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

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Chapter 242


　Although we were finally able to meet up with everyone else, the situation hasn't improved that much.
　Many golems were sent out by Kannagi.
　Each of them was armed, and they were moving, making mechanical noises and movements, as if they were gathering at some hole in the ceiling.

"Is it a romantic space full of golems that we fell into?"
"This is no time for idle chatter"
"Finally, the end of this turmoil is in sight...!"

　Senpai, Kazuki, Leona-san, and Amako riding on Blurin's back descend from the hole in the ceiling.
　Relieved that the girls are safe, I switch my attention to Kannagi, who is about to attack.

"Aaaaaah!!"

　With tears streaming down her eyes, I catch the sword with my arm, which has transformed into a shield.

"Usato! What the hell did you do this time!"
"She hates demons! That's why I became a demon myself!"
『I don't understand what it means at all!?』

　I don't have time to go into the details of the situation, so just figure it out!
　Something composed of dark magic emerges from the waist of a garment similar to Kannagi's priestess outfit.
　There are eight of them.
　It was shaped very similar to her own tail.

"Tail!?"
"What's that? Creepy"
『I don't like octopus!』

　In a flash of surprise, the eight tails extended from her waist, flexed like a whip, and attacked me at once.

"Nea, binding spell! Ferrum, sword mode!"
"Yeah!"
『Ou!』

　A sword with a binding spell extended from the left arm is used to deal with the tails that come at me one after another.
　It's a lot of steps, but if I restrain them one at a time, I can still handle them.
　The problem is the sword that Kannagi wields...!

"You're not a demon...! Why do you have to appear so frightening!!"
"It's not like the demons themselves are frightening!"

　While anticipating her movements, I managed to deflect her thrusts with my gauntlet.
　Then, in response to Kannagi's voice, Nea and Ferrum argue with her.

"That's right! This guy's ecology is more frightening!"
『That's right! Compared to us, this guy is more frightening!』

　I wonder which side you guys are on...!
　Somehow, while being disrespected by my allies, I step back and distance myself from Kannagi.
　She makes her tail, composed of eight dark magic strands, smaller and more alert.
　It is not me who is at the end of that gaze.

[Aaah~! My body~!]
"Eh, there's another Kannagi!?"

　Directed right next to me.
　A girl who looks exactly like Kannagi, floating in the air.

[H-How dare you...!]
"...No one was in it, isn't it fine..."
[How can you say such a thing when you locked me up the moment I regained consciousness? Or rather, don't grow strange things on my body!?]

　Kannagi is trembling and taking out her anger on Kannagi.
　It's no good, they both look the same so it's hard to understand.
　Then, Nea points to the floating Kannagi with her wings and speaks to me.

"Usato, this is the real Kannagi."
"...So I'm dealing with a different person after all."

　As I guessed, she is an ego born from the sword of the previous hero.
　And, according to Nea, this is the person who has been calling out to me and warning me until now.
　For now, let's call the real Kannagi "Kannagi-san."

"Kannagi-san. She..."
[I had a lot of things I wanted to talk about with you, but I'll talk about them later.]

　Kannagi-san's gaze turned towards Kannagi, who was holding a sword.

[Usato, that girl has been influenced by the evil dragon and her hatred for the demons has been intensified. If we don't stop her, it won't be just the demons that suffer.]
"Then I'll stop her. You stay back."
[...Mhm. Okay]

　Kannagi-san looked at me with a nostalgic look on her face, but soon her expression returned to a serious one and she moved back towards Amako and Blurin.
　Considering Kannagi's current power, my power alone is not enough.
　But senpai and the others are being held back by the golem... No, I guess they could come, but have they taken into account the melee with Kannagi, or are they going around to stop us?

"Looks like you've got them all!"
"Senpai! Please protect Keira!"
"Uwaah! This world Usato-kun! It feels like it's been a long time since I last saw you!!"

　This world me? She's saying things that make even less sense than usual...
　For now, I responded and faced Kannagi.
　After Kannagi-san left the scene, she shifted her gaze to me and glared intensely at me.
　As long as I am in the demon form standing in her way, she will not attack Keira and the others.

"Usato...!"
"Her eyes are really bloodshot... Is she okay?"
"...We have no choice but to do something."

　I have no choice but to fight now.
　I have to fight and find a way to stop her.

"Our opponent is a user of foresight magic that cannot be compared to Jinya-san! Attack with unexpectedness!!"
"Specifically?"
"Earlier, I created an opening by hitting her with a series of new moves, but this time I'm going to go head-to-head and outperform her prediction."
"A series, of new moves?"

　For some reason, Nea said in falter...!
　In a split second, I approached her, and avoided Kannagi's sword as she was slashing at me.

"Dangerous..."
"I won't let you do the same thing as before! I've had enough of your new techniques!"
"You made up a new technique after all!? Spit it up! How many did you make!?"

　Now's not the time to ask that!
　I stand around, desperately following the attacks that are anticipated and unleashed, and responding to them by keeping a close eye on them.
　There is a lot less wasted movement than before...!
　It seems like she's gotten used to seeing only through her right eye and fighting...!

"It's disgusting to be assimilated with a demon. Isn't that person just happy to be attached to you...! Anyway, that assimilation thing has ulterior moti———"
『U-U-U-U-Usato! Let's kill this guuuuuy!!』
"Ferrum!?"

　While holding down Ferrum, who is trying to transform my left arm and create a sinister sword, I use the healing bullet to parry the attack.
　... Is she trying to piss off Ferrum and break our cooperation?

"Nea, you're the same!"
"Hmm?"
"You're just a familiar, and you're so conceited! You are just a monster anyway, not even a person at all, no matter how hard you try!"
"What, are you jealous?"
"Hah?"

　Kannagi tries to provoke Nea this time.
　However, Nea, on the other hand, maintains a relaxed expression.

"Unfortunately, I'm satisfied with my current position. You have no right to criticize me because you're just a weapon."
"You...!"
"But I'll forgive you. It's the role of an adult to deal with a child's tantrums."

　Wait, could you please not provoke her too much?
　The attacks have become more severe———no, wait. The speed and power of the attacks have increased, but there are no more foresight magic predictive attacks.
　Does that mean Kannagi was upset by Nea's words?

"Then eat this! Great strengthening Healing Blinding The Eyes!"
"Wah!?"
"Me too!?"

　Crossing the arms in front of the face, the upper body releases a shockwave of magical power, further increasing the area of effect of the Healing Blinding The Eyes.
　By doing so, it pushes Kannagi to her unguarded moment and forces her to create an opening.

"It's here~!!"

　Makes my arms huge and grabs Kannagi's torso.
　When she finally came to her senses, she looked extremely disgusted.

"L-Let go of me! Demons, don't touch me!"
"Nea!"
"Ugh... My eyes are twinkling..."

　A binding spell flows from Nea towards the giant arm.
　However, before that can reach her, the magic power in Kannagi's waist begins to move and cuts off the now giant arm.

"Tch...!"
『That’s troublesome.』
"It's Koga's magic."
『Did she get his magic? Serves you right or not!! But it's a nice feeling!!』
"I understand how you feel, but there's no time to be happy!"

　Kannagi's tail sways like a snake, and its tip changes into a spear.

"I'll cut you into pieces...!"

　Is she trying to break through my defense with a series of attacks?
　It's extremely troublesome to use prediction magic to predict things while pushing hard, but for me it's easy to do the opposite.
　From my shoulders and back grow four arms that resemble the black knight's gauntlets, and they hold their fists in the air.

"I'm going to read them all off and hold them down! Ferrum, I'll leave controlling the back arm to you!"
『Yeah!』

　Kannagi and I start running at the same time, exchanging attacks and defenses.
　Kannagi jumps, and extended black tails attack from all sides.
　Its fists smash the ground, and its sharp tail cuts through walls and ceilings.

"There!"
"Kuh"

　Kannagi's fierce attacks, anticipated blows delivered in the middle of them, slam into my torso, but they are repelled by the purple patterns of the magic.

"Wha...!"
"It's a resistance spell!"
"I knew it was you who was the troublesome one...!"
"Ara, did you just now realize that! I am the best one to support Usato! The best!!"

　Why are you stirring things up?
　At Nea's words, Kannagi looks at her with what could be considered hatred.
　It is a hostility that is different from the one directed at the demon tribe, and is directed at her of her own volition.

"Neaaa...!"

　As if in response to Kannagi's hostility, her eight tails all pointed at Nea at once.
　The person in question, Nea, was smiling.

"U-Usato, help meeee!"
"If you're going to regret it, don't provoke her in the first place!"
『Are you stupid!』

　Ferrum's arm and my hands block the attack aimed at Nea.
　Perhaps it's a sign of Kannagi's anger, but I can't move forward as the attack only targets Nea who is on my shoulder.

"There!"
"No way I let you!"

　I immediately blocked Kannagi's thrust with my arm.
　The blade penetrates the magic of the dark magic and pierces my arm.

"Ouch!"
"Protecting her will only hurt you!"
"And you think that will make me back down!"

　I kicked her and forced the sword to be pulled out.
　If we go on the offensive like this, Nea will surely be killed...!

『———It can't be helped...!』
"Ferrum, what's wrong!?"

　Unable to go on the offensive, Ferrum, who is on the inside, speaks out.

"Nea, don't move!"
"Don't move? In a situation like this, I can't even———"

　Instantly, the weight disappeared from the right shoulder where Nea was.

"———Nea?"

　When I noticed something strange and looked over my shoulder, the owl that was always there was nowhere to be found, just her beautiful black feathers floating in the air.
　A black tail that has been swept away.
　Nea has disappeared.
　Black feathers falling down.
　The moment I was aware of this, I was overcome by an indescribable feeling that I had never even felt before.
　Without knowing what the feelings were, I attacked Kannagi with all my might———,

『W-What is this!?』

　——— Just before I was about to attack, I heard Nea's voice echoing from inside me.
　I jumped back down, my mind snapped back at once.

"Nea, are you okay!? I thought you'd been done..."
『Nea was also assimilated into the dark magic and taken in. Now she's safe from being targeted.』
『What's this, so strange here?』

　No, no!? By assimilating, that means me, Ferrum, and Nea are now assimilated!?
　The binding spell patterns appear on my hands, which surprise me.

『Usato, I can perform sorcery from here. In fact, it's more efficient this way!』
"...Haaaa..."

　I kind of lost my mind worrying about it.
　But I'm really glad she was okay.
　As I was sighing with relief, Ferrum spoke to me next.

『At this time, call Amako as well! Let's assimilate her too!』
"Eh, why Amako too..."
『With her, we can fight Kannagi evenly!!』

　It is true, but no matter how you look at it, Kannagi, who has the same foresight magic, will interfere———,

"Usato, I'm on my way now!"
"Grua!"

　So, Amako, who already predicted it, is heading this way with Blurin!?
　Amako, who had predicted the golem's movements, was approaching us while giving instructions to Blurin.
　...! If this happens, I can't back out!

"Come, Amako!"
"Yeah!"
"I won't let you!!"

　Kannagi extends her tail to strike at Amako, who is on the back of Blurin.
　Amako, on the other hand, predicts its trajectory and instructs Blurin in which direction it should move.
　Foresight magic and foresight magic.
　If the accuracy of Amako's and Kannagi's predictions are equal, then the conditions are the same.
　If there is a difference———,

"I won't let you touch Amako!"

　It means that there are other people besides me who are helping Amako.
　Senpai appeared with purple electricity and in an instant, cut Kannagi's eight extended tails into pieces.

"Suzunee!"
"Angry animal ears are also a nice sight! Kannagi!!”

　Seeing his senpai with an unusually villainous look on her face, she runs toward us, shouting angrily to Kannagi.
　Meanwhile, Amako, who had escaped Kannagi's attack and had made it to my side, jumped from Blurin's back to me.
　I exchanged glances with Amako for a moment, and without hesitation, I took her into my arms.

"Ferrum!"
『Yeah!』

　The black magic power extending from the squad uniform envelops Amako and sinks into my body.
　A fusion centered around me using the dark magic "assimilation."

『This way, I won't be a burden...!』
『Beastfolk, demon, monster, human, I name it Chimera Usato!』
『If possible, I wanted to have it out where that idiot corps commander couldn't see this, but it can't be helped!』

　Ferrum's dark magic, Nea's sorcery, and Amako's foresight magic.
　Now, the conditions are finally the same as the current Kannagi.
　Now all we have to do is stop her!

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Note:
The birth of Chimera Usato.
Ferrum's perception is that Nea is a bad friend and Amako is trustworthy.
For some reason, it is a combination of human(?), beastfolk, demon, and monster.