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

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TL Note: Sorry, last week I got a cold. And this chapter is longer than usual.

Chapter 238


　We fought with Usato in an alternate world, and then we returned to our original pure white space.
　I was standing in a place that looked no different from before I came here, when I caught sight of a blonde-haired beastfolk ——— Kannagi who was sitting with her eyes clenched shut.

"You can't change us. Whatever nightmares you put us through, whatever trials you put us through, we won't be fooled by them anymore."

　I say this to Kannagi, who is clutching her eyes.
　I don't know if this guy is our enemy or not.
　As I stood on guard, ready to hold my weapon at any moment, Kannagi, who had been silently holding her left eye, raised her face.

"It was the right decision to send you guys."
"...What did you say?"

　Blood is flowing from the gap between the hand holding her left eye.
　Maybe it's the price of system strengthening or something?

"Ah, don't worry about this. It's just that I couldn't use my left eye because overworking it. It seems like the magical power of this ruins wasn't enough after all."

　Kannagi said that as if it were someone else's problem, and snapped her fingers while closing her left eye.
　Then, out of nowhere, a bandage-like object is wrapped around her head to cover her left eye, and a pattern resembling sorcery is engraved on the bandage.

"It wasn't what I had planned, but it did change his future in parallel time. For me, there is nothing more wonderful than that."
"...What was the point of sending us to that world?"
"? It's the same as the beginning. I wanted you guys to give up your sweetness. But now it doesn't matter because I've achieved so much more than that."

　Kannagi's cheeks relax with joy.

"Ah, after all, the fundamental things were the same for him in the other world. If he continues on into the future like that, it is possible that he will be given either of the two hero armaments that you were supposed to get, and above all, there is even a chance that he will find even me over there."
"What are you talking about...?"
"Possibilities. Thanks to you guys, his fate was opened up when he was supposed to die."

　I hardly understand what is coming out of Kannagi's mouth, but does it mean that Usato in the alternate world would have lost his life if he had continued on that path?

"Kureha Fountain. Leaving that thing behind was a mistake."
"Does it exist in this world too!?"
"Of course. A poison that makes people crazy flows under Mialak. That's what the Kureha Fountain is."

　Mialak.
　Is this the city where Leona-san lives?
　If we don't know about it at this point, does that mean it's not being used like it is over there...?

"Why do they still keep that thing? It's just a thing that drives people crazy. Well, I don't even want to know what that main body is thinking, so it doesn't matter."

　Kannagi is muttering something.
　No matter what she says, it's an incomprehensible existence.
　Is this person on our side to begin with?

"Well, I'm done with my business for you guys! The rest will wait until the time is right, I guess."
"Waiting? What are you waiting for?"
"I can't tell you now. Because ——— if you hear it, you'll definitely try to stop me."

　At that instant, senpai who had been asking Kannagi a question with a faint smile on her face disappeared.
　Her figure next appeared behind Kannagi, more than ten meters away, swinging her sword while clad in electric shocks.

"The main body is separate, huh..."
"You've surely come for my head. It seems that the hero over here has become more courageous in a good way."
"...Thanks to you."

　After sheathing her sword, senpai stares at Kannagi with annoyance.
　Kannagi, on the other hand, has her figure distorted as if the noise is running.

"Well then, from here on is the good part, see you then."
"Wait!!"

　Although I call out to Kannagi, she ignores the call and in an instant, Kannagi disappears from the scene.
　Centered on the place where Kannagi disappeared, the surrounding landscape is eroding back to the original ruins. However, the place where we are now is clearly a different room from that place where we were first sucked into the vortex.

"Senpai, what are we going to do now?"
"Let's meet up with everyone first. ...Kannagi might be a more troublesome opponent than we expected."

　An unidentified opponent who is neither friend nor foe.
　I still don't even trust this person, but let's make it a priority to meet up with our friends first.

●

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

　This evil dragon is very close to the evil dragon I know, but it is far from the real thing.
　That's my impression after fighting the evil dragon for a while.
　Even if I had gained various experiences and was definitely stronger than when I fought Evil Dragon before, there was no way I could match the full power of Evil Dragon, who was in its prime ——— not a zombie.

"Or it's supposed to be..."

　No matter how I measure the relative evil dragon, it is inferior to the evil dragon of the past in my memory.
　No, is it harder than the zombie?

"Oi Usato. It's a little late for asking. What the hell is that?"
"It's really too late..."

　Koga, who had been forced to fight alongside me, asks me such a question next to me.
　... Since the evil dragon is also looking at us, I'll give a brief explanation while I'm at it.

"That is an evil dragon. It's a dragon that ran rampant on this continent a long time ago. Not long ago, he was resurrected as a zombie, and I believe my friends and I defeated him ... But for whatever reason, we are now fighting him in the Samarial of the past, seemingly relative to its prime.”
"I see, that means he's a strong guy."
"Did you hear my explanation?"

　It was summarized very briefly, but is it okay to understand it that way?
　I feel like there was something even more surprising.

"Usato-san, did you fight such a scary monster?"

　Keira, who is being protected by Ciel-san from behind, is more understanding.
　I look back at her to reassure her.

"My friends and I worked together to defeat him. Don't worry, we won't lose this time either."
"Y-Yes!"

　For now, I'm able to fight it, so it's not a problem ... I was a little concerned about Ciel-san's suspicious stare, or rather, the way she drew back, but for now, let's focus on what's in front of us.

"Let's go, Koga."
"Heh. Just be careful not to get caught in my attack."
"..."
"Oh, sorry, I was just kidding. So don't try to hold my leg."

　While sighing at Koga, who is still fooling around at this stage, we face the evil dragon.
　Black shiny scales and large wings.
　The current threat is poison and attacks using claws and tail.

"Now that there is no Nea, Ferrum, or Amako... but that doesn't mean there's nothing I can do."

　There are limits to what I can do alone.
　An explosion of system strengthening to give elasticity———system blast.
　I will combine and apply them effectively.

"Koga, I'll attract him."
"Then I'll attack as I see fit. We will respond to each other on the spot."

　Even if we had a good strategy, it would be hindered by the fact that each of us would definitely move around individually.
　I understood that from our brief joint fight earlier.
　I took a slow deep breath, checked Keira and Ciel-san once more, and then approached the evil dragon.

[Heroo...!]
"I already told you I'm not a hero... But, well, let me pay you back for all the trouble you've caused me before...!"

　A silver gauntlet is attached to the right arm.
　I hold it in front of me, which boasts unparalleled hardness, and clench my fist tightly.
　I covered my gauntlet with elasticity-imparting magic generated by concentrating my mind, and faced the evil dragon directly with its claws raised and its tail whistling.

"Come!!"
[Oooo!!]

　With a roar, a claw much larger than my height is swung.
　I saw off the approaching claw as if it was going to crush me and I parried it with my gauntlet against the tip of the claw to change its trajectory.

"I've seen that attack before."
[———! You, you bast*ard!!]

　The evil dragon unleashes the claws of both arms like a child throwing a tantrum.
　Is it still the case that his resistance to provocation is low...? I feel like his vocabulary is too monotonous for that.
　Well, the messier the attack, the easier it is for me too...!!

"Hmph! Nn! Half-hearted!!"

　I see it through with my eyes and play it with my gauntlet along with my steps.
　If it is received head-on, I will indeed be crushed by its mass, but if I bounce it accurately, I can deflect it with minimal force.
　And———,

"That attack!"

　A "half-hearted" attack in the midst of a messy attack.
　Avoiding it with a step, I hit the side of the slammed hand with a roundhouse kick, which is covered with elasticity-imparting magic power through a magic power circulation.

[Nuh!? Don't underestimate me!]

　The evil dragon's arm is knocked off and it loses its balance, but it uses the movement of falling forward to open its wide mouth and try to bite me.
　The evil dragon's large mouth with sharp fangs approaches.

"Slow...!"

　I stomp my right foot (?), which transmits the elasticity-granting magic power and moves instantly.
　What appeared in my field of vision was the evil dragon's face as it crashed its head into the ground with momentum.

"Magic power circulation"

　I immediately return the magic power to my right fist and unleash a healing elastic fist.
　However, despite being suspected of being weakened, the opponent is an evil dragon with a huge physique. Healing Elastic Fist alone cannot push it through.
　Then, I'll just keep on until I've layered the technique here once more...!

"Consecutive Healing Fist!!"

　On top of the vertical fist that slammed into the evil dragon, even more magic power exploded.
　At that moment, another shock ran through the evil dragon's cheeks, and its huge head shook violently.
　I, myself, backed away slightly at the recoil that bounced off my right arm.

[Gaaah, w-why...!]
"Uoh...!?"

　While the Evil Dragon's fangs were snapped and it stared at me with hatred ——— I was lightly shuddering because of the technique that showed more power than I had anticipated.
　A technique that combines elasticity and magic power.
　I tried it as soon as I could, but it's just a plain dangerous technique.

"Explosive... elasticity...bullet, wave... yeah, it's a Healing Exploding Bullets Fist." (Note: I'm confused about naming it. If you have any suggestions, please write them in the comments)

　The healing elastic fist is used to drive the starting point wedge, and the healing consecutive fists are used to pass the impact deeper into the body.
　It is less rapid-firing than the Consecutive Healing Fist, but this one has more power to blast away.

"Ooh. I knew you were dangerous."
"..."

　More importantly, what is the Second Corps Commander doing standing behind me instead of attacking the Evil Dragon?

"What are you doing? Koga."
"Eh? I was watching."
"Watching?"
"Yeah"
"Watching what?"
"You"
"I?"
"Yeah"

　…….

"Okay, from now on your name is Kogarod or Koga Calibur."
"Ho-Ho-Ho-Hold on, my bad! I seriously apologize! Ah, I'm sorry, please forgive me!?"

　I'm desperately fighting against the evil dragon, but what is this guy doing?
　Should I just force him to fight or treat him as a weapon?

"Anyway, I know the secret to your unexplainable technique."
"...What did you say?"
"Yes, it's elastic. The magic itself has the elasticity to repel attacks, right?"

　Was this guy observing my elasticity effect!?
　Leaving me stunned, Koga walked forward and smiled at the evil dragon who had gotten up in anger.

"I see. Elasticity is interesting. It can be called an outburst of system strengthening, and it was a blind spot."
[Uooooh!!]

　After saying those words, Koga's dark magic robe undergoes a change.
　The clothes that covered his body became larger, and his slender appearance changed to one that was muscular.
　He raised his left fist towards the evil dragon ——— and slammed it into its torso like a whip with centrifugal force.

"So~oi!"

　The blow, delivered with an explosive sound, made the evil dragon's gigantic body fall back.
　——— Gives elasticity using dark magic.
　When I witnessed this, I glared at Koga.
　The Koga in question turned to me with a friendly smile.

"You know, your technique. Looks like you're getting close to us dark wizards."
"..."

　Dark magic is magic power with a tangible form.
　If you can also manipulate its strength at will, you can do the same technique without having it elasticized like I do.
　I heard that when he fought Kazuki, he also used my outburst of system strengthening, so why does he keep copying my techniques?

"...I had a hard time learning this technique."
"Haha, I am sorry."
"It's the worst. If this happens, the only option is to find an opening, punch him in the back and wipe his memory..."
"You are not really a healing wizard with that idea of yours!?"

　It got really annoying.
　Isn't this guy already more troublesome than the evil dragon in front of me?

[Gaaaah! Aaaaah! You, lowly, lowly humans!!] 
"He’s angry, isn’t he?"
"...Let's fight properly this time."
"I know."

　I can't trust him unless I keep him in my sights at all times.
　Poisonous smoke spills from the corner of its mouth, and at the same time, we take a stance in front of the evil dragon who screams in anger ——— and then starts running.
　Koga leaps first, and when he draws the Evil Dragon's gaze, I turn to the side and slam a kick into its side.

[That attack pain is———]
"Did you forget that I'm here? That makes me sad!!"
[tsu]

　As it turns its attention to me, Koga slams his whip-like supple left arm into the side of the evil dragon.
　When the upper half of the body is greatly inclined, I run up its back at once.
　When I reach the head, I grab what looks like the horns of the head and slam a series of fists into the skull.

"Hah, you're always leaving your feet! Was I too small to see!?"
[Being irritatingly cheeky!]
"Oops"

　Avoiding the arm swung towards its head by jumping up.
　As I am about to fall to the ground, the tail of the evil dragon comes at me.
　As I immediately try to move to evade with a healing accelerated fist, Koga's outstretched left arm wraps around my leg.

"Koga, that's hel———"
"Hahaah! This is the paybaaaaack!!"
"Ha?"

　Forcing me to avoid the tail as it was, Koga swung me around with all his strength and tried to slam my body towards the evil dragon's head.
　I know he's trying to pay back me for what I did before, but ——— that's naive!!

"Pitiful! Healing Elastic Fist from Healing Magic Bursting Palm!!"
[Guhaa!?]
"W-what?!"

　The momentum is dampened by the healing magic burst palm, and the healing elastic fist is slammed into the head of the evil dragon that is closing in.
　I landed on the head of the frightened evil dragon and grabbed Koga's magic power that was entangled in my legs to wrap it around my gauntlet ——— and pulled it up in a single fishing motion.

"You've got some nerve trying to attack me in the heat of the momeeent!!"
"Haah!? Isn't your response ability too good!? Wai, oi, oi oi, this flow is..."

　Koga flies through the air being pulled by me.
　I jumped accordingly and grabbed both of his legs firmly in my grasp.

"Let’s do it Kogaaa!!"
"Not this agaiiiin!?"

　Perhaps Koga doesn't want to be hurt, he transforms into the shape of a weapon of his own accord.
　I landed with him on my shoulders, and with Koga I flicked back the tail that swung at me as I tried to land.

"Let's defeat it together!"
"This is not together!? Basically, you did it alone!?"
"Shut up! Eat this, the power of our friendshiiip!!"
"Noooo!?"

　While complaining, I repel the evil dragon's attacks by using Koga.

"Oh, it's easier to repel thanks to the elasticity."
"I didn't steal your technique for something like this!"

　No, that's true though.
　By stepping forward with elasticity, I quickly approached the evil dragon and slammed Koga into its torso.

"Right here!"

　With Koga's voice, the transformed Koga club explodes at the tip, and several sharp thorns pierce the evil dragon's body.
　Heh, so this is what an outburst of system strengthening feels like.
　The thorns don't come out as fast, but when they stab, it seems to hurt that much.
　For the future reference, let's see now what Koga's techniques and stuff are.

"Alright, do you have any more techniques? Koga, your power is still far from that, right!!"
"O-Oh! I-If you let me go, I'll show it to you!"
"Eh..."
"Why do you have to look at me like you're so disappointed!?"
[Don't ignore me!]

　I stopped involuntarily, and a mass of the evil dragon's poison approached me.
　Realizing that I would not be able to repel it in time, I let go of Koga, avoiding the mass of poison and at the same time releasing a healing flying fist into its mouth.

[Guuh...!]
"Koga, I'll throw you! Come here!"
"If it's anything other than being swinging around, it's ok!"

　Matching the timing with Koga, who jumps towards it, with a palm covered with elasticity, I launch Koga at the Evil Dragon.
　Actually, it's a technique intended to be used together with senpai, but...!

"Here you goo!"
"Leave it to me!!"

　Due to the elasticity of their magical powers, Koga approaches the evil dragon with a momentum that has increased several times.
　Along with this, Koga changed into a triangular pyramid-like shape and performed a ramming attack, and while his left arm was greatly deformed, he headed toward the evil dragon.
　After taking a few breaths at some distance, I casually observe Koga and see what looks like a wound on the Evil Dragon's chest.

"If anything to aim for, it's over there."

　A wound caused by the outburst of Koga's system strengthening before.
　Not a single drop of blood leaked out, but it must have been gouged out quite deeply.
　Then, if he aims at that place, we can probably defeat the evil dragon.
　At the moment I gathered my thoughts and was about to take immediate action ———before I knew it, someone was standing in front of me.

"———"

　A black-haired man wearing light armor.
　A figure I have seen many times in the memory of the Samarial's people.
　Although I couldn't see his face clearly, the way he stood there was exactly———,

"The previous hero's past memories...?"

　The person pulled out the sword from his waist and stabbed it into the ground.
　It has a longer blade than the small sword I pulled from the heart of the evil dragon.

"...Katana?"

　Why at this timing?
　With that question in mind, I cautiously approach it, and its beautiful sword blade reflects my face.

『———Usato, take that』
"...!"

　That voice whispering in my ear from right behind me.
　But there's no presence.
　When I turned around, there was no one there, and all I could hear was Koga's voice trying his best.

『If you use that, you can easily defeat that evil dragon. It's like twisting a baby's hand.』

　Is this really the sword that the hero had?
　The look is the same as the one in my memory, but somehow I feel like I shouldn't pick it up.

『There's no need to hesitate. Now, take it in your hand———』
"I refuse."
『Eh? W-What did you say?』

　No, no way I can get my hands on something so suspicious!
　With a snap, I turn around and head straight for the Evil Dragon's chest, holding my gauntlet.

"Koga! Just keep attracting its attention!!"
"Oh, it's this way. You lizard guy!! I haven't been hit by a single attack yet!!"

　Koga provokes with an extremely annoying look on his face.
　Evil Dragon, who has no tolerance for provocation, was, as expected, furious about it.
　It opens its mouth wide and tries to spit out poison.

[You little human, humaaaan!]
"You can open your big mouth, but your jaw is out of guard!!"

　In response, Koga jumped as if bouncing as soon as he landed, and while preparing to protect his head, he rammed into the evil dragon's jaw.
　Evil dragon tilted backwards by the effects of elastic magic.
　Taking the chance, I landed on the spot where the evil dragon's heart might be and thrust my right arm into the crack that had formed in its chest.
　It doesn't feel like a living organism. It's as if I'm sticking my hand in the clay or the ground...!

"———Consecutive Healing Fist"

　Instantly, a series of shocks exploded inside the evil dragon.
　The shock causes the evil dragon's body to convulse like a machine.
　The evil dragon's movements became completely quiet while I was confused by the unknown sensation.

"Oh, you did it, Usato. You've taken the best part."
"...Did I defeat it?"

　The evil dragon stopped moving.
　However, what is this strange feeling?
　Was I really fighting an evil dragon ——— a living creature?

"Usato-san!"
"Koga-san"

　While I was looking at the evil dragon and questioning such things, Keira and Ciel-san came running up to me and Koga.

"Are you hurt? Did you inhale any poison?"
"I-I am fine!"
"You too?"
"Y-Yeah."

　Why keep your distance?
　No, I guess it can't be helped because, from the other side's perspective, I'm the enemy.
　But that doesn't mean I'm trying to do anything to someone who doesn't have any hostility.

"...Hmm?"

　At that time, a change occurs in the surrounding space.
　Samarial's past streetscape is fading.
　As the building loses its colour and becomes only a white shape, the evil dragon we defeated also transforms into something else.

"Hah? What is this...?"
"...Golem?"

　What appeared was a golem that resembled the shape of a dragon, different from the large golem we fought.
　The original humanoid form may have been forced to take the shape of an evil dragon, but in some places it is pieced together and looks misshapen.
　The rather creepy dragon golem has a cracked jewel-like object in its chest, and I can see that the evil dragon has stopped moving because I broke that thing with my Consecutive Healing Fist.

"What is this place..."

　Large space.
　In the middle of it, a blank building and a broken dragon-shaped golem.
　It's like a diorama that recreates the streets of Samarial in the past.

"Actually, I wish I could show you illusions."
"———!"
"But you. You have great mental powers, so I can't make my magic filled voice reach you, and I can't show you any illusions, so I've had to get a little creative."

　The one who appeared was Kannagi, the beastfolk girl who had summoned the evil dragon———Golem against us.

"Kannagi huh..."
"It took a lot of effort, you know? I had to use coloring magic to recreate its appearance... But you've made all that hard work worth it."

　After saying that, she turned to me with a non-hostile smile and started clapping loudly.

"This golem is a ready-made, but it was definitely stronger than the evil dragon you fought. ... It was unexpected, but the fact that you were able to beat it without difficulty means that you are truly qualified to inherit "power".''

　Kannagi creates a vortex of light in the space behind herself that sucks us in.
　Watching that, she points out her hand to me, who expresses wariness.

"Now, follow me. I will give you the right power ——— the magic of the previous hero, the "Spark of Light"."

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author Notes: 
・DX Koga rod that stretches, bounces, and pops

・Koga learns techniques from Usato.
Instead, he makes the mistake of reinforcing it as a weapon.

・Usato: "Shut up! Eat this, the power of our friendship!!"
This sentence alone makes it seem like he's talking to the last boss or a powerful enemy.