I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman :
Today, I am walking alone through an unfamiliar town a little far from home.
When I wander through hell alone, someone usually ends up joining me. But once in a while, it’s refreshing not to have someone familiar by my side. If it were Belial, I could just blow him away if he became a nuisance, but I can’t do that to others.
Since I had the chance, I ventured closer to the sea. Wearing sandals, it was perfect for strolling along the sandy beach. Although warm, it wasn’t yet the kind of weather for swimming. A few other people were scattered about, strolling like me, as the sound of waves ebbing and flowing echoed low around us.
The soothing murmur of the sea, the spray of white foam scattering from the waves, and fishing boats visible beyond the horizon.
While the damp sea breeze played with my hair, I thought I might as well explore the town a little.
It was a quiet port town, not very bustling. Small shops dotted the area here and there, and little inns displayed handwritten signs. There was an adventurer’s guild here too, though it was hardly significant. There was no commercial guild, but a fishermen’s union meeting hall stood next to the pier.
The workings of the human world are fascinating.
Along the seaside road, a few stalls were lined up. Nearby, I noticed a heated argument.
“That’s absurd! Just because she can’t do the math, you’re charging way too much. Isn’t that downright cruel!?”
A girl, a mage with bright brown hair, brown eyes, and a short-hemmed robe, raised her voice angrily.
“Exactly. That’s just wrong. Miss, you should buy from another store. Giving her a ‘bonus’ just to make her buy extra, then charging more than that so-called bonus is worth? It’s unacceptable,” said a lightly-armored man with short light-blue hair and blue eyes, holding a spear.
It seemed that a young woman in front of them had been shopping but got taken advantage of by a stall vendor. The vendor had convinced her to buy more by offering a bonus, then overcharged her, knowing she wasn’t good at calculating the total.
What a dishonest way to do business. The adventurers noticed and intervened to help her.
“…Mind your own business! Hey!!”
When the shopkeeper shouted, several men from the neighboring stalls and nearby gathered around.
From a short distance away, I observed the situation. A woman working at a nearby stall also watched nervously.
“Those people are causing trouble again…”
“…Do they often commit such injustices?” I asked.
“Yes… It’s embarrassing to admit, but they forcefully sell things to people buying fish or visiting as tourists. And since there aren’t proper guards around here, if we try to intervene, they retaliate against us later…”
I see. It seems even the decent locals are troubled. This is a human matter, so ideally, the adventurers should resolve it.
But the situation quickly escalated.
Apparently, one of the shopkeepers was a summoner. He summoned a demon with horns, towering over any human, and far more muscular. Right in front of me, no less.
Judging by its rank, it was… a Devil. One step above the lowest demons, somewhere in the middle ranks. Among the so-called “lesser demons,” it was one of the stronger ones.
“Unbelievable! What now, Liet!?”
“We could fight it ourselves, but we’d risk dragging innocent people into it! Lucia, get back a little…”
I walked forward, stepping between the adventurers and the demon.
“Wait, you there…!? It’s dangerous! Get away!” the female adventurer called out, concerned.
“Stand down. I saw everything,” I said to the demon.
At my words, the demon turned pale and dropped to the ground, prostrating himself.
“My deepest apologies for the unsightly display! However, I am bound by a contract… I must defeat those people…”
It seemed he had been forced into an unfair contract. The summoner must have had some skill to pull that off.
“Hey, why are you groveling!? Get up and do it already! Can’t you handle a few weaklings? And you—move, unless you want to get hurt!”
“…You don’t seem to understand who you’re speaking to. Very well, I’ll nullify that contract. You have no objections, do you?”
“I’d be grateful, but…!?”
It is indeed possible to nullify a contract—if you have greater power than the one who formed it.
Normally, however, interfering with someone else’s contract is impossible.
But as a ruler of hell, I can intervene with contracts involving my subordinates. And since I’ve been entrusted with authority over the human realm by Lord Satan, I can nullify any contract involving his subordinates.
That is, unless the contract was willingly entered into by the ruler himself. For example, a contract involving Belial—that, even I could not undo.
I took the contract from the demon and raised it high, slightly above eye level.
“By the authority entrusted to me by Emperor Satan, King of Hell, I declare: this unjust contract is hereby nullified, and I take full responsibility for it. Foolish humans… to degrade your fellow beings, such behavior shall not be tolerated by me!!!”
The parchment contract began to dissolve, disintegrating from its edges until it completely vanished. Though forcibly done, the contract was now void. The same phenomenon would likely occur with the copy held by the human.
The summoner must have realized that the contract was invalid and the bond severed. At this point, they were visibly flustered.
“A king!? The king… just walking around like this? Is that even possible!?”
“Just taking a stroll. Now, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
I smiled gently and entrusted the situation to them. The devil seemed eager for revenge, and there was no chance of him losing now. The chaos-stricken group was met with the devil’s punches, while the man with the spear darted to the side to prevent anyone from escaping.
The other side was the sea; they wouldn’t likely risk running onto the sandy beach where their footing would be poor. Though, I wouldn’t mind if they did—it would make things simpler for me in an isolated area.
The female adventurer, the mage, began chanting a binding spell.
“Sinners, let your tainted souls be bound by the chains of guilt! Let the writhing vines ensnare their targets! Bind and capture them; you are now my prisoners! Custodia!”
Thick vines emerged from the ground, seizing the sturdy men.
Two or three who managed to escape were swiftly knocked down by the spear-wielding man, who struck them with the butt of his spear and tied them up with practiced ease. Quite skilled, I thought. As expected of adventurers—perhaps they were used to apprehending thieves and the like.
“Alright, that should do it! The rest is up to the townsfolk.”
It seemed the major reason the group had been left unchecked was the devil’s contract and the inability to handle such numbers all at once. Members of the fishermen’s guild, who had witnessed everything, ran to fetch the authorities.
The thoroughly restrained culprits were to be transported to a detention facility in another town.
From what I heard, they had repeatedly requested reinforcements from the kingdom but struggled to get enough personnel. The two adventurers were profusely thanked, and representatives of the guild discussed the devil’s disposition now that his contract had been annulled.
“We lack anyone capable of summoning, but leaving him to a criminal to be sent back is worrisome.”
“In that case, I could entrust him to someone I know,” I offered.
The female adventurer hesitated before speaking.
“Um… I have an idea. About this devil, whose contract has been annulled. If he remains in this world, could we contract him as a guard for this port town? You mentioned recruiting adventurers earlier, but finding someone willing to live here as a permanent guard might be difficult.”
“Ah, I see. So, you’d make a contract with this devil to act as a guard from now on?”
The man who seemed to represent the fishermen’s guild nodded, saying it was a good idea.
“…What do you think? I will respect your wishes,” I asked the devil.
The devil flinched slightly at my words before responding.
“Well… depending on the conditions, I think it’s a good offer.”
Perhaps my earlier mention of sending him to someone I knew had made him hesitant. The timing wasn’t ideal.
“Very well. I shall oversee the contract to ensure that neither side is disadvantaged.”
As compensation for his duties as a guard, he would receive the equivalent pay of a C-rank adventurer, along with food and lodging as benefits.
The fishermen’s guild, responsible for paying his wages, determined this was the most they could reasonably provide long-term. The devil seemed satisfied, so there were no issues.
The contract was finalized, and I decided to leave the scene.
“Um… what will you do now?”
The male adventurer asked. Understandably so—anyone would be uneasy knowing that the King of Hell was wandering about.
“No need to worry. I’ll sightsee a bit more and then return. As I mentioned earlier, I also know a suitable mage.”
“I see…”
The female adventurer let out a small sigh of relief.
“By the way, what are the specialties of this region? I’d like to bring back a souvenir.”
Looking around at the nearby stalls and shops, the vendors and fishermen eagerly began making recommendations.
“If you’re looking for something, these red fish—sea bream—are excellent. They’re light and addictive!”
“These large shrimp! They’re delicious raw, grilled, or made into soup!”
“And these, rapeseed buds. They’re in season now; please, take some!”
When I tried to pay with gold coins, they refused, saying they didn’t have enough change and that the help with the devil was already more than enough. Instead, they started piling goods into my arms as thanks.
“…What am I supposed to do with all of this?”
Holding several bags in my hands, I turned to the adventurers. They laughed.
“That’s everyone’s way of expressing their gratitude. You should accept it.”
“Very well, then. Farewell.”
Floating into the air, I waved as the townsfolk waved back at me.
It had taken longer than expected, but if I hurried, I could reach Renant before nightfall.
Please ignore this author’s note part (it’s for site’s technical reason)
Author’s Note:
Thank you for joining me on this journey through a quiet port town, where the mundane meets the extraordinary. This chapter blends the slice-of-life charm of coastal living with the dramatic tension of unexpected encounters, offering a glimpse into a world where even the King of Hell can take a stroll by the sea. If you enjoyed this mix of drama, adventure, and everyday life, stay tuned for more tales that explore the delicate balance between the ordinary and the supernatural. Don’t forget to leave a comment or share your thoughts—I’d love to hear what you think!
Worldbuilding Glossary:
- Belial: A high-ranking demon known for his mischievous and often troublesome nature.
- Devil (Lesser Demon): A mid-tier demon, stronger than the lowest ranks but still bound by contracts and summoning rituals.
- Adventurer’s Guild: An organization that supports and regulates adventurers, offering quests, resources, and protection.
- Fishermen’s Union: A local guild representing the interests of fishermen and coastal workers in port towns.
- Custodia: A binding spell used to restrain targets with magical vines or chains.
- C-rank Adventurer: A mid-level adventurer, skilled enough to handle moderate threats and challenges.
