Black Iron Magician

The appointed day to go to Genius. The meeting place is the same as last time, at the east gate of Castle Town Diana. As usual, there are many people and carriages coming and going around here. However, there is one thing that is different from last time. That is the trading carriage that we hired for transportation.

「Shishō, wouldn’t it be faster if we run?」

「I took a merchant escort request in the guild after all. We can make pocket money by just riding a carriage.」

「No, please don’t just ride, escort me properly, Danna…」

The one coming out of the carriage is a nice middle-aged man who calls me Danna. It’s not Touko, but the merchant employer. Touko is staying at the castle.

「Ah, I will be in your care today! I will do my best to escort you!」

「I will be in your care too. Oh, that uniform, are you a student of the academy?」

Today, Haru has already changed into her uniform. She also doesn’t forget to wear her usual pouch on her waist. Perfect.

「Something like that. There will be a graduation festival at Adelheit Magic Academy a few days later, so we are taking an escort request while going there.」

「Ahh, I heard that the schedule suddenly became earlier… The festival will not be open to the public, but there are students, relatives, and higher-ups from the country. This is not my concern, but aren’t you in a hurry to go to Genius? Especially for those from far away.」

「You are right, it’s really bothersome. It’s unbearable to be swing around for the higher-ups’ conveniences.」

「Hahaha, that’s right! Well, you are fine since you are in the neighboring town, right? If nothing happens, we should arrive in the evening.」

「It will be great if nothing happens. You know what? A huge griffon came out recently. I wonder if bandits will appear next.」

「At that time, I will be counting on you, Danna. And Student-san too.」

「Yes! If it’s just a griffon, I can repel it with my bare hands!

「Haha, I got a big one here.」

Nice Middle went to check his luggage for the last time after a bit of chatting. It’s about time for the appointed time. If it’s like the usual, they will come――

「――Sorry for the wait. Did you wait long?」

Look, they came. Looking back, there are Nell, who is refusing to meet my gaze, and Chinatsu, wearing her uniform.

「Good morning… Oh, there’s a carriage…」

「Morning, we’ve just arrived too. …… Chinatsu, did you lose weight?」

Rather than lose weight, did she use up all of her energy? I felt that her face became brighter the moment she saw the carriage.

「I’m fine. Just let me sleep in the carriage for a while and I think I’ll be fine even more….」

「I-I see. I was thinking of asking you to help Haru study while we are on the move, but I think it’s better to let you sleep…」

「Are you canceling the study!?」

「Haru, you are going to study. You are fine after all.」

「Awawawawa….」

When I’m shown the exhausted figure of Chinatsu, I have to refrain from asking something unreasonable from her. Haru is a disciple with a reputation for her resilience, her exploded head will back to normal after she wakes up from her sleep. Still, Chinatsu’s exhaustion is not normal. Just what were they doing?

「Fufu. I heard that we are going by carriage, so we were training until just before dawn. You should know that I and Chinatsu will be useless on the way.」

「Setting aside Chinatsu, you too?」

「To be honest, I’m sleepy. Deris, lend me your shoulder when we are on the move.」

If you want to be pampered, you should at least look at my eyes.

「Okay, okay. You are going to stand out, so get in the carriage first. Don’t forget to greet Nice Middle, okay?」

「What middle? You are treating me like a child again…」

Nell mumbled and went to the carriage. At that moment, the sword Nell is wearing on her hip suddenly caught my eye. I felt strange at first, but then I feel nostalgic.

「Hey, isn’t that sword from our adventuring days? What happened to the flame sword you’re using now?」

「I-It’s none of your business, Deris. I just suddenly wanted to use it!」

With a blushing face, Nell went into the carriage with a step that could crush it. Chinatsu apologetically bows her head lightly and then follows Nell. …… That sword, I bought it for Nell on a whim a long time ago. It was so long ago when Nell was still younger than Haru. She still has it even if she is not using it anymore. I’m a little, no, quite surprised.

「Somehow I feel that Nell-san is trying to make up with Shishō.」

「… Does it look like that?」

「It looks very much like that.」

Hmm…

「Ehh, Knight Leader Nell!? Why are you here!?」

「You are noisy, Nice Middle! If you are a nice middle-aged man, guess it!」

「I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Shishō, restrain it…!」

Hmm…

「Goshujin-sama, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting~! I’ve prepared a uniform for Touko-chan~!」

「Danna, on second thought, I’m coming with you! You see, I asked Gobuo to make a uniform for me!」

「Gobu~!」

Hmm…

「Huh, Goshujin-sama…? Haru-chan, what’s wrong with Goshujin-sama?」

「Hmm, I think he feels a little sentimental.」

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The carriage departed from Diana. The inside is quieter than I expected, and I can only hear everyone’s sleeping sounds.

「Suu…」

「Kuu… Kuu…」

「Gugaa…」

「Fuhii… Ahh, you can’t, not there… Munya…」

「……… (Pshh)」

Ah, there’s also the sound of Haru’s head burning.

「Hahaha, everyone seems tired…」

「Gobu!」

The merchant, sitting on the driver seat, laughed, but the laughter was terribly dry. It’s no wonder. The escorts he hired are sleeping soundly. Yeah, this is unexpected even for me. Lured by Nell and Chinatsu, Touko and Lily also fell asleep. In exchange, Gobuo stays vigilant next to the merchant, but the merchant still seems uneasy. I wish I could help, but Nell is leaning on my shoulder and I’m watching Haru study on the opposite side. Unfortunately, I can’t work more than this.

「Don’t worry, they’ll do it when things happen.」

At least, let’s reassure him with my words.

「I’d like you to do something before things happen, though… Well, with the knight leader here, I think most things will be fi――」

「――Gobu?」

「Oh? Danna, Goblin-san seems to be reacting to something. Is there something bothering you?」

「Gobu, Gobu goobu gobu, gobu!」

Gobuo is explaining with gestures. Yes, I think he’s explaining something.

「… Danna, what is he saying?」

Don’t ask me. I don’t understand the goblin language… However, I already know what Gobuo wants to convey.

「We are surrounded by quite a number. Are they bandits?」

「Ehh, bandits!? Danna, it’s an emergency! Please wake up the others!」

「Ahh, it’s okay. One person is awake here. Haru, stop your study. You can go relieve your stress now.」

「……… (Psh――)」

The black smoke on Haru’s head stopped and she slowly stood up.

「Shishō! I’m going to go all――」

「No killing.」

「――out, eh?」

「It’s a practice of not killing your opponent. It’s scary to let you fight the students of the academy without practicing first, you know?」