Eva's body and something chained to a translucent chain that popped out of the ground.

They wriggle and wriggle and emit eerie moans.

 

"Why are you a skeleton...... Whew."

"Ah......h Ahhhh

 

Chained are human skeletons. The lower half of its body is missing, leaving only its torso and head, and an iron collar is fitted around its neck, making a rattling sound.

The way he rattles his teeth as if mocking me is not scary.

 

"And there are a lot of them......!"

 

In addition, it is coming out of the ground and Eva's body.

In terms of numbers, I think it's about 20...... There are skeletons with their heads sticking out of the ground, but for some reason there is no sign of them coming out any more.

 

"Surrender yourselves and be taken prisoner for our sake, brethren, go, eat, and liberate."

"Oh, you're coming!"

 

The skeletons that floated around Eva rushed towards me.

But will physical attacks really work against these guys?

 

"I'll hit it for the time being and check it out!!"

 

It's the same as with the Evil Dragon.

You don't know what to do without taking the other person.

He thrusts his fist out at one of the skeletons that is rushing ahead of him, causing it to hit the skull directly.

 

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

"......."

 

A direct hit from his fist cracks his forehead, but he lets out a raspy laugh and is quickly enveloped in pale flames and returns to normal.

Attacks work, but they don't.

He then clicks his tongue out a little, dodging the skeleton that rushes in with his big mouth open as if he were going to bite it.

It's reasonably fast, it's fragile in strength, but it's quickly repaired.

Around her, chained skeletons swirled around her like a snake coiling, and several of them were staring at me as if they were waiting next to her.

- While feeling indescribably uncomfortable being stared at by a hollow with no eyeballs, she knocks down the attacking skeleton with a hand sword.

 

"Think, think......"

 

How can I save her from that skeleton in chains?

Should we just strip them all away? Or should I wake her up?

But her consciousness has been hijacked by that curse. How do you wake her up in such a state? I don't think I can get by with brute force like I always do.

 

"Oh, it's dangerous!?"

 

Roll over to avoid the skeleton that spreads its arms wide and tries to bite you.

What are these guys anyway?

Even though it is a curse, it has a will. Moreover, they hate the king--perhaps the royal family of Samaria and the heroes who came before them.

 

"Hey, if you mistake me for the previous hero again, the previous hero is a plague god!!"

 

Deflect your upper body backwards and at the same time kick up the skeleton's torso that has passed over your head, and then somersault. In the meantime, the skeletons are attacking all at once.

There is no edge.

Zombies didn't have healing punches, but these guys don't even have physical attacks, let alone healing magic. If you break it halfway, it will be repaired and attacked immediately.

No matter how much I do, I can't hold back these guys for long.

 

"If you don't fall down with one shot--until you shatter it into pieces!"

 

The other party is a curse -- it wouldn't be a problem if you did it seriously like you did with the Evil Dragon.

Plus, they're eating away at Eva's body. You don't have to do anything about it.

I stopped dodging and sprang forward with enough force to step on the cobblestones of the garden, grabbing the heads of the two skeletons.

 

"Ahh......hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

"Ah...... La...... Ta"

"It's my master's specialty...... Eat it!!"

 

As it is, he crushes the skeleton's head and slams it into the cobblestones.

A skeleton that shatters into particles with a banging sound.

The secret technique, the Rose Iron Claw...... No, as expected, Rose doesn't go this far, but as a result of adding my own arrangement, I came up with this technique.

 

"Oh...... Wow."

"You're next!!"

 

Next, he grabs the skeleton that attacks from the side with the same swing of his arms, and uses his momentum to crash into a nearby tree.

A skeleton that was shattered with its upper body.

The two skeletons that slammed into the ground earlier seem to be gradually regenerating, but it seems to be taking much longer than before.

Apparently, it took a long time to regenerate when it was broken to this extent.

 

"Shhh......hh Ahh

"Oops."

 

He then crushes the three attacking skeletons in the same way, shattering them so that they are difficult to regenerate.

Once you know how to deal with it, it's easy.

Sometimes it's easier because these guys just bite and grab you.

 

"Okay, I'm going to crush it like this...... Hmm?"

 

With a clapping of hands, I looked over at the rest of the skeletons to determine their next target, and they were hovering around me.

Surrounded? No, this is ...... The hostility I felt earlier faded, and I could see a different feeling.

 

"Are you scared?"

 

I tilt my head at the skeleton that is staring at me hesitantly.

...... Do they have a will?

 

"Well, it doesn't matter, I know they're not the kind of people who can speak the language when they attack me without asking questions anyway."

 

If you don't come from there, don't hesitate to let me help Eva.

Just in case, he turns his body in the direction where Eva is being manipulated, while being wary of his surroundings.

Several skeletons were circling around Eva, just like before.

 

「...... Wait a minute."

 

Isn't there a skeleton next to Eva who was watching us?

Miscounted? No, you must have figured out the number of skeletons in the middle of the battle.

Extinct...... Why? Did you lose your existence because I defeated the skeleton? But the skeleton I crushed earlier is slowly regenerating.

Several of the many skeletons generated by the curse have disappeared -- a minor anomaly, but not something to ignore.

There is a possibility that they have jumped out of here and attacked Eiri and the people in the castle.

Just as I was about to step up to her to rescue Eva as soon as possible, a white arm suddenly burst out of the ground and grabbed my leg.

 

"--What!?"

"Ah...... Haha......"

 

Two skeletons emerged from the ground.

They grabbed my leg with their slender arms and started laughing.

Wake up! I never thought that I could attack through the ground from this distance. I thought the curse was coming out of Eva's feet, so I wasn't at all wary of my feet.

, by immobilizing me, the skeletons floating around me started moving again......!!

 

"Surprise attacks are not your thing...... But hey, I'm not screaming when I catch you!!"

 

Stomping on the grabbed leg and peeling off the restraints.

However, while I was distracted by the skeleton of my leg, a skeleton grabbed my arm and bit me with rattling teeth.

A pain runs as if it were being squeezed from the top of the uniform.

 

―――...... you helped.

―――Yusha-sama......

―――I want to stay, I want to stay......

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

 

What, I ...... the same headache as before!?

Besides, something ...... flowing into my head. I didn't think they were going to attack me from the beginning, but to bite me...... Whew!!

The pain in his head gives him the strength to shake off his skeleton. As if to anticipate the opportunity, the skeletons that had been watching around me all at once became entangled in my body and bit me vigorously.

As if the vision is divided, a number of images and voices are forcibly projected, and the voice of anguish is raised.

 

"Uh-huh...... Get away ......."

 

The power of the bite is not that strong.

Rather, the voices running through my head and the scenery I had never seen before—as if I were being shown dozens of different visions at the same time—made me feel nauseous and had a terrible headache.

 

"Oh no, it's bad, maybe......

 

This is the first time I've been attacked.

They're going to weaken me mentally.

It's not the same way of fighting as before...... Win or not.

 

"How obsessed are you!? It's totally untouchable!!"

 

A voice like the ringing of a bell descended from above my head, which had been unconscious in my cloudy vision.

Something sits on my shoulder.

The next moment, a familiar purple pattern ran through his body.

 

"Yee

"Huh!?"

 

The pattern that spread throughout the body repelled the skeletons that were clinging to it.

With that, the headache disappears like a lie, and my vision returns to normal.

I shook my head and stood up, thanking the owl on my shoulder.

 

"Oh, huh, huh...... Thank you, it helped. Nea"

"More than that, why is this happening when I take my eyes off!? What are you doing to activate the curse!?"

 

That's what I want to know.

Pointing at Eva with her wings, she laughs bitterly at Nea, who has been pleading with her to explain the situation, and breathes a sigh of relief.

It would have been really dangerous if you hadn't come......

 

"I'll explain it right away, but it's--"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

"Woooo

 

Fighting them, though.

Glaring at me and Nea, I caught sight of the skeleton with chains and teeth chattering angrily, and I adjusted my ragged breathing and raised my fists.

 

 

 

I was saved by Nea, and I was explaining what had just happened while evading the skeleton's attack.

In the meantime, Nea seems to be casting magic on my body, and every time I am attacked by a skeleton, a purple pattern appears on my uniform.

The skeleton that was biting me earlier was repelled, so I wonder if this is the magic of liberation? Internally, I thought it wouldn't work, but it comes in handy in unexpected places.

 

"I see, that's what I mean."

"If you find a solution, please let me know right away!!"

 

He frantically says to Nea, who is quietly thinking on his shoulder as he fists away from the large number of skeletons that attack him. I mean, why aren't you even moving a bit when you're on my shoulder......!?

It's moving at a lot of pace, but it doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

 

"Usato, the way to deal with this is simple, just throw the magic I'm putting on Usato's right now on that girl."

「...... Is it that simple?"

"Yes, those tasteless corpses have been summoned here through that girl, and if you disable her, you'll be here."

"Does that mean that if you pull her away from the curse, they'll disappear?"

"Exactly! I don't know what it is!"

 

Why am I being praised now?

I wonder if I look so stupid.

But this is a solution that I can't think of. Once again, I'm glad that she was here.

...... Is it safe to assume that Ava is the relay and that Omoto's curse lies elsewhere?

 

"But it's your job to cast in the magic."

"You're going to do it, aren't you?! ...... I can't use magic."

"I know that, but it's a different story now that you're one with me. Usato, raise your hand."

 

I distanced myself from the skeletons for a moment and raised my hands as she told me.

Then, from Nea's small body, a purple pattern of magic traveled to my body, running down my arms and gathering in my hands.

 

"This is ......."

"I'm going to cast a spell and let it flow through your body, and you just have to swing your fists without thinking. That 'Restraint Spell' should be able to nullify the disturbing skeleton for a short time."

"This is what the demon is ...... gold rod for!!"

 

He clasped his magic-filled hands and glared at the skeletons in front of him.

I am well aware of the power of the magic of restraint. If you drive this guy into a skeleton, you can seal it even if it regenerates.

 

"But the moment I cast a spell, I have to undo the spell I'm casting on you right now, and at that moment you'll be vulnerable."

「...... My worries are fine. It's not unbearable pain."

"That unsolicited word is absurd, isn't it...... It's my first attempt, but I hope it succeeds!"

"Ahh

 

In response to her encouragement, he jumps out with all his might in the direction where Ava is.

The skeletons floating in the wall -- one of them slams his left fist into the face.

 

"Huh!!"

 

The skeleton was blown away by several skeletons along with shattered particles, and when it slammed into the ground, it was bound by the spell of restraint and began to rattle and convulse.

The magic in his left hand that hit the skeleton was consumed by the previous blow, but Nea quickly replenished the magic.

I mean, this is, yes.

When combined with a healing punch, it seems to be a great technique that combines restraint and ...... treatment.

 

"Whoa, whoa."

"Concentrate on witchcraft!" The next one is coming!!"

 

I thought it was ugly, too, but please don't say it.

However, with this, even if it is played, it can be immobilized without question. Even if it's only for a short time, it's more than enough for me.

Aiming at Eva, he rushes in a straight line as he wields his fists and drops the attacking skeletons like winged insects. I closed the distance to Eva at once, and called out to Nea, who was continuing to use magic next to me.

 

"Nea, get ready!!"

"I know!"

 

At my voice, Nea tilts her head slightly, but Eva is already close in front of her.

The skeleton that first cast the spell will be on the move, and I'll be able to free her from the curse as soon as possible.

He opens his left fist, which is not accompanied by the spell of restraint, and stops in front of Eva and places his left hand on her head at the same time.

 

"Now!!"

"I'm going, I'm going to break the spell!!"

 

As soon as Nea activated her magic, the magic that covered my body disappeared--what? Why do you put a spell on a curse?

I question Nea's actions, but in the meantime, a skeleton approaching from behind entangles my body and bites me, forcing me to interrupt my thoughts.

 

"Damn it...... Ne, A."

"Set the target to 'curse'!! Reject this with the art of resistance! With this--"

 

Suffering from a headache, her left hand touching Eva's head in her shaky vision pours into her with the magic that Nea has activated.

When it unfolds to cover Eva's entire body, the skeletons around her disappear to the ground as if they are being dragged by something.

Similarly, the individual that was biting me weakly disappeared when I removed my teeth as if to release my strength.

 

「...... Eva!"

 

With the skeletons gone, she is freed and falls forward.

When I held her in my arms and laid her on the ground, I noticed something unusual about her.

 

"My hair is blue...... Nea, this is ......."

 

Eva's hair, which was pure white, turns blue and fresh as if it regains its color.

Besides, the magic that Nair cast is still hanging on it.

What the hell is going on ...... her?

Just as she was confused by the scene in front of her, Nea jumped off her shoulder and looked at Eva's face thoughtfully.

 

"Maybe I ripped them out of the way that was sucking her being...... I think that's why."

"So why does my hair color change......

"It was originally blue."

 

Was it because of a curse that her hair was completely white?

Does that mean she's free from the curse?

 

"Is this kid okay now?"

「...... Nope."

"Why? Didn't you exorcise Eva's curse?"

 

At my words, Nea, who was watching from the sidelines, slowly shook her head.

 

"No, what I cast was a resistance spell. Right now, she's just resistant to the curse, so if this is lifted, they'll be back ......."

「...... You ...... this is only a stopgap?"

 

It's not going to be that easy.

After all, there is no other way but to hit the curse book.

I finally grabbed his tail. I won't let her escape anymore, I will definitely break the curse and save Eva.

 

「...... I think I figured it out somehow. What is this curse?"

"What? Nea, it's--"

"Usato-sama!!"

「「!」」

 

I try to talk to her when she says that she knows the true nature of the curse, but she and I both shut our mouths when Eiri in her nightgown jumps out of the door of the house.

I think I was disappointed by his uncharacteristic appearance of being calm all the time.

 

"Eiri-san...... This is it."

 

No, in this situation, it doesn't look like I've harmed Eva.

How did you explain it?

Although he was upset, he was thinking of explaining it to Eiri, but he stopped in his tracks as he ran towards me.

 

「...... Eliza, sir?"

"What?"

 

He looked at Eva's face and muttered, and he immediately turned into a huff and rubbed his eyes to see me holding her beside him.

 

「...... Oh, I was watching what was happening from the window! We know that Usato-sama saved the princess! Anyway! Take the princess to the bedroom!"

"Ha, yes!"

 

As instructed by Eiri, he picked up Eva and walked towards the house.

 

「...... Oh,. Those bones ......."

 

He sees his own shadow created by the moonlight and curses in a way that is not his own.

There is nothing wrong with my own shadow.

However, more than half of her body had disappeared from the shadow I was carrying.

The few remaining shadows seemed to point to the rest of her life, and she couldn't help but realize that things were getting worse.

___________________________________________________

The Cursed Skeletons specialize in psychic attacks.

You can't prevent mental attacks that Usato isn't used to...... either.

 

This is the first battle between the duo of Usato and Nea.

In combination with Amako, he is the type to anticipate the opponent's movements and win the battle.

In combination with Nea, I feel like I was able to incorporate magic into my fights through her.