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

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TL Notes:
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Chapter 290


　A two-day boat trip to Mialak.
　Until then, we'll be guarding and watching over the Demon King, but we won't be doing this all the time and will naturally take turns.
　We don't think the Demon King will rampage, but we have to do what we have to do for the sake of the sailors and knights on the ship.

"So, why are you here?"
"Hmm?"

　I took over watch from Leona-san and was about to go to my room to rest, when for some reason Koga showed up at my place.
　I was sitting on the bed, reading a book while circling my magic power, when Koga, sitting on a chair, looked back at me.

"I'm bored. I came to play."
"Get out."
"Hey, hey, calm down. We've fought each other many times."
"Isn't that why?"

　It would be one thing if we had fought together in the same camp, but we were opponents with whom each other fought fiercely many times, right?

"To tell you the truth, it scares people when I wander around the ship."
"Ah, I see."
"Besides, if I'm free in the room I was assigned to, Amira will come, so I ran away."
"You'd better get back to work"

　This guy ran away from Amira-san, right?
　Koga seems to be in a carefree mood, and is now paying attention to the magic power circling I am doing.

"So, what are you doing?"
"...Haa."

　I sigh and show him my left hand, which is performing the magic power circulation.
　Koga nodded in admiration as he watched my magic power move swiftly and smoothly from finger to finger.

"Is this magic manipulation training? As always, you have your eye on strange things."
"Sorry about that. I have my eye on strange things."
"Sorry, I was just praising you. To be honest, I'm not very good at finding those kinds of things."

　Saying so, Koga gathers magic power in his right hand.
　However, due to the nature of dark magic, rather than a magic bullet, he creates something more like a lump that moves from finger to finger.

"Oh, this is surprisingly difficult."
"There's no way you'd succeed that easily. Well... the trick is not to force it... it might be better to imagine it moving with the current of water."
"I see"

　...No, why am I teaching this guy how to handle the magic power circulation?
　It's only going to make him stronger again.

"How well can you do it now?"
"I can circulate it around unconsciously while reading a book... that's about it..."

　As I raised one arm and circulated magic power at high speed, Koga looked taken aback.

"Eh, what's that? That's gross..."
"Accelerated Healing Bullet"
"Isn't that dangerous!?"

　Koga tilted his head to avoid the healing finger bullets that were fired at higher speeds using magic power circulation.
　Tsk, it didn't hit him.
　Koga broke out into a cold sweat as he saw the Accelerated Healing Finger Bullet hit the wall and dissipate, and turned towards me with twitching cheeks.

"Ah, that's dangerous. We're on board the ship..."
"It's healing magic so it'll be fine. Besides, you're... sturdy, right?"
"A smile?! That's the first time someone has trusted me in such a bad way?!"

　Koga was shocked by my big smile.

"I know how strong you are, probably better than you do."
"I bet you do. You've used me as a club so many times."

　It is safe to say that this guy, who has mastered my elasticity grant, is far more durable than before.
　He was always a tough guy, but now, thanks to my skills, it's become even more troublesome.
　... Just thinking about it like that makes me feel sick.

"Now, try dodging it. This is evasion training."
"Ohhh?!"

　While forming both hands into a pistol shape, I fire Healing Bullets in succession by circulating magic power.
　The magic bullets weren't particularly powerful, and were just fast, but Koga dutifully dodged them desperately.

"Now that I think about it, I heard you were training the soldiers in the Demon King's army."
"Eh, how do you know?"
"I heard about it from a soldier who seemed to be one of your subordinates."

　The soldiers who fought after the battle with Amira-san at the Demon King's Castle.
　They were clearly on a different level of training than the other soldiers, and more than anything, they worked well together.

"Yeah, they're the ones I'm training."
"How did you train them?"
"Eh? Well, it's something like a mock battle. It'll be good training for me too."

　A mock battle?
　I wonder if Koga's training is in actual combat format?

"Well, it was tough against you. Those guys were pretty depressed, you know?"
"No, if they'd worked well together it would've been tough for me too. I'd have neutralized them one by one before they could do that."

　They could have forced their way through, but that would have undoubtedly worn them out considerably.
　In that sense, they were strong.
　Koga looked somewhat satisfied, and this time he spoke.

"How do you usually train?"
"Eh? I mostly run."
"... It's a short way to put it, but I think something is different in your case."

　My case is different, huh?
　No, there are too many differences between humans and demons aside from training.
　Even I don't fully understand it.

"Ah, then."
"Hmm?"
"It's pretty boring on the ship, so is there anything I can do to get my body moving? You're good at thinking about things like that, right?"

　Personally, I'd like everyone to behave well on board the ship.
　Suddenly, I looked up and saw something shining on the ceiling.

"Oh..."

　They were metal fittings for hanging magical tools that could be used to turn on lights.
　Seeing the two of them, lined up just the right distance apart, gave me an idea for a new training method.

"...There's a metal fitting on the ceiling that would fit perfectly."
"Hmm? Ah, that's for hanging magic items."

　Looking up at the ceiling, I saw two metal fittings that were just right for hanging.
　They were meant to hang magic items and provide light, but there must have been some kind of renovation, as the lighting-type magical items were now attached to the ceiling, making the metal fittings useless.
　I pointed at it and explained it to Koga.

"Try grabbing it with just your fingers and hanging on it."
"Ouh"
"Make sure it can withstand your weight."
"...Ouh"
"Then you can do reverse push-ups."
"Wait a minute, that's weird...!"

　Koga commented as I tilted my head.

"What the hell are reverse push-ups? The opposite of push-ups?"
"Sheesh, I guess there's no other way. I'll give it a try."
"Why are you looking at me like I'm a weird one...?"

　I jumped lightly, grabbed hold of the metal fittings on the ceiling with only my finger strength, and hung down.
　When you realize that the bracket can support your weight properly, raise your body parallel to the ceiling using only your arm strength, and start doing push-ups as if you were pulling your body toward the ceiling.
　After doing that lightly about ten times, I land on the floor.

"...I now understand once again how strange your thinking is."
"...I really did it...!"
"What do you mean, why the one who suggests it is most surprised...? Well, no matter what, you always come up with some interesting ideas."

　I seem to have created another crazy training method.
　Again, while sitting on the bed, I talked to Koga, who was looking up at the ceiling.

"What are you going to do from now on?"
"From now on?"
"The Demon King's army is going to be disbanded, right? So that means you're no longer the army commander, right?"

　Koga looked a little troubled by my question but nodded.

"Well, I guess I'll be working for the Demon King-sama for a while. Repelling monsters and, well, dealing with humans coming from outside, I guess?"
"So it's not so different from when you were in the Demon King's army."
"Yeah. I could have gone on a journey, but———"

　Koga points his finger at me.
　With a nasty smile on his face, he continued speaking.

"I want to see what you'll do next."
"Don't talk like I'm the one causing trouble."
"It's a fact, it's going to happen. You've been marked by those interesting people called “devils,” haven't you?"

　Did the Demon King tell him that?
　Well, of course he told him, I thought, and sighed.

"Even though the war is over, you're still the same troublesome guy..."
"Even if I say so myself, it's been that way since the beginning. I can't change it now."

　Don't say it yourself.
　...The first time I fought this guy, he got me into a lot of trouble.
　After that, I've been in a rotten relationship with this guy for some reason or another.

"I'm getting hungry. Want to go get something at the cafeteria?"
"You're too free."

　I stand up, aghast at Koga's sudden mention of such a thing.
　It's already dinner time.
　The other crew members would be scared of Koga if he was alone, but if I'm there, they'll be fine.

"Don't cause a fuss, okay?"
"I know."
"If you do, I'll take care of you."
"That's scary...!?"

　I sighed as I opened the door with Koga following behind me, and my eyes met with senpai who was about to knock on the door.

""Ah""

　Perhaps she was trying to invite me to dinner? Senpai had a look of surprise on her face as she turned to look at Koga, who was standing behind me.
　Her embarrassed expression suddenly changed to a puzzled one as she tilted her head in confusion.

"...Boys' night out?"
"Don't talk like it's a girls' night out."

　It was amazing that she could say those words as her first utterance.
　Then I wonder what she thought, and she smiles brightly.

"I'd like to join too."
"You're a girl, right...?"
"Hmph, you're so naive. I'm the kind of girl who gets left out even at girls' parties."
"Please stop making jokes that are hard to respond to."

　What kind of girls' night out is that?
　With a wry smile, I asked senpai what she wanted.

"Well, why are you here, senpai?"
"Ah, that's right. I was thinking of inviting you to dinner."
"We were also planning to go to the cafeteria. Do you want to come with us?"

　It is just right, so let's go with senpai.
　Giving a glance to Koga behind me, I head out of the room.

"You really have a connection with him."
"I'm aware of it, but this thing keeps coming up to me on its own."
"That's a very rude thing to say. Well, it's true."

　When I point a finger at him and say so, Koga's smile twitches.
　Senpai herself isn't afraid of demons, just like me, so it's helpful that she can talk to him normally.

"This is the first time we've spoken since the ruins, Koga-kun."
"O-Ouh."
"I've heard plenty about how you were wielded as a weapon by Usato-kun."

　Koga looks at me with a very troubled look on his face, but I ignore him.
　If things go wrong, it could spread to me too...!

"M-More importantly, speaking of ruins, I remembered something."
"You've blatantly changed the topic..."

　I guess he really doesn't want to talk about the fact that he was used as a weapon.
　Koga turns towards me, his smile twisting as he desperately tries to come up with a topic to talk about.　

"There was a kid with you, right?"
"You mean Keira?"
"Ouh, her name was Keira. She came to visit me a while ago."
"Eh!?"

　Keira did?!
　Koga tells me and senpai, who are surprised, about that time.

"I was surprised to see the dark wizard kid here. I hadn't seen one since Ferrum."
"Was Keira the only one?"
"No? There was someone who looked like a guardian. It's rare for a dark wizard these days, but she was blessed with such good people around her."

　Gref-san, huh...?
　I'm glad to see that his leg injury is healing well and that he seems to be in good health.
　But why did they visit Koga?

"She wants me to teach her how to use “dark magic”."
"From you?"

　Dark magic has gone out of control again... I guess that's not it.
　At the time we spent our time there, she worked hard to make dark magic her own, but now I guess she wanted to learn how to handle it from Koga so that she could live in harmony with it.

"But from my perspective, she is pretty skilled considering her age, so I didn't think there was any need for me to teach her... but she still wanted me to teach her———"
"So?"
"I used the escort mission as an excuse to run away."

　.......
　Still smiling, I grabbed Koga's shoulders ——— and put my strength into it.
　Next, I talk to senpai.

"Senpai, why don't we just throw this guy overboard now?"
"We can use the alibi that Usato-kun and I had dinner together, right?"
"That's nice."
"Wait, wait, wait!?"

　Koga was extremely flustered.
　I sighed and decided to listen to his excuses.

"Think about it, am I the type of person who can teach someone anything? If I could, it'd be to fight?"
"But that doesn't mean you should just leave her alone."
"That girl is my little sister."

　Senpai, please don't just treat Keira as your little sister.
　Ignoring senpai's joke, Koga shook his hand.

"W-Well, listen to the end. To be honest, I use dark magic by instinct, so I can't really teach her, so I thought I'd leave it to someone who knows more about dark magic than I do."
"Who is that?"
"Hmm"

　Koga points at me.
　Where he was pointing———I turned around but there was no one there.

"Me?"
"Ouh, there's no one more compatible with a dark wizard (more likely to be relied on) than you."
"Is there something hidden behind this?"
"You're just imagining it."

　Just my imagination... Is it just my imagination?
　I can't help but feel like there was a bit of malice involved.
　As I tilted my head, Koga continued speaking.

"I heard it was you and Ferrum who taught Keira how to use dark magic, right? If that's the case, it's much better to leave it to you guys."

　...That's true, but she's still a demon child.
　There are many things that would make it too difficult for her to come here.

"It's impossible for Keira to come here. Not much time has passed since the war ended. It's dangerous to bring her into the Kingdom of Lingle in this unstable situation."

　I'm worried about Keira, but I'm more afraid of what might happen to her.

"Then why don't you just come to us?"
"No way it's that simp———, wait a minute."

　I'm going to the Demon King's territory...?
　It's a bit of a strange idea, but it might not be such a bad one.

"The Traveling Rescue Squad... No, it's not something I should think about so lightly."

　I dismissed the thought that came into my head.
　No matter what I do, my priority is the life of the Lingle Kingdom.
　I can't act selfishly and cause trouble for Lloyd-sama.

"Anyway, when you get back, please take a look at Keira's dark magic."
"Ah, okay. Well, I'll see what I can do."
"I'll also send a letter to Keira."
"May I send one too?"
"Haha, of course."

　As I nodded to senpai, I remembered Keira, who was working hard in the Demon King's territory.
　That girl is facing her own magic and trying to refine it.
　I want to help her, but right now I have to focus on the meeting of the Allied Nations that is right in front of me.

——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———

Author's Notes:
Keira was trying to do her best in the demon king's territory.

・An explanation of reverse push-ups.
Prepare an image of someone doing push-ups.
↓
Once you find it, turn the image upside down.
↓
When it looks like the floor is the ceiling, that's a reverse push-up.