of the demon race in this world is that they are terrifying beings…
but on the other hand, what about the perception that demon race has of humans?

…Maybe the demon race thinks humans are scary, too.

"Suzune-sama, I was there!"

At that moment, I suddenly heard such a voice in front of me.

Looking closely, I see Kate with a twinkle in her eye, talking to Senpai.

However, Senpai's expression seemed somewhat twitchy.

"T-That place is… where is it?"

"? Suzune, your voice is shaking. What's wrong?"

Leona-san tilts her head at the senpai, who is somewhat upset, as if she had somehow
guessed what to expect.

Whether or not she knew how upset she was, Kate-san spoke right on through.

"It's the same place where you cut Prince Kyle's confession in two!"

“…Ah, eh, uwh… Gahaa!"

"U-Usato~! Suzune clutches her chest and collapsed~!?"

Senpai looked at Kate-san's and my face alternately, and when her face turned bright
red, she burst out spewing as it was.

Leona-san, who supported her as she was about to fall backward, calls out to me for
help, but the person in question is shaking her head frantically.

"Well, we can manage somehow…”

For now, the Demon King, the demon race, and the Demon King's territory must be
seen with my own eyes or else it cannot begin.

Seeing senpai making a fuss in a positive way, I felt somewhat relaxed and stood up to
help her.
The day of departure.

After giving Bluerin to carry some supplies and other things, I said goodbye to Olga-
san, Ururu-san, Nack, and the tough-looking guys who had gathered at the Rescue
Squad's camp.

"Usato-kun, I hear that you got another difficult mission."

"Olga-san, is your physical condition okay?"

I woke up this morning and was concerned for Olga-san who came to see me off.

…His physical exhaustion may be subsiding, but his heart, which has healed more
people than anyone else, is exhausted.

My words of concern bring a powerless smile to Olga-san's face.

"If it's just a little activity, it won't be a problem."

"As for me, I'm worried about Usato-kun and Onii-chan… I understand your feelings of
wanting to see Usato-kun off, but don't overdo it."

"Ha, haha, sorry for worrying you."

Ururu-san muttered so unhappily.

Then, from behind her, a group of tough-looking men in a stern atmosphere smiled.

"Putting aside Olga, I think worrying about this guy is useless."

"Yeah, because he did another crazy stuff on the battlefield the other day."

"It wouldn't have been surprising if anyone had called him the devil. I mean, he was
flying."
"He was more of a monster than I was."

"Well, in fact, I heard that both the demon race and the monsters were scared of him."

Even at a time like this, they don't change, these bast*rds.

They probably saw me several times as I was running around the battlefield. Even
from me, I could see the movements of the guys dressed in black.

I keep smiling as I secretly hold my fist down at the humanoid monsters who, speaking
one after another, make baseless statements against me, starting with Tong.

"Well, if you put it that way, it can't be helped."

"That's right."

"It's Usato. It can't be helped."

"Gruu"

Fuh, I guess I don't have any allies…?

Nea, Ferrum, Amako, and, unexpectedly, Bluerin, in turn, all agree.

"But, well"

Should I give the source of the problem, Tong, a blow after saying a few words? Or so
I thought, but he continues, trying to tell me something.

"I know you're a nice little brat, but when you're not around, there's no tension. I ain't
worried about you one bit, so go and clear out the corps commander or the Demon
King and come back home."

When Tong says so, the others give evil smiles that would make even adults start to
cry.

It was a smile that hadn't changed since I first came to the rescue squad---a smile that
traumatized me, but at the same time was more familiar to me than anything else.

"Kuh, haha"
Unable to hold back the smile that welled up, I brushed my hair with my hand holding
my eyes.

Except for the tough-looking guys, everyone else looks at me and turns pale, but I don't
let that bother me and look at Tong and others.

"When I get back, you better be ready. I'll give you the privilege of a superior officer to
accompany me to hell training."

"Ha, bring it on. You monster."

We exchange words with each other as our smiles deepen.

I broke off the conversation, no further words necessary, and then shifted my attention
to Nack, who still had a pale face.

"Nack"

"Hih, ah, yeah…”

Eh, what's with that "I shouldn't be afraid, but I'm afraid by instinct" look?

As I tilted my head at Nack, who reacted as if his mind and body were moving in
opposite directions, Amako, the girl next to me, tugged at the sleeve of my clothes.

"Usato. Your face and atmosphere look seriously crazy."

"It's not Rose anymore, more like Usato's own unique…”

What do you mean by "my own unique"?

Indeed, I am not like Rose, but……

For now, rub both cheeks with my hands to restore the expression? The expression is
restored to normal.

To make sure, I turn to Amako and ask her.

"Is it back?"
"Yeah. The usual Usato. The ogre factor is down."

What is the ogre factor? Is it something that can be measured?

I wondered, then regained my composure and spoke to Nack.

"Nack, take care during my absence."

"Y-Yes! I'll do my best in training!!"

Nack straightens his back and responds loudly.

"I still can't do the healing punch or healing magic bullet, and I still have a lot to learn
from you, Usato-san, in order to find my own unique "healing magic"!!"

"Usato?"

"A-Alright! Nack, I'll definitely come back, no matter what, so you should do your best
too!! Grow up together and meet again!!"

"Yes!"

Nea's voice, which is so low that I can't imagine it normally, causes my shoulders to
involuntarily shudder.

Oh, shoot…! Nea found out that I taught Nack some tricks in secret…! His words of
enthusiasm as he finds his goal and the path he should pursue make me happy from
the bottom of my heart, but the presence of Nea that I feel behind me, she
unintentionally makes a squeak.

After that, the greeting ended without much closing.

But for me, that's probably a better one.

Instead of being sad and wistful about the goodbye, smiling and renewing the
determination to go on a journey and return seemed more like me.

To get to the location of the great river, travel was by horseback.

The members of the journey, including me, Sigurth-san and the two knights who had
come to see us off, and Rose were to head there, but only I made the same decision to
run as I had yesterday.

I realize now that I had the idea of taking a ride on the Bluerin, but today due to space
limitations only Amako was able to ride, probably because of the travel luggage on its
back.

Rose had a shoulder injury, so she was riding a horse normally…, but when she saw
me running, she unusually held her head up and muttered, "I'll teach you how to ride
a horse when we get back."

"So the Demon King's territory is at the other end of this river. As I have heard, I can
hear the cries of monsters all over the place."

"We have to be careful when we cross."

Responding back to senpai who is looking at the other side of the river.

From that side, I feel the presence of monsters everywhere, just like yesterday.

"Then, Usato. Let's quickly build a bridge."

"Yes. Well then, Nea, Ferrum."

"Yes"

"Understood"

Ferrum nodded at my words and was engulfed by black magic power as she sank into
her own shadow and assimilated with my body.

Nea transforms into an owl and jumps on my shoulder.

I look at my legs, which have been transformed into a leg armor, turning into a figure
that allows transformation, high speed, and outbursts of magic from the whole body,
and I tilt my head.

"Hmm"
[What's wrong?]

"No, I was thinking that the legs could go back to their normal shape. The leg armor
makes a clattering sound when running, which is a bit inconvenient."

[…I think it looks cooler this way, but if you insist, I'll just revert it to its original form.]

When Ferrum, who is inside me, says so, the leg armor transforms and turns into a
pitch black boot.

As I tapped the ground with my toe to check my condition, Rose, who had come to see
me off, put her right hand on my chin and looked at me, who had assimilated Ferm,
with interest.

"Hou, so this is the form that I've been hearing about"

"Yes. This is a form that assimilates the dark magic of Ferrum, and although it has no
direct offensive power, it seems… to be able to do a lot more."

"You really grow up differently than I assumed you would."

"Well, the master is the master. They say the pupil is like the master."

"Ha, what a joke"

While exchanging light banter with Rose, having finished my preparations, I call out
to Leona-san, who is holding Falga-sama's spear in her hand.

"Leona-san, we're ready."

"Mu, got it. Then, as planned, I will use my magic to build a quick bridge. Everyone,
stay away from the river."

Leona-san, who had warned us to stand back, swung her spear widely in one hand to
create eight ice spears.

"--System Strengthening"

When Leona-san mutters that, the eight ice spears begin to be covered with an intense
cold air.
They move according to her will, lining up in a row on the other side of the river,
opposite to where we are.

After confirming that the ice spear had moved into position, she dropped it directly
into the river.

"Ice Release!"

She pointed the tip of her spear at the river and shouted, --- and the next moment eight
pillars of ice shot out from the great river.

Did the ice spear's contained system strengthening activate underwater to create a
path for the bridge…?

I was overwhelmed by the tremendous skill and the strength of the system
strengthening, though I could understand it in my head, when I noticed that Leona-
san, who had her spear blade clothed with magic power, was moving into a cleaving
stance.

"Keep going, one more time!!"

As it is, the ice magic is unleashed forward to the eight pillars with a cleave.

Shaking the atmosphere, the magic power blows so much that it could be mistaken for
a blizzard to the other side of the river.

When the white haze created by the magic power cleared, there was an ice bridge
supported by eight pillars.

"As expected of the hero of Mialak."

"""…”""

Other than Rose, who was normally impressed, no one was able to raise their voices
because of the surprise.

What can I say, I'm so glad Leona-san is on our side… yeah.

The ice bridge is about three meters wide and seems strong enough to easily
accommodate even Bluerin.
Leona-san placed her palm on that bridge and poured her magic power into it then
turned to me.

"Usato! I count on you!!"

"Y-Yeah! Ferrum, Nea, let's do it!"

Kneeling next to Leona-san, I placed my hand on the ice bridge in the same way she
did, while Ferrum applied a black reinforcement sash to the bridge and Nea cast a
"shock" resistance spell on the ice bridge.

I nod to Leona-san and tell Senpai and the others behind me that the bridge is now
crossable, as I have put a web of black magic around the area where the bridge is to
be walked on to prevent slipping.

"If it is about to break, at worst I will be able to hold it together by brute force. Two
people at a time are preferable, so the first one is Bluerin, who can threaten monsters
and ,… se-pa… no, Kazuki. Then Amako and Senpai. Then Leona-san. Lastly, we'll go in
that order."

"Hey, Usato-kun? Just now, didn't you just avoid letting me and Bluerin cross? Why?"

I avert my eyes from senpai who is glaring at me.

With a wry smile at us, Kazuki approaches Bluerin.

"Well then, Bluerin. Let's go."

"Gruu"

"Oh, you're motivated. Hahaha."

Kazuki smiled refreshingly at Bluerin who snorted.

While thinking that it's a rare combination, I prepare to use black magic in case
something happens.

"Then, I'll go first. Usato."

"Gurua!"
"Yeah. Be careful not to fall."

Kazuki and Bluerin carefully cross the ice bridge, which is covered with black magic.

However, the bridge does not budge even when a big Bluerin walks on it.

After confirming that Kazuki had safely crossed over to the other side of the river and
waved at us, Senpai and Amako stepped out in front of the bridge.

"Amako, if you're scared… you can hold on to me? Rather, should I hug you?"

"Even if you say it in a cool voice, it's no. Let's just quickly get going, Suzune."

"Uuwh, Amako is cold to me…”

And Senpai and Amako also cross the bridge safely.

The only ones left are me, Nea, Ferrum, and Leona-san, who are maintaining the
bridge.

"Well then, Leona-san. Leave the rest to me, you go first."

"Yeah. From looking at the strength of the bridge, it looks like it would be safe to cross
it normally."

Leona-san, who had taken her hands off the bridge and stood up, also crossed the
bridge.

Even though it is no longer in her hands, the bridge created by the system-
strengthening ice still continues to exist.

"Well, we're next."

"Well, if the worst happens and the bridge breaks, you'll be fine."

[Rather, it looks like you can swim and go to the other side of the river normally.]

"It's not impossible, but it's better to be safe than sorry."

As I answer that to Nea on my shoulder and Ferrum on the inside, I too prepare to
cross the bridge.

The resistance spells are still working, but the black magic is removed, so I make magic
spikes on the soles of my feet to prevent myself from slipping over here.

"Usato"

When I was about to cross, Rose called out to me from behind.

"Yes. Commander."

"Just in case I came here to see you off, but I guess there's less need to say anything to
you than I thought."

Rose with her left arm through a cloth hanging from her neck.

She looked at my whole body again and let out a smile.

"On your journey from now on, you will be forced to make choices that will affect your
future."

"What does that mean affect my future…?"

"I don't know about that. But I'm sure it's going to be important to you."

“…Yes"

I nodded at Rose's words.

Considering the journey ahead and its purpose, it is not surprising that such a choice
is being forced upon us.

"What should I do at that time?"

"Do what you want. You can choose what you think is right. You can choose all the
choices you are given, or you can choose -- not to choose."

"Yeah…”

Rose laughed at my confused look and patted my head firmly with her right hand.
"Don't narrow your possibilities, Usato. Act with faith in the ideals you have thought
about and the answers you have come up with, not in the answers given to you by
some other guy”

“…Yes!"

"Nea, Ferrum. It's also the same for you too, you know?"

"Y-Yeah…”

[Y-Yes]

The guiding ideal and answer I have thought about.

Once again, I let Rose's words reverberate in my heart.

"Go, Usato."

"I'm off!"

I replied to Rose and turned to face forward, stepping firmly on the icy ground as I
moved forward.

Journey to the demon king's territory.

I had fears and anxieties, but Rose's words blew them all away.

Without being misled by anyone's words, I will look at the Demon King's territory and
the demon race with my own eyes and come up with my own answer.

I don't know what awaits me in the future, but I have friends I can rely on.

That alone gives me something called courage.

"Ciel, I have a favor to ask you. Will you listen to me?"

It was shortly after the return of the Demon King's army.

Demon King-sama said that to me, who was the Demon King-sama's maid.

The location is on top of a castle overlooking the castle town, but the unexpected
words of Demon King-sama made me think for a moment that my ears had gone crazy.

"Eh? Demon King-sama, what did you just say?"

"A favor to you. In other words, I asked you to do me a favor."

Demon King-sama asked me to do something for him?

Currently, Demon King-sama, who has used up a huge amount of his magical power, is
living with the least amount of power that he had exerted on the Demon King's
territory in order to recover from that.

Perhaps because of that, Demon King-sama's range of activities has expanded from
the castle's halls to outside, and he now walks outside more than before.

But a request from Demon King-sama.

And it was practically an order disguised as a mischievous "favor."

Wondering what unreasonable orders would come my way, I secretly made up my

mind to write a will to my mother, with whom I had had a quarrel in my hometown.

"I don't know why you look so deathly afraid, but it's not that difficult."

"Eh?"
"Can you head over to this place now?"

Demon King-sama took out a map from the magic circle floating in space and showed
it to me.

There is a detailed map of the demon king's territory and a red marker on it.

"Uhm, where is this?"

"This is where our army used to have its stronghold. I want you to check this place out
a little bit."

From the looks of it, it is in a moderately remote location.

However, it was a request from Demon King-sama. There was no way I could refuse.

As his maid, I serve closest to him and I can tell that Demon King-sama is not aware
that he is giving orders.

It is simply because he trusts me, that he is asking me to do it, this is bad.

"Why me? I'm just a maid…”

"Fumu. There's also the fact that I trust you. I would like to hear your perspective
about "that place”…Don't worry, I'll get you an escort."

"Haa…”

My heart flutters for a moment when I hear that he trusts me, but the way he says it,
somewhat implicitly, makes me uneasy.

"Demon King-sama, did you call for me?"

Then, another person other than us appears in the fortress.

When I turned around, there he was, a silver-haired demon, Koga Dingal-san, the
commander of the Second Corps.

I had heard that he had lost his left arm in the battle, but he was raising his left arm,
supposedly not in a casual manner.
"Koga. Is your left arm all right?"

"It's not a problem at all. In fact, I even feel more comfortable with my magic than
before."

The blackened left arm of Commander Koga transforms and wriggles like a living
creature, turning into a sharp blade.

I realize that his arms are not the real ones, but made by dark magic, and I
involuntarily think, "Ugh," but he doesn't even bother to worry about it, and smiles
happily.

"So, why was I summoned here?"

"I wanted to ask you to escort my maid."

"Escort? Going somewhere?"

"Uhm, this is the place, apparently."

Commander Koga looks at the map in my hand.

Demon King-sama spoke to Koga, who nodded with interest.

"Now that we're reorganizing the army, you're probably bored, aren't you? It is more
convenient for us to keep you moving than to let you rot here. Besides"

Once Demon King-sama cut off his words, he looked at Commander Koga and twisted
the corner of his mouth in a small smile.

"Where you are going as an escort, things might get interesting for you, you know?"

“…Demon King-sama is really good at getting people on board. I accept the assignment
of an escort.

Commander Koga receives an escort mission with a dangerous smile.

Demon King-sama seems satisfied, but as for me, I'm honestly afraid of Commander
Koga.
After all, he was famous for not doing his job, and it was rumored that he had been in
a fistfight on the battlefield with a dangerous healing magician named Usato of
"Rescue Squad", while laughing.

"Then I leave it to you. You may increase the number of guards. I leave it to your
discretion."

"Leave it to me"

After saying that much, Demon King-sama returned to the castle, leaving Koga and I
on the spot.

While I am freaked out, I look at Commander Koga, who is smiling at the castle town.

"U-Uhm, Commander Koga…”

"Hmm? Yeah, you're not my subordinate, and you're Demon King-sama's important
maid. You can call me Koga if you want."

"S-So, Koga-san. What are we going to do now? Are we leaving right away?"

In response to my question, Commander Koga ——— No, Koga-san crosses his arms
as if pondering.

"Well, we can leave right away, but first I'll try to invite someone I can take with me.
I'm sure I'll be enough of an escort, but you never know what might happen."

"…”

I am genuinely surprised that he thinks it through surprisingly well.

Although he is younger than me in terms of age, he seems to be more solid than I had
heard.

"First of all, it's obvious that the Demon King-sama is expecting something to happen
when he assigns me, the corps leader, as an escort. If that's the case, I should bring
someone of my worth to escort."

"W-Who?"
"I'm not sure about Amira… she started training with old man Nero as soon as she got
back. If she can't…, then old man Gillette, who seems to be relatively free and can fight
well…, is also no good. If that guy goes away, the demon army will fall apart."

After thinking about it for a few seconds, Koga-san made a surprised face.

His expression was that of a child of his age, which changed my impression of him just
a little.

"All right, let's go now."

"Eh, ah, wait a minute"

Koga-san immediately acts on his ideas.

I followed Koga-san while wondering who he would ask for an escort.

The place where Koga-san headed was the soldier's quarters outside the castle.

At present, wounded soldiers are being treated and their respective units are being
rebuilt, and even here, where the soldiers live, the streets are less crowded.

"The old man Gillette is taking the lead in rebuilding the army, but… I wonder how
long it will take. At least, it seems that Demon King-sama is thinking of organizing an
intercepting force, not a marching force. As a maid, have you heard anything about
that?"

"No, in my position, I don't hear many of those talks."

I look at Koga-san as we walk between the quarters, which were built for different
units.

In fact, I have been concerned about a "healing magician" who has been rumored
among the demon king's army for some time.

I cannot confirm whether it is a lie or not, because I am a maid who does not go to
battle, but if he has actually met and fought, he might be able to tell me a story.
With that in mind, I mustered up a little courage and decided to ask Koga-san about
the healing magician of the Lingle Kingdom.

"Uhm, Koga-san."

"Hmm? What? Etto…”

"Ah, I'm Ciel. I was wondering about the rumor about the healing magician circulating
in the demon king's territory… is that a true story?"

"Oh, it's true."

I-It was easily affirmed.

As my cheeks twitch, Koga-san squints his eyes happily and goes on to talk about
healing magicians on his own.

"That guy. He's really a dangerous guy. Even though he is a healing magician, he also
tries to engage me in a physical battle. The first time we fought, he used a shockwave
with his healing magic, based on some incomprehensible principle."

"Shockwave with healing magic?"

"I found out afterwards that I didn't expect it to be the impact of a deliberate outburst
of system strengthening."

"Outburst of system strengthening?"

"Well, he was pretty good even before he used it. I was wearing dark magic, and he
was hitting me at close range. Well~, it was really fun at that time."

Wait, I can't keep up with understanding.

Eh? Human? We're talking about human being, right?

"And the next time we fought, he assimilated my former subordinate."

"Assimilated?"

"To put it another way, it's a combination. He had taken in the power of dark magic,
and his entire body was bursting with magic power from all over. I have to admit, the
kick he gave me almost knocked me unconscious with a single blow."

"Taking in dark magic?"

Where is the healing magic element?

It's no use. I can't picture that healing magician as a human being from what I've heard.

The image of something that has a three-meter-tall, muscular, human-shaped is fixed

in my mind.

"I heard he did a lot of things after he fought me, but, well, I guess most of them are
true."

"Like tentacles, devil's wings, or even riding on the back of a blue grizzly that turned
into a chariot and trampling monsters…?"

"I ain't seen it, but I'm sure it's true. I think it's less likely to be true than not. In his
case."

It's an amazing trust.

I wonder, if there is something more than a completely hostile opponent when Koga-
san speaks about him.

"Well, some of the people have been traumatized by that guy……… Usato in many ways.
Like, he knocked off the flying dragon, or he grabbed an arrow I fired at point-blank
range, and then knocked it down, and this time alone, he's been on quite a rampage."

"Even though he's your enemy, you talk happily about him."

The opponent, like the hero, is an existence that opposes the demon race.

When Koga-san said happily about it, I ended up saying something a little bit harsh.

"He's my favorite opponent. The stronger he gets, the stronger I get. Well, it may be
annoying to him, but we are enemies, so I don't care."

"…”
"Oi, wait, stop blatantly distancing yourself from me."

I pulled back normally.

I felt a little sympathy for the healing magician named Usato, even though he was an
enemy.

"Returning to the topic, it's about trauma… There is one person in there who is
particularly bad. I mean, she's the head of our Third Corps."

"Eh, is it Hannah-sama!?"

Hannah Lomia.

A woman who is the newly appointed Commander of the Third Corps and a user of
illusion magic.

A person skilled in the art of entrapment and wisdom, when I met her in front of the
Demon King-sama, she was someone I thought was both cool and a little scary at the
same time.

"Well, she got carried away and tried to cast an illusion on Usato. But for some reason,
it seems that the illusion didn't work on him, so instead, she got startled and caught
by him."

"…”

"Hahaha, it's a masterpiece. What is it, resistance to illusions?"

Isn't he the devil or something already?

How can one acquire such resistance, such as resistance to illusions?

Is it that thing? Is it okay if I continue to be shown powerful illusions endlessly? If I

did that, it would definitely break my spirit, though.

"So I was wondering if I could take Hannah with me as an escort."

“…Maybe, the place we're heading to right now is…”

"Hannah's place. Look, it's just coming into view."

Looking in the direction to which Koga-san points, we see a building one size larger
than the quarters of the other soldiers.

Although somewhat outdated, the exterior itself does not differ from that of the
dormitory.

First, at the door, Koga-san said, "Hannah! It's Koga! Open the door!" and calls out to
Hannah-sama, but there is no response.

So Koga-san tilts his head.

"Hmm? No one replied. Is she in the back?"

"Ah, you shouldn't go off on your own…”

Not caring, he proceeds to the back of the building.

Wondering if this quick action and decision-making is the reason why he is the
commander of the second corps, I followed him and found a beautifully arranged
flower bed at the back of the building.

And then, I find a woman crouching in one of the flowerbeds with her back turned
towards us.

"Fu, fufu, if it's a nutrient-rich soil outside the Demon King's territory, it will grow fine.
Fufufufufu."

There was Hannah-sama, the leader of the third corps, tending the flower beds with a
shovel in one hand, while letting out a sinister giggle, as if she was doing a wicked
deed.

It was so different from the image I had of the Commander of the Third Army that not
only I, but even Koga-san, was at a loss for words.

"Fufu, hmm?… Eh?"

When she finally noticed our presence, she looked at her hand and at us alternately,
and her face turned pale at once.
Seeing that, Koga-san turned a big smile to Hannah-sama while giving a thumbs-up,
as if he was trying to be considerate.

"It's surprising, but hey, it's a cute hobby! Un!!"

"Koga-kun…!"

"It's like an old lady! I think it's fine!!"

"…”

Why did this person make an accurate, exaggerated stab?

Without saying a word, Hannah-sama generated countless purple magic bullets.

Koga-san hurriedly added a few words of excuse, a kind of agitation.

In the face of the flood of magic bullets, my heart was already about to collapse at this
point.
Koga-san, who was in a good mood, gave an extra-large stir to Hannah-sama, who was
fiddling with the soil in the flower bed.

Naturally angered, Hannah-sama attacked Koga-san and me with a large number of

magic bullets by illusion.

I was prepared to die in an unfamiliar situation, but just before the magic bullet hit
me, Koga-san made the magic bullet disappear with a tentacle-like object made of dark
magic, so I managed to stay unharmed.

And――,

"I can't. Unlike you, I'm busy."

The location is a room in a building owned by the corps leader, Hannah-sama.

When she regained her composure and listened to the reason why Koga-san and I had
come to this place, Hannah-sama answered immediately without even having to think
about it.

Well, I thought it was obvious.

"Why? Don't you have enough free time to play with the soil?"

"Are you silly? I take advantage of the few hours I have to take care of my vegetable
garden after I do what I have to do as the Commander of the Third Army."

"O-Oh"

Koga-san with a subtle expression, as if to say, "Do you really enjoy doing that much?"

Seeing him like that, she let out a sigh.

"If it is the order of the Demon King-sama, then I have no choice but to accept the
responsibility of escorting her, but it was Koga-kun's decision to increase the number
of guards, and it was the maid there who actually received the order."

That's right.

Since it is only me who was asked by the Demon King-sama, I myself must go to the
destination and see it.

…I thought, but isn’t this pretty unreasonable?

Even though I'm a maid who doesn't even know how to fight…

"In addition, I made the great mistake of being taken prisoner by the enemy in the last
war."

"Ah, Usato caug———"

At that moment, a hand stretched out without a sound and grabbed Koga-san's chin.

He was caught off guard by an unexpected hand from Hannah-sama, who was
supposed to be his ally, and his eyes widened.

"Please don't mention that name. How are you going to take responsibility if he
accidentally comes flying here."

"Eh, comes flying here? What?"

"Of course it is the d-d-d-d-devil in the skin of that healing magician…!"

""Haa?""

Her voice trembling more than ever, Hannah-sama said so, shaking with fear and
holding her head.

The way she kept saying "forgive me" and "I'm sorry" in rapid succession was not
normal.

"Aa, aa, aa, between illusion and reality, the white figure with the wings of the devil,
accompanied by the bird of ill omen, emerges from the darkness—"
"K-Koga-san! Isn’t this bad!? She's muttering something that sounds like she's about
to summon something!?"

"What did he do, seriously…? Well, for now…”

As expected, Koga-san panicked and slapped the distraught Hannah-sama lightly with
his hand.

With a gasp, she comes to her senses and looks up with a scowl on her face.

“…I'm sorry. I was distraught."

"No, it wasn't at the level of distraught. You were deranged."

"Let's continue the talk "

"Oi, are you ignoring me?"

In a complete change from her earlier behavior, she clears her throat and continues
the talk.

"It was originally a blunder that could have cost me my position as Commander of the
Third Corps, but considering the current situation of the Demon King's Army, Demon
King-sama told me to continue as Commander of the Third Corps. You know what that
means, don't you?"

“…Sort of"

"So I cannot throw away my role because there is no more left for me. If I blunder once
more, I must give this life to the Demon King-sama."

As expected, Demon King-sama doesn't seem to want it that far…

Hannah-sama says such a thing to me with an impassioned look on her face, and I, not
daring to deny it, remain silent and listen to her.

"Even the First Corps Commander went away to train Amira while his wounds were
still healing. I and Gillette, the assistant to the first corps commander, have to do our
best here. Koga-kun is usually useless, and even more so."
"Isn't that a little more harsh than when we first met? No, I'm aware that I'm only
useful in combat, but."

Right? He looks at me as if asking for my consent, but I pretend not to notice.

It's too frightening for a mere maid to answer.

"Instead, let me introduce you to a competent soldier. The name is Nono Helestea. She
is an excellent rider who is skilled in handling flying dragons and can make calm
decisions even under unforeseen circumstances."

"Oh, that's great. I was just thinking of riding the flying dragon."

"Flying dragon…”

I-I-I-I've never ridden a flying dragon before.

I've been living in the countryside of the demon king's territory all my life, and I've
never even ridden a monster.

"Well, then, let's go that way"

"Yes, she seems to like riding flying dragons, so she should be happy to accept it."

"Oh, got it."

"Ah, please avoid talking about the healing magician to her too."

"Is she too…? As I thought, he's a dangerous guy…”

After exchanging such conversation, we leave Hannah-sama's quarters and

immediately head to our next destination - the stables where flying dragons used
during the war are kept and other monsters are bred.

It seems that it is not far from the quarters where Hannah-sama was, so we soon
arrived at the stables… There are only well-behaved Glow Wolves and regular horses.

I decided to look more carefully, and as I looked around the stables with Koga-san for
the target person, I finally found a flying dragon that seemed to be a flying dragon.

"Oh, there they are. A flying dragon."

"Yes"

A red body with sharp fangs.

Its wings, which seem to be integrated with its arms, and its tail are so large and
powerful that a mere bump could cause serious injury.

Slightly pressured, we go closer and notice a single demon race figure beside the flying
dragon.

The demon woman was stroking the growling flying dragon with her eyes narrowed
as she spoke to him about something.

"Sean. I'm sorry. I haven't been able to feed you well. And you haven't been flying well
lately, have you?"

"Gyea…”

"Uwh, I know. I want to fly. I understand. I know how you feel."

She is extremely sympathetic to flying dragons…?

Surprised by her trusting relationship that was so obvious to see, Koga-san

approached her.

"You are Nono Helestea, right?"

"Who the hell!? What, Commander Koga!? Ah, eh, I-I-I-I'm not thinking of an escape
plan!? I-I was just thinking about taking him for a little walk!!"

"That's a beautiful self-destruct, oi. I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that, so listen to
me."

She seems to be a funny person again.

I watch the conversation between Koga-san and Nono Helestea-san while feeling a
little tired.

When she hears about this escort mission of mine, her eyes light up a little.

"I-I'll take it! If I can fly with this child again, I'll go anywhere!! If you want, we could
surprise attack the Lingle Kingdom like this!? We can do it now!?"

"That's a very attractive idea, but not possible from my position. Unfortunately."

Shouldn't this person stop being the Commander of the Second Corps?

If that were to be done, even I would have to go to the Kingdom of Lingle.

"This time, I just need you to go to the place I instructed properly."

"Yes! Sean! I did it!!"

"Gyururu…”

Nono-san jumps up and down and reveals her joy, and the flying dragon called Sean
sniffs with satisfaction at seeing her.

I wonder what it is.

Could it be that the soldiers of the Demon King's army are a bunch of weirdos?

My head hurts at the fact that I couldn't see it because I was a maid.

“…Haa, why did Demon King-sama ask me…”

I think many times I am just a demoness who is entrusted to be Demon King-sama's

maid.

Although I am aware that Demon King-sama trusts me, as far as I am concerned, I have
never even used magic, and I have only ever held a knife.

I wonder what Demon King-sama expects me to do.

Although I could see that it was definitely meaningful, for once I felt a little bitter at
the lack of explanation from Demon King-sama, who was a little less talkative than
usual.
Sorry I made you wait.

This time, it will be Norn's point of view in Mialak.

***

Kureha Fountain.

A mysterious spring guarded by the royal family of Mialak.

One sip of the fountain will give you immense power, but at the same time it is
dangerous, destroying the bodies of those who drink from the fountain.

Such a dangerous spring, which is nothing but a danger, creates a fantastic sight in the
cave where a faint light shines through.

"Falga-sama. Is it about time that Leona and the others entered the demon king's
territory?"

Looking at the unchanging scene of the underground cavern in my eyes, I ask this
question to the divine dragon, Falga-sama, who is quietly meditating.

[Norn, don't worry so much. Leona is a capable hero. She is as good as any of the
heroes of the Kingdom of Lingle.]

"But…”

His voice is as gravely as ever.

You can hear the trust in Leona in his voice.

Even for me, I believe in her power, but when I hear that she is going to fight the Demon
King, it is impossible for me not to worry about her as a friend.

[She does not fight alone. There are two heroes from the Lingle Kingdom and Usato.
They all have different personalities and they all have different strengths. Of course,
they have their weaknesses, but they have a bond that can make up for it.]

"From Falga-sama's point of view, what was your impression of the two heroes?"

It is said that when Falga-sama entrusted the armament to the heroes, he flew his
divided consciousness for a short time and attempted to have a conversation with
them.

They were in the middle of a battle, so they did not exchange many words, but I am
sure that Falga-sama would have grasped the personality of the heroes in that short
period of time.

[Impression, huh. Kazuki was a very pure boy, which is rare nowadays. He was full of
a sense of justice, genuinely caring for his friends, and in a sense, had a temperament
similar to that of Karon.]

A person like Karon.

Perhaps the perception of him is that he is a good-natured, friendly person.

Because of my position as queen, I have never seen him in a casual attitude, but Leona
tells me that he has a nice personality and is adored by everyone.

Although he is now retired due to the aftereffects of his power as a dragon that went
out of control, I still hear a lot about his activities.

[On the other hand, however, hero Kazuki is mentally fragile. Anxiety about his own
power, and insecurity and fear in battle… No, this does not mean that hero Kazuki is
weak, but it is normal.]

Then, Falga-sama takes a deep breath.

As far as I can tell, is it safe to say that Hero Kazuki is a nice young man?

[Regarding the hero Suzune… Umu, I don't know how to put it into words]

To the extent that Falga-sama is troubled…?

Falga-sama closes his eyes and tilts his large head in distress.
[I have exchanged a few words with her, and she is a very lively person. Although she
has a natural talent for battle and analytical skills that allow her to respond flexibly
and make decisions, but…]

"But?"

[I don't know if she is trying to drown her fears or not, but even in the midst of battle,
she is a person who is constantly joking around and refining her movements with
unexplained excitement. After all, she even recognizes the weakness of her own
armament as an advantage, who can say that this is not strange?]

"Etto…”

She is a contrast to the hero Kazuki.

It's quite unusual for Falga-sama to have such a tired expression.

[Frankly, it's beyond my ability to understand that. I don't know if it's her origin from
another world or if it's simply just her, but I'm sure there are very few who can hold
the reins of that.]

"Are you going to say that much…”

Hero Suzune, who is evaluated to that extent by Falga-sama.

She is frightening in many ways.

[Two heroes. Usato, an unorthodox healing magician, will be added to this.]

"Just hearing the words makes me think it's kind of crazy."

It feels a little strange to have a healing magician join the heroes.

When you learn the reality of the person Usato, though, you will have a different kind
of strange feeling.

[With them, Leona will be fine. No, maybe for Leona, she is motivated when Usato is
around.]

"Fufu, that's true."

After Karon incident, Falga-sama began to joke occasionally.

I don't know if he recognized me as a queen, but it is a pleasant change for me.

[…]

"Falga-sama?"

Suddenly I notice that Falga-sama is silent, as if in thought.

After a short silence, Falga-sama opened his big mouth.

[There was one thing that concerned me. After using the connection as an armament
and trying to have a conversation with two heroes, I now have a certain concern.]

"Concern?"

[It's about Usato's gauntlet.]

Why is Usato's gauntlet talked here?

If I'm not mistaken, it should have been remade based on the katana used by the
previous hero.

It is fundamentally the same, but it is different from the armaments of the two heroes.

[The katana was originally one of a pair of katanas used by the previous hero, the
young man. In order to seal up the evil dragon, the half of me that once tried to destroy
everything, the young man thrust his katana into the heart of the evil dragon and
sealed up the dragon's soul as well.]

"I heard that story before… is there something wrong with it?”

To my question, Falga-sama reacts with hesitation.

"The soul of the Evil Dragon is unclean."

"You mean it's dirty?"

[Even after hundreds of years, the soul of an evil dragon that has not faded away and
is still trying to spread death with its destructive impulse cannot possibly be sane.
That much will, that much hate, that much obsession, that much desire to kill, that
much fearlessness is far beyond what we can imagine.]

"…”

[That is why, in the process of making Usato's katana into a gauntlet, I tried to purify
the unclean mind of the evil dragon, but… When I touched Usato's katana, there was
not the slightest trace of evil in it.]

"Isn't that… a good thing?"

[Yeah, but it sure doesn't make sense. There is no cloudiness at all in the katana that
continued to hold down the soul of the defiled evil dragon. If the young man's seal was
that strong, that would be fine. But what if——]

Falga-sama, who had paused his words, uttered those words as if to persuade me
strongly.

[If the evil dragon's pollution is heading "somewhere else" through the katana ——
then the situation is far more serious than we had assumed. After all, this is an
extraordinary situation that not even the young man could have anticipated.]

“…Isn't it overthinking?"

[I hope so. But things don't always roll in the right direction]

Only Usato and his friends have actually seen the evil dragon.

It is hard to imagine how terrifying and fearsome it is, but being a divine dragon like
Falga-sama, it must be a monster with extraordinary power.

A katana of the previous hero who was touched by the soul of such an evil being.

"Do you know where the other katana is?"

[No, the young man has another one hidden away somewhere]

"Hid it?"
[Maybe he was afraid it would be misused, or maybe he simply gave it away———no
one knows where it is. Anyone who has ended up where he's come to has closed his
mind and given up trusting others.]

After uttering that much, he closed his mouth as if he remembered something.

[No… there was a single person.]

"Was there someone that the hero had open his heart to?"

[I don't know about that. But there was only one person close to him who followed
him.]

That's new to me.

At least, I was told that the hero was acting alone, so I was honestly surprised by Falga-
sama's words.

[The first beastfolk to be given a name by the hero. The first generation Time Reader
who could foresee even the parallel future, and one of the strongest swordsman in
swordsmanship.]

Time Reader. (時詠み: Tokiyomi)

Despite my other concerns, the first person I thought of when I heard those words was
Amako, the girl next to Usato.

[——Her name was Kannagi. She's still as cheeky a little girl as I can remember.]

He closed his eyes as if thinking about a distant memory, and said so.
Name Koga Dingal

Race Demon

System Darkness (Beast)

He is a young warrior who is the commander of the 2nd Corps of the Demon King's
Army.

Despite being not much older than Usato and the others, he has been recognized for
his abilities and has been entrusted with the position of commander of the second
corps of the Demon King's Army.

Abandoned by his parents as a child and left behind in a forest inhabited by monsters,
he has lived alone, fighting his way through life.

Having grown up knowing little about anything other than fighting, he had come to
find no enjoyment in anything else. Although he joined the Demon King's Army in
search of battle, he felt bored, but as soon as he met Usato, he unilaterally regarded
him as a good opponent and looked forward to the day when they would fight again.

The magic he uses is dark magic.

His dark magic, which has the characteristic of being a "beast," clings to his body like
armor, pushing his own physical abilities to the limit.

It is an all-round type that can apply its abilities and extend its tentacles and spines to
deal with mid-range opponents.

By imitating the technique of outburst of system strengthening in his second fight with
Usato, he learned the same fighting style as Usato and caused Kazuki a lot of trouble
with his transforming movements and attacks.
Although he lost his left arm in the fight with Kazuki, it did not hurt him much because
he immediately generated his own left arm with his magic.

No one, including his parents, understood Koga at all.

However, Usato, who had uncovered his beastly nature in the battle at Hinomoto and
resolved to fight with an understanding of it, had become a man of understanding for
Koga, although not in the same form as he had been with Ferrum.

***

Name Nono Helestea

Race Demon

System Unknown

She is a subordinate of Hannah and a soldier of the demon king's army who is a flying
dragon user.

Since her childhood, she has dreamed of flying with a flying dragon and volunteered
to join the Demon King's Army.

After a fateful encounter with Sean, a flying dragon that had been assigned to her, she
came to be regarded as one of the best flying dragon users in the Demon King's army.

This attracted Hannah's attention and led to her being selected as a subordinate.

After being captured by the Lingle Kingdom, she escaped with Sean, taking Hannah
with her, seeing an opening created by the Demon King's large-scale magic. They
returned to their allies while avoiding the fireballs that rained down from the sky.

She is traumatized by Usato, though not as much as Hannah.

***

Bonus

List of Usato's Techniques

● Healing Punch [Arc 1, Chapter 34]

For Usato, it is just a normal technique, a fist covered with healing magic.

It is the technique that Usato uses the most and the only technique that his master,
Rose, taught him.

According to Usato, it is used from the idea that " If the opponent is unharmed in the
end, that's all that matters!"

<Healing Punch, Derivative Technique>

・Healing Restraint Fist [Arc 4, Chapter 88]

A healing punch imbued with Nea's binding magic.

If it hits, the place where it hit is restrained.

It can also be multiplied by hitting in succession.

・Ultimate Technique Healing Punch [Arc 5, Chapter 119]

System strengthening version healing punch.

This is Usato's ultimate technique, which ensures that the opponent is knocked out
alive.

・ Healing Flying Fist [Arc 6, Chapter 135]

Official name: Essential Secret Technique "Healing Punch's First Form: Flying Fist"

A healing punch that flies.

A technique that releases a mass of fist-sized magical power by using the outburst of
system strengthening.

・ Consecutive Healing Strike Fist [Arc 6, Chapter 140]

Official name: Essential Secret Technique "Healing Punch 2nd Form: Consecutive Fist"
A technique in which a series of healing flying fists are performed at close range.

Its offensive power is not in the style of the Rescue Squad, so it is not to be used except
against specific opponents.

However, when dealing with Koga, he shows no hesitation at all in hitting him.

・Binding Flying Fist Healing Punch [Arc 7, Chapter 156]

A healing flying fist imbued with restraint magic.

When used against Rose, it didn't work at all.

・Healing Acceleration Fist [Arc 7, Chapter 158]

An accelerating movement technique that uses the outburst of magic power as its
driving force.

With his body, acceleration can only be performed with the gauntlet.

After assimilating Ferrum in Chapter 8, it is possible to accelerate from the whole

body.

・Healing Swift Fist [Arc 7, Chapter 158]

A technique in which the fist itself is accelerated by outbursts of magical power from
the elbow or fist.

・Consecutive Acceleration Healing Punch [Arc 7, Chapter 158]

Consecutive healing attack fist from Healing Swift Fist.

A technique that was shouted out in the heat of the moment.

・Healing Instant Fist [Arc 7, Chapter 171]

Formal Name: Essential Secret Technique [Healing Punch 3 Form, Instant Fist]

A technique that hits the fist and releases a healing fist at the same time.
This is also a very dangerous technique, so it is not used against humans.

● Healing Magic Bullet [Arc 2, Chapter 59]

A technique developed by Usato, who had no talent for throwing magic power.

By throwing magic bullets with arm strength, he was able to make a long-distance
healing.

It does not hurt the other party, but it can be used to intimidate or restrain the other
party.

Usato's assumption is that it is used to hit a wounded ally or to force an ally in a pinch
to evade.

<Healing Magic Bullet, Derivative Technique>

・ Healing, Blind the eyes [Arc 3, Chapter 67]

A technique in which a healing magic bullet is shot into the opponent's face, taking
away their vision.

According to Usato, it is a safe and reassuring eye blinder that will destroy the vision
of an opponent without hurting them.

・ Healing Magic Restraint Bullet [Arc 4, Chapter 93]

A healing magic bullet imbued with Nea's restraint spell.

A direct hit restricts the movement of that part.

・ Healing Magic Rampant Bullet [Arc 6, Chapter 122]

A healing magic bullet that splits.

A technique for healing a densely packed group of allies.

By giving it a restraining spell, it can stop the movement of the area directly hit by it.
・ Healing Finger Bullet [Arc 7, Chapter 145]

A technique that creates a magic bullet in the finger and shoots it out using only the
power of the finger.

There are two types: without gauntlet and with gauntlet.

・ Healing Accelerated Bullet [Arc 8, Chapter 180]

A healing magic bullet that accelerates.

A technique that can quickly land a bullet on an opponent due to an outburst of

magical power.

In Chapter 8, it was used to save Hyde.

・ Remote Healing Bullet [Arc 8, Chapter 180]

A curved healing magic bullet.

A technique that can be refracted only once by manipulating the magical power of the
gauntlet.

・ Healing Explosive Wave [Arc 9, Chapter 209]

Candidate for the name of the technique Healing Flash.

The ultimate healing magic bullet.

A technique in which a magic bullet created in the palm of the hand is filled with magic
power beyond its limit and is shot forward.

The shockwave created by the technique covers a wide area, and immediately after
the technique is performed, particles of healing magic are scattered around the area.

Usato's assumption is that the goal is to release them upwards to heal his allies.

Further enhancement is possible when used in combination with elasticity addition.

● Healing Magic Bursting Palm [Arc 5, Chapter 113]

A technique that uses a specially made gauntlet to intentionally release magical power
and emit a shock wave from the palm.

It can be used for emergency evasion on the spur of the moment, intercepting magic
and arrows, blowing up enemies, and many other applications.

It is also the original technique of the Healing Accelerated Fist.

<Healing Magic Bursting Palm, Derivative Technique>

・ Healing Falling-Knock Down Fist [Arc 7, Chapter 169]

A technique in which a fist strikes the ground and simultaneously releases a

shockwave of magical power to knock the opponent off his posture.

・Darkness Healing Burst Slash (Arc 8, Chapter 192)

This technique involves assimilating with Ferrum and swinging a sword formed by
dark magic, simultaneously releasing a shockwave of magical power.

It has a wider range than a normal bursting palm and can cover a wider area when
intercepting enemy attacks.

●Others

・Healing Dekopin [Arc 2, Chapter 63] (Note: finger flick to the forehead)

A moderate dekopin covered in healing magic.

According to Amako, it hurts tremendously, but the pain goes away soon.

・ Healing Throw [Arc 3, Chapter 73]

A technique used against Arc, who was manipulated by Nea.

After knocking the opponent to the floor, he casts a healing spell.

Depending on the situation, there is a version in which the opponent is swung around
with brute force techniques, involving the enemy and then thrown.

・ Healing Continuous Striking Legs [Arc 8, Chapter 192]

A healing continuous fist with legs that can be used by assimilating Ferrum.

Because of its power to blow the opponent away, it can only strike a single blow, but
the power of the technique is stronger.

・ Healing Kick [Arc 8, Chapter 195]

Strictly speaking, it was a kick with both feet that only gained momentum with a
healing acceleration fist and other techniques.

A technique that was shouted out in the heat of the moment.

A new category called elasticity will be added to this (trembling voice)

This concludes this update.

Arc 10 will start next time.

(Note: I don't know if the name fits or not. If you have any opinion please comment
below)