Chapter 30


    Early next morning, I steadied my shaking right hand, which was holding the sword I got from the king, while looking at the vast plains before me .


    “It will be fine… It will be fine…”


    I said to myself, trying to persuade, trying to distract my mind from the uneasiness .


    The battle will start as soon as the shadow of the demon army appears . To be honest, I think it would be better if the demon army doesn’t come . If they don’t, we won’t have to fight and none of the people I got to know in this world will die .


    Senpai and my role as the hero was to intercept the enemy forces the moment they appear and clear a path to the enemy general and, if possible, take down the general, as well . Only if… it is possible . Sigris-san really emphasized on that part but… she probably said that being worried about us . As he is the army commander, he probably has feelings of guilt making us, former general public, fight in such a battle .


    “Kazuki-kun, don’t overexert yourself . If you don’t like fighting, the rear—”


    Senpai, standing beside me, began saying .


    “It is fine . There’s no need to worry about me . ”


    “You say that but…”


    “Senpai, don’t you have some worries, as well?”


    “I do feel uneasy, if that’s what you’re saying… I feel kinda wrong about saying this at a time like this but, to be honest, I feel a sense of exaltation . ”


    Exaltation? I had accompanied her as the vice president in the previous world but I have never seen her use such a vague word .


    But… I somehow understand what she is trying to mean . And so, I will—


    “I don’t understand what you feel, senpai . ”


    “Fufu, thought so… According to Usato-kun, I am a ‘weirdo’ . I just have a different mindset than normal . ”


    “Weirdo? Did Usato say that?”


    Usato was able to say such a word about senpai?


    “Yea, it was when Usato-kun and I went missing… Well, it’s not something we should be talking about now . I will tell you about it if we make it back properly . ”


    “If we make it back… you say . ”


    “You have a reason for which you must return, right?”


    She said with a smile .


    She is probably the only person who can make such an expression in a tense situation like this . If you look at it negatively, you might say that she is never serious… and looking at it positively, she would seem very reliable .


    “Yes . and besides… I have someone waiting for my return . ”


    “…Kazuki-kun, I think your way of saying that is a bit wrong…”


    “What do you mean?”


    “Eh?! Ahh, never mind… yep, never mind . ”


    I can’t help but feel suspicious as she suddenly turned pale and turned to look towards the plains . Did I say something weird?


    I was about to say something about her somewhat suspicious behavior but right at that moment, intense chills ran throughout my whole body . And I reflexively turned my glance towards the plains .


    However, there were no signs of the demon army yet… But I could tell that they were getting close .


    Senpai was also looking at the plains with a tensed face .


    “Senpai!”


    “… . They have come . ”


    Sigris-san has also probably noticed .


    After all, just after I had felt the chill, messengers were sent out to inform all the squads . Just as planned, the soldiers specializing in magic started coming up front .


    “… . Let’s start preparing as well . ”


    “Got it!”


    I took a deep breath to calm myself and started raising my mana .


    My magic is light… I don’t know how much this will be able to affect the demon army but… I will the do as much as I can . I started accustoming my body to the flowing mana .


    As expected, it really is hard to get used to . Feeling magic, that is .


    [We are the kingdom’s army! Let’s fight to our limit to crush the demon army!]


    Sigris-san was raising his voice at the back to raise the morale of the army . Hearing his voice, the soldiers’ eyes also lit up .


    [We will fight for the king! For the people! For our Ringul kingdoM!!]


    The anxiety from the soldiers’ eyes had disappeared and they also started raising their voice with Sigris-san . It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it was an amazing spectacle, seeing 1500 soldiers raise their voices .


    “…… . ”


    Among all this noise and shakes, a black shadow appeared on top of a hill in the plains . That shadow was very small — probably because it was very far away, but it was pure black — reminding us of the darkness .


    “What… is that…”


    Gradually, the shadow started surging out and kept increasing .


    That form was clearly not of a human and was dispersed . Although there were a few points where it was shared, the points spread about was more . There were ones with horns and ones with dark brown skin, as well .


    All of these were… taking human shape .


    “You can’t be serious… that… doesn’t really have that much of a difference from humans, does it…”


    ‘Those things’ which came from the other side of the plains were also raising their voices and came advancing towards us with weapons .


    I thought they would be shaped more like monsters . That they would probably have 6 hands, multiple heads or something… I had thought they would be like amoebas, without any particular shape too . Can I really attack this? They have the same form as humans… There’s no way I can—-


    “Prepare, magic squad–!!”


    “Wha–?!”


    Being brought back to reality by Sigris’ loud voice, I shook off the cowardly thoughts that were coming to my head and looked forward towards the demon army sprinting towards us .


    “We are the forerunners . Can you do it?”


    “I will do it… I have no other choice!!”


    I thrust my fist forward and gathered mana .


    I had used it against monsters but this would be my first against human-shaped opponents… But I will get killed if I hesitate . I have no other choice .


    “Don’t think badly of me now…”


    The squad in front was also thrusting their fists forward to use magic matching us .


    When the demon army enters the shooting range, we will all shoot at once .


    “We must make the first move strong and flashy . ”


    Senpai also had lightning rushing throughout her body . Seems like she was also ready .


    I was also ready to release my magic anytime… The other soldiers were also ready . Our preparations to intercept them were done but the demon army was not slowing down . That reckless strategy was just like a kamikaze attack .


    [Fire at my signal!]


    The distance between the two armies kept decreasing . I can’t go back anymore, I gritted my teeth, opened my eyes wide and—-


    [Fireeeeee!!!!]


    “Uuuuooooooooooohhhh!!”


    I released white, dazzling light magic towards the demon army with all my might . After a bit, all the different kinds of magic fired by us flooded the demon army .


    “… . It has begun . ”


    I could hear a big explosion, along with angry voices and loud noise . I guess we could take this as the start of the war .


    At present, we, the life-saving squad, were lined up in front of the our leader, Rose .


    “I think you already understand but… The ones with healing magic are to standby here for the time being . The ones with black clothing are to go bring the wounded here . ”


    [Yes!!]


    The strong-looking, black-clothed soldiers raised their voices with energy .


    But… isn’t the design of their clothes kinda weird? For a jacket-like upperwear to be black… completely makes them look like criminals . Won’t anyone want to cry if they are caught by these guys?


    “The grey clothing people will work here . But remember to escape in times of emergency . ”


    [Yes!!]


    Orga-san and Ururu-san were wearing the same grey clothing as me and Rose .


    These two are the two major people here, bearing the core responsibilities .


    “And so, you and I will go out into the battlefield as the war progresses . ”


    “Understood . ”


    “Alright then, without delay… Tong, Aleck, Mill, Gomul and Guld, I leave it to you . ”


    [Yes!!]


    “Hm, then go . Return alive like last time . ”


    They again raised their voice .


    Although I don’t think I need to worry about these guys . . But still, I feel a touch of uneasiness . That these guys will be killed by the demon king…… Nope, probably not .


    We saw off Tong and the others noisily exit the tent . We were still on standby inside the tent .


    “I wonder if senpai and Kazuki are okay… The war has already started…”


    “You worried about your friend?”


    “Ururu-san… of course, they are my friends, after all . ”


    “I am… worried about Usato-kun~”


    “What does that—”


    Just when I was about to ask what she meant, one of the strong-faced men came rushing into the tent .


    That man was Tong, one of our organising members of the life-saving squad . He came walking towards us, easily carrying a woman, who was crying, on his shoulders .


    “I have brought one!!”


    “”That was fast!””


    Ururu-san and my voice overlapped .


    It hasn’t even been 5 minutes since the fight started .


    “This is natural, it is war . It is normal for there to be injuries . They will keep coming one after another . Tong, leave her with Usato and bring the next . ”


    “Yes! Oi Usato, here . ”


    “Y-yes . ”


    She was badly hurt on her shoulder and feet by a sharp object .


    “Uu… that face, scary…”


    “How sad… She is probably crying because of the pain… yes, that must be it . But it’s fine now, the pain will disappear . ”


    “Usato-kun, you must not avert your eyes from reality…”


    Can’t hear you .


    For some reason, the female soldier kept persistently trying to cling on to me . Holding her down, I put my hand over the wounds and used healing magic . Wounds like this will be healed quickly .


    The wound was healed in just a few seconds .


    “Are you okay?”


    “…You are… . Ri-right… after I got wounded in the fight… the plan failed… the demon army with illusion magic… a big monster and black enemy… kidnap—”


    “Please calm down . ”


    Looks like her memory has gotten cloudy due to the shock . It’s probaly temporary but… The plan failing, illusion magic, a big monster and black enemy .


    … . Black enemy… wearing black armour… .


    “–!!”


    Pain rushed through my head . A vision recreated in my mind–of a beast girl .


    Why am I remembering that now… This makes it feel as if—-


    “Like Kazuki and Senpai are going to die… . ”


    “Usato-kun! Help here!!”


    “Ah—! Got it!!”


    They will probably be fine, since it’s Kazuki and senpai . They are much more stronger than me . They won’t die so easily .


    But, if… if they are in danger, I will—-


    “I have no other choice . ”


    Healing the injured is my job and saving the lives of my allies… . Is also my job .