Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu
Thank you for your support FrankMagri and ZaneofBane
Chapter 255
This time it's from Suzune's perspective.
——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———
Clinging to me as we were being transferred by the scrolls ... Amako foresaw that shortly after this we would be surrounded by enemies and attacked all at once.
Immediately clad in Lightning Beast Mode, I decided to leave the scene as fast as I could, avoiding all attacks, while holding Amako tightly so that she would not fall off.
I kick the walls, sometimes running, jump out of the small entrance of the arena.
The Demon King's soldiers can't even follow my movements with their eyes.
"Is the narrow passage a countermeasure against me?"
However, soldiers patrol the narrow passageway, which is far away from the large arena-like area where we were sent by the scroll, quite often, and if we try to force our way, a large number of soldiers will rush into this narrow passageway.
The high speed movement is meaningless if the range of actions is limited.
And then, the ultimate point———,
"Suzune, stop. There's a trap set in the wall."
"You mean a scroll that acts on those with a particular speed. Nice work."
Sorcery written on parchment pasted to the wall.
Amako told me that if I fell for this, a magic similar to Nea's sorcery would be applied to me to restrain me, and on top of that, the soldiers in the surrounding area would know of my presence.
"Suzune"
"What is it?"
"It hurts"
Having just released the Lightning Beast mode, I am still holding Amako in my arms.
The only reason I don't lose my cool in this already cornered and tense situation is because I have this presence in my arms that I need to protect.
I hold Amako tighter in my arms and remain wary of my surroundings.
"There may still be danger...!"
"I don't see anything in my foresight, you know."
"No, the foresight magic isn't perfect either. But don't worry. As long as I am here, I will protect you."
"If anything, I want someone to protect me from Suzune."
After saying that, Amako slipped out of my arms and started walking briskly.
"Follow me "
"...the warmth of Amako..."
"It makes me draw back."
Amako's face paled as I expressed my disappointment, and we proceeded down the narrow passageway.
Judging from the black dome overhead and the changes to the city, it would be natural to assume that this place had become a fort ——— or perhaps a labyrinth.
"If we were transferred to the inside of the city, it is safe to assume that Usato and the others who were also transferred are also in this city."
"First, let's find Usato and Leona-san. Ah, Suzune, stop."
After I nodded, Amako stopped, and we could hear the soldiers talking from around the corner.
『Did you hear? Apparently the outer wall troops are busy dealing with the flying hero.』
『But in the previous battle, he wasn't flying at all.』
"Apparently, Kazuki-kun is here too."
"When it comes to flying, Kazuki is the only one who can fly."
From here, surrounded by a dimly lit sky, it was impossible to see what the sky looked like, but it was good to confirm Kazuki's presence.
As Amako and I listened carefully, hoping to gather some more information, more soldiers began to gather.
The soldier, looking somewhat deranged, half-crying, clings to one of his allies.
"O-Oi, what's wrong?"
"D...Dev...Goho!"
"Calm down and take a deep breath"
"D-Devil... has appeared...!"
"Ah, it's Usato."
"I think it's pretty impressive that you're convinced by that."
No, I understand that it would be him by process of elimination.
I feel sorry for Usato-kun because that's my immediate conclusion.
『The Devil has disappeared somewhere along with the hero who controls ice...! We are currently doing everything we can to search for them, but they may have come here too, so please spread the word to everyone...!』
『Understood. Please tell me the characteristics of that devil.』
『It has sinister horns and black wings. You'll know it right away.』
Is it really Usato-kun?
Glancing at Amako, she also had a complicated expression on her face.
Could it be a real devil———,
『He usually wears the skin of a healing wizard. Don't let appearances deceive you...』
"It was Usato-kun."
"It was Usato."
The two of us looked at each other in agreement and then left the place.
To summarise the information we have gathered so far, Kazuki is in the middle of a battle in the sky.
Usato and Leona have left the battlefield and are hiding out, just like the rest of us.
"I'd like to say that our first priority should be to reunite with Usato and Leona, but it's going to be extremely difficult to find them while avoiding the soldiers."
"Mm, even if I use foresight magic to avoid patrols, our movement range is still limited."
First of all, we must reach the Demon King while conserving as much magic power as possible.
The reason the Demon King separated us would be to sap our strength in the fight against the soldiers he had placed in each of us.
So in this situation I have only one choice.
"We should head to the Demon King's place."
"Aren't we going to meet up with Usato and the others?"
"We are ultimately heading to the same place. If we head there, there's a good chance we'll be able to meet up with Usato and the others."
"If that's what you mean, I get it."
To do that, we need to find out where the Demon King is from the soldiers.
When I told this to Amako, she nodded.
"Then let's find someone we can catch."
As soon as she said that, she started walking briskly and without any caution again.
No, she wasn't off guard, her foresight had likely already ensured her safety.
As proof of it, she has complete knowledge of the positions of soldiers passing nearby.
"Hmm... this is just right."
Amako picks up a stone that is lying at her feet.
Then, the footsteps of soldiers can be heard nearby.
"Suzune, please follow my instructions."
"H-Hmm?"
"Don't ever hesitate... Ah, now. Stop."
Amako's voice stops me in my tracks, and five soldiers of the Demon King's army cross in front of me.
If even one person had turned towards us, we would have been discovered———but by some coincidence, not a single person glanced in our direction, and we simply crossed the hallway and disappeared to the other side.
"Then go forward. Maybe we should run a bit."
Next, run with Amako.
As I ran along with her, who was walking ahead of me, I saw a soldier appear up ahead as we turned right around the corner ——— but at the same time, Amako threw the stone she had picked up earlier forward.
"W-What is it? ...A rock?"
The soldier's eyes, which were about to look at us, turned to a stone that had fallen at his feet.
Meanwhile we managed to avoid being seen by turning right around the corner.
... It makes me realise once again that foresight magic is a truly dangerous magic.
Afterwards, Amako, who has a perfect grasp of the enemy's movement patterns, continues to slip through the patrolling soldiers.
And———,
"Found it"
Muttering it, Amako stopped and pointed down an alley a little way ahead.
"In ten seconds, a single soldier will be coming this way. If we do it now, no one will notice if we catch him."
"Okay."
I draw the sword in my opposite hand from its sheath and leap into the alley with perfect timing.
Just as Amako had predicted, when I saw a soldier appear, I quickly went behind him and held a blade to his throat.
"Don't move"
"Hih, H-Hero..."
"If you behave quietly, I won't take your life."
For the time being, I threw the sword and tools I had been carrying on my waist onto the ground and made him sit down.
"Amako, how long until your next patrol?"
"...Hmm, it'll be fine for a little while."
"Well then, I'll do the interrogation———"
"No, leave it to me."
Amako made eye contact with the soldier, who was crouching weakly.
The soldier looked relieved, as if he had judged Amako to be a child, but she didn't mind and started asking questions without hesitation.
"Do you know where the Demon King?"
"Eh?"
"Tell me where the Demon King is."
"N-No way I can say———"
"Can't say? Mm... Mm... He is inside the castle. Did the Demon King use his magic to sink the castle underground? The Demon King gave a map beforehand... to who? Mm, mm, mm."
As the female soldier stubbornly refuses to talk, Amako begins to mutter unnatural words to herself and nods along.
The soldier begins to tremble as the information that was supposed to be kept from Amako is revealed more and more, even though she has not said a word.
"Suzune, this guy's leader has a map of the sunken castle."
"Eh, ah, why?! How come...?!"
"I'm a foresight wizard. I was just putting into words what you were afraid of."
As Amako spoke, I knocked the soldier unconscious with a mild electric shock.
I've thought this many times while watching my master, but I think foresight magic is a scary thing.
It can be used in combat, but more than anything, it's amazing that it can be used in this way.
"I guess the analogy would be that you keep redoing important choices, right."
"Don't say things I don't understand, let's go and get the leader quickly."
"Ah, yes. Sorry."
I instinctively used polite language as I followed Amako.
The female soldier was lying down in a hidden spot, so she probably wouldn't be found anytime soon.
"By the way, what was that you said earlier about saying what that person is afraid of?"
"It seems that person met Usato on the battlefield."
"I-I see..."
Well, it is not strange, since Usato-kun seems to be running from one end of the battlefield to the other.
But just as I was wondering why did you bring Usato-kun here, Amako, who was looking around restlessly, continued.
"So I told her that if she didn't speak, I would hand her over to the devil, and she cried and told me."
"Don't people say you look like Usato?"
"Really? Mm... Thanks?"
"I'm not praising you, though?"
What's with that reaction?
I have at least some similarities with him too!
Feeling a little jealous, I quickly changed my thoughts and gripped the sword in its sheath.
"Usato-kun, you are okay, right...?"
A voice that will never reach him since he is not here.
We are currently in the middle of enemy territory, and although we are in the same place, the distance between us feels hopelessly far away.
——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———
Author's Notes:
Amako learned a lot from watching Usato.
Writing this story reminded me of a movie called "NEXT."
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