Black Iron Magician

Ever since Nell was away from the Knight Order, Chinatsu, who was appointed as the vice leader, has been working hard every day. Fortunately, there’s a system that could function even without Nell, but that’s not a reason not to work. She asks for guidance from Commander Daganov, and is doing her best to support everyone. The results are obvious. Her credibility has been growing ever since she opened the consultation office, and now it’s maxed. Many knights are impressed by the generous support of their beautiful and pretty young boss, and more than anything, they love the fact that they don’t have to worry about dying outside the battlefield. But on the other hand, there are a certain number of people who are addicted to Nell’s intense training and her beauty. Thus, the Magic Knight Order is now divided into two groups in the sense of fan clubs between the moderate faction and the extremist faction!

「――Hah!?」

「What’s going on all of a sudden, Vice Leader Chinatsu?」

Chinatsu, who was signing the documents at her desk, suddenly let out a voice. Canon turned his head to see what was going on.

「No, I just feel that a very trivial quarrel is unfolding somewhere…」

「Haha, that’s very specific, isn’t it?」

「Is it foreboding? After learning the 『Divine Protection』 skill, I feel that I became sensitive to bad premonitions. Shishō… Leader Nell said that I will reach a higher level the more hardship I go through, but in short, she’s telling me to have more hardship… haha…」

「W-Well, please do it in moderation and take care of yourself…」

Canon could only encourage her when she laughed bitterly. By the way, Canon is in the moderate faction and Muno is in the extremist faction.

「Speaking of worries, thank you for your advice the other day. I think I can do my best not to lose to the coming newcomers!」

「I’m glad I could help. But, please don’t put too much pressure on yourself. You maybe won’t be able to show your abilities when the time comes after all.」

Canon went to Chinatsu’s Consultation Office to talk about his worry. He was troubled and couldn’t sleep at night when thinking about it. And that was――

『Some of the top rankers of the Golden Generation will join us, right!? They are real monsters, and I’m not sure I can maintain my dignity as a senior! What should I do!?』

―――― Canon seems to have his own worries. At this time, Canon didn’t know yet the fact that Chinatsu won the graduation festival. She won against those monsters, so she had indescribable feelings since it was as if she was being called a monster.

「I think I was used to be calm and cool, but lately… Vice Leader, do you have any tips to calm your mind?」

「Tips? Hmm… something like, reading picture books?」

「Eh?」

「Ah no… It’s nothing.」

「?」

For Chinatsu, who has a lot of troubles, a way to relax is very important. Recently, reading introductory books and picture books with cute pictures for children is her favorite thing to do. The bookshelf in the room she shares with Haruna is also filled with books from a certain series. They are easy to read for Haruna and she likes it, so the number is still increasing.

After imagined the picture books in her mind, Chinatsu more or less regained her composure. Divine Protection is a very valuable skill that lets her take precautions for harmful events, but she can’t let her guard down since it suddenly appears.

「――Ugh!?」

「V-Vice Leader?」

…… Just like this.

This time, Chinatsu raised her voice while making a gesture as if she was pressing her heart in her chest. Even Canon was quite shaken when he saw her like that.

「F-Fuu…! It’s a different matter now. I feel that it would be irreparable and I absolutely have to stop it.」

「This time it’s a bad omen, huh. But that’s too rough and we don’t know the important points.」

「…No, I think I have an idea. Canon-san, can I leave my seat for a moment?」

「I don’t mind, but where are you going?」

Chinatsu stands up, picking up the wooden sword that was leaning against her desk.

「To Leader Nell’s mansion.」

~~~~~~~~~

「A door that shouldn’t be opened? So it’s not a door that can’t be opened?」

「Yes! You probably can open it if you try, but it’s a door you should never open!」

In the underground training place of Nell’s mansion, Haruna explained to Touko while pointing at the iron door. One, only Nell is allowed to enter this door. Two, even her apprentice, Chinatsu, is not allowed to enter. Three, there is an atrocious monster that Nell captured for training. And four, if you enter, you die. The above-mentioned is quoted from Chinatsu’s story.

「――So, don’t try to break it and go inside, okay? Absolutely, okay?」

「Okay! In other words, you are telling me to go in!」

「Why!?」

However, there’s no way that a wild child who lives by instinct could be reasoned with. After that, Touko rushed to the iron door. Her agility is remarkably high even among the three girls, and Haruna can’t catch up with her in terms of speed alone.

「I told you not to! Touko-chan!」

「Sorry, Haruna! I can’t give up on this one!」

「Ugh, she’s fast…! Huh? Chinatsu-chan!?」

After passing by Haruna, who was chasing Touko, Chinatsu went out in front of her at a tremendous speed.

「I knew it! Touko, get away from that door right now! Don’t increase my worries more than this!」

「Geh, Chinatsu!? Heh, but you won’t make it in time!」

After enough run-up, Touko jumped highly. Then, by using 『Sky Jump』, a skill derived from 『Jump』, she kicked the air to jump further. Her speed continued to accelerate, and with that momentum, she sent a flying kick to the iron door.

―――― BAAAM!

The thick iron door burst open, and the wreckage was blown away to the back. The door that shouldn’t be opened is shattered.

「AAHH!?」

「She broke it…」

Chinatsu dyed in the color of despair and Haruna, who finally caught up, was taken aback. After landing in front of the broken door, Touko looked inside. However, it’s pitch-black inside and she can’t see anything even an inch ahead.

「Damn, I can’t see anything.」

「T-o-u-k-o…!」

With a demon face, Chinatsu quietly approaches from behind and strangles Touko.

「Ugh…! D-Don’t strangle my neck… W-Wait, are you, serious…?」

「I’ll let you choose whether to be killed by me now or by Shishō later. Now, choose.」

「Either way, I’m going to die…!」

「I warned you…!」

Perhaps she’s really angry, her arms aren’t loosening at all. While Touko is suffering, Haruna is staring at the darkness behind the door.

「… Hmm?」

And only Haruna noticed something.

「Chinatsu-chan, Touko-chan. Something is coming, get ready.」

「「Eh?」」

Haruna took out her Doggan Staff from her waist pouch. Looking at her, the other two instantly judged that it’s not a trivial matter. After a while, they heard an unpleasant sound of something crawling.