Black Iron Magician

Chapter 326 Dystopia

The 『Armor Emperor』 Zex Id, the fifth rank of the Great Eight Demons. He has been active as the Great Eight Demons for a good amount of time, and is neither an old member nor a newcomer, but rather in the middle. He’s very noisy that he always adds loud laughter in his talk, but he’s also one of the few Great Eight Demons who interacts with humans just like Alezel. His personality is easy to get used to, and the distance with him is close even for those who meet him for the first time. From this aspect, Zex is relatively easy to get along with in the Great Eight Demons.

However, don’t look at him only on the surface. It’s true that Zex is developing technologies at a level that’s unheard of in this world, and is distributing them to human society on a limited basis. Even I’ve benefited from them as well. However, while Zex is an entity that brings benefits to humans, he is, in a sense, the most dangerous person in the Great Eight Demons, as he wants to control human society. After all, his ultimate goal is to turn the world into a dystopia.

「Don’t increase our work. Besides, isn’t it faster if you plunge into the incinerator on your own? Also, I’ll beat you at least once before that.」

『Fuhaha! Unfortunately, I can’t do that. After all, that body is out of control. The body probably malfunctioned somewhere when it was dropped. Just like the rampaging robots in the scrap yards, it’s also in a rampaging state. I’m sure you understand why I’m using the facility’s communication equipment instead of going through the body.』

「Didn’t you start communicating before you dropped that thing?」

『Well now, I don’t know what you’re talking about.』

For some reason, Zex collects various data by interacting with people. Not only data generated during battles, but also detailed analysis of emotions that machines don’t have. I don’t know how he’s going to use those data. However, I can somehow guess it. Something like, preparations for his ultimate goal in the future? At least, it won’t happen while Nell and I are still alive, so I don’t care.

「Shishō, we can clean the Great Eight Demons! What a luxury!」

Maybe because the worst situation for Haru was avoided, my disciple is completely energetic. Rather, it’s like a blessing for her.

「Certainly, it’s a luxury. Even though it’s an old model, this body is a special item among special items, right?」

『It’s too late to stop it from going out of control. Judging from the strength required to stop it and the cost of repair, the deficit will be further increased! If so, it would be beneficial to provide it free of charge as a training partner for Deris-dono and Haruna-dono! Now, you can beat it to your heart’s content, Deris-dono!』

「If it doesn’t have your will in it, I somehow won’t feel refreshed….」

「Shishō, should I beat it in your stead?」

「Wait.」

Still, I wonder what’s happening? Even when we’re having a long talk like this, it’s not coming to attack us, so I think that it’s under control. Did Alezel prepare it for Haru? It’s convenient as the first step to beat the Great Eight Demons, but I don’t like this feeling that it’s as if I’m being used. Okay, let’s ask her later.

「Haru. Even though it’s an old body and Zex himself isn’t controlling it, it’s stronger than Hund, you know? I’ll help out with support and recovery, but it’s basically your job to clean it up. Even more if you want to defeat the Great Eight Demons. Can you do it under these conditions?」

「I’ll make it work!」

Yeah, it’s ridiculously reassuring.

『Fuhaha, what a wild girl! I hope Zeta could learn from you!』

「It’s okay to be impressed, but when you do it, make sure it’s in a rampaging state, okay?」

『Don’t worry! I’m changing it from the controlled state to the rampaging state now.』

This guy finally revealed that it’s under control….

『Then, please enjoy it! *Click*』

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「It’s started.」

「Right. Well, they will have to do at least this much.」

While Deris and Haruna began cleaning the body of Zex, there were two people’s figures in the monitoring room that’s located in the upper part of Al Nova. The room is a spacious round-shaped room, and the screens of an equal size are spread all over the wall. The screens are showing the scenes of the important areas of Al Nova. Zex and Alezel, who are the true characters of the figures, sat down on their chairs and looked at the screen showing the scrap yard.

「Are you not going to invite Nell-dono and Lilyvia-dono?」

「Both of them are training their disciples. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them because the mood was so heavy. Sorry.」

Alezel’s way of talking isn’t in her business mode, but in her usual free-spirited tone. It seems that it’s more of a private time than work time now.

「By the way, Zex-han. Where’s Zeta-han?」

「She’s putting together the data on the dishes that Haruna-dono made this morning. Her passion for food is real after all!」

「No, ain’t that just because she wanna contribute to Zex-han? Far from blind devotion, I think she has reached the level of worshiping you, y’know?」

「That’s a problem! It’s a good thing that she adores me as her boss, but I want her to know more about the vast world! If there is a man lying around somewhere who can be a good person for Zeta, I estimate that this tendency will be somewhat alleviated…. The emotional entanglements between men and women have an impact that can change people’s lives even from the most trivial things after all.」

「Hmm, I guess Zex-han doesn’t understand people’s hearts.」

「That’s why I’m learning everyday like this! Even I’m always watching the video of Deris-dono and Nell-dono’s ceremony everyday!」

「I see~. At least while I’m alive, dystopia may be far away.」

「Fuhahahaha! I’m troubled!」

Alezel, who has an alliance with Zex, knows his ultimate goal, of course. Rather, everyone in the Great Eight Demons knows about it. It is a matter that would normally lead to a state of emergency that would affect the world. But for some reason, the triggering condition is that Zex has to completely understand the humans’ hearts. So, they just responded with a light cheering like, ‘Good luck with that’. Alezel is also like that.

「Let’s get back to the topic. If Haru-chan wins against Zex-han’s old body, you’re gonna cooperate, right? The recommendation to use the door to another world, which is coming here now, and――」

「――The arrangements for a formal match against the Great Eight Demons, right? Good grief, Haruna-dono sure is reckless. I can only think of her as a suicidal person.」

「That’s right, she has a troublesome personality. Well, I like it, though! Besides, that Deris promised that he’s gonna make it happen, y’know? Frankly, you want to see that happen, right?」

「… Well, maybe a little. However, she has to win against my body first. Even though it’s in auto-pilot mode and I’m not controlling it, the AI is quite advanced. Enough that it can win completely against Hund-dono!」

「I pity Hund-han that he’s used as an example every time…. Well, let’s what she’s got. Haru-chan~, do your best~. Depending on the results, I’ll give up on you, kay?」