Summary
Warning: The following contains spoilers forThe Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic, Episode 11, “Smash! Fist Of Healing!,” now streaming onCrunchyroll.
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic’snarrative took a grave turn after the heroes faced off against the mysterious Black Knight. With the power to reflect all attacks, the Black Knight is an invincible monstrosity that seemingly bears no counters. By the previous episode’s conclusion, the heroes had already fallen victim to the demon’s dark antics, with both Kazuki and Suzune brought to death’s gate.
With Usato now at the front lines, it’s up to him to undo the Black Knight’s carnage and put an end tothe Demon Lord’s invasion. Healing magic isn’t traditionally used for offensive purposes, making Usato’s battle all the more intriguing. The fight between Usato and the Black Knight is a crucial one, as this battle will determine the tide of war.
Usato Enters the Front Lines
While Usato was originally tasked by Rose to reach the front lines and aid his fallen allies, he became distraught by the constant reminders of the premonition of his slain friends. After mustering up the courage to rid his fears, Usato finally reaches the front lines, only to bear witness to Kazuki and Suzune’s lifeless bodiesbeside the Black Knight.
However, the heroes aren’t that far gone, as Usato is able to quickly heal the two. While Suzune’s injuries were relatively minor, Kazuki was impaled by the Black Knight’s colossal cleaver, making his revival seem like a case of plot armor at play. Nevertheless, Usato’s audacious entry saves the two heroes from death’s clutches, though the real battle still awaits him.
Facing Off Against the Black Knight
The Black Knight may have been a menacing foe for the heroes, but the same demon is nothing more than a walk in the park for the healing-clad protagonist. Conveniently, the only counter to the Black Knight’s invincibility is healing magic, and with Usato cloaked in his healing aura, the entire battle quickly becomes a one-sided match up.
However, there’s much more to the way this battle unfolded, asUsato’s unique fighting styleis one that is entirely novel and amusing. By using a mix of brute force and healing magic, Usato can incapacitate his enemies without inflicting any sort of mortal wounds. While this method of fighting makes it seem akin to torturing opponents with blunt force trauma, it’s certainly an effective way to capture enemies without bearing the consequences of killing them.
Rose’s Secret Technique
Being a healer who wishes to incur no harm to others, Usato is a true pacifist. Knowing his disposition, Rose lent Usato a secret technique before sending him off to the front lines to heal his fallen comrades. The technique was later revealed to be a fistlaced with healing magic, resulting in a non-lethal, albeit extremely painful, punch.
This technique worked surprisingly well against theBlack Knight’s reflection magic. With Usato’s healing magic nullifying all injuries immediately, there is no pain left to be reflected back to the user. However, the brute force of Usato’s punches and the trauma it inflicts can still be felt by the Black Knight, leading to the demon being entirely debilitated. While this was explained by the series, healing magic itself seemed to negate much of the Black Knight’s dark magic, meaning healing magic could potentially serve as a counter to most demonic magic.
They don’t leave any injuries, but they hurt like hell! That’s so messed up! That’s… that’s the wrong way to use healing magic!
The Aftermath of the Battle
While Usato and the Black Knight’s battle may have been short-lived, the consequences of this skirmish are far-reaching for the war between demons and humans. With the Black Knight being theDemon Lord’s trump card, its defeat meant the Llinger Army finally gaining the upper hand in battle. The Third Army Commander of the demon army immediately ordered her soldiers to fall back, hinting at the war’s early conclusion, though the demons could still come back for round two.
For now, the Llinger Army is in possession of an extremely dangerous prisoner of war — the Black Knight. With this mysterious character’s black armor fading after the battle, the steel-plated monstrosity left behind a frail she-demon that looks nothing like her initial menacing persona. With this unknown character in the heroes' possession, viewers might finally receive some much-needed exposition regarding the demons and their objectives.
You have done your job as a member of the Rescue Squad. Well done, Usato.
Rose and Usatoalso share a heartwarming moment after the battle’s conclusion, with the former praising the latter’s efforts in saving the heroes and returning alive. The moment showcased both Usato’s growth within the Rescue Team and Rose’s growing trust in Usato. Though the narrative seems to have simmered down after this battle of brute force,The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magiccould still throw viewers for a loop with another wave of human-demon skirmishes.
