Kays Translations

Chapter 85: “Creating a Special Magic Item to Counter Magical Beasts”

It was the day after I received a letter from Demon Lord Rukie.

Having finished delivering the “UV-Cut Parasol,” I decided to gather some new materials.

“So, Agnis. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.”

We were in my workshop in the Raisenga territory.

Agnis nodded, sitting in the chair across from me.

“Thor Canaan-sama, what kind of material are you looking for?”

“If possible, something the people of the Empire don’t know about.”

I explained,

“General Raisenga and the others will soon conduct a joint border survey with the Empire. If a summoner conjures another new type of magical beast during the survey, it could be dangerous. So I want to create a powerful item as a countermeasure.”

“But we already have the ‘Laser Pointer’ and ‘Security Buzzer’…”

“The enemy might already know about those items.”

The enemy was a spellcaster capable of summoning magical beasts with a magic circle.

They might have witnessed the battle between the Demon Lord’s army and the new magical beasts.

To catch them off guard, it would be better to create a new item.

“I understand. If that’s the case…”

Agnis thought for a moment and then said,

“In that case, I think meteoric iron would be a good choice.”

“Meteoric iron… A stone that fell from the sky—a fragment of a meteorite, huh? Come to think of it, you gave me some before.”

I took out a small stone from the “Ultra-Compact Portable Storage.”

It was the “Meteoric Iron” I had previously received from Agnis.

──────────────────

Meteoric Iron

A fragment of a stone that fell from the dark sky.

It possesses attributes and a composition unlike those of substances found on Earth.

Attributes: Sky ・ Sky ・ Sky ・ Darkness ・ Darkness ・ Earth

──────────────────

Using this, I could grant the mysterious attribute “Sky” to an item.

However, the piece of meteoric iron I had was too small, so even if I used it for synthesis, the effect would be minimal.

If only I had a larger piece.

With that, I might even be able to conduct magical experiments.

“There’s a place where people say a large rock once fell from the sky. That’s where I found the meteoric iron.”

“Sounds interesting. Is that place far from here?”

“It’s nearby—a rocky area at the foot of the mountain range.”

“Let’s go check it out. Will you guide me?”

“Yes!”

So Agnis and I set out to gather materials.

“This is the place.”

Agnis guided me to a rocky area at the foot of the mountain.

Farther down from the mines, the ground contained a bowl-shaped depression.

Apparently, it was the site where a meteorite had fallen long ago.

“When I was little, I often came here,” Agnis said.

“Really?”

“This place is rarely visited by people. So even if fire came out of my body, I wouldn’t be a bother to anyone.”

Agnis murmured softly.

Come to think of it, Agnis’s tendency to burst into flames had prevented her from interacting freely with others.

Back then, unless she was somewhere deserted, she couldn’t take off her armor.

Maybe this was the one place where Agnis could relax without worrying about being seen.

“Of course, now I can wear clothes like this normally.”

Agnis pinched the hem of her skirt and smiled.

“But still, when I come here, I remember my younger self. I couldn’t control the flames and caused trouble for so many people…”

“I see. So this is a secret place only you know.”

“That’s right.”

“Thank you, Agnis.”

I bowed my head to Agnis.

“For bringing me to your secret place. Thanks to you, I might be able to get some rare materials.”

“Th-That’s too much! You don’t have to thank me… I didn’t really do anything.”

Agnis covered her face with both hands in embarrassment.

“…But if I can help you, Thor Canaan-sama, I think the younger Agnis would be happy too…”

“You’ve helped more than enough. Just wait here—I’ll find the material right away.”

I took my newly made personal “Magic Detector” out of the “Ultra-Compact Portable Storage.”

I opened the lid, placed the small piece of meteoric iron inside, closed it, and activated the detector—

Beep!

The wings on its back pointed toward one part of the rocky area.

“Found it. The meteoric iron is near that big rock.”

“A-Amazing!”

“…But it looks like it’s wedged between the rocks. It might be difficult to retrieve.”

“It’s okay. P-Please wait just a moment.”

Suddenly, Agnis took my hand.

Then she closed her eyes, as though waiting for something.

“Agnis…?”

“I want to be useful. I’ll power up and show you that I can move the rock!”

The “Health-Enhancing Pendant” on Agnis’s chest began to glow.

“Thor Canaan-sama, please make it so the pendant can speak.”

“Speak?”

“I want everyone to know… that you’re the one who gives Agnis her strength.”

Saying this, Agnis guided my hand to her chest.

I activated “Creation Alchemy: Over-Alchemy.”

I modified the Health-Enhancing Pendant so it could emit sound and adjusted it so Agnis could turn the voice on and off with her magic.

Then the pendant spoke in a loud voice.

“Received: +100% Vitality from fire-attribute magic.”

“Converting surplus fire magic into other elemental attributes.”

“Fire magic converted into earth magic. Received: +100% Stability from earth-attribute effect.”

“Earth magic converted into metal magic. Received: +100% Fortification from metal-attribute effect.”

“Metal magic converted into water magic. Received: +100% Flexibility from water-attribute effect.”

“Water magic converted into wood magic. Received: +100% Vitality from wood-attribute effect.”

Agnis was amplifying her fire magic to activate the Health-Enhancing Pendant.

She intended to use its power to move the rock.

“You can do it, Agnis.”

“Yes!”

Agnis clasped my hand in both of hers.

She pressed our joined hands to her forehead as though in prayer.

“Received: +600% Vitality from fire-attribute magic.”

“Converting surplus fire magic into other elemental attributes.”

“Fire magic converted into earth magic. Received: +600% Stability from earth-attribute effect!”

“Earth magic converted into metal magic. Received: +600% Fortification from metal-attribute effect!”

“Metal magic converted into water magic. Received: +600% Flexibility from water-attribute effect!”

“Water magic converted into wood magic. Received: +600% Vitality from wood-attribute effect!”

The Health-Enhancing Pendant emitted a tremendous light.

The magic of wood, fire, earth, metal, and water circulated through Agnis’s body, which radiated heat.

It wasn’t the heat of flames, but the warmth of vitality.

“…As I thought, Thor Canaan-sama always gives Agnis strength.”

Agnis released my hand and turned to face the massive rock.

Then, placing her hand on the rock—

“Heyah!”

Rumble.

A massive boulder, about as tall as an adult, rumbled and rolled away.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

“…Amazing.”

“Th-this is all thanks to the power Thor Canaan-sama gave me.”

“Even so, it’s incredible. If Agnis wielded a weapon, she’d be seriously strong…”

“Agnis… relies on brute strength in close combat.”

“Really?”

“So Agnis wants to train more, so she can better protect Thor Canaan-sama and everyone else. But… Father doesn’t train me very often…”

“The General… probably can’t bring himself to raise a weapon against you.”

“Someday, I want to train under a truly great swordsman.”

Agnis was also General Raisenga’s heir.

One day, she might inherit his position and protect this territory.

I should prepare some magic items especially for her before that day came.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I think I can collect the materials.”

“I’ve never seen such a large piece of meteoric iron before…”

“With this much, I can definitely use it as an alchemical material.”

In front of me was a black stone about the size of a human fist.

It was meteoric iron—a fragment of a meteor that had once fallen in this area.

Because meteoric iron came from the sky, its composition, hardness, and weight differed from those of other metals.

I would use those traits to create a magic item.

“For now, let’s head back to the workshop and try fusing this with a weapon.”

“To the workshop?”

“When I make a powerful magic item, I’m supposed to report it to the civil official Erte.”

“You’re so diligent, Thor Canaan-sama.”

“Erte seemed busy preparing for the border survey, so I asked Mabel to deliver a letter to her after delivering the ‘UV-Cut Parasol.’ It should have arrived by now—”

“Alchemist-samaaaaa!!”

Huh? I heard Erte’s voice.

When I looked, I saw Erte running across the rocky ground.

Mabel was behind her.

“What’s the matter, Erte?”

“Well, the Alchemist said he was going to make a new item, so I came to… well, to see it…”

“Please don’t push yourself! First, catch your breath.”

When I said that, Erte sat down on the rocks.

She seemed to have pushed herself quite hard.

“Don’t worry. I won’t conduct the experiment without telling you.”

“That’s not it…”

Erte took a deep breath and finally seemed to calm down.

“I didn’t want to put the Alchemist through any unnecessary trouble.”

“Unnecessary trouble?”

“You were planning to conduct the experiment when you returned to the workshop, right?”

“Yeah, but…”

“I can’t let you go to all that trouble just for me!”

Still sitting on the ground, Erte raised her voice.

Perhaps she had overexerted herself, because she began coughing.

Mabel, who had caught up with her, offered her a water pouch. As expected of Mabel.

“Gulp, gulp… Phew. I didn’t come here to interfere with the Alchemist. That wasn’t my intention, so—”

“With you here, I can conduct the experiment right now. That saves us the trouble of returning to the workshop, doesn’t it?”

“Y-yes…”

“Aren’t you being a little too serious, Erte?”

“It runs in my family.”

Her bloodline, huh.

Well, I guess that can’t be helped.

“Alright. I’ll take you up on your offer and conduct the experiment here.”

“I heard it’s an experiment for a weapon…”

“Here it is.”

I took an arrow out of the “Ultra-Compact Simple Storage.”

It was an ordinary arrow with a steel tip, a wooden shaft, and feather fletching.

“I’m going to add the properties of meteoric iron to this and see whether I can turn it into a magical weapon.”

“A magical weapon… Do you mean an enchanted weapon?”

“Something like that. Mabel, come over here. I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“Y-yes. Thor-sama.”

Mabel, still dressed in her maid uniform, walked over to my side.

Agnis stood on my other side.

Sitting on the rocks, I began explaining the magic item I was about to make.

“First, take a look at this.”

I spread a piece of parchment bearing a magic circle across the rock.

“This is a summoning magic circle. It’s the one used by those who summoned magic beasts. If you look closely at this magic circle, you’ll see symbols resembling doors, gates, and bridges.”

“…Indeed, that’s true.”

“…Now that you mention it, I can see it.”

“…I didn’t notice it before, but this line really does look like a door, gate, or bridge.”

“Since it’s a summoning magic circle, I think there’s some meaning behind it.”

Doors, gates, and bridges all connect one place to another.

A door connects rooms, a gate connects the inside to the outside, and a bridge connects lands.

Summoning magic connects the location of a hero or magical beast to the magic circle and calls the target through that connection.

“As a basic principle of magic, fire magic creates flames and water magic creates water, right? So I thought that, by depicting doors, gates, and bridges, this summoning circle might create a ‘connection.'”

“I understand. Thor-sama.”

Mabel nodded.

“By creating the image of a ‘connection’ with the magic circle and activating it with a spell, summoning magic becomes possible… The Empire used this kind of technique, didn’t it?”

“…Thor Canaan-sama is really impressive.”

“Analysis and appraisal are basic skills for alchemists.”

When I lived in the Empire, I spent all my time at work reading books.

There weren’t many books available, so I developed the habit of studying each one carefully.

“However, Alchemist-sama, how does this relate to weapons?”

Erte tilted her head.

“I thought I could apply the same principle to create a weapon that activates magic.”

“A weapon for magic?”

“I’ll try it out. Please watch.”

I placed the meteoric iron I had just obtained beside the arrow.

“Activate—’Creation Alchemy: Over-Alchemy.'”

I activated the skill.

First, I fused the meteoric iron—a fragment of a meteor—with the arrowhead.

I could do that with “Material Transmutation.”

I used the meteor fragment as the material and added its properties to the arrowhead.

Because this was my first time handling the material, the process was difficult.

The material wasn’t even from this world, after all.

The meteoric iron began to shrink as soon as I fused it with the arrowhead.

At this rate, I could make no more than four arrows.

“Executing ‘Creation Alchemy!'”

The arrowhead fused with the meteoric iron glowed faintly.

This was the new magic item.

──────────────────

“Meteorite Arrow” (Attributes: Earth, Earth, Earth, Sky, Sky)

(Rarity: ★★★★★★☆)

An arrow fused with a fragment of a meteorite that fell from the sky.

Fusing it with the meteorite has enhanced its hardness and penetrating power.

Thanks to its Earth and special Sky attributes, it can summon an earth-aligned object from the sky.

The arrow moves through the air, falls, and pierces the target.

The meteorite also moves through the air, falls, and pierces the target.

Combining objects with similar properties has turned it into a medium for ritual magic.

By channeling magical power into it, a specific spell can be activated.

──────────────────

“With that said, Mabel, could you try shooting this arrow? Fire it diagonally upward so that it falls toward the target.”

“Yes, Thor-sama.”

“When you do, I’d like you to recite this incantation. It’s famous, so I’m sure you know it, but—”

I whispered the incantation into Mabel’s ear.

Mabel’s eyes widened.

“Thor-sama!? That’s a spell only heroes could use! Someone like me can’t—”

“It’s fine. It’s an experiment. Even if it fails, it just won’t activate.”

“…Right, of course. No one has ever been able to reproduce that spell. Ah, is that why you made this arrow? Just as magic circles support summoning magic, this arrow can support the activation of magic from the heroes’ era…?”

“Exactly. I reduced its power, so I think it’ll be safe.”

“…That was the great spell that destroyed the Demon Lord’s fortress, wasn’t it…?”

Mabel nodded several times.

She seemed to understand.

Mabel took a bow from her personal “Ultra-Compact Storage.”

With her bow and arrow in hand, she moved to the designated position.

“Agnis, make sure there’s no one around. I don’t think there should be, but just to be safe.”

“I understand!”

“Erte, please observe the results and report them to His Majesty, Chancellor Kelve, and General Raisenga.”

“Understood. But what exactly is about to happen?”

“This is an experiment with a magic item. It’s also a test for making a magical sword.”

“Ah.”

“You know the Holy Sword of Light, right?”

“Yes, I do.”

“That sword reacts to magic and emits an intense light, right? There were also fire and wind magic swords in the heroes’ era. They produced fire or wind when supplied with magic.”

“Yes, there were. But what about it?”

“I thought I’d try making something similar to that.”

While we were discussing this, Agnis returned.

There was no one else nearby.

This was a place no one normally visited. There were no wild animals nearby, and even if a magical beast appeared, we could handle it. There was no danger.

Mabel had also finished preparing her bow. She had nocked the arrow and was ready to fire.

“I think the fire and wind magic swords were also ritual-magic items. Swinging them with the force of fire or the motion of wind would produce fire or wind.”

“That might be the case. So does that mean this arrow is the same?”

“Yes. It combines an arrow, which flies through the air before falling and piercing its target, with a meteorite, which also travels through the air, falls, and strikes its target. The only difference is the direction in which they travel.”

“I see…”

Erte nodded.

“I understand now. You combined an arrow that flies through the air and falls to pierce its target with a meteorite that does the same. If swinging a sword like the wind calls forth wind, then firing this arrow could—wait, does that mean this is the magic the hero used?!”

“Yes. It’s the grand spell that fell from the sky and destroyed the Demon Lord’s fortress.”

I explained,

“That incantation is famous because the hero shouted it boldly before the entire army. Even though everyone knew the incantation, no one could reproduce the spell.”

“I-I understand. Whether it was a skill, magical power, or a ritual, the hero possessed something we lack…”

“But if a magic circle envisioned as a gate can support summoning magic, then an arrow fused with meteoric iron might become the ritual medium for magic that ‘falls from the sky, travels through the air, and pierces its target.’ If so, it could create an entirely new form of magical ritual…”

“U-Um, excuse me, Alchemist-sama!!”

“I, Mabel Refrain, will now fire the ‘Meteorite Arrow’!”

Whoosh!

Mabel released the arrow.

Her form was so beautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

As an elf, Mabel must have been highly experienced with archery.

The arrow flew through the air, reached its maximum range, and began to fall…

“It’s impossible! There’s no way an arrow could invoke the hero’s great spell, ‘Meteor’—!”

The moment Erte said that, the arrow glowed.

The light stretched into a line that shot straight upward.

Whoooosh.

After a moment, a small shadow appeared in the sky.

It was a black rock.

It wasn’t very large—about the size of a human head at most.

“…A failure, perhaps.”

The legendary great spell “Meteor,” used by the hero, was said to have created a massive rock that shattered the Demon Lord’s fortress.

But the “Meteor-like” object before us was nowhere near that impressive.

At most, it could probably shatter a fortress wall.

For safety, I had deliberately reduced the amount of the Sky attribute.

“Everyone, hide!”

“Y-yes!” “Understood!” “What are you—!”

We quickly hid behind the large rock that Agnis had moved earlier.

The next moment—

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!

The ground trembled.

A tremendous roar echoed as fragments of rock flew everywhere.

At the same time, the smell of scorched stone filled the air.

The “Meteor-like” object created by the “Meteorite Arrow” struck the ground and formed a huge crater.

That was all it did, to be honest.

Its power was considerably weaker than the hero’s great spell “Meteor.”

As ritual magic, it still needed some refinement.

Because it had been conjured by magic, the meteor vanished completely.

The “Meteorite Arrow” disappeared as well.

It was a shame that it couldn’t be reused. That made it difficult to put to practical use…

“But this could defeat a new type of magical beast in a single strike.”

“That’s complete overkill!”

Erte raised her voice.

“In the end, you analyzed how the magic circle works, didn’t you!? And now you’re using an item to recreate the hero’s ‘Meteor’… You’re simply—!”

“It’s still an imitation, so I call it ‘Meteor-like.'”

I shrugged.

“Its power isn’t on par with the hero’s. It’s only a replica.”

“To defeat a new type of magical beast… with something like that…”

“That’s one use, but I thought this magic might also be useful for civil engineering.”

“Civil engineering?”

“You know how rivers often run through mountainous regions, right? Landslides can dam those rivers, causing flooding or water shortages downstream. In a situation like that, this ‘Meteor-like’ spell could easily clear the debris… Wait, Erte, why are you holding your forehead?”

“…I’m desperately trying to restrain myself.”

“So yes, this can be used to deal with magical beasts and landslides.”

Erte let out a long sigh.

Erte trembled as she held her head in both hands.

Could a rock fragment have hit her? I was worried.

“Umm… Thor-sama.”

“Hmm? What is it, Mabel?”

“I have a question.”

“A question?”

“What would happen if that arrow hit a magical beast?”

“The ‘Meteor-like’ object would fall toward the arrow, of course.”

“What if the magical beast ran away?”

“I think it would chase the beast.”

“Automatic homing?”

“Yes, automatic homing.”

“…”

“See? It’s even more practical than the hero’s ‘Meteor’! A meteor that never misses should be impossible! Why? Why are you like this—?!”

For some reason, Erte shook her head vigorously.

Agnis supported Erte by the shoulder when she tried to walk away. Why?

“Please use that power… to find the summoner.”

Erte finally spoke, sounding exhausted.

“I understand how powerful the ‘Meteorite Arrow’ is.”

“Understood.”

“Please do.”

“But before that… I’m going to make a quick trip to Noza Town.”

Before coming here, I had asked the fairies to deliver a letter to Princess Sophia, telling her that I wanted to discuss the Duke and Princess Liana in person.

After all, I couldn’t keep meeting her in the trading post’s bathhouse every time.

“Agnis, will you come with me to Noza Town again?”

“Of course, I’ll accompany you!”

“Mabel, please take care of the workshop while we’re gone. If His Majesty or the Chancellor contacts us, could you send the fairies to notify me immediately?”

“Understood! Leave the workshop and communications to me!”

“Then, Erte…”

I turned to Erte.

“I think I can make three more ‘Meteorite Arrows.’ I’ll leave all of them with you.”

“Y-Yes.”

“Please report these items to His Majesty and the Chancellor. It would also help if you could teach General Raisenga how to use them.”

“…Understood.”

Erte nodded.

“I’m shocked that you showed me something like this so suddenly… but I understand that it’s a trump card against the new type of magical beast. I also understand that you’re seriously considering countermeasures.”

“That’s right…”

“You seem a little pleased about that.”

“It’s not only about the magical beasts… I’m happy because I feel as though I’ve uncovered one of the mysteries of magic.”

“A mystery?”

“Alchemy is about discovering new techniques and mysteries that no one else knows. I’m truly happy that I found a new way to use ritual magic.”

Drawing on magic circles as a clue, I had discovered that magic items could serve as mediums for ritual magic.

Perhaps meteoric iron made this an exceptional case, but…

Even so, it was still an advance for the Demon Lord’s Domain.

“Honestly… you really are unbelievable…”

Erte sighed, looking troubled.

“You create something incredible and then hand it over as though it’s nothing. Honestly…”

“I’m sorry. I’m causing you trouble.”

“I understand. As a civil official, I’ll handle the procedures and other arrangements. So, Alchemist-sama, please continue doing as you please—Ah, no, that was inappropriate! Forget I said that! And why are you smiling!? Alchemist-sama!?”

With Erte’s flustered voice ringing in our ears, Mabel, Agnis, and I headed back to the workshop.

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