The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

"So this is the hiding place: ......"

The beastman's hiding place to which Mr. Cagalli, a wolf beastman, invited me was a surprisingly spacious place.

The structure of the place is like a village surrounded by a deep and thick forest.

However, it is not just overgrown with trees, but there are fields and houses, so life seems to be more comfortable than I had imagined.

"Also at ......"

The beasts living in the hidden village are giving me a hard time.

Fear of humans.

Fear of humans...and curiosity toward those who would be seeing them for the first time.

But strangely enough, there seemed to be little hostility.

"Most of the people here have never seen humans before. It's no wonder there are so many strange stares."

Perhaps I was acting suspiciously under the unfamiliar stares, Cagalli-san, who was walking in front of me, started talking to me.

Is this the first time you have seen a human being? It is not surprising, since it is said that few people enter the territory inhabited by beastmen. It's just rare for beastmen to enter human habitats like Kiriha and the others who are learning magic in Lukvis.

"As for me, I don't mind it at all. I'm rather used to it.

"...... Well, I didn't expect a mere mortal to come here,...... but you, too, must be having a hard time."

Hmm?　I got a really pitying look on my face.

Oh, you don't think I'm the kind of person people avoid around here, do you?　Linka looks at me in disbelief.

I'm not accustomed to having people look at me with malicious intent, but I am accustomed to having people look at me with malicious intent.

"I'm sure you're not wrong.　I've had a very hard journey to get here."

"Did they forget that you were part of that hardship?"

When I reply to Nair, who is walking next to me with black hair and red eyes, he blatantly averts his gaze.

In terms of danger level, it was an incident comparable to the disturbances in Lukvis and Mearaq, you know.

I let out a sigh at Nair's blushing and turn around to face forward again.

Then he notices what looks like a statue at the edge of his vision.

"Hmm?　What is it?"

If you look closely, you will see a humanoid statue standing in the center of a small plaza.

It belongs to a beast woman ...... or rather a girl.

The statue is quite old, and there are many damaged parts, but we can see that she is holding a sword-like weapon at her waist.

"Is something wrong, Usato-sama?"

"Uh, there's a statue over there. ......"

I tell Mr. Aruk, who stops me and calls out to me, about the statue.

Then Mr. Cagalli noticed us and turned his head in the direction of the statue and started muttering to himself.

That is the statue of Kannagi-sama, the hero of us beasts.

"What did the hero ...... do?"

He looked at the statue lovingly in response to my question.

His gaze seemed to be filled with deep respect.

He is the only one who brought the hero and the beastman together. It is no exaggeration to say that we are alive to this day because of him.

Mr. Cagalli takes his eyes off the statue and starts walking again.

I guess we'll continue the story as we walk.

We followed him at a short run.

"Hundreds of years ago, the beastmen were oppressed by humans even more than now. The powerful were sent to fight against the demon king's army, while the powerless were regarded as pawns to be discarded, and many lives were lost in the battle.

"......"

They really did terrible things, the people of that time.

Forcing the beasts into the battlefield while they fight to minimize the damage.

Aruk-san is frowning. I'm sure he feels the same way as I do now.

"This is a tremendous past event, and it has nothing to do with you who live in the present. At least, I do not hate you.

Mr. Cagalli said this to me, understanding the feelings of Mr. Aruk and me.

"Let's go back to ....... At a time when the beastmen were being oppressed by humans and the very survival of the beastmen was at stake, Kannagi-sama brought a brave warrior to the beastmen. The hero, who possessed unparalleled strength, fought alone against the demon king's army so that we would not die in vain."

Brave men here, too.

There really are anecdotes about heroes spread all over the continent.

Nair tilted his head at Mr. Cagalli's story.

"Fought?　Without getting anything in return?

"I don't know that much. But it is said that our hero did more than fight... he gave us knowledge when we were little better than barbarians.

"Not only do they fight, but they also give us knowledge. He's not the brave man we know, but rather a new side of him. ......"

Indeed.

The image I have always had of a brave man is that of a hero who has been betrayed.

However, listening to Mr. Cagalli's story, I can see him as a "benevolent hero.

Considering what was done to him in Lukvis, it is not surprising that he hates humans. ...... In the end, what were the heroes fighting for who defeated the Demon King, the enemy of humans?

What kind of person was Kannagi-sama, the valiant man's follower?

Some say he was a gentle man, others say he was ruthless. I can say for certain that Kannagi-sama was a very powerful man.

"Powerful?　You mean he was a man of high rank?"

"No, in this case, I mean a strong arm. According to the legend, she was a woman of valor who knocked down her enemies, slashing and punching her way through them. Well, I'm sure there are some exaggerations.

"Ki, slash, punch, and go. ......"

What's with that full-speed forward frontal assault on the ground? .......

My image of Rose with animal ears is completely fixed.

Oh, I can't imagine it, it's not cute at all. Instead, the fear of Rose that's etched in my body is starting to torment me.

"Here we are."

While I was suffering from the mental damage of my own imaginative power, Mr. Cagalli, who was walking in front of me, stopped.

Looking ahead, I saw a two-story house made of wood. Perhaps this is the house where Mr. Kagari, the head of this hidden village, and his grandson, Rinca, live.

Mr. Kagari turns his head and looks at us, then turns his attention to Bulrin who is following a little behind us.

"We can't let demons into the house. You will have to wait outside with the horse there, is that all right?

I'll have him wait outside with the horse there. ...... Bull Ring, may I ask you to stay here for a moment?"

I crouched down in front of him and told him this. He nodded his head and sat down on the ground as if he was weak.

Seeing this, Mr. Cagalli rolled his eyes.

"I didn't think it was possible, but you are able to build a relationship of trust with him without a contract with him.

"Do you understand?"

"Yes, I can feel the blue grizzly's joyous emotions."

The ability to read the emotions of animals without human language, a characteristic unique to beastmen.

I also have a vague idea of what Bulrin is thinking, but ...... I envy him a little.

I turned to Cagalli with these thoughts in my mind and pointed at Nair with my thumb while smiling.

"He's the one who has a contract as a messenger. Well, in my case, he forced me to make a contract with him.

"...... you seem to be a very different ...... strange person than I know."

Is that a compliment?

Mr. Cagalli said these words with a subtle expression on his face, and we stepped into his house, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

I was a little puzzled, but we entered his house.

"-That's how it happened."

In the guest room where we were shown, we spent more than ten minutes talking to Mr. Cagalli about the reason for our visit to this place. After listening to our story, Mr. Cagalli slowly relaxed his shoulders.

"It's been two years since you left your hometown...... and it's been a long journey, Amako."

"......Yes. But I've finally made it here. It's all thanks to these people.

When Amako said this, Cagalli's gaze shifted to me.

"Usato, you mean?"

"Yes."

"So you are the healing wizard who came to this place at her request, is that correct?"

I nodded my head in agreement with Mr. Cagalli's words.

I kept my eyes straight ahead of him, and he let out a voice of admiration.

"I never thought someone would come all this way for a beastman. What can I say, there are some very ...... eccentric people out there."

"Otherwise, they wouldn't have come all the way here. Right?　Usato."

"Why do I have to affirm that I'm an eccentric?"

Hey?　No, I'm not. If I say here, it's like admitting that I'm an eccentric.

Amako's smile twitches as she looks oddly pleased.

"I'll send a message to your late son back home. I'm sure he'll be able to bring you to her safely.

"You're relying on my father?"

Who else would you ask?　I'm sure her daughter would be happy to take you to her.

From the sound of it, do you think he'll ask Linka's father?

Is he a man of high position if he is willing to let us into the beastmen's country? If so, we are lucky to have met him in the first place.

"If I send you a letter today, you'll have to stay here for a couple of days until I get a reply, is that all right with you?"

"Everyone is okay with that, right?"

"Yeah, we'll be fine."

Rinka, who was sitting next to Mr. Cagalli, leaned forward and spoke to Amako as she replied to Amako, while checking with Mr. Aruk.

"So, that means Amako will be here for a little while, right?

"Yes. Yes, that's right.

"Yes!　I've had so much to tell you!"

Linka, perhaps even happier to see Amako again, smiles broadly.

Mr. Cagalli looked at her sideways and gave her a dumbfounded, yet smiling expression.

"You can stay here while you are here."

"...... Uh, are you sure?　Well, we're staying here too."

It's okay. We have plenty of room.

I had never thought of asking him to stay over, but I was glad that Mr. Kagari was a kind man.

I will take advantage of his kindness this time.

"There are two spare rooms upstairs, so you can use them as you like.

"Thank you very much. It's not nice to just let you stay here, and if there's anything I can do for you, please let me know.

"M...... then, would you mind if I asked you to chop some wood behind the house?　As you can see, I'm old and I have a hard time chopping wood."

I can take care of that much.

"I'll help you, Usato-dono, I'll help you too."

Well, let's put our stuff in the room, and then Aruk and I will go chop some wood.

...... chopping wood. I used to do that when I was in Lingle Kingdom. I remember that time we were in a race with tongs and Rose got mad at us for chopping too much wood....

I wonder if Nack and Ferrum are doing the same thing now.

"Let's go put our stuff down now.

After bowing to Mr. Cagalli, I head upstairs to put down my luggage.

For some reason, Linka got up and tried to follow us, but I didn't think it was anything to worry about, so I just opened the door and--,

"Wait a minute, Linka. You're about to get a lecture."

"Eee!　Why?

Mr. Cagalli grabs Linka's head when she tries to follow us.

Linka's face turns pale, but he doesn't care and puts on a stern face.

"I've been meaning to say this for a long time, but where is the guy who suddenly shoots an arrow at you? It's a good thing they were mild-mannered, but ...... if they had been dangerous, you would have been in danger, you know?"

"You're bringing it up now?　You can scold me later!"

It seems that Mr. Cagalli is worried about the attack during the day.

"Shut up!　I don't remember raising such a violent child!

Usato is no ordinary human being!　He can catch a flying arrow with his bare hands and he's faster than me!

"He wouldn't do such a monstrous thing!　That's no way to treat a guest!

This time it's true!

I'm too old to be fooled by such a simple lie!

Oh no!　Help me, you b*tc*!

.......

Amako quietly closed the door after seeing the exchange between Ms. Cagalli and Linka.

After a few moments of silence, she looked up at me as if nothing had happened and pointed upstairs.

"Come on, Usato."

"Oh, oh."

I don't know if I'm getting used to the way Amako treats Rinka. .......

Don't tell me, two years ago too......?

I began to feel sorry for Rinka, and after bowing my hands to the angry cries coming from the closed door, I picked up my luggage and went upstairs to my room.