Black Iron Magician

「Yawn~… I slept well~. Have we arrived yet~?」

「Well~, I get sleepy as soon as I get on a vehicle such as a bus~. I was looking forward to it last night and couldn’t sleep well.」

「Hnnh…! I feel a little better now. Maybe Haru’s hugging pillow theory is not so ridiculous after all.」

Starting with Lily, the three sleeping musketeers slept through the whole thing, except during breaks, and didn’t wake up until just before arrival. Even though Haru’s battle was loud, they didn’t wake up until lunchtime. I wonder if they can sleep tonight?

「Oh my, I was so surprised that the strong man was acquainted with Danna. I thought he was one of the bandits. Exchanging blows and checking each other’s strength when they met, was it something like a greeting? I didn’t expect it, but I’m convinced if she’s that strong. Ojou-san, I’ll be cheering for you!」

「Yes! Take care, Middle-san!」

「Um, I’ve been minding about it on the way, but my name is Guy――」

Thanks to Chinatsu’s counseling, Nice Middle, I mean, Nice Guy was able to recover safely and he was convinced of the tragedy from before. He said that he would give us more rewards since we responded to the unexpected situation, but I refused. After all, the original amount was cheap, so there wasn’t much difference even if it increased a bit. Above all, it was *cough* something that I *cough* arranged. Instead, I asked him to give us priority when he stocked something unusual (mainly food). He gave us some of the ingredients on the spot, told us the location of his store, and we parted ways.

「I and Chinatsu will go our separate ways from here. Just look forward to the graduation festival the day after tomorrow. Bye.」

After confirming that Nice Guy had left, Nell raised her hand lightly and tried to leave. She was borrowing my shoulder all day, so I can’t just let her leave and then I stop her.

「Oi oi, are you going already? Can we at least have dinner together?」

「What are you talking about? You haven’t forgotten that promise, right? I’m seriously going to win. I can’t waste even a second for that, and I have to get the Chinatsu in the best shape possible. It’s all for the sake of making my life after marriage with Deris richer and more fulfilling…! Don’t worry, Delis. I will make you happy for sure!」

Nell’s will is firm and she seems to want us to live in her mansion no matter what. Also, that line is rather a line that a man says when proposing to a woman.

「Don’t be so stubborn. Nice Guy generously gave us some good ingredients. Wouldn’t it be better for Chinatsu to enjoy Haru’s cooking? It’s more efficient to let her vent her stress moderately than to corner her, you know?」

「Well, yes…」

Even if Nell is like this, she likes Haru’s cooking. It itself is a kind of temptation, and having a relaxation is not wrong. Nell has been too strict after the marriage turmoil, so I’m afraid that Chinatsu will reach her limit. I usually cause trouble for Chinatsu, so I should at least help her at a time like this.

「Hmm…」

From Nell’s reaction, she just needs a little more push. This is a little embarrassing, though…

「I want to have dinner together with you, Nell. It’s true that we are enemies right now, but you can allow it if it’s that much, right?」

「I-It can’t be helped then. It’s just for tonight, okay?」

She sure answered quickly even though she was putting on airs, huh. Well, it helps me and Chinatsu though.

「Uwaa, Nell is really easy.」

「I think Lily-shishō is easier than you think, you know?」

「Touko, I think you should look at your face in the mirror…」

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

At the night, with the original schedule became earlier, the participant students and their relatives are very busy. For example, students are maintaining their staves, making sure they are in top condition, and preparing for unforeseen situations so they will be okay. The result of the graduation festival the day after tomorrow will determine their future lives. It is no exaggeration to say that the graduation festival has such a great influence. Everyone is desperate. The parents are also on their way to Genius in carriages prepared by the school, not wanting to miss the brave figure of their children.

However, there’s someone who’s maintaining her normal mind. The training facility can be used even at night if the student has obtained permission from the academy. Weerel Joshua, the most likely candidate to win this year’s graduation festival, is manipulating magic in this place as her daily practice.

「――Kuvalere.」

As Weerel sings, jellyfish-shaped waters formed around her and begin to swim in slow motion, floating in the air. She doesn’t stop her singing and the number of her jellyfishes increased in succession. In a blink of an eye, the training facility is filled with jellyfishes swimming in a group like a school of fish.

「Ara, I’ve never seen that magic before desuwa. Wee, have you improved again?」

「Prez…」

In front of such Weerel, the president of the student council of the academy, Therese Batten, appears. Therese was recognized for her achievements in the dungeon, so she will be participating too in the graduation festival.

「Snooping is, not something praiseworthy…. Prez will participate too, in the graduation festival, right…?」

「Yes. I was decided to participate in the festival brilliantly desuwa! Also, aren’t we friends? Please don’t say such things.」

「Well, I don’t mind, though…」

With her Staff Fortress Coalesce, Therese sits in a nearby seat with a smile on her face in response to Weerel’s words. For them, this kind of night exchange is not unusual and can be called a part of their daily lives. It’s like a greeting.

「Haruna-san and Chinatsu-san… that I met the other day… are also going to participate, right…?」

「It seems so desuwa. They are not students, so I’m sure they have some kind of connection. Still, I suspect that they will be the biggest rivals equal to Wee! Wee, you shouldn’t be careless desuwa!」

「I won’t, I don’t intend to… After all, I’m the one who’s going to win…」

「Ara, that’s an unusually bold statement desuwa. Well, that goal is a matter of course for my rival desuwa! Ohohoho!」

Therese laughs loudly. On the other hand, Weerel’s expression doesn’t change, or it just looks like that.

「Prez… are Haruna-san and Chinatsu-san, bad people…?」

「They are good people desuwa! At least, they are great benefactors for me!」

「Is that so…」

That night, inside the training grounds, the sound of water of Weerel’s magic and Therese’s high-pitched laughter echoed until late night.