Black Iron Magician

One day has passed since the end of the turmoil. Although I can’t say that my body and future are safe, I can safely say that the troubles surrounding Crocus have been resolved.

Even though the battle is over, the exchange between Maria’s nation and Crocus for the compensation and other things――ah, there’s also the Quitet’s Company’s claim for compensation. The discussion about that will continue, but I think Maria will be generous enough to give both sides the amount of money that they want in the end. She’s hopelessly selfish, but she will keep her promise and obligation. That’s why, I’m planning to charge a lot of money from her for my medical expenses and so on.

When I returned from the subspace, Lilyvia hugged me tightly right after that for some reason, and I fainted. Then, I was transported to Crocus’s infirmary. For a while, I wondered what would happen to me, but my physical damage was completely healed by Chinatsu’s generous healing magic, and my empty magic power was fully replenished. Thus, I somehow escaped death.

However, I’m still unable to move now. The backlash of the drug from Alezel is still going on. According to Alezel, who has contacted the development department of the main office, it seems that I will stay in bed for another two days. Not having to work is great, but not being able to lift a finger during that time is not great. Whatever I do, I need someone to help me.

「Deris, is there anything you want me to do for you? Anything is fine, you know? Just say it.」

「T-Then, can you cut the apple for me…?」

「Leave it to me!」

I always had Haru to take care of me, but I decided to ask Nell to nurse me while I’m unable to move. I mean, I can’t let my disciple do that, right? To be frank, it’s embarrassing. Haru often shows me her defenseless figure, but I also have a sense of shame like anyone else. It can’t be helped.

「Okay, I’ve cut it. Say aah ♪」

「A-Aah….」

「「「「………」」」」

However, this is also painful. Really painful. Nell is like this day and night, and she doesn’t mind it even if Haru and the others are coming to visit. No matter how much it is to make up for yesterday’s fight, I don’t want to become even more embarrassing. If possible, the best solution would be to ask Gobuo for help.

「W-Well, I’m glad to see you’re well, Deris-san. Nell-shishō is always with you, so you’ll be fine in terms of security since she’s the strongest….」

Chinatsu, if you have something to say, you can say it honestly, you know? You can say it in my stead, you know? Why can’t I say it? You see, it’s because Nell keeps throwing down the cut apples into my mouth one after another. I’m busy eating them.

「Kuh! If only Lily-shishō didn’t do that, I would have warned her…!」

It seems that Touko is fretting over the fact that I was seriously injured because of Lily. Perhaps she thinks that the master’s responsibility is the disciple’s responsibility, and she’s just looking at Nell’s actions with regret. Well, you can just warn her, you know? It’s not your fault in the first place.

By the way, Lily receives suspension because of it, and she and her sisters are now forced to participate in a volunteer activity organized by Therese and Hund. She is probably biting on a handkerchief right now while she watching the pot.

「Shishō, you can leave cooking hospital food to me! I’ve learned 『Medicinal Herb Knowledge』, so my medicinal dishes have improved a lot!」

Yeah, please do your best on that. Truthfully, I’m really looking forward to Haru’s hospital food. The quality of Haru’s food, which she prepares using her 『Cooking』 and 『Medicinal Herb Knowledge 』 skills, is clearly better than before. Not only is it delicious, but the more you eat it, the more it fills you with energy. Not only medicinal dishes, but 『Medicinal Herb Knowledge』 can also be applied to other dishes as spices, so Haru’s cooking is perfect. She’s seriously becoming the best cook in the world, isn’t she?

「Jeez~, Deris and Nell really like to show off~. I’m a child, so it makes me embarrassed~. My face is on fire~」

And here is what I have to retort the most today. There’s Maria squirming with her hands on her cheeks. Hey, why did you recover faster than me even though you were in the most dangerous situation yesterday? Why did you casually come to visit me? Weren’t you completely reduced to dust when Haru pierced your heart?

「Ah, it’s the first time Shishō met Maria-san after the battle, right? You see, it seems that Maria-san completely recovered last night. She came to snitch food with Riara-san when I was preparing food in the kitchen. I was also really surprised at that time!」

「Or rather, we had dinner together. Everyone was surprised when they saw Maria….」

「Fufufu. You’re underestimating my vitality~. Even if I were to disappear completely in that subspace, if even a single hair remained somewhere in this world, I would revive from there. I also can revive from the barrier of blood that protected the castle, or from the remains of my brilliant left arm 『Bandersnatch』 that was fighting against Zex! Also, it’s not strange if I completely recovered in an instant after the poison left my body, you know? It’s amazing that you win the battle against me, but your strength is not enough to make me disappear completely~」

She says and does whatever she wants. Well, even I didn’t think that we can make her disappear completely. There are steps in everything. Also, it seems that her daughter was also following her to snitch food.

「Just say whatever you want while you can now, Maria. I gave away the delicious part to Haruna this time, but I have become even stronger in this battle. As you hoped, I will make you completely disappear in the near future.」

「Hee, I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you in the next ten years―― ah, Deris’s mouth is empty, you know?」

「!? Deris, say aah ♪」

「…… Aah.」

Nell makes full use of her ability and carries the next apple to my mouth at super speed. No matter how much I eat, my mouth never becomes empty. Yeah, setting aside how she uses it, it’s true that she’s stronger and faster than before.

「Still, I didn’t think you’ll be able to overcome my trial~. I thought you would be stumbling for a decade or so, so I was really surprised!」

「That doesn’t sound like a joke at all. You’re really taking it easy even though you have to pay the compensation and other things, huh?」

「I’m planning to make up for it~. I will give the money, and even build the buildings better than before. But it’s impossible if you want to arrest me for my crime ♪. When the negotiations are over, I will go home through the front door like a Great Demon King. I mean, I’m a member of the Great Eight Demons!」

「You damn demon…!」

「I’m a vampire~! A vampire princess~!」

Nell seems to be quite dissatisfied, but that would be a reasonable point of compromise. If the opponent is a king of a country, it’s certainly one way to punish the royal family. However, Maria has completely recovered even though we could barely defeat her, so no one has the power to send her to prison. Besides, there’s no prison strong enough to keep her. In the first place, she can just teleport away. Even an execution such as beheading or crucifixion would be meaningless. Thus, she would make up for it by paying the compensation. Even though some buildings have been destroyed since the war broke out, no one has died. That’s why we have no choice but to accept it. Fortunately, Maria seems to be satisfied with the results.

「…… Still, next is Vakala, huh? Good grief, there’s no time to relax at all.」

「Nell, Deris’s mouth is empty again.」

「!?」

……I really don’t have the time to relax.

――――The 72nd day of training is over.