Black Iron Magician

Haru admits that Gustus’s shout is correct. Hey, you admit it, huh. I’m watching them while continuing my breakfast. They ate sandwiches and moved again immediately after all. So, I started eating again while hiding like this since I haven’t finished my meat-packed lunch box. What is this adult man talking about, you ask? I can’t eat as fast as Haru this early in the morning, you know? Still, it’s my belief to not leave anything unless there’s something wrong. The side dishes are all meat, but they are all made with great care, so I can’t leave any behind.

「But, it’s okay. After this battle is over, Chinatsu-chan will purify the sea.」

「The poison was spread on such a large scale, you know? The sea is always flowing. Just because you polluted it, it doesn’t mean that the current will be stopped. Even now the disease is still spreading, you know? Isn’t that too conceited?」

「You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve thought about that too.」

「Hm…!?」

Oh, Chinatsu appeared here after defeating the merman’s magicians. Judging from the conversation, the attacks so far were Chinatsu’s plans, huh. Well then, I guess it’s okay. As a devout Chinatsutian, I believe in Goddess Chinatsu.

「When you invaded this territorial waters, we blocked off this entire area with a wall of water. The poison can’t pass through the wall, so it’s possible to remove the poison. The water creatures that live in this area will die, but after we collect them, we will detoxify them and use them for food. We will eat them with care after we give our thanks.」

「… So, you are the strategist who came up with this plan, huh. I see, I see.」

It’s delicious, but it’s still a bit hard to stomach…. Is there any vegetable somewhere? I want vegetables!

「I guess we already lost this battle. It’s our punishment for being conceited by the difference in ability, for being spoiled by the environment, and for underestimating you. But, I’m someone who’s entrusted with this unit. I won’t retreat even if it’s one against two. I will at least take your heads!」

Oh, there was! In the pile of meat, there’s meat wrapped with asparagus! I also found peppers stuffed with meat! I can moisten my mouth with this! …… As if!

「That’s not good. Chinatsu-chan just fought before! It’s not fair if I don’t fight against Gustus-san alone!」

「Hmm, you really want a serious fight, huh. That’s a nice spirit!」

「I knew you’d say that…. Haruna, I’ll put up barriers to prevent any damage to the surroundings, so you can go all out.」

「Thank you!」

Chinatsu leaves the front line. In the meantime, she’ll probably detoxify the sea and put up barriers. And while she’s at it, I want her to refresh my mouth too. Ah, I guess I can do that myself.

「Gustus, the Four Heavenly Kings of the Sea Demons, here I come!」

「Katuragi Haruna, here I come!」

Phew, I feel refreshed. Fuhaha, prepare yourself, you pile of meat! From now on, my eating speed will be much faster! But first, I want to drink―― oof, it’s empty. There’s no more….

「Trident Spear Spout!」

「Doggan Staff!」

While I was in shock, I heard the sound of metals clashing in the distance. It seems that Haru and the Four Heavenly something have started to fight. Their weapons are hitting each other violently on the water. Haru is standing on the water, thanks to Weerel’s 『Walk』. The merman boss seems to be using his tail dexterously to maintain his position, just like a swan flapping its legs violently under the water. Hmm, no matter how I think about it, I can’t leave my seat at this moment, can I? Can’t we just take a quick bathroom break?

「Hah!」

「Hah!」

…… I guess we can’t. Moreover, Haru and the merman boss seem to be equal. The merman boss properly stopped the attack from Doggan Staff, and Haru saw through the spinning trident and evaded it. It’s a battle between level 6s who have developed their Skills thoroughly. I guess it’s something like that. Hmm, if there’s a merman’s corpse around here, I could turn it into a zombie and have it fetch drinking water. Ah, it would be mistaken as a survivor of the Demon King’s Army, I guess?

「You are good!」

「That’s my line!」

After crossing blades several times, the two take a distance. Apparently, the prelude is over and it seems that the main battle starts from here. Should I show up and ask Goddess Chinatsu for water? …… No. I can’t do that after I saw them off like that. My pride as a master doesn’t allow it.

「Hah!」

「Ngh, the water is!?」

Haru threw the seawater she scooped below her feet at the merman boss. Bam!, from the merman boss’s skin, there was an explosive sound like when Weerel’s soap bubble exploded. Haru’s Throwing is effective even with water, huh. The part that was hit is bleeding, and looking at his expression, it looks quite painful. I want to drink water, but I don’t want to drink that. It’s poisoned after all.

「Nngh!」

Ah, he dived. He’s prepared for the poison to get into the wound, huh. How manly.

「……!?」

A barrage of trident strikes from underwater, huh. Since the water is muddy, it seems difficult to predict where it will come from. Haru is avoiding the spear when the tip comes out of the water surface, so she can’t avoid all of it and is receiving damage. The enemy accelerates in the water, but on the other hand, the power of Haru’s Doggan Staff is halved if she swings it at the water. This is a bad match for her, I guess?

「Viobomb!」

Or not. Haru is calm. She shoots a lump of poisonous water into the water without hesitation, and now it’s pitch black under the sea. I’m sure it’s permeating the wounds of the merman boss that it hurts just thinking about it. Also, my thirst is terrible.

「Here, Wee’s special mineral water. If you don’t mind, here you go.」

「Oh, thanks. I was so thirsty that I was about to die.」

Nice timing. I receive the water bottle from Goddess Chinatsu and appease my thirst. Yeah, it’s well chilled. This is the difference between those who are thoughtful and those who are not. Now――

「So, since when did you notice?」

―― Hey, Chinatsu-san, the one who gave me water. If a girl at a marriageable age stands next to this old man as if it’s natural, it’ll be troubling.

「It was just a while ago. Deris-san, so you came along after all.」

「Well, I was worried. Looking at the situation, it seems that it was needless worry.」

I was so nervous that they might find me. As the distance was reduced little by little, it seems that I was discovered. Well, it’s not that I’m making excuses, okay? I was measuring the sensing ability of our disciples. And the one who found me was the thoughtful Chinatsu.

In the meantime, there’s a change in Haru as well. Haru uses her Doggan staff to pull the merman boss out of the water in a way similar to a bear catching salmon. It’s a perfect counter where she matches the timing of the attack.

「Is that a kind of martial arts? Also, she’s already good at using Doggan Staff that she’s using it as if it’s her limb, huh.」

「It’s Haruna after all. She has a nature where she can’t stop evolving.」

「By the way, Chinatsu, can you keep the fact that you found me a secret? I was putting on airs in front of Haru after all, so…」

「That’s not a problem, but… what’s wrong with that lunch box? It’s strangely packed with brown dishes.」

「Well, it’s her love, I guess? Saying that I have to eat meat to build more stamina.」

Thanks to it, I can fully replenish the calories I used from running. Yeah, really….