Black Iron Magician

「Um…. How about we confirm each other’s fighting style while we still can now?」

While crushing the White Blitz Wolf, which rushed at her, with one hand, Zeta proposed so. Chinatsu, who was also cutting one wolf with the katana in one hand, and Haruna, who was dismantling the defeated prey, agreed to it and nodded.

「That’s right. There’s no problem at the moment, but you never know when you will run into a powerful enemy. So, I want us to be able to fight together properly.」

「Then, let’s start with me. As you can see, I’m a swordsman who uses this big sword. I’m good at close combat, but I also can use lightning magic to some extent, so I’m not bad at fighting from a distance. Also, my artificial arm and legs are reinforced for combat and are equipped with some gimmicks. They are stronger than living flesh, so they are powerful enough to hit the enemy as it is.」

Zeta let out a knife from the back of her artificial hand and stabbed it between the white wolf’s eyebrows. It’s one of the armaments she has.

「T-That’s cool…!」

「Fufu. You have a good sense, Haruna-san.」

And she’s blushing, feeling somewhat satisfied.

「I’ve been thinking about it, but that sword was also made by Zex-san, right? I mean, it has a very avant-garde form.」

「Chinatsu-san also has a good sense. I have to say that you have a great aesthetic sense.」

「T-Thank you….」

Zeta told the girls that the large sword is a gift from Zex. It’s an excellent product with innovative technology that can be transformed by sending an electric shock through the blade using her own lightning magic, and its power will increase about twice as much―― anyway, it seems to be amazing.

「Ah, I’m sorry. I got a little carried away….」

「No, I understand very well that the sword is filled with romance. It’s a good product!」

Haruna gave a thumb up, and Zeta responded with the same sign. Village girls are those who pursue romance.

「Cough. Then, I’m next. My Job is a priest, so I’m good at supporting with light magic… but, according to the instructions of my master, I can’t use any magic on this expedition. Instead, since I’m skilled with a sword, I would like to be useful as a vanguard, like Zeta-san.」

「Um… I’m sorry if it’s rude, but it’s okay to fight in the front where there’s a lot of danger even though you are a priest? I can handle it on my own, so you don’t have to force yourself――」

「――No, it’s scarier to not fight in the front. I mean, after I get back….」

It’s a very serious problem for Chinatsu.

「Zeta-san, Chinatsu-chan is very skilled. I guarantee it. By the way, as you can see, I’m a magician!」

Haruna takes out the Doggan Staff and carries it on her shoulder.

(…… Is she really a magician?)

Holding the jet-black mass that looks like a huge battle axe, she only looks like a warrior.

「Haruna, you are not allowed to use the Doggan Staff, right?」

「Ah, that’s right! Zeta-san, please forget what I just said. I’ll do my best using magic like a magician!」

Saying so, Haruna takes out a heavy iron ball from the pouch.

(She’s a magician, right…?)

It’s something different from the crystal that a magician uses, and it only looks like a cannonball.

「Um, Haruna-san, what kind of magic do you use?」

「I use dark magic. I can create smokescreens and poisons to disturb the enemies, and I can also use Throwing (magic) to snipe them.」

「I-I see…. Hmm? Throwing?」

It’s the true essence of the Throwing Magician.

「Haruna, is it okay to use that?」

「I’m not allowed to use the Doggan Staff and martial arts, but throwing isn’t prohibited, you know?」

「Uh-huh. Well, that’s right….」

If you cast magic on the iron ball, then you can call it magic.

(But, Deris-san just forgot about it, right…?)

Chinatsu thought so, but looking at Haruna’s motivated expression, she couldn’t say it. It was the moment when the ban on magic (physics) was lifted.

「Anyway, I and Chinatsu-san will be the vanguards, and Haruna-san will support us from behind. Are you okay with this formation?」

「I agree!」

「I’m grateful with for formation. Yes, really….」

At the same time as the basic policy was set, Chinatsu’s katana killed the last White Blitz Wolf. They happened to encountered two packs of white wolves, but they easily defeated all of them with one hand even though the number was a threat.

「Well done. I see that you are very skilled with a sword.」

「Haha, please don’t praise me that much. Now, let’s dismantle them.」

「Okay.」

「…… You are really a magician and a priest, right?」

The delicate work of dismantling of the two surprised even Zeta, who’s accustomed to hunting.

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

The trip of three went smoothly. With the cooperation that’s hard to believe for a hastily built team, they were able to easily take down the monsters that appeared. At the same time, they were able to secure a large amount of meat for food. With Zeta’s guidance, there’s no need to worry about getting lost. What’s left is a match against the time until the deadline. And now, they are moving forward energetically―― or not.

「Wow~, everything is white~」

「Yes, our entire view is white.」

「We’re in trouble….」

They would soon reach the abandoned village, but they encountered a blizzard in the mountain. It’s white, cold, and painful, and they can’t see even one meter ahead. To put it simply, they are in distress. If they are unlucky, there’s a possibility that they would lose their way.

「It’s reckless to go to the abandoned village in this situation….」

「We might be behind the schedule, but it can’t be helped. Should we make a snow hut?」

「That’s the last resort. Let’s take shelter somewhere first. Zeta-san, is there anything nearby that can block this blizzard?」

「If it’s around here, let’s see…. There should be a cave a little further. But――」

「Then, let’s head there now! It’s so cold and my eyelashes are starting to freeze…!」

「… That’s right. Let’s hold hands so that we won’t be separated. Ah, my left hand is metal, so don’t touch it directly. If you touch it in this extremely cold weather, your skin will be badly damaged.」

「Y-Your right hand, please….」

Being led by Zeta, the girls continue to move while holding hands. They step on the snow and push their way through the snow. No matter where they look around, there’s only snow.

「I can see it now. It’s over there.」

「Eh? Where?」

「Ah, you’re right. It’s a quite big cave.」

「Uhh, all I can see is white….」

Haruna and Zeta, who could see their goal, pulled the hands of Chinatsu, who was still wandering in the white labyrinth, and they finally reached the cave. There’s no light inside the cave, but there’s no sign of snow coming in.

「Phew, it was cold~」

「But, it’s a relief for the time being. Should we wait here until the blizzard weakens?」

「I guess so. Hmm, I want to set up a bonfire. I wonder if there’s something that can burn――」

「Um, I’m sorry to say this when you are sitting and taking a break. There’s one thing that I haven’t told you yet….」

Zeta apologetically raised her hand slightly.

「This is the nest of the White Bastard Bear. It might be dangerous if we don’t take down the owner of the nest first.」

「「Eh?」」

The moment Haruna and Chinatsu let out their voices, two glittering eyes appeared from the darkness in the inner part. Then, a large beast is approaching while growling.

「Ah, I see….」

「Waah, the fur looks nice! We can endure the cold with that!」