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

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TL Notes:
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Chapter 306


　The meeting following the devil Rapdo's attack was naturally canceled.
　However, since the cancellation merely meant the meeting would be rescheduled for another day, it seemed the discussions held during the initial meeting wouldn't be wasted, which was a relief.
　But the fact remained that the devil's attack had made their existence public knowledge.
　We now had to consider the possibility of their power increasing in the future, and above all——,

"What the hell is this about me being called a devil slayer...!!"
"It’s obvious, isn’t it."
"What on earth are you talking about?"
"That's nice, sounds cool."
"From an outsider’s perspective, you were acting way more messed up than the hero."
"I suppose this is what they mean by ‘reaping what you sow’."

　This barrage of comments.
　In the inn's lounge, I got a relentless barrage of comments from Ferum, Nea, senpai, Koga, and Amira-san.
　Things got really tough after that.
　After handing the ashes of Rapdo to Falga-sama, I was surrounded by dignitaries from each kingdom and bombarded with an overwhelming number of questions.
　The content was, well, mostly the same, I suppose.
　Even though I'm getting used to it, being approached by a group like that still leaves me feeling genuinely flustered.

"I didn't quite get it, but how did you sense the devil's location? I couldn't even detect his presence?"

　I answer Amira's question.
　There's no need to hide it, after all.

"I wrapped healing magic particles around the area, sensing them and locating the source."
"...? Excuse me, is that possible with ordinary senses?"
"This guy was able to do it because his senses for sensing magic power have been sharpened to an abnormal level using a technique called magic circulation, so it's not possible with normal people."

　When Nea explained in my place, Amira-san and senpai looked troubled.

"So, if I master that magic circulation technique too, could I gain perception like Usato-kun?"
"Ah~, I can't say for sure, but considering the nature of your magic and Amira-san's, it might be possible."

　Senpai can run on the ground and through the air with lightning bolts, and Amira-san can scatter sparks around her, they seem capable of doing the same things I can.
　Just to test it out, I showed the two of them the magic circulation technique I always practice.

"This is it."
"I know about it, but you're faster than before."
"You're quite skilled... However, there's something similar to the techniques my mentor and I use..."

　Anyone can practice magic circulation.
　Whether you continue or not requires motivation and perseverance, though...

"If more people like me can do this, it'll act as a deterrent against the devil's concealment techniques."
"The enemy has a strange way of hiding. ...Are you really planning to teach that to other countries for free?"
"Eh, it's no good?"

　When I nodded to Koga, he looked surprised but quickly let out a stunned smile.
　Anyone can do it if they just learn how to do it.
　There's nothing worth hiding about it, so it's better to spread it around.
　When I get back, I plan to teach it to the other members too, including Rose.

"Well, you're the kind of person who doesn't have any strange desires. That's fine."
"Hmm...?"

　For some reason, he was convinced.
　Could he have possibly thought I was going to take money from them?
　Just as I was feeling offended, I noticed senpai glaring at Koga with a cold stare.

"Hey, Koga."
"Wh-What is it?"

　Koga braces himself, looking slightly wary as senpai addresses him.

"I have a suspicion that you have some feelings for him, but what is the truth...?"
"Oi Usato! This hero just dropped a freaking bomb out of nowhere!? Wait, ooooooi!!? Don't blatantly distance yourself from me! I told you before, I said it's not like that!!"

　Koga yelled at me as I reflexively distanced myself from him.
　No, I understand that, but that kind of desperate reaction is kind of scary or something.

"Koga... everyone has their own hobbies, but keep it moderate."
"The first kind words you ever spoke to me were way too harsh, you know!?"

　Amira-san placed her hand on his shoulder, causing him to twitch.

"You know, you're kind of... well, you lose out on being normal unless it involves fighting, don't you."
"Considering the nature of dark magic, that's actually totally plausible."

　Nea and Ferm's perception of him is also pretty awful.
　It's getting to the point where it's just plain pitiful, so let's clear up the misunderstanding.

"Senpai. Koga is a dark magician who loves fighting, and he's just a dangerous guy who keeps challenging me to fights. Hahaha."
"I see..."
"Do you realize that your true feelings are what hurt me the most, you bast*rd?!"

　...It's about time.
　As the scenery outside begins to turn the colors of sunset, I stand up.

"Senpai, shall we go now?"
"Yeah, it's that time already..."

　Senpai also stands up and puts the hero's sword on her waist.
　It's not like we're going to fight, but since the devil has appeared, we'll need some equipment.

"Near, you can stay at home and watch Ferrum."
"I'll do that."
"Is it okay if I don't go?"
"Don't worry. I'm just going to see Lloyd-sama."

　Now that Auru-san has appeared, I must speak with Lloyd-sama as well.
　It seems he knew about Auru-san too...

"Alright, Koga, and Amira, please handle the security arrangements."
"Got it."

　We leave the guard duty here to the two of them and leave the inn.
　Our destination is the inn where Lloyd-sama, the representative of the Kingdom of Lingle, is staying.
　Senpai and I proceed down the road, hoods pulled up to conceal our faces.

"You know, Usato-kun. I feel like you're trying a little too hard."
"Eh?"

　Then, out of nowhere, senpai spoke to me about something like that.
　Wondering what the sudden change was about, I looked at her and saw her staring at her own hands, performing magic circulation.
　From finger to finger, she accelerates the magic with such fluidity that it's hard to believe she has only just begun, leaving me in awe.

"I understand you take your duty seriously. I understand you’re acting for the sake of the demon race. But sometimes, your approach is self-righteous."
"Is that… so?"
"Yes, it is."

　It was stated outright.
　I hadn't realized it, but that's how senpai saw me...

"You're ultimately thinking, ‘This is what I should do,’ or at least, ‘I should do this much.’ Some of those final choices even involved staking your own life on them."
"That's not..."
"If we'd lost to the Demon King, you were prepared to let us escape and hold him off alone, weren't you?"
"!"
"I understand it. I know what you're thinking. After all, I'm your senpai."

　I couldn't say the battle with the Demon King was already over.
　I was genuinely surprised that my resolve, something I hadn't voiced to senpai, was completely understood by her.

"I'm not saying it's wrong. If it's an action that disregards my feelings and Kazuki-kun's, then it's probably the best solution."
"...Yes"
"But if that were to happen, Kazuki-kun and I would probably be angry. Not just at you, but at the Demon King and even at the demons. We'd try to get you back by any means necessary."

　By any means necessary, huh.
　I hadn't thought that far ahead.
　Back then, I only thought about keeping senpai and Kazuki alive for the sake of future hope.

"From someone who saw you in a parallel world, let me tell you this: I, too, would become the same after losing you. I would fall into becoming a demon who resorts to every cowardly trick imaginable."
"No, senpai would never say something like that..."
"When I saw you like that, I thought the same thing."

　....
　Having lost my senior and Kazuki in the first battle, I became a failure, not even a member of the Rescue Squad.
　I understand exactly how that feels.
　We were comrades who came to this world.
　We came to this world and became friends.
　Losing both of them right before my eyes, there's no way I could stay sane.

"Well, I've said all this, but since things are going well, I'm not going to blame you or anything."
"Yes."
"What matters is the future from here on out."

　Suddenly, senpai's demeanor changed to a more nonchalant one, and she raised her index finger.

"It's a battle against an enemy we don't quite understand, the devils. And you'll have to fight Rose-san's former subordinates."
"It looks like it's going to be a tough battle..."
"Yes, you'll find yourself caught up in the thick of it more often than not. That's precisely why——"

　She suddenly stops, turns to me, and removes her hood.
　Her tied-up black hair fluttered in the wind, revealing the smug look on senpai's face.

"I'll be there to make sure you don't turn into a real demon!"
".... Hahaha, what is that?"
"Frowning suits you, but you look better when you smile. You're not Rose-san, you're not an ogre, and you certainly aren't a devil. You're just you."

　I'm me... huh.
　It felt like it had been ages since someone had said that to me.
　As we started walking again, the hooded senpai looked up at me with a startled expression.

"Ah! I just sounded like a heroine!"
"If you hadn't said that, you definitely would have been one."
"Kyaun..."
"Hahaha"

　What a genuinely fun person.
　Just knowing this person is here makes me realize how invaluable they are to me, it’s because of them that I can still feel this way.

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

　Upon arriving at the inn of the Kingdom of Lingle, I was guided to the room where Lloyd-sama awaited.
　Senpai, perhaps out of consideration, offered to wait with Kazuki outside the door, meaning I alone would speak with Lloyd-sama and Sigrus-san.
　I was ushered into a particularly large room where Lloyd-sama and Sigrus-san were seated. Tables were piled high with documents, suggesting they had been conducting business until just moments before.

"Oh, you came. Sorry to call you out like this, Usato."
"Not at all. I'm the one who should apologize for bothering you during such a busy time."
"Take a seat over there."

　Taking the seat offered, Lloyd-sama sat across from me, with Sigrus-san standing by his side.

"So you fought Rose's former subordinate, Auru."
"...Yes"

　The talk is about Auru-san and her companions.
　The seven skilled warriors were stolen from the Lingle Kingdom's graveyard.

"I had expected it. I was prepared. But I never imagined she would appear looking so much like she did in life."
"Did you know about Auru-san personally, Lloyd-sama?"
"I have not forgotten a single one. Not even those who lost their lives in battle, nor the knights who are still serving their country."

　Perhaps he remembers the faces and names of the knights?
　When I look at Sigrus-san, he nods silently, so it seems that's true.

"I must tell Rose."
"I wonder what Commander thinks."
"She's strong. Impeccably strong. But she has her human weaknesses."
"Weakness... is it?"

　Well, since becoming vice-commander, I've come to understand that she'd never show that side of herself to anyone else.

"But with you here, there's no need to worry about that. You are Rose's one and only disciple, the one who carries on her will."
"I'm still inexperienced though... ahaha..."

　I really need to gain more experience.

"As for the Kingdom of Lingle, how do you intend to handle the matter of Auru-san and her friends?"
"Fumu. We plan to spread the wanted poster, but it wouldn't be very useful if they were working with devils. More importantly... we must convey at the summit that there exists a technique to summon the dead needlessly."
"Indeed..."

　Other than Auru-san and her friends, there are no other powerful people from each country who have passed away and are now silent bodies that can be brought back to life.

"Auru, huh... That one was quite the handful, wasn't she, Sigrus."
"Yes. She was nothing but trouble from the moment she joined, but she really began to show promise after becoming Rose's subordinate..."

　Perhaps remembering those days, Sigrus-san spoke with a wry smile.

"Usato-dono, is Auru the only one with a will of her own?"
"Yes. That is certain. The other six... well, they were like puppets."
"Considering her mental strength, it makes sense... but at the same time, Auru possesses a very troublesome way of thinking..."
"Would you mind telling me more specifically?"

　I've heard it from Rose, but I'd also like to hear it from Sigrus-san.

"Auru remains utterly unshaken emotionally in any situation. No matter how hopeless the odds, no matter how surrounded by monsters, no matter if rubble collapses and traps her in a cave with no escape, she never despairs and never ceases to press forward."
"...That's amazing."
"From my perspective, I would say she's similar to you."

　Never give up, huh.
　I don't know if we are similar, but Auru-san is someone I can respect as a predecessor.

"The others were quite a bunch of troublemakers too. Lloyd-sama, do you recall the incident where the entire stock of alcohol from the town's brewery vanished overnight?"
"It's something so shocking that you can't forget it even if you want to."

　What does it mean that the entire stock of alcohol from the town's brewery vanished overnight...?
　As I tilted my head, Lloyd-sama and Sigrus-san had a faraway look.

"Rose has two female knights under her command, named Beth and Naruka. Both have terrible drinking habits and are incredibly heavy drinkers. They frequently head down to the castle town, drink like fish, and return to their knightly duties the next morning as if nothing happened."
"Are those people human...?"
"There's more. Two large men, Chris and Gilg, who wander the streets half-naked at night. Josh, who skips training to go flirt with women. And then there's Din, he doesn't do anything particularly bad, but he's unusually inconspicuous and tends to be forgotten."

　These people seem to have a ridiculously strong personality...!?

"To think that every single one of them came to be controlled by Rose's skill, it still strikes me as an incredible story."
"Hahaha, at one point, these seven were famous in our country."

　I guess you could say, even though the fierce-looking guys now are like that, Rose hasn't changed at all from back then, she's still Rose. Thinking that makes me feel a little happy.
　That's precisely why it's so frustrating to see those seniors being toyed with by the devil like this.

"But somehow, the members of the Rescue Squad, myself included, don't seem to leave much of an impression."
""...""
"...Areh?"

　Why did you look away without a word... Lloyd-sama?
　Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Lloyd-sama turned to face me.

"Ah, that's right. I suppose I should show you this."
"Yes?"

　He showed me several documents, which looked a bit suspicious.
　I picked up one of them and glanced through it, my body froze.

"Lloyd-sama, what is this...?"
"A letter to make contact with you."
"..."

　I honestly wonder what they're hoping to gain by meeting someone like me.

"Don't worry. I intend to turn them all down. Still, I thought I should at least let you know..."
"Thank you very much."

　Perhaps it was just my imagination, but Lloyd-sama also looked exhausted.
　Feeling somewhat apologetic, I flipped through the documents and, as expected, found one belonging to His Majesty Harold of the Kingdom of Calmhelio.

"The same was given to Kazuki and Suzune, but you received just as many."
"Well, from others' perspectives, it seems I'm in a more accessible position than the hero..."
"And on top of that, there's your contribution this time. Alongside Suzune and Kazuki, you rescued the hostages and drove back the devils with your unique technique."

　Although it can't be helped, I guess I stood out a little too much...
　It's tough to get involved in political matters like this, but if I'm going to get involved in issues regarding demons and devils from now on, I'll have to face these kinds of problems...

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

Author's Notes:
In addition to Auru, Rose's subordinates were full of troublemakers.
By the way, Rose hardly ever drinks alcohol.