Black Iron Magician

There goes my motivation. I guess I shouldn’t have checked the aggregator site.

Also, my laptop is dying and I haven’t watched the anime I’ve piled up. I was planning to watch them slowly when I got the mood to, but oh well. I don’t know when it’s going to die, so I’m going to marathon them.

So, I’m going to take a long break. Two or three weeks, maybe?

See you~

Chapter 273 Revenge

「Hey, why am I being called?」

Touko, who was taking care of Lilyvia at my house, was brought forcibly to the training ground of the mansion by Haru.

「Who knows? But, it was the order of Nell-shishō, so you don’t have the right to refuse.」

「Not that I wanted to refuse, but I was in the middle of changing Lily-shishō’s clothes. I was brought forcibly by Haruna, so she’s sleeping while being half-naked right now, you know?」

「Err, sorry? Nell-san said that it’s urgent, so I was in a hurry.」

Aah, when Haru and Chinatsu went looking for Touko, they came back immediately. My shallow idea that I could take a break for a while was splendidly shattered. As for Lily… well, she’s normally like that, so there should be no problem.

「… Deris-san, are you okay?」

「Somehow. Well, it’s the usual thing, so I’m used to it. Yeah, I’m used to being burned.」

After my neck was freed, I and my wife ate breakfast prepared by Haru, and I was able to recover at a terrifying speed. My clothes couldn’t be repaired, but I’m alive and well, yeah.

「By the way, why was Deris-danna burned? Did you fight already?」

H-Hmm. I think I’ve misjudged the fact that there’s a limit to everything…. Still, I wonder why the servants have been looking at me with a lukewarm gaze recently? Especially on the day when Nell burned me. Is it just a coincidence?

「No way~. There’s no way for them to fight when they are that close!」

「Haha, I guess you are right!」

「Right, Shishō?」

「…… That’s right.」

It’s not a fight if it’s just being burned one-sidedly.

「Forget about me…. Rather than that, it’s better to worry about yourselves now. After all, you are going to have a revenge match.」

「「「Revenge match?」」」

The three girls said so in unison.

「I’ve talked things out with Nell yesterday. I told her that it’s reckless to suddenly ask Maria to be a training partner, so before that, we’ll add some training to make you stronger.」

Saying so, Chinatsu clung to my arm with teary eyes. Wait, it’s not that I don’t know how you feel, but Touko is looking enviously. Also, I will be burned again if Nell sees this.

「Um, does this have anything to do with today’s revenge match?」

「That’s right. The opponent is someone you know.」

「Danna, don’t tell me――」

「――Yes, it’s as you’re thinking!」

Everyone turned at the voice. At the innermost place of the training ground is an iron door that was once kicked and destroyed by Touko. The completely repaired door was opened with a bang, and Nell appeared from inside. And then, crawling behind her is the 『Pandemonium Mother』 Aralkar, the former sixth rank of the Great Eight Demons. She’s a great demon king-class monster who’s acting as Nell’s training partner and as guardian of the wedding dress.

「Nell-san… and the one at that time!」

「Aah, I somehow felt it’s going to be like this. It’s the very strong slime that appeared because I did something stupid. Thanks to Lily-shishō, it still remains in my head. In a bad way, that is.」

「I see, that explains the revenge match with this group….」

「It seems that you got it. Lily told me that you blew up this iron door and called out Aralkar.」

「Ugh…!」

Touko seems to feel uncomfortable and she hides behind Haru. It seems that Lily scolded her severely after that, so she probably feels guilty and traumatized.

「I also heard that you girls cleared phase 1. Good job! Here, let me pet you!」

「N-Nell-san, you’re putting too much power, you are shaking my head~~!?」

「Shishō praised us!?」

「H-Huh? She’s not angry?」

It seems that the three are shocked by Nell’s unexpected praise. Haru, whose head is being stroked roughly, is receiving the shock directly by her brain, Chinatsu is taken aback that she can’t believe it, and Touko is showing a relieved look.

「Nell, you should practice how to praise later. Also, if you don’t stop your stroking, Haru will faint.」

「Ara?」

「I-I-I am f-fine~」

No, you are not. You are staggering, you know? Here, I’ll give you recovery magic.

「Fuaah~… T-Thank you very much!」

「Alright, you look better. Haru is a girl too, so treat her head more carefully.」

「Muu, I thought that this much force is fine if it’s Haruna.」

I acknowledge your effort to lighten the burden, but if your effort puts more burden on them, they won’t be able to endure it. It seems that my support will be necessary for a while.

「Cough! You girls cleared phase 1, but Lilyvia cleared phase 2 instead. Is that correct?」

「Yes. We were still inexperienced for phase 2.」

「I didn’t even understand what was going on at all. …… Really, what happened? My memory about that part is vague.」

「Well, that’s because Lily-senpai carried you and she went whoosh whoosh.」

Haru did high-speed jabs. Well, I think that example is hard to understand.

「To sum it up, as Chinatsu says, you were not strong enough.」

「That’s right. Even though you three worked together, you barely cleared phase 1. But, you are different now, right?」

Nell thrusts her hand towards Aralkar’s slime body and grabs her core. At that moment, Aralkar’s body began to expand rapidly, and in a blink of an eye, she became so big that she’s almost touched the ceiling. Even in such a state, Nell sits calmly on Aralkar’s body while holding the core.

「Now, do you understand what you need to do? The moment I let go of this core, phase 2 will start. The goal is for either of you to touch the core again.」

「N-Nell-shishō, are you serious?」

「I am. If you have the strength that you got a draw against Hund in a party battle, then you can manage at least Aralkar’s clone. She was many times troublesome when she had many cores and showed her true abilities, you know? Compared to that, this one is easy~」

Nell fluttered her hand, making a gesture that’s as if she’s playing around. However, the three understand that Nell is serious. After all, her eyes are serious.

「… I’ll add a few words. Haru and Chinatsu have fought with one of the Great Eight Demons, and Touko have learned how to use ki under Lily, so each of you has become stronger. To reach the next step, Aralkar’s clone is a suitable opponent. If you can’t clear phase 2, let alone phase 3, we can’t send you to Alezel’s place since you will only embarrass us.」

「「「………」」」

Good, it seems that they got irritated. The anxiety is gone from their faces.

「It looks like you’re ready. I will let go of the core, okay?」

「I’m ready anytime!」

「I can do it!」

「Bring it on!」

「Yep, that’s a good reply! Then, do your best!」

Nell let go of Aralkar’s core. At the same time, Aralkar’s huge body was filled with clear murderous intent. Girls, don’t die.