Black Iron Magician

「Therese-san is getting stronger~. Chinatsu-chan hasn’t shown her real ability and it felt as if she was fighting while restraining herself. Weerel-chan’s magic is beautiful and powerful as always… Hmm, I’m looking forward to whoever comes to the final~」

If she wins two more times, she can fight the winner of the opposite block. Haruna is in a good mood by this fact and she hopes that it would be Chinatsu. But, just a little, she was thinking that fighting Weerel would be nice too.

「Hmph. Thinking about the final already, aren’t you quite have the guts, Haruna Katsuragi?」

「Eh?」

When Haruna turned around to the voice, there were six students. With Prince at the front, Dry, Karua, Kiel and Solte―― and also Noct, which Harua blew off just before noon.

「Ah, everyone… Hello!」

「Ah, hello.」

「Hey, Kiel! Why are you just greeting the enemy normally! We went the trouble to forcibly ask the teacher to let us leave the infirmary, right!?」

「S-Sorry. She greeted with such a smile, so…」

「Fufu, Kiel-kun is wonderful that he values politeness at all times.」

The passage was already so chaotic.

「…Hey. Did this girl really have such eyes? She looks like a small animal no matter how you look at her, right?」

「Prince, don’t let your guard down, okay? No matter how her eyes are, it’s a fact that she’s strong.」

「Um… so, do you need something from me? I have a match with Dry-san after this…」

「Haha! That’s right. I’m looking forward to it!」

「What a coincidence, me too!」

Clasp!

「Hey you there, don’t just shake hands! Ahh, cough. You and Chinatsu are too strong, so we decided to be Dry’s supporters in the next match~. We properly got the permission from the principal, so don’t think bad of it, okay~?」

「Supporters?」

「I didn’t lose, so it will be only the three of them. Well, it’s not that they will interfere with the match, so you don’t have to worry. They are just going to give him supports and advice.」

「Kukuku. Haruna Katsuragi, your win will end here! That’s because this Noct Norland will join―― huh? Did you just say three people? Am I included in that?」

「A-Anyway! We’re going to work together to defeat you! That’s what I can do now as proof of trust to my friend. Call me a coward if you want. But, I want to avenge Solte and I’m prepared to be abused!」

「K-Kiel-kun…!」

The top rankers are working together to defeat Haruna and Chinatsu. Well, it’s not that they are going to fight together, but they are just going to apply their best support magic before the match to the one going to fight. They also have the advantage of sharing information. This situation will be a great disadvantage for Haruna who will deal with them from now on. However, Haruna is――

「―― Hee.」

Everyone felt a chill when Harua just smiled slightly without changing her expression.

(Muh!?)

(W-Wha!? Hey, seriously!? Oh crap, oh crap!)

(What is this feeling…!?)

(That’s it! Just like when she stood in front of Solte at that time!)

(Eek…)

(Hm? This is bad. Did I catch a cold on such an important day? I’ll have to hurry and ask Gramps to get me some medicine. As someone who will be supporting the country from now on, it will be bad if I collapse in front of the public!)

Perhaps it was because she was so excited after watching the match just a few minutes ago, she seems to have changed slightly into that mode. Probably realizing it, Haruna returned to her original small animal mode the next moment.

「To think that the famous students of the academy are doing that for me… it’s a great honor! Let’s have a good match like Therese-san’s match earlier, Dry-san!」

「Y-Yeah! I hope so too!」

Dry’s heart was shaken when he was suddenly being called out, but he splendidly replied to her. No, maybe it should be said that he was somehow able to reply.

「「「「………」」」」

「Hm? What’s wrong with you guys? Why are you making that face? Haruna Katsuragi approved it, you know? You should be happy about it.」

Haruna was just saying what she thought without any malicious intent. However, for those who have been affected by that peculiar feeling, it was as if Haruna was saying something like, 「You have to entertain me at least that much, okay?」.

When Noct, the only one whom Haruna didn’t direct her bloodlust to, opened his mouth, a call from the broadcasting department rang in the academy.

「It’s time to start the match. Haruna Katsuragi and Dry Van, please move to the stage.」

「Looks like it’s time. See you on the stage, Dry-san.」

「…Yeah.」

Saying so, Haruna goes to the stage while carrying her Doggan Staff on her shoulder. She is walking normally, but they heard her footsteps as if there’s a big monster stamping its feet.

「… Prez put up a good fight, so I thought we had a chance if it’s a physical battle, but…」

「Could it be that Haruna-san is stronger?」

「Anyway, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s a monster. Dry, you’ve been quiet since a while ago… are you scared?」

Karua asked Dry so. The body of Dry is like steel. However, his body is trembling.

「H-Ha… Hahaha! Yeah, there’s a feeling of scared at the bottom of my heart! I admit it! But! I feel so excited more than that! It’s the first time that I’m trembling with excitement this much! Prince, I will do her in! I’m not giving her to you!」

「… I don’t mind, but that statement is a bit misleading. Don’t shout too loudly. We don’t have much time. Everyone, apply support magic to Dry as much as you can.」

Dry was given various types of support magic by his friends.

「Hmph!」

He ripped off the top half of his uniform and walked onto the stage, exposing his well-trained body. Karua said something like, 「Eh, sexual harassment?」, but Dry isn’t listening anymore. He is that focused. On the stage, Harua has already finished her preparation and is waiting.

「Yo, did I keep you waiting?」

「No, not at all. You have good friends, huh.」

「Well, yeah. Still, that staff is thrilling no matter how much I see it. I regret that I should have prepared a staff like that for attacking.」

Dry stared at Haruna’s Doggan Staff enviously. Although the staff in the hand of Dry is a high-quality one, it does not deviate from its shape or ability as a staff and is faithful to the basics. It was designed to be used by a magician. Every time he watched the match, he envied Haruna and Chinatsu’s staves.

「This staff? Ahh… right. If anything, it’s better to go all out, I guess?」

―――― Bam!

Haruna rotated her Doggan Staff and stabbed the tip on the stage, fixing it on the place. Dry’s narrow eyes widened slightly, wondering what’s going on.

「I feel that you received a lot of support magic. Then, I will take off the weight. Let’s enjoy the battle to our heart’s content!」