Black Iron Magician

Chapter 497 The Best Method

「Hee, so this is Carmine’s combat outfit. It’s very unique!」

When I was waiting for the three outside the changing room, I suddenly heard Haru’s voice coming from inside the room.

「Goshujin-sama, don’t peek yet, okay? If you want to peek, you should peek inside Lily-chan’s skirt――」

「I won’t peek at either of them.」

On the night of the day when the swap battle of the Sixty Six Demon Generals was over, Haru and the others decided to match their costumes for the day of the decisive battle. If you ask why, it’s because they are going to be Carmine’s representatives, even if only temporarily, so they have to look as ones! Or so Vakala said.

「Still, I didn’t expect him to lend us a set of armor.」

「It’s exactly for three people, and I think he prepared it since long ago. In Carmine, there aren’t many female monsters with physical bodies, so he must have gone to the trouble of having them custom-made.」

「That’s probably true. Also, old man Vakala has completely out of Demon King mode, just like at the end of the swap battle. Well, I also don’t act like a Demon King, though!」

「Gobu!」

After the swap battle was over, Haru and the others finally took the positions of 31st to 33rd rank. Around that rank, level 9 opponents are common. Unlike the lower ranks, there were many difficult battles, but for girls, who had experienced continuous sparring with the Irygal Sisters, it could no longer be called a trial. Yeah, they won every battle. But for some reason, Vakala was overjoyed even though his subordinates were defeated.

「I wonder if they can wear Carmine’s equipment properly~? It was quite distinctive, so I’m worried~」

「Is that so? Nell is with them, so it should be fine.」

「Are you sure it’s okay~? I mean, Nell doesn’t know well about fashion.」

「If you’re that worried, why don’t you go inside and check it out? I will wait here with Gobuo.」

「That’s a no! It is a precious time where I can be alone with Goshujin-sama! There’s no way I will throw such a blissful time!」

「No, Gobuo is also here, you know?」

「Gobuu….」

‘Should I go somewhere?’, Gobuo sent me such a gaze. You don’t have to go. Please stay here for my sake.

――――Click.

When I was wasting my time on such a useless talk, the door was opened and Nell came out.

「Sorry to keep you waiting. Deris, you can enter.」

「Oh, were they able to wear it without any problem?」

「Check it yourself. …… So, why are you glaring at me, Lily?」

「I’m telling you to read the mood. Nell should learn to be more considerate like Touko-chan.」

「Ha? I have no intention to learn to use ki, though?」 (TL: do I have to explain this again?)

「Ha? I’m not talking about that, you know? Are you stupid?」

「…… Haah?」

I walk past the two who are not on the same page and enter the changing room with Gobuo.

「Ah, Shishō! What do you think about this? It’s frilly!」

Once inside, I was able to find Haru and the others immediately. All three of them are wearing Carmine’s armor, and their appearance emphasized black purple color and skulls. For those who don’t know them, they look like people from an evil organization from a power ranger movie, I think? Well, they are now the Demon King’s army, so it can’t be helped. But――

「Hey, isn’t the skirt too short?」

――For some reason, the lower part of the equipment is a very short skirt. They are not wearing short pants or leggings, and the skirt so short that it would be dangerous if the wind blew.

「I knew it! Deris-san, you think so too, right!? Look, Haruna! This is too short! I can’t climb the stairs like this! It’s not good for public morals!」

「Is that so? For me, it’s very easy to move around.」

「Haruna, you idiot! Don’t move like that in front of Deris-danna! You should have some modesty as a maiden!」

「Ah, don’t worry. I and Gobuo are already facing the corridor.」

「Gobuu.」

I knew from the moment I saw the outfit that Haru was going to make that move. After all, I have been her master for several months. I’m good at crisis management since my life could be turned upside down even by a trivial thing. Mainly when it comes to Nell’s explosion.

「Hey~, Deris~. Nell and Lilyvia’s quarrel is about to change into a fistfight outside. As the head of the family, you should take good care of your wife and mistress―― ooh! They look great on you girls! My choice was correct! It was worth choosing the best materials and the best blacksmith!」

Vakala appeared from the opened door. His timing was so good that I suspected he had been peeking in form somewhere. His dignity as a demon king has completely vanished, and all that remained is his good-natured old man atmosphere.

「Hey, you pervert Great Demon King over there. What is the meaning of this short skirt? Are you sexually harassing them by taking advantage of your position? You are, right? I know you are.」

「Deris, calm down. My blacksmith, who has been in the trade for over a hundred years, told me that this was not intentional, but the result of the pursuit of functional beauty. So, it is not my fault. The proof is in the performance. It’s so good that I’m even giving it my seal of approval, you know? That’s why I think you should put down that black staff now.」

Vakala came up with excuses one after another. Well, it’s true that the equipment is of a very high quality, and even if I wanted to hit him with the black staff, I couldn’t hurt him with a purely physical attack. Besides, he is the top of Carmine. Even though he won’t die and there is no point doing so, it’s forbidden to harm him inside his castle. I judged it as a yellow card, and I decided to put away the black staff.

「Jeez, you’re short-tempered, Deris~」

「If you make my disciples wear something like this, I would get angry, of course.」

「Wait! Nell’s knight armor also uses a skirt! I can’t accept your complaint!」

「Even if she’s wearing a skirt, she’s also wearing something underneath so as not to expose her bare skin! At least prepare some leggings!」

「Idiot, I thought you’d say that, so I already had Alhazard prepare them! Here!」

「Don’t make the number two prepare leggings! But I’m glad they are black, which is a safe choice! Thanks!」

「「「………」」」

As my disciples watched quietly, we finally reached a truce. How strange. I thought I was doing this for them, but their gazes feel painful for some reason.

「…… Hey, Vakala. If I give them these leggings and tell them to wear them in this situation, will I be treated as a pervert?」

「I’m sure you would. At least I think so. Pfft.」

「Y-You bastard, you were aiming for this, right…!?」

However, I’m an old man who excels at crisis management. After that, I did everything in my power to stop the quarrel between the Massacre Princess and the Degenerate Demon in the corridor, and asked them to give the leggings to the girls. Either way, the damage was tremendous, but I think this method was still better.

…… Someone, please tell me the best method.

――――The 83rd day of training is over.