Black Iron Magician

「Hmm…?」

「What’s wrong, Chinatsu-chan?」

Chinatsu tried to wear a refreshing sky blue swimsuit, but she suddenly looked suspicious. Haruna, who has already finished changing, noticed it and asked her.

「I have a very bad feeling. I don’t know what it is, but I have a very bad feeling …」

「A bad feeling? Hmm, I don’t think there’s a problem with the swimsuit. Touko-chan’s swimsuit is a little risque, but Chinatsu-chan’s is okay, right?」

「Haruna, I don’t think it’s a premonition about the swimsuit.」

When Haruna swirled around on the spot, her frilled bikini and her trademark ponytail swayed cutely. Looking at her like that, no one would think that she’s a girl who can exchange blows with the muscular Hund.

「Ohh, you also have done changing, Haruna. Hey, why haven’t you changed, Chinatsu? Are you the type who has a hard time changing when someone is around?」

Lilyvia’s beloved disciple, Touko, appeared in a swimsuit that emphasized her chest. Lilyvia’s enthusiasm, that she was choosing it seriously, is emanating from the swimsuit. There’s no need to say what’s emanating from it.

「No. When I tried to change, I felt that my life is in danger. Well, it’s the usual thing, so don’t worry about it.」

「Chinatsu, I think you should question your words a little more.」

「Ah, I also felt the movement of magic power! It was hard to describe, but it was amazing!」

「As for Haruna, that’s a bad omen….」

Setting aside the content of the conversation, the three girls are talking lively. And then, there’s an elf named Alezel who’s watching such a scene as if she’s ogling them.

「Nice~. What a nice sight~. Zeta, can you join the three of them for a moment?」

「I’m sorry. I’m struggling with the swimsuit, so Lilyvia-sama is helping me out right now.」

「Now, raise your arms.」

「Okay!」

「And Alezel, you’re acting like an old man in the red-light district. Show some restraint.」

「Ehh~」

Lilyvia is helping Zeta, who has never worn a swimsuit. Despite her dissatisfaction, Alezel’s gaze is turned into that of an old man again.

「How stubborn.」

「Whoa!? Hey, wait! Don’t just throw a real knife!」

「What? I just tried to imitate Haruna.」

「Haru-chan won’t throw something like that as a joke! Also, why am I the only one in a school swimsuit!? This is the type of swimsuit that students wear in class, right!?」

「My sense told me it’s the only one that suits you. I’m convinced now that I made the right choice.」

「You…!」

「Alezel-sama, that looks great on you. I can assure you that there is no mistake because Lilyvia-sama chose it herself.」

「No, that’s wrong, Zeta-han! Don’t affirm it with those pure eyes, it’s hard to deny…!」

As the conversation went on, Lilyvia prepared a navy blue school swimsuit for Alezel. Damaya is a sanctuary for merchants with goods from all over the world, so it’s no wonder that such a thing is on sale. However, the fact that Alezel has been wearing it without complaint until she mentioned it shows that she might actually be in the mood for it.

「By the way, you wear different artificial limbs today, huh? They were more metallic before, right?」

「Did you notice it!? You noticed it, right!?」

「Ah, crap….」

Zeta, who was raising her arms, turned around with tremendous speed and her innocent eyes began to shine. Lily said it without thinking since she just happened to see them. For her, it’s just idle talk. But for Zeta, it sounded like this:

『You can’t hide it from me, Zeta. You’re quite possessive that you want to enjoy them yourself, huh. I noticed that your artificial limbs are very amazing! The more I look at them, the more I’m interested in them! By all means, tell me more about them!』

Compared to the original dialogue, the amount of the content may seem a bit different, but if that was how she heard it, then it can’t be helped. Zeta is so eager to explain everything about them. As for Lily, she feels like she just stepped on a landmine.

「First of all, these artificial limbs are specified for a beach and Zex-sama installed them in anticipation of this event! The quality of water resistance and corrosion resistance to saltwater is above the standard, of course. However, I would like you to pay more attention to the beauty of the shape! The color is so rich that it could be mistaken for real skin! And then, this tactile feeling and warmth could be achieved by the use of advanced artificial skin! Because it is a prototype type, the joint of the driving part is still a spherical joint, but let’s just say that the current technology is at the level that it will overcome that soon! Do you want to touch them!? Do you want them!? Do you want to wear them!?」

「…… No, it’s immature to steal your enjoyment, so I’ll pass. Besides, it’s rude to make Zex wait, right? We’re almost done, so don’t move too much.」

「Oh, how generous of you, Lilyvia-sama…! I understand, I’ll keep raising my arms!」

However, Lilyvia didn’t falter. She survived the scene with a grown-up response, without giving in to the endless long sentences and the threatening pressure.

「Lily-han, you’re amazing.」

「This much shouldn’t be a problem. Even Touko and my subordinates can overcome it easily.」

「Hmm, you can’t underestimate the talk technique of the host and hostess, huh. I’ll have to consider hiring them for sales next time. Lily-han, if there’s someone interested, can you recommend them to me?」

「Shut up.」

「Whoa!?」

Lily threw a knife at Alezel’s eyebrows, which was thrown at a faster speed than before and without any preparatory movements, and Alezel stole it before it hit her. Then she saw that a deadly poisonous liquid was dripping from the edge of the knife she grabbed.

「It is forbidden to scout our personnel. Also, we’re more or less the Great Eight Demons, so don’t get too involved in each other’s affairs.」

「Every time, you always resort to violence first! How are you gonna explain my life-threatening crisis!? You even coated it with this ominous poison!」

「… I just imitated Haruna.」

「That ain’t what I’m talking about!」

「What are you doing, Lily-shishō…. We’re going first, okay?」

While glancing at Alezel and Lily, Touko and the others, who had changed their clothes, are ready to leave the changing room. If they open the door, an artificial tropical beach will greet them. Touko naturally feels excited.

――――Click…. Slam.

Touko opened the door, stood still for a moment, and immediately closed the door for some reason.

「Touko? Why did you close the door?」

「No, huh…? Hey, behind this door was a beach, right?」

「That’s right. Why do you look confused?」

「Well… it seems that I’m a little tired. You two, can you go first?」

「「?」」

While being suspicious of Touko who tilted her head frequently, Chinatsu decided to open the door this time.

――――Click.

「Okay, it’s done!」

「Hey, Nell! You’re going to kill him! Hund-kun is drying up!」

「I-I’m going to change my body with a heat-resistant one…. Please wait a moment….」

「「………」」

When she opened the door, hell welcomed them.