Black Iron Magician

Chapter 255 Arrangement

The time that’s written on the invitation was approaching, and the waiting room at the venue was gradually becoming crowded. Among the ladies and gentlemen dressed in formal attire, there are some familiar faces, and most of them are talking with acquaintances or someone of the same age.

「Therese-san! Wee-chan!」

「Oh, if it isn’t Haruna-san and Chinatsu-san!」

After finishing her work in the kitchen, Haruna quickly changed her clothes and met up with Chinatsu. Then, she was able to meet with Therese and Weerel as well in this waiting room.

「Waah, everyone is beautiful~. I’m glad that we realized it early, right, Chinatsu-chan?」

「Yes. I admire Lily-san’s acting ability that she could make these in just a few days.」

「Oh, are you talking about the dress? Both of you, you look wonderful desuwa! Your dresses also look great on you desuwa!」

「Yes…. I think so too….」

The dresses of Haruna and Chinatsu, which they asked Lily to make a few days ago, are well-made. Even Therese and Weerel, who are probably accustomed to the parties of nobles, gave their seal of approval.

Haruna’s dress has an orthodox color based on beige, and it’s made to be functional and easy to move in. Its quality is uselessly high that it’s durable enough even if she were to use it for training. Haruna’s cuteness is also outstanding, and it matches her very well.

On the other hand, Chinatsu wears a black dress with a gorgeous stole bolero, which enhanced her mature and elegant atmosphere. She looks a little tired from all the work she had just done, but the eyes of anyone who see her would be healed. ‘Please heal my fatigue too,’ is probably Chinatsu’s inner voice.

「Eh, she made them by herself!? S-She has a considerable skill of a craftsman desuwa…!」

「Even if you told me they were made by a first-class designer…. I think I’ll believe it….」

「Ehehe, I got your approval. Lily-senpai is really amazing. Ah, but, you look wonderful too!」

「Yes, I agree with Haruna.」

Therese and Weerel were impressed by Lily’s amazing craftsmanship, but their dresses are equally high quality.

The rose-like bright red dress worn by Therese is really flashy. Supposing that she stays silent, even though it’s impossible, the eyes of those around her would be drawn to her. It brightly colors this wedding ceremony place and makes the mood radiant.

In contrast to her, Weerel is wearing a blue dress with a calm atmosphere. She was short and had an impression of being a child, but on this day, she’s wearing make-up and became an intelligent and beautiful girl. It’s unclear whether it was Joseph who had arranged it.

When the girls are praising each other, a certain person who saw it approached them while humming.

「Oh, I found beautiful girls~. Heya, you girls are so beautiful. It’s not flattery, y’know? Also, each has its own character. I want to join this fascinating flower garden~」

There’s no need to explain who it was. But just in case, that person was Alezel.

「Ah, err…. Nice to meet you.」

「……… Nice to meet you!」

Chinatsu noticed. She noticed that Haruna was staring at this elf with her hunter’s eyes for a moment. The only time Haruna would act like this is when she meets someone overwhelmingly stronger than herself.

(In other words, this person is also stronger than the current Haruna….)

Since coming to this waiting room, Haruna has been making eyes like this from time to time. It’s the wedding of Nell and Deris after all. Chinatsu has prepared that maybe many of the guests are monsters, and Haruna has been playing an active role to discover them. Of course, Chinatsu’s detection ability is roughly identifying dangerous people. However, since there are so many of them, she can’t prioritize which one should be wary of.

「Well, this is what I am~」

Despite Chinatsu’s increased caution, Alezel pulled out four of her own business cards from her pocket and handed them out to everyone. President of the General Trading Company Quitet. Next to the great title, there’s a portrait of Alezel, drawn cutely by herself, along with her name. She’s trying to make an impact as if to make the girls relax their guard.

「President-san….?」

「Q-Quitet!?」

「Really…?」

「I think it’s that Quitet you are thinking about.」

「Ah, when you say Quitet, is it the Quitet Magic Item Store where Owner-san is?」

「That’s right, that’s one of our stores. You are Haruna, Deris’s disciple, right? You are really smaller than me, huh~. You are cuter than what I heard~.」

「Awawa.」

Haruna’s head is lower than Alezel’s. Perhaps she was happy by that, Alezel stroked Haruna’s head relentlessly. It was quite rough, so Haruna’s well-ordered hair is messed up.

「Oops, it ain’t good. It’s my fault that your hair got messy. Haruna-chan, come with me for a minute. I will take responsibility and fix it.」

「Eh, ah, wait――」

「H-Haruna!?」

Chinatsu raised her voice, but it was in vain. Alezel put Haruna on her shoulder and kidnapped her. It was in an instant, a criminal act done by a seasoned professional.

「Kidnapping…?」

「It’s a kidnapping desuwa.」

「I-It’s not the time to confirm it calmly!」

Chinatsu rushed out in panic to chase Haruna, but the presence of the two had already disappeared into the waves of people.

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

「A-Alezel-san! Please put me down already!」

「Ah, sorry. That Chinatsu girl was very careful, so I have to forcibly bring you here. Ahaha, sorry~」

The place where Alezel took Haruna was on the roof of the church where they can see the hanging bell in front of them. ‘Hup,’ while muttering so, Alezel released her hand from Haruna’s waist.

「Wow, we came to this place in that instant….」

「Well, now we can talk without anyone listening.」

「… What are you talking about?」

When Haruna asked so, Alezel turned around to her as if saying that she was waiting for it. There is today’s progress chart being held in her hand.

「Actually, we are going to have a special event during today’s ceremony. Y’see, there is this couple’s first collaboration work thing, right?」

「You mean like a cake cutting?」

「Yes, something like that. This time, we are arranging it in Nell-style. However, it takes a little time to do this. I was thinking to ask Haruna-chan to buy time until the preparation is ready, so I came here in a hurry. Just like this, please?」

Alezel’s pushing was strong. She didn’t give a gap to butt in and just kept pushing.

「Of course, if it’s a request from Shishō, I will cooperate…. Err, what should I do? I don’t even know the arrangement.」

「Well, it’s something simple. Just in case, I will whisper it. Haruna-chan, lend me your ear ♪」

「Sure…?」

Alezel put her face close to Haruna’s ear and whispered something. The moment Haruna heard those words, her eyes began to sparkle.