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

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Chapter 237

(Kazuki's POV)

　I know the way Usato fights.
　Seeing Usato's own inhuman reflexes, defense with gauntlet, restraint and resistance with Nea's magic, Ferrum's black magic outfit, numerous techniques that apply outbursts of system strengthening, and ——— The elasticity grant that he developed by looking at the technique of making my magic elastic.
　By doing everything he could do and using it differently depending on the situation, he was able to deal with any opponent.
　However, the Usato in front of me is different.
　He was too different from the Usato we know.

"———Oo!!"

　His movements are like a storm.
　As he spins widely and launches an assault on senpai, Usato's behavior is far too out of the ordinary to be human.
　The long sword, which should be wielded with both hands, is swung lightly, easily cutting down trees that would otherwise be an obstacle, and the small sword in the opposite hand is thrust into the ground, forcibly shifting the direction of movement———He launches a caustic attack to ensure that senpai is cornered.

"He's responding to my move...!?"
"I'm already used to it...!"
"Is his adaptability the same over here! Don't you have too much adaptability!?"

　Usato and Senpai exchange swords with speed that is unstoppable.
　However, as Usato strikes the long sword while spinning like a storm, Senpai has no choice but to step back.
　The long sword that Usato uses———that's the one I was using.
　It was broken in a previous battle with Koga and is the longest weapon I have used in this world.

"Are you saying that our deaths are haunting him...!"

　I was extremely upset that Usato was using that rather than his fists, which is his specialty.
　It's as if he thinks the deaths of me and senpai were his fault and he's trying to make sure he never forgets it, and he's driven by a helpless feeling.

"Hmph!"

　While swinging his long sword, Usato stabs the small sword into the ground.
　Using this as the axis, the rotation increases further, and with that momentum, he flies towards senpai.

"You're using my sword so wrong!"

　Senpai, who had just made such a comment to Usato, quickly bent down and several trees were cut in two at once.
　A sword technique that relies on brute force without any weakness in sword technique.
　However, perhaps because of that, his extra power forces him to refine it into a technique.

"Ka-Ka-Ka-Ka, Kazuki-kun! Help!! This is dangerous, he'll break my sword at this rate!?"
"S-Senpai, use the scaffolding!!"

　Releases a disc-shaped magic bullet and makes it stagnate around senpai.
　Using it as a foothold, senpai avoided Usato's long sword with a single stroke of the paper, and then she took an electric kick to the neck.
　An instantaneous discharge———but Usato doesn't seem the least bit fazed, and turns his head in a circle toward the senior who released the kick.

"Ah...S-Sorry?"
"..."

　He tries to thrust his sword into senpai, who can do nothing until she lands on her feet, but ——— I won't let that happen!!
　I fire the magic bullets I created in the gauntlet of my left arm all at once at Usato.

"Usato!"

　I simultaneously manipulate 15 magic bullets and shoot them at Usato.
　To prevent him from vanishing, I gave an elasticity to the attack!

"Now his move will..."
"So sweet"

　Usato slams his foot down on the ground, causing the ground to rise up like tatami mats and obliterating half the magic bullets.
　In addition, he sent a large amount of debris toward me by striking the raised ground with his long sword, which he swung widely.

"...!"

　When I pulled the magic bullet and made the debris disappear, I saw Usato leaping and about to swing his long sword down.

"I guess I'll just have to face him...!"

　While rolling to avoid the attack, I pull out the sword from my back and let the magic bullet float on my gauntlet.
　In close combat, I am at a disadvantage. I can no longer say that holding back is not an option!
　The elasticity grant is released, and a small magic bullet with the ability of annihilation is released to Usato.

"...!"

　As long as I can take away the freedom of his limbs, I should be able to incapacitate him...!
　The manipulated magic bullet is directed at Usato with a feeling of disgust at the fact that I have to direct my light magic at him.
　After seeing the magic bullet heading toward him who had cold eyes, I thought that Usato would avoid it without hesitation, but he plunged into the magic bullet without care.

"Wha!?"

　A magic bullet hits him in the leg and shoulder, leaving a hole, but the wound regenerates at a speed that even healing magic can't imagine.
　A terribly cold voice emanates from Usato as I catch the small sword that is thrust at me with my gauntlet.

"Your aim is too soft. If you don't aim for my head, you'll never take me down."
"Usato! What did you drink...! It's not normal!!"
"...A drop of water from the Kureha fountain. Well, you wouldn't understand even if I told you———"

　As it is, I am bounced only by his arm strength and staggered backward.
　I was about to immediately create a magic bullet and release it ——— but I couldn't help but hesitate.

"———You're being too careless."
"tsu"

　While I was hesitating, Usato moved in front of me at once.
　Before I knew it, he had let go of his long sword and his fist was pointed at my torso.

"S-Shoo———"
"Healing Crushing Fist"
"Gah..."

　A strong impact ran through my abdomen and I was thrown backwards.
　Still, I managed to stay on my feet and use my sword as support as I adjusted my stance.
　As I breathe on my shoulder, Usato walks in front of me, brushing off the blood on his hands and carrying the sword he picked up on his shoulder.

"Kazuki. You are too kind."

　Just like that, Usato casually swung his sword down at my head.

"Guh...!"

　I managed to parry it diagonally with my sword, but the bone in my right arm creaked and I felt a severe pain.
　Even though I parried it, this is what I get...! I might have cracked my right arm bone...!
　If I step back here, I will definitely be defeated.
　I took a big step forward and unleashed a left fist filled with light magic at Usato's shoulder.

"Uoooooh!!"
"Like I said, you're too sweet."

　Usato's knee kick hits me in the stomach before my hands can reach him.
　Usato looks down at me as I kneel down and cough in intense pain.

"Don't hold back. You're stronger than this."
"...Usa, to?"

　I can't see his expression in the shadows.
　Usato raises his sword, but before the sword can be brought down, senpai slashes at him from behind with her sword.

"I won't let you kill anyone...!"
"It's impossible. I've reached the point of no return."
"It doesn't matter!"
"You're stubborn."
"That's me! I'm Inukami Suzune, the troublesome senpai you know!"
"Would you say that to yourself...!"

　Usato turned around and repelled senpai's attack.
　At that moment, the two disappear and a battle unfolds at high speed.
　With senpai's high-speed movement that has mastered the lightning system, Usato follows with a movement that transcends even the limits of human beings, along with the power of the mysterious water called Kureha Fountain.
　While the battle was heating up, destroying the surroundings and spreading electric shocks ——— I was holding my abdomen and trying to recover, I was thinking about something else.

"Usato, you are..."

　I felt strange the whole time.
　If Usato was serious about killing me and senpai, there was clearly something unnatural about the battle so far.
　I was so shocked that Usato had become my enemy and I had to fight him that I didn't even think about it, but now I finally realized it.

"Could it be..."

　When I realized this, anger welled up inside me.
　In some ways, this may be the first time I have ever been this angry.
　The reason why Usato is fighting us.
　And why Usato has become what he has become.
　If it's what I think, then I have to be angry at Usato.

"..."

　Remove my hand from my abdomen and knead the magic.
　I won't hesitate anymore.
　I'm not going to give him any consideration so that he doesn't hurt badly ——— and I'm not going to kill him.
　However, regardless of myself, I will do my best to stop Usato.

"If I'm being sweet, just say it! I got a lot to say to you too!!"

　Outstretching both hands in front of me, I force myself to create twice the amount of magic bullets that I can create at the same time.
　Make them all elastic———recreate the outburst of Usato's system strengthening.

"Senpai! You'll get caught up in it!! I'm sorry!!"
"Yes, I understand!! So, eh!? What does it mean to get caught up in it...?"
"Spread!!"

　The system strengthening is triggered, and fresh blood gushes out from the right hand where the magic power leaks out.
　The shockwave created by this spread the magic bullet in all directions, sending it flying over a wide area.

""Wha!?""

　The magic bullets, shot out with acceleration that is impossible with my magic control, bounce around the surrounding obstacles by giving them elasticity, and rush toward the two with bizarre trajectories.

"———I see, that's what it means! Thunder Beast Mode 3!"

　Senpai, clad in purple lightning, shot back a series of magic bullets that flew at the outside toward Usato.
　I hurriedly manipulate the magic bullets in a bit of a panic as senpai starts to do something different from what I had in mind.

"Adsorption!"

　The magic bullet going toward Usato is absorbed by Usato, restricting its movement.
　Seeing the magic bullet absorbing into his own body, Usato's movement slows down, but he quickly changes his target to me as he comes toward me.
　But ——— his movement has dropped to the point where even I can see it.

"System strengthening...!"

　I throw down my sword and fill my magic power in the gauntlet on my left arm.
　The condensed light-system magic power turns into a dangerous substitute that annihilates everything it touches.

"Kazuki!"
"Usato!"

　———I swing the gauntlet that has been converted into a hand sword at a long sword being swung down at me.
　Without even a glance at the long sword that melted from the root like cutting butter, the next small sword that senpai used was caught in my palm and obliterated.

"...!"
"Clench your teeth!"

　In an instant, Usato loses his weapons and I raise my blood-soaked right fist.
　In response, Usato's eyes widened, then he smiled a small smile ——— he let go of the hilt of the weapon he was holding and dropped it to the ground.
　Usato was hit in the cheek as it was, and fell backward without even taking a passive stance.

"Haa... haa...! It hurts...!"

　My right hand is covered in blood due to the rapid consumption of magic power and my own outburst of system strengthening.
　As I breathe on my shoulder, senpai rushes over to the fallen Usato, she speaks to me in a bewildered manner.

"Kazuki-kun... treat your wounds..."
"No, it's fine now."

　I don't have time to worry about that right now.
　I grab Usato's chest as he lies there helplessly.
　I glared at him, who had already lost his will to fight, and in my anger, slammed down the words I wanted to say.

"You're the one who's holding back! Right from the start!!"
"..."
"It doesn't suit you! It's out of character for you to force yourself to look so evil!!"

　A little thought was all it took to figure it out.
　Usato had noticed it since the first time he was cut by senpai.
　That's why his tone was back to respectful, like when he talked to senpai, and when he grabbed senpai by the arm, she was unharmed.
　If Usato really intended to kill us, then senpai would have been finished when he grabbed her arm.

"You're no different from the Usato we know!"
"..."
"He's kind, good-hearted, and reliable...He's my friend!!"

　It's the same when dealing with me.
　There were plenty of chances to kill me, who was fighting without even having the determination to fight seriously.
　When he used that healing crushing fist or some other technique, or when he did the knee kick, if you think about it, with Usato's current power, he could have easily killed me.

"The truth is, you knew. You knew we were not fake."
"———It's the same as a fake. Because you two are not the Senpai and Kazuki I know."

　When Usato finally said that, he looked up at the sky and gave a self-deprecating smile.

"...Even I knew that. I knew you were not the Senpai and Kazuki I knew. I didn't know what was going on ... but if you were there in reality, I didn't care about anything else."
"Did you understand it was me?"

　When senpai pointed to herself in surprise, Usato smiled nostalgically.

"The only person I know who would say something crazy like that during a fight is senpai."
"Ah, er... T-The fiancée thing is a fact."
"I just wish you weren't."
"You don't like it that much?"

　I think the first thing that is wrong with senpai is that she tries to fabricate facts on her own.
　Slightly taken aback by senpai, Usato opened his mouth again with a small sigh.

"I'm a half-wit who couldn't become a rescue squad member or a healing wizard. I am a half-wit who was crushed by the weight of what I lost and as a result became a murderer."
"Usato..."
"How could I face the two of them after all this time? The senpai and Kazuki I knew are dead. I have taken many lives because of their deaths."

　I don't know what kind of life Usato lived after we died in this world.
　However, I understand that it is not something that can be taken half-heartedly.

"Is that why you wanted us to take you down?"
"...Honestly, I don't know. Did I want you to stop me, or did I want you to kill me? But, right..."

　Raising his upper body only, he looked down at the two swords that had fallen to the ground, leaving only their hilts.
　Two swords that were left behind by me and senpai.
　If I only talk about the results, I have destroyed something important to Usato, but for him, who lives in the present, this was nothing but a hindrance.

"I was able to cut off my lingering feelings... Or, is it more accurate to say that I cut them off?"
"Grua"

　Blurin, who had been watching our battle until now, approaches him as he whispers that.
　He puts his hand on Blurin's cheek, looking as if the possession has fallen off.

"Thanks. For not bothering the fight."
"Gru"
"I'm fine now... Heave-ho."

　Wobbling, Usato stands up and looks back at us, clad in healing magic.
　Perhaps the effects of the drop from the Kureha fountain had worn off earlier, but he seemed infinitely closer to the Usato we knew, now that he had regained his composure.

"I won't ask why you two are he———"
"Actually! I was sent back to this world by a bas*tard named Kannagi while we were infiltrating the demon king's territory to exterminate the demon king! Next time I see her, I'm going to do everything in my power to catch her, put on animal ears and a tail, and make her regret that she was born in the first place!!"
"...Well, it's a fantasy world. There's probably a lot going on. I won't ask too much about it."

　Even senpai's words that ruin the air, Usato has a nostalgic look on his face.
　Then he turned his body toward senpai and bowed deeply.

"I am sorry. For getting you involved in this at my own discretion. To be honest, I was scared of fighting with senpai at first, but I was relieved to see that senpai was still senpai."
"Hey, Usato-kun. Is that a compliment?"
"Of course."

　Usato smiled as he said that, then turned to me and bowed his head in the same manner he did to senpai.

"Sorry, Kazuki. I said you were sweet, but ... you are not. Your compassion is not a weakness. It is definitely your strength that surpasses anything else."
"...Usato"
"So, no matter who denies it, just continue on the path you think is right."
"Yeah, I got it."

　After all, even if the world changes, the fundamentals remain the same.
　Usato is Usato.
　As I was keeping his words firmly etched in my mind, I noticed that the body of senpai next to me was gradually becoming transparent.

"Senpai, your body...!"
"So are you. Does this mean it's time to go?"

　We will be taken back to the original world.
　I still had more things I wanted to talk to Usato in this world.
　Usato saw us gradually disappearing and started talking to us without worrying.

"Senpai, Kazuki. Do I exist in that world?"
"...Mhm"
"Am I bothering you two like I am?"
"Instead, I'm the one causing trouble."
"Senpai, so you were aware of it...!?"

　This is a truly startling fact.
　Usato smiles bitterly, somewhat surprised at senpai's words.

"Then, please make such a happy person even more troubled. Maybe I'm a proper healing wizard over there, who doesn't rely on the Kureha Fountain or fight fiercely."
""...""

　In my mind, I could picture Usato fighting in a crazier way than the one in front of me.
　Usato here is pure strength, that's why we managed to handle it, ... but the Usato of our world can be scary because you really don't know what he's going to do...

"Looks like it's almost time."
"Usato-kun, you..."
"I'll go my own way."

　Usato says it straightforwardly.
　Our bodies are disappearing.
　I will never see Usato in front of me again.
　I wonder if he knows that too, he looks sad...but he keeps smiling and opens his mouth.

"Thanks to both of you, I can finally move forward."

　With those words, the scene in front of me changed.
　Kannagi said she would give us nightmares.
　She also asked us to leave the soft heart behind.
　But it's wrong.

"I do what I think is right."

　Once again, while remembering the words of Usato from other world, I face Kannagi once more with senpai.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author Notes:
In fact, I had noticed when IF Usato was starting to use honorifics toward his seniors.
The result was that all three of them were holding back.
If all of them had fought seriously, it would have been a horrifying story that someone would have died.
By the way, Doping Usato is stronger when he does not use a sword.
Next, Chapter 238 "Burst! The power of friendship between Koga and Usato!"