The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic

After Nair's magic had removed the cursed skeletons that had been eating away at Eva's body, I carried her to the bedroom as Eiri had instructed me to do.

She is dead asleep, but still breathing.

She is ...... but visibly weak.

"......I wonder if she'll ever wake up."

Eiri has gone to the castle to inform the others about the incident, so she is not here.

I slowly meditate and talk to Nea, seeing her illuminated by the moonlight coming in through the window.

"Néa, how long does the magic of resistance last?"

"About half a day. But it will last as long as I keep adding magic to it. But that's not..."

"It's not a radical solution ......, is it?"

Nair nodded in agreement.

The only reason Eva is safe now is because she has a resistance spell that can repel the curse. If it were to be broken, she would become weaker and weaker... and then disappear.

"Even if she regains consciousness, she will not be able to live properly. And Usato can't be tied to this country forever."

"......Yes. We don't have much time.

That is why it is preferable to settle the matter in a short period of time.

Fortunately, we've got them by the tail. The skeleton was saying strange things during the last battle and Nair seems to have noticed something.

Nair, you said you knew what this curse was. Will you tell me?"

"Sure. But that doesn't mean we know the whole truth, does it?

I don't care.

What we need now is information about the skeleton.

I need to hear anything, no matter how trivial it may seem.

Usato, it was a curse, not a curse. Oh, but is it a curse, too?　If you include the secondary effects, yes, but the main part is that one. ......"

"...... Hmm, hmm?　I'm sorry, I don't understand."

At least break it down for me so I can understand.

I don't understand enough about curses and stuff like that.

"I said I understood too, but I'm not sure. What I do know for sure is that those skeletons are disembodied souls.

"Disembodied souls?"

"Disembodied souls?　Ghosts.

"...... what?　I'm sorry, what did you just say?"

"?　A ghost. A ghost, a wandering, willful energy entity in search of a body."

"......"

Never have I heard so many facts that I wish I hadn't.

I mean, are those guys ghosts?　I punched them hard, but the thought of them being ghosts now scares me later. .......

Not noticing my tight smile, Nair spins her words.

"They cursed the royal family and the previous generation of heroes---well, the reason they cursed Usato for being mistaken for the previous generation of heroes was because they had a grudge against him."

"...... I know that when I hear what they say and do. But why were they saying things like, in my case, if I'm trapped, I'll be released?"

"That's the point, that's the point."

Nair thrust her wings toward me as if to point.

What's so important?　The skeleton's words?

"You said a soul without a body can't stay in this world, right?　But that skeleton stays. That means there's something holding that skeleton's soul to this world.

"What ...... you mean, if we destroy that something, we can unleash the skeletons that are eating away at Eva?"

"I don't mean to be rude, but yes. If we're lucky, the stolen beings and souls may come back.

Thinking back, those skeletons were collared and chained.

Is that the "something" that binds those skeletons?

What I don't understand is how that something is binding the souls to this world.

"Maybe some kind of witchcraft?　I mean, what else could it be? ......"

"It's funny because it's magic. They don't usually last that long."

"You said before that magic either disappears over time or works semi-permanently."

As I recall, this is what she told me before I visited Samaritan --- when she was teaching me about the magic of liberation.

"Yes. But for magic to work, it needs fuel, magic power. The longer the years, the more magic is needed."

"...... I mean, that one?　You mean a demon like you who can use magic is behind this curse?"

It's possible.

...... Possibility that demons other than Nair are involved?

The possibility of having a clear enemy makes things easier for me, but I also have to consider the damage to my surroundings.

As I crossed my arms and groaned in worry, Nair, who had not finished talking to me, bent her wings and raised her index finger as if to raise it.

"There is another possibility," she said.

"Another one?"

"It is to create a system that can supply magic power from the outside without a magician. Basically, magic can be activated by anyone's magical power once the framework is created, so it can continue to move on its own even if appropriate magical power is supplied from the outside. Once the mechanism is created, it will never disappear, and it is possible to continue exercising magic almost permanently.

"...... I see."

I have no idea.

What you are saying is that if we create a system that supplies the magic power to fuel the magic so that it doesn't disappear on its own, we can do without a magician. ......?

"......I don't know if it's the same demon as me or if it's working on a system that someone made a long time ago, but I feel sorry for it."

"...... about Eva?"

No, I mean her soul.

The skeleton?

I let out a doubtful voice at her words, but Nair looks out the window sadly and mutters to herself.

"Because the soul without a body wants to be liberated. And he looks crazy, doesn't he?　Wanting to be released, wanting a body, wanting to live again... dozens, maybe hundreds of duplicated thoughts are distorted and attacking this girl who is the target of the curse.

"...... are you taking away Eva's existence because you want a living body?"

What in the world are those skeletons?

If they want a living body, it means they used to be human. Come to think of it, the way they looked at me in fear when I was fighting them off was a human-like reaction, too.

And the words that echoed in my head when I was bitten... some of them were the voices of children.

A voice begging for help, wanting to stay, and..,

"Brave man."

He takes out the small sword of the previous hero from his waist and puts it on his hand and looks at it.

"When I touched her hand, it trembled terribly. It was as if it was reacting to something.

It's not a coincidence, is it?

"I did tremble. And then Eva and all the skeletons started pouring out of her and her surroundings, and the battle began. Maybe that's it. Maybe it was this sword that made them call me brave. It doesn't make sense otherwise.

I am not a brave man.

I can say that with certainty. Because two other heroes have already been summoned besides me, and I have not heard the sound of the bell that only those who are summoned hear when they are summoned.

"Huh, I never thought I'd be called brave not only by an evil dragon but also by a ghost. ....... I'm not a brave man!

"From my point of view, I'm brave enough. You'll be a brave man for sure if you join this country.　You have that much power.

Kiriha told me this once.

Being a hero in this world has two meanings.

There are those who are summoned from other worlds like Kazuki and Inukami-senpai, and those who are recognized for their valor in this world, given titles, and become heroes.

In either case, I don't want the title of hero. Even now, I don't know what kind of trouble I'll get into when I get it.

"Certainly ....... Usato seems to be the type of person who gets involved and gets himself into trouble. Maybe he shouldn't be a hero with a title only."

"I wish I hadn't convinced him. ......"

Nea's words are met with disappointment.

Well, I can't argue with him, since I'm the one who's getting myself into trouble this time.

......Now, let's get back to my thoughts.

After all, it was this little sword that triggered Eva's curse. I can say that it is my fault that she is now in this situation, because I myself unintentionally grabbed her hand with this knife in my hand.

I feel sorry for my carelessness, but I gained something.

I go over in my mind the contents of the notebook I left in my room.

"You know the story of the evil dragon that threatened to destroy ...... Samaliar a long time ago, and the brave warrior who defeated it, don't you?"

The contents of that notebook.

"Oh ....... This story definitely happened. And I think this event is strongly connected to Eva's curse.

"I'd like to say ...... that it's not. Well, I guess you can't say that it's irrelevant if I listen to you. ....... I want to forget about that evil dragon, but why does it keep popping up here?"

"I don't want to be reminded of it either."

I've been in a lot of pain, and I've had a lot of trouble.

Nair was almost killed in one of them.

But now is not the time to look away. I heard the voice of the evil dragon that Nair had revived... a far more powerful, fearless, and domineering cry than the evil dragon I had met was nowhere to be found in my memory.

"Mr. Fagunis also said that Samaria suffered a great disaster a long time ago, so there is no doubt about it. I'm sure that the evil dragon and the previous heroes are related to Eva's curse.

"Fegnis?　Who's that?

Oh, Nair didn't know.

She tilts her head and I explain to her about Mr. Fegnis. When I told her he was the one who had taken me to the castle, she remembered him and gave me a look of disgust.

She is not a bad person, so I tell her that he explained to me about Samaria and the tower, and that he gave me back my little sword, to improve my image at least.

"...... Usato, don't let him get near me."

"I know."

"Later, you're being too careless. You should be more suspicious.

"So you're following Amaco's lead."

"Samaritan's Tower, huh? Heh, it was built to restore the city after the defeat of the evil dragon. ....... He is a king with a lot of time on his hands. ......

Nair ignores my quip and ponders what to do.

I think it's rude ...... to say that I'm too deceived, but it's true that I was deceived by the owl in front of me, and as a result, I had to fight against a manipulated and fully armed Mr. Aruku and an evil dragon.

Remembering this, I slowly droop my head.

...... hmm?

"---,nea. There's someone here, keep quiet."

"Ryokai."

Nair was mumbling something, but when she heard the sound of footsteps coming up, she jumped on my shoulder and hooted like an owl as if she was playing the role of a messenger owl.

Soon after that, the castle doctor came rushing out of the door.　A group of people like the castle doctor and wizards like Ms. Welsey come in through the door. They are probably the ones who have been called in to examine Eva's condition.

I step out of the way so as not to disturb them, lean my back against the wall next to the door and relax my shoulders.

Then, Eiri-san came walking toward me at a slow pace from the stairs leading to the lower floor.

"...... Mr. Usato."

"Yes?"

"Mr. Lucas wants to see you."

"...... understand."

Well, of course they'll call you.

I would have come to you if you hadn't called me.

According to Mr. Eiri, Mr. Lucas has already arrived at the ward and is waiting outside. You did not see Eva's face?　When I asked her if she had seen Eva's face, she said no,

"I am sure that Master Lucas is also shocked."

---He said...

Shock, huh? That's what you'd expect if your precious daughter collapsed.

Your question was a bit insensitive.

"Was the pattern on the princess done by you?"

"......!"

I couldn't hide my agitation at the sudden question.

I stare at Eiri walking in front of me and involuntarily stop, but I come to my senses when Nair on my shoulder taps me lightly on the cheek and I start walking again.

Yes, Eiri has seen me casting a spell on Eva. It's not surprising that she is aware of it.

...... what to do.

I can't keep her quiet, so I might as well explain to her what's going on.

"Don't worry. I don't mean to blame you. I know what's going on. I know that that pattern is protecting your life right now. ......"

"......"

"To begin with, it's not at all like any curse I know of. When I see that the princess's hair has regained its original color, I know that the pattern is keeping the curse away from her."

Knowing Eiri's mother, who was under the same curse as Eva, it is not surprising that she would notice Nair's magic, which seems to have different symptoms than before.

Frankly, I am glad that she did not think that I had harmed Eva. If I had, I'd have been stuck in a situation where I couldn't help her in the worst possible way. .......

"The curse that is consuming the princess's body is a terrible curse that takes away her color, her presence, and in the end, she will disappear from everything. It has never happened before that she, under such a curse, suddenly returns to her original form."

"By her original appearance, do you mean the hair she had as a child?"

"Yes, she had beautiful hair, just like Eliza, and she was so cheerful and smiling, as if she were a living replica of her.

Eiri said these words as if immersed in a memory.

But he stopped in front of the door leading outside.

"Eiri?"

"......I really thought I would never see the same princess again as I did when I was a child. I thought that she would disappear just like Eliza, without being able to say goodbye to anyone."

Disappearing without anyone knowing---that must be very painful.

For the person and the people around him or her.　

"I can do nothing but be a butler. I am a weak man who has never wielded magic or a sword in my 30 years of life. Even so, as a butler, I have done my best so that the princess could live without inconvenience. But now I have nothing to do for the princess. ...... I am so frustrated by that. ......"

"...... Eiri, you are not a weak person."

His voice trembles, denying his words.

I have gotten to know Eiri well over the past few days.

She is a great cook, an amazing person who can handle any kind of household chores, and a person who cares very much about Eva.

He is a great cook, a great housekeeper, and a man who cares for Eva very much... He is a man who has watched her grow up for a long time, and there is no way he can be called a weak man.

"Even if you don't fight, the fact remains that you have supported Eva until today. So you... please pray for Eva's safety as you have always done."

"Mr. Usato, ......"

"So, being the physical type, I'll break her curse."

"What ...... break?　What in the world are you ......?"

I step forward to cross next to him.

If I've dared this much, all I have to do now is move forward.

But as I turn my head, the owl on my shoulder taps me lightly on the wing, and I turn to the side to see a pouting, beak-tipped nea directing me with her wings.

"Ho!"

"Oh, sorry, I'm not the only one."

Smiling at her self-confidence, I put my hand on the doorknob, turn around and say, "I'm not going to do it.

"We'll take care of her curse," she says.

After saying these words, I opened the door to the outside with Eiri's surprised face on my back.

Outside was the pitch-dark garden and the view of the castle, which had been lit up by the previous commotion.

Without any hesitation, I walk to the grave of Eva's mother---Lucas' wife, Lady Eliza.

"...... have you come?"

He was sitting cross-legged in front of the grave as before.

He mumbled to me without looking back at me, and I approached him without hesitation and opened my mouth.

"Mr. Lucas, I need to talk to you."

Now, here's the deal.