Translated: Sei, MTL-sensei-tachi
Edited: Sei, Grammarly no Danna
Source: Syosetu
Thank you for your support FrankMagri
TL Notes:
My family is facing an unexpected financial challenge. If you are in generous mood. Please support us.
We would be forever grateful for any contribution, big or small, to help us overcome this difficult time. Thank you
Chapter 337
The mysterious ruins we found in the poisonous wasteland.
The fact that none of the poison that filled the surrounding area could enter this place made it obvious that these ruins were protected by some kind of power, so we should quickly recover what we came for and regroup with Koga and the others.
To be honest, Shia's situation is far more serious than the fragment of the Demon King's power.
"What are these ruins, anyway?"
As we walked through the dark passage, lighting our way with Healing Magic, Shia suddenly murmured.
[I think it's a former Demon King's Army base that was abandoned hundreds of years ago.]
"...Is that so, Keira?"
[Yes. I saw a similar place when I was traveling with Gref.]
... I see. So this was a base left behind by the Demon King's Army that has now become a ruin.
If it was built to last, it wouldn't be strange for it to have survived into the present day. And it wouldn't be surprising if Hisago-san had chosen to make use of a place like this.
"By the way, does your memory tell you anything about this place, Shia..."
"Sorry. I only have fragments of Hero-sama's memories..."
"No, you don't have to apologize. If anything, it'd be far more serious if you had more of his memories."
The only concern is whether there are any traps...
Could the poison we encountered on the way here be one of them?
"To set up something that only a Healing Mage could get through in a region inhabited only by demons, huh? That's quite elaborate."
"My Light Magic wasn't good enough to get through it, so it must have been something pretty serious."
While we were having that conversation, we spotted what looked like a staircase.
A dark, deep staircase that stretched downward.
[This is... a little scary.]
"Yeah... it is. ...Are you okay?"
[Yes. I'm the one who asked to come with you.]
In Keira's case, considering what happened before, it's only natural that she'd have a fear of places like these.
Well, this isn't the former headquarters of the Demon King's Army or anything like that, so it probably isn't as dangerous... but it's still better to stay on guard, just in case.
Steeling myself once more, I made my way down the stairs.
Then———in the space before my eyes, I spotted a glow that was different from the light of my Healing Magic.
"...So that's it."
Beyond the staircase was a large chamber, and at its far end floated something like a sphere emitting a chaotic glow.
The aura it gave off was unmistakably that of the Demon King.
I found it so easily that it almost felt anticlimactic, but that just meant I could avoid any unnecessary trouble.
"Keira, my bag."
[Yes]
Taking my bag from the cloak, I pulled out its contents.
It was the magic tool the Demon King had given me before I came here———a crystal-like object which I held in my right hand, covered by my gauntlet.
"Usato, what is that...?"
"It's a magic tool the Demon King gave me. I'm going to use this to remove the source of the poison spreading throughout this land."
I guess I was sent here because I have Healing Magic to enter this place, and I also have Falga-sama's gauntlet, which lets me touch this power without any problems.
Just looking at it, I could feel its ominous power radiating intensely.
"...So, what am I supposed to do with this now?"
[Eh? You don't know?]
"Demon King just handed it to me without much explanation... For now, I guess I'll try bringing it closer."
I brought the crystal held in my gauntleted hand closer to the glowing sphere.
The moment I did, light spilled out from the sphere and was drawn into the crystal.
As the light was sealed within it, the once transparent crystal began to emit an eerie glow of black and blue intertwined.
"...That was easier than I expected."
[That was surprisingly simple...]
But even so, this is only one-tenth of the Demon King's power.
If this were to fall into the hands of the Devils, it would become a serious problem.
"Now then, I'll put this———..."
As I was about to put the crystal containing the Demon King's power back into my pocket, I noticed Shia silently reaching out toward the crystal.
As if possessed by something, she slowly tried to touch the crystal, so I pulled it away from her and placed my left hand, which was not covered by the gauntlet, on her shoulder.
"Shia, snap out of it."
"...Aeh? S-Sorry, I was spacing out."
"So you weren't even aware of it? We really should head back as soon as possible."
"...?"
Right now, she's in a very unstable state.
I have no way of predicting what kind of consequences the memories implanted in her will bring.
"...Keira, change of plans."
[Yes?]
"Even though it's night, we'll fly through the sky as we are and regroup with Koga and the others."
The Demon King's power might have some kind of effect on her.
It's far too dangerous to keep traveling with her while carrying something like this.
So at worst, we'll have to cut my subordinates' training short and deliver this to the Demon King as quickly as possible...
●
——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———
"...The poison is gone?"
When we stepped outside the ruins, the poisonous mist that had filled the area so densely had vanished as though it had never been there.
The land illuminated by the moonlight was still as barren as ever, but even so, the fact that the poison harming the land was gone could be called a major change.
...Still, for this to happen immediately after removing it...
"So the Demon King really was bad for the environment...?"
[So does that mean the Demon King's power was impure?]
"Yeah, that's probably right. His personality is terrible, so it wouldn't be strange if his magic power were impure too."
I couldn't help but smile wryly at Keira's naturally sharp remarks.
"You two are saying some outrageous things about the Demon King..."
"In fact, I'd say it right to his face when I hand this over."
I'll go and pick a fight with a smile on my face.
The Demon King will probably counter with a smile, but we can figure out what happens next then.
"Are you fearless or something?!"
"Honestly, my master is scarier than the Demon King."
"Ehh..."
Back then, I used to be afraid of making Rose angry, but now I'm afraid of disappointing her.
As someone who carries the title of vice commander, I want to keep myself disciplined so I can live up to Rose's trust.
"Well then, we're going to fly now. As for Shia... I guess I'll have to carry you."
"!? N-No, it's fine! I'm light!! I haven't been eating proper food!!"
"...Once we regroup, I'll make sure you get something much better to eat..."
Feeling sorry for her after hearing such a sad reason, I spread the cloak and prepared to take off—!
Healing Perception detected something!!
"Shia!"
"Kya!?"
I picked Shia up and leaped away from the spot.
The next instant, a shockwave slammed down from above onto the place where we had been standing just moments before.
"Auru-san?!"
"What a quick reunion this is, Usato-kun!!"
The one who attacked us was the shockwave created by Auru-san's magic.
As we landed after gliding through the air, threads made of dark magic surrounded us just before we touched the ground.
"So of course you wouldn't be alone!!"
[I'll deflect them!!]
The cloak wrapped around my body expanded and contracted, swinging around to sweep the threads away.
The highly elastic cloak collided with the threads, which had enough cutting power to slice through things, and easily brushed them aside.
"Nice job, Keira!!"
I landed, placing one hand on the ground.
"Shia, stay behind me."
"Ah, aah..."
I released weakened healing magic, reduced through System Degradation, into the surrounding area.
"...7...8...11, Looks like some of the Devils who escaped during the day are here too."
I used Healing Perception to determine the number of enemies hiding around us.
Seven of Rose's subordinates, including Auru-san.
The two twin dark mages.
And two Devils.
"You've got some nerve showing yourselves in front of me. Is this the first time since Mialak?"
"Hiiih!? T-That's exactly why I didn't want to come!! Even though we're blended into the world, he's staring straight at us!?"
I identified the other female Devil hiding with magic.
Judging from the spell, it's probably the same kind Mialak used.
I could only hear her voice, but that wasn't a problem since Healing Perception had already let me sense both her location and appearance.
"Acyaa~, Reari-san didn't want to come either."
"Oi! What if he remembers my name?!"
The female Devil shouted at Auru-san without revealing herself.
So her name is Reari?
As I was thinking that, Auru-san turned to look at me.
"Usato-kun! You're already surrounded, so you'd better leave that fragment of the rotten Demon King's power behind and run——!"
"No, I'm going to kill you right here!!"
Interrupting Auru-san, the punk-looking Devil I fought earlier glared down at me.
His face was twisted with anger, clearly still holding a grudge over the beating I gave him earlier.
"You really looked down on me back then, Healing Mage...!!"
"! De, vils..."
"Shia, don't look directly at him."
I kept Shia from seeing the Devil as her tone of voice clearly changed.
The memories implanted in her were directed toward the Devils.
If Hisago-san's will were to run wild again here, it would only make her suffer once more.
"...But"
In a situation where we're surrounded like this, fighting without letting Shia join the battle is more than just difficult.
No, considering her personality, it wouldn't be strange if she tried to force herself to fight using magic anyway...
So, the course of action we should take in this situation is...
"Keira, can you take Shia and go to Koga and the others?"
I pulled the collar of my cloak up to my mouth and quietly spoke to Keira.
[!? What about you, Usato-san!?]
"I'll hold them off. You take the fragment of the Demon King's power with you. ...Don't worry. Once I know you've gotten away, I'll catch up."
[...Understood]
"Good girl"
Although she hesitated for a moment, Keira nodded.
With Keira's magic, carrying Shia while flying should be no trouble at all.
All that's left is for me to create an opening.
"My name is Kaira!! Tonight, you're going to———"
"Yeah, I'll pass!"
"Wha!?"
I lightly tossed a magic bullet formed in my palm at the Devil who was introducing himself—Kaira.
The sight of it startled him, making him stop as he absentmindedly caught the magic bullet with both hands.
"Don't be scared. It's just a magic bullet, right?"
"!?"
I threw off Keira's cloak, then leaped with all my strength and drove a kick straight into the Devil's face while he was still holding the magic bullet.
The magic bullet burst at the same moment as my kick, scattering in every direction.
"Now!!"
"Yes!!"
Wrapping Shia up with the end of her cloak, Keira soared into the sky.
"Wha, Keira-chan!? What about Usato!?"
"Usato-san will be fine!!!"
"B-But———"
At the same time, I sensed Auru-san and the others moving through Healing Perception and created multiple magic bullets in my hand.
"Healing Magic Barrage!!"
"You really do the one thing I didn't want you to do...!!"
I blocked Auru-san's path, stopping her from going after Keira.
The sword she swung collided with my gauntlet, sending sparks flying.
"Auru-san, I made sure to report everything to the Commander!! Yeah! She was absolutely furious!! Haha!!"
"Haaaaa!? You Devil!! Heartless monster!! Do you have no blood or tears!?"
Auru-san pulled her sword away from my gauntlet and jumped back.
At the same time, Auru-san's colleague———Beth-san, now nothing more than a controlled corpse, cast a smoke screen, while Naruka-san's sound magic enveloped me.
My sight and hearing were blocked at the same time, but even so, my Healing Perception remained unaffected...!!
"It's behind me!"
I dodged the attacks from Gilg-san and Chris-san, who struck from behind with magic and swords.
While scattering the dark magic threads that came one after another with shockwaves, I landed once again in a position where the enemies surrounded me.
"The threads are within my detection range too. No problem."
"Just what kind of senses are you using to see everything around you..."
Auru-san's face visibly twitched.
As expected, unlike the others, her personality seemed almost unchanged from when she was alive.
...I want to free her from that control as soon as possible, but... that doesn't seem possible right now.
"...At least I managed to get those two away."
"D*mn it...!!"
"I'll tell you this just in case, but I'm not the one carrying the fragment of the Demon King's power, you know."
I already handed it to Keira.
The Devil, who introduced himself as Kaira, scratched his head in frustration, making no attempt to hide his irritation.
"That's exactly why I didn't want this!! I told you, didn't I!? I said I didn't want things to end up like this!! This is basically a failure already!!"
But Auru-san looked even more shaken than Kaira.
After giving her an irritated glance, Kaira turned to glare at me.
"I don't give a damn about the Demon King's power anymore. I'm going to kill you right here...!! Then we'll be able to regain our power...!!"
That works better for me.
As long as no one goes after Keira and Shia, then there is a point in me staying behind.
"Then I'll do everything I can to hold off your attacks and buy time."
"...There are more of us than you, you know? Are you out of your mind?"
The moment Keira and Shia left this place, my objective was already accomplished.
All that's left is to wait for the right moment and escape.
"I don't need to beat you guys."
It would be extremely difficult to deal with all of them here.
Auru-san and the others aren't opponents I can defeat easily, and I also have to stay on guard against the Devils' powers.
"All I have to do is keep you here until enough time has passed, then run away from here at full speed."
"Like hell you can do that!! I'm telling you, you're surrounded!!"
"So?"
To a Healing Mage of the Rescue Squad, being surrounded by enemies is nothing new.
What's more, I fought while surrounded by even more enemies in the Demon King City.
No matter how skilled the eleven surrounding me are, eight of them are nothing more than controlled corpses. Unless they're given orders, there's no way they can coordinate properly.
"You really don't get it. Then let me put it another way?"
"Aah!?"
"I'm saying I'm not letting any of you get away!!"
I slammed a Healing Flying Fist into Reari's path as she silently tried to go after Keira and the others.
After glancing at her as she let out a small, "Hiihn!?", I switched my mindset and brushed my bangs back.
"Uwaah, he's in captain mode..."
"Auru-san, from here on, this is going to be a battle of endurance."
"Eh, I'm technically dead, so stamina isn't really a thing for me anymore... Can I still say I'd rather not?"
Auru-san is probably the only one here who understands the situation.
She tried to go after Keira as soon as Keira got away.
"I'm going to keep all of you here so you can't go after Keira."
What I have to do now is hold back the eleven people here.
I don't need to defeat them.
I just have to focus on defense and evasion, then make a full-speed retreat when the time is right.
"Until then, don't think you're getting away from here?"
To be honest, I like defending more than attacking.
And more than anything else, I'm best at running away.
——— read on seireitranslations.blogspot.com ———
Author's Notes:
Usato is the kind of guy who can usually get by just by focusing on defense and evasion.
Healing Perception is also ridiculously overpowered when losing your sight and hearing doesn't even become a problem...
0 Comments
Post a Comment