The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic-Chapter 16Vol 18.

Chapter 483

Kazuki POV

My and Usato’s mana manipulation are similar.

If I excel at manipulating mana released externally, then Usato excels at manipulating it internally.

Through mastering the basics of mana circulation to an absurd degree, Usato has developed a technique that, even from my perspective, is utterly out of the ordinary.

“—Amazing.”

I couldn’t help but mutter in awe as I watched Usato.

I was currently manipulating the light magic mana bullets I had infused with elasticity, positioning them around Usato. Despite appearing to be standing still, whenever a mana bullet touched his body, it was effortlessly deflected with a soft, light sound.

“...”

He’s completely focused.

His eyes are closed, and he’s directing all his senses into mana detection.

Usato’s mana detection technique is relatively simple: by releasing healing magic waves like ripples, he can detect the movements of living beings and objects.

It’s different from Senpai’s close-combat-focused detection or my method of releasing light magic bubbles. It’s straightforward and without quirks.

It’s not specialized, but that’s precisely why it perfectly suits Usato’s versatile fighting style.

“Kazuki.”

“Hm? What is it?”

Usato opened his eyes, smiling as he deflected another mana bullet I sent his way.

“If you’re going to help me train, Kazuki, you should practice your mana bullets too. Go ahead and throw them as much as you want.”

“Are you sure?”

“In other words, think of it as a game of catch. It’s better not to hold back in situations like this.”

...He’s right.

This is training, but it doesn’t have to be so stiff and formal.

Nodding lightly with a grin, I swung my arm, sending the hovering mana bullets in a circular trajectory, altering their course from straightforward lines to more erratic, life-like movements.

“Alright, then. I won’t hold back!”

“Bring it on!”

—A proper training partner.

It was something I couldn’t really get in the castle.

Feeling a surge of excitement, I poured more focus into the precision of my mana bullet manipulation.

Usato and I exchanged grins as we continued the exchange, mana bullets flying and being deflected with increasing intensity.

“——!”

A bullet aimed at Usato’s shoulder was deflected.

Another one targeting his back was also deflected.

Mana bullets aimed at his arms, abdomen, forehead, and legs were all repelled.

Now that I was fully immersed in the training, I could clearly see how abnormal Usato’s internal mana manipulation really was.

『Your mana manipulation technique is incredibly precise. As far as I know, no one else can match it.』

Welcy had once praised my mana bullet control like that.

Usato’s control deserved similar praise, but the nature of it was completely different.

If my mana bullet control was like manipulating a game controller, then Usato’s internal mana manipulation was like using some bizarre breathing technique to bend and twist his internal organs as if they were extra limbs.

“...No, that’s a terrible analogy.”

Was that too perverted of an image?

But as someone who had trained in mana circulation himself, that analogy didn’t feel too far off.

Anyone could learn mana circulation and get better at it.

But to constantly, unconsciously perform mana circulation as naturally as breathing, like Usato, was downright impossible.

“—Ugh!”

At that moment, one of my mana bullets managed to hit Usato’s arm.

Usato let out a deep breath, breaking his concentration, and wiped his forehead.

I took the opportunity to take a deep breath myself.

“...Damn, I missed that one.”

“Are you okay, Usato?”

“Yeah. But man, maintaining that ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) level of focus for so long really takes it out of me.”

“Well, it’s only natural. Actually, for your first time, you did amazingly well.”

Usato was simultaneously controlling mana manipulation and healing detection.

Even for him, that was bound to be exhausting.

After a quick breather, Usato stretched out his right hand again, readying himself.

“This time, let’s try it while moving. Let’s say I lose if a mana bullet hits my torso.”

“You sure? You don’t want me to hold back?”

“Are you sure you can even hit me, Kazuki?”

We exchanged light banter, each of us forming new mana bullets in our palms.

Before, Usato had stood still while deflecting the bullets.

Now, he was going to move, relying on his unconventional, near acrobatic footwork and defensive arm movements.

If I was going to land a hit, I’d have to go all out.

“Hah!”

I created five mana bullets and sent them all at once.

As they shot toward Usato, he thrust out his hand wrapped in healing magic, deflecting them diagonally, almost as if they had slid off.

“...Did he deflect them? No, he redirected them...?”

It looked like an application of mana circulation.

I tried to control the redirected bullets and have them converge on Usato from all directions.

But he sensed them all with healing detection and evaded them by the slimmest of margins.

“Five isn’t enough!”

“No, it’s plenty hard already!!”

“Then I’ll just double them!!”

I conjured ten more mana bullets, sending them in erratic trajectories.

For a moment, Usato’s face twitched in response, but he quickly broke into a grin, allowing the bullets to hit him—

No, wait!!

“A decoy?! Are you a ninja?!”

“Hah! It’s the Healing Afterimage Fist!!”

Unbelievable.

He’d shed a layer of mana with elasticity to leave a false image behind, deceiving my eyes.

It should have been easy to distinguish by color and texture, but Usato’s speed and timing were so flawless that he’d completely fooled me.

But I wasn’t done yet. I kept pursuing the real Usato with my bullets—

And that’s when he suddenly backflipped, soared high into the air, and—

“Huh?!”

That jump was clearly unnatural.

Did he just stomp on one of the elasticity-infused mana bullets to launch himself?!

That was a technique I’d seen before, but it looked completely different when Usato did it.

I hurriedly redirected all the bullets to converge on Usato mid-air.

But then I noticed it—Usato was aiming a mana bullet toward the ground.

“Healing Burst Wave!”

By the time I realized the danger, it was too late.

The mana bullet in Usato’s hand exploded downward, unleashing a shockwave that crushed all the incoming bullets and slammed them into the ground, dissipating them instantly.

“I told Senpai this before, but a move like that only works the first time... So, can I call that my win, Kazuki?”

Usato said this as he landed softly on the ground.

I snapped back to reality, realizing my mouth was hanging open in disbelief.

I couldn’t help but grin, feeling both exasperated and impressed as I formed new mana bullets.

“I’m not going to stay down. Let’s go again, Usato.”

“Yeah, let’s do it.”

Who knew training with a friend could be this much fun?

I felt my motivation surge as I poured even more focus into my mana manipulation.

In the end, despite all the attacks and counterattacks, I realized one thing:

No matter how many times I tried to keep track of Usato’s techniques, I couldn’t fully grasp them.

Whoever had to fight Usato as an enemy was going to be utterly overwhelmed.

I kind of felt sorry for them.

Sure, I managed to land a few hits and win a couple of rounds, but honestly, I didn’t feel like I had won at all.

“Man, I’m exhausted...”

“Haha.”

As expected, my stamina was the first to give out.

Now, we were lying in the grass at the edge of the training grounds, catching our breath.

“You really do have insane stamina, Usato.”

“Well, I don’t train for nothing. And with the system degradation, I’ve managed to save more mana too.”

My stamina had definitely dropped, and I knew I had to increase my exercise time.

While I was silently lamenting my lack of physical training, Usato suddenly looked down at his palm.

“Today’s training gave me some new ideas.”

“Oh? Like what?”

“An all-direction healing mana bullet... or something that combines Healing Deflection and Healing Flow...”

“...Why did I even ask?”

“Don’t act so creeped out after asking, Kazuki!”

I was at a loss for words.

To come up with new techniques so easily like that...

Normally, you'd refine a single technique and adapt it for actual combat, but Usato was already talking about multiple new ones.

“Haha... All-directional? What do you mean by that?”

“Setting up mana bullets all around my body.”

“Setting them up?”

“Then letting them burst out all at once.”

“Usato.”

I dropped to one knee and placed a hand on Usato’s shoulder, meeting his gaze.

“If there’s anything you want to talk about, I’m here for you.”

“Why are you suddenly worried about my mental state?”

No, but seriously, letting mana bullets burst out from your entire body is insane, right?

It’s like Usato’s system enhancement backlash has become something completely different from a normal backlash.

“Sigh. You really are the most reckless one here, Usato. Even more than Senpai.”

“...Eh.”

Usato’s expression fell slightly, as if he’d genuinely taken some damage from that comment.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but laugh softly.

Talking to Usato really is never boring.

“Man, after seeing Usato’s antics today, I wouldn’t be surprised if he started deflecting my light magic bullets with the erasure effect.”

“Oh, that? I already did that.”

“You already did that?!”

I was floored.

That means someone other than me fired a light magic bullet with the erasure effect at him?!

While I was reeling in shock, Usato casually waved his hand as if it was nothing.

“It was during the expedition to the demon territory. When Shia revealed her true form—well, kind of revealed it—she shot a light magic bullet at me. I used Healing Flow, a technique I learned from my predecessors, to deflect it.”

“You’re insane.”

“It’s kind of refreshing to see you this shocked, Kazuki.”

I know how dangerous the erasure effect of light magic is better than anyone.

If it touches you, it just vanishes...

To just casually say “I tried it and it worked” after deflecting something like that... that’s not normal.

“At this point, you can probably do anything.”

“I think the same about your magic, Kazuki. If you made handcuffs or ropes out of light magic, you’d be unbeatable.”

“It’s not just that you come up with these ideas — it’s that you come up with them so casually!”

He said it like it was nothing, but... handcuffs and ropes? That’s actually a brilliant idea. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

I’d only ever thought of using light magic for offensive purposes, focusing on keeping its destructive power in check.

But now that I’ve managed to stabilize it, I’d been kind of stuck.

I should secretly try that out later.

“Well, for training, I’m going to need your help more often, Kazuki.”

“It’s not fair for you to always come to the castle. I’ll head over to the Rescue Team dorms sometimes too. I want to see how things are over there.”

“Yeah. Senpai will be happy to see you too.”

Being cooped up in the castle all the time really is stifling.

That’s why I kind of envy Senpai for being able to roam around outside freely.

“...But it’s nice to take a breather like this once in a while.”

“You seem pretty busy.”

“That goes for both of us.”

If anything, Usato is the one who’s always running around.

But neither of us are doing this because we were forced to.

We chose these paths ourselves, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Besides, if Usato is determined to be the bridge between humans and demons, then I want to be someone who can support him in that.

Not that I’d ever admit that to him.

“Heh. I’m rooting for you too, Your Majesty.”

Ugh, getting called that by Usato and Senpai still makes me squirm.

I can’t just let them tease me without pushing back a little.

“Oh yeah, wasn’t Usato pretty popular with the king of Samarial?”

“Oh, speaking of which, Kazuki! Did you hear about how Princess Senri of the Nirvarna Kingdom gave Koga a passionate love confession during the demon territory expedition?!”

The moment I tried to tease him about the king, he immediately tried to divert the conversation.

...But wait, what’s this about Koga?!

Princess Senri... the one I didn’t get to meet because the timing was off.

Before I could ask further, someone entered the training grounds where it was just me and Usato.

“Oh, so this is where you were.”

“Huh? Siguls-san? What’s up?”

It was Siguls-san, the Commander of the Llinger Kingdom Knights and my sword instructor.

Recently, instead of his usual full-body armor, he’s been wearing lighter, more maneuverable clothing. He approached us with a smile.

“I heard that Usato-sama was looking for Kazuki-sama.”

“Oh,” Usato muttered, as if realizing something.

“Wait... Has the Captain already talked to you?”

“Yes.”

“Usato, what’s this about?”

“I was going to ask Siguls-san to help with my training.”

That... feels like a pretty luxurious choice of sparring partner.

But considering Usato’s training methods, it makes sense.

“It was a sudden request, but Usato-sama is a lifesaver to us. If it’s to assist him, we won’t hesitate.”

“Oh, um... If it’s too much trouble, you don’t have to...”

“Heh, not at all. In fact, I was hoping to speak with you myself at some point.”

...Now that I think about it, Siguls-san and Usato haven’t really had a proper conversation yet.

They train in completely different areas, and as the Knight Commander, Siguls-san is always busy.

“But with things finally settling down after the war, I finally have some time to spare.”

“If that’s the case, you should take a day off for your wife and son.”

“Guh...”

Siguls-san grimaced, clearly hit where it hurt.

I was only joking, though.

Knowing how serious he is, he probably already spends as much time with them as possible.

Usato seemed surprised to learn that Siguls-san had a family, his eyes widening slightly.

“Ahem. Well, you both seem exhausted, so let’s leave the training for another day. Is that alright?”

“Yes. I look forward to it.”

With that, Usato stood up and faced us both.

“I’ve already stayed too long. I should get going.”

“Got it.”

I wanted to keep talking, but it was probably best to wrap it up here.

“Kazuki, Siguls-san, I’ll see you both later.”

“See you, Usato!”

“Take care.”

Usato turned around and headed toward the castle gates.

Watching his retreating back, I felt a sense of fulfillment after having such a solid training session.

“Kazuki-sama.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Siguls-san called out to me, and I turned to face him.

“Earlier, Seria-sama was looking for you.”

“...Oh, crap.”

Because Usato had come, I completely forgot to tell Seria where I was going.

I quickly stood up, ready to run back to the castle.

I had to apologize to her immediately.