Chiyu Mahou no Machigatta Tsukaikata ~Senjou wo Kakeru Kaifuku Youin~

Edited: Shiro

The first thing after reuniting with Neah is to negotiate with the guard .

Negotiating wasnt difficult, as I just told them that shes my familiar, and proving that she means no harm, we were able to get through without any suspicion .

For some reason, the moment I entered the barrier while putting Neah on my shoulder, Eva was there maintaining the flowerbed .

Eiri-san isnt seen anywhere as well, but its convenient he isnt here .

Seeing that she hasnt noticed us yet, I kept my voice as low as possible and talked to Neah .

Neah, Ill explain the situation later, but can you look at her and tell me anything abnormal from her?

Huh? Why must I do that?

Its important . So please .

I understand .

Neah nodded .

If shes familiar with magic, she might know something about it . We nodded at each other, then walked up to Eva, who is humming and playing with the flowerbed .

Eva who noticed my footsteps, looked back and leaned with a smile like a blooming flower, then looked at Neah who was standing on my shoulder .

Welcome back Usato-san . That is? You cant do that Usato-san? You mustnt simply pick up animals . Please return it to its original place .

I was told off like a mother who gently admonished a child who had picked up a cat .

This is completely different from what I have imagined

Ahaha, how good would that be if I could just return it .

?!

Neah turned to me with stern eyes, as if looking at me saying What did you just say?! .

Oi, youre the one who forcibly followed us in the first place .

. . Well jokes aside, lets explain who Neah is .

This isnt some owl I just picked up, its my familiar .

Familiar? This child?

Yeah, I just got it a while ago, and due to various things, I made a contract with her as a familiar . Because somebody seemed to be too lonely without me, so they came following me .

Its more accurate to say that shes more attached to me rather than being lonely .

That familiar is a monster?

?Hm, yeah?

WowThis is my first time seeing a monster . Its completely different from ordinary birds .

Eva with glittery eyes leans over and looks at Neah .

Whether she was being full of herself, she stretched her round body out with pride . That does make an eagle or a hawk look cool doing that, but this almost egg-shaped Neah looks pretty cute doing that .

Putting that aside, this is her first time seeing a demon?

Perhaps its unusual for people living in this world

Humans and monsters seem so far apart, yet are close to each other . Powerful monsters exist only in dark areas, but normal monsters are intimately involved with humans as familiars like the Foobirds .

Which means to say, she hasnt seen one since living here all this time?

What is her name?

Her names Neah . Shes a little shy, but an obedient child .

Though its the total opposite of her personality!

I tried so hard not to show it on my face when I said it .

So her names Neah-chan?

Do you want to touch it?

Is that okay?!

While being excited, she turned her eyes to Neah while leaning close to her .

I havent said anything about the curse yet, but Im sure shed notice if Eva has any changes .

I spoke with a voice that Eva cant hear .

Neah, Im counting on you .

Hoot .

Neah slams my cheeks as if entrusting it to her, then jumps onto Evas shoulders .

Eva who felt ticklish on her eyes, immediately looks at Neah who was on her shoulder and speaks .

Its a very obedient child .

Hoot .

Here here .

Hm?

Eva took off her long gloves with soil around, reached out her hands to Neah . Neah who for some reason seems to be nervous, hoots and lightly jump onto her hands .

Wah, Eva was slightly surprised .

So cute

This would be a comfortable situation if I dont know the true nature of Neah .

Remembering her usual cheekiness, I cant help but sigh .

Does Neah-chan also want to live here?

I was thinking of getting permission from you or Eiri-san . If you cant then

No! Its completely okay! Im sure Eiri will allow it! I will allow it!

O-Okay .

Are you sure you should say that, princess .

With a force that does not match her appearance, I cant help but laugh at Eva .

Maybe Eiri-san wouldnt refuse, and Neah can stay here without being suspicious .

Oh right . What does she eat? Since its a monster, perhaps shes a carnivore . Neah-chan, do you like some meat?

Eva asks Neah with a thoughtful look .

Neahs an owl . So even if you talk to her, I dont think shes going to give you any

Hoot! Hoot HOOOOOOT!!

Wow, so you do love meat! I understand!

And I take it back . What a selfish prick . Just like a fish reacting to bait .

Neah moves and flutters her wings as she squeaked a little, maybe she was happy with Evas reaction, she turned to glance at me with eyes of mockery before smiling .

? Usato-san, I suddenly heard some strange cracking sound in your handsAre you alright?

Hm? Aah-, Im fine .

It seems that I was unconsciously gripping my fist .

In order to fool her, I released my fist, but when she looked towards Neah again, I raised my hands on my neck, signalling to Neah with a slice on the neck and smiled .

Please look forward to todays meal!

Hoot!

Ill catch a lot of mice for you Neah-chan!

. . Eh, hoot?

Ah wait, or maybe owls eat insects as well? I wonder if I should catch them as well, fortunately, theres many in the flowerbed

The body of Neah hardened like a stone .

Thats right, owls are bird of preys .

Wild birds eat nothing but small animals . This is common sense, thus she doesnt want to feed human food to owls, and thought of other food for owls .

And if this little princess says shell do it, shell do it . For example, no matter what kind of hand she uses, shell definitely catch some mice and insects that serve as Neahs meal . . If she cant, shell just ask Eiri-san or the knights from outside to try and catch some mice .

However, I do pity her for being fed mice and insects, thus this kind person shall help a familiar and companion out by dispatching a help boat .

Eva, this thing eats literally anything, so we can just feed her the same meals as ours .

Eh, is that so?

Even as an owl, its still a monster . What they eat might be different from ordinary animals .

Her true nature is that of a vampire . She would normally eat fruits during our journey, and even ate human meals when she invited us into the village .

I turned and sighed at her moisturized eyes, who I had just saved, as I put my arms forward to issue her to come back .

Alright, come here .

Hoot .

Neah moved from above Evas hand to my shoulder .

Based on her reaction, it doesnt seem like theres anything out of the ordinary, but I guess I should hear about it later . For the time being, I need a place and time to explain the situation to Neah .

Ill go ahead and rest in my room . Can I bring Neah in as well?

Even if it gets dirty, it just needs to be cleaned, so theres no problem . Does Neah-chan need anything? If so, I can prepare

Thank you . But she doesnt need anything for the time being .

An actual owl may need a perch, but this one doesnt need one .

Entering indoors while waving Eva lightly, at the same time, Neah who was moving to my shoulders, closed her eyes in relief .

Hoo-, Whos that girl?

Its cause you were letting it all in your head . You reap what you sow .

Who would think of meat as insects or mice?! Wait, thats wrong . Thats not what Im trying to say!

Whats wrong?

What happened to her arrogance?

While keeping her voice as quiet as possible, she speaks to me as if not bothered .

That girl, her existence is disappearing .

Huh?

Its about to, disappear?

Its not eroding, but disappearing .

I suddenly stopped, and when I looked at her, who was overwhelmingly lazy, I had no choice but to be puzzled by unspeakable emotions .

I came here because Arc asked me to .

In my room, Neah who returned to her human form, sat down leaning against the chair said .

But then, I didnt know its because of Fegniss sword that Amako and Neah vanished before I was taken to the palace . A magical tool that exposes Neahs transformation, I should be careful while shes here

What have you done since I went to the palace?

Soon after, the palace guys took us into an inn . We were suspicious at first, but the treatment was like a king, as if genuinely welcoming us .

Just as Lucas-sama had said

I heard from the palace people that they were okay, but I was relieved to hear them saying it instead .

That foxAmako was unusually uneasy?

I see . . But Im glad yall are fine .

But it isnt . Why are you here for three days? It doesnt seem like youve been captured or being trapped in this elaborate magic barrier . And that girl-Dont tell me youve got into some sort of situation because of her?

N-No . Its more like Im about to get involved

What?

She placed her chin on the back of the chair as I looked away from Neahs suspicion while explaining how I got to this point .

I gave the letter easily .

I was invited as a healing magician for Samaria .

I decided to live in the palace for a while .

I met Eva, who is the Princess of Samaria .

She has some kind of curse .

Only explaining briefly, Neah exhales a breath of amazement .

You really are somebody . Its nice to be in this country but to even try to help such a girl . Honestly, youre stupid, stupid stupid .

What is this, why is an idiot calling me an idiot, thats contradicting .

I restrained the urge to recoil and retaliate, and with my arms crossed, I look at Neah laughing with brilliance .

Usato has a tendency to rush himself into trouble . Even during my case, when the zombie pandemic occurred, and I asked you to help, you immediately fell for it .

I didnt rush in by myself . Its that all of them had troubles . Also, I dont want to be hearing from you when youre the one causing those huge problems . What a huge hypocrite .

Shut up! Stop talking about me, okay!

Seriously an arrogant person .

However, it is the same with Nack and Neah, troubles always seem to find their way towards me .

Am I destined to be hit by trouble? Or am I trying to get caught up in that kind of thing without realising it myself?

Ehem, but you shouldnt involve yourself in this mess .

. Why? Because you know whats been eroding her?

I think she just said some meaningful words, but does that have any deeper meaning?

However, Neah raised both hands lightly and exhaled a small sigh .

Nope, not a clue . .

. . Huh? Then why the hell did you act so bloody confident?!

Its strange if I can tell just by touching her okay!! . Listen here!! That girl isnt being eroded by curse or something like that, its her existence thats disappearing . Isnt knowing that enough?

I remember the words she said before coming to this room .

I thought it was just a metaphor, but its exactly what she says? No, I dont understand .

Wait a minute, but isnt she right here right now . How can she not exist?

Sigh

Neah who heard my question raised both her hands up annoyingly, as if it was a pain, and made a small fist .

The soul and the body are based on a strong bond . Without the body, the soul cannot stay in this world . Without the soul, the body cannot move in this world . The exception is that a necromancer like me can break such rules . Having said that, the soul and body can be said to be the most important factors in life .

Neah clenches both hands together .

Body and soulBut what does that have to with Eva?

But that girl, she has a weird phenomenon that deviates from that rule .

And thats the reason why her existence has disappeared? But judging from your story, Eva seems to have nothing to do with the curse

Im getting even more confused .

What causes such a situation where the existence of a soul and body to disappear?

She is abnormal . No, even abnormals arent something that can be dismissed in words . The realm of soul and body is a realm that ordinary humans should not interfere with, and that is the field of magic that I deal with .

Magic

In addition, curses can be transferred to these types of phenomena . What would you think would happen if it moves to us? Its not that Im not curious, but Im not stupid enough to fall into a trap like some stupid idiot .

Curse that moves-Does that mean that the existence of Eva disappearing may also occur to me as well?

. Cant you manage with your dispel magic?

In the first place, its doubtful that a curse is being applied by magic . And above all, I cant use it because I cant see the techniques being used .

So the dispel magic is an even more of a useless magic than Id imagine . No, I knew somehow before not to expect anything .

So, we cant do anything about it . This is different from the time with the Wicked Dragon .

Why does Usato want to help that girl?

Eh?

Suddenly, Neah asked .

I was indulged in thinking about the question that I didnt think of, and I uttered a stunned voice .

She is a stranger to you who youve met for only three days anyways . Why are you going so far for someone like her? If its me, no way? I may have done a familiar contract with you out of my own will, but I dont you to fail and lose you .

The reason why I did it .

Honestly, theres no reason why I want to help her .

However, the answer is simple .

I just want to help . Thats the only reason .

Huh? Thats all?

Its not because Im from the rescue squad, but I sympathised with her, and I wanted to help .

The world is wide .

Lots of nature spreading, including magic, monsters, people, and demihumans .

Its weird to not know about such a world, and knowing you will disappear someday .

I, who came from another world, thought that it was a good thing to be here .

After the battle with the demon army, and listened to her cries, I truly thanked all the people in the world for meeting me .

However, her being destined to disappear is just unfair .

As if Ill give in to such a weird story .

Based on my words, Neah dropped her shoulders as if shes stunned .

. . Haah~ Youre really a weird and selfish person . I can see why the fox is worried . Even I wont know what to do if I took my eyes off of you .

Dont say it like Im a troubled kid .

Rather, youre just a kid with horrible traits . To me, it just looks like you love being stuck with weird girls .

Can you not say words that are misleading!?

Remembering the words Amako told me that day, how Im easily tricked by women .

Well, I did become a familiar to such a person, so Im the same

Neah?

Ill help you for a while . Its too dangerous for Usato to go alone .

Neah words seemed to be shy, but she smiled naturally .

Hahaha, thanks . Thats encouraging .

Shes not obedient, but she isnt a bad person .

Once again, I was relieved that we reunited, as I rest my body on the back door .

By the way, why are you leaning against the door all the time? Cant you just come inside?

Well, I wont know if Eva would approach if I dont do this . Basically, I cant sense that girl, so its easy for her to get behind me . Worst of all, Im resting in my room, and I can feel her eyes at times, which is quite difficult .

What kind of life did Usato have over the past three days!? Arent you just being watched by his daughter?

Maybe .

However, even if it is, the scary part is that she doesnt seem to be aware of it .

Well, once you get used to it, it really doesnt bother me .

As I continued to say, Neah looks pale for a while .

While laughing, I thought about what to do after this .