Chapter 180: The Iron Door

―――― The 28th day of training.

A few days have passed since Deris and Nell left for their honeymoon. Haruna, who moved to this mansion, is gradually getting used to life here. She has become friends with the servants who work in the mansion and she seems to be living a fulfilling life even though she's busy helping with the housework outside her training time.

「Haruna-chan, I need two servings of stir-fried vegetables with cheese and one serving of whimsical pasta immediately!」

「Yes! B lunch is ready, please serve it!」

「Gobu!」

「Oi, have you prepared it!?」

「I'm sorry, please wait a little longer!」

「Chief, I'll take care of it! Give me one minute!」

「Thank you Haruna-chan, I'll leave it to you!」

At noon, the kitchen at Nell's mansion has become a battlefield. Today, Haruna, holding the frying pan, is fighting together with her comrades (the chefs) against numerous orders that are coming indiscriminately. The cook in charge on this day is unfortunately ill, and the heated battle with a lack of manpower is unfolding. They are clearly overworked. However, they don't have the time to take a break and have to deliver the food to their colleagues in time. She sometimes attacks at once (chops finely), sometimes enters a defensive battle (simmers carefully), and she doesn't forget to support her comrades in the meantime. Right now, Haruna is being tested with all the power she has cultivated in her life.

「My~, you're a lifesaver today too, Haruna-chan! There are a lot of shifts in the entire mansion, but there's no substitute today. Also, the new menu has been very well received. I would appreciate it if you could help again when you have the time. Ah, that's right! You can freely use the leftover ingredients just before they get damaged, so let me sample it again next time. It also can become a good stimulus for the underlings.」

「Ehehe, that's a piece of cake! I can learn a lot from it, and with this many people, it's worth making! After all, you professionals are amazing that you move sharply!」

「I-Is that so? You are making me embarrassed~」

「Idiot! You were useless today! You should be thankful to Haruna-chan!」

「T-That's harsh, Chief...」

「Ahaha~」

「And Gobuo, thank you for washing the dishes, serving the food, and doing all the other chores. You're a lifesaver too!」

「Gobu~」

The lunch break time was over. Haruna and the others, who had confirmed their victory, praised each other's good fight while eating a meal that's a little late. Gobuo also joined in the seat and is completely getting used to the mansion.

「Let's see... ah, there she is! Haruna-cha~n!」

「Yes, what's wrong?」

A maid peeked into the kitchen and called out to Haruna when she saw her. It seems that she was looking for Haruna.

「I'm sorry to interrupt your meal, but Haruna-chan's guest is at the front door again.」

「Ah, the usual thing! She's a little early today, huh~. Then, I'll hurry to eat it and go.」

Haruna finished her meal quickly with a splendid way of eating that can make you astonished. She asked Gobuo to help clean up and hurried to the front door.

「Hey, Haruna! Let's battle!」

The loud voice that Haruna heard as soon as she arrived at the front door definitely belonged to Touko. After Haruna moved to Nell's mansion, it became a kind of routine for her to come to the mansion like this. She asks for a duel every day carefreely as if inviting Haruna to play baseball.

「Hello, Touko-chan. You are early. Have you eat lunch?」

「Of course! I'm in the best condition today! I will take the victory this time for sure!」

「Touko-chan sure is energetic today~. But, I'll return that line exactly as it is! Well then, let's go to the basement!」

「Yeah!」

Touko is getting used to the mansion now, but when she visited for the first time, she was so nervous that she was meek and quiet. However, she's a wild child. She adapts to her environment ridiculously fast. As if owning the place, she lightly waved her hand at the servant who bowed deeply as they passed by that even Haruna smiled bitterly at this. Only Touko can step into Nell's mansion, which even the mage prime minister and the king are afraid of, openly like this.

At first glance, Touko seems to be acting as she pleases, but she has a reason for coming here. That's the absence of Lily, whom she looks up to as her master. Even the usually lazy Lily has been taking good care of Touko since she was entrusted by Deris, saying that it's a job only she can do. But in the end, she's just Lily. What kind of training that she gave to Touko for when she's away? Well, she didn't think that far and just left without saying anything to Touko.

As a result, she has to practice on her own. However, Touko is strong. She is so strong that her classmates who just moved from the castle recently can't be her practice partner, and even Akira, the provisional hero, is not worth considering. In order to train more intensely, it is absolutely essential to have an equal partner. Touko was troubled, and then――

『Ah, there's Haruna!』

It took three seconds to solve the problem, and it was a natural conclusion. Her challenge to Haruna is part of that. Even though it's a mock battle, it's unreasonably close to killing each other that they fight until the verge of death. They hit each other until satisfied, and healing them with a pale face after returning from work has become Chinatsu's current routine. Since their arms are always broken as if it's natural, it's unexpectedly useful to improve Chinatsu's light magic.

「So, have you gotten used to living here? Are you being bullied?」

「Everyone is a good person, so there's no such thing. I think I've gotten used to living here. Ah, there was one thing I just couldn't get used to...」

「One thing you couldn't get used to?」

「Yep, but it's solved already.」

There was one thing that Haruna couldn't get used to. It was the size of her room that she mentioned on her first day. Compared to the usual Japanese rooms that she was used to, this huge room was still uncomfortable for her, so she ended up sharing the room with Chinatsu. She tried to ask Chinatsu while thinking that it might bother her, but Chinatsu accepted immediately. Also, the problem of the hugging pillow in Deris's absence has been safely solved with this.

「Hee, sharing, huh. To think that Haruna would worry about something like that.」

「I would, of course. Even I'm human too! Well, we've arrived. Let's do our best again today!」

Oooh! Haruna lets out a cheerful shout and begins to do warming up. Normally, Touko would do the same at this time. On this day, however, she stands still and doesn't move at all. When Haruna looks at her, Touko is staring in a certain direction, staring at something.

「Hey, Haruna. I wonder what's behind that iron door?」

Haruna is back~

...... With a trouble.