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

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Chapter 317


　We spent the night in the Demon King's territory and set out at sunrise, heading for the Demon King's city, Verhazal.
　Perhaps due to Blurin's presence, we made good progress without encountering any monsters along the way. We reached a spot where Verhazal came into view much sooner than when I first came here.

"The castle that was so huge is gone?"
"Yes. It's vanished. The maze-like buildings are gone too, replaced by ordinary structures. It's changed quite a bit from before."

　The first time I came here, the place was quickly turned into a fortress, but this time it seems I'll be visiting a town where demons actually live.
　There are no grand castles anywhere; instead, buildings about the size of houses are arranged in orderly rows.
　The way any unnecessary things are promptly eliminated, and dwellings for people are prioritized, it really feels like something the Demon King would do.

"Usato-kun, you participated in the battle against the Demon King."

　I nodded to Helena-san, who called out to me from her horse.

"It seems like a distant memory now. The final battle was a life-or-death struggle for both us and the Demon King."
"Infiltrating the city with just a handful of people for the decisive battle against the Demon King. It's easy to say in words, but you can imagine how incredibly difficult that fight must have been."

　It was difficult, but I overcame it, and that's why I'm where I am today.
　At the very least, I do not believe it was a mistake to choose not to kill the Demon King there.

"Thanks to that, this guy's become feared by the demons, though."
"Oi, Nea."
"It's true. Besides, you should explain it now, don't you think?"

　... She's right, I suppose.
　It's true that I'm feared by the demons.
　Nea's words drew everyone's gaze, but the Lingle Kingdom group, including Ark-san, just looked like they understood.

"Feared? How so?"
"Well, I made a bit of a mess in the last battle. Apparently, some demons ended up recognizing me as a devil."
"Is that because you’re devilishly strong?"
"No, it’s because of my appearance."
"???"

　Senri-san tilted her head at me in puzzlement.

"So, one of the goals of this expedition is to clear up the misunderstandings among the demon race and deepen our friendship. That's why I asked Ururu-san to come along too."
"Since you've asked me, I'll support you...!"

　Ururu-san also seems very motivated.
　This time, I'll dispel any suspicions that I'm a devil.
　Before long, we arrive at the entrance to Velhazar.
　A demon soldier, likely a guard, stands watch at the outer gate. Spotting us, he immediately approaches the gate.
　As the representative of this group, I dismount Blurin and step forward to face the soldier.

"We are envoys dispatched from the Kingdom of Lingle and the Kingdom of Nirvarna."
"...I've heard about the matter. First, we must seek an audience with the Demon King-sama...!?"

　The soldier looked surprised when he saw me.
　Could it be someone I encountered on the battlefield? Though I certainly wouldn't remember the enemy from back then...

"H-H-H-H-Healing Mage...dono of the Kingdom of Lingle...?!"
"Yes"
"I-I'll call a guide right away!!"

　The soldier, his face turning deathly pale, let us pass without further ado.
　I knew it, but this is something else.
　With a twitch at the corner of my mouth, I turned back to Ark-san and the others.

"This is the situation."
"We were once enemies. It's only natural that misunderstandings arise. What matters most for Usato-dono is what comes next, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's right."

　It's as Ark-san says.
　Pulling myself together, I entered the city. There, even more than from the outside, buildings stood in orderly rows, and the demon race lived there just like the people of the Lingle Kingdom.

"Is this a town where demons live? Looking at it like this, it's no different from us, Usato-san."
"I agree"
"Us, I said. Fufufu."
"...?"

　Wondering what's bugging Senri-san as she fidgets, I wait for the guide who said they'd be here soon.
　While we wait, the townspeople start showing interest in us, maybe because humans are a rare sight around here.
　They seem mostly wary, but some send curious glances our way.

"Guaah"
"...Blurin, don't fall asleep here, okay? We'll be able to rest soon?"

　Amidst all this, I can't help but smile wryly as I see Blurin yawning carefree.
　For now, I kept stroking Blurin's back to keep him awake, when I noticed the demon children in the city showing interest in him.

"It's a Blue Grizzly..."
"Maybe it's a familiar?"
"It looks so calm and different from the ones I know..."

　Fuh, bringing Blurin along was definitely the right call.

"I-It's a summoning beast of the devil..."
"Is that what it is...?!"
"I know I shouldn't be scared, but the fear etched into my body..."

　Meanwhile, the soldiers who were at the final battle are looking at us with pale faces.
　Seeing this, Nea gave me a sharp look and lightly tapped my cheek.

"Usato, face reality."
"..."

　The drawbacks of Devil Mode have finally come to bite me...!
　Summoning Blurin from the shadows on a whim was a reckless gamble after all...!!

"For now, let's wait for the guide."
"In the meantime, shall we leave the horse and Blurin at the stables?"
"Guaah"

　Nodding at Ark-san's words, I was about to ask for directions to the stables when something suddenly caught my eye.
　A black shadow-like thing floating in the sky.
　Realizing it was heading straight for us, I looked up while forming a magic bullet in my palm.

"Ururu-san, Senri-san, please step back."
"W-what's wrong?"
"Kyuun"

　Something's off. Even though senpai isn't here, I swear I just heard a fluttery sound.
　Both Ark-san and Helena-san notice it approaching from the sky and show their wariness.

"...Hn?"

　No, wait, that black shadow... it seems vaguely familiar...
　It was like a black robe flying through the air as if it had a will of its own... No, perhaps it was a cloak?
　If so, then that thing is...

"Ark-san, there's no need to attack!"
"Do you know what that is?"
"Probably!"

　While holding back Ark-san and the others, I looked up at the cloak plummeting toward me.
　Rather than attacking, the cloak seemed to dive right at me, crashing down on me with tremendous force.

"Usato-dono?!"
"Usato-kun got eaten by the cloak?!"

　My vision darkened for an instant, then brightened again as a cloak attached to my shoulders like magnets was fastened in place.
　The long black cloak, reaching from my neck to my feet, moved as if fluttering in the wind despite none blowing, completely covering my uniform.

"...So it was the cloak of dark magic after all."
"Puha! Ah, what a surprise!"

　Nea pops her head out from under the cloak, looking surprised.

"Usato, this is Kira's dark magic, right? I wonder why it's here..."
"No, I don't know. Maybe something happened to her———Uoh?!"

　A sensation of floating, as if my entire body were being lifted into the air.
　When I realized my body had soared high into the sky, I saw the figures of Ark-san and the others below, staring up at me with expressions of astonishment.

"Wh-what's that!?"
"Uwaaaaaaaaaa?!"
"Are humans creatures that can fly in the sky?!"

　Looking around them, I saw that all the demons were looking up at me in shock.
　To add to that, the soldiers' faces have turned even paler, so it's quite a commotion.

"Wait, where are you flying to?!"

　The cloak abruptly changed direction and accelerated toward the city center.
　Realizing that I was going to be taken somewhere, I called out to Ark-san, who was on the ground.

"Ark-san! I think I'll be fine, so please take care of everything from here on!!"
"Usato-dono?!"

　Flying straight through the sky, away from them.
　The cloak isn't particularly fast, but it flies as if drawn by something.

"...Now then, Usato-dono has asked me to take care of things..."
"Act more flustered, Ark-kun!?"
"Kurumia, don't panic. There's no need to worry about Usato-dono."
"You already trust him on a whole different level?"

　Below, the houses of the city and the people living there come into view.
　As I gazed upon the demons, not the soldiers I'd seen before, going about their daily lives, I wondered what to do.

"This is taking us to Keira's place, right?"
"I doubt it's Keira's will, though."
"Probably not. ...Hn?"

　I can see a flying dragon coming in the direction I'm heading.
　Spotting the two female demons riding its back, I instantly deploy the gauntlet on my right arm.

“Healing Magic Burst Palm!”

　I release a shockwave forward like a reverse thrust, slowing down near the dragon's flank. Hooking my hands onto its saddle, I leap forward and land in front of the rider.

"Hello!!"
""Gyaaaaaaaaaaa!?""

　They let out a scream so fierce it was hard to believe it came from a woman.
　First, I clung to its body with one arm to keep from being thrown off the flying dragon.

"Gyah!? Gwaah!!"
"Sorry. I'll get off soon. Just stay still, okay?"

　Watching the woman holding the flying dragon's reins while stroking its neck to calm it down, just like you'd do with a bull.

"F-From the sky, the d-d-d-devil, c-c-come?!"
"Ehto, Nono-san? Right?"
"He even remembered my nameeeee?!"

　One of the passengers was Nono-san, the person I met at the ruins.
　I did something bad last time, and I want to apologize... but first, it's the person sitting behind her.

"It's been a while! Hannah-san!!"
"Ah, why can't you just make a normal entrance?! And more importantly, why are you flying in the sky?!"
"Could it be... you're the one who was supposed to guide us?"
"Y-Yes, that's right! Aaah! My plan to frame Nono... Why, why won't things ever go according to my plan?!"

　Well, it's only natural she'd be confused if I were flying through the sky.
　...And since the cloak is insistently tugging at me, I suppose I should explain this briefly.

"I don't have much time, so I'll keep it brief! Due to certain circumstances, I'm flying away from the squad now!! The squad's still near the gate, so please guide them!"
"What the heck do you mean by ‘certain circumstances’! So why are you flying in the sky!?"
"Alright then, please take care of theeeem!!"
"Please listen to what I have to say!? Wait, Nono!? Why did you grab me!? No no!? I was flustered just now!? It was just a slip of the tongue, I mean! Wahiyaahh!?"

　I let go of the dragon's back and flew through the air once more, pulled along by the cloak.
　As I soared through the sky, pointed at by passersby in the city, I suddenly realized my trajectory was heading downward.

"Usato, look at the ground!"
"Hn?! Ah!"

　Looking down at the ground as Nea said, I spotted two figures in what seemed to be an open training area.
　One was Koga, and the other petite silver-haired girl was———Keira.

"Uhm, while I was training, my magic just flew off somewhere! What's going on!? No matter how hard I focus, it won't come back at all!?"
"Oh no, why? No idea. It'll probably come back in a bit, right?"
"...Right now, I want to erase the past where I tried to learn dark magic from you."
"Whoa, looks like all respect and trust are completely gone...Hn? ...Hn!?"

　Koga noticed something approaching, and our eyes met.
　He instinctively took a double take, and just as Keira glances upward, I finally touch down on the ground, using a Healing Magic Explosion Palm to reverse my momentum.

"Fuuuuuh... landing successful."
"That was quite a city tour."

　As I stood up, hearing Koga's dazed mutterings, the cloak that had been draped over my shoulder shifted to Keira, who was still staring blankly.

"Well, why are you here?"
"Keira's magic brought us here..., but it seems like it's started moving on its own."

　Finally grasping the situation, Keira's stunned expression instantly gave way to one brimming with joy as she sprinted toward me at full speed.

"Usato-san! Long time no see!!"
"Uwaaatto..."

　I catch Keira as she leaps toward me with all her might.
　She flies through the air and dives in, so I catch her gently, coming face to face with a happy-looking Keira.

"Long time no see. Been well?"
"Yes! I've been a good girl!! ...Oh, sorry! My magic did it again..."
"I don't really mind. I know that's just how dark magic works."

　Did she really want to see me that badly?
　The dark magic doesn't seem to be affecting Keira negatively either, if anything, it's rather heartwarming.

"Why are you here?!"
"Areh? Didn't Koga tell you that I was chosen to be part of the delegation from the Kingdom of Lingle?"
"...No, he didn't. I didn't hear anything."

　Keira suddenly narrowed her eyes and glared at Koga.
　He caught her gaze, crossed his arms, and chuckled dryly.

"Well, I thought I'd surprise you. Are you surprised?"
"I hate Koga-san."
"Oh, oh..."

　Koga is mildly shocked.
　I gave a wry smile at the sight of him, something I rarely see, and placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Fuh, don't worry, Koga."
"What is it?"
"Spring might come for you too."
"...I just had a terrible chill, is it just my imagination?"

　Today, I'll introduce you to Senri...!
　...Although the fact that I ended up here is more than unexpected.

"I got separated from Ark-san and the others, but I'm meeting with the Demon King anyway, so I guess we can meet up there. Do you think that'll be okay, Nea?"

　I speak to Nea, perched on my shoulder.

"Right... Well, that Demon King is probably laughing with glee right now."
"...Well, I guess so."

　I'm sure he's grinning with delight knowing my current situation.
　It's not like Keira's bad or anything, and it doesn't hurt or itch at all, but somehow it pisses me off that the Demon King is laughing.

"Koga, you might be busy, but could you tell me where the Demon King is?"
"Oh, sure. I'm free anyway."

　Wait, isn't he supposed to be busy?
　Is this guy a former army commander? With a slight sense of doubt, we moved away from the scene.

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

Author's Notes:
Mysterious! A flying healing wizard...!!

Usato flies through the sky thanks to Keira's magic.
For Hannah and Nono, it was a way of appearing that could seriously reignite their trauma.