I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman :
Reports of an ogre’s appearance had come in, and Baraha and his group went off to subdue it. This time, we had sufficient forces, so no soldiers were mobilized. I took a look around at the remaining members.
The ones who stayed behind were the demon Lucifer, Lord Ekvar, my elder brother Rainerio and younger sister Irene, and myself, Ranvalt .
It was surprising to see my brother and Irene here together, considering they weren’t exactly on good terms. Irene used to be afraid of my brother due to his rough demeanor. Perhaps he’s mellowed out.
“…I’m bored of just watching. Why don’t you show us your swordsmanship?”
Ekvar turned his gaze toward me.
This demon, though elegant and soft-spoken at first glance, occasionally displayed sharp and exacting words. Earlier, he mentioned having deliberately destroyed Lord Belial’s palace. There was no doubt he possessed considerable power.
Was he provoking the students? And directing all the attention toward himself? It must be because he appeared as a D-rank adventurer cozying up to nobles.
His character seemed much worse than his refined appearance suggested.
“…You seem intent on worsening my standing at every turn. Shall we, then? Since Rainerio is also here.”
“Let’s do it, Lord Ekvar! Hey, Ranvalt , you’re joining too, right?”
“What? Me as well, brother?”
I was being dragged into it…! I should have known better than to treat this as someone else’s problem. Watching from the sidelines only brings trouble closer.
The three of us grabbed wooden swords, and the instructor instructed the students to move to the walls to make room. They scattered to avoid getting in the way.
With a sword in hand, Lord Ekvar looked more like a hunter seeking prey than a soldier.
“Well then, I shall be your opponent,” Lucifer said, standing up silently. A rod of light appeared in his right hand, which, with a casual flick, transformed into a slender sword as its glow dimmed.
“Lord Lucifer!? You’re participating?”
“Is he skilled with the sword?”
I asked, unable to hide my surprise. He turned to me with a wry smile.
“…Let’s just say if you let your guard down, you might lose your life.”
This was…
“Come at me, all three of you. Now, humans, let me show you the swordsmanship of the King of Hell!”
The room buzzed with excitement. Lord Ekvar wore a troubled expression.
Could it be? Was he the demon who destroyed the castle? He did seem acquainted with Lord Belial. Was this training session his way of apologizing?
Ekvar was the first to charge.
He was fast! Swinging his sword from left to right, then immediately reversing the blade to slash upward diagonally before bringing it down in a swift motion. Lucifer sidestepped each attack slightly, deflecting the strikes with his sword.
When Ekvar’s sword reached waist height, Lucifer flicked it away with a precise strike, causing Ekvar to shift his weight backward to maintain balance and retreat a step.
Rainerio immediately followed up with an attack. His timing wasn’t bad.
However, Lucifer seemed to have anticipated it. He held a whitish sword in both hands, deflecting Rainerio’s strike and countering immediately.
Lucifer’s sword struck Rainerio’s shoulder with a sharp thwack. It sounded like a branch hitting wood. Rainerio winced but didn’t seem too hurt.
Lucifer lightly kicked off the ground.
With a movement as small as taking a step, he closed the gap between us.
Our swords clashed.
The sound of steel echoed several times as I was forced back repeatedly. His strikes were so fast that I had no time to recover. When he raised his sword to the right, I sidestepped to the left.
As if waiting for that moment, Rainerio swung his sword down with all his might. Lucifer shifted his right foot slightly and turned to face Rainerio, fluidly moving his sword in a small circular motion. He deflected Rainerio’s blade from above, altering its trajectory.
At the same time, Lucifer smoothly brought his back foot forward, taking a half-turn while channeling power into his sword.
The movements were elegant yet unrelenting, executed with the minimum effort necessary. It was clear that breaking through his defense would be nearly impossible.
Even while facing three opponents at once, it seemed as if he could predict every move. His speed wasn’t the only factor—his strikes carried force as well, and it was unlikely that his weapon alone could account for it.
It felt like being a small boat adrift in his vast river—helpless against the absolute flow of his movements.
Just as Lucifer prepared to strike Rainerio again, he suddenly turned, pulling his left foot back. Ekvar had closed the distance, launching a diagonal slash. Their wooden swords clashed with a fierce clang.
The two shifted slightly as if testing each other, then separated.
Lucifer smiled wider.
“You humans are quite entertaining.”
The next moment, Lucifer had moved in front of Ekvar.
With blinding speed, Lucifer swung his sword. Ekvar blocked the first strike, but the relentless follow-up gave him no time to react. By the third strike, he was sent flying.
“Ugh!”
He was thrown all the way to the wall! That strike carried far more power than any before.
Turning to Rainerio, Lucifer effortlessly sidestepped his brother’s attack, positioning himself by his side. By the time Rainerio turned to face him, Lucifer’s sword was already embedded in his torso, and he was slammed to the ground.
“…Guh!!!”
How could it have such force when it didn’t even look that fast…?
I was the last one standing. As Rainerio fell, I ran toward Lucifer.
Before he could turn, I swung my sword at him. Lucifer seemed to predict it, shifting his weight to the side while turning to face me. His sword struck my flank with precision.
“Guh!”
The pain was sharp. I fell to my knees, unable to stand immediately.
The training didn’t last very long, but the tension made it exhausting. The students watched silently, holding their breath, and even the instructor seemed absorbed in the spectacle.
“Thank you…”
He was far too strong. All three of us were left gasping for air. Rainerio remained sprawled out on the dojo floor. His state… well, it wasn’t a good look.
“Are you alright!?”
Irene looked worried.
“No, I’m fi…ne.”
Not really—raising my voice still made it resonate unpleasantly.
“There’s no need for concern. Any pain vanishes in your presence,” Ekvar replied smoothly.
Is this really his personality? The last time we met, the circumstances had him angry, and he seemed like a completely different person…! Irene, not being used to men, was blushing. I should warn her—this man is bad news. When angered, he’s even more dangerous than Brother Laineleo…!
“Well… that’s right. So, it was indeed the King of Hell who appeared. Should we keep this a secret?”
“Not at all. I don’t mind,” replied Lucifer, as the sword-like object in his hand vanished.
“In that case, there’s no need for secrecy. It could serve as a deterrent to other nations,” Ekvar suggested.
“Indeed, that’s true,” I nodded, to which Brother Laineleo looked baffled.
“Why’s that?”
Brother, think it through a bit more…
“Simply put,” I explained, “the disappearance of that castle is something neighboring countries are undoubtedly concerned about. If it had been near a border, someone like myself or another investigator would have been sent to verify the extent of the damage and whether the demon responsible had truly been banished. Any falsehoods would create significant trouble. During such investigations, the towns surrounding the area would be visited. If multiple people reported contact with the King of Hell and stated that there was no destruction or harm, only amicable relations, then…”
Following Ekvar’s explanation, I continued, “They would conclude that someone capable of overwhelming or equaling the destructive demon had formed a contract and prevented further damage. Alternatively, they might believe that a terrifying demon capable of great destruction was appeased and brought into peaceful cooperation. Either way, they’d view us as a serious threat.”
So this demon, Lucifer, is the King of Hell. Judging by how Belial treats him, perhaps Belial is also a king… How on earth did Iriya manage to form such a contract?
“Well… knowing he’s a king would likely make others back off. But if they accidentally probe too deeply and somehow trace things back to Lady Iriya , it would be troublesome. It would help if you spread some harmless rumors in advance,” Ekvar suggested.
“Indeed. Since they’re already investigating, they’ll need to show results,” I replied.
Looking back, this situation had turned quite amusing. The truth won’t be easy to uncover, and we can use information manipulation to repay all the misdirection we’ve suffered. This should keep them reluctant to act for a while. Considering how the militaristic state of Tranchinel is already giving us headaches, it’s best if they focus on that.
“And… what will you all be doing from here on out?”
I turned to Lucifer, who had been listening to our conversation with a smile. While I said “you all,” the person whose plans interested me most was him.
Currently, he doesn’t seem to have any contracts or ties. Egdoarm had claimed to have sent him back, but apparently, that wasn’t the case. They likely couldn’t force the matter, and announcing the truth would only cause chaos. Pretending he had been banished was likely the safest option.
“Once Belial and the others return, I’ll spend some time observing the town and then head back,” Lucifer replied.
“Understood. Then I’ll take my leave here,” I said.
“…Ah, I see. You’re going to use him,” Ekvar remarked, catching on immediately.
He would figure it out, of course. Not long ago, someone had cast a large-scale attack spell in this city.
The caster had been taken prisoner, but he’s a troublesome man—both noisy and a highly skilled magician. Someone like that would instinctively sense danger and report their findings to their nation without needing much explanation.
“…There you are! The commander of the defense city!! Hey, how long are you going to keep me in a place like this?!!!”
As soon as we arrived at the prisoner facility, the mage spotted my face and immediately began to raise a fuss.
Even after his interrogation as a prisoner, he was still held in custody. He’s far too dangerous to assign to forced labor, and simply keeping him locked up is troublesome. But it’s not like we can just release him easily—he’s a difficult individual to deal with.
“You guys had a massive demon attack, didn’t you? Did you really send it back? No way it ended like that. It’s weird. I felt the waves of magical energy all the way over here! Let me out of here! I don’t want to get caught up in this!!!”
…It seems he not only sensed the magic but also overheard rumors from the soldiers. He’s falling into a convenient state of paranoia. Being cut off from the outside world must make him more prone to anxiety.
“…Release him. We don’t have time to deal with you anymore.”
“…Huh? Suddenly?? What’s going on? Hey!!!”
“…Let him out.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ignoring the mage’s questions, we carried out the procedure as matter-of-factly as possible.
Baraha, who joined us later, looked at the mage’s neck to remove the restraints suppressing his magic.
“…Hmm. As I thought, he’s at the point where he could break free anytime. This guy’s got a lot of magical power. Just do it yourself; it’s a hassle.”
“Isn’t that a bit too careless, Chief Mage?”
“It’s fine if you want to leave it on~”
“…Shut up, I’ll do it myself!”
The mage easily removed the restraint with a clink. As expected, he’s a highly skilled magic user.
We escorted him to the drawbridge and firmly instructed him to leave the country. Baraha’s phoenix monitored him from above until he crossed the border.
“This place is crazy! I’m out of here!”
On the way, across the road, I spotted Belial-dono and Lucifer-dono walking together in front of a shop.
The mage seemed to recognize Belial-dono. Upon seeing the red-haired figure, his face twisted. Then his gaze shifted to the elegant demon beside him.
“…No way. Something insane is walking around here…!”
“Is that all you can say? Don’t you know any other words?”
The mage, turning back to look at Baraha’s teasing tone, had gone a bit pale. As expected, he must have sensed something to some degree.
“Insane! What else can I call it?! You get it, don’t you, Chief Mage?!”
“Hmm, nope. No idea. There’s no danger for us, though.”
“…!!!”
Baraha has a knack for saying things in just the right way. Without explicitly stating they were under contract or allies, the mage probably assumed they were on friendly terms.
The now completely subdued mage left the city hurriedly when we reached the drawbridge. A complete success. Since there might still be spies, they’ll likely try to contact him. We’ll keep an eye on that.
At this point, Iriya -san and the others were saying their goodbyes to Encarnacion-san. She was speaking in hushed tones with Ekvar-dono.
“…You’re hiding something from me, aren’t you?”
“I am.”
Ekvar-dono answered without the slightest hint of guilt, and Encarnacion-san sighed.
“I won’t ask. But for now, return to your country and report to His Highness yourself.”
“Understood. I’ll return soon. As for what happens afterward, I’ll consult His Highness.”
“Alright… Well, I guess you’ll come back to Chenkaslar eventually. If Lord Lucifer departs, I’ll have no reason to linger here.”
She had been stealing glances at him since the time in the dojo. With his refined features and noble air, it’s no surprise he’s popular with women. He does seem gentle at first glance, after all…
“Well, that’s good. Just make sure you don’t summon him yourself.”
“I won’t. Even I know what it means to summon the King of Hell.”
“…The military nation of Tranchinel is attempting to summon the King of Hell. Please make sure to report this. From my interaction with the duke they summoned in their capital, Tranchinel seems ignorant of the proper methods of dealing with demons or forming contracts. If they succeed in summoning him, it will undoubtedly result in catastrophe.”
“…That’s troubling. There’s no way to prevent it, either.”
She waved her hand dismissively, as if to say it was beyond her. If a king were summoned and angered, neighboring nations could also be affected. The fact that only a single castle was destroyed this time was sheer luck.
The official notice from the country only stated that Tranchinel was attempting to summon high-ranking demons and warned us to stay alert. They didn’t share this level of detail. At the very least, information sharing should be improved…
“You heard that, didn’t you? Be careful, Ranvalt -kun.”
“If you wanted me to hear, you could’ve just called me over. You’re always like this, aren’t you?”
I’ve always found him difficult to deal with. I don’t know how he and my brother became so close. My brother seems to be improving in some ways, but he’s probably blind to this personality of his.
Sometimes I envy those who don’t overthink things…
Please ignore this author’s note part (it’s for site’s technical reason)
Author’s Note:
Thank you for reading this chapter! If you’re enjoying the medieval fantasy world of demons, swordsmanship, and political intrigue, stay tuned for more adventures with Ranvalt, Lucifer, and the rest of the cast. Don’t forget to check out the Worldbuilding Glossary below for deeper insights into the lore and keywords that will enhance your reading experience. Your support helps us continue crafting this epic tale!
Worldbuilding Glossary
Here are some key terms and concepts to enrich your understanding of the medieval fantasy world in this story:
- Ogre Subjugation: A common task for adventurers and soldiers in this world, where monstrous creatures like ogres threaten villages and towns.
- D-rank Adventurer: The lowest rank in the adventurer’s guild, often underestimated but sometimes hiding formidable power.
- King of Hell (Lucifer): A high-ranking demon lord with immense power, known for his elegance and deadly swordsmanship.
- Belial’s Palace: A demonic stronghold destroyed under mysterious circumstances, hinting at the power struggles among demon lords.
- Tranchinel: A militaristic nation attempting to summon high-ranking demons, risking catastrophic consequences.
- Magical Restraints: Tools used to suppress a mage’s power, often employed on dangerous prisoners.
- Chenkaslar: A key location in the story, known for its political intrigue and connections to demonic contracts.
- Demon Contracts: Binding agreements between humans and demons, often requiring precise rituals and mutual understanding to avoid disaster.
- Swordsmanship of the King of Hell: A legendary fighting style known for its elegance, precision, and overwhelming power.
- Egdoarm: A mysterious figure involved in the banishment and summoning of demons, whose true motives remain unclear.
