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

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Chapter 243


　Assimilated form of me, Amako, Nea, and Ferrum.
　Although unwillingly called a "chimera," we can now break Kannagi's advantage of foresight.

"U-U-U-U-Usato-kun!"
"Please leave it later!!"

　I reply without turning around to the voice of senpai who comes from behind me.
　I knew that reaction was coming, so I'll leave it for later!

"L-Let me say it till the end!?"
"Suzune! Don't disturb Usato!"
"Senpai, the golems are still coming one after another!"
"Fuooh! Then we should quickly get rid of these guuuys!"

　Along with senpai's battle cry, the sound of electric shock echoes.
　After confirming it, I was once again face to face with Kannagi.
　She looked at me now and frowned as if she was biting a bitter bug.

"No matter how much I looked at my memories of the past, there was no one who fought like you..."
『Yeah』
『I guess』
『There's no way there's a guy like that』

　My insides are noisy.
　What is it? It's like I can hear three people's minds echoing at the same time.
　This form has expanded what we can do.
　We're in the middle of a battle, but let's just wing it.

"Amako, please read the prediction and give us instructions."
『I get it. Also, Usato』
"Hmm?"

　Listen to Amako's voice.
　Then, just like Ferrum, Amako's voice echoes from inside.

『As before, I will continue to give instructions to Ferrum and Nea out loud』
"...?"
『I'll predict it and reflect it on Usato』
"...?"
『... Leave it to me, and I'll figure it out』

　Anyway, let's leave it to Amako.
　If she can foresee my movements with foresight magic, she can anticipate the transformation of sorcery and dark magic that I will be seeking.
　This allows us to work together without me having to use words myself.

『Nea, the spell of restraint on the fist』
『Okay』
『Ferrum, sword in both hands of Usato』
『Got it』
『Usato, Kannagi will attack in three seconds』
"Oh!"

　As soon as Amako finished speaking, Kannagi attacked with eight tails as predicted.
　I deflect them with the swords extended from both arms.
　However, it was not simple enough to overcome everything, and the tail that could not be repelled was closing in on me.
　I quickly tried to ask Nea for a spell of resistance———,

『Nea, give resistance to slashing on the torso』
"...!"

　Just before a direct hit, a resistance spell activates and flicks the tail back.
　Amako gave the instructions before I could say them out loud!?
　...I see, this is what Amako was saying!!

"This, Kannagi-style, Deceptive Snake Cutting!"

　Kannagi, clucking her tongue, unleashed a snake-like, twirling slash.
　Close range technique.
　I'm nervous because of its unpredictable movements, but———,

『Don't be fooled, Usato can see through it』
"Yeah!"

　I calm down as I hear Amako's quiet voice coming from within.
　Perhaps this technique is intended to confuse the opponent and then deliver a slashing blow.
　If you look at it calmly, it's not a technique I can't deal...!

"I saw through it all!"
"Then how about this!!"

　At the very last moment, I spot the tip of the cut and avoid it by leaning my body to the side, but eight black tails extend out from Kannagi's back.
　They came together in a spiral and were thrust towards me like a drill.

『Usato, this is unavoidable. Defend against it』
"Ferrum! Match it!"
『You don't have to tell me!』

　At the same time as I spread my arms, four black knight arms extended from my back.
　While recoiling from the impact, I grabbed the tail with all of them to hold it down.

"More like a monster...!"
"You have no right to say that!"

　The tail, which had been unfastened as if bursting open, tried to wrap around me.

"I'm gonna hold you like this..."
『Ferrum, hold up the tail with the arms. Nea, restrain the tail』

　When Amako says this quietly, the four arms on my back press down on the tail.
　———Advance transformation by applying foresight magic.
　Without me having to say anything, Amaco will direct us to the most appropriate sorcery and form for the situation.
　In that case, I should just attack without thinking about anything in particular.
　The gauntlet is covered with black magic and turns into a cylindrical hammer.

"On the contrary, you've narrowed down your escape route!"
"!?"
"Restraint・Consecutive Healing Fist!"

　For the first time, the fist directly hits Kannagi's body.
　At the same time as the fist slammed into her, I released Healing Flying Fist from close range and sent her body flying.

『The restraining spells, incoming!』

　Just like this, steal consciousness with a Healing Flying Fist!! Don't let her escape this time!!
　I turned my gauntlet hands and the palms of the four extending from my shoulders and back towards Kannagi, who was being blown away.

"Healing Flying Fist released six at the same time! Six Healing Strike...!!"
『Uwaaahn! You're making some weird techniques again!?』

　This should allow the impact to pass through even if it's defended by Koga's magic.
　Just as I was about to release all my magic power at once with a firm aim, I noticed that Kannagi had golden magic floating in her palm.

"R-Release spell...!"
"!"
"Uwh... Guh...!"

　Unnaturally, the spell of restraint is obliterated.
　She flew backwards, trying to escape from my attack range, and held her abdomen, which was protected by black magic.
　Judging that it is impossible to hit her with the Six Healing Strike at this distance, she releases the magic power in her palm.

"Nea, just now is..."
『Yes, sorcery』

　I knew she was still hiding something, but of all things, it was sorcery.
　I hope it's just a release spell, but of course she's learned some other sorcery too, right.

"I-It hurts more than I thought...! Even though the healing magic will heal me, I don't want to take that many times..."
"...Looks like I'll need to hit you with as many consecutive fists in order to completely knock you out as I did to Koga."
"A-Absolutely no... I don't want to take something like that many times..."

　Kannagi's body trembled slightly as she looked at me, probably because the consecutive fists hurt so much.
　I feel a little guilty, but I can't end this fight unless I stop her.

『Usato, I have something to tell you now』
"Ferrum?"

　Keep my eyes on Kannagi and listen to Ferrum's voice.

『Aside from you and me, the limit for assimilation is two people. If we take in more than that, the assimilation will probably become unstable and ... cause to mix』
"Mix?"

　Naturally, there are also disadvantages.
　It's like I knew it, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that mix.

『Ratio-wise, you're a mixture of beastfolk, demon, and monster elements ——— Become a girl』
『Eh, what is that? I'd like to see it』
『Sounds interesting』
"Oraah! Kannagyi!! Time to go, koraaa!"
"!? S-Suddenly motivated!?"

　Loudly masking Amako and Nea's mutterings, I launch a punch at Kannagi.
　I'll pretend I didn't hear that!
　I got goosebumps!
　Oh no, I can't let that happen!
　I was a fool to think of strengthening it any further, even for a moment!!

"Kannagi's own magic power is not so strong, but I guess I have to use it."

　When Kannagi saw the fist wrapped in a restraining spell, something like a golden pattern appeared on her hand.
　The magic pattern spreads out in her hand———transforming into a white spiral shape.

"Sorcery, huh...!"
"[Transfer spell]"

　A whirlpool so big that a person could barely pass through it.
　Kannagi jumps into it without hesitation and disappears along with the whirlpool.

"She ran away...!?"

　No, that is the same white vortex we were sucked into.
　If she didn't use it for the purpose of escape———,

『———Usato! Behind!!』
"It's coming!!"

　The sword that was thrust out with her arm from the vortex that appeared above my head behind my back just barely bounces back.
　Kannagi emerged from the whirlpool and landed on the spot with a faint smile on her face.

"If we are even in foresight, then I'll even surpass you in sorcery... [Flame Spell]"

　Flames engulf Kannagi's sword.
　I didn't want to think about it, but it seems she can use more than one form of sorcery after all.
　The teleport is troublesome, but the reason she hasn't used it before is simply because it consumes too much magic power?

"You use magic, but you don't use the power you took from Koga's magic on me."
"..."
"By any chance, is that also sorcery?"

　Kannagi's smile disappears when I point it out.
　I think her reaction will be a bit of a shock, but she seems surprisingly calm and opens her mouth.

"... It is the power of the hero's magic that remains in the sword that took the magic from Koga. Light magic "seal", an invincible magic that can seal and release all phenomena, this sword can be used only once on a single target."
"...You're willing to talk about it."
"Actually, you were supposed to get this power. Even now, you still don't ... want to have this power, do you..."
"Yeah"

　As I said at the beginning, I have no intention of discarding healing magic.
　Moreover, I cannot receive that power when Kannagi herself is under the evil influence of the evil dragon. Worst case scenario, I myself might be manipulated by Kannagi.

『Usato, if that sword's power is allocating capacity to Koga's magic, then that power can't be directed at Usato』
『Assuming she would do, that's when Koga's magic that Kannagi wears is gone』

　I silently nod to the voices of Nea and Ferrum in my mind.

"Once this battle is over and everyone who gets in the way is removed, I'll change your mind."

　With those words, Kannagi enters the whirlpool again.

『Usato, left!』
"That way, huh...!"

　A blade engulfed in flames crosses just in front of my face.
　The strong heat almost made me close my eyes as I tried to attack, but like a whack-a-mole, she quickly hid herself in the whirlpool.
　That's troublesome.
　Should I narrow my aim and counter with consecutive fists...?

"You can't catch me at this level. Then, "Magic Hole Spell"! Flame Spell!"

　When Kannagi jumped out of the whirlpool and a golden pattern appeared on her left hand, a pattern resembling a magic circle that was different from the whirlpool appeared around me.
　What are you going to do! Before I could speak that out, Kannagi combined the Flame Spell in her right hand with the Magic Hole Spell in her left hand.
　In an instant, a small fireball shoots out from the magic circle around me.

『Usato, this is the same thing that fell from the sky during the war!』
"Fufu, that's right. And there's more!"

　Kannagi grows eight black tails.
　I thought she was going to attack, but she made several whirlpools appear and plunged her own tail into them.

『Usato, above!』
"!"

　Attack from directly above.
　I dodged it and raised my fist ——— but it turned out to be one of the black tails extending from Kannagi's waist.
　As soon as I noticed it, a black tail attacked me from the vortex that emerged simultaneously from the left and right sides.

『Hyaaaaaaaaaaa!? Is this just a picture of hell!?』
『Nea, shut up!』
『That's right, you idiot!』
"You guys should be quieter!"

　If I dodge it by jumping, a fireball and tail will fly at me.
　Immediately, using the healing acceleration fist, I landed on the ground while evading in mid-air and met Kannagi's sword with my gauntlet as she took advantage of the chaos to slash at me.

"I think you're already low on magic! You've been fighting too many battles!"
"Are you sure about that?"
"About what!"
"We have more numbers than you!"

　When I replied that, Kannagi looked stunned.

"You're actually alone!!"
『Yeah, that's right』
『What is he talking about, this person?』
『Is he gone crazy?』

　Which side are you guys on!!
　While holding back the urge to tsukkomi, I smile fearlessly.

"What you do alone, we all do together. Then we are stronger!"
"I don't get it!"

　As Kannagi steps back, her tail disappears into the whirlpool.
　With that, attacks again come at me from all directions, but I deal with them through Amako's foresight, Ferrum and Nea's eyes, and my own senses.

"Now, the key is how to capture Kannagi...! ...Hmm?"

　For a moment, it seemed as if Kannagi's gaze turned from me to another direction.
　Is she checking the location of the transfer?

『Usato, don't be dazed!』
"...Yeah, I know."

　What is she aiming for?
　That's my concern, but now we have to deal with the attacks that are coming at us from all around...!　

●
——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

　The fight between Usato-san, the beastfolk Kannagi-san was fierce and violent like nothing I had ever seen before———and yet it was amazing.
　No, the fight before that with a very large stone monster called Golem was amazing, and Usato-san was strong when he fought against a scary dragon called Evil Dragon.
　I didn't know much about fighting, but the dark magician... wielding Koga-san like a weapon was so perfectly suited that I couldn't take my eyes off of him the whole time.

"Uwaah, look at that, Ciel. Just when I thought he'd assimilated the owl monster, now he's assimilating the beastfolk kid, too. I knew he was dangerous. That guy."
"Rather than a human, I think it's a new kind of monster!? To me it looked like a beastfolk kid or the owl ... being preyed upon by absorption!?"
"That must have been assimilated by Ferrum's dark magic. As far as the fight is concerned, does that mean that now Usato can transform his magic power and do sorcery at the same time almost instantly?"

　That's what the demon ——— Koga-san analyzes after seeing Usato-san fighting.
　Ciel-san, a little distraught at hearing his voice, points at Usato-san who is fighting.

"In the first place, who is that dark wizard?! Why is she on that side?"
"Eh? She used to be my subordinate. She betrayed us."

　Ciel-san's eyes are filled with anger as she looks at Koga-san, who is holding his wound and smiling unconcernedly.
　She raises her palm and starts hitting Koga-san lightly.

"You stupid corps commander! Take this, this!"
"It hurts, it hurts!? Don't hit me exactly where I'm wounded! I'm really only getting the bare minimum of treatment!"
"That's because you are not well-liked! Don't you think that person's sense of distance is strange! From their point of view, we, the demon tribe, are their enemies?"
"Hahaha, I wonder why. I don't know either~"
"Right now, that person is overwhelmingly more reliable than Koga-san! You useless person!"

　These people are a little strange.
　Koga-san is a dark wizard like me, and Ciel-san is a kind and gentle person.
　Two of them are related to the Demon King's army, and Usato-san and the others are people fighting against the Demon King's army.
　Perhaps Usato-san and the others were the enemies for us demons, but ... even when I realized that, I didn't feel the least bit angry or hateful towards Usato-san.

"...Gruu"
"Blurin-san?"
"Guah"

　Before I knew it, the blue bear monster, Blue Grizzly Blurin-san, was protecting me.
　While Suzune-san, Kazuki-san, and Leona-san are holding off the golem, his eyes are completely clear as he watches Usato-san's fight, and his appearance is dignified.

"Usato-san."

　He is currently fighting against Kannagi-san.
　In his demon form, he is so strong that it is hard to believe that he is a human being as he avoids attacks that I could not follow with my eyes.

"..., ..."

　I've always had to be protected.
　I've caused a lot of trouble, and I've been protected by Usato-san and everyone... and now I'm being protected by Usato-san again.
　Kannagi-san is planning to kill us, the demons.
　Even after listening to her, I couldn't figure out what she didn't like about us.
　However, the look she gave me right in front of me was very scary.
　But more than that, I am frustrated with myself for being protected by Usato-san all the time and not being able to do anything about it.
　If I had been able to use dark magic as well as Koga-san, I could have helped Usato-san, who is fighting now.
　Why am I so powerless?
　If I had the strength to fight, I could have fought too.
　If I had been able to handle my magic better, I would never have become a burden to Usato-san.
　Even better, I would have been happy if he treated me as just a weapon like Koga-san.
　Usato-san is more capable of dark magic than me, who is so useless———,

[C-Calm down]
"Pyi!?"
[Uwaah!?]

　Suddenly, a voice from next to me makes a strange scream.
　When I looked next to me in surprise, I saw a person floating in the air who looked just like Kannagi-san, who was just as surprised as I was.

"W-Who?"
[Thank goodness. You calmed down. T-That was close. If you'd gotten out of control in this situation, it would have been a disaster.]
"...Ah"

　When I came back to my senses, the shadow at my feet was about to start moving.
　Again, my magic was about to start acting on its own.
　Even at this point in time, I tried to drag Usato-san again.

[I'm sorry about my other half.]
"Other half?"
[Actually, it's an ego that was born inside me of its own accord, but, well, that doesn't matter]

　Floating in the air, Kannagi-san takes one look at Koga-san and Ciel-san, who have not yet noticed her, and then looks at Usato-san and Kannagi-san.

[That girl is just like you.]
"Eh?"
[Abandoned by the person she trusted most, she has spent countless hours in maddening loneliness. ...The only person who could give her a comforting presence was the first person who showed her the light of day———Usato.]

　Is that person the same as me?
　I see Kannagi's image overlapping with mine, who was abandoned by my family, whom I thought was very important to me.

[But there's one crucial difference.]
"What's different...?"
[You have the kindness to think of someone else.]
"...That kindness alone can't do anything..."
[Fufu]

　What the heck, it's just a comforting thought.
　When I responded with words that were not unlike myself and were thorny, Kannagi-san, with a gentle smile on her face, looked at Usato-san and continued to speak.

[To me, dark wizards were just a troublesome ... and pitiful enemy on the battlefield. But as I watched his ... Usato's journey with my own eyes, I was forced to change my perception of the demon tribe and of dark wizards.]

　After saying that, she turns back to me and meets my gaze.

[Keira, dark magic responds to your pure feelings. It's an amazing magic that gives form to your strong wishes and your unique feelings. It is not a troublesome magic at all.]
"Strong... wish"

　How have I always used my magic?
　Because of this magic, my mom and dad abandoned me and have been neglecting me for a long time.
　I didn't need this kind of magic.
　I wish this kind of magic would disappear.
　I've always thought so, and I never wanted to believe in myself or this magic.

"My feelings"

　The feelings I put into this magic.
　If that meant taking shape, the answer was much simpler.
　Realizing it, I naturally wiped the tears from my eyes and spoke my thanks to Kannagi-san.

"Thank you"
[... An age when demons and humans can understand each other? I wish I could have been born in such an era...]

　Kannagi-san looked a little sad.
　However, as soon as a loud sound echoes from the direction where Usato-san is, she looks in that direction with a grim face.

[She has been completely consumed by her resentment toward the demon tribe, hasn't she? The only way to deal with that thing is to stop her from moving, or to make her disappear... No, wait. If I use that sword———]

　Did Kannagi-san notice something?
　Just when I noticed something strange about the girl floating next to me, I heard a booming sound from right next to me.
　I immediately looked that way, and there was a white whirlpool there, and a black tail-like thing reached out from it———grabbing my arm.

"———Eh?"
"Grua!"
"N-Nice, Blurin-kun!! Da*mn, she's going for it, no matter what it takes!"

　However, Blurin-san, who reacted faster than anyone else, with tremendous speed, bit off the black tail that had grabbed my arm and erased it by biting it off.
　However, my relief was short-lived as a number of white whirlpools appeared around me.

"Guah!"
"Ah, wah...!? Kya!?"

　The moment Blurin-san was distracted by the whirlpool, an arm stretched out from under my feet and grabbed my leg.
　As it is, I am gripped with a force that seems to grip me and pull me into the vortex.
　After a momentary blink of vision, I am held by someone.

"———I can’t help it, because you won’t give up."

　The voice of Kannagi-san who I was talking to a while ago.
　When I opened my eyes when I heard that voice, I saw in front of me———Usato-san with a look of astonishment on his face.
　The person holding me, the scary Kannagi-san, holds a silver sword-like blade to my neck and speaks to Usato-san in an out-of-place, cheerful voice.

"Usato, please release the assimilation?"

　Then I finally realized it.
　I was dragging Usato's feet at the worst possible moment.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Note:
A technique called the Six Healing Strike, which is sure to knock out your consciousness.
The key is that the attacks are simultaneous, not six in a row.

With the addition of a brain called Amako, Usato is now able to fight without thinking.
What's more, the biggest advantage is that the four of them can do their own separate things.

Assimilation, of course, has its disadvantages.
When three or more people are assimilated, the assimilation becomes unstable and weak as they cannot handle their respective abilities.
In addition, some changes appear in Usato's body, which is the center of assimilation.