I was watching the second ordeal from the spectators, but things got messy.

A solution to the two-point problem...... The tactics used by Usat and Rival were not bad. Rather, considering King Lambda's intentions, it could be said that it was the right thing to do.

 

"Oh my God......

"I didn't expect all the participants to get together."

 

It was all well and good for the heroes to cooperate with each other, but I didn't expect that everyone who participates in the second trial will happen to get together and now work together to solve the problem.

In such a situation, the competitive aspect of the second trial would have collapsed.

 

"The answer is 13 people!!"

"——— is correct."

"I'm glad ......! It was the right answer with the number of people a while ......!!"

"Is there the latest, ......?"

 

"I've been watching festivals for many years, but I've never seen anything like this."

"After doing this for a long time, didn't it become a situation where the heroes cooperated with each other?"

 

Urua nods with a wry smile at my question.

 

"The original Hero Festival is a festival with a strong competitive part, and the heroes who are chosen by the country compete to show their own excellence...... We work together as part of the trials, but most of the time it's just a mutual advantage."

"I see...... That's why we didn't have a situation like this."

 

This situation is probably due to the fact that we have been interacting with each other at the training ground until today.

Usato himself is basically making a move to encourage Rival to make a decision, so I know he didn't do it on purpose.

 

"But it's going to look more subdued, so I'm curious to see how the audience reacts."

"Hmm."

 

It's certainly plain as a picture.

Earlier, the audience was delighted with Usato's healing spreader, but what do they think of the current situation?

I was curious and looked around———、

 

"Wonderful !!!"

 

Just as he was about to ———, an emotional voice was amplified by a magic tool and resounded throughout the audience.

 

"Brave people with different cultures, thoughts, and even actions! We trust each other and work together to solve one problem! Has there ever been such a wonderful sight?! No, there can't be! Oh, I want to make this into a painting and hang it in my boudoir!

 

「…… Isn't it okay because the king is like that?"

"Oh, yes......

 

King Lambda shouts out the emotions that spring up with a ridiculous amount of enthusiasm in words, and both I and Ulua twitch with smiles.

 

"I'm fully aware that some people will find this situation boring and boring."

 

King Lambda, who had been so excited just a moment ago, began to talk about it in a quiet and heavy voice.

 

"But I think this is also a form of heroism...... The story of the hero who once defeated the Demon King is famous. He was a hero who rose up in times of turmoil, and he continued to fight, until he disappeared in obscurity.

 

For the time being, Hisago had a sidekick named Kannagi by his side, but as far as Kannagi was concerned, he fought alone until the end.

 

"Many people don't know about that forgotten history. A time when it would have been natural for anyone to doubt and betray him. ———He fought."

 

I was a little surprised by King Lambda's words.

I thought that because of the belief in heroes, I was only focusing on beautiful stories about heroes, but I knew exactly how heroes were treated in the past and how lonely they were.

 

"Even though we are from different countries, we join hands and help each other, and it is wonderful and precious to be able to do that. I hope we will all remember the miracle that occurred during this second trial.'

 

「…… Ulua, I'm going to catch a cold from the temperature difference from earlier."

"King Lambda is the usual one now."

 

It's like a completely different person...... isn't it?

That kind of change reminds me of Usato.

 

"Hmm, but this second test, if it turns out like this, there will be no more points. yes, yes.'

 

King Lambda, whose serious tone was instantly replaced by a light-hearted one, uttered a bouncy voice.

 

"The second test is to give 20 points to all groups, because the score will be meaningless to those guys right now!"

 

…… Well, yes.

At the point where they are already telling each other the answers, there is no competition, and the distribution of points will be a mess.

 

"It's because the content of the second test is a mess, and it's more interesting for the audience if the criteria for scoring are blurred and confused...... I guess that's what it is."

"I was expecting this situation in the first place, wasn't it?"

 

Not from the beginning, maybe around the time Usat started training at the training ground?

I was thinking that this might happen when I heard that the heroes were not competing with each other, but that they were gathering in one place and interacting with each other.

…… Judging by the joy he was about earlier, he didn't think it was going to happen.

 

"But that's the end of the second trial, and when I think about it, Liz didn't solve most of the problems...... Huh, she's already there."

 

In the second half, Urua is held by Liz, who was moving as if drawn to Usato's healing magic.

Seeing her like that, I smile wryly and think about the only thing I had doubted about this ordeal.

 

"Lanzas's Anomaly...... I don't know."

"Do you mean the one who has that ridiculous magical power? Isn't that just a normal stray thing?'

 

He spills a troubled voice at Ferm's words, which he is assimilating.

To be honest, neither Ulua nor I were looking at Usato and the other heroes and not much of Lanzas.

Occasionally, there was a smiling part of them solving problems together in a friendly manner, so I don't think there is anything in particular to see...... But the next time I realized it, I was gone.

 

「……」

 

Each hero and squire should have a hoobard with a magic tool attached to it.

Will Hoobard, who keeps up with the movements of Usat and Liz, lose sight of the weak Lanzas so easily?

 

"It's unnatural."

"What's wrong?"

 

Urua heard me muttering and spoke to me.

 

"Hoobard lost sight of Lanzas."

「…… That's for sure. But hoobards are living things, too, and I think that's part of it."

"If you say so, that's right, but hey......

 

If it weren't for the premise that it was a demon, I could think of it that way, but from this point of view, it feels too strange.

 

"You're after Lanzas......?"

 

It's a possibility, but it's still possible if the devil is after Lanzas.

Should I warn Usat to watch out for Lanzas after the trial?

 

"The second trial, it's over!!"

"Huh?"

 

While he was concentrating on his thoughts, a voice announcing the end of the second trial echoed throughout the hall.

Glancing at the crowd cheering loudly, I let go of my shoulders and sighed.

 

"Well, I'll think about it later, and I'll ......."

 

It's about Usato, so he probably goes to Lanzas right after the ordeal is over without me telling him.

 

 

●

 

 

The second trial ended successfully.

In the end, everyone was thinking about the answer and going crazy, and it wasn't even the second test...... Unexpectedly, however, the same cheers from the audience as during the first trial resounded.

As for the scores, which were a little scary, 20 points for all groups was too rough.

Well, this festival itself is an event where you get a lot of points, and it's like who is the bravest country who gets the most points, so I don't care so much about the scores.

 

"Is it finally over?"

"After all, you...... No, it's been a mess because of us......

"Well, it was fun."

『…… No, I'm not going to die! Don't use healing magic!!"

 

Rival also said so...... If it had been him a week ago, he would have been rotten, but the smile on his face when the second trial was over was like he had accomplished something, so it should be okay.

And now it's ———、

 

"Usato, I'm sorry."

"So don't apologize."

 

After the second ordeal, I immediately headed to Mr./Ms.'s tent.

Now she sits across from him in a chair, taking his hand and casting a healing spell on him.

 

"Speaking of which, where's Rain?"

"He's going to fetch water for me......

"I see."

 

You're a hard worker, Layne.

Okay, I have to treat Mr./Ms. Lanzas properly for that child.

Listening to the footsteps of the festival officials busily moving outside, he concentrates his attention on Mr./Ms.'s body.

 

"For the time being, I will examine your body with healing magic."

"...... examine the body with healing magic? Oh, yes, I don't care."

 

…… I've checked it for the time being, but it's not affected by the devil.

His body is better than when we first met, but he's still in a terrible state.

As carefully as possible, he takes care not to cause unnecessary stimulation while pouring the healing magic he has developed into Mr./Ms..

 

「…… Usato"

"Yes?"

"Thank you so much for Layne."

 

While I was performing the magic, Mr./Ms. spoke quietly.

 

"As far as training is concerned, it's something I like to do, and now it's not just Rain who is participating in training."

 

Loa, Elisha, Liz, Rival and his retinue.

What amazes me the most is that it has increased so rapidly in such a short period of time.

 

"Is Mr./Ms.'s body okay?"

"yes, thanks to you and Rain, I'll be fine while I'm here."

 

…… Healing magic is only a stopgap.

His body is still in pain, but he thinks he's okay on his own terms.

He says it's okay because he's used to the pain and suffering that goes through his body.

 

"Isn't it hard Mr./Ms. Lanzas?"

「…… Of course, it's hard."

 

Mr./Ms. laughs helplessly at my question.

 

"Can I tell you a little bit about me?"

"Yes, let me hear you."

 

This person is too patient.

It's better to let your emotions vent here, even if it's just a little.

I nodded, and Mr./Ms. Lanzas took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

 

"I've been like this since I was born, so I'm used to it, but when I was a baby...... It was so hard that people say it's a miracle that I'm alive."

「……」

"When I was emotionally disturbed, I let my magic run wild, so it was natural for people to hate me for a while."

 

Is it the same as a child with dark magic?

Mr./Ms. Lanzas has done nothing wrong, but he has suffered a painful fate since he was born.

 

"When I grew up and managed to fight the storm that hit my hometown, I thought maybe the eyes of others would change the way people look at me."

"It didn't happen."

"yes, everybody looks at me like a monster. To be honest, it was tough at the time."

 

At the same time that I thought it was a big deal, I remembered Mr./Ms. Hisago in the past that was shown by the Demon King's magic.

He was also oppressed after being summoned, and even so, when he single-handedly defeated the horde of demons that the Demon King had provoked, he was terrified by the country that summoned him.

 

"So, already...... I've stopped expecting anything from that country. No matter what happened, I was just a foreign object."

「…… What does Rain mean to you?"

 

If he no longer expects anything from his country, what do he think of Rain following him?

At least I can see that Mr./Ms. Lanzas cares about Rain.

 

"He's not a squire to me, he's like a family member, and it all started when the state made him a squire because he was a healing wizard...... Still, I think I was very fortunate to have met him."

"Is that so?"

"Of course, it's not because he was a healing wizard."

"Yes, I know."

 

That much of a bond is evident when you look at Mr./Ms. Lanzas and Layne.

 

「…… Huh?"

"Mr./Ms. Lanzas?"

"Usato, I have a favor for you."

 

Request?

I am suspicious of Mr./Ms. Lanzas, who suddenly frowned.

 

"If something happens to me, I'll ask for him."

"Why?"

"If I'm gone, she'll be alone again, because there's no one in the Milva Kingdom to protect her...... and I know that."

 

Mr./Ms. Lanzas pauses and lowers his gaze.

 

"I don't have long to live, I'm reaching my limit due to the constant damage to my body from the raging magic."

「…… Huh?"

"So, if anything happens to me, I'd like to ask you to take care of Rain, because you can take care of him......

 

It's easy to say, don't say that.

But the very fact that he makes this request shows that Mr./Ms. cares about Rain that much.

 

"Okay, if you have any problems, leave Rain to me."

"Well, thank you——"

"But before you do that, don't throw yourself away...... Rain will do everything in his power to take care of your body."

「…… yes."

 

When I put it into words, he nodded with a stiff expression.

After confirming the situation, I let go of his hand and stood up.

 

"Okay, that's all right for now."

"Thank you, Usato."

"If you get sick again, call me, I'll be there right away."

 

I'll see Rain at the training ground tomorrow morning, so I don't have to meet him here.

I'm sure he's tired from the ordeal.

After finishing my treatment, I turned to Mr./Ms. Lanzas before I ——— to the exit of the tent.

 

"Mr./Ms. Lanzas, if there was a way to do something about your body, what would you do?"

 

Mr./Ms. was taken aback by the question and then smiled.

 

"If there is, you might want to do whatever it takes to do something about it......

......I'm sorry, I've heard something difficult."

"No, I'm sorry for the long post."

 

After exchanging words for the last time, I got out of the tent and headed to my tent to join my seniors.