Black Iron Magician

「Well then, we are going this way.」

「Yeah, see you later. It saved the trouble that you went along with us to the academy.」

「Chinatsu also needs it after all. Don’t worry about it.」

Now that we safely arrived at Diana, each of us will go our separate way. Nell and Chinatsu are going to another shop to get Chinatsu’s staff, and then going to Nell’s mansion. This is where we partway for today.

「Chinatsu-chan, see you~」

「See you too, Haruna. Don’t get too absorbed in cooking.」

「Don’t worry, Gobuo-kun will support me!」

「Gobu!」

「Haru-chan~, I want meat~. I’m a carnivorous woman after all~」

Perhaps it’s because Lily has done a job-like job for the first time in a while, she has no energy more than usual. If I leave her in the town, she’s likely to fall asleep on the ground like a drunkard, so let’s have Gobuo take her home first. A maid who’s taken away by a goblin. Ahh, it’s a kind of sight that would make the goblin scholars from somewhere have bloodshot eyes. I don’t understand, but it must be like that for them. In reality, the maid is more dangerous.

Hmm. Nell and Chinatsu went their separate way and Lily went home first. So that leaves me and Haru. Although the trip was actually about three or four days, it feels like it’s been a while since it’s just the two of us. Even if we are home, there are the nonhumans there.

A helper goblin that helps Haru while wearing an exclusive apron. On the other hand, a succubus who’s the best only in appearance but less competent than an apprentice. Ah, Gobuo is much more of a servant than her.

「Shishō, my weapon! Let’s go get my weapon!」

「Ah, that’s right. I understand, so don’t pull my hand so hard. Be aware that your strength is over 700.」

「It’s okay! I’m sure Shishō can endure it!」

「You are doing it while knowing that, huh.」

Still, we can’t just sit around here. We’d better go before Bristly Beard closes.

「Ah, the fish is cheap today too! Shishō, this is a good buy! I’m going to haggle it down to half price!」

「Oi.」

Haru’s motherly temperament overflowed. Haru, please do it at least when we are going home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I dragged Haru, whose eyes sparkled at the market for the first time in a long time, to the front of Bristly Beard’s shop. Alright, looks like it’s still open.

――――Clank clank.

The doorbell ring and we go inside. Over the counter, Anita greets us――

「Kuu~, munya.」

――Or not. She has the nerve to sleep! Moreover, she’s sleeping so pleasantly and so soundly. This shop really doesn’t get any customers, huh. Well, if I consider that I can monopolize Gan-san’s skill, it’s a great deal. However, it doesn’t mean that it’s okay for the salesgirl to sleep. She needs to be taught a lesson about the harshness of society.

「*Inhales*… Gan-saaaan! Anita is slacking off and sleeping! She doesn’t even seem to notice the customers!」

Yeah, Gan-san will teach her. Me? You see, I’m busy as Haru’s master.

「Ugya!? W-What’s going on!?」

「Hey, Anita! Did you sleep during work again!? The customers who come here are precious, so serve them seriously!」

「Geh, Boss!? Ouch…!」

Ohh, Gan-san’s gender equality fist exploded. It’s a blow with a strong fist trained by blacksmithing. That must be hurt.

「Kuh… W-Welcome, Deris-danna. I’m really going to resent you…」

「It’s payback for what you have done. Besides, it’s your fault for sleeping at work.」

Anita fights the pain, holding her head down on the counter. I hope that pain will lead you to the right path.

「Ain’t it unfair that you are making a fair argument only at a time like this?」

「No, it’s not. I’m making fair arguments at any time, and if necessary, I use sophistry. By the way, Gan-san, we are here to get that thing.」

「Yeah, it’s finished, you know? It’s too big to put here, so I put it in my workshop. You can check it there. Come on, Ojou-chan, you can come in too.」

「Is that okay!? Then, I’m coming!」

「Don’t get too excited and break the other equipment~」

With Gan-san’s permission, we cross over the counter and enter the blacksmith’s workshop. As if to follow us, Anita also… hey.

「Anita, I just told you a moment ago…」

「D-Don’t look me with such eyes that’s as if lookin’ at a pathetic creature, Boss! I wanna see your masterpiece too! You usually won’t let me in your workshop after all!」

She has pure and innocent sparkling eyes only at a time like this, huh.

「Um, do you want me to tend the shop in your stead?」

「That would defeat the purpose, Ojou-chan… Ahh, fine. We are going to close the shop anyway. Hey, Anita. Go and take down the open sign. We won’t have any more customers that way.」

「Really!? Boss, I love you~!」

Unlike the way she slept a while ago, Anita went out at a reasonable speed to take down the sign. Gan-san, he’s soft despite everything, huh.

「Gan-san, she said she loves you, you know? Isn’t it time to finally settle down?」

「That’s a tough joke…」

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A huge cloth-covered object was placed near the wall of the blacksmith’s workshop. Yeah, it seems that he forged exactly what I ordered. It’s really wonderful.

「Hey, Deris. Don’t get impressed by yourself, show it to Ojou-chan.」

「Can I take off this cloth? I can take off this cloth, right!?」

「Danna, putting on airs will have the opposite effect, you know?」

「I’m not even allowed to be impressed, huh… Haru, take a look at your new partner.」

When I gave the permission, Haru restlessly rushed to the wall and put her hand on the cloth covering the staff. Then, she took off the cloth.

「T-This is――」

「How is it, amazing, right? After all, it’s the only thing I’ve been using my hammer for lately. It’s my masterpiece.」

「S-Say, Boss, Danna. Is this a staff?」

What was placed on the pedestal was something full black just like the black staff for practice. However, its shape and size are different from the previous one.

The most obvious difference the size. Even now that it’s lying horizontally, its overwhelming hugeness can be seen. If Haru actually holds it, it will easily exceed her height, two meters, no, maybe even more. At the same time, we should not overlook the tip of the staff, which is usually a jewel or a decoration that shows the dignity of the staff and the might of its magic. I’d like to point out in advance that there is no such thing as a jewel attached to this staff. It’s not necessary because all the black magic stones that make up the staff play that role. Rather, adding a jewel will be a hindrance. After all, there’s a vicious blade attached to this part.

「Hmm, no matter how I see it, it’s a rugged halberd rather than a staff, ain’t it…? Look, it’s got this huge axe-like blade――」

「――It’s not a blade. It’s just a somewhat wicked decoration. It’s just a staff. Yes, a staff.」

「Ehh…」

Yeah, that’s right. It can slash, stab, and smash, but this is a staff. If I, a professional magician, say so, then there’s no mistake. QED.

「Hngh…! It’s a bit heavy after all. But, it fits well in my hand! Shishō, Gan-san, thank you very much!」

「It’s all right. I was worried whether you could hold it or not, but it looks like that’s not a problem.」

「It’s easy to hit the wall indoors, so keep it in the pouch when you are moving.」

「Eh, what!? Everyone accepted it as a staff!?」

Q.E.D.!

A pic of Haru’s new staff and Weerel