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

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A Quiet Story: A Story Of What If He


This is a story about IF Usato.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

　On the day of the battle against the Demon King's army, Senpai and Kazuki were killed by the Black Knight.
　I couldn't make it in time, so all I could do was wallow in my helplessness in front of the two corpses.
　Even the Black Knight, whom I will avenge, was killed by Rose.
　In the end, Rose was able to finish off the attack with a fist covered in healing magic, but inside the black knight's armor, which was melting like mud, was a girl not much older than I was, dying.

　More than the Black Knight, my anger at myself for not getting there in time consumes me.
　If I couldn't save my friend, am I qualified to be a member of a Rescue Squad?
　Where should I direct this hopeless anger and hatred?
　Without even realizing it, I kept on moving sluggishly, but eventually the Lingle Kingdom was invaded and taken over by the Demon King's army.
　From then on, I did not return to the Rescue Squad, but continued to fight on the front lines to recapture the Kingdom of Lingle.
　I had tried to fight on their behalf so that their deaths would not be in vain, and I have killed countless demons with my own hands.
　After I began to fight the Demon King's army, relying even on the water called Kureha Fountain, the kind-hearted people around me stopped me, but I still couldn't stop.
　Because I had to keep fighting on behalf of the two of them who are not here now, on behalf of the knights who are wounded.

"Have they gone..."

　The two of them turned into particles of light and disappeared right before my eyes.
　The hero of lightning, Inukami Suzune, and the hero of light, Ryusen Kazuki.
　Two people who were once killed by a being named Black Knight, who was defeated by Rose, somehow appeared before my eyes.
　To be honest, I thought it might have been an illusion created by that Hannah or some other demon tribe with the worst personality that could ever boil down to malice, but that suspicion was quickly dispelled.
　It was because she was clearly different from the unusually serious and earnest-looking senpai I had seen in the illusion.

『Why didn't you help me?』
『You could have saved me.』
『I trusted you, but you betrayed me.』
『I wish you had died instead of me, the hero.』

　The words uttered by Senpai and Kazuki, projected in an illusion.
　I felt anger and murderous intent that I had never felt before toward the two people who spat out words of resentment and hounded me while they were still covered in blood and on the verge of death.
　Don't make fun of me.
　Those people... there's no way they would say the words I wanted.
　In my anger, I hit myself on the head, and there in front of my vision was a purple-haired demoness called Hannah.
　Ignoring the unpleasant feeling of having someone look into my head, I let my anger overflow and jumped at the demon in front of me.

『So it's youuu!!』
『Hyeh!? H-Help meeee!!』

　I chased her through the forest for more than an hour, beating up many demons who seemed to be her subordinates, and finally caught her, but I was interrupted by the commander of the army and missed the capture.
　I was wary of illusions because of this, but I soon realized that the two people who appeared before me were not fakes made of illusions.
　After all, no one could imitate that senpai's shameless act that could be seen at a glance.

"Haa~, I thought I was going to die..."

　I sat down on the ground as it was and patted my chest in relief.
　They were strong.
　The two of them were already frighteningly strong.
　Maybe if the two of them had seriously tried to kill me, the battle would have been over right away.
　It's completely attached now, but my arm was cut off.

"Gruu~"
"I'm sorry for making you worry. Blurin."

　My partner who has been with me all along, Blurin.
　I told him before that he could abandon me and go back to the forest, but he is still my reliable partner who stays by my side.

"...Let's go. Karon-san is fighting."

　The battle continues.
　After making sure that there was nothing wrong with my body, I stood up, walked through the forest, parted ways with Blurin, and headed towards the front line.
　There have been numerous operations to recapture the Kingdom of Lingle, but all of them have failed.
　This was partly because the fact that the Lingle Kingdom had been occupied by the Demon King's army had caused the surrounding countries to lose their footing, and partly because the knights and warriors of other countries simply could not cope with the Demon King's army, which was accustomed to fighting.
　When I reached the front line, I could see here and there Demon King's soldiers fighting with the knights on our side.

"It's the Healing Wizaaaard!!"
"...!"

　A soldier of the Demon King's army attacks with a sword in his hand.
　Immediately, I extend my arm, grab his neck, and try to snap it off at the same time, but———,

"No... This is wrong."

　——I stop it and punch him lightly in the abdomen, knocking him out.
　I let go of the demon tribe as it was, and I was puzzled by my change as I stared at my palm.　

"It's too late now... Haha"

　I've killed the demons to the point where there's no going back.
　I smile dryly as I stare at my fist.

"...Hmm?"

　As I stand still on the battlefield, something approaches me from behind.
　When I turned around to make sure it was not an enemy, I saw a woman on horseback rushing toward me.

"Usato-sama!"

　The woman who appeared on horseback was Naia-sama, a woman with imposing red hair.
　How is it that she, a princess of the Kingdom of Calm Helio and an exceptional commander on this battlefield, is here...? At least it looks like she is bringing her guards with her, but it is still dangerous.
　When she saw my uniform covered in blood and bruises, her face turned pale, and she got off her horse and ran over to me.

"A-Are you okay!?"
"You react the same way every time, Naia-sama."
"...! This is no time for jokes?! I heard that you were fighting an unknown enemy, so I was worried!"

　When you say unknown enemy, do you mean ...... senpai and Kazuki?
　I guess people other than Karon-san were able to recognize them after all.
　I laugh at Naia-sama, her face reddening and glaring at me, and then I apologize for causing her to worry.

"I'm sorry. I made you worry."
"...Eh?"
"What's wrong?"

　For some reason, Naia-sama was stunned when she saw my face.
　She reaches for my face and pinches my cheek without hesitation.

"...It hurts"
"Y-You're real."

　Did she think I was a fake?
　It really hurts when I apologize honestly and get that kind of reaction.
　She removes her hand from my cheek and opens her mouth with a somewhat worried look on her face.

"Uhm, what happened?"
"...I think it's time for me to change too."

　From my pocket, I take out a small bottle of water diluted with the Kureha Fountain and hand it to Naia-sama.

"I won't be relying on this anymore."
"..."

　She received the small bottle and clutched it.
　The Kureha Fountain drives people crazy. Even if it is diluted, the strain on the body is immeasurable.
　Like Karon-san, Naia-sama tried to stop me from taking the Kureha Fountain.

"I have watched you since the day the people of the Kingdom of Lingle came to Calm Helio for help."
"..."
"You fought as if chasing the shadows of the two deceased heroes, wounded... your eyes looked as if you were dead while still alive..."

　After she has said that much in words, she raises her head.

"You don't chase the shadows of the heroes anymore, do you?"
"Yes"
"You're not going to act without regard for yourself, are you?"
"Yes"
"Then you will engage me?"
"No."
"...Why? With the flow of the conversation just now you should accept it, right?"

　What kind of flow is it?
　How many times have we had this exchange?
　On the contrary, I am surprised at Naia-sama, who is normally surprised.
　With a fearless smile on her face, she pulls out a piece of parchment from her pocket and shows it to me.

"...What is this?"
"It's a wonderful piece of paper that makes what it says come true. If you write your name here, you will receive great wealth and a beautiful wife. Please, don't hesitate."
"This is the first time in my life that I have seen such horrible paper."

　Moreover, this person said she was beautiful herself.
　Well, it's true though.
　I thought she had the opposite personality of senpai, but maybe they have the same roots.

"What's so good about me?"
"I don't have to worry about being assassinated or poisoned, and most importantly, I can continue to work tirelessly. Ah... and I like you."
"I'm more scared of you than the Demon King's army..."

　It's too scary when you have to worry about assassination and poisoning.
　Then it would be easier to continue to fight.
　———From the front line, a high-pitched sound resounded like the sound of iron being hammered together.
　The ice and flames, as well as the tornado-like thing that was occurring, suggest that Karon-san had begun to fight the corps leader.

"...Have you calmed down?"
"Yes, thank you. Naia-sama."

　Apparently, she was trying to relieve the tension before going into a fierce battle.
　I remember my previous conversation with senpai and Kazuki, and calm down somewhat, and thank Naia-sama for the joke about the sacrificial engagement.
　She put her hand on her cheek and smiled softly.

"Please come back alive. Let's talk about the rest after this battle."
"...Yes"

　I wish it was a joke...!! I truly wish from the bottom of my heart now...!!
　Trembling inwardly with fear that she had removed obstacles in the way of her objective, I leave Naia-sama and head for the front lines.
　The outskirts of the Kingdom of Lingle ——— a place where trees that had grown so thick had been cut down and the land had become a wasteland.
　I enter alone into a place where my allied knights and even the soldiers of the Demon King's army cannot approach.

"———You’re here! Usato!!"
"Karon-san!!"

　Sliding down from the sky was Karon-san, who had turned into a dragon man.

"What's the situation!"
"Well, it's already the worst! In addition to the corps leader who is passionate about you, another troublesome person has appeared!!"
"The other one...? ...!"

　Something is coming from above!?
　Before I can step back, Karon-san raises his axe to block the attack of a blonde-haired demon who swings his sword down from above my head.

"Not bad. Dragon man."
"It's an honor to be praised by you, a monster!!"

　This is the first time I've seen him.
　A red sword, wind magic —— and a higher rank as you can see.
　I immediately tried to support Karon-san, but someone attacked me from a different direction.
　Immediately, I wrapped the chain I had taken out of my uniform around my arm and caught the sword as it swung at me with the flames.

"Finally, you're here...!"
"It's you again...!"

　The person who attacked was the red-haired demon, Third Corps Commander Amira Belgred.
　She is a troublesome person whom I fought many times on the battlefield.
　She glares at me with a fierce smile on her face.

"I didn't want to meet you...!"
"That's what you say. But we've got deep and distant history, don't we?"

　The smile that was directed at me made me feel a chill as I used the chain wrapped around my arm to deflect the sword.
　Seeing her step back, the blonde demon also moved away from Karon-san.
　Two Corps Commanders, huh?
　Although it is worrisome that Koga, who is always happy to come out and attack us, is not present, the situation is quite bad.
　Especially that blonde swordsman.
　I feel like I'm probably not a good enough match that I could never win.

"Have you cleared your doubts? Usato"

　Without removing his gaze from the blond man, Karon speaks to me.
　I nodded strongly, remembering my earlier exchange with senpai and Kazuki.

"Yes, thanks to you."
"Well, I won't ask now. I can't spare the time for that."
"...Indeed"

　I hold up my fist.
　If Karon-san is going to deal with the blonde man, I will inevitably have to keep Amira at bay.
　Although we have fought them over and over again on the same battlefield, she remains a troublesome opponent.

"...Fight and live..."

　Until now, I was willing to get hurt in order to fight to take the place of senpai and Kazuki.
　But from now on I will fight to live my own way.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Note:
If he had not fought against senpai and Kazuki, Usato would have been defeated by Nero at this time.

And Princess Naia of the Kingdom of Calm Helio, who appeared in Arc 7.
It takes this kind of push to make Usato, who has only basic training in mind and is a muscle-brain, fall.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Translator Note: 
For those wondering, this is an illustration of Princess Naia. In the light novel version she is in volume 9.