Black Iron Magician

「Oi, Haruna! The two enemies just now fell down while unconscious, but are they going to be okay? It would be troublesome if they died from falling!」

「I manipulated their gravity when I knocked them down, so they probably will be fine. I don’t think there will be much damage to the body. I also threw paralyzing poison mud into their mouths, so I doubt they will recover on their own during this war.」

「Oh, as expected of my rival! Not bad! Well, the enemies were slow, so it was natural that you had time to do many things!」

「Touko, you should focus on Kira-san. More importantly, it seems that those female knights are trying to do something. Judging from the amount of magic power they’re using, it must be a powerful offensive magic. Haruna, do you think you can still do it? If it seems impossible, I’ll strengthen the barrier.」

「It wasn’t enough for cooling down, so I still can do it!」

Looking at Haruna and the others, the War Maiden Pentagram was preparing for the next magic from the moment Kalios and Sirius started their assault. The five of them formed a pentagon in the air, and their subordinates lined up around and behind them.

「He couldn’t even land a hit. He was just all talk, huh? It’s ridiculous that he’s the same rank as Acerola-sama.」

「He had misjudged the strength of his enemy and was drowning in his immediate desire. Approaching Carmine carelessly is the height of folly. He deserved it.」

「But we are different. We will be on our guard, control our emotions, and carry out our mission.」

「Our greatest magic, which we chant by gathering all our magic power into this pendagon, is more powerful than the power that the Great Eight Generals could unleash alone. No one can survive a direct hit from this magic.」

「Concentrate the five elements, fire, water, wind, earth, and thunder, into a single point. Thrust your magic swords forward. Those swords will be the guidepost of your homeland. The light of hope and destruction that illuminates the entire empire, its name is――」

The next moment after chanting the spell, a huge magic circle is formed in front of the War Maiden Pentagram. It was a colorful mixture of five colors, and it emitted a slight vibrating sound. It was as if the whirlpools of magic power stored in the magic circle were colliding with each other. The sound gradually became quieter, until it was finally not audible at all. It was a signal that all the magic power of the five attributes had become one and completed their fusion. Then, the silence is immediately broken.

「「「「「――Loux Stellae!」」」」」

A gigantic multicolored arrow was fired from the center of the magic circle. Perhaps as a result of this, all of the swords that the War Maiden Pentagram and their subordinates were holding up in front of them were destroyed, and some of them fell unconscious on the back of the Pegasus. Their greatest magic, which created by sacrificing their high-ranking equipment, magic power, and stamina, went straight toward Haruna and the others.

「Oh! I’m hearing an interesting sound behind me! Is it just my imagination!?」

「There’s no interesting sound, so I’m sure it’s just your imagination. Still, that power is about level 8, I think? Even if it’s only momentary, they’ve managed to pull out more power than they’re capable of in that one shot by gathering everyone’s power.」

「Yes, it’s proof that they are working hard every day. That’s why――」

Haruna let go of the black hole she was holding.

「――I will crush it head-on!」

Just as the black hole was about to hit the barrier under the feet that Chinatsu has laid, Haruna quickly kicked it. Normally, Kicking a black hole is an impossible act, but when she did so, there was a tremendous sound as if a large balloon had burst. Then, the black hole was launched toward the approaching multicolored arrow. Yes, it was like shooting a soccer ball.

「A-A soccer with a black hole?」

「Yes! With a ball of that size, I thought it would be faster this way than throwing it!」

「I see…」

Haruna was often called to help the soccer club and she played an active role each time. That’s why this is not something strange. She was just using a black hole instead of a soccer ball, that’s all. Chinatsu successfully turned her eyes away from reality.

…… However, the enemies couldn’t turn away from this reality. No matter how unbelievable it is, it is a clear threat that will come at them.

「N-No way…!?」

The War Maiden Pentagram, with most of their stamina and magic power exhausted, looked at the scene while feeling dizzy. It was the scene where the light of hope that was supposed to illuminate the empire was being devoured by the darkness.

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

Ernest, known as the 『Ice General』 of the Great Eight Generals, is spending the final day of the war in a room in a certain place. The room, with its metal walls and two doors, looks very sturdy, but there are no windows to let in light, and the scene could only be described as bleak. The only other things here are a large desk with a map of the entire empire spread out on it and a few lights that lit up the area.

「Ernest, I’m coming in.」

「…… Acerola, what’s wrong?」

The 『Wind General』 Acerola appeared from one of the two doors. Ernest, looking terribly tired, welcomed her into the room.

「The report came in just now. The enemy forces have broken through the 『Dragon Knight Squad』 and the 『Jet Black General』 who were protecting the final defense line. They will arrive at the imperial capital soon. There were no casualties, so they didn’t violate that ridiculous rule.」

「In addition, those who fought them directly are all in some kind of abnormal state, and it seems that it’s impossible for them to return to the battlefield today, huh?」

「…… Yeah, that’s right. The 『War Maiden Pentagram』 that I raised are also suffering from the abnormal state. Their whole bodies are paralyzed, and they are in a coma that they wouldn’t wake up no matter what we did. An ordinary healer would never be able to cure the abnormal state.」

「In other words, Elderado’s air force has been crushed, huh? Moreover, far from reducing the enemy’s forces, they didn’t even buy much time. How are we going to protect His Majesty for a few hours until the end? I’m sure they will eventually find out about this shelter.」

「Isn’t it your job to think of a plan for that, Ernest? There are still more than half of the eight generals left. You should make good use of them.」

「…… Ah, that’s right. I’m sorry for being timid. Please keep this a secret from His Majesty. After all, I might lose my head.」

「Then, you should produce results that exceed my expectations. That probably will make me forget about it.」

「Haha, I guess I have to do my best. I will protect His Majesty no matter what. I promise.」

「Then, show it with your actions. I will return to my post.」

Acerola leaves them room with the heavy sound of the door.

「…… I will do it no matter what.」

Ernest muttered so while staring at her back.