Black Iron Magician

Chapter 558 The Eternal Goal

After that, we went around to say goodbye to the heroes of each country and acquaintances. All of them were overacting, especially Therese’s parents. They were crying hard like their daughter (though I think that Madam May was probably faking crying). After going around the venue like that, we decided to go out to the balcony of the castle to take a break, but it seemed that there was someone else there before us.

「Hmm?」

「Ara?」

A warrior-like voice overlaps with a cute voice. However, both of them are so huge that I can’t see their faces unless I look up.

「If it isn’t Queen Clarius and Hund-kun. It’s a rare combination, isn’t it? So you were here when I didn’t see you at the venue.」

「Well, the Queen of Crocus wanted to get some night air. Since she was alone, I decided to escort her. Her fiancé seemed to be busy after all.」

「H-Hund-sama, please don’t tease me too much.」

「Fiancé…. Was it perhaps when we were talking with Oda and the others?」

「Yes, I didn’t want to interrupt the conversation. By the way, did Deris-sama and Haruna-sama come to get some night air too?」

「Well, something like that.」

Both Queen Clarius and Hund-kun are about 3 meters tall after all. Even if they wanted to take a break, there was no place like this where they could calm down. Still, when these two are together, my sense of size is getting strange. It’s no wonder that Odanmu is looking for a way to make the queen smaller, even if only temporarily.

「It seems that you’re going back to your hometown tomorrow. I am sad to hear that, but I will always feel grateful to you. I will never forget the debt of gratitude for saving Crocus twice.」

「Clarius-san…」

「Well, the root of all evil for the first one is here, though.」

「Ugh, I can’t say anything back if you say it like that….」

「Shishō, don’t say mean things! Hund-kun has turned over a new leaf, and he’s now a beloved character in various places as the uncle of the outdoor party!」

「What’s with that mysterious character?」

As a Demon King of the Great Eight Demons, isn’t that like an insult?

「Well, you’re not entirely wrong. In fact, I’m going to participate in the local reconstruction outdoor party with my subordinates on behalf of Therese tomorrow. I can’t go to see you off. So, I will say what I want to say today. …… Haruna, get stronger and come back. You’ve surpassed me now, but I promise you that I will surpass you by then. I will also try to move up at least one rank in the Great Eight Demons.」

「Really!? Alright, then I have to be twice as strong as I am now!」

「T-Twice!? W-Well, how should I put it, that would make it a little harder for me to surpass you, so maybe you should choose a more moderate path――」

「――Hund-kun, I’m looking forward to it!」

「…… U-Umu, you should look forward to it. I’ll do my best….」

Haru’s words made the goal point to an even higher level. Haru is happy with the promise, Hund-kun is making an awkward expression, and Queen Clarius is chuckling as if she’s seeing something funny. It sure is a peaceful moment. When I looked up at the sky, I saw countless stars in the sky, shining brightly as if they were representing our future.

「Oh, I found a shooting star. You know what? They said that most shooting stars burn up and disappear.」

「…… I didn’t know that. But why are you telling me that now?」

Well, no reason.

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

At the last night of their stay in this world, Haruna, Chinatsu, and Touko were lying on the bed together in the room at Nell’s mansion.

「Wait, why is Touko sleeping here?」

「Lily-shishō told me to do it, saying that we won’t be able to meet again for a while. Good grief, she acts like a master only at a time like this.」

「Still, sleeping with the three of us like this is kind of fun, isn’t it? It’s like a school trip!」

They are hiding under the blanket, but they seem to be still wide awake.

「Touko-chan, are you really not going home tomorrow?」

「I’m not going home. Even if I’m away for a while, the Great Eight Demons guys will manipulate the information, right? Maybe they will make it like I’m on an overseas trip or something like that. In that case, I’ll stay here with Danna for a while.」

「Touko, it’s fine for the time being, but… you should come back at least once, okay?」

「That’s right. Otherwise, I will conquer the karate national tournament instead of you.」

「Ugh, that’s unacceptable…! Fine. I will go home after helping Danna with the trials. Then, I’ll go to the top of the country as fast as I can and return here immediately! Alright, it’s a perfect plan!」

「What’s so perfect about it…? I heard from Agalia-san that we can’t use skills in Japan. When we return, we won’t be superhuman or anything, you know?」

Skills are unique to this world, and as soon as they return to their original world, all of their power will disappear. In other words, their status, skills etc. won’t have effect. Haruna and Chinatsu won’t be able to use their magic, and Touko won’t be able to use her aura. Fortunately, when they returned to this world, those skills will come back. However, in their original world, it is certain that they won’t be able to do anything as reckless as they did here.

By the way, this law doesn’t apply to Vakala and Maria, who defeated the god. Agalia, who possesses the power of 『Skyscraper』, is also an exception, but it’s limited to his Unique Skills. The reason why it’s possible to manipulate information in Japan is because Vakala, who went to Japan ahead, would do something about it with his magic.

「So what? The experience and effort we’ve cultivated over the past few months won’t go to waste, right?」

「Well, that’s true, but…」

「I think I’m with Touko-chan on this one~. I won’t be able to use magic when I go back, I won’t be able to use aiki like how I used it here, but… even so, I think I’ve grown!」

Haru, lying on the bed, stretched her hand to ceiling and clenched her fists tightly. When Chinatsu glanced at Haruna’s profile, she saw her eyes filled with confidence.

(She’s filled with confidence. But if I’m not mistake, Haruna’s goal to win against her mother. Hmm…. Isn’t that much more difficult than winning a high school national tournament of martial arts or sports? It’s hard to believe, but even in my current state, I don’t want to fight against her mother head on….)

Chinatsu has known Haruna’s family since she was a child, and of course, she has a close relationship with Haruna’s mother, Katsuragi Kuon. She looks young that people will think of her as Haruna’s sister if they don’t know about her. Even if she were to wear a school uniform, no one would feel uncomfortable. However, what is truly amazing about her is her physical abilities. According to Chinatsu’s memory, Kuon far surpassed the others in the Katsuragi family. In addition, even though she had a relaxed atmosphere, she had a mysterious pressure. She had something that made people convinced that she was the mother of Haruna, who achieved many things, when seeing her.

「Maybe… the last one who will come back here is Haruna…」

「Eeh!? Chinatsu-chan, I will do my best, you know!?」

「Haha, when Chinatsu says it like that, I feel like it’s really going to happen. Yawn…. I was working as a maid since morning, so I’m sleepy…. Sorry, I’m going to sleep first….」

「Y-Yes, good night.」

「Good night. It’s getting late, so let’s sleep.」

「But, I still can’t accept it. Suya~」

「…… Eh? H-Haruna? Did you just fall asleep instantly? Hey?」

On the last night, Haruna was sleeping pleasantly as usual.

――――The 99th day of training is over.