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

Support us on Ko-Fi or Patreon to make this translation and the translators keep alive. Thank you
This chapter is sponsored by FrankMagri

Chapter 226


　I resumed the training to handle dark magic, and I first asked Ferrum about her assessment.
　I thought that she, who knew more about dark magic than anyone else present, might have come up with something.

『Usato. Now, tell her my words.』

　I nod casually at Ferrum's words as she instructs me in a low voice.
　Following that, I convey Ferrum's words to Keira.

"Keira. The first thing to be aware of is that your magic is yours."
"Mine?"
"Yeah. I don't know for what reason, but you are consciously trying to keep your magic away. Unless you do something about it first, your magic will one day get out of control and you will be in big trouble."

　Keira's expression becomes tense at my words.

"In big trouble, you mean...?"
"It means that your magic is not really yours anymore. It's out of your hands, and it's just going to run wild emotionally. If that happens, the first people to get involved will be the people closest to you, like Gref-san and the others."
"Because of me, Gref and the others..."

　Keira mutters dumbfoundedly while looking at her own feet.
　It is understandable to be shocked, but even I know that there is nothing to hide here poorly.
　Frankly, it pains me to admit it, but first I have to tell her about her magic situation.

"Keira, if things continue as they are, that's unavoidable. That's why you have to face your magic."
"But my magic doesn't listen to me at all..."
"That's why we're here. Let's do our best so that you don't hurt the people around you."

　I am sure that the presence of Gref-san and the others are irreplaceable for this child.
　If she messed them, her heart would be broken.
　No one would want that kind of ending.

"To do that, first you need to change your perception. Maybe you have perceived your own magic as not belonging to you."
"Is that wrong?"
"Yeah. Your magic is still yours."

　Perhaps because she has suffered so much due to dark magic, she subconsciously harbors a dislike for her own magic.
　If her magic is reflecting her emotions and starting to work, it is thought to be a direct reflection of her "dislike of her own magic".

"Even if I suddenly said that, there's no way you could accept your own magic, right."
"...Yes"
"Then let's get used to it while handling the dark magic."

　I picked up a fist-sized stone that had fallen beside an empty house and placed it on top of a wooden box.

"The first goal is to touch it of your own volition. Can you do that?"
"I-I'll give it a try!"

　Saying so, Keira extends the black magic of dark magic power from the shadows at her feet.
　She sees black magic extending from her feet and raises her hand to a stone on a wooden box about two meters away.
　Then the magic at her feet moves, but shows resistance to her will.
　... No, she is still trying to force it to move.

"You don't have to forcibly try to manipulate it. It's important to treat it like you are moving your own limbs and take it for granted that you can move them."
"Yes"

　Hearing my advice, Keira relaxed her shoulders.
　The magic at her feet has also lost its resistance and is moving unsteadily.
　While giving advice little by little, I watched her training from a distance of about five meters.

"If this were a training for healing magic, I could give her some advice too..."
"It's not a healing magic, it's more of a physical training, isn't it? In your case."
"I don't deny it"

　Maybe Nea is right and I'm not suited to teach magic.
　To be honest, the only thing I was taught about magic was to "feel the magic while running".

"However, looking at Keira reminds me of Nack..."
『Speaking of which, is he your disciple?』
"Yeah"

　I nodded at Ferrum's words.
　When I first met him, he had a lot of complicated circumstances, but now he is a fine rescue squad member.
　The training I gave him was for the purpose of developing him into a healer who could move like Rose and I. Looking back, I think Nack did a great job after only five days of training.
　At least for the last two days, I've pretended to act like demon and worked hard, too...

"I could have Keira do some rescue squad-style magic training, ...... but it would be too dangerous given the nature of dark magic."
『What were you planning to do?』
"It's called handling magic while running. For now, I thought that if she was running, she wouldn't have to think about anything else, so she would be able to naturally release her magic."

　It would make sense, but it would cause Keira a great deal of stress, and most importantly, it would not spare her from being pulled away from those around her.
　I also have a distinction between good and bad things to do.

"... But it's still a strange magic, isn't it? Dark magic is so different from other magic."
『That's why people think it's creepy. If you're not careful, you could risk it going out of control, and the ability to awaken is so different from existing magic, so for those around, it's terrifying magic.』

　Nea and Ferrum mutter so when they see Keira.
　As I am being reminded again of what a dark magic user is like, I notice a change in the magical power of the dark magic of Keira, who is training in front of me.

"..."

　One of the magic powers at Keira's feet is slowly moving.
　There is no awkwardness as if it is being forced to move. Keira is looking seriously at the one black magic floating in front of her eyes.
　After a few seconds or so, the black magic that had emerged returned to the shadows at her feet.
　Relieving her tension, she turned around.

"U-Usato-san!"
"Yeah, I saw it properly."
"I was able to move it at will, albeit a little!!"

　Keira shows a bright smile.
　She is a fast learner.
　This seems to be an easier process to get her to learn how to use it than I had expected.

"At this rate, it looks like you'll be fine without me."
"———Eh?"

　Keira's smile clouded over in an instant.
　I said it spontaneously, but it was not a good idea to upset Keira's mood here.
　I wave my hand to the side to fool Keira and urge her to continue her training.

"F-First, let's keep practicing!"
"...Yes"

　After regaining her composure and replying, she manipulated her magic again.
　Once she gets a clue, all she has to do is to hold on to it.
　I relax my shoulders in relief as I keep an eye on Keira.

"Her magic seems to be fine."
"Yeah. I was worried at first, but at this rate I think she'll be fine."
『... Hmm』
"Ferrum, is something bothering you?"

　When I call out to Ferrum, who sounds annoyed at my and Nea's words, she replies in a rather brusque manner.

『Did this really solve the problem?』
"What do you mean?"
『I don't know, but I don't think it's going to end up just teaching her how to use it.』
"..."

　Yes, maybe.
　I know very little about Keira.
　What kind of past does she have and how does she feel now that she is learning to handle dark magic? I know only what is on the surface.

『...No, we shouldn't get into it too poorly. I don't want this girl to depend on us. Even just for the sake of it, she trusts us quite a bit at this point.』
"I understand"
『No, you don't understand.』

　Why do you guys only see a choice between being dependent and not being dependent? Isn't it okay to be trusted normally?
　How much of a troublemaker do you think I am?
　Despite feeling a bit uncomfortable with the way I was treated, I tried not to let my attention wander away from Keira.

●
seireitranslations.blogspot.com

　A few hours after continuing training.
　When it was almost noon, I told Keira to take a break from training, and I was grilling fish on a skewer in front of a campfire.
　It was caught by senpai in the morning.
　Although it can be preserved with Leona-san's magic or modified in various ways to make it a preserved food, for now I lightly prepare it to serve as lunch for Keira and the others.

"I'm sorry, Usato."
"No, no, it's no big deal."

　Gref-san has an apologetic look on his face, and I reply with a wry smile.
　To put it bluntly, it is a simple process of removing the innards and skewering them.
　More than that, Nea should be able to help me, but...that guy flew off in her owl form and never came back.
　Even though she didn't go that far.

"... You really are a mysterious man. I can't believe you brush off Keira's magic so easily..."
"Hahaha, I've been training a lot."

　When I said that while rolling up my sleeves, Gref-san burst out into a smile as if he had been drawn in by me.
　He turned his gaze to Roze and Ram on the back of Blurin, and to Keira, who was looking at them with panic, and gave a small sigh.

"When I first met her, it was tough. I'm not that strong myself, so I was constantly getting fresh wounds. I don't regret taking her in, but it was really hard."
"It's different now, isn’t it?"
"Of course. But that kid... still worries about it."

　Does that mean she regrets hurting Gref-san with her magic?
　Well, I wouldn't blame her for thinking that if she injured someone who was being kind to her. I'd feel the same way if I injured the Commander too ——— No, wait, it doesn't fit the story in the first place, so let's not even think about it.
　Moving my stopped hand, I stick the skewered fish into the ground where it will be exposed to the heat of the bonfire.

"...By the way"

　There was something I wanted to ask Gref-san.
　This is something I'm afraid to do in front of Keira, so let's ask him now.

"Gref-san. Keira said that if she was lied to, her magic would go out of control. Do you know anything about that?"
"... Did Keira say it herself?"
"? Yeah, well."
"I see..."

　Eh, what is that reaction? It makes me very uneasy.
　Gref-san groaned in anguish.
　After a moment of silence, he looks up with a determined look on his face.

"Usato, Keira is———"
"O~i! Usato~!"

　A loud voice echoes, interrupting Gref-san's voice.
　When I looked over there, I saw Nea, who had transformed into a demon, beckoning me.
　Near her are Leona and the others who are wearing hoods. ...I'm wondering what Gref was going to say, but I'm going to go to Nea first.

"Gref-san, I'm sorry. As for the fish, all you have to do is wait for it to be cooked..."
"Fine. More importantly, if your comrades are calling you, you should go quickly."

　After asking for consent from Gref-san, I left the place.
　In the middle of that, Keira noticed me and rushed over.

"Usato-san, are you going somewhere?"
"Yeah, I just got called in by my friends."
"What about training...?"

　I understand that she wants to do something about her own magic as soon as possible, but it would be better not to let Keira train her magic alone, just in case.
　Besides, Keira must have consumed some magic power from training in the morning.
　She shouldn't push herself too hard.

"Let's take a break until I get back. You're probably tired from the unfamiliar training, so don't overdo it."
"Eh, but———"
"Usato~!"
"Yeah! I’m going now!! ———I'd better get going. Don't worry, your magic is improving steadily."

　After telling that to Keira, I turned to Blurin.
　Rose and Ram are playing and climbing on Blurin's back as he lies down.
　Smiling at the scene, I call out to him.

"Blurin! I might leave here for a while, so if something happens, please protect Gref-san and the others!"
"Gua!"
"Good!"

　After confirming that a lively cry returned, I left Keira and moved to Nea.

"Nea, what's wrong?"
"Suzune and the others have something to talk about. Besides, did you say something to Keira? She glared at me really hard for a moment."
"Eh, I did say nothing particularly strange..."

　With that in mind, I looked back to Keira, and she didn't seem to be glaring.

"Isn’t it just your imagination?"
"... Hmm, maybe you're right. More importantly, everyone is waiting for you, so follow me."
"Okay"

　I follow Nea and leave the place.
　When we moved to the outskirts of the village where senpai and the others who stayed together were waiting for us, I unassimilated with Ferrum.
　Everyone except Blurin was gathered.
　When senpai saw me, she immediately started talking to me.

"Just a while ago, Leona and I went to the place where the ruins are."
"... Did something happen?"

　It was a suspicious place from the beginning, but did something really happen?
　Senpai and Leona nodded at my question.

"Could it be that the reason you called me and Usato had something to do with that?"
"Yeah, that's why it called you two who have the 'Hero's Arms'."

　The gauntlet on Kazuki's left arm and the gauntlet on my right arm.
　Both of these are the Hero's Arms given to us by Falga-sama.
　Calling us with it meant that there was something connected with that place———the ruins where the Demon King used to be.