Black Iron Magician

Chapter 378 Life is a Series of Decisions

We go to the shore of the first island to prepare for our departure. That said, the only preparation we have to do is to get a blessing from an old man, who is an elder of the island, for the trial. The tourists think that it’s some kind of event, so the place is crowded with people. Give me a break.

「May the Dragon God bless you all…」

The old man gave his prayer to each of us. We are going to challenge Rimudo, who’s worshiped as their Dragon God, so this blessing is a little off, right? Ah, no, maybe it’s right. I mean, Rimudo is quite the warrior type and he’s been waiting for someone who can overcome this trial. In that sense, this blessing ceremony may be something not to be trifled with.

「… Oh? Could it be that you’re Weerel-dono, the one who challenged the trial a few years ago?」

「Yes…. It’s been a long time…. I’m surprised that you remember me…」

「Hohoho! Many people challenged this trial, but as far as I can remember, only a few people, including Weerel-dono, who could cross the sea and reached the sixth island on their own. Even now I still remember the shock of that time.」

「For me, it’s a dark history…」

Weerel declared her past as a dark history. But Weerel, what’s with that bandage on your right arm and the eye patch on your face? When I asked Haru, she said that you took them off when taking a bath and there was no injury. I didn’t point this out earlier because I had so many other questions to ask, but your chuunibyou is steadily getting worse, right? I’m sure this moment is going to be a dark history for you.

「Nell, what do you think of Weerel’s outfit?」

「Weerel’s? Hmm, did she buy new magic items?」

「…… Right.」

「?」

However, my feelings couldn’t be transmitted in this world. After all, magic items like that actually exist in this world, although not many. That’s why it’s accepted as fashion without any issue. Perhaps the only ones who feel the same as me right now are Chinatsu and Touko, who have an indescribable expression on their faces. As for Haru―― ah, she’s a little different.

「By the way, Wee-chan, why are you wearing a bandage and an eye patch? You’re not injured, right?」

「「「!?」」」

Haru is the type who asks the person directly before wondering about it. She had no hesitation at all. On the other hand, the three of us were shaken greatly. We immediately turned to them and dropped our jaws.

「Ah, this…? For some reason, it’s easy to raise my 『Solitude』 skill level when I’m dressing like this…. As a result of various studies, I ended up with this outfit…」

「「Seriously?」」

My voice unintentionally overlapped with Touko’s. As for Chinatsu, she closes her eyes and presses down her eyebrows.

「I see, Wee-chan is the type who starts with the looks, huh. Well, I also feel better if I wear a uniform when I train martial arts! By the way, what does that skill do?」

「When acting alone… I feel better… like this, hmmph….」

「I see~」

「「「………」」」

We comrades don’t understand at all. Well, even if it’s not a related skill for a magician, it’s probably not that bad for Weerel to acquire that skill. Unlike Haru, who’s a mishmash magician, Weerel, who’s going through the proper way of a magician, is vulnerable if she acts alone without a tanker. I don’t know how effective this 『Solitude』 skill is, but if it can support Weerel in such a situation, her survival rate will increase dramatically.

…… In the first place, if Weerel, an important person of Adelheit, ends up in a situation where she has to act alone, I think it would be a very bad stage at that point.

「Hund-kun, are you ready?」

「Umu. You can ride on me with ease. Still, we don’t have time to pull the boat leisurely, so I change the back part like this.」

Saying so, Hund-kun transformed into his underwater battle form. At a glance, he looks like his usual sea snake form, but looking at his back, it’s clear that some parts have been changed. On his back, there are a number of bone needles that seem to be very tough. …… Still, what should we do with them?

「H-Hey, don’t tell me that we have to grab one of those bones while you’re crossing the sea.」

「That’s right. I’m going to swim at my maximum speed, so you have to grab it firmly so that you won’t be thrown into the sea.」

「Ehh….」

「Is that a safety bar for us…?」

Hund-kun will swim as fast as he can while dodging the attacks from the dragons, and on the other hand, we have to grab those needle bones with all our might. It’s true that everyone can move with certainty, but the impression is very terrible. At worst, we will end up like carp banners.

「I haven’t fully recovered from my hangover yet, though. I’m worried about getting seasick when riding on the ship (Hund)….」

「Eh?」

Hund-kun is finally treated as a ship.

In the worst case, the crisis of backflow is imminent.

And worst of all, he is on the verge of a backwash.

「Nell, you used to run around faster than Hund-kun, even if you had a hangover, right? You looked fine at those times, you know?」

「Running on my own is different from riding on Hund. I’m not used to the unnecessary swaying.」

Well, you always went through the shortest route in a straight line after all…. Let’s see, I wonder if we have a sick bag?

「Well then, everyone… good luck…」

「Huh? Are you not going with us, Wee-chan?」

「Even if I go, I will probably only be a burden…. I will be cheering on you from the sky while riding on Satella’s back in her dragon form…. I will also watch over Satella-san, and I think it’s better that way….」

「Geez~, despite everything you say, you’re too conscious of me, Wee-chan~」

「Did you hear what I said…?」

I totally agree with Weerel’s proposal. In the first place, there’s no need for Weerel to take a risk and go with us. It’s better to have her watch the wife of the Baha family, whom I can’t predict what she will do. Rather, that’s the best choice.

「Alright. Now that we’ve settled on a plan, let’s get going.」

「Ah, please wait a minute. The attack will begin the moment you go out to the sea, so let us evacuate from the beach first.」

「Then, I and Wee-chan will go to the sky now. Everyone, do your best!」

「Good luck…」

Everyone who had gathered here was disbanded, leaving me, Nell, Haru, Chinatsu, and Touko, who are clinging to Hund’s bones on his back. By the way, the old man evacuated with a splendid running method. He sure is energetic for his age.

「Shishō, he gave the signal. It’s okay to depart now.」

「Alright. Hund-kun, show us a good swim, okay?」

「Hmph, there’s no need to――」

「――AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!?」

I and Hund-kun were startled a little when Touko suddenly screamed.

「W-What’s wrong, Touko? Did you get seasick already?」

「That’s not it, Danna. It’s bad, I forgot something at the inn….」

「At the inn? Did you forget your equipment? It seems that you’re in perfect condition, though.」

「…… Lily-shishō, I forgot to wake her up in the morning.」

「「「「「…… Ah.」」」」」

Everyone froze up. Touko lost her composure this morning. As soon as we left the room, we immediately joined Haru and the others, so we completely forgot about Lily.

「…… Let’s depart!」

While the people on the island are looking at us passionately, returning to the inn is not an option. Under Nell’s vigorous command, Hund-kun, with us on his back, took off into the sea.