Black Iron Magician

「Still, it’s quite sudden. You should have given yourself more time.」

「We have to cross that vast Tazarnia after all. It’s better to start early.」

「Is that so? It won’t even take a day if you run, right?」

「Shishō, that’s only for you….」

Nell seems to be dissatisfied that Chinatsu and Haruna will be gone.

「Are Nell-san and Shishō not coming? Since we are going to subjugate a Demon King, I thought you would come too.」

「Unfortunately, because of my position, it’s hard to go outside…. The new king didn’t give me permission, saying that he really wants to help our allied nation, but we have to prioritize the defense of Adelheit. Good grief, it’s troubling that he won’t yield just like the previous king.」

「You at least made a suggestion, huh…」

The throne was transferred and Dias has become the new king of Adelheit. He rejected Nell’s 『Let me burn them!』 charging plan, and decided to let the country’s hero handle this matter. He gave priority to the hero who wants to accumulate achievements rather than to the nuclear that might explode outside the country. Nell would be dissatisfied, but it’s a very decent and very reasonable decision.

「Well, that’s why you girls should solve it by yourselves this time. Even though they are the Demon King’s subordinates, everyone other than the Demon King is small fry and the executives will probably be good targets. Using this opportunity, you should improve the degree of perfection as a party. Cooperation is important, okay?」

「I see. Nell-san, did you practice with Shishō?」

「Hmm, in our case, it just happened naturally, I guess? I rushed and Deris cleaned up afterward―― yep, it’s wonderful cooperation!」

It can be called a mere cleanup. As they were chatting, someone knocked on the door.

「Hey, it’s me. Is it okay if I come in?」

「Shishō? Come in~」

After Haruna’s voice, the door is opened. Behind the door, there’s Deris with many books piled up in his hands. At this moment, an electric shock runs through Haruna’s brain. …… In an unpleasant sense.

「I couldn’t find you anywhere, so you were here, Nell. Are you talking about tomorrow’s expedition?」

「Something like that. Deris too?」

「Well, yeah. Haru, where do you think you are going?」

Deris grabbed Haruna’s neck as she passed by and tried to leave the room. He then skillfully put the books on Haruna’s head.

「E-Ehehe, I just remembered something.」

「Then, you don’t have to worry. The priority of that something is many times lower than this. In other words, I’m your priority. Okay?」

「O-Okay….」

Haruna tried to escape when she saw the mountain of books that are obviously for study. However, that won’t come true. After all, she can never escape learning in her life.

「So, here’s a list of things you should learn during your travel time. I’ve carefully selected all of them so that your mind can understand them. If there’s anything you don’t understand, make sure you ask Chinatsu. Time is limited, and time is money. Since you have learned the 『Calculation』 Skill, use this opportunity to use your head outside of battle.」

「Yes….」

From the ‘Even Goblins Can Understand Magic’ series, a handwritten list of new magic she has to learn (with explanation), materials on Tazarnia, something that’s like a monster catalog, a large number of scrolls, a training schedule for Therese, and a souvenir wish list―― there’s no shortage of stuff for Haruna to learn. ‘No need to study with books? Did I say something like that?’ Deris would answer so with a straight face if asked.

「Ah, I knew it, you leave it to me, huh… Deris-san, are you also not going?」

「Yeah. I don’t want to get in the way of your achievements. It’s your first expedition without a guardian. Well, just think of it as a rehearsal before the alliance started for real.」

「Jeez, you said something convincing, but… what’s the truth?」

「I don’t want to go out for a while.」

「「………」」

These masters are honest, for better or worse.

「No, don’t look at me like that…. Even I’m busy preparing for the ceremony and other things. Adults aren’t that free to make time every time, you know? Don’t get me wrong.」

「「………」」

「What’s with that face!?」

These disciples are honest, for better or worse.

「Joking aside, the wedding ceremony is soon, huh. I hope we can make it in time.」

「Don’t worry. I’m sure Deris will do something about it.」

「Ehh…. Recently, you’ve been acting like in the past, haven’t you?」

「That’s just your imagination. Well, don’t worry about the ceremony. First, just concentrate on what you are going to do from tomorrow. We will wait for you.」

「「Okaay.」」

「………」

‘You should be the one who makes the adjustments, you know?’ Deris stares at Nell with that look on his face. However, he can’t oppose her and has no choice but accept it meekly.

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

Leaving their room, I and Nell head toward our room. There will be no lively disciples from tomorrow. Let’s relax while we can. When we were talking about such things――

「――So, what’s the truth?」

Just before the room, Nell suddenly asked so. ‘Tell me now,’ She narrowed her eyes and is looking at me suspiciously.

「How should I put it, a supervision duty…? Well, I’m going to follow them secretly.」

「Haa, I knew it. Deris, if I do say so myself, you’ve really gone soft. And when you saved that fake hero, if it was the past you, you would have finished him off, made him a zombie, and manipulated him.」

「Aah, I’m also aware of it. Even though it was a promise, I really healed him. And what I put inside his body was just a transmitter.」

「Really, you could have done better.」

As Nell said, maybe I should have planted an explosive powder. Even if he had a little time to do introspection, someone like him will likely do something not good later. Even more if he had tasted luxury. Aiming for revenge, ended up doing bad things, or giving up revenge and targeting the weak. He’s likely to settle down in one of those. Since he lost like that, he probably won’t do direct revenge. It was a traumatic level after all. If so, it’s either the second or the third. I can guarantee it since he’s half-baked. As Nell pointed out, it would be easier to just kill him and let him join the delinquents….

「Well, he still has his uses.」

「…… Deris, you’re making an evil face. Don’t show your evil scheme on your face.」

「Ah, yes.」

Setting aside the fake hero, what I should do now is to follow Haru and the others. If I’m not wrong, they will go with the dragon carriage that old geezer Joseph prepared, right? Haru has a keen intuition, so I have to keep some distance… ah, Therese’s loud laugher will be a good mark.