Chapter 41
Weve finally arrived
I wiped off the sweat from my forehead as I gazed at the pitch black forest in front of me . Next to me was Amako who was on Bluerins back . I was a little curious since she seemed exhausted . Amako was a beast girl, she shouldnt be this worn out Or at least that should be the case .
While looking at this forest, I couldnt help but think Ive come back . It was a forest that held various meanings for me . I was thrown into this forest by Rose the first time . I was launched in the sky by the Fall Boars the second time and was washed away by the river here .
Well come to think it, those arent very good memories
Actually, there was nothing but unpleasant ones . I really thought I would die to that gigantic snake But when I had that stomachache for the first time, I really felt like I wanted to die . Still, this was the place where Bluerin and I first met . There werent a lot of good memories here but there were some that were worth experiencing .
Which reminds me
Bluerin, I just realized something very important
Uu?
I dont know the location of the cave that you lived in .
Didnt you come here because you knew where you were headed?
To put it bluntly, I still didnt know the exactly where everything was in this forest . I felt a little embarrassed as I asked Bluerin He looked at me with eyes that seemed to be looking at an idiot . After a few seconds, he gave a strong Bear Punch to my foot without holding back . Why you little that really hurts .
While reluctant, Amako got off Bluerins back .
Gufuuh~
Haah, Bluerin . My bad, Ill be counting on you .
Bluerin displayed a it cant be helped look while raising his head high with arrogance . Afterwards, Bluerin started to use his nose and sniffed around . Bluerin was a Blue Grizzly that originally lived in this forest; this place was probably like a playground to him . I followed after Bluerin as he started to begin moving at a steady pace .
This place, it really hasnt changed .
Its my first time coming here but its quite the ominous place
Once you get used to it, its not that bad . From the outside, you might only see nothing but trees everywhere . But once youre inside, youll see that its unexpectedly bright since the sun does shine through .
Thats not really what I meant though
Amako replied as she stared at me with narrowed eyes . Did I say something strange?
This forest has a dense amount of monster spirits Humans might not be able to sense it but a beast girl like me feels tingly just by being here .
Really now
There were also demerits for a beast kins sharp senses . We should quickly make Bluerins grave and get out of here . I might be a rough person but she was still just a child . I didnt want her to push herself too much .
Usato, how long did you stay here when you met Bluerin?
Eh? About 10 days?
I dont remember exactly but I felt it should be around that long .
To begin with, my objective was to take down a Grand Grizzly Even if I wanted to go back, I couldnt . And later on I learned from Rose that she intended for me to be beaten down by the Grand Grizzly
Kukuku
U-usato? Whats wrong?
Oops . I let out a dark laugh unintentionally when I remembered that unreasonable situation back then I immediately smiled and Amakos face cramped up from seeing the sudden change . Ive done it now I was used to acting like this around Senpai but Amako was just a normal child . Right, act normal
I really feel like good now that weve finally arrived in this forest! In fact, I suddenly want to blow away that Blue Grizzly over there to the skies!!
This time, Amako moved away from Bluerin . Even if its me, theres no way I could easily blow away a Blue Grizzly like that . I guess they didnt get the joke? But even if I said that now, they might not believe me .
I guess this was going to happen since I wasnt used to it .
Maybe once I get a bit smarter, Ill try thinking of other ways to get along better with children .
*
After walking inside the forest for a bit, I found a familiar marking on a tree . It was nostalgic to see the sharp lines engraved on the tree .
I came here for the first time around one month ago Then I got busy with the war and it feels like a lot of time has passed .
This mark was something that I left during my time here so I wouldnt lose sight of my surroundings .
If I recall correctly, I made this particular marking when the Grand Grizzly was nearby .
Well, lets go .
Gwah
Bluerin gave a cry lower than usual .
You feel uneasy?
I stroked Bluerins head as he stared at the cave he originally lived in . After bringing down that snake, I carried his parents over to this cave and left with Bluerin He probably didnt want to look at them with his own eyes .
It was extremely sudden and Bluerin probably couldnt keep up with what was happening He simply directed his resent at that snake and went straight towards it
He was fighting to die .
Theyre your parents, right? Thats why you have to give a proper farewell, you fool . Youre my partner, youll be going on a journey with me to save Amakos mother . Therefore, you should settle this matter so time starts moving for you again
I learned a bit from seeing the funeral for the fallen soldiers in the battle we recently had . I was thinking various things like how I lacked power to protect people but I thought that I should first save the people who need my help .
I could probably help those scary fellows back at the Rescue Squad but somehow I felt unpleasant at the thought of it . As for Rose? I would die . Thinking along those lines, I was thinking of helping Bluerin to get over the death of his parents . It might be a bit late to start thinking like this now but Im not complaining because I had high potential for this .
Guruah!
Bluerin took a step forward while howling out . Without hesitation, Bluerin continued forward with reassurance as I followed after him But it seemed that Amako was staring at me like she had something to say to me .
You really will save my mother
Eh?
She didnt believe in me?
While feeling a little hurt from her words, I turned to faced Amako who was in the opposite direction from where Bluerin was walking .
Sorry . . Its not like I dont believe in you or anything I just felt that things were going too well that I couldnt believe it was really happening
Ah, thats what you meant .
She hasnt met a healer like me until now . I only knew types like Rose and Orga-san so I didnt know a whole lot .
Given this chance to talk, I might as well ask .
What are the other healers like?
I dont think itd be very interesting to hear about though?
Please tell me about them .
Amako hesitated but I really did want to hear . I didnt know what a normal healing magician was like .
That reminds me, Tong talked about them for a bit when I first came into the Rescue Squad The healers didnt have a very good reputation in this world .
There is one healer in the country next to Lyngle Kingdom, the Magic City Luquis .
Magic City?
Its an academy that cultivates magic . Its like Lyngle Kingdom where everyone is from the same place . . Different people from each nation come to this academy .
I guess its something like exchange students? Amako, youre enrolled there?
I snuck in . It was quite easy I used my foresight to find a hole in the guards patrols .
This was quite the aggressive child . While the courage needed to jump out alone to save her mother is amazing, her ability to take action when needed isnt normal . Coupling this with her special power, she might be invincible as a spy . The human that I met was harassed and bullied . Even though being in the Magic City meant that their abilities were evaluated quite highly along with it being a scarce magic attribute To the humans, it was something just slightly unusual
Even though this magic can cure poison and heal wounds it was just something slightly unusual?
The magic was still useful for healing wounds . However, most magicians dont fight against enemies with poison .
Im guessing that it wasnt something necessary . Also from what I remember no matter what attribute you had you would be able to use magic to heal yourself . This was why the healing magic attribute seemed useless as they were only slightly better at healing .
Well, arent they aware that healing magic can also be used to cure diseases to a certain extent?
There arent many healers who can do that It seems that even without relying on magic, there are doctors to cure illnesses . Thats why this isnt regarded as something highly important .
There are even doctors in this world
I havent tried curing an illness myself but I remembered the scene I witnessed when I visited Orga-sans clinic . He applied a high concentration of magical power and coated the entire patients body . The healing magic penetrated and restored the patients health .
It was different from healing a wound or poison . These types of injuries came from an external source while an illness came from the body itself .
Theres also a place where demi-humans and beast kin commute . I hear that it was quite dangerous unless you had some considerable ability One of the beast kin helped me out once while I was there . However, they immediately left afterwards
I see So the person who can use healing magic is that person?
Theyre not someone who would listen to you at all I used my foresight and they wouldnt even look at me, let alone help me .
Haah, thats quite something
No matter which world it was, there would always be people that were being bullied . They were thinking that there was no value in their only strength of healing magic It might be better to let them see Rose so she can deliver a punch to them .
That person would only need one month to transform a bullied kid into a different healer .
While I was going through the nostalgic training I went through with Rose in my head, Bluerin stopped walking . Something rustled in the bush in front of Bluerin . In response, Bluerin barked .
Guruah!
Whats wrong?
Looking closely, wasnt this the bush I used to observe the Grand Grizzly? Without time to confirm my question, Bluerin jumped into the bush . Amako and I followed along, leading us to a spacious area .
It was the cave where Bluerin was born and raised . It was also where his parents laid dead . It shouldve been a cave without an owner but Bluerin was glaring within the depths of the cave .
I didnt understand the situation until the creatures inside showed themselves .
Guru
Guruah!
It was two Blue Grizzlies, were they a couple? They came out from Bluerins home . For the moment, I stood in front of Amako as I applied a healing coating onto her . I prepared myself to run at any time as well . They seemed to be a bigger species than Bluerin . If we couldnt run away I would have no choice but to be their opponent .
Bluerin, calm down .
I tried calling out to Bluerin but he showed no signs of backing down . The Blue Grizzlies on the other side were cautious and treated me as a threat . I wasnt scared but it would be bad if they attacked Amako . Although I wasnt sure of what would happen since I couldnt see the future .
After another moment of staring down at each other from opposite sides The two big Blue Grizzlies seemed to be frightened as they looked at me and slowly retreated backwards .
Nnn?
Usato, those Blue Grizzlies are afraid .
Afraid?
Did I do something that would make them afraid? I didnt have a face like Tongs, my face was just ordinary and nothing special . Dont tell me Ive obtained an aura like Roses that oppresses everything around me?
To think I would be able to scary something like a Blue Grizzly away I thought I would die from the two times Ive met a Blue Grizzly . The first time was Bluerins mother and the second time was with Inukami-senpai when we got washed away
Maybe They were the Blue Grizzlies we injured?
Come to think of it, one of the Blue Grizzlies looks like the one I tackled . The size and form is similar too . If this is the case, it makes sense that theyre scared .
For now, I slightly swung my hand to see what would happen . . They backed up even further .
Just how scared were they?
!
Stop it, Usato . Theyre very frightened .
Was she mad at me just now?
While I felt it was a little unreasonable, I looked as Bluerin and the two Blue Grizzlies started talking with each other with cries . After this exchanged went by many times, I stood up since I had no idea what they were talking about .
They continued conversing for about a few more minutes . Afterwards, the two Blue Grizzlies stopped talking and seemed to lower their guards towards Bluerin .
I wonder if they reached a resolution .
It seems like its over . Bluerin isnt angry anymore .
I envy you . You can understand his feelings as a beast kin .
It was a skill that Inukami-senpai would want for sure . The two Blue Grizzlies came closer but were still vigilant . Was Bluerin introducing me?
Bluerin was still the Boss of this forest in a sense, with him being the son of the Grand Grizzly . Maybe thats why he was able to persuade these two Blue Grizzlies . But I wonder what Bluerin would explain to these two that were afraid of me . I got the feeling that they were even more afraid of me than before .
Usato, just what did you do?
What I did was normal I tackled one of them and they lost conscious .
A normal human wouldnt be able to ram a Blue Grizzly and cause them to faint, you know .
Once again, Amako drew away further from me even though Inukami-senpai didnt react to this . If I told her that I only made the Blue Grizzly unconscious and it wasnt that amazing, she might pull away again .
I felt like my common sense with this world was different . In a world with sword and magic, shouldnt there be plenty of people who could do this much?
Haah At any rate, lets make the grave .
Guruh .
I took down the rucksack on my back as I said that and Bluerin responded with a nod .
*
Alright .
Erecting the grave was a lot easier than I thought . Since I was just a high school student, there was no way I could make a real grave . I just made a simple one . I took two plank boards and formed a cross with them . I took the grave and stuck it on the hill near the cave along with a large number of fruits .
Leaving these as an offering, I kneeled before the grave .
Grand Grizzly, I told was by Rose to defeat you but in the end I wasnt able to . I was only able to run around the forest until it got dark .
I really wanted to beat you down .
Just what are you saying?
Guruah
You guys arent you getting along a little too well?
Bluerin was staring at the grave until now, he mustve already bid farewell . Even though this cross was a substitute, Bluerin understood it was his parents graves . For this reason
Kuah .
Nn?
A mysterious paw appeared at my feet . A Blue Grizzly that was a lot younger than Bluerin was playfully gnawing at my leg while lightly scratching at my feet with their paws . Whats with this child? So cute . Its not like I had a weakness for cute things but I couldnt help but have my heart be stolen by this small mascot-like blue bear .
I lifted the little cub up as gently as possible . However, one of the Blue Grizzlies returned from the cave and started crying out .
I suspect that this cub was the child of the two Blue Grizzlies from before . I didnt want any unnecessary arguments so I let down the little blue cub and urged it to go back to its parents .
Alright, there .
Kuah?
Good grief, it wouldve been really bad if I was Inukami-senpai .
Although, Inukami-senpai was already really bad alone . Silently thinking so, I saw the Blue Grizzly parent urging their child to come back . The cub started to slowly walk back .
Theres another Blue Grizzly cub here too .
Amakos voice came from inside the cave and walked out . The other Blue Grizzly parent followed behind her along with another Blue Grizzly cub that seemed to be slightly bigger .
They returned to the earth and resurrected again as a new life .
Rather than resurrected, it should be that they were born .
Certainly, youre right .
Bluerins parents were born again but they were two different existences . There were a number of lines from books Ive read to describe this scene but one thing I could say for sure was that I felt Ive made the right choice . While I felt deeply moved, Bluerin was sitting there and watching the small blue bears with sad eyes .
Lets go back, Bluerin .
. Gauh .
We stood up and after giving one last glance back at the cave, we walked away . With this, Bluerin should have no more regrets Probably . I wasnt confident but maybe Bluerin wanted to live there with the other Blue Grizzlies in that cave .
It probably wasnt a fun journey for Amako who tagged along . We basically came and made a grave for Bluerins parents . We also met two Blue Grizzlies along with their cubs .
Amako, it wasnt all that interesting, right?
Nope, Im glad I came . I know what kind of person you are now, Usato .
Me, huh . Maybe she doubted me . Well, the problem now was how to get back . I remember the way but whether I wasnt sure if we could get back before it got dark .
The sun was close to setting, we had to hurry .
Usato, am I riding on Bluerin on the way back?
Eh? Would that be too much?
. .
She was unexpectedly silent as we came here, I didnt think Bluerins back was that uncomfortable . If thats the case, what should I do?
. Should I carry you instead?
Thats I dont want that .
She immediately turned away as she said that . I mightve been able to accept it if an adult turned me away at the offer but a girl who seemed to be 14 years old rejected me .
If it was Inukami-senpai, she would have taken a lot of damage . That person really doesnt hold back . Although I think thats also one of her good points .
I was the one who said I would tag along, Ill get on Bluerin .
Then lets get back before it gets too late .
Itll be fine even if I get back a bit late . Ill just be yelled at a bit . Amako felt a bit reserved as she rode on Bluerins back . She seemed to be spacing out as she stared into the sky .
I didnt notice it until now but she was probably looking into the future right now . She was probably seeing if it was dangerous to get on Bluerin right now .
Looking at her, various feeling sprung up .
Other countries
Amako went to various countries . Places that were different from Lyngle Kingdom What would I do and how would I face these countries? Should I hide the fact that I was a healing magician? Do I hide the fact that Im a person from a different world? Or do I conceal nothing at all and head straight in?
Whatll happen will happen I guess .
The people who look down on healing magic, Ill just tell them otherwise . I wont lose sight of my goal as I had a duty . Amako who saved Senpai and Kazuki She asked me to cure her mother . I definitely cant betray that .
Which was why Ill save your mother as repayment for saving my friends
Well, I was thinking of all this but In the end, that decision would be left to King Lloyd .