Black Iron Magician

Chapter 405 Irritated Awe

At the port owned by Quitet Trading Company in the western part of Crocus, where several ships and an airship are anchored, the workers and officials are working busily as usual. However, the situation is a little different today. People are moving in a hurry and the whole port is noisy. It seems that everyone is feeling uneasy. It’s as if something unexpected has happened.

Alezel, who went to the Jiba continent with Zeta, is looking at the port with a displeased look on her face. She sits cross-legged on the ground near the airship, and the business smile has completely disappeared on her face. Alezel creates a very unapproachable atmosphere, but reporting, contacting, and consultation are absolutely essential in the Quitet Trading Company. Her subordinates couldn’t neglect it, so they are constantly rushing at her, reporting the current situation to her in turn.

「Okay, next.」

「Reporting. We tried to communicate with the facilities outside Crocus, but there was no response no matter where we connected to…. Instead, we were able to communicate with the ones inside this country. It seems that the barrier is blocking it.」

「I see. Well, that’s within expectation. What else did you find out?」

「It seems that the Great Eight Demons Maria Irygal is responsible for all this commotion. There was news from the capital branch, saying that the royal castle fell and Queen Clarius Crocus was captured before the sun appeared. The Crocus forces near the capital have been incapacitated, though not all of them yet. However, there were no casualties in the battle. There was no damage to the occupied capital and the civilians. As long as you stay away from the royal castle and don’t show any hostile intent, there won’t be restrictions on your actions. You can even enter and leave the capital.」

「I knew it, it’s Maria-han’s doing…. Hmm, she put up that strange wall, and we’re free to do whatever we want, huh? Sigh, I don’t know what she’s trying to do. I could understand if it’s someone rational like Deris or impulsive like Nell, but Maria-han is a moody person. An ordinary elf like me can’t imagine what she’s thinking about.」

「If you’re an ordinary person, then what about us? Well, we will continue to try to communicate with the facilities both outside and inside Crocus.」

「Yeah, thanks. Next.」

「Reporting.」

「…… Zeta-han, what are you doing?」

When Alezel was about to listen to the next report, she realized that it was Zeta’s voice. It seems that Zeta was also waiting in line for some reason.

「Well, I thought it would be bad manners to interrupt the line to talk to Alezel-sama.」

「I-I see…. Zeta-han, I’m grateful for your feeling, but you’re an important guest. Please don’t hesitate to tell me~」

Alezel changes her expressionless face into a face with a customer service smile and brightens her tone. As expected of a professional, she’s quick to switch gears. Sensing the atmosphere, her subordinates decided to report later and scattered.

「So, what’s wrong? Did you find out something?」

「Ah, yes. I also tried to communicate with my colleagues, but the results were the same as the previous report. That wall seems to be blocking not only magic power, but scientific power as well. I talked to Zex-sama and he concluded that it’s a particularly powerful scroll class of 『Mad Whirlwind Magic』, which is the highest rank of wind magic system.」

「Yeah, I think so too. Even though the world is wide, only Maria-han who can use wind magic on such a scale―― wait, Zeta-han, did you say something strange just now? We can’t contact those outside this country, but how could you talk to Zex-han?」

「I’m sorry that I didn’t explain it properly. The truth is――」

「――That’s because I have become Zeta’s artificial limbs! FUHAHAHAHAHAHA!」

Suddenly, a noisy mechanical voice came from Zeta. Of course, it didn’t come from her mouth, but from her left arm.

「Z-Zex-han, I believe we’ve parted ways in Al Noval….」

「Yes, we’ve parted ways! But just in case of something like this happens, I installed the newest attachment model of my body, the smart version, on Zeta! The eccentric appearance that we showed at the beach volleyball game has been omitted, and the size has been reduced to the size of Zeta’s normal artificial limbs! However, the power and output are still the same, and it has become a much more practical form!」

「Furthermore, the energy consumption has been reduced so that I and Zex-sama can always be in one, no, always in a combined state, even in normal times. Aah, it really feels like a dream come true――」

「――Wait, that can cause misunderstanding. Also, now ain’t the time to boast about your love life.」

「B-Boast about my love life!? I-I didn’t mean to say that we’re lovey-dovey, awawawa…!」

「I didn’t say that much either…」

「Well, in conclusion, it couldn’t block my Unique Skill! FUHAHA!」

「Okay, I understand, so wait a minute. It’s a little painful if you come all at once.」

In short, Zeta’s artificial limbs, which also serve as Zex’s bodies, could be used as Zex’s main body to carry his will.

「「………」」

「Well, it also feels amiss if you suddenly stay quiet at once. Well, whatever. Zex-han, with your Unique Skill, you can contact everyone outside that red wall, right? Ah, but Deris and Nell are somewhere else, ain’t they? I don’t know if there’s someone else who can be a fighting force on the Jiba continent…. Lilyvia-han is also accompanying Deris….」

「Right. My body that I placed in this country isn’t that strong either. At best, it’s enough to make a small hole in that red wall. If anything, the combination play of me and Zeta is much more reliable.」

「We have no choice but to do it with what we have here, huh. Just so you know, don’t expect much from my subordinates. Most of them are rookies after all.」

「Hm? Even so, it seems that there are a lot of skilled people.」

「For human beings, yes. Well, the one who can be a fighting force is only that eye-patched man over there.」

Alezel pointed at an eye-patched man who’s past middle age. However, he doesn’t seem to be a rookie, but a veteran with dignity. His way of working is also very reliable.

「……Hm?」

Perhaps sensing the gazes of Alezel and the others, the eye-patched man growled as if he noticed something. However, he was looking straight up.

「……? Zex-sama, Alezel-sama. I have a bad feeling about this. Frankly, my Danger Detection Skill is ringing the alarm.」

A little later, Zeta also began to look up at the sky.

「Sigh, looks like we have guests. I don’t want to welcome them….」

「Please don’t say that. Let’s be like the Quitet Trading Company and Made in Zex and deal with them in a clean manner.」

Alezel and Zex also seemed to have noticed it. Immediately after that, two female voices came from the sky.

「I came to check the situation here because it was noisy, but I found some unexpected guests. I didn’t expect to find you here, the 『Awe』 Alezel-sama and the 『Armor Emperor』 Zex-sama.」

「Kyahahaha! Onee-sama, look! There are celebrities!」