Black Iron Magician

Chapter 282 The Hero of Snowtail

Zeta led the two to a stone building located near the guild. The signboard is placed in a position that you wouldn’t notice if you don’t look closely, and you would just pass by if you don’t know about it beforehand. While thinking that it could be called a hidden café, Haruna and Chinatsu followed Zeta while looking around.

Surprisingly, the inside of the café has a warm space like something that comes out of a fairy tale. There are several old-fashioned wooden tables and chairs lined up with the background of a fireplace that makes a crackling sound of firewood. The guests are only a pair of old couples, so the atmosphere is the complete opposite of the bustling guild they were before.

「It’s warm~」

「Yes, it’s warm.」

An old woman who was polishing a cup at the counter seemed to have noticed Zeta’s appearance as she entered the café. She slowly fixed her glasses and gave an elegant smile.

「Ara, if it isn’t Zeta-chan. Welcome. Are you with your friends today?」

「Hello, Grandma. They are, err――」

Unsure of what to say, Zeta turned her gaze on Haruna and Chinatsu while looking a little confused. It seems that she’s wondering if it’s okay to call them friends. The one who quickly responded was Haruna. Without saying anything, Haruna gave her a big smile as if saying that it’s okay.

As for Chinatsu, she didn’t approve like Haruna, but she didn’t oppose it either. Looking at the exchange just now, Chinatsu judged that Zeta is a girl who can’t lie, and she relaxed her guard a little.

「… Yes, they are my friends. We just became friends a short time ago.」

「You really can’t lie, huh….」

「Eh?」

「No, I’m just talking to myself.」

「………?」

The three sat near the fireplace and ordered some hot milk and a simple potato dish. The old woman who took their order is always smiling and seems to be really enjoying watching the three.

「That grandma seemed to be really happy. Zeta-san, are you acquainted with her from long ago?」

「No, I started coming to this café just recently. I prefer calm places like this rather than noisy places, so I’ve been coming here frequently ever since I visited this town.」

「Is that so? You are so close with her that I thought she’s your real grandmother.」

「It’s a fact that she treats me well. I’m grateful for that.」

A little while later, the old woman came bringing hot milk for three people. After telling the girls that they have to wait a little longer for the dish, she went back to the counter.

「… You are this country’s adventurer, but judging from the reaction in the guild, you are not from this town, right?」

「That’s right. I was born in a village that belongs to the frontier of Snowtail, closer to the snowy mountains.」

「You’re a village girl, right?」

「Yes, a village girl.」

For some reason, Haruna and Zeta shook hands firmly. Apparently, the two seem to have taken a liking to this phrase. It was originally used as sarcasm toward Haruna by the classmates when they were transferred to this world, but with Haruna’s positive thinking, she doesn’t mind about that at all.

「Cough. It’s time to get down to business.」

「That’s right. I’m sorry, I got a little sidetracked.」

Zeta bowed her head. She really doesn’t look like a bad girl. Rather, the good girl aura is exuding from her.

「As the adventurers said in the guild, I’ve been given the position of Snowtail’s Hero by the King. But due to personal reasons, I couldn’t participate in the previous Hero Alliance….」

「Ah, that’s right! I’ve been curious about that! The Hero of Snowtail didn’t participate in the alliance because of hibernation, but did you really hibernate?」

「…… Eh?」

Zeta doesn’t seem to understand and she’s tilting her head. Lured by her, Haruna and Chinatsu also tilt their heads.

「Err…. There were two countries that couldn’t participate in the alliance. One is the country of Han. The Hero was injured when they were attacked by a monster, and they couldn’t participate because of that. The other is the country of Snow tail. The Hero was hibernating, so they couldn’t participate. Did you not know it?」

「Hibernation? I was born in a snow country, but I’ve never hibernated….」

「「Thought so.」」

「Yes, unfortunately.」

‘Unfortunately, huh,’ Chinatsu retorted lightly in her mind and then sorted out the situation. After observing her personality so far, she seems to be the hero, but the fact about hibernation seems to be false.

(Well, it’s not that I believed the talk about hibernation, though….)

‘Then, what’s the truth?’ Such a question came to her mind.

「Both of you know very well about the Hero Alliance, huh? Could it be that you were the people concerned?」

「……? Didn’t you call out to us because you knew that?」

「I-I’m sorry. You see, it’s unusual to find someone of the same age in this line of business in Snowtail. Also, you seemed to be powerful, so I did it without thinking too much….」

「Eh, ah, I see….」

「………」

Zeta’s words seemed to be the truth, and her white skin turned red in a flash. It seems that she really didn’t think too much and left it to her feelings when she called out to them.

「Yep! It happens!」

「T-That’s right, it happens. Well then, let’s introduce ourselves now.」

After dealing with the subtle atmosphere, Haruna and Chinatsu revealed that they are the heroes of Adelheit.

「Haa~, what a coincidence. I never thought that there were heroes like me in this town…. It’s no wonder that I felt tremendous power from both of you.」

「The Demon King has been repelled and the alliance has been dissolved, so we’re no longer heroes, though. Also, our jobs are different.」

「My job is also not a hero. Rather, there should be only a few people who have a hero job.」

「If I’m not wrong, there was only one genuine hero in the alliance, right?」

「It was only Rindou-san, right? There was Toue-kun, but Haruna made him being beyond recovery.」

「Ehehe.」

「Haruna, I’m not praising you, you know?」

Then, as they continued chatting, the three of them completely opened their hearts. Chinatsu was being on guard at first, but after judging that Zeta is innocent, she relaxed her guard. Then, Chinatsu sipped the hot milk, thinking that it’s probably okay to listen to what the business is.

「Ah, by the way, did you put something on your both legs, Zeta-san? The sound of footsteps and the sound that echoed inside the leg guards were unnatural, so I’ve been curious about it. It’s like there’s a machine inside――」

「Bfft!?」

「C-Chinatsu-chan!?」

「Chinatsu-san!?」

Hearing Haruna’s question, which was too direct, Chinatsu was about to blow out the hot milk in her mouth. It was a very close call, but she managed to bear it.

「Chinatsu-chan, are you okay? Do you want me to rub your back?」

「A-Are you not feeling well? I’m sorry, I can’t use light magic…!」

「No, I’m okay! But Haruna, you’re being rude to Zeta-san. Your question is too direct!」

After wiping her mouth clean with her handkerchief, Chinatsu warned Haruna as her best friend. Even though they have become good friends, it’s still their first meeting. From a common-sense point of view, Chinatsu thought that they shouldn’t ask such a delicate question.

「Y-Yes. I’m sorry for calling it a machine….」

「No, not at all! You were concerned about me, huh? But, it’s not rude at all. On the contrary, I’m happy that you noticed it. After all, my left artificial arm and both artificial legs are my pride.」

Saying so, Zeta removed her left arm and showed it to Haruna and Chinatsu. Then, they froze at the sudden confession.