Black Iron Magician

After somehow surviving the assault by Haru and the others, I decided to go to the party venue to greet the guests with the cheerful Haru. I invited Chinatsu to go with us, but she refused, saying that she would go around with Nell later. I guess she was being considerate. By the way, since Touko chose to stay in this world, she’s still working as a maid. Her classmate friends were quite surprised. Well, in the end, they were praising Touko that she was cute in her maid outfit.

「Hey~, you uneven trio over there.」

「Who are you calling uneven!?」

「Haha, this way of calling us, it must be Deris-san.」

「Ah, Katsuragi-san is with him. Well, congratulations on this occasion.」

「Ehehe, thank you!」

The first people we greeted were the trio Fuchi, Oda, and Mani, who were nearby. It’s easier to understand if I call them Detective, Odanmu, and Master Mani, I guess? To be honest, I find the latter easier to understand.

「You guys aren’t going home, right?」

「I think it’s a little misleading to say we’re not going home. We’ll go home someday, but at least it won’t be tomorrow.」

「H-Hmm…?」

「Sorry, but can you explain it in a way that Haru can understand?」

「Y-You see, we each have our own goals here, and we agreed that we will go home after achieving them.」

「By the way, my goal is to officially open a detective agency. This profession is not very profitable in Japan, but it is a completely new type of business here. There is room for growth, and above all, it’s a fantastic world!」

「Well, I think it’s a Fuchi-like goal…. Does that mean you’ll close your business when you return to your original world?」

「No, I won’t. I will properly train the next generation. Besides, even if I go back to Japan, I will go this world again. I mean, Deris-san will prepare the ticket, right?」

He was eavesdropping, huh?

「I-I’m currently looking for a way to make chocolate with earth magic. Crocus people love sweets, so I’m wondering if there is a way to supply them easily.」

「Chocolate by magic, huh…. This is another idea I didn’t have.」

「Mani-kun himself loves sweets after all! Then, what is Oda-kun’s goal?」

「Eh, ah, no…. Y-You don’t have to worry about me.」

It seems that Odanmu doesn’t want it to be known.

「If Oda won’t say it, I’ll tell you instead. He’s looking for a way to reduce the body size, even temporarily, so that his fiancée, Queen Clarius, won’t stand out when she comes to Japan. He wants to take her to greet his parents!」

「Fuchiiiiiii! That’s a secreeeeet!」

「You’re planning to bring Queen Clarius to Japan, huh? It’s true that she stands out, but if she has a normal size, she’ll be like a princess who comes out of a picture book. Well, well, despite his appearance, Oda sure is devising a bold plan! I honestly respect you!」

「Yes, Oda-kun is amazing! He’s one or two steps ahead of us!」

「P-Please kill me already….」

Odanmu rolls around on the floor of the venue.

「Well, don’t say that. As a man, I’m really impressed. Okay, I will make up an excuse for your stay here. It would be bad if you were treated as missing people over there when you returned to Japan, right?」

「Eh, is that possible?」

「The administrator of this world will do something about it. My job is to talk them into it. It’s easy, isn’t it?」

「Shishō, it’s not easy at all!」

「「「Yeah, I don’t think it’s easy at all.」」」

After being denied all at once, we went to the next place. Oh, I found an interesting group over there.

「Hey, Canon, Muno-kun. What are you doing there, slacking off on your security job?」

「Geh, Deris-san!? Ow ow ow!」

When Canon made a displeased expression, I grabbed his head and applied force to it. Still, bringing Haru to me in the early stages can be said to be his achievement. I will forgive him today. After I was satisfied to some extent, I released my hand from his head.

「I-I thought I was going to die…!」

「Hahaha, as expected of Deris-dono. You’re on good terms with my sworn brother.」

「…… Muno, how about you cure those blind eyes of yours already?」

Canon staggeringly stood up while borrowing Muno’s shoulder. Apparently, the two are off-duty, and since they are acquainted with Haru and the others, they attended the party normally. Ah, so that’s why they are both in formal wear. I just noticed it.

「Canon-san, thank you for guiding me to Shishō’s place when I didn’t know what to do! In a way, I am the person I am today thanks to you!」

「Eh? Ah, well… y-you’re welcome?」

「Ooh, my best friend was involved in that matter? As expected of my best friend, you did a good job!」

「No, this is, um, I’m not sure if it’s okay for me to be happy about it…」

Canon stiffened at the sudden words of gratitude and respect. Haha, it’s natural that it’s hard for him to be happy about it. After all, he was troubled with how to deal with Haru, and he visited my place at the very end.

「Hee~, Canon-paisen did something like that~? That’s the first time I’m hearing it~」

「Haha! After all, he’s the honored senior member of the Magic Knight Order! I’m proud to be his junior!」

And then, next to Kanon, Karua and Dry were pouring salt on the wound.

「So, why are you guys with Karua and Dry, who graduated from the Magic Academy? It was a strange combination, so couldn’t help but come here to toy with Canon.」

「Well, there’s no deep reason for it~. I just thought that since I started working at the castle, I hadn’t talked to Canon-paisen, who was rumored as a princely young man.」

「So, I introduced Karua to the honorable Canon-senpai!」

「This Muno Surmeni was just introducing the greatness of his best friend in detail!」

「Uwaaaaah! That nickname is my dark history! I already got out of the well and learned about the ocean! I’m begging you, stop it already! And Deris-san, you’ve guessed it when you came to toy with me, right!?」

「「Haha, lmao.」」

Unbecoming of my age, I couldn’t help but synchronize my tone with Karua.

「Ah, Therese-san, Wee-chan! Over here! Everyone from the academy is here!」

「This Therese Batten has returned from the brink of sadness desuwa! I received Haruna-san’s call and arrived gallantly! Ara? Is that the princely young man Canon-senpai that I see over there?」

「Ah… it’s true…. It’s the princely young man Canon-san… who is directly in charge of Leader Nell’s chores….」

「Ugh!? Gah!?」

The sharp blade of words, that didn’t have any ill will, unexpectedly gouged out Canon’s heart. A short time later, Canon retired from the scene due to repeated fatigue.

「Vice Leader Chinatsu! Canon suddenly collapsed!」

「T-That’s terrible! I will heal him immediately!」

However, thanks to Goddess Chinatsu’s outstanding magic, he was revived immediately.

「P-Please let me retire…」