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

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Chapter 325


This chapter is told from El's perspective.

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

　The healing mage, Usato.
　I’ve crossed paths with him four times.
　The first time was back when the Demon King’s Army still existed, after our second assault on the Kingdom of Lingle had ended in failure and we were in retreat.
　A healing mage dashing across the battlefield.
　Something that looked human, vanishing like smoke and moving as fast as the wind.
　A baffling enemy who attacks with healing magic.

　Many people spoke of him.
　Despite suffering an attack severe enough to knock them unconscious, they're still alive.
　The only memory etched in their minds is of being knocked unconscious by something clad in white.
　Why are they still alive...? Although it was later revealed that the reason was that he had used healing magic to incapacitate the soldiers, I still remember how that left me in a state of confusion at the time.

　The second time was when I went to Hinomoto, the land of the beastmen, with Lady Amira-onee-sama.
　I heard that during that time, he engaged in a fierce battle with Koga, the former corps commander.
　Koga is careless and doesn’t do his job, so I don’t particularly respect him, but his strength is unmatched even within the Demon King’s Army.
　I acknowledge his strength, which is why I'm technically his subordinate... but I thought it was strange that Koga would consider him a worthy opponent.

　The third time was the final battle against the Kingdom of Lingle.
　Apparently, he ran amok even more than he did in the last battle. I was told all sorts of outlandish stories, that he fought Commander Nero of the First Army and survived, that he transformed into a monster during his back-to-back battles with Koga, and that, to top it all off, he captured Commander Hannah of the Third Army using some monstrous power. I couldn’t even tell if these were hallucinations or facts.
　I heard from Koga, who actually fought him, that he’s borrowing the power of a dark mage, but even hearing that doesn’t make any sense at all.

　And then, the fourth time.
　It was here, at the Demon King's castle, that I... no, we... faced him head-on for the first time.
　His physical abilities were absurd, far surpassing those of any demon.
　The moment he effortlessly caught up to me, someone who prided myself on my speed, I finally understood the “fear” my comrades had been talking about.

"El... are you still alive...?"
"...I’m dead."

　The first thing I felt when I woke up was a disconnect between my body and my mind.
　My body wasn’t tired, yet I lacked the energy to get up.
　When I shifted my gaze, I saw two fellow soldiers———Kevin and Wal, lying on the ground not far from me, just like me.

"What... is the situation right now?"
"After that, I ended up passing out without even being able to touch him. You were the only one left at the end, how did it go?"
"...Kuh."
"Looks like it didn’t go well, judging by your reaction."

　I remember now...!!
　That healing mage... I lunged at him, determined to catch Usato no matter what, but in the end, I fainted before I could even touch him...!!

"Where is he...?"
"Over there..."

　When I shifted my gaze and looked in the direction Kevin indicated with his chin, I saw Usato fighting Koga.

"Oraaa!! Healing Explosive Bullet!!"
"I've seen that technique!! All I have to do is throw it back before it explodes!!"
"Then I’ll cancel it out with a Healing Explosion Wave!!"

　What on earth is that...?
　The healing magic is exploding...?
　The blast sends shockwaves and particles of healing magic flying toward us.
　I shield my eyes with my hand and look up to see Koga attacking from above Usato’s head with claws formed from dark magic.

"A surprise attack is useless against my Healing Detection!!"
"Yeah, right!! I know that!!"

　Silver gauntlet and black claws clash mid-air.
　With a clang of metal, they engage in a fierce battle without a moment’s pause.

"Explosive power and elasticity!! I learned all these techniques from you!!"
"I'm better at applying these techniques!! Here I go, Healing Combo Punch!!"
"Geh!?"

　Usato parries Koga’s attack, and green magical energy surges through his arm.
　Seeing that light, Koga braces himself——but in the very next instant, a side kick launched from below hits him squarely, sending his body flying.

"Gehah!? That wasn’t a fist!? Wait, you were using a combo punch just a second ago!!"
"You fell for it!! There’s more than one way to use magic circulation!!"
"Guh, ha ha! Yeah, I’ll make sure to remember that one too!!"
"What!?"

　Then, the form and quality of their magic, or rather their magical power, instantly changed; a relentless exchange of attacks and defenses ensued.
　Did that many strategic maneuvers happen in just this split second...!?
　No good, I can’t keep up with this with my eyes right now...!!

"Why is he so full of energy...?"
"I don’t really know either...!!"

　I mean, just a moment ago he was running all over the place fighting us... and he must have used up quite a bit of magic too...
　Is this... the gap in strength between him... no, between them and me?

"Oh no, that healing mage is dangerous."
"..."
"Kuh, Wal's completely knocked out...!!"

　Wol wasn’t used to moving so much, so that’s why he’s so exhausted...

"Acya, are you guys okay?"

　Just as Kevin and I had finally regained enough strength to sit up, the black-haired, red-eyed woman who had been with Hannah, the former Third Corps Commander, and Usato approached us.

"...Hannah, the former Third Corps Commander?"
"I don’t have a title anymore, so you can just call me Hannah. Being a Corps Commander doesn’t mean anything anymore, anyway."

　After crouching down to check on us, she stood up and looked at Usato and Koga with an exasperated expression.

"Since they’re still at the training ground level, I won’t reprimand them… but even looking at them again, their movements are definitely strange."
"Even though Usato says all sorts of things, they’re two of a kind, so I suppose they’re just having fun."

　Listening to their conversation, I looked at Koga and Usato once more.
　I thought I had improved my skills through all the training I'd done up until today, but that was all just my imagination.
　I wasn’t strong at all, not even a little bit.
　That fact is unbearably frustrating.

"..."
"Nea-san? What's the matter?"

　So you're saying he didn't even need to go all out against us?
　Even with the handicap of having to cast healing magic just to make the training efficient, I still couldn't draw out my full potential.

"Did they call you El?"
"...What is it?"

　A woman with black hair calls out to me.

"That thing that happened earlier? It was just a warm-up for him, you know?"
"What did you say?"
"I suppose he was just checking to see what you lot are capable of."

　Kevin, who had been listening, lets out a gasp: “You’ve got to be kidding me...”
　In response, I lower my head and clench my fists tightly.

"Otherwise, there’s no way you’d be able to pass out so easily right now."
"What, are you threatening me?"
"I’m just stating the facts. But... well, I’ll give you some advice. You’d better not get him too worked up, okay?"

　The black-haired woman, who had sneered, “You’ll see hell,” left the scene alongside Hannah-sama, whose cheek twitched slightly.

"Uhm, was that a threat?"
"I was just trying to rile her up a bit. That girl seems like she’s got some guts."
"I-Is that so? Ah, so that was just a joke———"
"No, it wasn’t a joke at all. If you make that person take it seriously, it’ll be a disaster."

　... Fine by me.
　So, that means there’s no need for him to go all out against us right now, right?
　Well then, I’ll make him do it, even if I have to force it out of him.
　Bring it on, even if it's hell...!! I'm going to overcome it no matter what!!

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

Author’s Notes:
The next chapter will be a diary.
Seven days of El's wild behavior...!!