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

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Chapter 296


　After one day, we received permission from Norn-sama.
　Naturally, it was monitored by the knights of Mialark, but I had to accept it because it was a procedure that would allow the Demon King and his group to walk around outside.

『Please...! Don't cause any trouble...! And if there's any trouble, please don't let it come from you...!』

　Leona-san, who came to give the answer, gave me very serious advice, and of course, I intend to follow it to the letter.

"What are you equipped with, senpai?"
"I have a sword. It's enough to deal with anything."

　We wait in front of the inn for the Demon King to arrive.
　I had already assimilated with Ferrum and Nea was in her usual owl-like form, resting in her usual place on my shoulder.

"We have to fulfill our duties as guards."
"I think you don't need to be so tense. There's no one else who would harm the Demon King other than you guys."
"You're also the guard, aren't you...?"

　The carefree Koga's head was suddenly slammed by the sheath of the sword.
　The impact was quite severe as Koga clutched his head in pain, while Amira, the person who had swung the sheath down, sighed in exasperation.

"Sheesh, how deplorable. Why don't you take a lesson from them?"
"W-What are you doing all of a sudden?"
"Even if there's a low chance of fighting, it's important to protect the Demon King-sama. Don't you think you're lacking in awareness?"

　I was relieved to see that Amira-san seemed serious.
　...Well, considering the abilities of the three of them, other than me, I think we can handle most of whatever comes our way.
　And there's also the Demon King, who is a completely nonsensical existence.
　While I was thinking that, the Demon King and Ciel-san accompanying him came through the open door of the inn.
　The Demon King's outfit consisted of a black top and bottom, with a furry coat draped over his shoulders.

"He looks like a mafia boss."
"Mm, there's a really evil aura coming off of him..."

　I spoke to senpai in a hushed voice.
　To be honest, he stands out quite a bit.
　He stood out in a bad way, and more than anything, he was giving off an unnecessarily intimidating vibe just by being there.

"Now, let's go to that training ground you mentioned."
"Well, why...?"
"Hmm? Because there are a lot of people around, obviously."

　As I thought, this guy is too free.
　With that thought in mind, I followed the Demon King who was walking ahead of me.

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

　As expected, he attracted a lot of attention along the way.
　They have horns and brown skin that are different from humans.
　That alone is enough to draw people's attention, but on top of that, there is the Demon King, who always gives off the aura of a final boss.
　In fact, it would have been strange if he hadn't attracted attention.

"That's the rumored Demon King..."
"That's scary... I can feel the pressure even from this distance."
"Your face is scary..."

　Naturally, such voices could be heard.
　Since representatives of various countries began to gather in earnest yesterday, there were many more people on the unpopulated streets than there had been two days ago.
　Almost everyone passing by was a bodyguard or a representative from some country.

『The one accompanying him is the Hero of the Lingle Kingdom and... who is that?』
『That's it, that one. The healing magician of the Rescue Squad. He's wearing white clothes, right?』
『The rumored healing magician is that boy...?』

　We, who are with the Demon King and his group, are also being watched to a certain extent, but it is nothing to be concerned about.
　Or rather, I'm so used to it that it doesn't bother me at all.

『It is said that he rode on the backs of demons on the battlefield, knocking them down.』
『I heard that he threatened one of the leaders of the Demon King's army and knocked her out...』
『I heard he fought a snake bigger than a building!』

　....

"Fuh, that's just a baseless rumor... how can they say it as if it were a fact?"
"They're all true, aren't they."
"Koga. I wasn't threatening Hannah. She just mistook me for a devil."
"Either way, it's your fault, isn't it...?"

　It was mainly Nea and Ferrum's fault.
　This was one thing I absolutely could not give in to.
　As I thought, we stepped into the venue of the training ground.

"Oh"

　The voice of senpai sounded somewhat lively.
　What came into view was the scene of soldiers and guards wearing various types of equipment conducting their own training and mock battles in the training area.
　The scenery itself seemed different from that of the training grounds when the place was empty of people.

"As I thought, he's not there."
"...What's wrong, Demon King-sama?"
"No, don't worry about it."

　At any rate, I talk to the Demon King, who is having a conversation with Ciel-san while suppressing the urge to enter the training grounds.
　The Demon King's presence is really quite overwhelming, so before I know it, he is attracting the gazes of people who seem to be representatives sitting in the venue.
　Some of them are looking at him with a quizzical look and are wary of him.

"Demon King, what are you going to do now?"
"First, let's see the reaction of the people here... Fumu, Koga, Usato. Try a light fight below."
"Aren't those orders too simple...?"

　Koga started swinging his arms around wildly, and I felt annoyed, so I asked the Demon King for an explanation, to which he gave me a grin.

"The people here are probably unfamiliar with demons. Let's have Koga fight first and see how they react."
"Why do I have to fight too...?"
"It's my mood."

　This guy really has a great personality...!
　I sighed and spoke to the Ferrum inside me.

"Ferrum, release the assimilation."
『Is that okay?』
"Yeah, it's just a quick match, so I'll be fine by myself. Nea too."
"Ye~s."

　Ferrum comes out of my body, releasing the assimilation, and Nea transforms from an owl into the form of a black-haired, red-eyed girl.
　There, I realize that I have made things even more complicated again and involuntarily press my forehead.

"...Shoot. I'm getting farther away from being treated like a human being."
"Well well, cheer up, Usato-kun. We're here watching."
"...Yes"

　After being comforted by senpai, Koga and I headed down the stairs to the training grounds.
　As we entered the training ground, we at once attracted the attention of knights and soldiers from various countries around us.

"I feel like a panda..."
"Let's ignore what others think. Let's do as the Demon King commands."

　If it's just a light hand-to-hand combat, I don't even need to deploy my gauntlet.
　I straighten the collar of my trousers and lightly clench my fists as I move to an empty rectangular field separated by white lines.

"At first, it'll just be a light sparring session. No magic."
"I know that... If you want, I can remove the magic from my left arm for you."
"I don't want to be used as an excuse, so you can leave your left arm as is."

　I hadn't paid attention to this before, but Koga lost his left arm in the fight with Kazuki.
　However, this guy is strong when he immediately uses dark magic to create his left arm and uses it in an even nastier way.
　After doing some light warm-up exercises and taking a deep breath, I faced off against Koga.

"Hmph!"
"Rrrrrah!"

　Without a signal, both Koga and I threw punches.
　Dodging his right fist, I instantly pulled back my own fist that was also dodged and launched an attack.

"Ha! This is how it's supposed to be with you!!"
"I'm tired of dealing with you!"

　We exchanged punches and kicks, fighting without any magic or anything.
　Koga blocked the fist I threw with both arms crossed, and when I slammed into him with a kick, he dodged the impact and jumped to the side to block it.
　To be honest, this was the first time I had ever participated in a mock fist fight with anyone other than Rose.

『Oi... what is that?』
『I thought demons were stronger than humans...?』
『I can hear a nasty impact sound...』
『That's the healing magician from the Lingle Kingdom, huh...』

　Our exchanges accelerated, with THUD, BANG, BAM sounds that sounded like they never came from a human body.
　It was always a cycle of being punched, blown away, and punched back in, but this kind of evenly matched fight even seemed fun to me.

"But even so, I won't go easy on you! Hmph!!"
"Nuguoh?!"

　I catch the fist with my forehead and slam my fist into his unprotected stomach.
　Koga withstands the attack and leaps on the spot———and then slams in a powerful side kick.

"Kuh!"

　A shock that resonates to the core...!
　I put my left hand on his right arm, which is poised defensively, and then I grab his leg and swing it wide with one hand.

"Oraah!"
"Ohhhh?!"

　Thrown away by the force of only one arm, Koga changes his stance in mid-air and lands on the ground.

"Phew, I guess there's no way I can win without magic."
"No, it's harder to win if I use healing magic."
"Your magical power application techniques are more dangerous than your healing magic."

　That's a terrible thing to say.
　However, since it is something I am aware of, I try not to overreact.

"So, should I try to use magic lightly next time?"
"Yeah"

　It feels like it's a gradual process.
　Having activated my healing magic and instantly recovered from my fatigue and injuries, I take my stance once again.
　As I was about to call out to Koga, “Let's resume the mock battle,” I noticed that Koga's expression, which had been looking behind me, had changed to one of astonishment.

"Usato!"
"...!"

　———Something is approaching from behind.
　I instantly turn around with magic power in my arms to intercept it, but before I can do so, Koga creates a wall of dark magic from his palm.
　WHACK! and the sound of electric shocks bouncing off the ground can be heard.
　Koga blocked some kind of attack and erased the wall of dark magic, then he grinned and pointed his index finger at me.

"You owe me one."
"I could have prevented it on my own."
"I bet. So that means I was faster."

　...Or rather, who fired this at us?
　It was clearly aimed at us.
　As Koga approaches me and I join him, I notice a man approaching the place.
　He had blonde hair that reached his shoulder blades.
　He was dressed in dark clothes similar to a military uniform, and in his hand was a spear, not for training, but for actual combat.

"Hey you, what are you trying to do?"
"Oh, sorry. My hand just slipped."
"Haa?"

　It's fine that his hand just slipped, but it doesn't feel like he's apologizing in the slightest.

"But blocking my lightning was pretty impressive. You're a demon, a human imitation, after all."

　Koga is more confused than angry at the blonde man who is suddenly rude to him upon first meeting him.
　Seeing the man's brazen behavior, he spoke to me in a hushed voice.

"...Oi, Usato. What's with this guy? Is he trying to pick a fight?"
"Apparently, he wants to make you angry."
"I can't make trouble here, so I'm just going to ignore him."

　That's probably the best thing to do.
　We nodded and tried to quickly get away from this troublesome person, but before we could, the man pointed the tip of his spear at Koga.

"Hey you. How about a match with me?"
"...Haa? Why?"
"I've always wanted to know just how good demons are."

　What is this person seriously talking about?
　There's nothing good that can come from doing something like this here...!?
　Doesn't he realize that there are a lot of people around?

"Hmph, so you have no intention of fighting me properly? Demons are an inferior race after all."

　Discrimination against demi-humans?
　This is the first time I've seen it this blatant.
　I'm glad Hayate-san and the others weren't there.
　I wish they had never been approached by someone like the man in front of us.

"Who are you, anyway?"
"Oya, you can't even tell who I am by looking at this armband?"
"...Yeah"

　The Commander in my brain whispers to me that I should punch this man now.
　I suppress it with my reason and wait for him to say his name.

"I am Lignus Helmlein, Commander of the Knight Corps of the Kingdom of Verinas."
"Well, Helmlein-dono. I am Usato Ken, dispatched from the Kingdom of Lingle as the Demon King's guard and watchman."
"Hmph, the Kingdom of Lingle, huh."

　Let's settle this peacefully and calmly.
　If this were a back alley, I could use a Healing Crush the Eyes to blind them and then knock them out, but that's impossible here.
　While being aware of using the tone of Ark's voice, I responded in a way that would not spoil their mood as much as possible.

"Do you realize that your words and actions are a little disrespectful?"
"No? Isn't this the right way to treat a defeated country that committed an invasion they couldn't carry out? And why are you, who were fighting just a moment ago, protecting the demons?"
"I have no intention of bringing personal feelings into my mission. ... Since you're here, does that mean the representative of the Kingdom of Velinas is here?"
"Ah, over there."

　Lignus's gaze was directed towards an old man surrounded by guards sitting in the audience.
　He was staring at us, giving us an eerie impression.

"More importantly, why are you getting involved in this? What happens to the demons is of no concern to the Lingle Kingdom, is it."
"...The demons are one of the participating nations in this conference. Even though there are reasons to view them as enemies, I don't think it's right to openly discriminate against them..."
"What, you? Are you on the side of the demons?"

　Does this person not understand what I'm saying...?
　Or does he have cotton stuffed in his ears?
　....
　No, this conversation actually makes sense.
　As long as there are people around listening, it is the arrogant one who is in the wrong.

"...It seems like our presence is causing trouble for the surroundings. We'll be heading back now.”
"Hey, I have business with the demon over there. Don't leave without permission."

　Ignoring what Lignus said, we headed towards the stairs leading to the upper floors.
　Who wants to bother with such a selfish request?

"Haha, I see. You demons are going to run away from the fight with me?"

　But he uttered those words more loudly than ever.
　As we stopped walking, Lignus continued to speak to us.

"It seems different from the rumors I heard. I heard that demons had powers superior to humans, but it seems they don't even have that; they're just monkeys, inferior to humans!"

　Ah, now things have gotten even more complicated.
　Of all things, Lignus had dragged everyone else into it.

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

Author's Notes:
Usato and Koga tried really hard to settle the matter peacefully.

This time, we'll introduce Lignus, a knight who has become arrogant and his discrimination against demi-humans has reached an extreme.