Chapter 50

I will resume the updates.

I said that Chapter Two was over, but since it ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, I'll continue a little more.

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"Roah..."

In one of the rooms of the World Tree's castle, we, who were planning to go to the Demon Continent, were taking a temporary rest while waiting for the teleportation magic circle to be ready.

As I mentioned before, the teleportation magic circle requires a large amount of magic power, which has the disadvantage of not being usable when needed.

Leaving it fully charged all the time could lead to accidents or misuse, which would be disastrous.

Therefore, the measure taken was to pre-charge it to a certain extent and then complete the charge in a short time when using it.

Even for beastmen, who don't have a lot of magic power by nature, enough time has passed since the battle with Rugar, so the charge should be almost complete...

"I'm worried about Desus too... After all, he's the Demon King, so he'll be the first to be targeted, right?"

"True..."

I don't think he would be defeated so easily, but depending on the movements of the black-robed ones, the situation could become dangerous all at once.

If they haven't started moving yet, we can deal with it.

"Well... there's also the Fifth Demon General, and he's quite strong himself. He should be fine for a while."

"I guess so..."

"Besides, if his life is in danger, I'll know."

"Oh, you gave him something like this, didn't you?"

Saying this, Roah stroked the black choker around her neck.

The choker I gave to Roah and the brooch I gave to Desus are embedded with my original magic, which I created from scratch, and they notify me when the wearer is in danger.

Basically, all the accessories I give have this embedded, and the fact that nothing has reacted so far means everyone is safe.

Incidentally, the people I've given them to are: Yūhi, the three attendants, Desutoru, Ruri, Levi, Regulus, Roah... There are others, but they won't be going to the battlefield, so the ones to worry about now are the ones I've named.

Ruri is a merchant, so she won't be fighting, but since she lives in Evilbrough, the enemy will be advancing towards there, so she's not without danger.

I'm also worried about the others, but the one I'm most worried about is Yūhi.

Given his kind heart, he might show mercy to the enemy on the battlefield and end up suffering for it.

If Elka and the others go to the Demon Continent as I predicted and protect him, I'll be much more at ease...

"Merchant! Give me water!"

"Y-Yes!"

Young merchant Ruri, despite being drenched by the rain and covered in mud, was desperately carrying the requested supplies.

As Setsu predicted, she didn't fight but contributed to the demon army as a supply team member.

Ruri, who was known to the Demon King Desutoru, was asked by the Demon King himself to be a supply officer, and thus she was running around the battlefield.

She was successfully running her fried food stall, which she learned from Setsu, and the demon soldiers, who could eat Setsu's cooking, frequented her stall and became friends with Ruri.

She also had decent merchant skills, and due to her credibility, initiative, and efficiency, it was inevitable that Ruri would be chosen as the leader of the supply team.

At first, other members of the supply team were dissatisfied with taking orders from someone younger than themselves, but her efficiency and accurate instructions, combined with the busyness of the battlefield, left no time for dissatisfaction.

"Leader! The medical team needs clean cloth and disinfectant. There are too many injured, and they're requesting emergency supplies."

"The healing magic isn't keeping up, huh... Then they're in the back of the wagon. For clean cloth, put the cloth in a bag to keep it from getting wet. Also, you can get some magic power recovery potions for the medical team. It's better to have them just in case."

"Got it!"

The young team member, dressed lightly, ran off to the supply area.

Ruri handed the water barrel she was carrying to the soldier who requested it.

"Thanks! ...Heavy!? Girl, you were carrying this!?"

"There's a trick to carrying it! You pick it up naturally when you're in business for yourself."

"Wow... That's amazing. Thanks!"

"Sure!"

She ran off again.

Behind the battlefield, a single merchant was supporting the fighting soldiers.

"Ugh... Oh..."

"Are you okay, Mitzuki?"

The human stronghold built on the Demon Continent serves as a place for treating injured soldiers and a resting area for those forced to retreat temporarily.

Among them are the heroes, who all look pale.

For them, who were just high school students a few weeks ago, the battlefield, where death is rampant, must be as mentally weakening as torture just to be there.

"S-Sorry... I... I saw... Ugh..."

"It's okay... Just let it all out."

Mitzuki, who had seen many deaths, was overwhelmed by a mix of emotions and couldn't stop vomiting, unable to leave the bucket of vomit.

By her side, supporting her as she continued to vomit, was Jirou, who was also summoned as a hero.

He has seen many things on the battlefield, but he is in relatively good mental condition.

His mind, which had been involved in martial arts like judo and boxing, was fairly resilient compared to his peers.

"Hey! Get a grip, you two!"

"Sorry, Endo..."

"It's... disgusting..."

Endo and his followers were also in bad shape.

While Endo was scolding his followers, his own face was pale.

"Damn... Why are we going through this..."

"Are you guys okay? I brought some water."

"Kazehashi-san!"

When he realized it was Yūhi who brought the water, Endo's posture straightened up.

"Are you there?"

"Y-Yes!"

Endo grabbed the glass Yūhi brought and drank it greedily.

Just receiving water and kindness from the girl he admired brightened his expression.

Unaware that she had been the source of his renewed energy, Yūhi was relieved that at least his complexion had improved.

"Let me know if anything happens."

Due to Kōma, Yūhi wasn't allowed to fight and was working as a general helper in the stronghold.

Endo looked reluctant, but Yūhi had other things to do, so she quickly left with more water.

"Yū... Aren't you going to rest?"

"Kōma-kun..."

Just as she was about to take more water, she was stopped by Kōma.

He looked a bit angry, but his face also showed signs of fatigue.

Kōma himself was quite exhausted from killing a significant number of enemies.

"Because I haven't fought much... I have to do this much at least..."

"Even so, you should rest! You don't need to do such menial tasks!"

Kōma's loud voice made everyone in the area look at them.

Yūhi was flustered, but Kōma didn't seem to care and grabbed her shoulder.

"I'll protect you. So on the battlefield, just hide behind me, and you don't need to do this."

"..."

Kōma's words, which sounded like something from a game character, made the girls blush and the boys admire him.

Yūhi couldn't say anything.

It wasn't out of感动——

Nor was it out of joy——

It was because she was utterly exasperated with him.

(At a time like this... Yuki-kun would praise me)

Yūhi has always had many friends, and through that, she has interacted with many people.

In the process, she often helped people and became admired by many.

Setsu always praised her whenever she helped or assisted someone.

There was genuine interest in his praise.

Naturally, others also praised her.

Yūhi Kazehashi was known as a kind-hearted girl...

However, in reality, her heart wasn't particularly kind.

She was only kind within the bounds of common sense.

She didn't help people because she was kind.

She helped people because Setsu praised her... In other words, Yūhi Kazehashi helped people and did good deeds to be praised by Setsu.

Praise is, in essence, recognition.

Because Setsu liked Yūhi, he recognized and supported her actions.

Because Kōma liked Yūhi, he didn't recognize her actions and tried to protect her.

There was a gap between them that could never be bridged.

Yūhi was not a weak girl.

She had the strength to want to protect rather than be protected.

Kōma, who had become overly protective, was nothing but a hindrance to her.

"..."

"Where are you going!"

"Just to get some fresh air... I need to be alone."

"A-Ah..."

Unexpectedly drawing attention and losing the mood to do her chores, Yūhi passed by Kōma and headed outside.

Seeing the whole scene, Jirou spoke to Kōma, who had a dazed look on his face.

"Isn't that a bit overprotective, Kōma?"

"I don't want Yū to be in danger..."

"I understand that, but she's strong too! She won't go down so easily."

"You don't know that!"

Kōma's shout echoed through the stronghold again.

Fed up with Kōma's lack of consideration for others, Jirou finally stood up and punched him in the face.

"Oof..."

"Snap out of it, man."

Small gasps rose from the surrounding people.

Kōma, looking as if he didn't understand why he was hit, rolled on the floor, stunned and unable to move.

Jirou grabbed him by the collar and lifted him to make eye contact.

"I understand you're worried about the girl you like and don't want her to be in danger! But is Yū being safe all that matters to you? What about the others?! Some are already injured! You're the strongest here! Everyone relies on you! Are you going to neglect the others just because you're worried about Yū?! I won't allow it!"

"..."

"Yū can fight too... We should protect the others, including her, who aren't good at fighting..."

"..."

Kōma felt awkward and turned his face away from Jirou.

It was true that he hadn't been thinking about his classmates, and he felt himself becoming more level-headed.

"...Sorry, Jirou. I might not have been thinking clearly."

"...Yeah. Sorry for hitting you."

Jirou stepped back from Kōma and offered his hand.

Kōma took it and stood up, then bowed to the classmates who were looking at them worriedly.

"Sorry for causing a commotion."

"Sorry."

When Jirou also apologized, the classmates returned to their rest, looking relieved.

Mitzuki, who was close to both of them, noticed that the tension between them had dissipated and sighed in relief.

"I'll go get Yū."

"Wait, that'll be awkward if you go now, right?"

"Ugh..."

"I'll go. Then you can apologize to her."

"Alright... Thanks."

"Sure."

Kōma, perhaps having a specific person in mind for the awkwardness, decided to let Jirou handle it.

He sat down and waited for their return.

However——

No matter how long he waited, they didn't come back.

"Haa..."

Let's go back a bit in time.

Yūhi, who had slipped out of the stronghold, put on a raincoat to keep the rain off and walked outside.

The air, which smelled of rain and gunpowder, was a bit harsh, but it felt much better than the heavy atmosphere inside the stronghold.

(Kōma-kun... He's a bit of a hindrance, isn't he?)

She understood his concern for her, but it was going too far.

Yūhi, who wanted to meet a demon who knew Setsu and join their side, found Kōma's presence extremely bothersome.

"Maybe I'll just go out now..."

She kicked a pebble at her feet and muttered, but quickly dismissed the thought.

There were too many people around the stronghold.

If she went out alone, she would definitely be seen.

The heroes were forbidden from acting alone, and if she was seen going out alone, she might be brought back.

"Haa... Maybe I'll go back for now——"

"Y-Your Highness, the Hero!"

Just as she was about to return to the stronghold, a soldier ran up to her, stopping her in her tracks.

He seemed extremely anxious, giving the impression that something serious was happening.

"What's wrong?"

"T-That... One of the Fifth Demon Generals has appeared... They're asking for support from the heroes now."

"!"

Yūhi had heard of the Fifth Demon Generals.

They were at least SSS-class powerhouses, direct subordinates of the Demon King.

A force so strong that even multiple regular units would be insufficient had finally appeared on the battlefield.

"Only one has been confirmed, but... Our units are already in a state of disarray..."

"Where is it?"

"Over there——"

Suddenly, Yūhi grabbed the soldier by the neck, and he passed out.

"Thank you."

She supported the collapsing soldier and laid him on the ground, then waved her arm, which was crackling with electricity, to erase the evidence.

For Yūhi, who could use various elemental magics, this was a piece of cake.

It seemed to the surrounding guards that the soldier had suddenly collapsed, and they rushed over.

"What happened!?"

"It seems he's exhausted. Please take him inside."

"Y-Yes!"

She watched as a couple of soldiers carried the unconscious soldier away, then ran in the direction where the Fifth Demon General had appeared.

(The Fifth Demon General... I remember they are——)

With fewer guards around, no one stopped her, and Yūhi disappeared into the forest.

"——Where is she going?"

Jirou, the only one who had followed her outside, spotted her figure and also entered the forest.