I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman
Summoning Experiment Facility of the Military State, Tronchinel
The dimly lit room at dusk was eerily silent, with slanting sunlight casting long shadows.
In one of the desolate laboratories, two figures stood.
One was a tall, middle-aged summoner standing within a magic circle, and the other was a young man who had appeared at the designated coordinates.
The young man’s short, straw-colored hair and reddish-brown eyes fixed squarely on his counterpart. He appeared to be about fifteen years old, with a delicate, feminine face and a short stature. He wore a white blouse with embroidery, trousers, and short boots adorned with gemstones. Draped over his shoulders was a light blue shawl, giving him the appearance of a refined nobleman’s child.
“…Was it you who summoned me?”
“…Are you… the King of Hell?”
The summoner swallowed hard. Cold sweat trickled from his cheek to his chin, dripping onto the stone floor.
He tried to steady his trembling hands, but the overwhelming presence of the figure—shorter than himself—brought a soul-freezing terror that he could not suppress.
“That’s right. I was bored. What sort of amusement do you propose?”
“F-first, can you promise not to kill me?”
“…Very well. But prepare sacrifices. Enough for me to strangle with my hands until I’m satisfied…”
The young man’s lips curled into a cold, cruel smile.
The summoner faltered but knew he must not show fear. Summoning all his bravado, he responded in an exaggerated tone.
“Of course, as many as you want. That’s why I summoned you! Tell me your name…”
“Hahaha! ‘So I can let you kill,’ is it? Interesting!! Let’s make a contract! My name is…”
□□□□□□□□□□□□ (Switch to Equvar ‘s POV)
The reparations at Chenkaslar were complete, and the demon Lord Lucifer had returned to Hell.
Finally, things felt calmer. Now I just had to report back to Egdoarm… But it was such a long way, and the thought weighed on me.
If only they’d lend me a wyvern, I could get it over with much quicker. It’d make crossing the mountains so much easier!
While browsing the request board at the adventurers’ guild in Lenant after a long time, I spotted two familiar faces entering.
“Oh, Celestan and Pavari .”
“Oh! Lord Equvar !”
“It’s been a while.”
Celestan started calling me “Lord Equvar .” He used to address me as “you.”
It was probably because, during our last meeting, I mentioned I was a member of the Egdoarm Kingdom’s Crown Prince’s royal guard. And I had beaten him in a duel with my sword.
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if he just called me “you,” as long as it wasn’t disrespectful.
Celestan, an S-rank swordsman, and Pavari , an A-rank mage specializing in light magic with a mace, had been deceived by an evil count into fighting the demon Lord Belial. That’s how we met.
I wasn’t at the scene myself…!
Even now, I regret missing it. I heard it was an incredible magic battle, and one of Belial’s secrets was revealed. So jealous…!!!
“Have you decided on a gift for Miss Ilia?”
I asked casually, masking my inner turmoil.
“Ah, during the mass extermination of Alraunes, I got their roots—Alruna—and handed them over. I also gave her some Soma sap. She was delighted.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Alraunes are plant-like monsters. They resemble humans in green or brown and attack with vines and magic. Their roots, Alruna, are used in medicine, making them a prized gift for alchemists creating recovery items.
Even casual conversation drew the attention of others. As expected of an S-rank adventurer, everyone gazed at them with envy.
“Is it true there’s an S-rank adventurer here?”
Descending the stairs was the guild master of this adventurer’s guild, a man in his fifties with slicked-back gray hair.
“…Do you need me for something?”
Celestan replied, and the guild master approached us.
“There’s a matter to discuss privately. Please, all of you, come with me…”
It seemed the guild master thought I was one of their companions.
I tried to slip away, but Celestan urged me to join. Other adventurers seemed to silently object, their looks saying, Don’t get any ideas.
Though I hadn’t been here long, those who frequented the Lenant guild knew I was just a D-rank adventurer.
“Let’s go, Lord Equvar .”
Even Pavari invited me along. I had hoped he’d clarify I wasn’t involved, but… was this going to be one of those troublesome requests?
We entered a reception room just past the stairs. Shelves lined with files, two tables with leather sofas facing each other, and a grand, gilded frame on the wall holding a portrait of the king and queen.
As we sat, steaming coffee was brought out for all of us—even me.
Once we were settled, the guild master began speaking in a low voice.
“A while ago, Egdoarm’s chief mage summoned a demon here in Chenkaslar, reducing an old castle to ash…”
Ah, I was directly involved in that.
The guild master continued cautiously.
“The emissaries from there offered apologies and reparations, so it’s been resolved for now. But there are fears they might still be secretly summoning demons elsewhere. A directive has come down to investigate.”
Celestan and Pavari both turned their gazes toward me.
Well, it’s already been dealt with, so it should be fine.
“…There’s no need for concern regarding that matter. The chief mage was not particularly skilled in summoning and simply overestimated the power of a certain talisman, leading to their own demise. We’ve accounted for everything since acquiring the talisman, so there’s no chance of further incidents.”
After all, Lord Belial was with us at the time. If they had summoned other demons, it would have been obvious.
When I explained, the guild master looked at me with a curious expression.
“…This individual is part of Egdoarm’s royal guard sent to investigate. The adventurer identity is merely a cover.”
Pavari introduced me. Realizing my explanation meant there was no need to hide it anymore, he filled in the blanks. Sharp as ever, he was a good conversationalist.
“I-I see! My apologies, that makes things much easier!”
“I’ll be returning to Egdoarm for now but plan to stay here as an adventurer again afterward. If you need anything, feel free to ask. Since everything’s resolved, secrecy isn’t necessary, but I’ve grown fond of the disguise.”
As a D-rank adventurer, I sometimes get into amusing scuffles. It’s fun.
Back home, no one would dare mess with me—thanks to the Crown Prince’s authority. People might gossip behind my back, but no one confronts me directly.
Returning downstairs, I saw adventurers leaning against the walls, clearly curious about what had happened.
“We’re heading back to the Wastent Republic to report to our master,” said Celestan.
“Wastent is close; lucky for you. Egdoarm is so far…”
Celestan and Pavari laughed as they left, promising to return.
When I moved to check the request board again, the receptionist waved me over. Was this… an invitation for a date?
“Lord Equvar …? Those two are S-rank and A-rank. Please be careful not to offend them…”
“…Haha, I’ll be careful.”
I was just being warned.
S-rank adventurers are truly everyone’s envy.
At home, Ilia was already busy in the basement making medicine.
Some of it was drying on the rooftop, and apparently, she’d shared some with Alesia. Alruna enhances antidotes, cools fevers, and soothes the stomach, becoming powdered medicine.
As I sank into the sofa, thinking it was about time to tell her I’d be leaving, I heard quick footsteps coming up the stairs from the basement.
“Look! I’ve made a super-powerful antidote by adding Alruna and a sea serpent’s magic core to squeezed fennel and orchid leaves!”
Ilia proudly held out a small bottle.
Apparently, magic cores from serpent-like monsters are potent antidotes.
But when had she hunted a sea serpent? Could it be that she secretly enjoys hunting monsters? Thinking back, she never falters regardless of the opponent…
Flying magic allows her to fight freely across seas and mountains. She’s far more combative than I am.
It’s absurd—but incredibly captivating.
