Black Iron Magician

「He~y, are you alive?」

「Ah, Shishō!」

I was a little worried about the mysterious black mountain that was placed right there, but the girls greeted us energetically.

「… No, only your voice that’s energetic. What happened?」

「Ehehe, I used too much magic.」

While Chinatsu and Zeta stood up and greeted us, Haru was lying on her back on the ground. When I check her status, there’s almost no MP remaining. As Haru said, it seems that she was using magic thoroughly.

「Was there such a strong enemy? I heard from Alezel that the best you can encounter is a level 5 monster.」

「That was the plan, but… this appeared unexpectedly.」

「This?」

「She means this mountain-like monster, Deris-san.」

Haru was lying down and couldn’t explain it well, so Chinatsu supported her and pointed at it.

「… Oh, this black mountain was a monster!?」

「Now that you say that, this is a black furball, huh. But I think it’s too noticeable to hide in these snowy mountains.」

「Err, it’s pitch black now, but it was white at first. While it was fighting Haruna, the color changed into this――」

Then, Chinatsu explained the situation. I see.

「――Haa!? This big one is the boss of the Giant Findo!? It was originally a monster that lived hidden deep in the mountains, but to think that it was here~」

「This monster usually acts alone, right? This might be a big discovery.」

According to what I heard from Alezel on the ship, Giant Findo is a specified dangerous species from Snowtail, and they have been subjugated by hero-class adventurers. However, they usually act alone and it was unheard of for them to gather this much. According to Chinatsu, they are good at covert action, and they might have been hiding deep in the snowy mountains until now. And if it’s at this size, it only looks like a mountain when seen from a distance.

「So, this is an adult Giant Findo, named Giant Giant Findo, I guess?」

「Shishō, I don’t think that’s the right name.」

「Deris-san, I also don’t think that’s the right name.」

「Deris, you have to question your sense.」

Hey, aren’t you guys starting to sound a little like Nell? I know that my joke is uninteresting, but it wouldn’t hurt you to be a little gentler, you know?

「Oh! If it ain’t Zeta-han from Made in Zex. What a coincidence to meet you in such a place!」

「Alezel-sama, why are you here?」

「Well, don’t worry about the details. This is but a humble gift, but please take it.」

「Ah, thank you very much. Um…. 『Thanks a lot』, was it?」 (TLn: Zeta said her second thanks in Damaya dialect)

「My~, Zeta-han is really a studious person!」

Alezel suddenly began her sales talk. Yeah, let’s leave those two for the time being.

「So, did Haru defeat this Giant Findo boss alone? With just magic?」

「I worked really hard! Also, I’m hungry!」

Haru was given a brown stick by Chinatsu and chewed on it. What is that? It smells sweet. Is that a chocolate bar or something?

「It’s true that Haruna fought alone. It took quite a while because she could only use magic, though…. She kept fighting until about 30 minutes before we could see the ship you were riding.」

「Hou, so you used only magic like you were told.」

「I did various things, such as sucked its blood using Gii-kun, poisoned it, and stabbed it with spears~. Because it’s so big, it was hard to get it poisoned… phew.」

After eating a few chocolate bars, Haru finally stands up. The emergency energy supply has been completed successfully. …… By the way, what is Gii-kun?

「The white fur turned black because of the poison, huh.」

There are also the corpses of other monsters with black fur here and there. There’s no doubt that they were defeated by Haru.

「Ah, that’s right! I’m sorry, Shishō, we are going to start dismantling them now, so please give us some time!」

Haru takes out a hunting knife from her pouch. It’s good that she’s motivated, but it will take a lot of time considering the number, including the boss. No matter how much Harun and Chinatsu are getting used to the dismantling work, this is hard.

「Well, wait. There’s a dismantling specialist here, so let’s ask her help this time. Hey, Alezel!」

「I can hear you! Who are you calling a specialist!?」

「Hahaha, isn’t it obvious?」

「Deris, you know that I’m not the kind of woman who works for free, right?」

Such a thing is common knowledge. I know it even if you don’t tell me.

「Alezel, you know what? The materials of these Giant Findos are something that Zeta-sama wants. Even though there’s a customer working hard to dismantle them, are you going to just watch while sipping a cup of tea?」

「Of course not! Zeta-han is also so mean. If that’s the case, you should have asked me to dismantle them~」

「Eh? Ah, yes, I’m sorry…?」

「Then, I’ll help you too. Well, five minutes should be enough. Hey, bring me my exclusive tools!」

After having her subordinate bring the tools that she left in the airship, Alezel began to move her hands with a speed that’s impossible to follow. She’s surprisingly easy to deal with in front of customers. Even I, the one who used it as an excuse, was surprised.

「Ah, I’ll take care of the black ones. It’s poisonous and dangerous after all!」

「Ahaha! Haru-chan is a very thoughtful girl~. But don’t worry. You see, there are poisons that are more deadly in this world, and I’m the best at dismantling them. Frankly, I’m far better than Deris!」

「Really!?」

「Ugh, you pointed out where it hurts….」

「Well, that’s the truth. Deris is surprisingly good at dismantling even though he doesn’t have the Skill, but Alezel has mastered it. Well, she’s on a whole different level. Deris, you aren’t letting Haruna pick up 『Dismantling』 just because it’s a waste of skill slots, right?」

「Ugh…!」

You are strangely sharp, huh.

「Ehh~, it’s a waste to not pick it up~. It’s a good Skill that can make the most of limited resources, y’know?」

「I acknowledge that part, but it’s delicate as a magician. Unlike your Job, the Skill doesn’t match with a magician, you know?」

「Haru-chan, Dismantling is a good Skill~. It’s a loss if you don’t take it~♪」

「I-Is that so!?」

「Oi, don’t sing a strange song to my disciple!」

I take back what I said about her being easy! We have to be careful around her!

「Um, the request is originally from me, so I will help too….」

「I will help too, Alezel-san!」

「Then, it might be not much, but I’ll help too.」

「Oh, then, let’s have a competition~. By the time all of them have been dismantled, the person with the fewest number will be punished~. Now, start!」

Hey, that kind of competition is where Alezel will never be punished, right?

「Both of you, why are you just standing there? Deris and Nell are also included, y’know~?」

「「Ha?」」

After that, the dismantling of all Giant Findos was over in three minutes.