Black Iron Magician

Chapter 60 Hero, Be Mine

I pull my beloved sword from the sheath and approach Nell-dono. Then, my fastest and shortest strike from above was repelled by the black staff. To think that it can repel the sword I received from my lord, it seems that it’s not a normal staff.

I continue to attack with the sword over and over again. Her staff is so sturdy that it made a heavy sound, that you can’t imagine coming from a staff, each time it collided. If I’m careless, my sword will be damaged even though I’m the one attacking. That’s unlikely, but it makes me feel so.

Fortunately, Nell-dono’s quickness and power are far below me. I’ve revised Nell’s ability downward from the original evaluation, but I shouldn’t be careless. Or rather, I can’t. In terms of status, she’s inferior to me. However, she seems to have an invisible force that greatly compensates for it, or that’s how I feel. A fighting spirit, or rather, bloodlust where she greedily confronts any opponent without fear. ‘Nell Lemure can make others yield even with the presence around her,’ someone said that somewhere. Indeed, normal people will yield if they meet her.

―――― Clang! Clang!

「Not… bad… !」

「………」

That wasn’t the only scary part of her. She’s defending all my attacks, even though I’m overwhelming in status. What is she seeing beyond her overwhelming concentration? She stops the sword with a paper-thin difference and parries it. The impact given is minimized, and in some cases, she uses a mysterious technique to push me back.

「Suu―― fuu…」

Not good. I’m supposed to be the one pushing, but I feel disturbed every time I confront her. I need to keep a distance and adjust my breathing――

Gyun!

―― She doesn’t allow me to do that. She held something like a black ball and threw it with all her might the moment I distanced myself. I leaned my body and avoided it, which aimed directly at my face. Behind me, I heard a series of unpleasant sounds.

…… Now is not the time to look back. Judging by the way she took it out from that waist pouch, I’m sure it’s some kind of magic item. Also, it wouldn’t end well for me if I received that ball directly. When I saw it up close while evading it, I felt that it has more power than it looks and has something magical on it.

「Blaze Enchant.」

Crimson Flame magic, an evolved form of skill that can be acquired after mastering fire magic. The first thing I learned is this 『Blaze Enchant』. It applies flame to the target weapon, making it a pseudo magic sword. And then――

「Diary!」

In front of me, a vortex of flame was emitted over a wide area. As far as I can confirm, it’s the highest rank of offensive fire magic that she can’t evade with her speed. Now, what will you do?

「………」

Nell-dono, with a slight frown, made the black staff stand on the ground in front of her and confronted my flame with it as a shield.

…… It’s reckless. Setting aside the attack with the sword, Diary’s flame will swallow everything in front of it. She won’t be able to defend it with that thin staff even though it’s sturdy.

「What…!?」

My expectation was shattered very easily. The wave of swirling flame was cut off by her staff. Although not completely, the flame was branched from there as if to avoid that staff. What in the world is that black staff…? Still, the damage was accumulated.

「… Kuh.」

That flame could kill her if hit directly. Nell-dono, who endured it with her staff, had her skin scorched a bit by the flame and her hair tie, which was holding her ponytail hair, was torn off. It may be not good saying it here, but her untied flowing jet black hair, coupled with the crimson flame, was beautiful. Even someone from another race like me, a goblin who can’t tell the human face, felt that way instinctively.

At the same time, my instinct was gripped by fear. After all, she was smiling in the midst of the blazing flame. Why did she smile in this crisis?

…… Is she enjoying this? This life exchange? My mind, which should have regained its composure, was disturbed through this flame. That’s why I was a little late in realizing that Diary magic has come to an end.

「Hah!」

She fixed the staff in the ground and held two black balls taken out of the pouch in both hands. Then, she threw them at the same time. However, the two balls are divided into left and right, and the direction is far from me. Did she rush to attack and miss her aim?

――Clang!

「Ugh!」

A diversion, huh…! As soon as she threw the two balls, she came to me in a straight line and unleashed a hard blow with her staff. It’s hard to believe that she has more power than an ogre or goblin king inside that petite body. If it is only the physical strength of the status side, it may be lower than that. But, she has a thorough knowledge. She knows how to move to bring out the maximum amount of power in her body. She knows that she will find a way to win if she doesn’t give up!

Immediately after the sword and the staff collided, the tip of the black staff was slightly hooked on my sword. Then, Nell-dono slid my sword to the side without worrying about the blazing flame on the sword. For a moment, I was surprised by her smooth and brilliant technique. Then, she sent a kick using the gap that was opened at that moment.

It was a kick that resonated to the core, a kick that I want to take as a model. Even so, I grit my teeth and bear it. The power is enough to make an ogre faint, but it’s still not enough if it’s against me. When I looked ahead and try to smile back at her like she did――

―― There was a scene where my beloved sword was shattered.

「What…!?」

There were two black balls on the left and right of the place where the sword’s blade was. That throwing, which seemed to be a wild pitch before she ran, was an action that she had been aiming for from the beginning. When they disappeared from my sight and my consciousness was shifted to her, the balls must have drawn an arc and changed direction. She shifted my sword with her staff to create a gap to send a kick, and at the same time, she was adjusting it to the point where the two balls would hit.

The layers of tactics and this boldness to try to execute it without fear for the flame. Now I don’t see her eyes as those of a warrior, but as those of a battle maniac.

Well, even though I lost my sword, I can’t say that I’m at a disadvantage since my strength is above her. The fear that has taken hold will surely delay each move, and eventually, it will lead to a fatal mistake. I will make the first move before it happens!

「Guu,u, aaAAHHHH!」

The black staff was swung and I sacrificed my flank to pinch it tightly with my arm. This hurts like hell. The bones are definitely broken. However, the black staff is sealed. If it’s a simple contest of strength, there’s no way for me to lose.

Then, after switching her attack method, what came next was a blow with her fist. Not letting her attack me, I warded off that hand―― but it was returned.

I’m an idiot! How could I forgot that she has a strange technique to parry a simple blow! But, why? The more we crossed swords and exchanged fists, the more her power and speed increased. Was she not serious? Or was she a type who gets into a better condition while fighting? For some reason, my mind is disturbed. Then, my head is slammed to the ground and my body, which is locked by her, is screaming all over.

My power is above her. But, why, I don’t understand…! Ah, damn. That’s right, she’s strong after all. The strongest…

「――Weil.」

Just before letting go of my consciousness, I felt like I heard such words.

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