My collar was suddenly seized by a female and I was dangling in the air.
This ogre-like glare, this overwhelming presence, this ferocious temperament along with her gorgeous appearance⊠Right, this woman was the most frightening, the mostâ
âWhatâs going on here? Explain the situation, Usato.â
âAbabababababa, b-before I explain, can you let me down first please, Leader!?â
It was my teacher as well as my boss, Rose, the Leader of the Rescue Squad.
She gripped my head with one hand and although she seemed a little irritated, she let me down.
âSo tell me, what happened?â
âU-umm..â
While I felt nervous talking to her, she seemed to be thinking about something she folded her arms.
What should I do? She was so scary. Was she going to blow my head off somewhere far awayâŠ? She might just throw me directly into the enemyâs camp.
âI came here since I heard that the heroes were dying but⊠It looks like youâve already resolved it.â
âIâm sorryâŠâ
âNo, thereâs no need to apologize. Well done.â
ââŠ.Leader, what should we do now?â
âLetâs seeâŠâ
Inukami-senpai and the rest were looking at the Leader from behind.
I suspect weâll be returning to the frontlines⊠Well in any case, the decision will depend on her.
âThe heroes were saved and we caught an enemy part of their main force⊠Thereâs also discord in the enemyâs coordination⊠This is a good time.â
âYes?â
âWeâre returning back to base.â
ââŠ.Yes!?â
I was bewildered at the declaration to withdraw. She was saying to return back to HQ where Uluru-san and the others were stationed. It also meant that we wouldnât be actively moving around on the frontlines.
âWe are no longer necessary here. The situation here should be fine even if the enemy were to have something up their sleeves. We would just be in the way if we ran around in the battlefield now.â
âSo weâll just go back and treat people?â
âYeah.â
If that was the case, I can accept it. Iâll go together with Rose.
There were things we needed to do in the backlines as well. Although I felt a sense of relief that I wouldnât need to run around the blood-drenched battlefield, I was more worried about Senpai and Kazuki.
Turning away from Rose, I called out to the two of them. Both of their armors were dirty but their faces were energetic. âI was able to properly heal them.\nâKazuki, Senpai, Iâll be returning ahead of you guys. Donât die now. Unlike me, the both of you are heroes so make sure to beat the demons and please come back safely.â
âI got it. The life that you saved, Iâll be sure to properly look after it this time.â
âUsato, you take care as well.â
Senpaiâs words felt somewhat heavy and I lightly smiled at Kazukiâs. I gave a bow to the soldiers surrounding the two of them, silently conveying to them that I would be relying on them to take care of the heroes. Afterwards, I turned back and ran towards Rose.
âYou did a good job staying alive.â
âEh?â
Rose muttered something but her words were drowned by the surrounding shouts on the battlefield.
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âWhat!? That person was caught by the enemy!?â
On the other side, the Third Commander Amira was informed of the Black Knightâs capture. She could only tumble down as she heard that the Black Knight was captured when they went to intercept the heroes.
Impossible. Those were her thoughts.
The Black Knightâs power was famous in the Maou army.
They had an ominous armor with overwhelming defense that could also counter any attacks. It was a scarce power that surpassed even mine.
âHeroes!!â
âNo, I was told that it someone who wore a white uniform that got a hold of them.â
âWhite coat⊠Rose huhâŠâ
It was the healing user that my teacher warned me about, Rose.
I see. No matter what wounds are inflicted on her, she could just heal them. Therefore, she had no trouble defeating the Black Knight.
However, the next words that came out of the soldierâs mouth exceeded her expectations.
âAccording to the soldiers, it wasnât Rose but a boy with black hair.â
âAnother person⊠Dammit.â
Rose could heal all her allies on the frontlines by herself but to think there would be another personâŠ
Whatâs more was that they were capable enough to capture the Black Knight.
If the rumors spread that the overwhelming Black Knight was captured, the troopâs morale would drop.
Hyululurk started tampering with the magic circle and gave instructions to Balzinack. He tilted his head doubtfully at me as he looked for an explanation.
âI would be able to go out there but the soldiers wouldnât be able to keep up. Sigris hasnât even deployed it, weâll just waste our soldierâs lives at this rate.â\nââŠ.You have a point. Demons like us donât possess a convenient power like healing magic⊠We canât save our soldiers like the humans.â
Only humans were born with healing magic. Demons and humans possessed different qualities that determined what magic they could use. The reason was unknown.
âIâll take full responsibility for it. Hyululurk, your snake was helpful in this war. However, itâs in the way of the other soldiers right now and you should quickly recall it.â
âI understand. But Amira, your judgment isnât wrong. The humans this time are too strong but geâŠ!?â
Hyululurkâs expression stiffened as he looked at the magic circle.
âWhatâs wrong?â
ââŠ.Itâs the heroes.â
From Hyululurkâs magic circle, we could see the figures of the two heroes.
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The magical beast, Balzinack.
It was a man-made organism similar to the one that Usato fought in the forest. It was a snake that had been enhanced several times and violently attacked the soldiers during the war. While the snake was spewing poison, an orb of light exploded between its eyes.
âIt seems like the enemy is drawing back.â
âWill it be over soon?â
ââŠ.It seems a little fast, they might still come.â
These two warriors had an enormous amount of magical power. Their armors were in tatters but there were no wounds on them at all. The two of them simply smiled before the roaring Balzinack.
The other knights held their breaths as the two of them fearlessly stood before the monster. The knights felt a sense of pride. It was as if a heroic tale was about to take place right in front of them.
âDonât show your miserable appearance here anymore.â
âUmm, according to Usato, this battle should end if we take this guy down.â
âGugyaooooooo!!!!â
Clad in light and lightning, the two heroes gripped their swords and ran towards the monster.
For the sake of their close friend awaiting their return,
For the sake of returning the warmth that the residents of this world had shown themâ
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I could see flashes of light and a big snake on the frontlines.
It was probably the same type of snake as the one that I had met in the forest⊠But the ones fighting it were Senpai and Kazuki. I didnât need to worry as the two of them were the heroes. I believe that the two of them will be able to win against the snake.\n\nââŠ..â
This person was capable of praising someone normally huh. But I felt considerably, no, extremely happy. It seemed like the hell I went through and all my efforts didnât go to waste.
I was summoned into a different world.
I was taken in by Rose.
I became friends with a scary bunch.
I was suddenly given training from hell.
I was thrown into a forest.
I ran away from a bear.
I fought with a snake until the point of death.
I met Bluerin.
I was thrown into a forest with Inukami-senpai.
I met Uluru-san and Orga-san.
And then I foughtâŠ
ââŠ..Huh?â
Before I realized it, my cheeks were wet. I used my coat to wipe it off but a stream was pouring down from my eyes. It wasnât like I wanted to cry, the tears just came out on their own.
I was being covered by something. I could see that it was the white hood that I wore on my coat. Rose put it on for me. I cautiously lifted my head and Roseâs green hair came into view.
If I thought carefully about it, I mightâve felt uneasy since the moment I arrived here. But everything was happening so fast that I didnât have time to be conscious of it⊠Roseâs words allowed me to let out everything that I had been holding back.
âI was scared on the battlefield. The demons were frightening, I saw many people die in front of me, there was just so much happening butâŠâ
I was able to create a lot of âbondsâ.
Inukami-senpai and Kazuki⊠The people from Lloyd-samaâs castle.
The idiots from the Rescue Squad, Rose, Uluru-san, Orga-san. Ever since arriving to this world, I was happy to be connected with so many people. Someone as ordinary and boring as meâŠ. To the point that I think that itâs wasted on me.
Possibly due to the âmagicâ of the battle finally ending, I was able to tell Rose,
âMeeting all of you⊠Being able to save them⊠Iâm gladâŠâ
Those words seemed to surprise Rose a little as her eyes were wide opened. After a brief moment, she laughed a little and gave a gentle smile.
However, it seemed like that was my limit as my legs started shaking violently. I couldnât put any strength into my legs and could feel myself slowly collapsing. But Rose caught me and supported me with her shoulders.
âHâŠuh?â
âYouâve used up your magic and stamina⊠You did a good job to hold out till now. Rest for now Usato, however, youâll need to prepare yourself the next time you wake up.â
I saw Rose laughing âkukukuâ. Just as I was about to ask her what was so amusing, my conscious slowly faded awayâŠ