Black Iron Magician

It was hard to get back to translate, but I’m back anyway.

Chapter 101 Monster

Regret, regret, regret―― he feels regret for having stood here so carelessly. Oda’s heart is now trapped in a sense of restraint that seems like a curse. It was just before the mock battle started. The girl in front of them, who suddenly changed the nature of her presence, fixed her gaze on them. There was no change in the amount or the angle of light coming from the light source, but the girl’s eyes seemed to be shining like a cat. That was extremely bewitching, but it was also bizarre. Oda, who was standing closest to her, felt as if his body was freezing.

(Worried because she’s a girl? Worried whether she can fight? Am I stupid or what!? I don’t need to be considerate against that thing!)

What kind of interview was that again? Oda, who had never seen Haruna’s match directly, knew Haruna to the extent that he heard from rumors. Those were from the students who fought Haruna at the competition of kendo, karate, and something like that. ‘I was deceived by her innocent appearance before the match’. ‘Is her true nature a hunter or something?’. ‘In the first place, she is looking at different things on the field she stands’. ‘I was protected by the rule’―― and so on. Everyone was said something like that.

Oi oi, no matter how you think about it, that’s an exaggeration for high school club activities. At that time, Oda laughed when he saw those interviews and dismissed them as exaggerated articles. It was probably because he was in the same class as Haruna and she didn’t usually show behavior. From Oda’s point of view, Haruna had the impression of a sports girl who worked hard on everything. However, he lived in a different world from her. So, he didn’t go further into the article.

But now, he realizes it. She, Katsuragi Haruna, is a monster.

(Was she always in such a state every time she participated in the competition? Ahh, I see. That interview wasn’t a lie or an exaggeration. This can only be understood by those who became her opponent and being stared at by those eyes…! Bloodlust? Is this bloodlust!?)

He can’t stop sweating no matter how much he wipes it.

(Facing such a monster, Touko sure has quite the nerve to try to have a rematch again and again, huh…)

Oda has been trying to use his cheat knowledge to become stronger in his own way for the past two weeks since he was transferred to this world. In this world, power is displayed as a concrete number, a status

, and if you make the right effort, it will all be rewarded. As an indoor person, Oda got a job called a warrior, a job that doesn’t match him. Still, he intended to make efforts such as strengthening his body. He gets stronger in a similar way to leveling up in games. There’s no way it’s not fun. With the goal to rise to the top of the class with his friends, Mani and Fuchi, he has been doing his best to improve his status and skills.

However, just by standing in front of her, he could tell that Katsuragi Haruna, the girl who was dismissed on the first day because of her lack of ability, has been doing her best more than that. He came to understand why Fuchi seemed to be frightened and negotiated to fight as a team. How many dying experiences and what kind of training did it take to make her like this? Even though he understands Haruna’s power, he can’t imagine it at all.

「Attention please~. Well then, let’s start the mock battle right away~. Are you ready~?」

「Anytime.」

「………」

「Hmm~? Eyeglasses-kun, are you listening? Are you ready?」

「Y-Yeah… It’s okay, I’m ready…」

Oda grasps his sword and shield in his hands and confirms the feel. Oda’s equipment is like a warrior who boasts a high attack and durability as the vanguard with his sword, armor, and shield. However, Oda is not sure if these would work for Haruna.

(Katsuragi’s job is a magician. Then, running around while using magic? …… Katsuragi in such a state? No way, she absolutely won’t do that. I’m sure she will attack in an aggressive way that I can’t think of!)

Oda strengthens his clenching power. It seems to indicate Oda’s anxiety, and Fuchi, who’s standing behind him, frowned suspiciously.

「Oda! No matter how Katsuragi-san moves, I and Mani will support you! Don’t think deeply about it!」

「――! Fuchi…!」

Fuchi shouted just before the start signal issued by Lily. The words gave Oda a little composure, but Lily didn’t intend to delay the start. At about the same time as Fuchi finished shouting, she swung her arm down as the signal.

「Then, start!」

――――Gooong!

The room was filled with a high-pitched sound that sounded like metal being hit. It was not a gong to start the match. Haruna’s black staff was slammed on the ground as soon as it started. Oda’s composure was instantly blown away by this and he set up his shield. It seems that he misunderstood that an attack was coming.

「It’s not an attack! She just hit the staff and made a sound!」

Instead of Oda who hid his face, Fuchi judged the situation and looked straight at Haruna. In the opening that Oda made, Haruna took out a stone from the pouch and threw it. It’s not heading to Oda, but far-off to the right. Did she rush it and slip her hand? Fuchi thought so for a moment, but he quickly dismissed it. The trajectory of the thrown stone unbelievably changed and was heading towards their way. Judging from the degree of correction, the target was Mani, the rearguard.

(What a way to turn, and even faster than I thought! Mani-kun is chanting his magic and can’t dodge it! If it’s like this――)

Fuchi took out two kunai that had been kept in his pocket and threw them at the stone. As a ninja, which is a very rare job in this world, Fuchi’s skills consisted of things that are truly ninja-like. One of them is 『Throwing』, which is the same skill as Haruna. However, Haruna’s skill level is much higher than Fuchi’s.

It is no exaggeration to say that Fuchi’s ability to accurately hit the flying stone with two kunai in a succession is amazing. However, the trajectory of the stone did not change and only the kunai that were repelled.

(Seriously!? Da~mn…! I wanted to save this one though!)

Fuchi took out a kunai with a red handle. It’s something he had asked Joseph to get for him, something that can be called his trump card. He doesn’t want to use it here if possible. However, it’s not a situation where he can take his time. Fuchi made up his mind and threw the red kunai at the stone.

The next thing that happened was an explosion. The moment the kunai touched the stone, the magic power that had been planted in the kunai was activated. What was activated was the flame that Joseph himself put in. Receiving it directly, half of the stone was crushed and it changed its trajectory.

「Fuchi-kun! Oda-kun is in danger!」

It is rare for Mani to shout loudly. Fuchi’s gaze returned to Oda after the stone was defended. Then, he reflexively wants to click his tongue. Haruna was approaching Oda in the short moment when Fuchi turned his gaze at the stone.

「Mani-kun!」

「Yes!」

Mani’s magic was completed at the same time as Haruna was closing in on Oda.