Black Iron Magician

「Haa, once Tuoko-chan decides to do something, she will do so determinedly. Good work.」

「Well, in return, I got a practice partner for you. She will be useful for your training from tomorrow.」

「Yes!」

I was released from Touko only after I had finished checking out the destination where they are going to move, and shopping for the other necessities that the girls requested. After showing Touko around the town while carrying the luggage (she also carried the luggage), I coudn’t visit the scroll shop and came home exhausted. I wonder why it’s mainly men who get tired when they accompany women shopping. Like, both physically and mentally? If I were with Haru, it would be easy.

「Haa!? Goshujin-sama, isn’t that a date!? That’s a decent date, right!? Even I, who’s living together with you, have never had a date with just the two of us!」

「It’s not a date, it’s more like showing her around. Also, you are not living together, but freeloading.」

「They’re both the same!」

Lily was reading a book while laying on the sofa, but then she suddenly raised her voice. Perhaps because she just did a job for the first time in a while, she’s pretty bullish now… Does she aware that she can’t do any work as a maid? Although it’s true that she’s a very capable agent, so I have no complaints.

「I don’t care which. We are done talking.」

「I’m not done~! Goshujin-sama, no matter what you think, it’s a date for a third party~! Also, what if the charging woman, Nell, hears about it? I’m sure you won’t have time to explain yourself.」

「… At that time, well, this town will be reduced to ashes. I did my best, but this is as far as I got.」

「I see… At that time, let’s just think of it as fate…」

「Yeah, I did what I had to do. Let’s leave the rest to fate…」

「… While we are at it, how about going on a date with me too?」

「I refuse. I don’t want to add oil to the fire…」

「「………」」

「Jeez, what are the two of you staying silent for~? Both Shishō and Lily are good at joking~. Rather than that, the meal is ready, so please clear the table.」

We were seriously at our wits’ end. However, the first priority is to satisfy the immediate hunger, rather than the uncertain destruction that may occur. What’s for the meal today?

「Okay~. Gobou-kun, come here~」

「Gobuu.」

「Do it yourself, Lily…」

I wonder if the day when this woman blooms as a maid will ever come?

「By the way, today’s menu is sushi!」

「Sushi …?」

「Gobuu.」

「Sushi!? Did you able to make it, Haru!?」

「It’s just imitation sushi, though. I chose the fresh ingredients, but I roasted it just to be safe.」

It’s the usual delicious meal. The sense of despair I had earlier is no longer here, and peaceful everyday life is spreading through the house. Yeah, this is the kind of life I deserve as a peace-loving person. If everyone feels the same as me, the world will be peaceful.

……… And that’s what I was thinking at that time.

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

That suddenly appeared. It was at that time after we had finished eating and each one was enjoying our free time. Sitting on the sofa in the living room, I was rereading the letter that was sent to Haru today. I was checking to see if there were any further notes marked somewhere in small letters. So, the one who saw that first was not me. The one who saw that first was Gobuo, who was cleaning up the dishes at the place where the front door was visible.

――――Crash!

The plates he was carrying fell to the floor and some of them shattered into pieces. It’s rare for Gobuo to make a mistake. At first, I thought so and looked at Gobuo. I will never forget the expression he had at that time. His red skin was unnaturally pale, and he looked terrified even though he was a zombie. Haru and Lily also noticed that something was wrong at this time. Then, I looked at the direction where Gobuo was looking, the front door.

「…… Deris, are you there?」

I probably had the same expression as Gobuo. Then, I regretted badly that I shouldn’t have looked that way. Yeah, as you’ve probably figured out by now, there was Nell there. Nell, in a state of a walking nuclear warhead, is now on the verge of exploding her anger, twisting the doorknob silently. Chinatsu is hugging Nell around the waist, trying to stop her, and she is desperately shouting something. She’s shouting something, but the impact of Nell’s first words is too strong so it doesn’t reach my ears.

「Deris, why don’t we talk for a bit about what you were doing today?」

Oh no, she’s going to use force. The house will be blown away.

「Hmph. Nell, this is Goshujin-sama’s house, you know? Isn’t it a bit rude to suddenly break the door and asking to have a talk? Also, you should pay for the repairs.」

Ohh, Lily stands in Nell’s way. And what’s more terrifying is that she’s demanding for repairs fee. As expected of the Great Eight Demons, they know no fear!

「… Hm?」

「…… (Shudder).」

Oh no, she just learned fear! From the fact I’m thinking such stupid things, it shows how much I’m in confusion!

「Nell-san, please wait a moment. I’m going to make some tea. I’d be very grateful if you could suppress the bloodlust (Excited).」

Haru boldly steps forward. However, in her case, she’s just driven by the urge to fight. I can’t just leave everything to my disciple and the freeloader. I will step forward too!

「Y-Yo, Nell. I’m glad to see that you are doing well. But for now, please try to calm your anger. We will talk after that.」

「I don’t know how you can say that. I heard it from Muno. It seems that you were having fun playing with a young woman all day today.」

M-Muno-kun!? Retreat!

「Shisou, that’s a misunderstanding! That woman was Touko and Deris-san was just helping her prepare to leave the castle! I got confirmation from the person herself!」

Ohh, Chinatsu, she said it for me. Her voice was erased from my recognition before, but she said everything I wanted to explain! As expected of the counselor that the knights are proud of!

「Ah, that’s a lie. As for me, I love Danna to the point of wanting to live with him.」

「T-Touko, when did you!?」

I didn’t notice her since Nell’s bloodlust distorted the space, but there was Touko behind Nell and Chinatsu. This old man just learned it at this age. That stealing another person’s lover is scary…

「… You sure have the nerve to say that even though you were half-killed by me the other day.」

「The stronger the opponent is, the more I’m getting fired up. That’s the same for love, right? When it comes to a battle, Haruna is my opponent. When it comes to love, you are my opponent. I won’t compromise in any way.」

Sparks are scattered between Nell and Touko. When I thought so, Nell turned around and started walking toward me. She walked between Lily and Haru, dragging Chinatsu who was hugging her waist. Then she grabbed the collar of my clothes with both hands and locked gazes with me. Her eyes are fixed on me and I’m not allowed to look away. Huh, is this a crisis? Is this perhaps a crisis?

「Deris.」

「Y-Yes…?」

「Let’s get married.」

「…… Ha?」

「I’m telling you to marry me before you get an undesirable lover.」

「………」

「Marry me? Or die?」

「Ah, yes… let’s get married…」

Thus, we are going to get married.