The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

In a town full of ruins, dense magic suddenly overflowed like smoke.

The devil's power that deceives and corrupts people is closing in around us.

I'm not afraid of it at all.

Amako is also safe thanks to Nair's resistance spell on my shoulder just in time. ......!

"Koga!　I hope he's okay!

"Yeah!　If you're careful, this won't be a big deal!

Koga is fine ......, but he was more likely to stab his own leg with a blade of magic to distract himself.

I throw a magic bullet into his leg and heal him while I check on the others who are safe.

I'm fine!　I've experienced the devil's magic several times!"

Nagi is fine, just like me.

Hannah is only a little wobbly, and Rune is completely under the influence and his eyes are vacant.

My men are also ...... slightly under the influence.

The actuality is that a short period of training is not enough to repel the demon's magic...?

"Oh, the devil's magic ...... is that?"

.......

I'm not sure if Nono-san is immune to the devil's magic or not?

Well, anyway, .......

"Chokozai na ......"

It would be impossible to easily fall into the trap by merely increasing the concentration.

I could not build up a perfect tolerance, but my men have been trained to repel hypnosis to the extent of seduction!

I lightly clap my outstretched hands together, and let out a bang sound.

<>

That's all it takes for my men to come to their senses with a start.

"You're awake!　Then form up!

Ha!"""Ha!"""

My men responded to my shouts of anger and moved into a fighting stance, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

After confirming this, I talk to Amako who is by my side, Hannah who is under the influence of the demon's magic, and Néa who was performing a resistance spell on my shoulder while I pull Rune closer to me with my cloak.

"Néa, cast a spell of resistance on Hannah-san and Roone too!

"He really nullified the demon's magic with a clap of his hands,......."

The only thing that can beat brainwashing is tireless training.

They seem to be trying to hold us back, but we've got our demonic countermeasures set up so tight that we shouldn't be afraid.

Veena, what's the response?

There's no response on the magic sensor!　I'm the only demon in the vicinity!

Are you transmitting magic remotely?

Or are they harassing you?　That's a possibility, but if they're using this kind of method without attacking us, what's going to happen next is..,

"Usato!　Something's coming from the lake!

Amako's prediction.

Immediately after that, there is a spray of water... and at the same time, my bombs and Koga's magic spikes rush in.

What do you think?

It doesn't feel good.

The water that was shot by my and Koga's attack gathers in mid-air and turns into a shape like the tentacles of an octopus.

Then we see many of the same tentacles appear from the surface of the lake and point them at us.

"Mr. El!

I know what you're talking about!

Tentacles of water rush toward us one after another with a force reminiscent of a muddy stream.

I immediately call for Elle behind me, and she stands next to me, deploying her wind magic.

She puts her hand on the healing bombs she has created on my hand, and makes the wind flow around me.

"Okay!　Do it!"

Intercept!

On Elle's signal, she throws the wind-cloaked healing bombs.

The bombs are accelerated by the magic of the wind.

At the moment when they hit the rushing water tentacles, the wind and shockwaves are released.

"---I guess you could call it a healing bomb."

"Don't give it a name of your own!"

This is a miracle special technique that adds the power to blow up ordinary explosive bullets by putting Elle's wind magic on them.

The water tentacles in front of him burst apart, allowing him to retreat temporarily.

"Ah, ah, ah ......!　We didn't even have a meeting!　What is going on with this guy?

"He was so excited!　Mr. Elle!

Shut up, you pig!

Hin!

Stop acting like a fool and move on!

And it hasn't stopped moving yet!　The water itself is taking shape, and it's going to regenerate!

"Big!"

...... Mr. Nagi!

Nagi-san jumped forward as if passing me and held his black sword clutched in both hands as if carrying it on his shoulder, and swung it down at an angle with a step so hard that the ground caved in.

"Idora!

A blow with all his might.

It was released as if to smash right in front of his eyes, splitting the approaching wall of water itself in half (・・・・).

The power of the blow was so great that even the surface of the water several tens of meters away was cut open with just the aftermath of the slash.

"As expected of someone as powerful as Rose and Nero,......, what he's doing is the ultimate in prowess,......."

"As much as I'd like to admire you, we have to deal with this situation first!　Mr. Nagi, I'll use my healing bombs to hold them here!　You and Koga will get us out of the city..."

As I was saying those words, several tentacles of water attacked me from above my head.

I jumped away and avoided them, but the water continued to follow me.

"Is it me you're after?"

Unnatural tracking...... is there some kind of regularity to it?

I throw a bomb that I'm about to make at the approaching tentacles of water, and when I pop it off---somehow the tentacles gather like a swarm at the spot where the bomb exploded.

"Usato, this water seems to be attracted by magic power.

"I see."

Is it like water magic that reacts to magic power and attacks?

Then our first priority is to distract them with magic bullets and give them time to escape.

"I and ...... are the ones who fight by releasing magic power.

Elle, Hannah and Veena .......

Elle and Veena need to follow Koga, and Hannah is too much influenced by the devil's magic to follow Koga.

If that is the case, I know what I have to do.

"Nagi-san, Koga!　They seem to be attracted by the demon's magic!　I'll take the bait! Take care of Amako and the others!

Oh!

The water tentacles continue to grow.

It seems as if they are using all the water in the lake itself.

...... Is this the reason why this town is in ruins?

Nea, you and Amaco...

"...... well, I guess there's nothing we can do about that now."

If you just want to use me as bait, I'll be fine.

I can manage just to meet up with the others, so Nair will follow Amako.

After confirming that Nair has moved to Amako's shoulder, I call out to her again.

"Amako, can you make it?

"Yes!"

Amaco first.

He extends his cloak and hands Amako to Koga.

He takes Amako, and then Rune and Hannah... but just as I'm about to do that, a huge tentacle of water slams between me and Koga, blocking the way.

Then again..,

"......... Usato no!　Rune will be swept away!

Amako's voice from the cohort rushes to pull Rune toward her.

A few seconds later, the water hits her harder than before, causing her to break out in a cold sweat.

"Is he blocking us?"

Obviously, he's trying to stop us, isn't he?

Did he go after Rune?　Or did he simply go for Keira's cape?

"Usato!"

I heard Nagi's voice and saw her pointing into the lake.

She points to the lake, which is swirling and creating tentacles of water one after another....

"The ruins in the water. ......?"

The phenomenon, created by some kind of magic, has unnaturally excavated the lake itself like earth, and beyond it, we can see half of this city, which should have sunk, and what looks like a large ruin.

Normally, I would not think of going in there.

However, the ruins were surrounded by a membrane of air, similar to the ruins in the poisoned earth that I had visited before when I was trying to recover the power of the Demon King.

Please head over there!　What we are looking for is probably there!

"Ah!　What about you!

We'll attract them!　We'll meet up with you later!

He gathers magic power in his right hand while kicking off the water tentacles with a shockwave of magic.

If we go on like this, Nagi and Koga will still be swallowed by the water, but the others will be swallowed by the water!

Then we know what to do!

"If it gathers magic!　You'd love to strengthen the system!

As he jumps up with his cloak while activating the system reinforcement, almost all the water tentacles gather toward them, ignoring Nagi and the others.

"Come on!　If you can catch them!

The cloak on his back holds Rune and Hannah firmly in place on his back.

They are still recovering from the effects of the demon's magic.

While protecting them, you run away from the water tentacles that are coming at you from all directions!

●

I learned that demon magic is more troublesome than I had expected.

I had never imagined that I would be so deceived, even though I have a magic called illusion magic, which should make it difficult for me to be affected by magic that affects the mind.

No, perhaps one of the reasons is that the concentration of the magic used as a trap was so strong... ...... Finally, my hazy thinking has been restored.

"...... U, Usato-kun, is it?"

This wave of healing magic and my back is definitely Usato's.

Why?　I wonder why, but perhaps he is carrying me in his cloak of dark magic as I am being bewitched by demonic forces.

It's shaking like crazy.

What's with all the shaking and the wind?

I slowly open my eyes, sensing a lot of bad things.

"Geeaaaahhh...?"

I heard myself scream in disbelief.

Because before I knew it, I was flying around in the sky with my body fixed to Usato-kun's back!

It would be strange if I didn't scream!

Or rather, what kind of situation is this?

>

We'll deal with it!

Mysterious water things are coming at us from all around.

It looks like the legs of an octopus, and there are so many of them that I can't even count them.

Usato-kun accelerates quickly with me and Rune-chan on his back, and pulls us away with only his speed... and as he changes direction, he throws his usual explosive magic bullets from his palm.

"I guess you're just trying to hold us back, aren't you!

The explosion scatters the water tentacles, but they soon regenerate.

He clucks his tongue and swings his limbs in a spin, knocking down the water tentacles---and releasing a green shockwave from his right palm.

"If we don't do something about the big one, it's going to come after us forever. ...... hmm?"

Then Usato noticed me at his back.

"Hanna-san!　Did you notice?

"Did you notice?　I mean, I'm not!　How did you get into this mess while you were in a daze?

"I don't have time to explain, so I'll ask for Rune first!"

What?

I came to my senses when Usato pointed out the problem and looked into his arms to see Rune sleeping as if in a doze.

This girl, like me, is fixed with dark magic to prevent her from being shaken off, but I wonder if she was affected by the demon's magic and fainted.

Rune-chan, who has a groaning, pained expression on her face, flinches and mumbles something.

"Mama ......"

"Yes. I am your mother."

Isn't it a crime that you usually call me mother but actually call me mom?

So I caught him.

"Ha-ha-ha!　You can't catch me that fast!"

---I was brought back to my senses by Usato's voice, which sounded so earnest.

Oh, look out, look out, we're about to lose our way back. .......　

"Usato-kun!　Let's get out of here!

No, we need to buy more time!

We'll buy you some time. ......?

Suddenly, Usato-kun reversed and showed me on his back the ruins in the lake.

That's .........I see...that's how it is.

The group of people heading for the ruins is led by Kannagi and Koga.

So Usato took the role of a decoy to prevent them from being attacked.

Then why are me and Rune-chan here?

"...... sorry!"

....... It would be easy to complain here, but I know that he would try to move me and Rune-chan to a safe place first because of his character, so I guess there was nothing he could do.

I think it's a pity that he doesn't make any excuses for his behavior.

"---"

Usato flies through the air, dodging the water tentacles that are chasing him.

The water tentacles try to catch him by sheer force of mass as he moves, using shockwaves to change direction.

"......How about this!"

He soars up and throws a rather large magic bullet upward.

Immediately after that, he removes the slight cloak of magic from his body and stops levitating with his dark magic.

The tentacles of water that overtake him as he falls follow the magic bullet as if lured by it, but then they suddenly change direction and aim at the falling Usato-kun.

"d*mn!　What a hassle!"

Usato, floating again, is accelerated by the shockwave of magic power.

So you're jumping ahead of the magic, but you're intelligent enough to recognize humanoid objects?

"Oh, yeah!　Healing Afterimage Fist!

Usato, who seems to have noticed something, covers his whole body with healing magic and leaves it there as if he is taking off his magical clothes.

Why did he do it now?　Just as I was wondering "Why did he do that now?", a group of water tentacles rushing to the magical afterimage appeared in my view from behind Usato's back.

"They are attacking the afterimage. ......?"

Usato-kun leaves a series of magical afterimages as he flies.

I feel indescribable because my strange technique is working in a strange place.

>

"Which means...!"

Indeed, Keira is right, the tentacles of water that have been exposed to Usato-kun's magic have a faint greenish magic.

It is a magical power that will disappear in a short time.

When Usato-kun sees this, he suddenly makes a sudden jerk!　and he plunges into the water tentacles himself.

"Wait, wait, wait!　Usato!　Why did you bother to run into...?"

"Systemic reinforcement!

That's not the voice that strengthens the lineage of healing magic!

Usato-kun, doing something completely nonsensical, slams his glowing green hand into the water tentacles.

At that moment, we were hit by an unspeakable shock.

"---!?

This time we did not scream.

Usato-kun's body, which had been soaring and spinning in the air, came to a stop in mid-air.

"It's like a chain reaction of the magic power of the system deterioration that was charged throughout the whole body. We were able to wipe it out, but I'm sure it will still regenerate.

What do you mean?

Usato-kun, who was calmly looking down at the lake below, calls out to me on his back.

Hannah, are you okay?

"I hate you, Mr. Usato-kun. ......"

"Ah, ha ha ......"

I half cry even though I'm older than him.

I would not have known what I was doing to Usato if Rune-chan had not been here in my arms.

"....... Looks like Koga and the others made it safely into the ruins."

>

We'll go with you.

...... would normally lead us to enter the ruins as well.

But the ruins are protected by those water tentacles, and it is unlikely that we will be able to enter the ruins by normal means.

Unless, of course, you have the power to break through like Usato.

"Since they are biting at the magic, I will manipulate the magic bullets and let them act as decoys.

Thank you.

Thinking back, the only people in this search team who fight mainly with magic bullets are me and Usato-kun.

I should at least do my job to make up for being a burden.

"Just before entering the water, Hanna and Rune will wrap themselves in cloaks. If there is any leakage, please let me know through Keira!　Okay, let's go..."

>

Keira spreads her cloak wide, and whoosh! The cloak emits a sound as if it is sucking in something.

When she tilts her head at the sound, the collar of the cloak transforms into a mask that covers the lower half of her face.

"This is ......"

<<>

I've been thinking about this since I first heard about it, but isn't Keira's magic too convenient?

"I'm so glad you're here ......!"

<<< thank you later!!!!!!!!　Let's catch up with you all quickly!!!! >>

"Ah!!!"

With us on his back, Usato-kun surges up on the spot, gains altitude, and then accelerates at once.

As he does so, he suddenly throws down a magic bullet, which is filled with several small magic bullets, and leaves it in the air.

"What was that, Usato-kun?

"Healing diffusion bullet."

The explosion of the magic bullet is reflected in my view from my back.

From the shockwave that overflows, magic bullets are scattered in the air as if they were popping, and the water tentacles follow them as if they were being drawn to me.

As I watched the magic bullets falling like shooting stars, I could no longer even muster up the strength to be surprised.

"......"

At that time, I understood Nair's feelings very well.

I realized that not knowing what they will do is not good for enemies, but it is mentally troublesome for allies as well.

"I don't like you after all, Usato-kun. ......"

With that said, I will also shoot magic bullets around him to support him.

"Brace for impact!"

"I know what you mean!　d*mn it!

I shout in desperation, and my vision is enveloped in darkness, covered by a cloak of dark magic.

The sound of falling into the water.

I'm not worried.

To be honest, I wasn't too worried.

After all, we have a monstrously stubborn healing wizard at our backs.