The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

When I woke up, there was a black, curled up ball of hair-like object in front of my eyes and nose.

I know I'm saying things that don't make sense to me, but there really was a black ball of hair in front of me, and it was tickling the tip of my nose.

"Yeah ......?"

Is this the lifeguard's quarters?

It looks like it's still light outside the window. .......

"How did you end up here ......?"

I was moving as fast as I could to save all the knights from the fireballs falling from the sky during the battle with the Demon Lord's army. ...... Did I faint again, perhaps?

As I was slowly going through my memories, the black ball of fur in front of me moved, its two ears stood up, and its red eyes turned towards me.

"Cu-cu-cu!"

"Oh, Kukuru. It's you, isn't it? That's why I was so ticklish."

What I thought was a black furball was Kukuru, the noir rabbit and pet of the Commander. Kukulu rests his face against my cheek and rubs his cheek in a friendly gesture.

As usual, Kukuru is a devilishly deceptive creature.

I get up from the bed where I am sleeping, petting Kukuru, and find something black lying on the floor.

Upon closer inspection, it turns out to be an owl with its eyes rolled back in its head.

"......Nea?"

"...... Ha!　Why am I on the floor?

"That's what I'm asking you."

Why was Neah, who had transformed into an owl, sleeping on the floor?

My voice woke her up, and when she found Kukul on my shoulder, she spread her wings wide as if to express her anger.

"Oh, my God, you did this!　You pushed me off the bed!"

"Cue."

Nair flaps her wings as she drives Kukul out of the way and lands on my shoulder, but from my vantage point I have no idea what's going on.

I don't know what's going on, but I'm not sure what's going on.

"Whoo!　Whoo!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" "Calm down, calm down. Calm down. I know that this is the lifeguard station, but why am I here ......?　Where is the leader?　Is everyone okay?"

Nair, who is threatening Kukul on the opposite shoulder, asks him about his current situation.

"You've been asleep for three days since the battle ended. The moment after the air attack, you collapsed.

"...... Well, I remember that much too. So, you guys are ......"

"All the people in the lifeguard squad are safe. Rose was seriously wounded in the fight with Nero, but somehow, she's still alive. But you were too tired to wake up right away, so they brought you here."

"...... I see."

"By the way, the only members of the group who have returned are myself and Ferrum. The rest of us are in the war zone, treating the wounded."

...... Rose is seriously injured, huh?

I thought she couldn't be unscathed against that Nero Agence. ....... But I'm glad to hear that Nair seems to be in good health.

I'm sure she is still taking the lead as a lifeguard.

I really should go back, but it seems that I was not only brought back here because I was tired.

As I was getting off the bed, the door of the room was opened and a dark-haired boy, Nack, entered.

He shouted in surprise as I got off the bed.

"...... Usato-san!　You're awake!

"Yes, Nack. I'm home."

"Welcome home!"

Nack greets me cheerfully, and I finally get up, feeling somewhat relieved.

Are you going to stay at the castle while we're gone?

"Yes. I've been helping out in various ways. When I heard that Usato had returned after the battle, I came back here.

"I see. ......"

I'm so glad you made it back here alive.

This place is like my home in this world.

As I was thinking this thought deeply, Nack's expression came to his face as if he had remembered something.

Yes, Amako and the others are preparing a meal for us.

"Amaco?"

"Yes. She saw Usato wake up in her premonition, and just now, she and Suzune went to make a meal together ......."

"What?　You're here?"

I was hungry, but I didn't think he was here.

No, I was happy to know that he was safe.

"Kazuki is here, too.

"Kazuki too ...... then we'd better get downstairs as soon as possible ....... Neah, Nack, I'm going to change, can you wait downstairs first?"

"Yes. Nack, let's go!"

"Oh, yes!"

Neck chases after Nair, who flaps his wings and runs out the door.

He puts Kukul down on his shoulder and goes to change his clothes, when he suddenly sees the group uniform hanging on the wall.

"......"

Rose had mended it for me, but the battle had made it dirty again, and there were many small scratches on it.

I feel a sense of regret.

There are people I couldn't save.

"But I still ...... ......

"Cu?"

Kukul looks up at me with his little head tilted back, and I pat him again.

And then I remember. I remember the leader who saved me in the middle of the battle when Nero Agens was about to finish me off.

"...... Kukul, your master is still a great man."

What is lost will never come back.

I can't stop, even if I feel helpless and regretful.

Even after the battle is over, the war with the Demon Lord's army is not over.

I can't stop myself.

After changing my clothes, I went downstairs to find that the lower floor was more crowded than I had expected.

Kazuki, Nack, Ferrum and Nair were sitting in chairs at the long table where the tough guys usually sit, while Senpai and Amako were standing around serving dishes and serving food.

It must have been around noon.

It was hard to believe that three days had passed since the battle.

"Ah, Usato-kun!　You've come down!"

"Senpai......"

The senior notices me, smiles like a flower, and beckons me over.

I was glad to see that he and Kazuki seemed to be in good health.

With relief, I go to sit down in the empty seat next to Kazuki, and Amako comes up to me.

"I'm home. Amako."　

"......Yeah, welcome back. Usato."

I accept the bowl of bread she is holding and talk to her.

Was she taking care of me when I had fainted?

Seeing Amako's sleepy eyes, I lightly touch her shoulder and cast a healing spell.

"Did I make you worry?"

"No, I didn't. I believed that Usato would be all right.

"I see. ....... But thank you."

Once she thanked him firmly, Amako looked away for a moment and gave him a troubled look.

"Um, there's something I need to talk to you about later."

"Something you want to talk about?"

"Yeah."

"...... got it."

Amako replied and went back to the kitchen with her senpai.

What is it?　It seemed to be a thought, but was it something to do with the prediction?　It seemed to be something like the time in the land of evil dragons and beastmen.

......No, we'll talk about it later, but for now let's sit down.

I put the bread bowl on the table and greet Kazuki who is sitting next to me.

"Good morning. Kazuki."

"Good morning. You're awake after all. Usato."

After exchanging greetings with Kazuki, I was thirsty, so I took a sip of the water I had on hand.

"Finally, you're awake. You've been sleeping too long. You."

"Have I slept that long?"

Three days is a lot of sleep.

I didn't want to pass out as much as possible, either.

Nair, who was leaning her elbows on the table next to Ferrum, opened her mouth to tell me that I was smiling bitterly.

"This isn't the first time he's fainted, you know.　At least three or four times he has fainted and fallen down during our trip.

"Oh, really?"

Ferme looks at me with a subtle expression on his face and pulls back his head in disbelief.

Well, I admit that I faint every time there is an incident.

As I was thinking about this, I looked at Ferrum and remembered what I had been worrying about all through the battle.

"...... Oh, yeah."

What?

"I'm glad I was able to unassimilate you ...... because there was a chance we might have stayed like that forever. Ha-ha-ha."

It's hard for me, too, to stay in assimilation with Ferrum.

It's not that I don't want to be with her, but it would be hard for both of us to be together all the time, or to be in a group uniform all the time.

When I say this somewhat jokingly, a very upset Ferm glares at me even more.

I was so excited to be separated from you!　First of all, don't forget that my magic just likes you!

"Uh, yeah, yeah. ...... sorry?"

It's her own magic, so she shouldn't have made fun of it. In Ferrum's case, unlike me, she might have been taking it very seriously.

I wonder what Ferrum thinks of my apology, and he starts to groan with his head in his hands.

"U~......"

"Pfft, you're not being honest."

"Shut up!"

He's grinning at me and talking to me...I'll leave Ferrum to Nair...

As I was looking at the food on the table, feeling somewhat hungry, Kazuki approached me.

"I see you both made it home safely.

"Yes, it is. It's been really hard, but ...... yeah, it's a wonder we're still here."

I can't tell you how many times I've almost died. .......

I almost didn't feel alive when we stranded Nero Agence.

"You got to Kazuki and Senpai, didn't you?　Weapons of the Brave."

"Yeah. I've got a baskets like Usato's and he's got a sword."

"Senpai is a sword, huh? Well, yeah, in a way it's what I expected. ......"

In fact, I had a feeling that senpai would be a weapon with a cool image, like a sword or a chain sickle.

Combined with the electric shock, it would look good in a fight.

When you say that Kazuki has a basket hand similar to mine,...... could it be the wristband-like thing wrapped around the wrist of his left hand?　Mine is a bracelet, but it is quite different from Kazuki's.

"When I first used this, I talked to Shenlong ...... Falga-sama too."

"To Master Farga?　What did he say?"

"He told me how to use it and ...... then he gave me some advice to form my mind."

Mr. Farga has been a great help to me.

He should be exhausted from making armaments for the both of us. .......

If I could, I would like to see him again and thank him.

"...... the end of the battle against the Demon Lord's army, huh?"

Nair and Nack told me that the battle is over, but I don't feel that way at all.

In fact, I don't even think it's over yet.

"Kazuki, what's going on in the Ringle Kingdom right now?　It's not like after the last battle, is it?

"Yes, it is. The battle was won, but the damage from that last attack was too much. Right now, everything is in such a hurry that there is not enough time to celebrate the victory.

"...... the wounded knights, are they still in that battlefield?"

Kazuki nodded at my words.

The reason why there are no members of the lifeguard squad here is that they are treating the wounded in the battlefield, I guess.

Gerna and the others who have come to join the rescue team are probably in the group, so I should probably head there now that I've woken up from my faint.

I'd rather go there as soon as I can.

"...... I'm not the only one who was sent back to the Lingle Kingdom because I fainted, am I?"

"Yes. It seems that's the same reason we brave souls were sent back here."

"Kazuki and senpai and ......?"

I didn't see that one coming.

If two brave men are involved, it might be something important.

"Here you go. I've brought the food!

"I've brought most of what I had on hand..."

As you are thinking this, Senpai and Amako appear from the kitchen carrying plates with food on them.

Kazuki sees them and his grim expression relaxes.

"Now that the dishes are served, let's talk later. You must be hungry too, Usato.

"Sure, I haven't eaten for three days."

Whatever we do, we have to get back in shape first.

Amako sits down next to me and Senpai takes a seat in front of me, and he smiles at me as usual.

"I'm really glad you're awake.

"Haha, you're overreacting. ......"

"I'm not overreacting. I'd be ruined without you."

...... What's a waste of time?

I don't know if you are being serious or joking.

I know he is concerned about my safety, so I'll take it as such.

"Usato, don't take yourself too lightly.

"What?"

"Everyone is worried about you. Including everyone here.

"......"

Even the senpai who are usually playful, they make a decision when they have to make a decision.

That's why I will never fail him. .......

"Hey. Why are you sitting next to me?

"Yeah?"

While I was thinking about this, Ferrum was talking to the senior who was sitting next to him with a troublesome look on his face.

For a moment, the senior reacted with a stunned look on his face, but soon his expression became confident.

I've been wanting to talk to you. I've been wanting to talk to you. ...... This is the first time we've talked face to face, isn't it?　My name is Suzune. Can I touch your horns or something?"

"How can you talk to someone who almost killed you in a normal way ......?"

"Well, that's all in the past. If you're a friend of Usato's, it's no exaggeration to say you're a friend of mine. ......!"

"Even I know that's not right!　I've never had a real conversation with you!"

Oh, it's the same old senior.

No, I'm happy for him if he doesn't have any feelings for me, but he's being too aggressive, and that ferme is getting pushed away.

"I'd love to be friends with a tsundere, silver-haired, brownish demon tribe!　Ferrum!　Let's make friendship with me!"

"Whoa!　Usato! Help!　He doesn't understand human language!

But if Senpai is okay, what about Kazuki?

He, like his senpai, must have been almost killed by Ferrum---the black knight.

He drops his hand on his chin and talks to Kazuki, who is standing next to him watching the exchange between FERM and the senior.

"Kazuki," he said, "I don't know about Ferme. ......"

"Hmm?　I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some feelings about it. ......"

Kazuki's gaze turns to Ferrum.

"Seeing you here like this, I know you're not as scary as you were then."

"...... I agree. From my point of view, she has changed.

"Besides, you worked to help Usato in this battle, didn't you?　Then I have nothing to worry about.

If that's what Kazuki says, then it's all right.

I looked at Ferrum and Senpai with a sense of relief, and saw that Ferrum had grabbed onto the chair where Nair was sitting while I was looking away from him.

"Nair, switch seats!　I don't want to get tangled up with this guy!　That's him!　He's a pain in the ass just like Uluru!

"No!　You sit there as a sacrifice to Susanne!

You! You!

Nair clings to her seat as if to hand it over, and Ferrum tries to grab the chair somehow.

The senior, seeing the two of them, brightens his face as if something has just flashed across his mind.

"Ferrum, you can trade your seat for mine!

"Neah, you're coming with me!

What?

A noisy but joyful scene that has nothing to do with fighting.

The smiling senpai and the frantic Fellum and Naea.

Amako, Kazuki, and Nack watch them with a wry smile.

Looking around at them once more, I finally feel at ease and reach for my first meal in three days.