The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

The dark night sky is colored vermilion by the rising sun.

The sun is the same in every world. It is one of the few things in common with the original world. While watching the scenery from the side, I was preparing for my morning training in front of Nair's house.

The reason why I was training early in the morning was because I had to go to bed early and wake up early for the trip, and I had an idea to do the training in the morning, which I would not be able to do during the trip.

"......"

After completing a few preparatory exercises, he approached a nearby tree and looked up at a leg-thick branch about three meters high. He taps it lightly with his fist to see if it is sturdy enough.

Yeah, it looks fine.

"Huh. ......"

He lightly kicks up the trunk, grabs the branch above his head, and lifts himself up at once, hanging his legs on the branch and turning upside down. Then he starts doing sit-ups.

This is the method of training that I have adopted after thinking that strengthening the muscles of the torso is indispensable from the future that Amako saw, but I am not sure if it is effective after all. But it is not meaningless.

Besides, it has certainly given me a reason to devote myself to the training, even if I don't mention Amaco's prediction.

"Help me ...... please ......?"

As I repeat the sit-ups, I think about last night.

I think of the mastermind behind the situation she mentioned and how we made our decision on the matter.

I think about the way we made our decision on the issue.

"Please help our village, help us ......."

When she said this with tears in her eyes, the first emotion I felt was confusion.

But that did not mean that I was surprised that the people living here were in such a desperate situation, but rather that I wondered if I should simply accept her words of <>.

We are not traveling to help people. We are traveling for our country, for the people who live on this continent. If we help everyone on the road and fail to achieve our original goal, it will not be a matter of me alone taking responsibility.

As the one in charge of the letter, I have to refuse her request for help.

But as a member of the lifeguard team, a group that is in charge of saving lives, I have to save her and the villagers.

"First, let me talk to you. First things first."

Nair wiped her eyes and nodded.

"The zombies appeared out of nowhere about two years ago. They came out of a cemetery on the outskirts of the village ...... where some of the villagers were buried and suddenly turned into zombies and came back to life."

What about the zombies that came back?

"They destroyed the village, injured many people, and then went out of ......."

He suddenly appeared two years ago, which must be the time when the Demon King was resurrected. There might be some connection with the demon king's awakening.

And the zombies are from the people who died in this village.

That's in bad taste. Even if they need the corpses, it's just bad taste to go to the trouble of using the corpses that the villagers would have given a good burial, and to let them destroy the village.

"They've been attacking us and passing merchants and travelers without a second thought for a long time. It has made this village almost deserted and the fear of ...... when they might attack has taken the smiles off our faces."

"What kind of behavioral principles do these zombies operate on ......?"

I don't know. I don't know.

Nea shakes her head as she crosses her arms thoughtfully at Aruk's words.

But then she spins the words < and turns her head to where the window is.

"I know that the mastermind who is controlling them lives in a Western-style house a short distance from the village."

Her gaze is directed toward the pitch-black darkness of the night, but beyond that is probably the Western-style house she is referring to.

"But there are a lot of zombies roaming around the mansion day and night. And we can't ...... take him down."

"He?"

The man who created all those zombies?

Nair, who knew who we were calling him, looked around at the three of us and then opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

Necromancer. The king of the dead, a demon who can control corpses, lives in a Western-style house."

Necromancer.

Also known as a necromancer, it is a demon that is as close to a person as possible. Their ability to resurrect the dead and use them as messengers makes them dangerous demons, capable of controlling not only humans, but also subhumans, beasts, and even corpses.

The main characteristics of Necromancers are their great magical power and their ability to control the dead at will.

I let out a sigh for the umpteenth time today as I briefly summarize Aruk-san's explanation in my mind.

"Of course these people will have a hard time against a necromancer. The zombies that are now roaming around with their prescribed orders would be a very troublesome opponent if they were led and attacked by a Necromancer, a leader.

"Mr. Aruk, how strong is the necromancer himself?"

"The body is not so strong. But the strength of necromancer is group battle. Zombies are pawns that can keep moving as long as they can function. Even though I am a fire magician, my magical power is not infinite, so I am sure that I will be at a disadvantage in a prolonged battle.

...... In short, the generals in chess are necromancers, and the infantrymen who never fall are zombies.

They are a pain in the ass. We don't know how many zombies there are.

I had no idea that I would have to deal with such a dangerous monster as a necromancer, though I could have dealt with bandits and thieves in any number of ways. If we were to focus on a long term battle, we could take out the zombies little by little and finally defeat the necromancer, but we can't stand still for long. A solution in a short period of time is not likely.

"The ......"

"Hmm?"

Mr. Nair, who had remained silent, approached me.

"I still like ......."

"Okay?"

We're fine. Usato and his friends saved us once from a dangerous situation, and now we are asking for their help again. ....... So, no more."

I can feel my cheeks twitch as she says this in a somber, broken voice.

I can't leave her alone. ....... If she says that to me with such a despairing look on her face and I say yes, I'll be crushed with guilt.

When I tried to talk to Mr. Aruk to ask for his judgment, he opened his mouth faster than that.

The decision is yours. You have the right to make the decision and I will follow it.

It's my decision. .......

It is natural that Mr. Aruk's position as an escort would lead him to do so, but it is difficult to say.

Do you have a chance?

"In a sense, yes. But it is essential for Usato-dono and Amako-dono to play an active role. ......"

Me and Amako?

I don't know why it's that combination, but if there's a chance of winning, I might give it a try.

But before that, we need to confirm Amako's intention too. .......

"What do you think Amako should do?"

"......I'll go along with whatever Usato decides. But I would like to help her.

You say you want to obey, yet you want to help. .......

I get glances from both sides and let out a sigh.

I look ahead and see Nair anxiously awaiting my words. Abandonment is not an option here. If I abandon her now, I will regret it for the rest of my life.

"Nair-san, does this necromancer have any effect on physical attacks?"

What?　Well, it has substance, so I think it will ...... work.

My only concern is gone.

I look at Nair and raise my hands to chest level and clench my fists.

"If I can beat him, I can beat him. Let's just get rid of this annoying necromancer and leave this village in peace.

I don't feel good about letting a demon with a bad taste run wild, using the buried people as puppets and putting the village in danger.

Nair's mouth curled into a smile at my words. The situation in the village was so urgent that it worried me to see him trembling with emotion.

"Thank you, thank you, ....... I've been anxious ...... and scared ......."

"Oh, don't cry, don't cry."

It's okay to be happy, but please don't cry.

With a trembling voice, I call out to her, puzzled, as she restrains her hands to hide her face.

"I've heard your story."

"......!　Mr. Tetra."

Tetra came into the room wiping her hands.

Nair's eyes are red and swollen, and she looks at Tetra, who is sitting next to her.

"It seems that things have been progressing while I was gone, but I've got the general gist of it. Thank you. Thank you ...... for trying to help not only this girl but also us strangers, but we can't leave it to you alone either.

What do you mean?

I had thought that Aruk, myself, Amako and Bulrin would support us, but Tetra didn't seem to want us to be the only ones doing it.

When I asked her back, she looked up and smiled softly.

"Tomorrow, I'll go to the village head and ask him to help the young people of the village to defeat the monsters that live in that dreary house," she said. ......Well, the more the merrier, don't you think?"

Yes, the more people we have, the more successful the operation will be.

If we can get the cooperation of the villagers, the success rate of Mr. Aruk's plan will increase.

However, zombies and necromancers. This is quite a dangerous journey for a stopover village.

The first time I went to the village, I was surprised to see the zombies.

After that, we returned to our rooms and rested.

As for me, I was able to rest on a soft bed for the first time in a long time, which helped me to get rid of a lot of fatigue from the trip, and Amako was able to rest without worrying about her beastman status, so it was honestly a good decision to take advantage of Nair's and Tetra's kindness.

I thanked them both inwardly and continued my training.

"Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu...... Hu......

As for me, I want to be as prepared as I can be, since I have to deal with the troublesome necromancer.

For now, it's muscle training.

Relentless training will never betray you.

Deep, fast, and hot, I will continue to train my body for the results that lie beyond fatigue and strain.

"Am I too much into training, or am I ......?"

Well, it's a little late for that now, isn't it?

Dozens of minutes of repeated sit-ups and healing spells without a break.

When my body has warmed up just right, I climb down from the tree and stretch slowly.

"Yeah, ......, it's a lot brighter now."

I noticed that my surroundings had become much brighter and I had a clear view of the entire village, which I had not paid attention to until yesterday.

"It looks like a peaceful village. ......"

It was an ordinary village with no rough spots.

But there are people who are putting this peaceful village in danger.

...... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

"Well, let's do it."

After taking a deep breath, he jumps again to the branch overhead and tries to do another pull-up, this time with only one arm... but he sees someone peering at him from behind a door, so he drops to the ground.

Who could it be at this early hour? As I tilted my head and turned toward the door, they must have noticed that I was aware of their presence, because they opened the door and appeared.

"Mr. Nair?"

"I'm sorry. ......"

It was Ms. Nair who came out.

Why is it so early in the day for her to .......

"Oh, sorry. Did I wake you up?"

"Oh, no!　I usually wake up at this time too, so I noticed that you weren't in your room, so I went to ......."

"Ha-ha-ha. Calm down. I know what's going on."

So you noticed me training outside and were watching.

I guess, from her personality, she didn't know when to call out to me, so she couldn't get out of the room, right?

She took a deep breath and calmed herself down, then looked at me and spoke to me in a curious manner.

"Do you always work out?"

"Yes, I do."

"Well, I'm sorry if I'm wrong. Usato-san, are you moving your body and exercising healing magic at the same time?"

"Well, not exactly."

At the beginning I did, but not recently.

After the arrival of the Demon Lord's army, we changed our policy a little and decided not to use healing magic when we are forging.

"Healing magic can cure fatigue, so it's good that I don't get tired at all, but it's not efficient to use healing magic after I've applied a load. Besides, it's not worth training."

"So you'd like to ......?"

We don't use healing magic for normal training, but when the limit is reached, we reapply the healing magic and repeat the process again.

It's like destruction and rebirth all over again, isn't it?　It sounds a little too cool.

"When you feel you've reached your limit, cast healing magic, and when you feel you've reached your limit again, cast healing magic, and repeat the cycle."

"I never thought I'd use healing magic like that. ............ is so inhuman. ......"

"Hmm?"

I asked her, and she waved her hand and said it was nothing.

I heard her voice that I shouldn't have. Was that really her voice?　Is she actually a hard person with a quiet face?　......I try not to think about it.

I try to keep my composure so that she doesn't realize how upset I am inside.

"By the way, what country are you from, Usato-san?

"What?　Where are you from?

There is no way I can say, "I'm from another world.

Unlike Kiriha and the others, with whom I could trust each other to some extent, it would be better not to tell her about my involvement in the summoning to another world, since I had just met her yesterday.

The Kingdom of Lingle.

"It's not far from here ......, but why travel?　I know you're heading to Samariar from the fact that you tried to pass through here, but you don't look like a merchant or ......."

"Hmm."

I don't know where to go with this: .......

For now, I don't need to tell you about Amaco's premonition and your mother. Then, it would be enough to tell them that I am traveling to deliver a letter to the Demon Lord's army to let them know of the danger they are in.

I will explain briefly about the battle against the Demon Lord's army and my subsequent assignment to deliver the letter, as well as what happened in Lucvis.

Of course, I have left out my story.

"It's quite a journey, isn't it ......?"

"Yes, it is. But we still have to do it. After all, if we do nothing, not only our country but the entire continent may be endangered by the Demon King.

"The Demon King, a being defeated by a hero long before I was born. ......"

Before I was born? ...... hundreds of years ago, so it's not surprising that I wasn't born.

But I wonder what kind of heroes Senpai and Kazuki were before they were born. I only know that he was a legendary person who defeated a demon king, but I wonder how strong he was.

I wonder how strong he was. He's just a fairy tale now, so I guess there's no way to know.

"And the demon tribe is ...... terrifying to think that they will attack us in large numbers."

"Even the demons aren't as scary as you might expect when you meet them, you know?　I mean, the demons we have in our care are just a bunch of loser hicks.

Come to think of it, I wonder how he will react when he meets Nack.

I wonder if he's going to snub him like he's a senior. ...... Nack is also a serious guy, so I wonder if he's going to respond to him in a normal way and get carried away. I can imagine him losing his dignity when Rose threatens him.

I laugh at the thought.

"So you know not only beastmen like Amako-san, but also demon people? I don't mean to be rude, but I thought it was unusual.

"I'm aware of that. From the moment I started working for the Commander, or rather my master, I've been like a rare animal."

I'm getting sad to hear myself say that.

What a rare beast. .......

"But I envy you."

"...... envy?"

While I was secretly depressed, Mr. Nair looked at the distant scenery with a troubled expression on his face.

Hmm?　What's going on?

"I have lived here since I was born. I'm so used to seeing this scenery that I'm tired of it, and I know every face and number of people in the village. Therefore, only people from outside can tell me things that I don't know. They satisfy my thirst for knowledge and my curiosity. ......"

"Didn't Tetra-san tell you?"

She seems to have a lot of life experience.

She giggled at my words, looked at me with eyes that did not smile at all, and opened her mouth emotionlessly.

"......Tetra-san has taught me countless important things since I can remember, since she found me without my parents. But even that has its limits. Knowledge is a treasure that continues to overflow in this world. ....... You have an important mission, but you are free to live in the outside world. That's why I envy you ......."

"............"

Oh, heavy.

After Nack, Nair too. I'm not a counselor, so how come I get to know people who have problems?

I mean, he came out to me that he hasn't had parents since he can remember, and now he's jealous of me.

Is this the mindset of a young man who wants to escape from the countryside?　What the hell do you want from me?　Healing magic can't heal a broken heart, can it?

"Oh, ......, I'm sorry for saying such a strange thing!　You didn't do anything wrong, Usato. ......

No, I was too insensitive. I'm sorry."

She comes to her senses, turns slightly pale, and bows her head deeply, and I apologize to her.

It is the most awkward thing ever. ......It's all the necromancer's fault, since the zombies he controls are the reason why people don't come from outside anymore.

"...... then I'll continue my training."

"Yes, yes."

She seemed to have breakfast to prepare as well, so she bowed to me once more and walked quickly back toward her house.

"Knowledge, huh?"

As I watched her back, I muttered something like that.

It is true that there is no space in this village where one can study with satisfaction. For her, even the small talk of travelers and merchants must have been information to learn about the outside world.

It was not easy to say to her, "Why don't you go outside?

She was a girl, about the same age as me. It was too irresponsible to ask her to go outside alone where she might encounter bandits and monsters.

"Well, the first problem is the necromancer..."

I muttered to myself as I jumped up again to the branch above me and resumed my training.

At noon, Tetra had arranged for me and Aruk to be invited to the house of the village chief, the leader of the village.

Since Amako had to cover her head with a hood every time she went out in public, she was staying at home with Nair, and this discussion was to be held with me, Alc, Tetra, the village chief, and a man who looked like a young man from the village, a total of five people.

Perhaps Tetra had told him in advance that we were trying to defeat the necromancer, but the discussion began without much explanation..,

"......We appreciate the offer, but ...... honestly, we don't agree to let you fight that demon."

The village headman, an old man with a big beard, said this with a sullen expression on his face.

"Why is that?"

"Because if we are not careful, the necromancer will destroy our village. And above all, I do not know how strong you are.

You don't want to make things worse by accidentally messing with them.

What do you say, Mr. Alc?　I looked at Mr. Aruk with a sideways glance, and he began to speak in a soft tone with his hand on the sheath of his sword, as if he had anticipated what the village head would say.

"I am good at fire magic, which zombies are not good at. And since Usato-dono next to me has the physical ability to unilaterally overrun a group of zombies by himself, I would say that he surpasses even the most skilled wizards in terms of combat power alone.

"You can get that zombie to ......!"

"A girl like this could take a zombie and turn it into a one-sided ......"

Mr. Aruk, I don't think ...... overrun is a good way to put it. It's not wrong, but it's the wrong word.

You see, the chief and the guy behind me are staring at me with their eyes peeled off. .......

"Tetra, is it true what they say?"

"I didn't see it, but I heard that Nea was watching them."

"...... I don't think that girl would lie. ......"

The village chief folds his arms and groans at Tetra's words.

"Hmmm, how are you ...... going to defeat the necromancer?"

"It's a diversion."

Diversion?

Yes, I'll take on the zombies as a decoy while Usato-sama and his other friend will get through the zombie net. Once we infiltrate the Western-style house undetected, we will defeat the necromancer as soon as we find him. ...... is the plan.

A surprisingly simple plan.

Yet simple enough to be easy.

"Is it that easy to get into that mansion ......?"

That's all right. I have a friend who has excellent detection magic.

Amaco's magic can help here: .......

She can easily get through the security hole with her precognition, and she has some idea of the movements of the zombies in the house.

Then, I could just give the necromancer, who is looking for a diversion, a good whack in the back and that would be the end of it.

What do you think?　I think it's a strategy with a good chance of winning. ......?"

"......"

The village head fell silent for a while at Mr. Aruk's words, but after about ten seconds of silence, he opened his mouth.

"We were helpless. ....... We were powerless to defeat the necromancers or even the zombies, and if we did defeat the zombies, the next time they retaliated in large numbers, causing many injuries. ......"

"......retaliation......"

"And the zombies have ...... our parents and friends. It's hard to deal with them. ....... But even more terrifying is the fact that after I die, my dead body will attack my grandchildren, my son, my wife, my friends, and the villagers I have been protecting.

"Village Chief: ......"

The village people in the background look somber at the somber voice of the village chief.

It must be quite scary ...... to have your body attack people you know after you die. And this man is holding a zombie that maybe ...... he knew.

"I'm sick of it. I can't let that monster do what it wants any more....... The dead should rest in peace. Usato, Aruk, I'm begging you. Let me help you."

"I hope not. But if you are in danger, please pull back."

The village head puts his hands on the table and bows deeply.

I know. ...... must be tough to have to fight with the corpses of people you knew and treated like dolls. The necromancer's ability is in bad taste.

Now, assuming we can get the cooperation of the village, I have one thing on my mind.

"Mr. Aruk, when are you going to sneak into the house?"

"No, it's better to break in at night because zombies are more active during the day. Besides, the darker it is, the easier it will be for Usato-dono to sneak in.

After dark. While the chances of being found by zombies are reduced, there is no guarantee that they will never find you.

And a Western-style house is a staple of horror stories. Even if you know in advance that a necromancer has taken up residence there, you still have to be afraid.

"So the attack is tonight?"

Yes.

The village headman turned back to the villagers behind him when he saw Mr. Alc nodding.

"Talk to the men in the village. "Tell the men of the village that we are going to defeat the hated necromancer tonight. But do not force them. Call only those who are ready to fight. Of course, you are no exception.

"Yes, but the chief is ......"

"I, as head of the village, will see them fight."

"............ understand. I'll go talk to the others!"

The villagers nodded at the mayor's words, bowed to him, and ran outside.

Now we have the cooperation of the villagers. All we have to do now is to be ready for the night. .......

He looks out the window. Although the forest blocks the view from here, there is a mansion where a demon who controls the dead lives. The way is blocked by a large number of zombies, all of them strong-armed and very stubborn.

"Wait for me, Necromancer!"

Leave the zombies to Mr. Aruk and the villagers. Me and Amako... we're going to beat up the dastardly necromancer.

He brushes his bangs back in a warlike but superficially nonchalant manner.

"......What a formidable ...... figure."

"You really look like Rose. That's exactly what I'm talking about, Mr. Usato.

I wondered what they thought when they saw me, the village chief cowering and Aruk-san's voice cracking with fear.

What's with the "reliable look" and the resemblance to Rose?

I don't look that scary ...... maybe.