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

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Chapter 293


　I talked with Hayate-san about our recent activities and some of complaints(?).
　We mainly talked about Rinka and Kanoko, who were too energetic, but strangely enough, there was little about his position as the head of the tribe.
　After talking for about an hour, I left Hayate's room and headed downstairs where the senpai and others were.

"Onee-chan's position is mine...!"
"S-Suzune, wai-stop——"

　And then the sight of Senpai, who was by all appearances the same as usual, jumping on a teary-eyed Nagi-san jumped into view.
　From the flow of the conversation, I realized that the reason was that the people Rinka called "Onee-chan" were Nagi-san and Senpai.
　I understood that this was a type of communication unique to Senpai, but as I pulled her away from Nagi-san, I asked her something that had been bothering me.
　
"But senpai, don't you want a little brother?"
"Gafuh!?"
"Senpai!?"

　I was surprised to see my senpai choking with great vigor.
　After that, despite a bit of a commotion, we parted ways with Amako and the others and headed back to the inn where we were staying.
　After returning to the inn, it was getting dark outside when the Demon King and his companions returned from the castle.

"I never thought I'd be sharing a room with you."
"I'd like to change rooms though."

　Then, after dinner in the cafeteria, I sat in a chair in my room and talked with Koga.
　I know that it is preferable to share a room for surveillance, but I am a little reluctant to sleep in the same room with the guy who has been trying to kill me.

"Speaking of which, you're being treated like pseudo-bait by the Demon King-sama."
"What?"

　I don't even know the content of the conversation with Falga-sama, but it turned out that the Demon King has said some dishonorable things about me.

"He says you're targeted by the devil because the devil hates you."
"I'm a harmless healing wizard."
"...You're joking, right?"
"Mm, it's an ogre joke. You think it's funny?"
"Haha... Don't do it again, it's not a joke."

　Even though I was saying it, I knew that I had every right to be hated by the devil, so I replied jokingly.
　Well, I don't agree with being called a pseudo-bait by the Demon King.
　What, am I some kind of an anglerfish or alligator snapping turtle?

"Puh, it's funny that a devil is hated by another devil."
"Well, what he's doing is even more heinous than the Devil."

　Then, I heard two other voices besides mine and Koga's.
　In the direction of the voice, Nea and Ferrum, who should have been in another room, were sitting in chairs at the table in the room.

"...You guys"
"Hmm?"
"What is it?"

　Nea and Ferrum look at me with boredom in their eyes, so I hold my forehead as I speak.

"Why are you two in this room?"
""Because I'm bored.""

　No, that's not the reason.
　Holding my forehead, I turn my chair around to face the girls.

"I don't think there's anything fun about coming to this room."
"Your actions are amusing in themselves, so there's no problem."
"Hey, don't talk like I'm always doing weird things."

　Koga, who had been listening to Nea's outrageous words from behind, bursts out in laughter.

"Hahaha, interesting."
"Shall I shut you down now and make it morning...?"
"What kind of threatening line is that...?"

　The idea is to force him to pass out, and he will wake up in the morning.
　As I was saying this to Koga, Nea pointed to Ferrum, who was sitting next to her.

"I'm telling you, it's always the same with me and her in a room together, you know?"
"Yeah, sharing a room with this guy is not exciting at all."

　We didn't come here for fun.
　Besides, considering the roles of senpai and me, our room assignments naturally ended up like this.

"Then would you like to share a room with senpai? I wouldn't mind at all."
"I'm sorry, it was my bad..."
"I was wrong..."

　I know I shouldn't say it, but it's extremely effective.

"You and Amako are the only ones who can keep up with Suzune's pace."
"Being with her is exhausting."
"The lines you are saying are like from a cold, married couple..."

　It's true that senpai is high-spirited and always seems like a drunkard.
　...I wonder if it's really something to dislike that much.
　I think it would be better if there were senpai so that people wouldn't have to feel so gloomy.

"You'll be back in your room by bedtime, okay?"
"Ye~s."

　It's a double room, so even though there are four of us it doesn't feel stuffy.
　I was about to do my daily magic circulation, and the idea of practicing dark magic came to my mind since Ferrum was here.

"Ferrum, may I borrow some of your magic for a bit?"
"Eh?"

　I place my hand on Ferrum's shoulder and borrow a bit of dark magic.
　Some of the dark magic overflows from her shoulder and envelops my hand.

"Alright, this———"
"Wait a minute!"

　I returned to my chair and was about to start the training I had been thinking about when Ferrum came over to me.

"You take my magic too easily!"
"Ah, sorry. You didn't like it? I'll give it back right away."

　Once again, I place my hand on Ferrum's shoulder, and the dark magic that had been transformed into a gauntlet returns to her.

"...That's not it! How can you take it in and out like it's yours~!?"
"Well, I just wondered if I could do it... and I did."
"What do you mean~!?"

　I could manipulate them at my will in the previous training.
　However, borrowing dark magic without waiting for a response was a bad idea... I must reflect on that.

"~~! If you want to use it, then use it!"

　Then, for some reason, Ferrum grabbed my hand and reached out to give me some of her dark magic.
　I was about to take it, thanking her, but at the last moment, a thought suddenly came to my mind.

"Ferrum. Go back to your seat."
"Ha? You're not going to use my magic? You don't need it?"
"This guy is so d*mn annoying..."

　Koga, looking somewhat taken back, mutters something in a whisper.
　I didn't pay him any attention, I moved to a distance of about three meters from Ferrum.

"I was wondering if I could receive Ferrum's magic from this distance."
"Haa? I think it would be stronger if I assimilated directly."
"No... I thought that if I didn't have time to assimilate with Ferrum and could borrow some of your magic, I could deal with unforeseen circumstances."
"...I get it. So it's fine if I shoot magic bullets."
"Yeah"

　I hold my palm out to Ferrum.
　It's just a kind of insurance, but it doesn't hurt to know how to do it.
　Even though I could sense Koga's curious gaze, I called out to Ferrum.

"Ferrum!"
"Go!"

　The black mass flew from her hand, changing trajectory in the air as if it had a will of its own, before crashing into my hand ——— and transforming into a black gauntlet that wrapped around it.
　Perhaps because of the small amount of magic power I received, the dark magic covered only a little below the elbow, but even so, it was hard enough.

"..."

　Once there, I moved the dark magic to my left arm and deployed the gauntlet on my right arm.
　While circling the silver gauntlet, the dark magic of the left arm wraps the right hand gauntlet with the dark magic of the left arm.
　At first glance, it seems like an incomprehensible formation, with a gauntlet of dark magic placed over a silver gauntlet, but ——— it's not.

"Koga"
"Hmm?"
"I just thought of a new technique. Want to try it?"
"Oh, okay."
"What are these guys doing, creating new techniques as if it were natural, and trying them out...?"
"What are you planning to do...?"

　I tighten my right arm as Koga quickly stands up.
　This is just a test run, so it shouldn't be that powerful.
　I take a deep breath and thrust my right arm out, at the same time unleashing a healing flying fist.

"Hmph!"

　A fist-sized shockwave emits from my right arm.
　Normally, the shock wave itself would fly away, but right now my gauntlet is covered in dark magic.
　The dark magic pushed out by the shockwave hits Koga's defensive right arm like a rocket punch.

"Heh~, that's an interesting technique, but it's no different from the usual one———"
"Release."
"Haa? Wha?!"

　The fist-shaped dark magic that Koga receives unravels into a string and wraps around Koga's body.
　With the Healing Flying Fist, I shoot out the dark magic and bind the opponent who is directly hit with the dark magic.
　It's a binding technique, able to immobilize the opponent without harming them.

"Hey, untie me!"
"Ah, sorry."

　With a thought in my head, I remove Koga's restraints and draw the dark magic to me.

"Darkness Healing Rocket Punch, that's settled...!"
"Of course it's no good...!"

　As I intuitively named it, Nea slashes at my head.
　She looked down at me with a fierce look as I held my head, then pointed her finger at me.

"I've given up watching you make up crazy techniques out of the blue, but your unprecedented lack of naming sense is unforgivable!"
"Lack of naming sense? ...Who?"
"It's scary when you're not even aware of it..."

　Nea was disappointed, but quickly regained her composure and pointed her finger at me.

"Just so you know, I'm saying this for your own good, okay?"
"...Ah, thank you. I can always count on you."
"That's not what I meant...! Ahhh, mou!!"　

　As I return the dark magic to Ferrum, tilting my head at her as she stomps on the ground, I notice that Koga is looking at me with a complicated look.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"...Well, I just thought you might get stabbed one day."
"…I've already been stabbed a few times, so it's too late now."
"That's not what I meant."

　If anything, you're the one stabbing me, aren't you?
　As I was thinking that, Nea, who was standing next to Ferrum, let out an exasperated sigh.

"Right, it wouldn't do any good to stab this guy." (Nea)
"Indeed, he would probably hold it and hit you back." (Koga)
"Hey... Can you stop talking to me so casually?" (Nea)
"Isn't that cruel...?" (Koga)

　After spitting toxic remarks at Koga, Nea looks at me with a disdainful look.

"More importantly, Usato, what are you going to do from tomorrow onwards?"
"Eh, what are we going to do... Well, we are going to stay here until the day the meeting starts."
"Eh~, it doesn't start until about a week later, right? I'll have too much free time."
"Even if that's the case."

　We can't let our guard down now.
　We never know when the unexpected might happen.
　In case of emergency, I must make sure that Nea and Ferrum are always available to lend me their strength.
　...However, I know Nea's character well, so stopping now would probably be counterproductive.

"You guys can go outside."
"Eh? Is that okay?"
"If Ferrum assimilates with Nea, she can go outside normally. But I can't leave here, so you two will have to go alone..."
"Ah, no need then."

　Nea answers without listening to the end of what I said.
　While I was stunned, she shrugged her shoulders in boredom.

"I'm certainly interested in going outside, but it's no fun without you. It'll just be sightseeing."
"What does that mean...?"
"It's more fun to watch you messing around indoors."

　What? Is that a compliment?
　Or a subtle insult?

"Besides, there's no way that the Demon King would be stuck in a place like this."
"Yeah, it's possible."
"It's not surprising that the Demon King would try to get out, knowing what he's doing."
"That person likes you, after all. It looks like he takes pleasure in making you feel uncomfortable."

　I know I shouldn't say this, but what does it mean that even Koga agrees?
　And I can easily imagine the Demon King causing me trouble and then laughing at me, so please stop...

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

Author's Notes:
♰Darkness♰Healing Rocket Punch, what a crazy name.
It is a Healing Flying Fist that has physical power apart from the shockwave.
In addition, it is not an attack but a capture technique...