Black Iron Magician

Chapter 423 Descend

The main body of Zex appears from the lower part of the airship that has reached the destination. The floor of the airship which Zex was lying down is being opened to the left and right, and the preparations for descent are being made. On the other hand, we are in the middle of clinging to Zex’s body.

「I never thought that my first sky diving in my life would be in this way…. *Excited*」

「Chinatsu, your feelings are showing in your expression, you know? You’re grinning.」

「Eh, no way!?」

「Fuhahaha! I’m glad that you’re enjoying it! Now, it’s time for us to go. Until we get through Maria-dono’s barrier, be careful not to let go of your hands.」

Yeah, our first goal is to break through the barrier while forcibly gathering in one place until we get inside. Even though we can destroy it, it’s a well-known fact that Maria’s barrier boasts unrivaled strength. If we are scattered while descending and make holes in different places, it would be very inefficient. If the members are exhausted after crossing the barrier, which is the start of the war, fighting is out of the question. In order to avoid such a foolish thing, we are forming a slightly strange formation.

「Everyone, do you have the information from Alezel in your head? Don’t forget the map and the vampire sisters’ whereabouts. In the worst case, the battle may start at the moment we crossed Maria’s barrier. In that case, don’t force yourself to fight back and just focus on landing safely. The landing place and the situation at that time will determine your future fate!」

「Understood!」

「I know best what I’m capable of desuwa! I will act accordingly! Ohohohoho!」

「Therese-san… please refrain from laughing after we got inside…」

「Just in case, you too, Zex. Don’t unnecessarily attract more enemies.」

「Ooh, to think that Deris-dono is worried about me! I understand. I will seal this identity for a while! Fuhahahaha!」

Ah, maybe it’s impossible for Zex.

「Then, let’s go!」

From the back of Zex, which is suspended under the airship, black and white wings that are symmetrical but different in colors are released. The black-and-white light emitted from the wings also shows a mystical atmosphere that’s not very golem-like. I want to ask where did he put those wings in that body, but he will probably just tell me a bunch of incomprehensible technical terms. Setting the principle aside, Zex has grown wings. I will just focus on accepting this fact.

When Zex is detached from the control device of the airship, we begin to fall to the ground according to gravity. Furthermore, the mysterious energy that’s emitted from Zex’s wings is added to it. We are super-accelerated right below.

「U-Uooh…! I’m doing my best to cling…!」

「…… *Smile*!」

At the same time, Chinatsu’s smile blossomed. She doesn’t let out her voice, but her joy is already leaking. I feel a little worried if she can do her job as a brake for Haru and Touko.

「Deris-dono, can I leave negating the barrier to you!?」

「Yeah! However, even if I’m just going to destroy it partially, that barrier is ridiculously powerful! The enemy may notice use at that moment!」

「Fuha――oops. I understand!」

「Are you going to erase it with Holy Magic?」

「No, if I use it, I have to use it on the entire barrier. That’s tiresome, so I will use Abyss Magic.」

The vast crimson barrier that spreads out right below us is so vast that it could be mistaken for the ground. It’s seriously an extraordinary barrier, as it surrounds the whole country. The Holy Magic that removes the target’s auxiliary effects would exhaust my magic power since the scale is too large.

「Now, the seconds until the collision!」

「Hey, Deris, hurry up or we’ll crash!」

Don’t rush me, Gramps. If I don’t do it at the last minute, it will waste my magic power. All right, it’s about time. I’m going to use the Abyss Magic one rank higher than Tiny Hole, a magic that forcibly generates subspace, to deal with it. I’m glad I found this scroll.

「――Rosary Hole!」

The basic effect of this 『Rosary Hole』, which can only be obtained from a scroll, is not so different from Tiny Hole, which generates a black hole. It has the same property of disturbing the laws of physics and sucking everything. However, there is one difference. It is the shape. The black holes generated by this magic have a number of interconnected shapes and can be freely manipulated in size according to my will.

On the surface of the dark red barrier, I form a circle of Rosary Hole, in other words, I create small black holes connected like prayer beads. If I simply form a large black hole, we will be caught up in the black hole before I can open the barrier. That’s why the shape is like prayer beads. With this, it is possible to wrench open a large hole in the center, large enough to allow us to pass through the barrier, including Zex’s body.

「A chance!」

「Whoaa!?」

Zex increased his speed even more as he saw the barrier in front of him disappear. I’m grateful that we are able to break through quickly, but falling at this speed is thrilling. Goddess Chinatsu must be very satisfied.

The barrier’s power to regenerate is too strong, so I removed Rosary Hole immediately after passing through to conserve magic power. And at the next moment, the barrier was repaired without a scratch. I had expected this, but seeing it firsthand, I could only sigh. That thing is too ridiculous.

「――!? S-Something is coming toward us! It feels extremely dangerous!」

「Well, if Chinatsu, who’s having fun, says so, then it must be something really dangerous!」

「Deris-san, this is not the time to joke around!」

「…… *Excited*」

「Haruna, this is not the time to get excited!」

「Ah, yes! That’s right!」

I think Chinatsu has no room to talk, but let’s leave that aside now. As Chinatsu said, something is flying toward us, who had passed through the barrier. That said, I can feel the pressure, so I know what that thing is. That damn Alezel, didn’t she say that its detection ability is not that great? It’s approaching us quickly, though?

「Uwaah, it’s awfully fast…. Cough! Now, who’s going to deal with it?」

「There’s no need to ask. Of course, I will――」

「――Now, now, it’s too early for Nell-dono to come out. Now that everyone has safely crossed the barrier, let me deal with it here to test this body! So, we are going to part ways here! With that thing as my opponent, I don’t have time to worry about the others!」

Zex stopped in mid-air and took a fighting stance toward the monster, signaling that we should head to the castle on our own from here on.

「Is that so? Well, I’m fine if you’re that confident. Just in case, I will wish you good luck.」

「What a good start to be encouraged by Nell-dono! You two, be careful! Even by rough measurement, Maria-dono is several times stronger than that thing!」

「Thank you for the bad news. Then, you guys, let’s start!」

After confirming that the subjugation members have descended, I also jumped off Zex’s shoulder at the end. Immediately after that, the mist-covered monster and Zex collided head-on, and the shockwaves scattered around.