Fighting Rose.

It was a fruitful experience for me that taught me a lot.

The difference in ability between me and Rose.

Establishment of a fighting style using healing accelerated fists.

If you look at the results, I was just the first to go, but I definitely felt that I was making progress.

 

"Now, do you want to go see the leader?"

 

As soon as I woke up from my fainting, it was time for dinner. It was just the right opportunity, so I invited Amako to dinner, and we spent dinner in the cafeteria, which was larger than when I arrived, which is no exaggeration to say that it is the only time for the rescue team to relax.

However, before dinner, the trio of Amako, Nea, and Ferm have a small quarrel...... Or rather, a joke? I was a little surprised that he was doing something like that.

Although he was lightly frightened by Amako, who had predicted the movement with his precognitive magic but had brilliantly avenged the two of them, he managed to give up the smug-faced little fox and the half-crying demon tribe and the demon...... For some reason, I was a little relieved that Ferm seemed to be able to get along with Amako.

 

「…… I'm his guardian......

 

After sending Amako away, he mutters as he walks down the hallway that leads to the leader's office.

In terms of personality, he is similar to me, and I can't help but care about him. Besides, I'm worried because I learned from Koga about the nature of dark wizards and learned that Ferm has lived with loneliness...... No, maybe I'm sympathetic.

 

"Is it emotion-driven magic?"

 

Dark magic seemed to me to be terribly unstable. In other words, it is dark magic that manifests one's negative emotions as magic.

Ferm is an inverted armor created by loneliness that no one can touch.

Koga is a restraint that binds the beastly nature that can only find joy in battle.

 

"So, what's going on with Ferm's magic now?"

 

Now, she's not alone.

I'd be embarrassed if I was the only one who felt that way, but if she felt that way too...... If Ferm's magic is restored, will its dark magic remain unchanged? Or is it——、

 

"Uh-huh."

 

I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I almost ran into the door of the leader's office.

Let's put aside what we've been thinking about for now. From now on, I have to switch my focus to talking to Rose.

 

"Leader, this is Usato."

"Oh, put it in."

"Excuse me."

 

After saying no, I entered the leader's office.

Rose, who was looking out by the window, looked back and sat down in a chair with her arms crossed.

 

"Sit down, it's going to be a bit of a long story."

"Huh......"

 

I sat down on a chair that was placed so that I could face Rose.

It's going to be a long story, but is it something important?

 

"First of all, you know that I received a summons to the castle yesterday, don't you?"

"Yes, maybe it has something to do with me?"

"Yes, you may have heard the story, but it has been decided that there will be a meeting in the magical city of Luqvis in the near future between the kingdoms of Lingle, Samariar, Kamherio, and Nirvarna. Sigurd, the chief knight, Welsey, the personal wizard, Suzune and Kazuki, the heroes, and you have been appointed to represent the kingdom of Ringle on their way there."

 

It was quicker to make a decision than I thought, but I guess I'm going to go too.

Well, I was the one who gave the letter to Samariar, so it's natural. We need to act as a bridge between them and the other side.

 

"When are you leaving?"

"Notices have already been sent to the countries that talks will take place, and we will leave in a week at the latest."

 

A week later, I don't have as much time as I thought.

It would take a long time to get from the kingdom of Lingle to Samaria by horse-drawn carriage, so that may have been taken into account.

 

"Master Lloyd says he won't force you if you refuse."

"No, I'm going, I'm the one who gave the letter to Samariar, so I'll be responsible for it until the end."

 

You can't just throw it out in the middle.

Besides, Senpai and Kazuki will go too. If it was just me, I was worried, but if there were two of us, I was fine.

Rose nods in response to my answer.

 

"Then you can't just be a lifeguard member forever."

"Huh? What does that mean...... What's that!?"

 

I was about to ask a question, but Rose threw something at me.

When I took it for granted, it was a cloak ———、 a white hood that I hadn't seen in a while.

 

"Oh! You've fixed it!"

"I'm glad you asked me to fix it sooner, I can't afford to wear a proper cloak to a meeting."

 

Nodding at Rose's words, she slips the sleeves of her uniform.

Delighted with the comfort of wearing it, I ask about the previous words.

 

"Thank you for the repairs, so what do you mean by title?"

"That's exactly what I mean, you're not just a lifesaver from today on."

 

More and more I don't understand the meaning.

Won't you just be a lifeguard? What does that mean?

I'm called a lifesaver because I'm a member of the life-saving team, and that doesn't mean I'm not...... Well, I didn't expect that I would be the only one who would be transferred from ...... rescue team to another place?

As she frightened at the thought that had arrived at her, Rose smiled her usual belligerent.

 

"Actually, I've had a hunch since I've been training you, chicks, that you're going to stand up no matter how oppressed you are. No matter how many times I'm taunted, I don't break my heart, and it's the cheekiness that bounces back at me."

 

Am I really being blamed? Or is it a compliment?

He talks happily, but from my point of view, it's a strange situation where he's appreciated for being stubborn and cocky.

 

"When I first saw him, I thought he was a kid everywhere, but when I opened the lid, he was a terrible guy."

"Please don't sound like you've always been a bad guy......

"There's no way a normal kid can withstand my training."

 

Why do I have to be treated like a dude by the person who trained me?

 

"That's why you're the best fit."

 

I was confused, but Rose smiled deeply.

Swallowed by a different atmosphere than before, I waited for her next words.

 

"Usato Ken, I am going to appoint you as the Deputy Leader of the Life Rescue Team."

「…… Huh?"

 

My mind goes blank at the words that were said so suddenly.

After a few seconds, I finally recognize her words and my thoughts stop again.

Deputy Leader.

I didn't even know there was such a title until now.

No, I didn't even think that there was a hierarchy other than the leader of the rescue team in the first place.

 

"Are you so surprised that you can't even speak?"

"Isn't it too sudden!? I didn't think he was a deputy leader like that, ...... suddenly."

"Oh? I told you before the mock battle. "I'm going to judge you." As a result, you have exceeded my expectations."

 

I certainly said that I would judge him, but I don't think he would think that I was going to see if he was worthy of the deputy leader.

Seeing me in complete panic, Rose smiles amusedly, but doesn't seem to make fun of her words as a joke.

I'm really going to appoint me as the deputy leader of the rescue team.

 

"I've been doing this since the beginning, from the moment I started training you. I told you, didn't I? I'm going to make you my right-hand man."

 

Certainly said.

But that's just ...... joke.

 

"So, but I don't ...... to be the deputy leader, or rather, do those tough guys recognize me as the deputy leader? It looks like they're going to try to get you down right away."

「…… Hah, absolutely."

 

With a somewhat wistful smile on her face, Rose got up from her chair and walked over to me, slamming a deco pin into my forehead.

The star is about to burst into his field of vision due to the powerful blow, but he endures it and looks up at Rose.

 

"Do you think I'm going to appoint someone who doesn't deserve me as deputy leader? Usato, I guess I chose you because I thought you could entrust me."

"What about me?"

"Besides, they approve of you more than you think, and if you still don't believe me—"

 

He pauses and raises his fist in front of me.

 

"Let me admit it, just like I did."

「……」

 

The title of deputy leader is too big for me.

However, the flip side is that Rose appreciates me enough to entrust me with such a title.

To be honest, even now that I was told this face-to-face, I don't know if I deserve to be the deputy leader.

But still. It's not like me to be worried about maggots forever after being told so far.

 

"I would like to appoint you as the Deputy Commander."

"Oh."

 

Rose nodded in satisfaction at my words.

I sat down on a chair in the leader's office and leaned back against the backrest.

 

"From now on, try to behave in a way that lives up to the title of deputy leader.

"Yes."

 

Realizing that he was the deputy leader of the group, he bowed to Rose and was about to leave, but he suddenly remembered the words that Rose had spoken during today's battle.

"I didn't expect to be attacked, since ...... 'him'?"

Rose, who couldn't attack without releasing a one-time hidden ball called the Healing Continuous Attack Fist, was the opponent who made the attack.

It's hard not to be bothered.

I lowered my hand on the door, turned around, and decided to venture to ask about it.

 

"Well, there's something I want to ask you......

"What?"

"Who was the one who attacked the Leader before me?"

「!」

 

I think I looked at Rose, whose eyes widened slightly at that question.

Is it some kind of translation? No, he's enough to hit Rose. In fact, even the premise that they are humanoid creatures may be wrong.

It's even possible that he had a body bigger than that evil dragon.

After a few tens of seconds of silence, Rose nodded and finally spoke.

 

「…… Let me tell you a little bit."

 

Somewhat grave tone.

The atmosphere is completely different from before, and I am inwardly confused.

 

"The one who attacked me was a demon."

"Do you mean that you were wounded during the war with the Demon King's army?"

"No, no, we confronted him before the Demon King woke up from the seal."

 

Before waking up from ...... seal!?

Wasn't that before the rescue team was created?

Unable to keep up with my thoughts, Rose continued her words.

 

"The man's name is Nero Argens, a swordsman who rules the wind. And ......."

 

After a pause, she closed her eyes for once, then stared at me with a determined look as if she were shooting through me, and said the words.

 

"It's also the name of the man who scratched my right eye."

 

●

 

"Nero Argens ......"

 

After hearing the name from Rose, I left the leader's office. No, to be exact, Rose didn't say anything more.

Lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, muttering the name of the swordsman who damaged Rose's right eye.

The scar on Rose's right eye had been bothering her for a long time.

Occasionally, she would put her hand over her right eye as if it were a habit, and somewhere in her mind she wondered why she was leaving a scar on her right eye because she could use healing magic.

 

「…… And besides."

 

When I heard the name, I remembered that the commander of the Third Corps, who controlled the flames that Mr./Ms. fought in the beastman country of Hinomoto, claimed to be the man's apprentice.

I fought Koga and didn't get to see Mr./Ms.'s fight, but the Third Corps Commander wore flames like armor and had overwhelming firepower and strength.

At the point when I have a person who is powerful enough to rise to the rank of corps commander as my apprentice, his ability is beyond my measurement.

 

"I wonder what happened."

 

When she revealed Nero Argen's name to me, Rose seemed to be a little different than usual...... That's how I felt.

 

"Do you want me to wait for you to speak?"

 

As we were leaving the leader's office, Rose told me that she would tell me all about it eventually.

It's not that I haven't made up my mind to speak, it's that I'm upset and trying not to interfere with future talks.

Then I should focus on what's in front of me and not think too much about it.

 

「……」

 

Suddenly, I saw the repaired school uniforms hanging on the wall.

It looks the same as before, having been repaired to the point where you can't even tell from the original scratches, but now that you're the deputy leader, when you put the sleeves on your uniform, the weight of being a superior person suddenly weighs on you.

Expectations from Rose.

Anxiety about oneself.

The weight of the title of deputy leader.

I felt overwhelmed by all of this, but I was determined to carry it on my shoulders.

 

_______________________________________

 

After hellish training, battles with the Demon King's army, and tribulations, the prologue for Usato's journey has finally come to an end.

It's been a long road from the first episode to here...... (159 episodes)

 

This month will still be busy, so maybe the March update will be delayed.

I'm really sorry to those who are looking forward to the next episode, but it seems that you will have to wait a little bit.

 

* I wrote an activity report about the book adaptation of "How to Use Weather Magic Correctly ~The Rain Man Wants to Make Vegetables~".

In addition, N-Star, which serializes "The Correct Use of Weather Magic", has released an opinion column.

Due to formality, I am not able to reply to your impressions, but please understand that.