Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu

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Chapter 216


　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.