The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

It was by chance that I saw the scene.

A large boat on the river.

On board were people with weapons fighting demons and a huge frog that jumped up to crush them.

I knew I had to save them, so I ran alone to the riverbank and fired my magic blade with a thunderbolt to repel the giant frog.

But the situation did not end there.

In a moment of relief, my eyes met his as he looked at me from the boat.

Unable to compose myself at this unexpected reunion with Usato-kun, whom I had vowed to see again two months earlier, I could only give him a wry smile and wave to him.

After that, the boat with Usato on board dropped anchor near the riverbank where Krumia and I were.

While I was waiting for them to come ashore, tormented by the joy of seeing them again and a little fear and anticipation of how Usato might react, a strange blonde woman, led by Usato, Alc, Amako, and a stranger got off from the boat.

......Who is that woman?　And who is that woman? She is tall and quite beautiful.

I can tell from her behavior that she is a very powerful person, but what on earth...?

"Suzune-san, how long are you going to stay here?"

"Huh?

When I came to my senses at the sound of Kurumia's voice, I saw that Usato-kun was already in front of me.

On his shoulder is a small black owl.

.........how cute...! I'm almost mesmerized... I shouldn't! I should apologize to Usato-kun first.

"Hey, Usato-kun!　It's been a long time!

Yes, it's been a while. It's nice to see you again.

Seeing Usato-kun smiling at me, I involuntarily back away.

I guess this is what a smile that is smiling but not smiling looks like. The lack of intonation in his words makes the fear more pronounced.

"Uh, uh, Usato-kun?"

"Yes, sir?"

"Are you ...... mad at me?"

I have made quite a splash because I rejected a proposal of marriage from a prince of another country by mentioning his name.

"No, I'm not angry.

"Yes, I know, you're still mad at me. ...... What?"

Seeing my stunned look, Usato-kun finally broke his expression and smiled.

"I know what's going on," he said. Of course, it's impossible to react calmly if someone confesses to you in the middle of the public. Even if I were to refuse, I would need a reason to convince the other party, so I know I have no choice.

"U, Usato-kun ......"

"Besides, the senior himself seems to be very sorry for what he did, and it's obvious that he didn't spread it on purpose."

I can't help but put my hand over my mouth.

I knew he would not forgive me so easily.

I had thought that maybe Usato-kun was thinking of getting back at me.

But now I was ashamed of myself for imagining such a thing.

"That's good, isn't it? You know exactly what I mean."

I nodded to Krumia, who whispered this to me from behind.

"And since you're my senior, I'm sure it was just a spur of the moment thing, or you got excited and couldn't stop yourself, and you couldn't go back.

"Ugh!"

"Wow, that's great. Usato-sama, you understand Suzune-san very well.

I was taken aback by the surprise, but Krumea, standing next to me, clapped his hands with crackling applause, as if impressed.

My escort!　Enjoying the situation?

"Ah, it's been a long time, Krumeier-san!

"Hello, Usato-sama, Amako-sama, it's been a long time. How are you, Aruk?

Yes, how's Krumia?

I'm...

And, without me, they are having a friendly conversation with me in the opposite direction from the previous one!

What's the difference?

"Oh, by the way, senpai..."

"Ha, hahi!"

As I was stunned by the scene in front of me, Usato-kun looked at me and took out a folded piece of paper from the pocket of his gray cloak and unfolded it for me to see.

"Do you understand?　Here."

"Well, that's ......."

"It is unacceptable that this handsome nobleman has a deformed picture of you and that there are rumors circulating about you."

I was most worried about this story!

As I became suspicious, Usato-kun, who had a lecherous smile on his face, tapped a piece of paper with his hand.

"What is this? I'm told that you can blind them with healing magic, or that they will be bound to gold if you hit them.

"Well, that's ......."

"This is just like that, isn't it?　He swung at someone with one hand and then healed him with the other, I don't understand it anymore. What are you going to do?

"I'm sorry!　Somehow, Mialak and Lukvis have spread the rumor!

Since Mr. Usato had just traveled there, they must have made up a false story to make up a false portrait of him.

No matter how much Usato-kun may be, he would never do something so out of the ordinary. ......

Anyway, it's all my fault.

I have to show him that I accept everything he says.

"Oh, um, Usato,...... isn't it about time?　Her knees are shaking. ......"

"Usato, I don't think you should lie at any cost. ......"

"...... I guess so."

The blonde woman looks at me with a wry smile on her knee and says, "I'm sorry, but I can't help it.

At the woman's words, Usato-kun relaxes his shoulders.

"Ha-ha-ha, I'm just kidding. I was just teasing you a little, senpai."

"...... eh."

"That's the end of the payback for now. As I said before, I'm not really mad at you.

My cheeks burn with shame at the fact that I have been teased by a younger man.

However, I was sure that somewhere inside of me, I was glad for this nostalgic exchange.

"I haven't met Kazuki yet, but I'm really happy to be reunited safely with ...... senpai."

"...... yeah. I'm glad too!"

Two months may seem like a short time, but the events that took place during that time were too intense to describe in a few words.

I am sure that Usato, who is here now, overcame many hardships during his journey. Therefore, I am very happy to see him again in one piece.

"......?　Payback for now?"

As I was about to burst into tears, I suddenly realized that there was a part of his words that stuck in my mind.

In a different way from before, I asked Usato-kun with a tremor in my voice.

"Usato-kun, do you mean ...... that you are not ...... satisfied with the situation at the moment?"

"......"

"Uh, Usato?　Don't smile silently!　Say something!

Even so, the corners of Usato's mouth twisted into a smile as he remained silent.

Facing him like that, I could only be afraid of the prank called "payback" that might happen anytime from now on.

I was afraid of what was about to happen to him.

When I saw my senpai again for the first time in two months, he had not changed in a good way.

He still likes to make fun of others, but when he is made fun of himself, he is incredibly weak and I teased him too much.

After playing a few tricks on him, I decided to introduce Leona to him and Krumeier.

"Let me introduce you. She is Leona, the brave warrior from Mialak who escorted us here.

When I introduced myself, the senior looked at Leona-san with surprise.

Leona-san met my senior's gaze, gave a small bow, and took a step forward.

"It is my first time to meet you. I am Inukami Suzune, the brave warrior of the Kingdom of Lingle. I am Leona, a brave warrior from Mialak. I have been entrusted with the task of escorting Usato and the others, and have accompanied them here.

"Brave man!　I knew he was a very powerful man, but I didn't think he was as brave as me. ......"

No, no, I am only a knight who has been given the title of hero. I only became a knight a few days ago. ......"

Leona-san, her cheeks reddening in embarrassment, denies her senpai's words, but in fact, she is perfectly capable of being a brave woman.

I, who fought with her, fully understand that.

"Leona-san and I fought together at the time of the commotion that occurred in Mearaq. Thanks to her cooperation, we were able to stop the dragon man who went out of control, Mr. Karon ......."

"I see, I didn't know much about the details, but you are one of the people who helped solve the Mialak disturbances, aren't you, Leona?"

I nodded at Mr. Krumia's words.

Then I noticed that the senior member of the group, arms crossed, was swaying sideways and looking at Ms. Leona.

"......Mr. Leona, you are ......"

"What's going on?　"What's going on, Mr. Susanne?"

After checking my entire body from my toes to my head, the senior turned to me.

Is it my imagination that I have a strange sense of déjà vu and a bad premonition?

"Usato-kun!　There really is a blonde female knight!　And a cool one at that!

"...... I am relieved to see that you are the same as usual."

You haven't changed. This crazy behavior in front of him is just like Inukami-senpai himself.

Krumia-san, who is standing next to the senpai, is also smiling while cowering his shoulders, as if this is a familiar reaction.

"Usato. What is Suzune-dono talking about?　Kurumere?"

"I mean that Leona-san is cool. It doesn't mean anything strange, so please don't worry.

"Uh, yeah, right. ......"

We can't give this man strange knowledge.

After explaining the situation so simply to Leona, I notice that the older student, who had been so excited earlier, is strangely quiet.

When I look at her, she is looking at me and Leona alternately and tilting her head.

"......Nothing, but I felt a little uncomfortable with Leona's reaction to Usato-kun. ......"

"What?　What's wrong?"

"Well, I don't know.

He tilted his head as much as I did, as if he didn't understand what was going on.

For some reason, Amako, who was standing nearby, let out a sigh of exasperation.

"......Well, whatever."

There's no point in thinking about it too much.

Let's not introduce Leona to anyone else.

Next, I'll introduce Nea. ...... I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of response I'll get.

"Well, next, I'd like to introduce a friend of mine who became a messenger during our journey. Nair."

"......"

"Hmm?"

The owl on his shoulder doesn't respond to your call, but seems to be watching you closely.

I thought you've been awfully quiet since I met you, is something wrong?　Is he stunned by the fact that he is so different from the brave man he had imagined?

"Uh-uh, Usato-kun. Is that girl's name Neah?　Well, may I touch her ......?"

I guess he has been holding back a lot, and the older students are starting to become a little dangerous.

This reaction is rather natural, since he looks cute from the outside.

While I was hesitating what to do, Nair lightly jumped from my shoulder and jumped on my outstretched hand.

"Kauwa!　Ahyafuahbya!

"Usato. Suzune-dono is a very ...... s*xual person."

"Leona, you could have said it more clearly: ......"

Leona-san looks bewildered as her senpai raises her voice, which is not typical for a girl.

For me, it's a normal situation, but from the other side, she is a really strange person. I'm starting to miss Inukami-senpai, who was the star of the former world.

He was a hero to me back then.

"Finally,...... finally, there was a demon who treated me normally,...... ugh, I feel like crying,......"

"......Krumia. No way, not even during the trip."

"Yes, as you can imagine."

How hungry he was to touch the demons. .......

I'm starting to feel sorry for him.

The older man's hand trembles as he tries to reach out to pet Nair's head. Nair, who was resting on his palm, took one look at the hand and --- with a snap of his wings, he brushed the senior's hand away.

"......"

"Ne, ne, ne-chan--"

"Hmph, please don't pat me down so casually."

"!!!?"

Nair spreads her wings and returns to my shoulder, looking at me with her mouth flapping like a carp, as if she is so surprised that she cannot speak.

"I knew that the heroes of the other world are different. Their magic power, quality, and everything else is totally different from that of ordinary humans.

"Nah, nah ......"

"......You can't, you can't, you can't ...... lie about words, can you?"

Not only the senpai but even Mr. Krumia is astonished by the owl that suddenly starts speaking.

No wonder. Nair has been surprised many times before, but she is a humanoid demon who can speak human language. It would be a surprise to see a being who rarely appears in front of people as my messenger.

Now that I've managed to surprise my senpai, though it wasn't what I expected, it's time to introduce Nair to him.

"Ah, let me introduce you again. This is my messenger, Nair. He looks like an owl, but his appearance is only a temporary one..."

"Okay, Usato. I can introduce myself."

Interrupting my words, Nair jumped down from my shoulders and at the same time released her transformation.

After a moment of light, a dark-haired, red-eyed girl in her true form crossed her arms with a proud expression on her face.

"Good day, hero of another world. I am Nair, a half-breed vampire and half-necromancer. I am the messenger of this creature called the Healing Wizard..."

"Dumb girl."

"So who's a screw-up ......!"

Nair was about to introduce himself with the mysterious air of some mastermind, but his mood was shattered by Amako's words.

Amako turns away from Nea, who is angry with her.

"I was annoyed that he made it look like he was acting badly. That's all."

"You little ......!　Don't interrupt my brilliant introduction!　You little fox!"

"Little fox?　Did you just call me short?

Hey, hey, stop fighting!

He grabs Nair and Amako by the collar and stops them as they try to fight, leaving his senpai and Kurumia alone.

"Let go of me, Usato!　Today's the day we're going to show this little fox who's better!

"I'm going to cut off your useless height and chest!"

I sigh as the two of them wail and make noise while grabbing me by the collar.

I feel like they have become more quarrelsome since we left Hinomoto. I guess that's why we've become closer.

I wonder why you guys fight over every little thing.

"Well, I'm sure Amako and Nea aren't really mad at each other. But, Usato-sama... Suzune-sama is at ......."

"Yes?"

Aruk-san, who looks annoyed, prompts me to look at my senpai.

"Usato-kun, am I a bad hero after all?　As far as I'm concerned, I haven't had any encounters with demons, and all the demons I've met have been very deadly. Ugh...... how can I meet a messenger, an owl, a vampire, a necromancer, a girl with black hair and red eyes, and a clumsy girl? Hmmm, I wouldn't be surprised if they told you that only Usato-kun has been transported to a fancy fantasy world. ......"

It seemed as if one more push was all it took for him to fall into the darkness.

I immediately checked the situation and called out to Nair.

"Nair, be an owl!"

"Huh?　Now, get this little fox out of my--"

You'll turn me, won't you?

Yes!　I'll do it right now!

With a smile, Nair's face turns blue and she transforms back into an owl.

I confirm this and immediately grab Néa and place her in the hands of the blank-eyed senpai.

"Senpai. You can do whatever you want with him.

"What?"

Really?

Wow, that's a great smile.

The senior's smile turned into an adorable smile, and the ne'er-do-well's expression of despair.

In the meantime, let's get back at Nair sometime in the future.

"This girl also has a chemomimi attribute."

"Huh. ......!　How many more attributes do you have to add!　I'll forgive anything!　Uri-Uri-Uri-Uri!

"Hey, help ...... usa ......"

Nea lets out a cry of anguish while being kissed on the cheek by her senpai.

I will never forget the humiliation I have received at any time ...... almost always!

And I will always return it when I can...... only to those who can return it!

"Usato is the type of person who holds on to his grievances. He's also a bit insidious in his ways."

"Next time, I'll offer you to my senpai."

Usato is a true human being after all. Yes."

I'm amazed at how quickly you've changed.

You can see why I refused when I saw Nair getting tossed around like that.

Well, that's the thing about ........,

"Nair, I'd like you to sacrifice yourself to me. I'll make it up to you later."

"Oh, you're so cute, I want to eat you!"

"Hiiii?

I clasped my hands together inwardly and could do nothing but watch the scene as my senpai squirmed Naea around.