Black Iron Magician

「…… Morning. It’s a good morning, isn’t it?」

「…… Morning. It’s so-so.」

The next morning, we woke up at the same time. No sunlight shone through the window. Instead, the sound of heavy rain hitting the ground comes through the window. The sound is loud enough to be an alarm. Gramps Gior said something about rain spears yesterday, but since it’s raining heavily like spears, I guess he wasn’t entirely wrong.

「Deris, vampires are bad with running water, right? I wonder if this heavy rain will be effective on the vampire that can sunbathe normally?」

「I thought so too for a moment, but I realized that that vampire can swim in the sea just fine. Moreover, it seems that she can swim as fast as Hund-kun.」

「Now it became an unpleasant morning….」

「What a coincidence. Me too.」

With a big sigh, I slowly changed my clothes. When I checked the time, I found that it was already past the usual time for breakfast. It seems that Haru didn’t wake me up this morning, perhaps it was because she went to bed late last night. No matter how bad the morning was, we couldn’t let our disciples see our sloppy appearances. Well, I often showed my sloppy appearance, but there are Queen Clarius and Maria here. I and Nell forcibly made a firm expression, and we headed for the dining room.

「Oh, it’s Deris and Nell. Yahho~」

「Oh, the wife and husband woke up at the same time, huh? They sure are on good terms. Look, there are empty seats across from me. Feel free to sit there.」

「「………」」

However, the face we made with all our might collapsed by Maria and Vakala, who were sitting at the table. Wait, setting Maria aside, why is Vakala here? Just get the hell out of here and go back to your own country.

「Shishō, good morning! Vakala-san said that he will be sightseeing for a while since visited Crocus.」

「Umu, they don’t serve honey toast for breakfast in my country. Deris, Nell, stop frowning and enjoy the foreign culture.」

「Maria also likes Crocus~. Maria is so happy to have something sweet for breakfast~ ♪」

Hey, someone, bring me habanero. Bring plenty of it.

「Sigh, I will just focus on breakfast for now. Haru, please bring our portion. But honey toast in the morning is too heavy for me, so bring me something else.」

「I also want a normal toast. I’ll leave the rest of the menu to Haruna.」

「Okay! I will cook it right away!」

「Jeez~, even though I told you to enjoy it~」

「Right~, they are not flexible~」

「You Demon Kings over there, please be quiet at least in the morning….」

「「Eh~」」

In the first place, aren’t you guys nocturnal? How far do you intend to continue to ignore the characteristics of your race?

「Ah, Danna! Morning!」

「N-Nell-shishō, Deris-san, good morning….」

When I was eating the best breakfast in the worst mood, Touko (in good spirits) and Chinatsu (dying) came to the dining room from out of nowhere. Just like Haru, Touko is surprisingly energetic, probably because yesterday’s study session was gone. On the other hand, Chinatsu looks dying. Goddess Chinatsu, you were also working hard yesterday, huh? Thinking so, my vision suddenly blurred.

「Deris, if you’re still sleepy, why don’t you get some more sleep?」

「These tears aren’t because of yawning, okay!? Good grief, they are making me crazy from the morning…. Nell, your job as the mediator between Crocus and Zelandia will end today, right? We’re leaving as soon as it’s over. We’ll leave no matter what.」

「Okay, I’ll have it done in before noon. Maria, you just nod your head and shut up.」

「No! That’s against my pride! Why don’t you and Deris just go more leisurely!? I’ll invite you to my debut live performance in Crocus!」

「That’s right, accompany us more!」

「Shut up, you just focus on your sightseeing! I’m busy preparing for the next trial! And Vakala, don’t forget the appointed day! If you forget, I’ll treat the trial as being cleared!」

By the way, I’ll go on a business trip to prepare for the trial. Another long trip, huh? What a hassle.

「Danna, aren’t you unusually violent today?」

「Somehow, I think I understand how Deris-san feels….」

「What!? Chinatsu, since when did you become so familiar with Danna that you can understand his feelings!?」

「Sigh….」

「Chinatsu-chan, you’re lifeless this morning. You should drink milk at a time like this! My family basically will be lively whenever it is as long as we drink milk!」

「C-Come to think of it, your mother and younger brothers always drank it since a long time ago. But for me, drinking it with a beer mug is a bit….」

Is she thinking of Haru’s family? Well, it’s true that I can’t help but imagine that her family will be fine even if they have problems as long as they getting nutrition. It seems that it’s too wild for Chinatsu, though.

「But Deris, you haven’t told Nell and your disciples about my trial yet, right?」

「There is a time to tell them. I’ll tell Nell first, but I won’t tell the girls until I’m finished with my business trip.」

「A business trip?」

「Yeah, I’ve got some small business to do. Several days after we returned to Adelheit, I’ll be away again for a while. It’s related to Vakala’s trial, but… the rest is a secret, so I can’t take you guys with me. In the meantime, Nell and Lily will train you hard in my stead.」

「Eh, Danna, I can’t come with you?」

「You can’t. Just stay obediently.」

「Well, if Danna says so, that must be the right thing to do! Just watch, I will get stronger and leave Haruna and Chinatsu behind me!」

「I will also do my best! By the time Shishō comes back, I will surpass Touko-chan’s level!」

「I have my own work to do with the knight order and the counseling office, so I’m going to do it with my training at the same time.」

Okay, from how it looks, it seems that leaving them for a few days won’t be a problem. They are almost level 9 and one of them is level 9, so it won’t be a problem even if Nell overdoes it a little.

「You’re going to train after returned, huh? Everyone is so diligent~. Ah, I’ve got a nice idea!」

「I see, thank you. I will just accept your feelings.」

「Deris, don’t be so humble, that’s so unlike you. Now I want to say it even more. I will say it!」

「I told you that your feelings are enough.」

「I will say it, okay!」

Listen to me!

「While we’re at it, use my daughters for your training. If you can compete with Lily-chan, I’m sure can deal with my other daughters! It’s better for them to face against various opponents of that level, right?」

「Oh, that’s a decent idea coming from you, Maria. It’s true that having level 9 and 10 as opponents will be a good stimulus for Chinatsu and the others. Also, I won’t let them do as they please as long as they are in my mansion…. Yep, I think they will be good sparring partners. Deris, what do you think?」

「…… Sure. I think it’s a good idea, as long as they don’t harm others or cause any trouble.」

「Okay~, it’s decided! Then, after their punishment volunteering work is over, I will send them to Nell’s mansion~」

Thus, Maria was in a good mood from beginning to end. On the contrary, I saw in the corner of my vision that Chinatsu was at her wits’ end.