When we received the news that we had seen a shadow that seemed to be a scout of the Demon King's army near the border, we immediately returned to the Lingle Kingdom.

It was a bit of a shame that he couldn't say goodbye to the people he had met again in Luxvis, because he couldn't go home after greeting them after drinking and saying hello to the Demon Lord's army.

 

"I'm sorry I had to leave in a hurry."

 

We hurriedly drove the carriage and returned to the Lingle Kingdom about half the time we were going, and after dropping off Amako on the way, we heard from Lloyd and Sergio Mr./Ms. at the royal castle.

 

"So far, we have only been able to confirm the movement of the scout team, but it is certain that there has been movement in the Demon King's army, so let's strengthen our cooperation with other countries, including the decisions made at the meeting, so that we can gather forces at any time."

 

At the point when the Demon King's army was moving, I knew it was an emergency.

I'm glad that we were able to reach an agreement at the meeting.

If it had been a few days earlier, the coordination might have been much delayed.

 

"We don't know when we'll be able to see the advance of the Demon Lord's army, so make sure Suzune and Kazuki are ready to fight at any moment."

"Yes!"

 

Senpai and Kazuki reply to Lloyd-sama's words.

Nodding in agreement with their replies, Mr. Lloyd continued to look at me.

 

"Usato, you'd better go back to the rescue team with Rose, because he'll be waiting for you to come back."

"Yes."

 

Should I ask Rose to make a decision first?

I didn't expect to find myself in such a tense situation as soon as I got back, so I was worried.

Like the first time, I was scared of fighting...... It's terrifying.

Then Lloyd gave instructions to Mr./Ms. Mr./Ms. Welsey and Sigurd, and they were dismissed on the spot.

 

●

 

「…… It's the second fight for me."

 

As we walk along the path leading to the lifeguards' quarters, we look back on the last battle.

He managed to survive the first battle, but it was still a battle he would have surely lost if it weren't for Amako's presence.

I don't want to imagine it...... Senpai and Kazuki, who were also spiritual pillars for the knights of the Ringle Kingdom, Ferm...... The Black Knight would be confused and demoralized.

And due to the onslaught of the remaining black knights and that evil giant snake, the kingdom of Ringle is defeated.

Even if Rose exists, if you don't know how it works, it will take you a long time to capture the Black Knight.

 

"If it's different from last time, it's that it's not just the Ringle Kingdom that you're fighting."

 

From the three kingdoms of Samariar, Kamherio, and Nirvarna, you will have friends to fight with you.

I don't know how strong the Demon King's army is this time, but it's still reassuring.

As I was thinking about it, I noticed multiple footsteps approaching from behind.

When I turned around, I saw a group of men with scary faces that would have made a child cry immediately, running towards me side by side.

One of the tough-faced people, Tong, notices me and calls out to me.

 

"Oh, Usato, Temeje, are you back?"

"Oh, I was actually supposed to be later, but I came back in a hurry."

 

Rescue team dressed in black.

Mourning those wounded on the battlefield...... Rather, he is responsible for rescuing them and transporting them to the place where the healing wizard is.

Their faces are scary, but they're not bad guys.

 

"Are you guys running in?"

 

They nodded at my words.

 

"Well, when the Demon King's army comes, we have to get serious about it."

"It's our job to save the injured."

"I'm going to have to get lost in the mess."

"Hehee, if you're fast on your feet, you won't catch me."

"Well, we've got to do what we're supposed to do, and if we're going to do it, we're going to do it."

 

What you're saying is correct, but is it your fault that it sounds like something else?

Well, I know I have no other intentions, and I don't know.

I have a lot of faith in them.

…… No, I would never say it to these guys face-to-face.

 

"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

"At first, they were crying when they saw us."

"Hahaha, because you guys look like Bakemon, it's normal to think you're scared."

"Oh?"

 

They let out a smug voice and glared at each other.

After a few seconds, we relaxed our shoulders and turned to face the dormitory.

 

"It's not like you're doing this...... yes."

「…… Let's see. If my sister finds out, I will be beaten up. I'll go back to training. See you later."

"Oh."

 

It's normal to get beaten up by Rose, but now isn't the time to do that.

I wonder if these tough guys know that, so I nod obediently and go back to training.

After seeing off the tough men who were running, I picked myself up and walked on, and I saw the dormitory of the rescue team.

 

"Now, is the leader in the quarters...... Hmm?"

 

At the same time as the dormitory is visible, the figure of a dark-haired, red-eyed girl wearing the training uniform of the rescue team rushing towards us is reflected in the field of vision.

 

"Usato!"

"Oh, Nea...... Huh?"

 

- She waves her hand with a big smile and feels something like discomfort as she calls to me.

As I wondered about Nea, who had a smile on her face that sounded like she was back when she was playing a village girl, she spread her arms wide and hugged me vigorously.

He catches her, stepping back so as not to fall.

 

"Uh-huh!?"

"I wanted to see you! It's great!"

"......, what's wrong? Is something wrong with you? Shall I cast a healing spell?"

"Huh?"

 

Nea turns serious and has a blue streak on her forehead, but it only happens for a moment, and she immediately smiles naturally.

Her uncharacteristic behavior is outweighed by her feelings of concern rather than ulterior motives.

Could it be that the lifeguard's training has caused his personality to be reversed?

According to those tough guys, it seems that such a thing happens rarely.

…… There are some horrible stories.

 

"Hehe, hehe, he's doing really well. Because—"

 

Nea walks away from me and smiles at me.

At the same time, you notice that your upper body does not move.

If you look at it, you will see a familiar magic pattern on the body.

 

"The magic of restraint? What, why?"

 

Why do you need to immobilize me now?

Tilting his head at the incomprehensible situation, Nea gave him a flying kick with all his might.

 

"I'm going to get revenge on you for leaving me in this hell!" Ho-ho-ho!"

"Hmm!"

"Hebu!?"

 

Before Nea's flying kick hits her abdomen, she takes a half-step open and tightens her abs with a lot of pressure on her belly.

Nea's kick crashes into my abdomen, but my upper body doesn't move in the slightest, and on the contrary, Nea falls to the ground with a startled expression.

 

"What, what? Current? Walls?"

"Huh, that's sweet, Nea. Did you think you could penetrate my abs with that level of kick?"

 

I said this with a slight smile on my face to a stunned Nea, and she crouched down in frustration.

 

"Wow! This monster is a monster even if it blocks its movement!"

 

How much did you want me to blow a bubble?

For the time being, I broke the restraint with my upper body and held out my hand to Nea to make her stand.

 

"Right now, Nea."

「…… yes."

 

Nea nodded her head in disbelief and transformed into an owl and sat on my shoulder.

He smiles wryly at her and walks to the dormitory of the rescue team.

Apparently, it wasn't that he went wrong with the training, he was just trying to get revenge on me.

However, even though I was away for only a few days, I was able to move quite a bit.

Maybe it's because of Rose's training?

Well, this kid is a monster, so he must have a lot of potential. I just haven't had a chance to train it until now. By the way, the restriction of not being able to harm the Lord's servants is almost non-existent now. This is because an attack of the level of a nair is no longer harmful.

 

"What happened while I was gone?"

"Nothing in particular, except that I was forced to run to death."

"Is it business as usual, what is the training like?"

「…… I was told to avoid magic bullets, and I was hit endlessly with healing magic bullets."

 

Avoid magic bullets, huh?

It's nostalgic, because I used to throw magic bullets at him many times in Luxvis to train his evasion.

At that time, I was happy to see Nak steadily growing.

 

"Okay, so it's a training exercise to learn to dodge, I've done it to Nak before, so I know."

"Well, I didn't expect ...... same train of thought, or rather, did you do that to a kid like that?"

 

Nea was a jerk, but I could guess why Rose had trained her to do that.

A weakness in the way Nea and I work together.

If I can't protect her in the middle of a fight, she'll have to do something about it.

He probably tried to solve this problem by training them to avoid super-fast magic bullets.

 

"How was the outcome of the training?"

「…… They told me where to hit it, and I barely managed to get away with it a couple of times."

「…… Hmm."

 

Rapid fire of Rose's magic bullets...... Rather, the speed of the fast throw is extraordinary.

I know that very well because I fought once.

The fact that I was able to avoid it several times means that I have acquired a certain amount of evasive ability.

Also, I'm sure I'll be getting stronger from endlessly eating magic bullets.

 

"That means that your visual acuity has been greatly improved. He worked on the areas that Nair lacked."

"That's not true! I can't tell you how many times I've been blown away......!"

"Hahaha, it's a healing magic bullet, so you won't be hurt, right?"

"I'm traumatized!?"

 

From the looks of it, he seems to be okay mentally.

While exchanging words with Nea, who desperately pleads with her, she opens the door to the dormitory.

 

"Who's the leader?"

「…… I'm inside. The Demon King's army is coming, so there are a lot of things to do."

"Certainly, there seems to be a lot to do."

 

This time, the scale of our coverage is large, so it may be different from the last time.

As he was about to make his way towards the stairs, agreeing with Nea's words, Ferm, a girl with horns and brown skin, came out of the entrance leading to the dining room with a difficult expression.

She had a line of sight with me, and she had a blank expression.

 

"Oh, Ferm, I'm here."

"Oh, welcome back...... Not! You're back!"

 

Like before, he gives it back to me.

This kind of thing is honest and a little soothing.

While fending off Ferm, who is about to hit him, he first unloads his luggage into his room.

 

"So, let's go see the leader."

"Are you talking about the Demon King's Army?"

"yes, or rather, it was already here."

 

I try not to circulate too much information to avoid confusion, so I was soberly surprised that Nea knew about the Demon Lord's army.

 

"Rose informed me a few days ago that this is an important place for the Ringle Kingdom, isn't it?"

 

He nods at Nea's words.

The lifeline is also the lifeline of knights and soldiers on the battlefield.

 

"On the battlefield, we have to run to help the knights who are fighting, and we have to train hard every day to do that."

 

It is the black clothes that connect the lives of those who have been injured on the battlefield and bring them in.

It is the ash suit that heals the wounded brought by the black clothes.

It is my role as a white-clad person to run on the battlefield and heal the wounded on the spot.

 

「…… I have to do what I can now."

"What, what are you going to do?"

 

I answer Nea, who asked a little reluctantly.

 

"It's training, it's just training."

"I mean, it's business as usual."

 

He shook his head at Nea, who raised his wings as if to shrug his shoulders in dismay.

It's true that it's important to train as usual, but this fight will be clearly different from the last one.

I also know that Koga, the commander of the Second Legion, who has been struggling and at one point has been in danger of his life, is trying to put up a fight against me.

 

"No, you can only do it here...... We should do special training that can only be done with the leader of the team."

"It's a special training on the premise that there is someone more monstrous than that monster......

"It's going to be a lot of work, but it's definitely going to be good for me."

 

I think I know Nea's "I can't believe it" look.

But maybe it's because it's before the fight, so I'm anxious.

Partly because I had a mock battle with my seniors and Kazuki and was aware of my own inadequacies, but I had a feeling that this next battle would not be easy.

That's why there's no time to compromise in order to drown out this anxiety and be able to act in an emergency.

 

「…… Speaking of which, there was something I wanted to ask the leader."

 

In front of the leader's office, where I finally arrived, I remembered.

Before going to the meeting, Rose mentioned the name of a demon named Nero Argens.

He is the one who scarred Rose's right eye, and he is the one who controls the wind, a demon tribe with a title that is nothing more than a nuisance no matter how you think about it.

It's just speculation, but it seemed to me that Rose and Nero Argens had an unusual connection.

 

"Now that the meeting is over, I wonder if you will talk ......."

"What?"

"No, no, it's nothing, let's go in."

 

I replied with a vague smile on my face and knocked on the door of the leader's office, where Rose was supposed to be.