The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

After the battle with the Demon King, we took a short rest and started walking back to the Lingle Kingdom.

Although we were attacked by some demons, we still reached the great river that divides the Lingle Kingdom and the Demon King's territory much faster than on the way there.

We crossed the bridge that Leona and I created with our magic, and somehow the knights from Lingle Kingdom and Sigurth came to us soon after we crossed the bridge.

As we were being rocked by the carriage, I asked Mr. Sigurth why he had come. He told me that the Lingle Kingdom had already received the letter sent by the Demon King, and that he knew we were coming back.

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Mr. Sigurth said to me strongly.

We arrived at the Kingdom of Lingle and parted first from Amaco, and were immediately taken to the castle to have an audience with Master Lloyd.

Nair and Ferrum were asked to wait in a separate room, and in front of Master Lloyd were myself, my senpai, Kazuki, and Leona.

"Well ......, you came back safely."

Mr. Lloyd looked somewhat gaunt.

He looked around at all of us, his chest heaving with relief, as if he had been worried about our safety for a long time.

"Normally, we should all be celebrating your return, but our first priority is to listen to what you have to say.

"Master Lloyd, I heard that you received a letter from the Demon King. ......"

"Yes, it was sent yesterday by a demon who seems to be a messenger of the Demon King.

Master Lloyd nodded at his senior's words and picked up a light brownish parchment.

It was a letter written by the Demon King.

He looks over the letter and then turns his attention back to us.

"Is it true that the Demon Lord says he will surrender to us?

Is this true? We fought the Demon Lord and defeated him in mortal combat, and as a result, we were forced to admit our defeat.

"...... I see. The battle is over.

Master Lloyd relaxes his shoulders and leans back against the throne.

After a few seconds of holding his eyes with his hands, he straightens his back and takes a deep breath.

"I'd like to hear more about what you have to say."

What do you mean, "details"?

What did you see and feel in the demon king's territory? And how did you fight in the face of the Demon Lord, the mighty enemy?

Puzzled by this offer, Master Lloyd bowed his head apologetically.

Mr. Sergi and the other ministers looked confused, but still Mr. Lloyd spoke.

"I am sorry. I really wish I could let you rest right away, but things are already in motion.

"...... I am aware of that."

"From now on, it's not about fighting. It will be about something else. That is why we must deepen our understanding of the race of demons.

"But, Master Lloyd. We are dealing with a demon tribe.

That's why."

Mr. Lloyd quietly replies to Sergio's words.

"I suppose I must not allow it. That's all the Demon Lord's army has done to us."

"Mr. Lloyd ......"

"But if we still choose to destroy the demon tribe easily out of anger and hatred, we will leave an indelible mark in our hearts. It will become a spark in the not-so-distant future, and it will bring about a new conflict. ......That must be avoided by all means. We have had enough of fighting for our lives."

As a king, Lloyd, who has been troubled and fought three battles, holds his tongue.

Yes, I know.

No one wants to fight, no one wants to take each other's lives.

That's exactly what Master Lloyd would think.

If he decides to destroy the demon tribe here, then something about Master Lloyd and this kingdom of Lingle will be changed....

"Usato-kun, Kazuki."

Senpai calls my name and Kazuki's name.

She looked at me and nodded, and we decided to tell her everything that had happened on this trip.

I don't care how long it takes.

The demons we had met, like Gref and Kira.

The battle at the ruins.

The fact that Nagi joined our group.

The Demon Lord's army and the final battle with the Demon Lord.

And then... the Scroll.

When I finished explaining in as simple a manner as possible, with some additional explanations from those present, everyone except us, including Mr. Lloyd, was so surprised that they kept their mouths shut.

Especially Mr. Welshy, who was there, looked as if he was about to faint from surprise.

"......Ummm, besides the battle with the Demon King, I heard a shocking story. The beastman who was the partner of the previous hero, and the scroll that could return you to your original world?

"As for the scrolls, I think we should ask for the cooperation of Mr. Farga."

"Yes, I will send word to Mialak immediately."

We should first try to exchange information with Mr. Farga immediately, before we leave or not.

Mr. Lloyd, who had given instructions to Ms. Welshy after receiving the scroll, turned to me.

"Really, you did a great job. After all your efforts, the battle has come to an end. On behalf of the Kingdom of ......, I would like to express our gratitude."

Mr. Lloyd bows his head deeply.

Normally I would be intimidated, but there is no way that I could not understand the meaning of a king bowing his head in gratitude.

Let us accept his gratitude without a word.

I'm sorry for making you talk for so long. You must be tired from the long trip, take a good rest."

The seniors stand up following Mr. Lloyd's words.

But I don't get up and call out to them.

"Senpai. Can you tell Nair and Ferrum to go home first?

"......Yeah, okay."

The older man nodded his head, knowing what I was going to tell him.

As the three of them exit the hall, I face Master Lloyd, who has been waiting for me without saying a word.

Both Mr. Welsey and Mr. Sergio look at me with a complicated look.

"You mentioned me in your letter, didn't you?"

"...... Mm."

I only got involved during and after the battle, but I get it.

The Demon King has a bad character.

Or mean.

Depending on how you look at it, you could say that he saved me the trouble of having to explain it all from scratch.

"You don't have to follow me. You are ...... no, you were taken away from your peaceful life by our selfishness. Nevertheless, you have fought for the people of Lingle. You have lent us your strength.

"Dear Lloyd, ......"

"It is ...... too much for you to have to reject the choice when you finally have the Scroll and the possibility of returning to your original world."

I knew Master Lloyd cared about me.

I shake my head, glad for his concern.

"I can't change my answer once I've beaten the Demon King. On the other hand, as long as I continue to have that resolve, the Demon Lord will not betray me.

This is as close to a certainty as one can get.

Not because we fought each other, but through that battle, I have a vague understanding of what kind of person the Demon Lord is.

"You can say that much?"

"This is just my subjective opinion. I understand that people around me may be skeptical. The other party is the Demon King, the one who has been waging war against us, the one who is the most feared by the people.

History will not change the fact that a war took place.

The dead do not return.

The fear of the Demon King, which has been feared for so long, cannot be erased.

That is why I, who know both races, demon and human, stand between them.

"You may be exposed to the malice of both races, you know?"

I'm prepared for that.

Someone has to do this.

I am sure that if someone else takes the same role, he or she will be afraid of the Demon King and the demon tribe.

He or she will abandon an impartial view of the current situation of the demon tribe.

I will continue to work for the people of this world. So please do not hesitate to command me. That is why I am here."

"I didn't want her to resemble Rose to the point of ...... stubbornness."

He's my mentor.

"Yes, I know. I know. ...... I know."

Master Lloyd grips the edge of his throne as if to hold it.

After a few seconds he relaxes his shoulders and looks up.

"It's Usato. ....... From now on, we will fight together as citizens of the Kingdom of Lingle, and not as otherworldly beings."

"Yes, ......!"

At this moment, I cut off my attachment to the world of my origin.

I may think of home, of my parents, but I will never return.

---I'm sorry for my lack of filial piety.

I look forward to my parents whom I will never see again, saying goodbye to them in my heart.

I'm sorry.

Usato chose to remain in this world.

I think it is a very painful choice.

He is not as disappointed in his world as I am, and he could have chosen to live a normal life.

And yet he chose to leave the peace and quiet of his former world to fight in this world.

I think his determination is something to be admired.

Kazuki, too, will have to make a difficult decision.

He, like Usato, has his own reasons for returning to his world.

And at the same time, he has a reason to stay in this world.

...... leave him to Celia and Frana.

They are the ones who can support Kazuki.

"---And what a shallow woman I am,......!

Why are you here?

"Yes, this is the guest room."

As Kazuki reunited with Frana and Celia, I quietly read the air and plopped down at the table in the guest room with Nair and Ferrum, who were waiting for Usato to finish his talk.

In his hand is an empty cup of tea.

"Give me more tea!"

"Tea is not a drink. ......

Nair pours tea into the cup I hold out to him.

I talk to them both, moved by their casual kindness.

"Néa, Ferrum, thank you for talking to me. ......!"

"Are you a talker just for responding to me, you ......?"

"I wonder if there is such a thing as a pathetic brave ......."

They look at me cold and withdrawn.

I am used to such stares by now, so I smile back.

"Don't look at me like that, it makes me feel good."

"Is this guy invincible ......?"

I was even more taken aback.

But I am a strong woman and quickly recover.

"When I heard that Usato-kun was going to stay in this world, I was glad to hear it somewhere in my heart. ......"

"Can you stop being so serious all of a sudden ......?　The temperature difference is too great. ......?"

Ferrum's cheeks twitched, and he awkwardly scratched his cheeks.

Maybe if Usato had chosen to return to his own world, I would have chosen the same path.

Even if I have to weigh the possibility of another world against it, for now, I want a happy and interesting life with Usato.

"I can continue to live in this world with you, Usato. I realized that I was happy to think that way."

This is despite the fact that we all know why he made the decision to remain in this world.

So I couldn't help but feel very shallow for even thinking such a thing.

"Don't you ever think of going back to your own world?"

"Not at all. I've given up on all that."

Born into a prestigious family, he was supposed to follow a predetermined path.

The reality is that I hurt my brother without realizing it.

I am sure that I would have the strength to make a decision and take action to deal with it, but... I am the way I am now because of you, Usato-kun.

In a world without him, there may be the cool and beautiful Suzune Inukami (me), the student council president, but there is no Suzune Inukami (me), the brave warrior of the Lingle Kingdom.

"...... I don't think there's anything wrong with that kind of thinking."

"What?"

"Unlike you, I don't have to choose, but I'm a little relieved to hear that Usato is staying."

""......""

Nair and I look at Ferrum in amazement.

Ferm, perhaps feeling ashamed, taps the table with a flushed face.

"Oh, it's because I won't have any tension if that monster is gone!　Don't get me wrong!"

"Tsundere boku......!"

"I don't know what you mean by that, but I know you're making fun of me!

Ferrum is embarrassed and angry.

Satisfied with having heard a little of her true feelings, Nair shrugs as she places her sipped cup on the table.　

"I'm sorry, to be honest. Usato didn't come home."

"What?"

Ferrum and I let out a shocked sound at the unexpected answer.

......I honestly didn't think Nair would say such a thing.

After Amako and myself, I didn't expect her to be the first person to say such a thing,......?

"Because, Usato is going back to his original world, isn't he?　Wouldn't it be fun to follow him behind his back?"

"What about ......?　Were you going to follow me?

"I'm just kidding. Just kidding.

What a joke.

But it doesn't seem like a lie at all.

I shudder as Nair gracefully leans her back against the backrest.

"Either way, Usato must be in a lot of trouble.

"You're someone else's problem. ......"

"I can see how you'd get caught up in it anyway. There's no need to make a fuss about it.

Nair gives me a resigned look, and I let my jealousy gauge rise.

What's with that familiar reaction?

But I have to agree with Usato that you are going to have a tough time.

He will be given time to rest, but given the situation he is in and his friendship with the Demon Army, he will have to be the go-between.

"Usato-kun, you know all of the corps leaders over there, don't you? ......"

You've killed them all. And Amira, for that matter.

After all, can we deepen mutual understanding through fisticuffs?

Like the Coga area.

I mean, if I master the art of punching, will I have more friends?

"Hey, Nea, he's thinking about something else.

"Huh, this brave man is already ......."

At that moment, an electric shock hits my brain.

As I'm flashing an idea that I should call a revelation, the door to the living room where we are sitting is unexpectedly opened.

"I already told you that you can go home first, but ...... is that you, senpai?"

"...... Usato-kun!"

It seems that Mr. Usato has finished talking with Mr. Lloyd and has come to pick up Nair and Ferrum.

I walked up to him before the two of them, and I mentioned the idea that had just occurred to me.

"Can I join the lifeguard?

"...... well, if you're tired, I think you should get some rest right away. ......?"

I was usually nice to him ......!

I'm not sure if it's that much to worry about!