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

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Chapter 246


　We were able to safely get out of the ruins and return to the village where Gref-san was staying.
　Later, after I recovered from fainting, I parted from the seniors who were hiding their true identities, assimilated with Ferrum and went into demon mode, and returned with Nea, Amako, and Keira to the house where Gref-san, Ram, and Roze were.
　Seeing Keira in good health, Gref-san and others were very happy to see her safe and sound.
　Gref-san was so relieved that he started to cry, making Keira feel awkward and troubled, but I was relieved to know that he must have cared about her that much.

"Thank you for your help. Usato."
"Your leg is fine now, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I never thought I'd be able to walk again."
"Hahaha..."

　The next day, we exchanged farewells to continue our respective journeys.
　He is carrying a large bag and his leg is lightly bandaged, but the wound has long since healed, so he should have no difficulty walking.

"Usato, thanks for saving Keira."
"No, that girl grew up all by herself."
"Though she probably doesn't think so."

　He grinned and pointed behind him, and there was Keira, who looked extremely depressed.
　Keira, realizing that our conversation is over, comes running over to us.

"Gref, I want to talk to Usato-san and the others, so please give us some distance."
"Hmm? It wouldn't hurt to have me here, right."
"..."
"...Ah~, All right, all right. Ram, Rose, let's go over there for a minute."
""Yes""

　Gref-san moves away from us, saying, "I guess she's at that age, huh?".
　As I was smiling bitterly at the situation, Keira approached me without saying a word.

"I... Thanks to everyone, I was able to understand my own magic. Thank you very much."

　Ferrum, who is assimilating with me, speaks to Keira, who bows her head politely, in a slightly embarrassed voice.

『You are only just awakening as a dark wizard. From now on, things may change as you grow up, so don't be fooled by those changes, okay? 』
"Yes!"

　Keira responds cheerfully to Ferrum's advice.
　She's like a teacher.
　She's good at teaching, and although she's blunt, maybe she's suited for it.

"I think I know the purpose of the journey you're all on. Still, I ... wanted to believe in you all."
"..."
"In truth, I still want to follow Usato-san's journey. But Gref, Ram and Roze are my precious family ...... so for now, I give up."
"That's better. We can't involve you in our circumstances."
"...Yes"

　I don't know what will happen now that the Demon King has noticed our presence.
　We cannot take Keira into such a situation.

"Nea, I hope I'm not imagining things, but did she say "for now"?"
"Yes, she did."

　Amako and Nea next to me were talking quietly about something.
　I'm curious, so I try to ask what they are talking about, but Keira talks to me before I can ask.

"What country does Usato-san live in?"

　That's sudden.
　Well, I don't have anything to hide now, so I'll be honest.

"It's a place called the Kingdom of Lingle. I'm the vice captain of an organization there called the Rescue Squad."
"Rescue Squad?"
"Running around helping the wounded people ...... that kind of group, I guess. Well, it's the kind of place where we train all the time."
"That's so"

　I give a brief description of the Rescue Squad.
　After a few seconds of silence, Keira looks up and turns her gaze to Amako and Nea.

"Amako-san, Nea-san and... Ferrum-san, are there too?"
"No, Amako is not. The one that's in it is———"
『No, I’m not in.』
"Right, I'm not in either."
"Hn, I'm not in."

　What's up with you guys all of a sudden?
　I look at them in confusion, and for some reason Amako and Nea, who seem to be impatient, are looking at me as if trying to tell me something.
　What? You don't want to be treated as members of the group?
　Don't tell me you think ...... Keira will come to Lingle Kingdom? It is indeed dangerous for her to travel on the road, and above all, there is no way she can come alone.
　Confused by some stuff I don't understand, Keira chuckled and gave a small laugh.

"That's a lie."
"Ah, yeah. Nea and Ferrum are members of the Rescue Squad."
『Wai... 』
"Yes. Thank you for telling me."

　I thought it was polite of Keira to express her gratitude.
　I thought about it when I was with Nack, but when I was the same age, I wasn't this neat.

"Then I'll call Gref and the others."

　As she said that, a cloak made of black magic flew out from the shadows at Keira's feet and wrapped it around her shoulders.
　She levitated up and smoothly moved through the air.

"Being able to fly is awesome magic, isn't it..."
『You were flying too』
"No, he's not. He's not flying, he's just being blown up."

　Well, I was kind of floating due to the outburst of magic power.
　When I fought with Hannah-san and her subordinates, I felt like I was swinging and moving rather than flying.
　Seeing Keira out of sight, Nea mutters in a slightly depressed voice.

"...One more person will knock on the gates of hell."
『Are all dark wizards really such troublesome people?』
"That's very convincing coming from you, Ferrum..."
"...Shut up"

　I'm glad to see that they are getting along without my knowledge.

"By the way, by "gates of hell," do you mean the Rescue Squad?"
""『...』""

　Impact from the inside of the clothes and an attack on the shins by the two legs.
　It's not painful or itchy, but it's a good combination.
　But why did they hit me?

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

　We had to part ways with Gref-san and his group at the settlement where we are now.
　Keira has brightened up more than she had a few days ago when I first met her, and I am glad that once again she was able to face herself and her dark magic.

"I want to help you in your journey to defeat the Demon King."

　Those were the words Nagi-san said to us last night as we were leaving the ruins.
　A person who ran on the battlefield alongside the previous hero.
　It is clear that her ability is not half-baked.
　No one would have voiced opposition to her offer of cooperation, and she decided to accompany us on our journey to defeat the Demon King.

"Eh, the previous hero had a wife and a child!?"
"I heard about it before he was summoned. Well, he was like a father to me, too..."

　We left at a different time from Gref-san and the others.
　As we are walking toward the root castle where the Demon King will be waiting for us, I suddenly hear the conversation between Senpai and Nagi-san.

"Then, the previous hero was summoned to another world, leaving behind his wife and child..."
"..."
"Hmm?"
"...Yeah, I guess so. I guess that's where it is going."

　Senpai looks at Nagi-san, who is a little slow to react, with a suspicious look on her face.
　Perhaps sensing that it was not a subject she should touch too much, she quickly tried to change the subject by talking to Nagi-san.

"With you joining...in terms of strength, is it okay to say that there are now five people who can use the hero's weapons?"
"I guess so...? But the sword I have is just a sharp sword because I've already used the sealing ability."
"Your combat power alone is plenty strong."

　Indeed.
　I don't know if she can use sorcery or anything else yet because I haven't asked her, but she's quite a force to be reckoned with when she can use foresight magic and swordsmanship.
　But even so, Nagi-san only smiles bitterly.

"The Demon King is already aware of our being here, so we can't make too big a move."
"It can't be helped if he's aware of us. Not that I believe a word from the other side, but they'll be waiting for us and we'll be ready to stand up to them."
"Suzune is very optimistic."

　Nagi-san, who was smiling at my senpai when she said that, noticed me and started talking to me.

"Usato, are you okay?"
"Yeah, I got some sleep, so I'm fine. Is there anything abnormal with you, Nagi-san? Nea said you did some pretty crazy stuff, like merging souls."
"...Honestly, I think there's still some confusion in my head."

　Nagi-san stares at her own hands.
　It must be like two consciousnesses merged into one, and it must be so complicated that even I can't imagine it.

"I think what you're doing now is a fusion of the good Kannagi and the evil Kannagi, is that correct?"

　Isn't that an oversimplification?
　The expression on my face became a bit strange, after senpai said it.
　No, it's an easy way to describe it.

"Hmm, I can't say it's good or evil, but it's the right one to describe it. Two souls into one, which is how I became who I am today. It's a little confusing to put into words, though."

　Saying so, Nagi-san smiles as if troubled.
　When senpai saw her like that, she had an aghast look on her face.

"Kannagi. Can I call you Nagi like Usato-kun?"
"Eh, if just that, I don't mind———...No, you can't."
"Eh?"

　Nagi-san, who was about to reply cheerfully, changes in an instant.
　She quickly came to her senses and clasped her hands towards senpai, looking apologetic.

"Sorry. Apparently, the other me personally won't let anyone but Usato do it."
"...Usato-kun"
"Please don't stare at me."
"Gururu! Uon!"
"Please don't bark..."

　Is it a skit? You like it, huh?
　But why only me?
　As I was wondering this, Nagi-san, who was comforting the depressed senpai, smiled bitterly.

"There was only one person who ever called me that, you know. I guess that's what it means. And it's not like I don't understand that feeling."

　Nagi-san's expression looked somewhat sad as she said these words.
　But on the other hand, senpai next to her, perhaps remembering something, approaches Nagi-san with a smirk on her face.

"W-What? Suzune"
"Speaking of which, Kannagi. I'm going to make you pay for the bitterness of that parallel world with that tail and those ears~... Kufufufu!"
"I-It's understandable considering what I did to you guys, but... W-What are you planning on doing?"
"Of course, that's something I can't say!"
"Uwaaah! Stop it~!?"

　Nagi-san avoids senpai who jumps on her.
　What in the world was done to senpai? As usual, she is full of selfishness, but she seems to be a bit angry.

"Well, it can't be helped that senpai is angry about that."
"Does Kazuki know?"

　After seeing the exchange between Nagi-san and senpai, I tried talking to Kazuki who muttered that.

"...Actually. Kannagi made senpai and I———"

　Then, Kazuki explains the ordeal given to them by Kannagi before she merged with Nagi-san.
　It was, to my surprise, a story about me in a parallel world.
　A future where senpai and Kazuki were killed by the black knight and things went on as they were.
　I had become the kind of person who would use every means at my disposal to get at my enemies, apparently.
　It seems that Kazuki and senpai engaged in a deadly battle against me.

"The me in the what-if world, huh?"
"It was a tough battle. Usato over there was also fighting in a ridiculous way."
"Eh, specifically?"
"Even when his arm came off, he was able to attach it back on."
"I don't know what to say."

　What's that? Even I wouldn't do that.
　Eh, or rather, something happened that caused my arm to fall off?

"I really shouldn't have told you about this. But ...... I knew I had to tell you."
"I see..."

　The death of someone close to me.
　I have changed because of it.
　To be honest, I can understand why I would be like that after hearing Kazuki's story.

"Did me over there change properly?"
"...Yeah, I punched him and got really mad at him. He is all right now."
"Then that's a relief."

　For me over there, Kazuki's fist would have hurt more than any injury.
　... From now on, we will go to the center of the Demon King's territory, where the Demon King awaits us.
　To be honest, I felt anxious after witnessing the Demon King's presence and how powerful he was.

"Humans and demons, huh..."

　Gref-san and the others were just good people living normal lives.
　The other demons and the demons who are fighting are fighting for their survival.
　I am ready to fight the Demon King.
　However, I must act with an understanding of the possibilities ——— that lie beyond our mission.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Note:
Keira carefully raises the flag to join the Rescue Squad.
If she wanted to go, she could come flying in the sky regardless of obstacles ...... She can also make small turns.