Black Iron Magician

Chapter 361 The End

「Suya~」

「Kuu~」

Not waking up, not waking up, not waking up, not waking up―― the dark magic 『Drowse Touch』 that she applied to her fists put all the challengers into a deep sleep. She hit them multiple times, gradually inviting them into their dreams, and when she judged that they would fall completely, she hit each of them with her magic at maximum power. This is bad.

「Yay, victory!」

Pyon pyon, Lily began to jump around happily after she woke up and confirmed her victory. Aside from the battle earlier, she’s moving around with agility that can’t be imagined from the usual Lily. This is bad.

「Hmm, it’s rare for Deris’s plan to miss. Well, me too, I guess. …… Deris? What’s wrong? You look so pale, you know?」

「Ah, no, well, you see…」

While watching the energetic Lily, I terribly regretted it. I didn’t regret letting Haru and the others fight Lily. For them, this defeat would be a great experience. It was a good opportunity for them to learn the weakness of their new abilities and how to use them more effectively, and I’m sure they gained many other things as well. It was neither a reckless challenge nor a waste of time. What I regret is, yeah, the promise that I made to Lily so easily. This is bad.

「Sorry, I just remembered something urge――」

「―― Oh-oh~? Where are young going, Goshujin-sama~?」

「…… To pick flowers?」

「You surprisingly have a feminine side, huh~? But before that, you have something to say to me, right?」

The moment I stood up and tried to leave this place, Lily grabbed the scruff of my neck. Lily’s speed is high even among the Great Eight Demons. To put it simply, she’s the fourth fastest after Maria, Nell, and Alezel. To be honest, she’s faster than me. Because she’s usually lazy, the difference in speed when she’s serious feels greater than it actually is. This is bad.

「Something to say? What’s that?」

「Ah, you see, she’s talking about congratulating her! Dear me, to think that I forgot about it. I mean, I was so preoccupied with picking flowers. You were under unfavorable conditions, but you did well, Lily. You did your best to win even if it means showing your true nature to the other Great Eight Demons. That spirit, I’m sure it would be a good stimulus for Haru and the others. Good job, nice game!」

「No, no, as Goshujin-sama’s maid, being able to do this much is natural. Huh? Both of you, why are you making that face? Was my victory that surprising? Especially Nell. Come on, answer me~」

「Tch, this woman…!」

Lily, drunk with her victory, gradually began to get carried away. However, as she said, nobody expected her to use her Morpheus in the battle. We also made a mistake that we challenged her, thinking that there was enough chance of winning, without knowing that she could do something like that. I, who’s in a crisis due to various reasons, and Nell, who’s provoked by Lily, couldn’t say back this time. And hey, she doesn’t mind anymore about her appearance even if there are the other Great Eight Demons here.

「Maybe you thought they could win just because they got Unique Skills, but you shouldn’t underestimate the Great Eight Demons. Hasty preparations will only get you halfway!」

「…… And the truth is?」

「It was so close…. What’s with that power of Haru-chan…? I’ve been feeling sick after being slashed by Chinatsu-chan, and honestly, I want to puke even now. It’s the worst…. Also, Touko-chan kicked me mercilessly, and I thought my body would break….」

It seems that Lily was acting as her usual self, but as soon as I pointed it out, Lily’s face turned pale. She probably acted tough to provoke Nell, but now she’s holding her mouth and hanging her head weakly. I’m sure she can recover just by sleeping, but it seems that she’s still far from perfect condition.

「I have to sleep for a few more days to recover…. But I want to receive the reward from Goshujin-sama tonight….」

「Hey!?」

「Eh, reward?」

What suddenly came out of Lily’s mouth was a careless remark that would kill me. She’s weakened by Chinatsu’s stress, but at that moment, I also received stress as strong as that.

…… That’s why I couldn’t notice her until this moment. Even more for Lily, who’s currently suffering and showing her back to her.

「Uryaaaaah!」

「Asdgfh!?」

The person who shouted was none other than Lily’s disciple, Touko. Lily was showing her back to Haru and the others to talk to us, and her back was bent when she received the flying kick. At that moment, I didn’t miss that Nell’s expression brightened up. I’m sure she noticed Touko approaching but didn’t say anything.

Of course, the kick, which was launched at a ferocious momentum, had Berserk and concentrated ki on it. It was the second time today that Touko mercilessly attacked Lily in her defenseless state with an attack that could ignore defense. Receiving it directly, something that I mustn’t put into words was about to overflow from Lily’s mouth. However, just before it could flow out, Lily was blown away and crashed head-on into the steel wall in front of her while making the biggest roaring sound of the day.

「N-No way…. I-I should have, given you, a lethal dose, of drowsiness….」

Lily, who was about to be buried in the wall, stood up for a moment, but she collapsed after saying so. Now, I have to praise the leading actor of this great comeback.

「Fuu….!」

「Touko, were you awake!?」

When I shifted my sight from the fallen Lily to Touko, I saw Touko kneeling on the ground. She’s breathing heavily and she looks tired. It seems that she’s barely keeping her consciousness.

「Y-Yeah. I applied ki on my head, so I could somewhat stay awake. Then, I was feigning sleep and was waiting for the right timing. I couldn’t win against her in that ridiculous state, but I thought that the useless maid Shishō would let her guard down when she woke up…. Hehe, it was a surprise attack when she let her guard down. My strategy was a success, serves you right….」

Saying so, Touko used up all her remaining power and collapsed like Lily.

「Well done, Touko! You are amazing!」

Nell is hitting Touko’s back as if trying to finish her off. Ah, I have to stop her.

Still, it’s really a great comeback. Even I was thinking they were defeated, but at the last moment, everything was turned upside down. Realizing that she couldn’t beat the sleeping Lily, Touko quickly changed her strategy. Understanding the characteristics of Lily when she wakes up and grasps the winning opportunity, it’s a strategy that only Touko, who usually takes care of Lily, can think of.

…… But, wait a minute. If I’m not wrong, in the room, Lily was talking about giving the reward to Touko if Touko wins the battle. It’s only if I agree to it, of course, but if this story gets out, it’s going to be a bit complicated, right?

A draw, yeah, it’s best to call this fight a draw. If there’s no winner, nobody will get a reward. Yeah, let’s go with this!

「The winner is the challenger team led by Touko-dono! Lilyvia-dono fell earlier than Touko-dono!」

「It was a narrow victory! I agree with you!」

「We also have the image data. I don’t think there’s any objection, but we can discuss it at any time.」

「Fufu, I agree with you, of course! Right, Deris?」

「…… Yeah, that’s right.」

I can’t win against the violence of the majority vote.