Black Iron Magician

Chapter 338 The Center of the Turmoil

「――So, you’ve to come in order, starting from the fourth rank Rimudo. If you use the magic item we gave you during the meeting, you can contact us anytime. It’s a promise, okay?」

「Yeah, I get it. We’ll keep our promise since we’re the ones who asked. So, you’ve to keep your promise too.」

「Haha! Isn’t it a little early to be worrying about the door? Well, whatever. Then, see you~」

After the meeting was over, Agalia and other upper ranks of the Great Eight Demons prepared themselves to leave Al Nova. I was preparing for the worst case, so it was somewhat a let-down. Well, during the meeting, they said that they had a lot of free time, but they are people who have responsibility after all. In reality, they must be very busy, but they don’t show it on their faces. As expected of them.

「By the way, I found a good tavern in a nearby city. How about we go there after this?」

「That’s nice! Let’s go! Let’s drink all night!」

「Eh~, staying up late is not good for my skin~」

「You’re a vampire…. On the contrary, isn’t it bad for your skin to be awake in the morning and afternoon?」

「Then, I will drink too! Then, I will sleep in the morning!」

「Vakala, do they have sweet liquor? It’s even better if the alcohol content is low. Also, even better if they have souvenirs for my family.」

「Hohoho, don’t underestimate my research power. Not only the food and drink, but there are a lot of interesting pennants for souvenirs.」

「Hou…! That helps.」

…… T-They just don’t show it on their faces. That’s acting, probably.

「Goodbye!」

「Well, they are like a storm, huh….」

「Chinatsu, it’s not like, they are the disaster itself.」

「That’s right. Just because you can speak and communicate with them, don’t think of them as normal people! Think of them as monsters!」

「Eh? Ah, yes….」

Chinatsu, you were thinking something like, ‘Isn’t the same thing can be said for Nell-shishō, who’s equal them?’, right? Not saying it out loud is correct. I thought so too.

「Kuhihi. After all, it’s quiet and lonely when the upper ranks are gone.」

「Fuhaha. Alezel-dono, isn’t that too flattering?」

「As for me, I’m really relieved that Mama is gone. I’m tired, so I’m going to sleep. Zex, don’t send something strange again, okay? I’ll destroy it myself next time.」

「Oh, how scary~. Lily-han is irritated~」

「Fuhahahaha! She’s probably on her peri――」

「――Stop! Zex-san, stop! Even if you don’t have a human heart, shouting it out loud is the worst. And above all, you’re wrong!」

As expected of Goddess Chinatsu, she minds about public etiquette.

「Then, I’ll leave now. I’m looking forward to your success. See――」

「――Okay, you too, stop.」

Hund-kun tried to return to the continent of Jiba. However, Nell placed her hand on his shoulder. Because there is too much difference in their heights, Nell even climbed on his back. Compared to Hund-kun, who has an extraordinarily large body, Nell is only the height of a normal woman. Comparing the two, it can be said that the difference in physique is like that of an adult and a child. Even so, Hund-kun’s blue skin seemed to have turned even bluer.

「W-What do you want?」

「Before you go home, you should fight our disciples. I think you’re the right person for the job, because I think Haruna, Chinatsu, and Touko could have a good one-on-one match now.」

「………」

Hund-kun couldn’t argue anymore with Nell, who showed a smile on her face. He felt something close to Maria in Nell, and he seems to be pondering about it. That judgment is very correct, but he sure is unlucky that he got entangled with Nell after Maria.

「Don’t worry. About the Executive Committee of Therese Regional Reconstruction Outdoor Party, I’ll give them instructions about it.」

「Nell, that’s probably not what he’s worried about. I mean, you’re too forceful. That’s the same as Maria’s method, but are you okay with it?」

「Ah, that’s not good.」

Saying so, Nell gallantly left Hund-kun. Her behavioral principle is relatively close to Maria, but I think it’s better not to say it. Yeah, for the sake of my life.

「Demon King Hund, Nell seems to be unreasonable at a glance, but I don’t think the policy proposed by her is wrong. If you do charity work with the knights of Adelheit, you can make a good impression on the countries of the Jiba continent. Moreover, it will be the atonement that your country needs at this point. Of course, the result won’t show immediately and it will take a considerable amount of time. Still, having the backing of Adelheit will have a big impact, right?」

「…… In other words, this is the price for that?」

「I’m glad you’re so quick on the uptake. So, will you do it? If you cooperate, I promise you full backup (mainly from Therese and Weerel).」

「Hmm….」

Well, we can secure a training partner for the girls, solve the labor shortage of the knights, and got a reverse force. In short, it’s our win if we can convince the other party.

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

That night, at a tavern in a certain town. Recently, a new dungeon has been discovered nearby, making the city a gathering place for many adventurers. This tavern, where you can hear a big noise from inside the store, was also riding the wave of prosperity due to the influence of the dungeon. Not only because of the dungeon, but also because the owner of this tavern was making the most of this big wave and was working very hard to increase the variety of drinks and dishes to keep up with the rivals. Even though they opened an incomprehensible souvenir shop on the side of the tavern, the number of regulars has only increased, probably due to their efforts. And today, there are new people, who are likely to become regulars, gathered at the bar.

「Cheers~!」

「Yaay~!」

The table is very lively. They drank, drank, drank, ate, drank―― they laughed, and ordered more immediately. Also, they never stopped talking.

「Oi oi, it sure is lively over there~」

「Oh! Isn’t that girl cute!?」

「You, that’s not good…. She sure is cute, but it’s the kind of cute where you shouldn’t lay your hands on her. Age-wise, I mean.」

「Eh, but she’s drinking, right?」

「That’s just soda. You see, there’s Al Nova near here, so I’m sure the owner got it from there.」

Even the adventurers who like merrymaking were amazed at how much they drank and at the turmoil. They are an old gentleman, a handsome man, a beautiful young girl, and a middle-aged man, which is quite an uneven combination for a party. Since they are well-dressed, many guessed that they are probably high-leveled adventurers, or maybe royalty and nobles incognito.

However, no one in this place thinks that their true identity is the four upper-rank members of the Great Eight Demons, the world-famous incarnation of evil. The reason for this is that they are disguising themselves as humans and their power is suppressed. But above all, their current appearance is not that of the Great Demon King.

「By the way, Rimudo. Have you decided what the trial will be?」

「Umu, I think I will have them climb a mountain.」

「Wow~, that’s original~! I’m sure everyone will be surprised! After all, even I was surprised!」

「Fuhaha, I’m astonished!」

「Pfft! A-Are you imitating Zex?」

「Alright, I guess I’ll go with mountain climbing then. I see, it’s original, huh.」

Unfortunately, Haruna did something similar not long ago, so it’s not that original.