Black Iron Magician

Chapter 252 Everyone Has Their Own Hardships

There’s a shabby bar in a corner of the slum. To be precise, the bar was closed many years ago and became vacant, but it has been quite lively in the last few days. The hustle-bustle seems to belong to a large number of people. A slum is a place where those who have lost their place gather, so it’s not a strange thing if there’s someone settled in the vacant house. However, with this much blatant noise, it would hurt the order of the area. It didn’t take long for Requiem, the head of Midnight, to hear the rumors about that bar.

And today, the ones who found about it were the unfortunate three thugs who were once involved with Deris and Haruna. While arguing about who discovered it first, they came to report it to their boss Tuds in the hideout of Midnight――

「Ignore them.」

「「「Ha?」」」

Their report was dismissed, and they were told to pretend not to see it. The three are dumbfounded.

「B-But Aniki, they are making noise all day from morning till night, you know? Telling us to ignore them is――」

「Did you not hear me? I’m telling you to pretend not to see it. This is also the decision of the boss. The ones there are important guests. I won’t tell you to entertain them, but don’t make a move on them. If you have a complaint, come forward.」

Being glared at by Tuds, the three couldn’t argue anymore and had no choice but to withdraw. After confirming that the three have left, Tuds sighed and entered the room where Requiem is. In the room, Requiem is sitting at the desk as usual.

「That was the third time today. The subordinates have their pride, isn’t it better to tell them the details?」

「Don’t be ridiculous. Are you telling me to declare that we shouldn’t do anything because that’s an order from the knight leader Nell? That’s not a laughing matter…. Good grief, that couple really is up to no good. What the hell did they mean by all the Great Eight Demons are present…!?」

Requiem frowned.

「It’s an unbelievable story. However, if it’s those with a certain amount of power, they can understand intuitively that the ones in that vacant house are monsters. I went to check it from a distance several times, and it’s without a den of demons. It seems that those good-for-nothing subordinates can’t even feel it….」

「Well, they are level 2, so it’s cruel if you tell them to grasp it. So, how strong are those guys in the bar from the perspective of this slum’s strongest Tuds?」

「I’m nothing compared to them. There are more than 10 people in that place from the presence, and each of them can kill me instantly. As for the weakest ones, they are at least level 6. As for those with the larger presence, I can’t even imagine it.」

Tuds raised his hand, showing that he gave up. Requiem has expected it, but he can’t just accept it because Deris and Nell are the cause of this.

「Tch. Even you feel like that, huh…. That damn Deris and Nell sure have brought extreme friends.」

「Isn’t it better for you to be friends with Deris-san? I think he will welcome you.」

「I’m just going to be his pawn. I refuse!」

The absolute order that the knight leader Nell gave secretly will be a source of trouble for Requiem for a while.

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

In the meantime, the rumored bar is having a grand party as usual.

「Zex, long time no see~! Here, have a drink!」

「No, no, please stop, Maria-dono. I’m a machine, so it will be a serious matter if I drink!」

「I don’t care~!」

「Fuhahahaha! I’m going to have to do some maintenance when I get home!」

「You are a good drinker, nice~!」

「Show more, Zex~!」

Welcoming the 『Armor Emperor』 Zex of the Great Eight Demons who came to Adelheit last, the 『Vampire Princess』 Maria poured the liquor into the gap of his armor. She’s holding his neck tightly with her legs and has no intention of releasing it, Agalia is stirring things up, and Zex just keeps laughing.

「H-Hey, that’s bad, right? That’s dangerous for Zex-dono. I mean, she’s forcing him.」

Seeing that, the one who was worried about him was the 『Domination Craver』 Hund Lind. He has changed his appearance to that of a human being and his extraordinary large body has been reduced enough so that he won’t look suspicious as a human being.

「It’s not a problem at all. Zex may say so, but it’s not that his body can’t take a drink. He must have modified his body beforehand in anticipation of Maria welcoming him like that. To Zex, that body is just a part of him.」

「Umu. The only one in the Great Eight Demons who can’t drink is just me. No matter how drunk Maria is, she knows what she is doing.」

The ones who responded to Hund was the 『Old Skull』 Vakala and the 『Dragon King』 Rimudo who are sitting around the table together. While drinking the golden beverages, they waved their hands, showing that there’s nothing to worry about. By the way, Vakala drinks beer, but the one Rimudo drink is apple juice.

「Fuhahahahahagubobobobobogagagagagaga…!」

「He said that he still can go on!」

「I also believe that he still can go on! More!」

「…… Is it really okay?」

As Maria poured the liquor into Zex’s head, it leaked out of the gaps in his armor. After all, Hund is pretty worried.

「Hmm, Lilyvia and Alezel are staying at Nell’s mansion, huh. Rimudo, did you come with your family? Is there a place to stay? For a dragon’s body, this area is too small, right?」

「You don’t have to worry about that. I brought only the ones who can transform into human form after all. I’m sure they are enjoying sightseeing right now.」

「You love your family as always, huh. Well, a large family is a good thing. Hund, is he the only one you brought?」

Vakala pointed to Hund’s masked subordinate who’s standing behind him.

「… There aren’t many in my army who can transform into human form. In addition to that, when it comes to capable subordinates, the choices are further narrowed down. Even this Dinbellar is just recovered.」

「Uh-huh.」

「………」

Actually, this masked man called Dinbellar is an octopus-shaped monster that was once beaten by Deris and Nell. His specialty is mimicry using his soft body. However, the deeply implanted trauma has yet to heal that he keeps his mouth closed. His eaten body was completely healed by his natural regenerative ability, but he still has a mental problem. He’s accompanying Hund as an escort, but it’s more like Hund brought him along for a change of pace rather than an escort. Of course, Dinbellar is not allowed to participate in the ceremony.

「So, has the date of the ceremony been decided? We haven’t finished our talks with the Jiba countries yet, so I can’t stay that long.」

「The schedule is the day after tomorrow.」

「The day after tomorrow….」

Hund has no time to waste that he still has to negotiate with the Jiba countries. Perhaps he saw through it, Rimudo gave Hund the apple juice that he hasn’t drunk yet.

「Don’t look so serious. A day or two won’t be a problem. Just drink this and calm down.」

「I-I’m sorry. I’ll take it.

By the way, Hund doesn’t really like sweet things.

「My~, I’m looking forward to it. I’m going to make everyone impressed by my best speech.」

「My cute dress is also going to make everyone impressed, you know?」

「I don’t care as long as it’s fun!」

「…… Hey, Zex-dono collapsed and there’s smoke coming from him.」

Everyone cracked up by Hund’s retort, and the bar was filled with laughter. It seems that the night in the slum is going to be lively again today.