Black Iron Magician

「I secretly got some herb wieners from the cook in the kitchen. They are freshly made, so let’s eat together~」

「Haruna, you got something like this, huh…. I’ll eat, though.」

「It smells good….」

「Vegetables are good, but after all, meat is also good desuwa!」

Well, it’s such a loose atmosphere.

「Okay. Then, I would like to start the evaluation meeting of the battle this time.」

――――Clap clap clap.

「Hmm, the result of the battle with Hund-san was disappointing, wasn’t it? Everyone else was able to defeat the Four Heavenly Kings of the Sea Demons, but we were just one step behind…. In the end, a direct attack on the mouth would be better than poison, I guess? *Nom*」

「If there were defensive bones inside… I think it would be less effective…. *Nom*

」

「Looking at the result, I think the choice of using poison for continuous damage was correct. Either way, he’ll be completely recovered if he uses that, though. *Nom*」

「Right. I think there were not many tactical mistakes in this battle. Everyone was doing their best, and there were not many misjudgments considering it was against someone we fought for the first time. If there was any, it was the difference in strength. In order to win against an opponent on the level of that demon king, we need to become stronger. *Nom*」

In conclusion, they lack in level, status, skills, training, and abilities. While munching the Crocus wiener, they arrived at the answer. Also, it’s decided what they should do.

「Alright! I guess we just need to train harder! Let’s double it first, and then triple it in the next day! *Nom nom nom*」

「I think it’s not a matter of quantity…. Rather than excessive training by yourself, I think it’s better to ask our masters for opinions. Until then, let’s just keep doing what we have been doing and don’t be reckless. *Nom*」

「Ah, come to think of it, I forgot to hold the outdoor party desuwa! I fell asleep before I knew it! *Nom nom*」

「Let’s do that next time…. They didn’t seem to have the time for that after all…. (I’m full)」

They ate all the wieners. After that, they finished their discussion with some idle talk and closed the evaluation meeting. Before they knew it, Therese and Weerel have begun to discuss about the outdoor party that will come in the future. On the other hand, Haruna and Chinatsu decided to move to the balcony attached to the room in order to take a little night breeze.

「Haruna, you still have some wieners, huh….」

「These are the ones I made myself! It was my first time, but they look pretty good, right?」

In Haruna’s hand is the second plate of heaping basil wieners. Perhaps they were stored in the pouch with a storage function, they give off steam and appetizing aroma that indicate that they are freshly made. As Haruna says, they are as good as the ones made by the professional, no, maybe better. However, Chinatsu’s stomach is full and her self-control stopped her hand, saying that it’s better to stop considering the time and the calories.

「*Nom nom nom*」

「It’s the usual thing, but you sure eat a lot, huh….」

「I’m shorter than average, so it’s always been a habit of mine to eat as much as I can. It’s also necessary to be strong. 『Even if you are dying, don’t forget to eat!』 My father used to say that~. Especially after training.」

「Fufu, that’s just like him.」

「Even so, I still haven’t grown taller and my chest is still flat!」

「Eh, ah, well….」

Is she saying that as a joke? Chinatsu could only give a vague answer even with her fast thinking. If it was Deris, he would have teased her without hesitation.

「Haa, we couldn’t win, huh.」

After emphasizing her lack of chest, Haruna put her cheek on the railing of the balcony and said such things with a sluggish tone.

「Oh, it’s unusual for you to be depressed. Normally, you’re always so positive.」

「Well, it’s true that we lost to Hund-san, but after that, there was a girl who appeared from the sky, right? That girl, no matter how much I tried, I couldn’t sense the bottom of her power. It felt as if I had just finished studying.」

「That girl… the silver-haired girl in a dress who shot that red flash, huh.」

Her power sure is on a whole different level. It was unreasonable to measure the bottom of her power, and Chinatsu instantly felt that it’s impossible to compete against her because her power is too deep. The more she thought about it, the more she bogged down, and before she knew it, she has given up on thinking about it. Different from her, Haruna is still thinking about it, so she unconsciously let out an admiration sigh.

「I was surprised that Lily-san was with her. I wonder if they are parent and child? She called her Mama after all….」

「Come to think of it, they sure look alike, I guess? It may be rude to Lily-senpai, but no matter how you look at it, that girl seems younger. Still, I wonder who is stronger?」

「That’s another difficult question…. But, let’s see――」

Both Lilyvia and Maria are great demon kings who are members of the Great Eight Demons just like Hund. Even the last rank Hund was that powerful. Then, how strong are these girls? With Hund as the standard, Chinatsu thinks it again carefully.

(With the conclusion I made at that time, Hund-san was level 7. If I had to choose one who’s closer to that level….)

Chinatsu frowns while thinking, and Haruna is waiting while eating the wieners. Then, she ate all of the homemade wieners.

「――It’s no good, I can’t grasp it at all. At least, I can say for sure that the two of them are stronger than Hund-san.」

「Ahaha, I also stopped thinking around that. It’s as hard as math!」

「If you use that metaphor, then I guess I can feel a sense of familiarity with this difficult problem…. Hmm, if I forcibly come up with the answer by skipping the reasoning and basis, Lily-san is closer to Hund-san, I guess? That said, maybe I feel that way because I had many chances to see Lily-san’s power.」

「Then, what about Shishō and Nell-san?」

「…… I feel like I have black smoke coming out of my head. I think I somewhat understand how Haruna feels now. Setting aside a serious fight, if it’s a marital quarrel, I think Nell-shishō will win in all probability.」

「Pfft! Ahahahaha…! T-That’s probably true…!」

Haruna cracked up. She was thinking about a serious fight, not a marital quarrel.

「Ahaha, that’s funny! Still, I somewhat feel refreshed!」

「Then, that’s good. Well, they are at the level where the current us can’t grasp no matter how much we think about it.」

「That’s right. Still, I’m starting to see the footprints of Shishō. The old footprints that are on the brink of disappearing.」

「Fufu, what’s with that metaphor?」

Even though Hund is the last rank, the battle with the Great Eight Demons had steadily improved their strength. Eventually, the day where they reach their masters, Deris and Nell, will come―― well, it’s unknown, but the back of her master is reflected in Haruna’s eyes.

「First, revenge on Hund-san! Let’s do our best!」

「No no, he’s not someone you can easily meet many times, you know?」

……… The day of their reunion may be surprisingly closer.

―――― The 43rd day of training, ends.