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

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Interlude: Keira’s Change


This time, it will also be an interlude.
This is told from the perspective of Gref, Keira’s guardian.

Chronologically, this takes place when candidates for the squad were being screened.

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

　I still remember the moment I first found Keira.
　A black, amorphous beast was protecting that girl, who was crouching in front of the remains of a monster that had been torn apart and eaten.
　It let out a howl like a wolf mourning in despair, not out of hatred or anger. It then lost its form like mud and returned to being a shadow, but... when I was faced with it, I felt as though I had never been more afraid for my life.

　I understood at a glance that the girl was a Dark Mage.
　At the same time, I hated myself for realizing what kind of situation could have left such a young child inside the nest of a ferocious monster, but I took Keira back to the village where her parents lived.

"What have you done...!"
"Why did you come back?!"

　However, the words that came back from that girl’s parents were not warm ones, but cruel ones.
　"Sending Away the Cursed Child"
　A cruel custom of filling a Dark Mage child, whom they did not know how to deal with, with lies and sending them into a monster’s nest.
　I understand that Dark Mages are dangerous beings, but even so, I could not abandon her.
　If not only the land of this Demon King’s territory, but also people’s hearts, became desolate, what would be left in the end? With that as my only reason, I took Keira in and began having her accompany me on my travels.

"...And now, look at her."

　Along the journey, Keira’s Dark Magic would often come close to running wild, and she showed an unstable side of herself, but now she has begun to show the smiles and energy of a child her age.
　That must be entirely because she was able to face her Dark Magic... no, herself.
　Thinking about that at the workplace I had only recently joined, I let out a small smile.

"I never imagined he was actually human."

　There was no way I could have imagined that the demon who saved me when I was attacked by monsters during our journey was actually a human who had disguised himself as a demon.
　When I later heard the truth from Keira, I was very surprised.
　But there were also parts of it that made sense.
　The recovery magic he used to heal my leg, which had almost been bitten off by a monster, without leaving even a scar———the magic he must have used was Healing Magic, as it is called now. Thanks to that, my leg can still move properly even now.

"...I'll go check on Ram and Rose."

　The two young children are staying with a woman I met while looking for a place for us to live in this city.
　Since Keira, Ram, and Rose have also taken a liking to her, she does not seem to be a bad person, so I can work without worrying... or so I would like to say, but that does not mean I have no reason to worry, so I use my lunch break to go check on them.

"I wonder if Keira is doing her best"

　Apparently, Keira is participating in some kind of training conducted by Usato.
　I have been too busy to go and see how things are going, but judging from what that girl tells me, it seems she is spending her time in a meaningful way.

"It was amazing! Everyone ran all around the city. I was riding on Blurin’s back, who was on Usato-san’s back, but it was still fun!!"

　There were parts I did not quite understand, but she seemed to be having fun.
　The way she described riding on the Blue Grizzly’s back, which was on Usato’s back, made absolutely no sense, but she was probably just so excited that her words had gotten all mixed up.

"This is the first time I’ve gone out at this time of day."

　I leave the building where I work and head out onto the street.
　After the final battle between the Hero’s party and the Demon King’s army, the Demon King’s City of Verhazal changed from a place centered around military force into a place that welcomed many of its fellow demons and developed alongside them.
　As a result, the number of soldiers seen on the streets has decreased, while the number of people working on the city’s reconstruction has increased.

"Hm? What is it?"

　The people around me seem unusually restless.
　The people walking along the street seem to have noticed something and are all looking in the same direction.
　I follow their gazes and see a group of people wearing the same clothes burst out from around the corner.

"""Fuh fuh fuh fuh fuh fuh!!"""
"Ahh, haa! Haaahn!!"
"Stop panting like that in public! I’ll punch you!!"
"Ab, abababaa..."

　Three men were running in perfect unison, along with three women who were clearly anything but ordinary.
　And following behind them a little later were people wearing training clothes, running with all their might despite looking as though they were about to drop dead.
　The six in front still looked like they had plenty of energy to spare, but the expressions of those behind them were so intense that it was as if they were being chased by ferocious monsters.

"H-Hiiiiii!?"
"Run, don't stop!!"
"They’re ch-chasing us! They’re coming after us!!"

"W-what is this?"

　I have never seen expressions like that, not even during our travels...
　As I stood there bewildered by this sudden, incomprehensible group, a particularly large silhouette appeared from behind them, sliding along the ground.

"Don’t rest!! Run!! You bunch of slowpokesss———!!"

　...Eh, Usa...to...?
　I can tell that the figure before my eyes is unmistakably Usato himself, but my mind refuses to accept it.
　He is carrying the Blue Grizzly he named Blurin on his back, and on top of that———,

"Keira!?"

　Keira is clinging to Blurin’s back as if hugging it, smiling brightly as she looks down at the people running below.
　W-Why are you up there?!

"Ah, Usato-san! That person is falling behind!! Get him!!"
"Hii?!"
"Got it! ...Don’t stop your feet, run! Hmph!!"

　While carrying the Blue Grizzly on his back, he leaves his right arm free and sends something flying at a speed too fast for the eye to follow, striking the back of the man who had fallen behind.
　As he is enveloped in the green light characteristic of Healing Magic, the impact pushes him forward, and he desperately keeps moving his legs, his face filled with fear.

"...S-So he really is every bit the Healing Mage the rumors say he is."

　A Healing Mage whose name resounded throughout the Demon King’s army, just like the two Heroes.
　I had assumed that most of the stories about him were exaggerated, but... Mm, seeing him chase after a demon while carrying a Blue Grizzly on his back, I have no choice but to believe them.

"Ah, Usato-san, I’m going to go ahead for a bit."
"Okay! Shall we stop!"
"I’ll be back soon, so you can go on ahead!"

　Then, perhaps noticing me, Keira jumps down from Blurin’s back, which is on Usato’s back, spreads out a cloak of Dark Magic, and flies toward me.
　Floating gently through the air, she comes over to me, looking somewhat proud of herself.

"Gref, are you going to check on Rose and Ram?"
"Y-Yeah. Ehto, it seems like things are going well over there...right?"
"Mm!"

　I feel relieved somewhere in my heart when I see Keira showing a smile appropriate for her age.
　Just a few months ago, her magic was unstable, but now she can control it like her own limbs and has truly made it her own.

"Does he always do this kind of training?"
"Mm. This is still just the warm-up in between."

　...'That' was just the warm-up?
　I let the words, which made me question my ears, pass through my mind without dwelling on them and maintained my composure.

"Oh, well, I'll be going now!"
"Y-Yeah. Well then, do your best..."
"Mm!"

　I watch Keira fly through the air in the direction where Usato and the others disappeared.
　I often hear that children sometimes grow up without their parents knowing, but... could this be what they mean...

"For her, I suppose this is a good change."

　I had been prepared for the difficulties that came with raising a Dark Mage child, but it seems I no longer need to have such worries.
　Keira’s future is bright now that she has been able to face herself.

"You thought I wouldn’t notice just because Keira isn’t here! Hmph! Healing Magic Bullet!!"
"""Gyaaah!?"""

"...Is she really going to be okay?"

　Usato’s angry voice and the screams of the group he was directing it at could be heard even from this distance.
　Hearing those voices, I could only let my cheek twitch as I found myself becoming just a little worried.

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

Author's Notes:
Usato was doing his usual training even in the Demon King’s territory.
The scene he had created in Lukvis is now being carried out in the Demon King’s territory as well.