Chapter 26

Novels

Chiyu Mahou Chapter 26

‘I’m scared of fighting’ those words came weakly from the timid Kazuki .

Generally, that would be the normal reaction . Also, we were still only in high school . Excluding Inukami-senpai, Kazuki’s reaction was the expected response .

It wasn’t like he was a hero from a story or an arrogant protagonist; he was just a normal young man .

“During the time when I fought outside of the Kingdom… Fighting with monsters, I was really scared . I nearly froze in place when I first encountered them . “

“……”

“But when they attacked, I desperately… desperately resisted…… When I defeated them… I once again realized just how optimistic I was viewing this world . “

“Calm down, Kazuki . “

Kazuki was different from Inukami-senpai and he was highly sensitive .

In Inukami-senpai’s case, she truly accepted this world while Kazuki only accepted this world to a necessary degree and didn’t think much about it . I could imagine that he was having a mental breakdown .

In reality, Kazuki was getting worked up on his emotions as his light magic was leaking out from both of his hands and illuminated the surroundings . Noticing my words, he suppressed the light magic but his expression was still dark .

“Even the Maou’s army, they’ve come to attack us and will try to come kill me… That makes me tremendously afraid . But even though I was being a coward, the people in this kingdom were kind and cheered me on . They had expectations… Right now, that’s putting more pressure on me than anything else . “

It was a burden shared by past heroes . Just by being a hero, other people’s gazes would revere you . I was sure that a great burden was being placed on Kazuki because of that . This wasn’t something people would normally experience .

That was why I could only say one thing to him .

“Kazuki, it’s fine even if you don’t fight . “

“……Hah?”

This conversation with Kazuki… how much it would decrease our war potential… that was irrelevant . There was no need to involve ourselves in this war since we got dragged into it . No matter how heartless that seemed, Kazuki had that right .

“I mean… No one wants to die . I really do understand . “

“W-wait a moment! If I don’t fight, what are you going to do, Usato!?”

“I’ll be going . It’s hard for me to die after all . “

Also, I unexpectedly had other reasons too .

Inside the Rescue Squad, for people like Olga-san or Uluru-san… Also for Rose’s sake .

“That’s not the problem right!?!? Usato, aren’t you also scared of dying!?!?”

“I’ll be fine!”

“!?”

Without thinking, I replied like that .

“I don’t mean it like that, what do you want to do!? You’re scared of fighting, right!? If that’s so, it’s okay to run away!! I… and probably Inukami-senpai, the King, Sergio-san, Welsey-san, Sigris-san, Seria-sama won’t blame you!!”

“……Ah……”

Crap, did I overdo it a little?

Kazuki hung his head low while covering his eyes with both of his hands .

*

I’m such a pathetic person .

I avoided everything around me… In the end, I couldn’t even face myself . I had no idea what to say to the other party so that everyone would be happy . It was always like this . It was the vice president that everyone wanted after all . It was everyone who wanted to fight that Maou’s army . Always, always, always, always, always, I would always try to match with my surroundings . Since everyone wanted it, they would be delighted . I say ‘everyone’ but majority are always girls .

That was why being told by Usato to ‘it’s fine to not fight’…… If he were to say instead, ‘Don’t go out and fight’, I would surely decide to not fight .

But he knew something about me and said those words instead .

“… . I’m scared of fighting… But you know—”

At first, I was furious .

They called us out of their own convenience, telling the heroes to fight with the Maou’s army and everything… But you know, everyone in this country were really good people .

The King, Seria… . Everyone, everyone… warm and gentle people who didn’t have anything hidden under them . That was why there was no way I could let danger approach these people .

That was why… Even if it was for such a small reason… I—

“I guess I don’t want to die . “

*

After a brief period of silence while Kazuki was thinking, I heard the words ‘I guess I don’t want to die’ from him . Did he find his resolve…?

“… . Yeah, I’m afraid . But… I’ll try it…”

… . He found his determination .

I didn’t know what kind of answer he found within himself but I wouldn’t say anything since it was something that Kazuki convinced himself with . … . Or rather, I didn’t have the qualifications to do so .

“I see . “

“Thanks, Usato . “

“We’re friends, don’t mind it . “

“… . . Y-yeah!”

S-so embarrassingggggggggggggggggggggggg!!

I wanted to find a hole and hide in it! This wasn’t my character at all! I was supposed to be more of a dry character but—! Ah I should stop it, I can’t change what was done even if I wanted to .

“Erm, I should probably return to the castle now . Sorry for waking you up at night . Afterwards, I’ll think about it and reach answers on my own . “

“Good luck . “

“Then, good night . “

With the moonlight illuminating the path, Kazuki jogged away . His back somehow seemed stronger than before .

I saw him off till I couldn’t see his back anymore . I started walking back to the lodgings while giving a big yawn . Tomorrow I would have training to prepare for the Maou’s army . It wouldn’t do if I didn’t go back to my bed soon .

“Fuah~ … . . I’m sleepy, I’ll go back and sleep . “

“Wellll~ was that what people refer to as men’s friendship? I sure got to see something nice . “

I heard a voice from behind .

But as I knew who was speaking, I didn’t turn around . For the time being, I should say something back .

“I am truly sorry, I’m sleepy so I have no time to bother with you so… If it’s possible, leave it for tomorrow… Inukami-senpai… . “

I didn’t notice her at all but I wasn’t that surprised since it wasn’t that weird for her to be here .

“… . Huh? Your reaction is a little odd? In this kind of situation it should be ‘W-why is Suzune-senpai here right now!?’ or ‘Uwaaaah!! Suzu-tan is hereeeee!!!!’ shouldn’t you be raising your voice like that!?”

“Please don’t change how I address Senpai… Well anyhow, I bet since it’s Senpai, you noticed that Kazuki was acting odd…”

‘Suzune-senpai’ and ‘Suzu-tan’ I had never called her like that even once .

From what it looked like, Inukami-senpai noticed Kazuki’s unusual state as she was the president of the student council . Most likely, she chased after Kazuki when she saw that he left in the middle of the night .

Good grief, she should have come out in the beginning if she was here… . Well, she was reading the situation in a sense .

“Hey, why is it that Usato-kun is somewhat dry towards me? Did I do something to offend you? If you can, I want you to tell me so I can fix it right away . “

“Why are you that frantic about it… Or rather, Senpai should return back to the castle…”

“… . I’m almost about to cry . “

“Good joke . “

Something like Senpai crying .

No, if she really cried, I would probably be kneeling down on the ground (Dogeza) but since she said ‘I’m almost about to cry’ herself, it should still be fine .

I thought I would be walking back but thanks to the appearance of Inukami-senpai, I was once again stopped .

Next to me was Inukami-senpai who was looking at the moon while emotionally muttering,

“It seems Kazuki-kun has gotten over it now . In certain sense, he was always lacking something from being isolated by the same sex…”

“… . I… . really did want Kazuki to run away…”

The words I spoke to Kazuki were my true thoughts .

If you didn’t want to fight, wasn’t it fine to just not fight? Was it absolutely necessary to go to a place full of death and dangers? Somehow that was sad .

While I thought so, I looked towards the direction where Kazuki took off .

I didn’t know what she was thinking but Inukami-senpai placed her hand on my shoulder .

“…Usato-kun… do you not want me to fight?”

“That’s for sure . But Senpai doesn’t think ‘I don’t want to fight’ at all so…”

“……… . Then, if I told you I didn’t want to fight, would you comfort me!?”

“What are you saying? You . “

“Fufufu, you’ve finally dropped the honorifics . “

I really don’t know this person anymore .

As expected, Kazuki and Inukami-senpai were fundamentally different .

“I wouldn’t comfort you, Inukami-senpai is Inukami-senpai, isn’t that right? Would you be alright with a junior comforting you, Senpai?”

“Muu, being a senpai is irrelevant isn’t it…”

“Kazuki is a classmate friend . That’s more than sufficient for me . “

Turning my back to Inukami-senpai, I started walking back towards the house .

Turning my head back a little, I could see Senpai had her eyes casted down .

… . Maybe I exaggerated it a little too much?

I should follow-up . I felt somewhat bad .

“But—”

“Usato-kun, the bar for capturing and clearing you is a little too high . You should show more of your ‘dere’ side . … . Nn? Were you about to say something just now?”

“… . . It’s nothing . “

“I-I see . I should . . … return back to the castle soon… . … good night . “

“Good night, Senpai . “

The words I was about to say were stopped by Inukami-senpai’s and I could only remain silent . After bidding farewell to her, I quickly returned back to the lodgings .

… . . What was Inukami-senpai trying to do with me? I felt that it was relatively serious .