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

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Thank you for your support ZaneofBane

Chapter 271


　What an entrance, I thought, even though I was her ally.
　I couldn't help but hold my head in my hands when senpai kicked open the door and appeared.
　Given the situation, it is a great help.
　It was extremely reassuring.
　But... couldn't you have made a more normal entrance?

"Hmph, it seems that even the Demon King was so surprised by my power that he couldn't even speak."
"Usato. Is that idiot just acting strange right now?"
"...She's usually like that."

　The Demon King is treating you like a weirdo, senpai...!
　Senpai walks towards me, holding the scabbard that contains the sword in her hand.
　Her gaze never leaves the Demon King.

"Usato-kun, are you okay?"
"It's a relief to have you here...or so I thought."
"Arereh?"

　It feels like she ruins this atmosphere.
　Then Amako, who has been following behind senpai, calls out to me.

"Usato, are you hurt? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it. Are you hurt?"
"Arereh? Is it that you're treating me and Amako differently?"

　Well, that's because Senpai already looks fine.
　...The Demon King hasn't made a move yet.
　Not only senpai but he is waiting for Kazuki too?

"...Leona?"
"Leona-san is holding Amira back."
"I see, what about you and Koga?"

　I nodded, Senpai seemed to understand and turned towards the Demon King.
　Before I get ready for battle too, I call out to Amako, who finally joins us.

"Amako, can you do it?"
"Mm, as long as Usato's with me it'll be fine."

　After checking Amako, I take a light, deep breath.
　I have just seen Hisago-san's horrific past.
　It's not that I don't have some thoughts about it, but I have to focus on the Demon King for now.

"Ferrum, let us assimilate. Assimilating with Amako and Blurin, Nea will be on my shoulder."
"What about me, Usato-kun?"
"You, keep your sword sharp, ready to move at any moment."
"Usato-kun, are you angry?"

　I ignored Senpai and then Ferrum, surrounded by dark magic, enters my body from my feet and assimilates with me.
　Amako and Blurin jump into my body for additional assimilation.
　Finally, Nea transformed into an owl and jumped onto my shoulder, completing the transformation.

"I'm the only one who's defenseless, it's so scary. Hey, can you let in one more person?"
『Impossible, it's already full』
『We're all in danger together』
『Guaah!』
"Even if you say that from the safest place, it doesn't make me feel at ease at all! Ah, mou! Why do I always have to cling to Usato, neh!!"
"Is this just a roundabout way of teasing me?"

　Only at the end of a sentence, when I turn my head to look at senpai, I'm completely agitated.
　When my body is buzzing both inside and out, I look up at the Demon King, who is sitting on his throne.
　He looks at me with an interested look.

"The more I look at you, the more I find it unusual. Assimilation with others with dark magic at its core... very interesting."
"Areh, how does that work...? It just looks like multiple people have been absorbed into that person."
"There is no method or mechanism to it, that's how it works. It's completely insane, that thing."

　Despite all the terrible things they said, Senpai and I faced the Demon King.
　We had been talking normally up until now, but our original goal was to defeat the Demon King.
　That fact has not changed, and our resolve will never waver.

"Kazuki's not here yet, but do you want to do it?"
"We have no choice. He'll arrive while we're fighting."

　Senpai and I were about to jump at the same time ——— at that moment, an explosion and a flash of light exploded from above.
　I stopped in my tracks, looked up, and saw a man on a light board coming through a large circular hole in the ceiling.
　　The man fell straight down toward me and senpai, flipped the board made of light magic, and landed neatly on his feet.

"Phew! I finally made it!!"
"Kazuki!"
"Kazuki-kun!"
"Looks like we made it in time!"

　What a cool way to make an entrance.
　I didn't expect him to come crashing through the ceiling, but now we have two heroes in one place.

"Finally, the heroes are all here."
"But it was your troublesome plan that separated us...!"
"If that was the end of it, that was the end of the story. But you have overcome your respective ordeals and made it to my doorstep."

　As he spoke, the Demon King remained seated on his throne, resting his arms on the armrest.
　His expression did not look like he was facing an enemy.

"Ciel."
"Demon King-sama, should I evacuate...?! I'll definitely get caught up in this, won't I?"
"There's no need for that."
"Yes?"

　When the Demon King raised his palm, a white vortex-like thing appeared next to Ciel-san.
　He then lightly waved his hand and the white vortex began to move, engulfing the stunned Ciel-san and disappearing.

"I'll send you off to another location... Now then."
"...!"
"That's right. Do not let your guard down, do not drop your stance———your enemy is right in front of you."

　The Demon King rises from his throne.
　Though the Demon King's power is far from what it was in his prime, it is still beyond imagination.

"Let me ask you something before we fight."

　He had his silver hair pulled back in an all-back bun and large, twisted horns characteristic of the demon tribe.
　The Demon King, exuding an intimidating presence that didn't match his large physique, looked down at us as he removed the black robe he had been wearing from his shoulders.

"Suppose you defeat me, what will you do?"
"...What will we do?"
"The fundamental reason why the heroes were summoned was only to be a force against me, the enemy of mankind. Once that purpose has been accomplished ——— what will you do?"

　The words seemed to be directed not to me, but to Senpai and Kazuki, the two heroes.
　Although it ended abruptly, my talk had just finished.
　So the next part of the story is about Senpai and Kazuki.

"...What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Once you complete your mission, you'll still have the title of hero, but it will be meaningless. No, in the first place, it means that there's a possibility that unnecessary conflicts will arise in pursuit of the hero's power."
"That's..."
"not true, Have you seen humans enough to be able to say that?"

　The Demon King interrupted Kazuki and looked at me.
　Now that I've seen Hisago-san's past, I understand what the Demon King is trying to say.
　The talent that Kazuki and senpai possess is unparalleled in this world.
　If they continue to train for many years, it is not surprising that they will have abilities similar to Hisago-san's.

"Are you saying we should leave this world?"
"That is for you to decide."
"...In the first place, there is currently no way for us to return to our original world. This discussion itself is a waste of time."

　While glaring at the Demon King, senpai coldly declared, making the Demon King smile.

"Then what if I have a way to get you home?"

　The Demon King, having said these words, takes out a golden-colored paper in his hand.
　———That is...?!

"The scroll you showed Hisago-san?!"
" It is a scroll engraved with a return formula to return those who have been summoned from another world to their original world. The information of the world of the previous hero, Hisago, is engraved on it now ——— but if you overwrite it with the smell and "information" of your world, it will be possible for you to return to your original world."
"Wha...!?"

　I don't know if that's true or not.
　But if what he said was true, then Senpai and Kazuki would be able to return to their original world.
　I looked at Kazuki and his eyes widened in surprise, while Senpai was like ——— Eh? She's smiling?

"Fufu, Demon King. It seems you are underestimating me."
"Muh?"
"I'll be honest with you. I don't think that far into the future!"

　....
　Ah, it looks like senpai hasn't thought about this at all.
　Senpai is showing off a smug, unnecessarily confident look on her face as she looks at the Demon King with her arms crossed.
　Her imposing gaze causes the Demon King to look puzzled.

"Whether we should go back or not is not something we should be talking about now. What is before me right now is the reason we were summoned! In front of that, there is no room for doubt!!"
"...Hou?"
"And, to return your words, we have seen the “humans” of this world, of this era! Even more so than you! That's why we were able to protect them and believe in them! Don't underestimate us!"

　Senpai pointed her finger.
　She held the sheath again and smiled at Kazuki and me.

"Come on, Usato-kun! Kazuki-kun! Let's put this problem off and go beat up the Demon King!"
"...Hahaha, that's true! We can't show any hesitation now!!"

　...After all, I was glad that this person was here.
　She's so reliable because she never changes and always looks forward no matter the situation.

"———I've already made up my mind."
『...Usato?』

　I muttered this under my breath as if to convince myself, and Amako inside me let out a questioning voice.
　Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I stand next to senpai, clenching my fists.

"Senpai, let's fight. This will be the final battle."
"Yeah!"

　Deploy the gauntlet on my right arm.
　I was able to recover some of my magic power after resting, and the wounds from the battle with Koga have been completely healed by healing magic.
　There is no obstacle to the battle.
　After opening and closing my hand as if to check my condition, I face the Demon King.

"It's a joke he could never pull off, but it's an interesting answer."

　The Demon King muttered as he unleashed a spell from his palm.
　As he created magic one after another from his palms, the corners of his mouth twisted as he faced us.

"———Now, let the battle begin."
"Here they come!"
""Yes""

　In an instant, a flash of light erupted from the magic floating around the Demon King.
　What came into view was a wall of flames approaching.
　Seeing the intense flames with no way to escape, senpai and I prepared ourselves, but Kazuki stepped forward first.

"I'll lead the way!"

　Kazuki jumps onto the light board, draws the sword on his back, and releases a slash of luminous magic power.
　With that alone, the wall of flames approaching us was cut in half.
　The next thing that leaps out from behind the flames is a chain made of a somewhat familiar magic power.

"Let's go, Usato-kun!"
"I'll support you!"

　Following Senpai, countless chains were stretched out and came towards Senpai and me as if luring us, but they were stopped by Kazuki's light magic bullets flying through the air.
　
"Usato! That's the sorcerer's magic!"
"Then it would be dangerous to get caught...!"

　It was a nasty type of magic that even bound one's soul.
　If we were caught, there was no telling what dangerous effects it might have.
　But on top of that, the chains of magic power further increase in number and extend from the ground to encircle me and senpai.
　Before we knew it, we were surrounded to the point where we had no way to escape———,

"Senpai, I'll make a path to the Demon King!"
"As long as there's a gap, that's enough!"

　From my right arm, I create a magic bullet wrapped with elasticity, and throw it in the direction where the Demon King is likely to be.
　———Healing Explosive Bullet (Chiyu Bakuretsu Dan).
　As the bullet hit, the chains were scattered to the side in an instant, and at that moment senpai stepped forward and approached the Demon King, drawing her sword with a flash of light.

"Haaah!"

　However, the slash, clothed in an electric shock, passes through the Demon King's body without a trace.
　As the Demon King disappears like a puff of smoke, I am taken aback and Amako, who is inside me, raises her voice.

『Usato, behind you!!』
"Wha!?"
"Smoke spell. Surprisingly, you're falling for a simple trick."

　A voice from behind me.
　The moment I heard Amako's voice and turned around as quickly as I could, the Demon King's finger was pointed at my heart.

"Flame Spell"
"———!"

　A ray of light was emitted from the fingertips where the magical patterns had appeared.
　Intuitively, I shifted my body to the side, but the ray———perhaps a heat ray condensed from fire-ignored even the magic of dark magic and pierced my left shoulder.

"Guh...!"
"That's an incredible reaction time. Try dealing with it."

　A red-hot light is emitted continuously on the Demon King's fingers.
　While using healing magic on my left shoulder, I deflect the heat rays with the gauntlet on my right arm.

『Usato, this attack will pierce my magic too!』
『No, it's okay! Usato can handle it!! ...We can jump in next time!!』
"Yeah!"

　While repelling the last heat ray diagonally with my gauntlet, I take a big step forward and slam my fist into the Demon King.

"Oraah!"
"Shallow" (Note: Amai: usually means naive or inexperienced)

　But my fist is stopped by something like an invisible wall just before it hits the Demon King.
　It's my fist that's assimilated with Blurin...!?
　No, I've felt this way before! This is Nero Agence's...!

"Wind magic...?!"
"That's right. ———Gravity Spell."

　At the same time that Amako was warning me in my head to get away, an incredible pressure fell on my body.
　Perhaps due to me being heavier, the floor begins to cave in significantly.

"Nuguu!?"
"Usato?! What happened?!"

　What's going on?! My body has suddenly become heavy?!
　Nea on my shoulder doesn't seem to be in any pain...!
　Could it be that gravity has been manipulated specifically for me?

"Th-this is...!"
"Are you a human? If you were a normal human, it wouldn't be surprising if you were crushed."

　Why does the Demon King have to question whether I'm human or not...?
　Beside the Demon King who had stopped my punch, Senpai silently charged at him, while Kazuki unleashed a light spell from above.
　Instantly understanding their intentions, I release the black magic power of the dark magic with my stopped fist pressed down, and let the Demon King be glued to the spot.

"Muh...?"
"I'll have you glued here...!"
"Usato, I'll release you right away with a release spell!"

　Though they were through the wind armor, the Demon King was bound by black magic power, and so Senpai unleashed her sword and Kazuki unleashed his magic bullets at him.
　Kazuki's magic bullets can pierce the wind armor...!
　Senpai's slash should be able to hit him from above as well!!

"The Mirror Demon Spell "

　———However, with just that mutter from the Demon King, the magic bullets Kazuki had fired were deflected and dispersed by the magic that appeared around him.
　The Demon King moves his arm against the next oncoming attack of senpai, without regard to the restraints by dark magic ——— he catches the swinging blade of the sword with his bare hand.

"Wha...?!"
"Is that all? I wish you'd fight more seriously."

　The Demon King then freed his other hand and turned his palm up.
　As some kind of magic was activated, a magic pattern nearly covered the entire ceiling of the room.
　This was the same as the one that had rained flames down on the battlefield...!?

"If you let your guard down, it'll be over next time, okay?"

　No, there are three spells floating in the Demon King's palm!?
　The floating spells combine into one and transform into another spell.
　He combined it with the same magic as the pattern floating in the sky———,

"Compound Sorcery, The Spell of the Heavenly Storm"

　Instantly, a storm roared from above.
　A bolt of electricity so strong it could be mistaken for thunder shatters the ground, and a gust of wind blows through.
　This is... bad!

"Nea!"
"I-I solved it!"
"Thanks! Ngh!"

　I slammed my healing flying fist into the arm of the Demon King who had grabbed Senpai's sword and retreated.
　Senpai, who sensed the danger as I did, also left the spot, but the storm in the sky was beginning to pour down on us as if it were about to hit us.

『Usato, don't get hit by this! I'm giving you instructions so dodge!!』
"Yeah!"
"That's too much nonsense! Demon King!!"

　The Demon King's magic can even recreate natural disasters.
　Witnessing that power with our own eyes, we leaped forward.

——— seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Notes:
Mentally, senpai is the second strongest after Usato.
Or rather, it seems like she simply hasn't thought about it at all.
So she is strong (!?)