Black Iron Magician

After completing the training camp, we arrived at the appointed morning. The members of the subjugation team outside of Crocus gathered at the castle of Adelheit and received instructions from King Dias, where a formal ceremony was being held first. We are the representatives of Adelheit to defeat Maria, so we have to do this kind of thing.

「――The enemy is extremely powerful. No, originally, it can be said that she’s an opponent who shouldn’t be opposed. But as King of Adelheit, I believe that you will liberate the land of Crocus and return home safely. Knight Leader Nell, now is the time to use your power for the sake of peace.」

「I know. I will liberate it while trying to keep the original shape of the land as much as possible. Well, it’s impossible, though.」

「…… At least, it would be nice if you could do something about the lives of the people.」

Considering the enemy and the ally, Dias has no choice but to compromise. After that, Dias spoke to each person and encouraged them. Haru replied cheerfully, and Therese’s confident laughter echoed. Then it was my turn, who was the last in line.

「Deris-dono, I have high expectations for you as the stopper. …… I have high expectations for you!」

「Why did you say that twice? And what part of stopper do you expect me to do?」

「In everything. The wiles that the previous Mage Prime Minister was afraid of, please show it mercilessly.」

Everything, huh. That’s quite unreasonable.

「Let’s just say that I will try my best. If I can live up to your expectations, then I expect to be rewarded handsomely.」

「Heh. I, too, will try my best at that time.」

「You――」

「Ooh, it’s about time. The high-speed airship, the pride of Made in Zex, has finally arrived!」

I wanted to complain a little more, but the airship from Al Nova has arrived. Certainly on time. I don’t know if the timing is good or bad, though.

「It’s smaller than the one that Alezel has, huh. Did you really put your main body inside that?」

「Fuhahahaha! Don’t worry. It’s the fastest airship because it’s small. Since it’s used only for transportation, the armor is as thin as possible and most of the spaces are allocated for the engine! As for the maximum carrying capacity, everyone can barely fit! Well, it’s an aggressive design if I had to say myself!」

「I see. Well, I don’t think it’s a problem as long as it won’t crash. With these members, we should be able to make an emergency escape from the sky, though.」

「D-Deris-san, please don’t talk about such disturbing things now….」

「Eh, are you saying that, Chinatsu?」

「Eh?」

I mean, it seems that Chinatsu, who loves thrill rides, will be the first to enjoy it if that happens. I heard about her excitement during Rimudo’s trial in detail from Haru.

Well, setting such trivial things aside, we will ride on that airship owned by Zex today. According to the information from Alezel, other than Maria and the vampire daughters, they seem to have powerful hidden cards. If we know there are more cards that we could find, it would be nonsense to attack from the edge of Crocus. We should aim for a surprise attack from the sky above Crocus Castle as our first move. We will be carried by airship, jump down right above the castle, break through the barrier, and rush into the castle! It’s a very easy-to-understand strategy.

…… It may sound too simple, but in fact, it was judged to be the most effective.

「Then, we will go to release Crocus.」

「Yeah, please. But before that, I’d like to ask one question. …… That airship seems to be still in the air, but how are you going to get on it? Well, I’m sorry that there’s no place in the castle to land the airship.」

「Deris-dono, don’t tell me that you didn’t think about it….」

「Don’t worry, I’ve thought about it properly. Dias, Noct-kun, you are quick to worry, aren’t you?」

「「………」」

Even after I said that, the two are still looking up at the airship with a complicated look. As Dias said, the castle of Adelheit wasn’t designed to utilize airships. That’s why Zex’s airship doesn’t try to come down and is still in the sky.

「Well, everyone has their own way to get there. So, everyone can do whatever they want to go to that airship. Needless to say, if you can’t even do something like that on your own, defeating Maria is just a dream, you know?」

「Understood! Shishō, I’m going first~」

「Yeah, go whenever you’re ready.」

「Okay, I’m going! Haruna, let’s race to the airship!」

Saying so, Haru and Touko gallantly kicked the air, and their figures gradually became smaller as they moved upward. It’s a proof that their 『Jump』 skill has grown properly.

「Gobuu!」

Perhaps Gobuo imitated Nell’s use of magic, he fired flames from his palms and chased after the two.

「Ooh, Haruna-chan, Touko-chan, and that gobu-gobu are energetic, huh. I guess this old man should show his good point here.」

「Gramps, I don’t think this degree can be said good point.」

「Oh, shut up, Deris! I’m about the age where I’m always worried about my back! But if you insist that much, I will clear it with ease! Tou!」

Despite what he said about his age, Gramps Gior dashed up into the sky in the same way as Haru and Touko. I don’t know which waist he’s worried about, but his gait looks like that of a young man.

「I thought about it at the graduation festival, but people can do anything when they carry it to the extreme, huh….」

「Do you want to try to train under Deris-dono? Or maybe under Knight Leader Nell?」

「I-I will refrain. I have to support the King after all!」

Noct-kun evaded it skillfully, huh.

「Grow Beans, desuwa!」

「Labyris Orca….」

Therese extends a huge beanstalk from the ground to the sky, and Weerel rides on an orca formed by water. 『Grow Beans』is a level 50 Ground Magic that grows beanstalk. It may sound useless, but depending on the user’s ingenuity, it can be used to expand the range of operations. In fact, Therese used this magic to create a natural bridge that could reach the airships in the sky above. Still, Ojou-sama, you’re very skilled at climbing the tree, huh?

「I may look like this, but I’m the best tree climber in town!」

…… I see.

「Then, I’m going…」

Weere’s orca can swim in the air, so it flies straight to the airship. It is a versatile magic that can also be used for attacks.

So, the rest are me, Nell, Lilyvia, Hund-kun, Zex, and Chinatsu. Ii and the others will be able to go with their own magic. Lilyvia has her wings. Zex’s body here won’t go in the first place. Chinatsu is making a stylish spiral staircase with her Reflect Fortress. As for Nell, I think she can get there with just a jump. The problem is Hund-kun, who has no magic or Jump skill.

「I’ve trained my bones so well that they can now expand and contract to any length! Haaaaaaa!」

Hund-kun thrust his needle-like bones into the ground from the soles of his feet and soared high into the sky in a posture like riding stilts.