The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

After two weeks of searching, we returned to Verhazal.

We were welcomed by the people of the city and temporarily disbanded, and I headed with Koga to the former Demon King's castle ......, or mansion, where the Demon King was.

I was prepared to be reprimanded at least a little, so I was a little nervous when I reported to the Demon King about what had happened in the Demon Realm..,

"Are you trying to laugh me to death, by any chance?"

The exact opposite of the reaction I had expected came.

The Demon Lord laughed in a wicked way for a while, and then opened his mouth to me and Koga, leaning his back against the backrest of the chair.

"It doesn't matter that my power has been taken away from me. From what I've heard, it sounds like you've used up most of the magic in your body. I won't be able to use it properly for a while.

"Will you be able to use it again in a while?"

"It will take some time.

It's true that the fragment of the Demon King's power was almost losing its power after he kept on using his magic to defeat Kayla.

In the sense of neutralizing it, the mission may have been accomplished.

"...... but even if the power is depleted, it could be used as a receptacle (...). We have to think about that possibility."

"What kind of ...... is that?"

"It is possible that the enemy's plan was to overthrow the demons that you have run amok."

That's not impossible. .......

Kayla was mentally deranged and it would not be surprising if she had some kind of mental attack on Shea.

...... though it is a possibility that I don't like to think about.

"The very existence of a mixed blood between a demon tribe and an elf tribe with dark magic is surprising. Perhaps the persecuted demons with dark magic fled to the realm of demons, and finally coexisted with elves living in the depths of the forest. And what did you do with her?

"....... I made her become a little lion and we fought together."

"Korga."

"Don't lie to me, Usato. You were flying around with the acceleration of exploding flames of dark magic.

He grunts at Koga, who corrects him on the side.

Ciel, the Demon King's lady-in-waiting, hears his correction and speaks to the Demon King in a low voice.

"Master, what do you mean by exploding flames and accelerating?　I don't understand it at all. ......"

"Ciel. Ciel. Imagine. You hold a gunpowder in your hand and when it explodes, it blows up, right?　That's it."

"Er, ......."

Ciel, how many times do I have to look at you like that?

"We should finally think about moving forward with our plan to entrust you with a dark wizard."

"You're kidding, right?"

It's becoming less of a joke. There are fewer people than before, but even now there are many who avoid dark wizards. We need an organization or a place for them.

...... Eh, you really don't think this is a good idea?

I'm a little impatient with the demon king who is thinking seriously.

"Anyway, it's a long way off for the time being. You still have too much work to do.

"...... I guess so."

There is much work to be done.

That's true.

"I'm going to change the subject again. ......"

The Demon Lord's gaze turns to my right arm.

Or more precisely, my lost cage hand.

"They took your cage hand, too?　Someone as powerful as you?

"By strengthening the lineage of light magic, right?"

Then you're lucky it was just a cage.

That's what I'm thinking right now.

If it had been my healing magic or something more important that was taken from me, I would have been in trouble.

It may be that I could not do it because of the incomplete reinforcement of the lineage of ...... shea.

"Does it hurt you to have your cage hand taken from you?"

No.

"Of course."

The Demon King sits deep in his chair with a smile on his face, wondering what is so funny.

"The essence of the sacred dragon's armor is to promote the growth of its owner. Eventually, it will no longer be needed and will merely be a convenient weapon.

"I'm sure Master Falga will be very angry if he hears this ......"

"He'd rather laugh. It proves that humans can go on their own without relying on the power of the divine dragon.

That's one way to think about it.

I wonder if Kazuki's baskets, Senpai's sword, and Leona's spear are the same thing.

The power that will eventually be able to do things without armor---a kind of anticipation of possibilities.

"But if someone in Shea Garmio wanted your cage hand, he must have needed a weapon to assist his light magic.

"As far as I was concerned, I didn't think she was very good at what she did. It was as if she had been forced to activate ...... the lineage enhancement as well. ......"

"Shea Garmio itself is also incomplete, or should I say unfinished. I just hope the finished product is not as out of the ordinary as Hisago. ......"

Shea's lineage enhancement remained incomplete.

I still remember the sight of her bleeding from her injured arm due to the forced reinforcement.

"Can you pull off the entity that is controlling Shea?"

"It's hard to say at this point."

The Demon Lord answers my question.

"Even I cannot unconditionally pull off something that has possessed me. The first step is to catch it.

"...... understand."

Should we have caught Shea then, even if we were a little pushy ......?

No, we could have let her die.

We shouldn't think only of ...... what-ifs.

"We'll check the details again in the report.

Yes, sir.

"Hmm?　No, I'll leave the reports to your assistant Hannah. Didn't you hear?"

I didn't think so.

That's very kind of you to say, but you could have at least said something to her.

"But I'm sure Koga and I can at least write a report for you. ......?"

"No, I'm not good at writing reports."

I can only wonder how you were able to be the commander of the second corps. ......?

Maybe you left it to your subordinates......?

"You guys should get some rest. Especially Usato, I know you're tired, even if you're only feeling well with your healing magic."

"...... understand?"

Do you know who I am?

It's the Demon King, isn't it?

He's right. I'm pretty tired too.

I took a rest during the search, but I hardly had time to rest my mind. Besides, I was surely nervous as the second in command.

"At ......, I'll take a break from your kindness."

"Mm."

Let's use Mr. Aruk's quarters today.

I don't want to intrude on Koga's room.

...... But first, I had a favor to ask the Demon King.

I have a favor to ask you.

What?

"I need you to prepare a coffin for the recovered body. ......"

I'll have to get confirmation of this.

I'm sorry to keep you in Keira's cloak forever, and I have to prepare a place to put Mr. Ahl's colleagues until we return to the Lingle Kingdom.

Then we'll make the arrangements ourselves.

Understanding the situation, the Demon King passed the message on to Ciel-san.

After a few more confirmations, Coga and I left the office of the Demon Lord.

The Demon King's office.

When I left the house of the Demon Lord, I found Keira, Amako, Nea ......, and Senri at the entrance.

They probably heard that we had left and literally flew in.

As soon as she saw Koga, she jumped on him with a big smile on her face.

"Mr. Kohga!"

"Look out, Mr. Koga!　Guard the healer!

"Usato!　Hey!

He immediately grabs Koga's shoulders as he tries to escape and moves him into the path of Senri-sama's pounce.

I watch him as he is embraced by her, and I approach Amako and the others.

"I'm sorry. Sorry I kept you waiting."

"No, it's okay."

Where are Nagi and the others?

They took their luggage to the dormitory first. I waited here for Usato.

I guess they unloaded the usual stuff from Keira's cape first.

It must have been quite a lot, but with Nagi's strength, it should be a piece of cake.

So, how was your report to the demon king?

He laughed at us anyway.

"Of course."

"It would be funny if you didn't laugh."

That's how Amaco and Nea reacted.

Nair, who has transformed into an owl, is on his shoulder and speaks to Keira.

"Keira, the demon king has prepared a coffin for us, so let's put the body in it.

Yes. Yes, sir.

"...... sorry. I shouldn't have made you carry me."

Even though he was given a special technique to make him look like a doll, he was still carrying a corpse.

Keira does not look the least bit unhappy about this, on the contrary, she smiles and shakes her head.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Usato-san. I'm fine."

"You're strong, you know that?"

"You're really solid, aren't you, girl?"

"Heh heh."

Amako patted Keira's head in admiration.

Amako looks at her squinting her eyes pleasantly, and then turns her attention to Koga, who is being held by Senri-sama.

"Welcome back, Mr. Koga!　I, myself, have been waiting for your return for a day and a thousand years. ......!

It's only been a couple of weeks!

Aren't you married for making me wait?

"The punishment is too heavy for the crime. ......!"

He's going full throttle.

I laugh when I see Koga trying hard to pull Senri-sama, who is clinging to him, off of me.

"Welcome back, Usato-san!"

Yes, I'm back. Did something happen while we were gone?

Well, if the Demon King is here... I know there's no big commotion...

"That's right. We assisted the demon tribe with the personnel dispatched from Lingle Nirvarna.

"I see. Perhaps you are too, Mr. Uluru?"

Yes. She also took the initiative in interacting with the demon people. She even made friends with them.

You're a terrible communicator, ...... Uluru, to make friends with royalty like that.

But I'm glad she's doing well too.

We are going to stay at the dormitory where Mr. Aruk and the others are staying today, so we can hear a lot of stories from Uluru-san.

We have some things to do later. ......

"Hey, wait, Usato. Are you going to leave me in this situation?"

Koga, with his arms firmly around Senri-sama, ...... hugs me and asks me for help.

I could shake him off if I wanted to,...... but he's not that honest.

"Well, no,...... I can't do anything about it even if I intervene here,......."

"Stop acting like a sensible person only at times like this!　Do something weird like you always do!

That's absurd.

To be frank, if you interfere with Senri-sama and Koga, Senri-sama will usually get upset, and Koga will end up in trouble.

So I left the place waving my hands to Koga and Senri-sama.