Watching a movie before translating is an extremely bad idea… I spent an addition hour just procrastinating… but meh, ordinal scale was great so it doesn't matter. Thanks for reading~
While watching the open fire, I gaze at Kureha's peacefully sleeping face.
Quite some time has passed since then, and it has already become dawn.
"To think she would actually become the hero of the【Sword】. … What is Bullet thinking? It's him, after all, he would never do something pointless. He definitely has an aim behind making Kureha a hero." (Kearuga)
There were no traps we were on guard for, and Kureha became a hero without trouble.
If it's not a trap, there's definitely a different goal.
That is scary.
From my point of view, the trial of the【Sword】was just grasping the sword and pulling it out, but Kureha became exhausted.
Surely, in that one moment, something must have happened in a world I couldn't see.
I check if there are any irregularities with Kureha's body.
As someone who has mastered【Recovery Heal】, I have full knowledge about a human's body. With a simple medical examination, I figured out how long she will take to wake up.
At the same time, I'm heating a pot with the open fire and cooking a stew with plenty of nutrients.
In this journey, I have been doing nothing but cooking.
I taste it.
"Yeah, it's well made." (Kearuga)
I used my valuable dried tomato after all.
This is a lump of umami, and it's compatibility with meat is excellent. Putting in dried tomato, mushrooms and rabbit meat into a potage made from mashing potatoes, a specially made stew with plenty of nutrients is completed.
I adjust the taste with salt and spices.
All that's left is waiting for Kureha to wake up.
Kureha woke up.
"Where is this?" (Kureha)
"A cave near the singularity point." (Kearuga)
"… I remember now. I collapsed after the trial." (Kureha)
Kureha checks the back of her own hand.
There, the crest of a hero was on it.
"I'm glad, it wasn't a dream. I properly became a hero." (Kureha)
She firmly presses her hand against her chest.
It's a pleasant spectacle.
"Kureha, wear some clothes first. It troubles me on where I should put my eyes… I washed them for you. They should have dried by now." (Kearuga)
"Ah, um, sorry." (Kureha)
"You don't need to apologize. Once you wear your clothes, I've made stew, so you should eat that." (Kearuga)
"Yes, then I will take you up on your kind offer." (Kureha)
While blushing, Kureha put on her clothes.
I always thought that it's erotic when a woman takes off her clothes, but it's also erotic when they put on their clothes.
After enjoying Kureha change her clothes plenty, I pass her the soup.
Because Kureha ate too hurriedly, she choked.
I tell her she doesn't have to hurry.
And then, I open my mouth after waiting for her to eat everything.
"First of all, congratulations. It's a good thing you were able to become a hero." (Kearuga)
"It is thanks to you. If I was by myself, I wouldn't have even been able to arrive at the singularity point." (Kureha)
"That's exactly right, but your own power was the one that let you be approved as a hero… and now, I'll enter the real issue. Right now, my princess Flare… Freya, is trying to defeat the demon king." (Kearuga)
Kureha gulps the saliva in her mouth.
Since I hadn't talked about this with Kureha, it's understandable that she would be surprised.
"I'll omit the details, but the current demon king is connected with the Dioral king. Of course, that's because it is advantageous to the demon king. They will definitely cause something bad. … That's not all. The current demon king gives favourable treatment to the tribes he is pleased with, and by persecuting the other tribes, political pressure is happening within the demon territory." (Kearuga)
"Is that so… so that even happens in the demon society too." (Kureha)
The humans lump all of them together, but the demons have tribes and countries.
They are by no means monolithic.
There are few people that actually recognize such an obvious thing.
"We plan to defeat the current demon king and have another demon become the new demon king… that demon wants to stop the favourable treatment and oppression, and is aiming for peaceful times. She is also friendly to humans. Once she becomes the demon king and Freya holds authority after she returns to the Dioral Kingdom, the war against the demons will end." (Kearuga)
Kureha opens her eyes widely.
It seems she has admiration after hearing a realistic method of ending the war.
And then, she points her admiration-filled eyes to me.
… Well, it's probably an empty theory.
Let's say Eve became the demon king. Starting with the kokuyoku tribe, the persecuted tribes will begin persecuting the tribes that were given favourable treatment from the demon king and were milking profits from him.
There's no way the persecuted tribes will be satisfied with everyone living equally from now on. Thinking that it wouldn't be fair unless they get to milk profits, they will do so.
No matter what the top says, that will certainly happen. History has proven that.
And, about the war.
Once both the top people agree and overcome the surrounding resistance, they should be able to publicly stop war, but at best, they will just mutually not interfere.
Harmony is impossible, and skirmishes will continue.
And, that won't continue for long.
Someday, a voice that wishes for a rematch will rise, and they will be unable to control them.
Humans and demons have already shed blood. One of them would have to be destroyed for them to consent.
… The demon side is especially dangerous. A voice to not persecute the ones that oppressed them and a voice to stop the war; the dissatisfaction towards those two will smoke and explode.
Sooner or later, either Eve's assassination, or a large scale coup d'etat will be planned.
That will almost definitely happen.
"You are amazing. You really are trying to save the world." (Kureha)
"I'm working hard for that to happen." (Kearuga)
It should be fine to not tell Kureha what I'm thinking about right now.
She's easier to use if she is being fired up with ideals.
I plan to obliquely teach Eve about a way to let off steam. Only having idealistic thoughts will lead to failure. Compromises are also necessary.
… Fish can't live in a clear stream. I need to do it well.
It wouldn't matter if a different demon was assassinated, but that, is my property (toy), and I won't let it be taken away from me.
"Kureha, I understand the Dioral Kingdom's present situation from priest Bullet's documents. First of all, I want you to cooperate with me and defeat the demon king. After that, grab evidence of the connection between the demon king and the Dioral king, enter the Dioral Kingdom with princess Flare and Eve, and then have them plunder the throne. Then, let's make peace negotiations." (Kearuga)
The order should be fine like that.
The fact that the Dioral Kingdom is blowing in some black mana into the knights and changing them into something not human is bad news, but it's impossible to return to the Dioral Kingdom now.
Making Eve the demon king even a little faster will lessen the damage as a result.
Additionally, when we look through the demon king's castle, we might be able to find a secret about the black knights.
It's extremely problematic that I'm the only one who can defeat those things in a frontal attack.
If we don't find a strategy against them, we will be squashed by the amount of material resources and losing will be the final result.
"Alright. I will follow your plan, and entrust my sword with you." (Kureha)
"I'm counting on you, Kureha." (Kearuga)
I tightly grip my hand.
Having a hero join here is pleasant.
She probably has the highest fighting power as a single person.
She doesn't have any trouble even if the opponent is a superior demon.
However, it is concerning.
It seems they are making the immortal knights with black mana in the Dioral Kingdom, but it's not like the demon king, the originator, wouldn't be able to do it himself.
If we are imprudent, the moment we attack the demon king's town, an immortal military force might come out.
It's doubtful if they can even be killed with the god bird's disease.
I will need to think of a method. … Instead of killing them, make them unable to move.
In that case, it should be possible.
"The discussion is over. Let's depart." (Kearuga)
"We are heading to the people that are going to fight the demon king, right?" (Kureha)
"… No, let's return to Buranikka once before that and buy a change of clothes. I thought you would at least have that much, but it seems you know less than I thought you would at travelling." (Kearuga)
I smile wryly.
When we were leaving Buranikka, I thought we had prepared for the journey, but I didn't think she wouldn't even have a change of clothes.
It's obvious, but leaving aside the outer garments, if you don't change your underwear frequently, it will start smelling in the blink of an eye.
Not having a substitute when you wash it is inconvenient.
"Sorry for troubling you." (Kureha)
"No, it's fine. I was the one that didn't properly tell you that." (Kearuga)
There's no problem with her fighting strength, but she's no good at all in any other aspect.
I have to think that way.
We nod, and head for Buranikka.
That reminds me, my cute pet requested an expensive and soft meat as a souvenir.
I'll go buy that while I'm at it.
We make preparations for our journey for the second time at Buranikka.
I feel bad for Kureha, but I made her show me everything in her bag and purchased everything that's necessary.
"Can I really have it?" (Kureha)
"It's necessary after all. Take good care of it." (Kearuga)
"… Thank you. I am happy." (Kureha)
I gifted her expensive gloves that uses first-class demonic beast skin.
It's thin, can defend to some extent, and has grip strength, so it doesn't weaken your senses.
The best gloves for a swordsman.
"If you don't hide the hero's crest, various troublesome things will happen." (Kearuga)
There aren't many that know about that crest, but there's nothing wrong with being cautious.
In reality, Freya and I aren't hiding it with a glove.
Kureha is more pleased that it's my present, than the worth of that glove.
I'm glad I gifted it to her.
And, because we have finished our shopping, we have come to the gate.
"Dear customer, the preparations have been made!"
"Thank you. Here's the promised gold." (Kearuga)
What the demon carried over, is a raptor with a bit attached to it.
I purchased it to quickly return to the village.
Piling up gold, I purchased the best raptor there was.
As a subtenant, I lent Kureha a hand. (TL Note: Not sure about this 俺はまたがり、クレハに手を貸す。)
"Kureha, let's hurry. We used a lot more time than we planned to!" (Kearuga)
"I understand." (Kureha)
"Hold on tight." (Kearuga)
"Kearuga, you are slender, but you are quite tough." (Kureha)
She somewhat hesitatingly wraps her arms around my waist.
This innocence is nice.
I use the whip against the raptor.
"Ky, is it okay to let it run this fast!?" (Kureha)
"Have you forgotten, I have【Recovery Heal】. I immediately heal it when the raptor becomes tired." (Kearuga)
"As always, you are unfair. But, that's lovely. … The wind feels good." (Kureha)
Kureha's silver hair trails.
Like this, the raptor with Kureha and I riding it hurries towards Buranikka.
I wonder if everyone in the village is safe.
… I think it's okay since Setsuna and Ellen are there, but it's worrying since the vital body double is like that. If she makes a careless mistake, I will confiscate her high grade meat I was going to give her as a souvenir.
At any rate, we need to hurry.
To the village where Setsuna and Co. are waiting!
TL Note: I don't know why it says that he's hurrying towards Buranikka in the third to last paragraph… and I don’t know why this chapter is called ‘the healing magician goes on a date’…