Black Iron Magician

Chapter 183 The Predecessor

Chinatsu’s flame magic sword cut off the tentacle. However, even if it was cut, it was still moving on its own. Even though Chinatsu thinks about a lizard’s tail that’s being cut, she doesn’t stop her attack. She burns off the divided surfaces of the tentacle and lets the flames burn the rest. Apparently, Pluto’s flame is super effective. The tentacle on the side that sent Haruna flying is completely incinerated, and the flame from the other side is also approaching through the tentacle that leads to the slime body.

―――― Snap!

(!? It detached itself…!)

Just before the flame reached the body, the smile threw away its tentacle on its own. Since it can change its body, it can also detach itself at will. The pursuit attack by the flame magic sword was regrettably avoided. However, at the same time when the flame was approaching, Touko was also attacking the slime body.

Because the attacks were concentrated on Haruna and the iron ball, the smile body had many openings. In other words, it was in a rigid state immediately after the attack. With her leg strength, which can instantly shorten any distance, Touko closed the gap at once and attacked the main body.

(I didn’t notice it because its body is blue, but… if you look closely, there’s something like a core with the same color! It’s obviously its weak spot!)

The attack was a one-point concentrated kick aimed at the core in the center of the main body. It was unexpectedly the same as the aerial kick when she destroyed the iron door, and it was an attack that also used her acceleration and total weight. Before receiving it, the slime changed its body surface and hardened. It was clearly strengthened its defense.

「Hah! No matter how hard your defense is, it’s useless in front of me!」

Touko’s kick in Berserk state pierced the slime’s defense very easily as declared. The slime core was hit directly and blown away. As if being pulled by the blown core, the slime body also followed it. It didn’t seem to receive any damage no matter how much the girls attacked, but the attack just now felt certain.

「Alright! How’s that!」

While looking at the blown core, Touko raised her voice. For her, it must be a critical hit.

「Ow ow… I’m back~」

「Haruna, are you okay?」

「Yep, I just hit my back a little.」

After Touko’s attack, Haruna, who was blown away, returned to the front line. She received generous treatment from Chinatsu, so it won’t interfere with her fighting.

「Sorry that I took the good part. If I’m lucky, that attack might have defeated it.」

「It’s better that way… no, it’s not! In the end, we don’t know what that slime was! What if it was a pet that Shishō was keeping secretly!?」

「N-Now now, even I’m reflecting on my action. …… But, I don’t think it was a pet.」

「It won’t end with just saying 『now now』! Ahh, what should I do… It’s only a few more days until they come back, right? I have to come up with a plausible excuse before then…」

「… Can’t you just say that I opened it?」

「Even so, the timing is bad. When Nell-shishō comes back from her honeymoon in a good mood, just think what will happen if we dampen her mood. Even if we are lucky enough to survive, she would be in a bad mood for a while, you know? No, this is just wishful thinking. What if Deris-san made a blunder in their honeymoon and made her displeased.… Awawawa….」

「O-Oi, Chinatsu?」

Chinatsu froze. Ever since the slime appeared, Chinatsu’s Danger Detection and Divine Protection skills haven’t been functioning well. Partly because of that, she seems to be uneasy about the future that’s uncertain.

「You two, it seems that it’s still too early to talk, you know?」

「Eh, really?」

「It seems so…」

Yes, Chinatsu’s power has not been restored yet. If it’s because of some kind of obstruction from the slime, it means that the slime is still alive. The place where Touko sent the slime flying is in a half-destroyed state since the slime powerfully hit against the wall and floor, forming a pile of rubble. From that pile of rubble, a blue body emerged while breaking down the rubble. Rather than shoving the rubble out of the way, it would be more accurate to say that the ruble was rolling down because the slime body was expanding. As if its small size was a lie, the slime is now so huge that it could reach its head to the ceiling even without extending its tentacles.

「I-Isn’t it completely healthy…?」

「It’s a shame that you couldn’t take the good part.」

「Far from being defeated, isn’t its bloodlust stronger than before? Hmm, I might have to use my Doggan Staff to clear a path to the core….」

The slime body is now so big that they have to look up, and it’s obviously stronger. In contrast to the slime body, the size of the core, which seems to be the weak point, remains the same and seems even smaller than before. As the skin that protects the core becomes thicker, it is unlikely that their attacks will easily pass through.

「Haa… I hope we can stay alive until Shishō killed us.」

「Don’t say things that might bring bad luck. Still, what’s this big monster going to do next? Is it going to change its body again?」

Haruna and Chinatsu couldn’t answer Touko’s question. But surprisingly, there’s someone who answered it.

「Since it has moved to phase 2, it’s going to be dangerous. Compared to the attacks from phase 1, which is also a warming-up stage, the attacks will be even more extreme. You girls should stay back.」

Suddenly, they heard a familiar voice from behind. However, the tone was a little, no, quite different from what they’ve heard so far. That’s why it took longer than usual for them to figure out who was talking.

「L-Lily-shishō!?」

「Eh?」

「Senpai!?」

The person there’s unmistakably Lilyvia, the good-for-nothing maid who spends her days lazily and being a maid in the outfit only. However, her air is totally different. As if her usual nature has been reversed, she’s brimming with the air of a capable onee-san. Since she’s too different, the girls lost their composure even though they are before the enemy.

「Did you not hear me? Get back now. Unless you want to die, that is.」

「Ah, yes! You two, let’s follow Lily-senpai’s words!」

「Eh, i-is she really Lily-shishō? Not her twin sister or something!?」

「Ask the question later! We are retreating now!」

Following Lily’s order, the three began to retreat hurriedly. At that time, they glanced at Lily’s face many times, but she’s unmistakably Lilyvia herself.

「My work ended earlier than planned, but coming back ahead of schedule was correct, huh. So, who broke the door?」

She asked without turning around. However, the girls were attacked by the pressure that didn’t allow them to refuse. Well, there was no reason for them to lie, so Haruna and Chinatsu obediently pointed their fingers at Touko.

「… I see. Again, huh.」

Lily muttered so. She muttered in low voice, but there was a terrible feeling as if she was grabbing their hearts. To put it bluntly, she’s brimming with a threatening air and it’s scary.

「Well, let’s deal with that later. Right now, I have to stop this one. You see, this slime’s race is called Slime Turpitude, a level 8 slime. She’s 『Pandemonium Mother』, the former of the sixth rank of the Great Eight Demons. Well, it’s just her clone, though. Her name was Aralkar, I guess? It was a warming-up stage, but well done, you girls.」