Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu
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TL Notes:
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Chapter 316
There is a large river just before entering the Demon King's territory.
Previously, we crossed it using Leona-san's ice magic, but after the war ended, a proper bridge was built, allowing us to enter the Demon King's territory without any trouble.
However, that doesn't mean just anyone can enter. A solid guard post has been established at the bridge, monitoring to ensure no one attempts to enter the Demon King's territory without permission.
For now, having arrived at the bridge, we waited near the guard post for the people from Nirvarna.
"Nirvarna, huh... I wonder what kind of people will come."
"Basically, it should be fine no matter who comes. They'll send proper personnel to avoid damaging the country's reputation."
It's certainly as Nea said.
This is just my impression, but Harold-sama doesn't seem like the type of person who would send someone inappropriate.
I probably don't need to worry too much.
"Are you okay, Ururu-san?"
"Hmm? About that?"
Ururu-san, who had been stroking the horse's mane, turned to look at us.
"I was wondering if you're tired from the unfamiliar journey."
"Nope. I'm totally fine! Actually, I've never really done this kind of trip before, so I'm kinda excited."
"I understand that feeling very well."
"Right!"
Ururu-san's bright smile made me smile too.
When I set out on my letter-delivery journey, I was nervous, but I think I was just as excited.
"Besides, I think I was way too overprotective of onii-chan."
"Caring about family is a good thing, isn't it?"
"...Keep this between us, okay?"
What's up? Ururu-san suddenly whispered.
There wasn't anyone else around, but Nea and I leaned closer to hear what she was saying.
"Remember that other healing mage who came to help during the last war? The one named Sharun-san?"
"Yes? I remember her."
Gerna-kun, Kate-san, and Sharun-san.
She's one of the three healing mages who came to aid us from various nations.
Is something wrong with her?
"That person and my big brother... they're exchanging letters, you know."
"...I see. Hohou, so that's how it is."
"That's how it is...!"
"Is it going well...?!"
"It's going well...!!"
I nodded at Ururu-san's words, demonstrating my natural intuition.
For some reason, Nea was glaring at me with narrowed eyes.
"Why is this person so perceptive of others other than himself...?"
"Hmph, Nea. The dishonorable title of ‘clueless.’ I'll have you relinquish it right here and now."
"It's impossible because you're united on a soul level."
Is it really that bad...?
Are my cluelessness and I two sides of the same coin now...?
"Usato-dono, I have spotted the people dispatched from Nirvarna."
"Yes! ... Looks like they've arrived."
"Well then, let's go meet them."
Ark-san's voice, who had been keeping watch on our surroundings.
Responding to that voice, we welcomed the people who had arrived from Nirvarna.
There were about seven of them, roughly the same number as us.
"Ah, ehto, sorry to have kept you waiting."
The person leading the pack dismounted from the horse and removed the traveling hood she was wearing.
"People of the Lingle Kingdom, I am Helena Straim, the one leading this group. ...For now, anyway."
Helena-san, second-in-command to Captain Hyde-san of the Nirvarna Warriors.
With her slightly tired eyes and pale purple hair, she turned her gaze toward me and flashed a faintly relieved smile.
"We just met the other day, didn't we, Usato-kun?"
"So it was Helena-san? So that means the others are also members of the Warrior Corps...?"
"That's about it. Ah, except for one person..."
Then, one of the figures dismounting behind Helena-san stepped forward, removing her hood.
Beneath the hood was a beautiful woman with slightly brownish-black hair braided into a single plait.
The woman, who appeared to be about my age, placed a hand over her chest and bowed slightly.
"Nice to meet you, my name is Senri."
"I'm Usato, vice-commander of the Rescue Squad. Nice to meet you."
I return the greeting.
Somehow, I can't help but feel that Helena-san and the warriors behind her look a bit pale.
"You're the one they've been talking about... It's nice to meet you too."
Senri-san offered me a cheerful smile and slowly extended her hand toward me.
I immediately understood she was asking for a handshake and responded right away.
"Muh?"
The pressure on my wrist.
Feeling a force like when senpai threw me, I instinctively shifted my center of gravity.
Tilting my head, I looked up and met Senri-san's gaze, she was staring at me with a look of surprise.
"Your strength... is truly formidable."
"That's what I should say."
This person is very strong.
Truly a warrior of Nirvarna.
And I remember this exchange.
"Ufufufufu!!"
"Hahaha..."
But what is this?
This chill-like feeling.
Senri-san in front of me is smiling cheerfully, but my gut is whispering danger.
"E-Excuse me for a moment, Usato-kun."
"Ah, yes."
"Sorry! We'll get ready right away!"
Helena-san grabbed Senri-san's shoulder and pulled her away from me.
While I was stunned, Helena-san raised a panicked voice.
"Hey, Senri-sama, what are you doing?!"
...-sama?
Helena immediately snapped to attention and whispered to Senri-san... but wait, did she just say “-sama”?
Could this person be someone important?
"...He's incredibly strong." (Note: this is in katakana)
"You're almost forgetting the language?! You can't, okay!? That's not good!? We made a promise!! Marriage duels are forbidden!! Fighting is absolutely forbidden!?"
"So it's okay if it's official?"
"Fighting isn't about being official or not, you know?!"
There seems to be some kind of arguing.
Or maybe it's just a discussion?
Well, it looks like we managed to regroup anyway. While the Nirvarna side prepares to depart, let's get ourselves ready, too.
"You've attracted another weirdo again. That's quite amazing."
"It always seems lively and fun around Usato-kun."
"The fact that you think that honestly scares me."
Nea and Ururu-san are whispering something behind me, but I ignore them and head off with Ark-san and the others to prepare the horses and Blurin for departure.
The city is quite a distance away.
There's a risk of being attacked by monsters, so let's proceed without letting our guard down.
●
——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———
As expected, the people of Nirvarna were surprised to see me riding on Blurin's back.
Well, that's what you'd expect from the Nirvarna warriors.
Having fought on the same battlefield together, they quickly got used to it... But I never imagined Senri-san would...
『It's amazing that you have a Blue Grizzly as your familiar!』
『Eh? Partner? You haven't made a familiar contract? Then we're the same!』
『I've left him behind for this expedition, but I'm friends with a tiger monster named Rouga, an Arrow Tiger!』
『We're surprisingly alike, aren't we!』
I was surprised at how much interest she showed.
Her enthusiasm was overwhelming, so I found myself pulling back a bit during our conversation, but she didn't seem like a bad person.
While interacting with Senri-san and the Nirvana warriors, we made our way toward the Demon King's territory. Compared to when I'd come before, a much more solid path had been constructed.
The danger of monster attacks still lingered, but it felt different from when we'd been traversing untrodden paths. We were able to proceed with a sense of ease.
"No sign of monsters, huh?"
As the sun set and darkness fell, we set up camp and planned to depart for the city again at dawn.
Until then, we took turns keeping watch to prevent monsters from attacking... but right now, the five of us, including me, are on guard.
"Gruu."
"Hahaha, wake up properly if monsters come, okay?"
Blurin was still sitting at my feet, dozing off. I stroked his head while gazing out at the moonlit forest.
"Ururu-san seemed tired too, from this unfamiliar journey."
In the city, we'll likely come into contact with the demons, so I must keep a close eye on Ururu-san when that happens.
After all, she's been entrusted to me by Olga-san, and it'll be too late if something happens.
"Hmm?"
"Usato-san"
"Senri-san?"
Senri-san approaches from the direction of the campsite.
"I had a bit of trouble escaping that annoying surveillance..."
"Eh?"
"Ufufufu! It's nothing!"
I thought I heard her muttering something under her breath, but she laughed it off.
"You must be tired from traveling all the way from Nirvarna. Shouldn't you get some rest?"
"I haven't trained so lightly that I'd get tired from this much."
"...I see. You have a point."
As expected of someone from Nirvarna.
That's convincing...!
"Speaking of which, I had the chance to meet Harold-sama and Ouka-sama of the Kingdom of Nirvana the other day. When shaking hands with Ouka-sama, we did something like a test of strength..."
"...Hee~, is that so?"
"Is that a popular thing in Nirvarna?"
That reminds me, so I ask Senri-san about something that came to mind.
When I went to Mialak, Ouka-sama shook my hand with considerable force.
Since Senri-san did something similar, I wondered if that was the customary greeting in Nirvarna.
"No, it was probably just a coincidence. But, to have my... Ouka-sama test your strength? How did you react?"
"It felt like my strength was being recognized. It was quite an honor for me."
"..."
Lucas-sama as well, but to be acknowledged by royalty from other nations is truly humbling for someone like me.
Since Senri-san seems interested too, perhaps I should share some stories about Nirvarna as a conversation starter.
"But then I was surprised when Ouka-sama wanted to introduce her younger sister to me."
"Did you accept it?"
"Eh?"
"Did you accept it?"
It was dark and hard to see, but I tilted my head at her slightly lowered voice.
I didn’t quite understand, but I had no reason to lie, so I decided to be honest.
"No, I declined due to my position and circumstances..."
"..."
"Senri-san?"
"Ah, no, I was just spacing out a bit."
Is she okay?
She seemed to be looking down.
...Maybe I should change the subject.
"Why are you coming to the Demon King’s territory, Senri-san?"
Since this is a sudden participation, I think there must be some kind of purpose or desire behind it...
At my question, Senri-san seemed slightly troubled.
"Well. To find someone, I suppose."
"Do you have an acquaintance among the demons?"
"Fufu, no. That's not what I meant."
But the person she wanted to meet, that means...
If she was heading to the Demon King’s territory, didn’t that mean she was going to meet someone from the demon race?
"I only know his name."
"Who is it? If you tell me, I might be able to ask my demon acquaintances to look for him."
If Koga or Amira-san don't know, I could just ask the Demon King.
...Wait, maybe asking the Demon King is a bad idea?
As I was scratching my head, Senri-san seemed ready to tell me the name.
"His name is Koga."
"Eh, that's my friend."
"Really?!"
Is it really him? With a slightly bold tone, Senri-san looked startled, then immediately froze in shock.
To think that the demon she's looking for is Koga...
"The strong are drawn to each other...? Does that mean this meeting is fate...?! Hawa-wa-wa?!"
"? A-Are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine..."
Taking a deep breath to regain her composure, Senri-san leaned her back against the tree behind her.
"But this is surprising. I never imagined it would be Koga."
"U-Usato-san, do you know that person well?"
"Yes. During the war, we had many opportunities to fight."
Yeah, I've fought that guy so many times.
Starting with Hinomoto, then the war, the ruins, and Verhazal.
Every time we fought, that troublesome evolution and his ability to mimic my moves really gave me a hard time.
"Is he strong?"
"He's strong. Yeah, he's a real pain. There was a time I almost got killed by him."
The victories and overwhelming wins I've achieved so far weren't solely my own doing; they came from the support of my teammates.
I think he's a formidable opponent, and I'm not sure if I can win alone. Of course, I have no intention of losing.
"But how did you find out about him? I don't mean to say anything bad, but Koga is someone who basically only thinks about fighting, so I can't see how you'd have any connection. Could it be... revenge or something..."
"No, that's not it. I just happened to learn his name unilaterally... Well, I suppose the reason I want to meet him is because he's “strong”."
"...I see"
I'd be a bit surprised if someone from the Kingdom of Lingle or Samarial said this, but coming from Senri-san, a citizen of Nirvarna, it makes sense.
"Then shall I introduce you?"
"Is that okay...?!"
"Yes. Koga may be lazy, but he has a surprisingly serious side in unexpected ways."
I wouldn't say this much in front of him, though.
But Koga can't be ignored either.
To think such a beauty knows his name.
"I-I'm glad I went on this journey... First choice, second choice, u-ufufu... I might as well go right here and now..."
...I don't know why, but I feel like I'm forgetting something important.
But I can't think of one right away.
Was there ever anything about Nirvarna that caused such alarm?
Well, it's probably just my imagination.
"Usato-san!!!"
"Y-Yes? What's wrong? Monsters might be approaching, if you shout like that..."
"Right now, right here, let’s——"
"Senri-samaa!!"
Just as she was about to say something, Helena-san's panicked voice came from the campsite.
Senri-san, the subject of the commotion, looked somewhat awkward.
"...Tch, I’ve been spotted...!"
"Your esteemed is really, mou!! I can’t let my guard down around you for a second! Usato-san, did this person do anything to you!?"
"No? She just talked to me..."
What does it mean “do anything to you”?
She doesn't seem like the type of person who would do something so dangerous...
"Then it's fine! Come on, let's hurry back to the tent!!"
"Kuh... Usato-san, I'd appreciate it if you'd introduce me!"
I nodded to Senri-san as she was dragged back toward the tent by Helena-san.
Silence fell over the scene once more.
Not really understanding what was going on, I squatted down on the spot and stroked the head of Blurin, who had woken up from the loud noise earlier.
"Hey, Blurin."
"Guu...?"
"What exactly is Nirvarna, I wonder...?"
I know it's a country where power matters.
But beyond that, it feels like there are far too many strange aspects to it.
——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———
Author's Notes:
After stepping on a bunch of landmines, Usato throws them at Kouga without even realizing it.
The next will be the start of the hellish Demon King's Territory arc.
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