The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

Something humanoid emerged from Keira's feet to float behind her.

It was thin as a splinter, with sharp claws twisted like a sickle, and its head was devoid of a face.

A monster created by Keira's dark magic.

As soon as the creature tries to swing its claws down on Keira, I accelerate to her rescue with all my might, using the elasticity and the outburst of my magic power.

"Hmph!"

I hold Keira and kick her with my legs, which are filled with elasticity-imparting magic, as soon as she escapes from the claws.

I'd like to say "healed resilient leg", but I can't really call it healing when I'm so close to Keira.

No, it's more like ......!

Keira, are you okay?

"......!"

I look at Keira, who is holding her, her face is pale and her eyes are closed.

Is she unconscious?

I ask Nair, who is on my shoulder, to examine her.

"She seems to have lost her magic and fainted.

"...... that's what caused it."

A black humanoid figure is slammed into a tree and tries to get up.

The humanoid is trying to get up with slimy behavior, and I feel indescribably creepy.

<

Ferrum looks at the black humanoid and mutters regretfully.

I'm the one who's to blame for that. If only I had thought a little more about this girl's feelings. ......"

"You can be sorry later!　They're coming!"

......!

He holds Keira with his left arm and covers her with dark magic to protect her, leaving her right arm free.

I hold my right arm outstretched, and stare at the humanoid as it moves into a posture as if it is going to jump at me.

>

"Ah!　Nair, cast a binding spell!

I'm on it!

I can see from her feet that Keira and the humanoid are connected by magic.

If her magic is being sucked out of her now, we have to do something fast.

The black humanoid comes running out with an eerie yell.

"Jaaaah!"

"Binding and Healing Bullet!"

With arms outstretched, the humanoid leaps at you, popping your arms and simultaneously restraining you.

I move my feet as if gliding and move instantly to the humanoid's side, then I put my fist on its unprotected torso, and from the close proximity, I hit it with a healing flying fist with all my might.

"Healing Fist!"

It was a blow because the opponent was not a human being---it was just a small move, but the humanoid's body was shattered in an instant.

I was taken aback to see the residue of black magic power fluttering away in the air.

"Surprisingly fragile ......?"

<<>

There is no sign of magic emanating from Keira, who is wrapped in a robe of dark magic.

It's not okay .......

It's safe to say that things have gotten worse.

"Usato, let's move her to a safe place first.

"...... yeah."

He nodded to Nair's words and headed in the direction of the village, carrying Keira in his arms.

I can't be a part of this anymore.

If we're this involved, we should ask Mr. Gref about Keira's past.

I'm sure he'll be able to tell us more.

I returned to the village with Keira and after putting her to bed, I decided to call Mr. Greff to talk to him.

I told him about the conversation I had had with her in the forest, and he held his head in his hands with a devastated look on his face.

"I never thought Keira was that cornered. ......"

The room with the bed in which Keira is lying.

She sits in a chair beside him, nodding and mouthing apologies to him.

"I'm sorry. I was following you. ......"

"No, it's not your fault. It's my fault for not being able to understand the pain she's going through. ......

Keira's words spoken through tears.

I don't want to hurt anyone.

You make your loved ones unhappy.

The reason she wanted to follow us was because she didn't want to hurt anyone.

Even after listening to her tearful pleas, I could not take her with me.

Our mission was to "defeat the Demon King," and I would have put Keira, a child who knew nothing about the situation, in danger.

Above all, our goal is to bring misfortune to Keira and the other children.

"Mr. Gref, tell us about Keira's past."

"You're a dark wizard, you know what I'm talking about, don't you?"

It was Ferrum who told me, but I said I had an idea of what he meant.

"The Abomination?"

"...... just hearing that name makes me feel an uncontrollable anger. To have one's own child, of all people, killed alive by a demon ...... is a fearless act that does not even have a sense of guilt."

He took a deep breath to control his anger and continued to speak.

"Keira is a child who was sent to the abyss and abandoned by her own parents."

To be honest, I didn't want the terrible story of parents telling lies to their children so that demons would kill them to be true.

I listened to Mr. Gref's words, suppressing my own emotions.

"......I found her on the road, in the midst of a nest of demons."

"Did Mr. Greff get rid of the demons?"

No, the demon was already dead.

You mean someone saved Keira?

I asked. He shook his head.

"Keira was just cowering on the ground, shivering, while a black, four-legged wolf-like monster stood beside her, choking out the demon who was the master of the den."

"Like a wolf ......?"

I guess it's a different form than mine.

Does it change form depending on your feelings at the time?

"After the black monster disappeared, I took Keira back to the village. At the time I thought that Keira had wandered into the monster's lair by accident. ......In hindsight, it was a mistake to bring her back to the village where her parents were."

"...... what happened?"

"They cursed me. Keira's parents said, "Why did you come back?" and "Don't do anything you don't have to."

Parents who want their children eaten alive by demons.

I didn't think I'd get a sane response, but this is a ...... waste of time.

"The way they spewed out such unspeakable atrocities to their less than ten children was so hideous that it was hard to believe that they were the same person. ....... The people in the village didn't condemn them for what they had done, but looked at me and Keira as if we were a nuisance."

"Does Keira have a reason to be treated so badly ......?　This is just too absurd."

If I had been there, I am not sure I would have been able to hold back my anger.

I would clench my fists as hard as I could, as if to contain my anger.

"So I snapped and took Keira in."

"...... thank you for talking to us."

When Mr. Gref finishes speaking, he bows his head.

He smiles weakly and stands up with his cane.

"I'm going to check on Rose and Ram. I'll check on Keira, you get some rest.

"...... understand."

He nodded to Mr. Gref and left the room with his cane.

Amako entered the room as he passed him.

"Usato, how is Keira?"

"She has used up a lot of her magic, so she's just sleeping."

I look down at the sleeping Keira with Amako, who has moved to stand alongside me leaning against the wall.

She is sleeping quietly now, but I worry about when she wakes up.

"What can I do for her? ......"

I can only teach him magic, but I cannot do more than that.

I can't take her on our journey for her own sake, and I'm telling myself a big lie about Keira.

"I don't know, this girl. She looks like me."

Suddenly, Amako looks into Keira's face and says something like that.

"...... Is that...?"

"It's not how you look, it's not how old you are, it's not how tall you are."

"Oh, oh."

Three in a row.

How much do you care if he won't even let you argue with him?

"That's not what I meant, I also asked for help the first time I met Usato. ......"

"That time, huh?"

"A lot has happened since then, but we've worked hard to get through it."

After Amako asked me for help, I went around several kingdoms, and finally I was able to save Mr. Kanoko.

Along the way, we had a big commotion, but we were able to make it to the end.

When I think about it, this situation of being in all directions seems to be something I am used to.

So you're saying it's too early to give up?

That's, that's what I wanted to say.

Amako raised her index finger in a smug manner, and Fellum gave her a sharp rebuke.

First of all, when Keira wakes up, let's have a talk with her and then decide what we should do about her magic.

"You know what, Usato?

"Hmm?"

About those ruins... ......

As I was making up my mind to face Keira once more, Amako told me about the ruins.

"I still think it's better not to go to the ruins, but I was thinking that maybe the 'katana of the brave' that they say is in the ruins is something we need. ......

"......, honestly, I'm thinking the same thing you are."

If we go into those ruins, we might get what we need, but it's too late for anything to happen to us once we get there.

But on the other hand, we might regret missing this opportunity.

"Those ruins are too dangerous no matter how you look at it. I don't think we can simply bring the sword back and be done with it."

"Yeah ......"

Either way, the decision has already been made, so it is not likely that we will go to the ruins.

I have my reservations about the brave swords, but it is much better than poking snakes out of the bushes.

...... should we go back to the others now?

"...... hmm?"

Is it my imagination?　I think I just saw Keira's hand move.

No, she's still asleep and doesn't seem to be waking up.

Since it was nothing to worry about, I took my eyes off her and talked to Amako.

"Mr. Greff will take care of Keira, we should go back to the others.

"Yeah, okay."

After checking on Keira once more, he leaves the room with Amaco.

I feel uncomfortable talking to Leona and the others about Keira, but I have to share the information with them.

I have to share the information with everyone.

This dream was different from usual.

It was the same up to the point that my father and mother had told me lies and I was heading for the den of demons.

The next memory I had was of me being rescued by Gref and being abused by the people who used to be my father and mother.

>

>

>

>

Overlapping curses.

Not wanting to hear them, I put my hands over my ears and crouch down.

Gradually the voices become inaudible and the scene before my eyes changes.

"Gref ...... lamb,rosé ......"

I saw the smiling faces of my dear family members.

But I was not the only one among them... and just as I thought that, the scene changed once more.

The next thing I saw was Gref and the others sinking in a sea of blood.

"......No such ......!　Lies......"

The dead bodies of their loved ones, the ones they called family, mutilated in cruel ways.

At the center of the red-colored scene was me, covered in blood.

Unable to even turn away from the sight, I scream out in anger.

No!　I didn't hurt Gref and the others!

---No!

I hear a voice in my ear.

I shake my head in denial, and the voice continues to speak.

---If I don't do something, people I care about will die. They will be cut to pieces and die horribly because I couldn't control the dark magic.

I haven't decided yet!

---There's only one way to go... from the very beginning. We have no choice but to follow Usato.

"I can't, I was turned down by Usato and ......!"

---But that beast of a boy is with me.

"...... that's..."

I thought it was unreasonable.

Why is it that this girl is good, but I'm not?

Wasn't she the one who said she was like me?

What's the difference between her and me?　Because you're a beast?　Because we're demons?　

But you're a demon, that's no reason.

Why is it that I'm the only one who's rejected...

--- It's because I'm not strong enough.

"Strength?"

---If I'm strong, if I prove myself, he won't have a problem with it.

"How can I do that? ......"

I ask, clinging to the stagnant voice.

Then the voice speaks to me slowly, as if telling me.

---You know what I'm talking about. I have been listening to him.

"...... the katana of the brave."

I heard the story of Usato and the others in my sleep.

It was the story of a brave man's sword that Usato and his friends were seeking in the ruins nearby.

I wondered if they would really accept me as one of their own if I only had it.

---If they accept us as one of their own, they will take us there. Then I would no longer have to be afraid of my own power, nor would I have to hide my identity as a dark wizard.

"If I get you the katana of the brave, you can tell Usato-san ......."

I don't want to hurt anyone.

I don't want to be alone.

I don't want to be abandoned.

These thoughts were going around and around in my head, and my choice was...,

●

When I woke up from the nightmare, the view outside my room was shrouded in darkness.

The sky was still colored in the distance and it was only nighttime, but I got up regardless.

I have something to do.

I put my hand on the window of my room, almost crushed by anxiety and frustration.

Even after waking up from the dream, the voice in my ear had changed to a clear and pleasant one.

However, my thoughts were so focused on one goal, "to get the katana of the brave", that I didn't care about that.