Chapter 110

Returning Home to Egdoarm

I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman


“I’ll head back to Egdoarm for now and report directly to His Highness.”

As everyone was eating dinner, Equvar put down his fork and announced this.

“That makes sense. Lord Lucifer has returned, and the reparations with the Kingdom of Chenkaslar have been settled. I will return with you as well.”

It seemed like Sebirino was going back too.

Now that I think about it, since the Grand Magus is gone, the Court Mage organization has become a much more open place.

“…I’d like to go back home and see my family too, but… do you think that’s a bad idea?”

I left my country by faking my death, after all…

“It’ll be fine! Let’s go back together. There’s no danger anymore!”

“The fact that Master was forced to leave the country was a failing on their part. The root cause is no longer there, so you should be able to return home without worry!”

Both of them were supportive of my return, which made me feel relieved. I was afraid I was being too selfish.

“I am with you. Do as you wish.”

Belial agreed as well. However, in his case, there was always the possibility that if something happened, he’d simply choose to massacre everyone involved. While our contract requires my approval for him to kill, if someone attacks first, it’s a different story. He might even provoke them into attacking.

That’s just the nature of demons, I suppose.

With that, we decided that everyone would return home for now.

Since I would be away for a while, I made my rounds to say goodbye to acquaintances before departing.

It was a long journey, so we planned to stay overnight in another country along the way.

The Free State of Spinon.

In this country, if you pay a registration fee to the commercial guild and get a registration certificate, you can participate in markets in any city by just paying for a spot. Some cities even hold markets every day, and if you don’t get there early, you might not find a place.

Unlike other countries, nobles and commoners are judged by the same laws. Also, if you make particularly discriminatory remarks, you could be arrested for violating others’ rights. A country like this is rare.

They uphold the ideal that a nation should protect its people, but not restrict them.

This time, Equvar’s familiar, Lini, was traveling with us, so we shared a room at the inn. Originally, she was supposed to return to Hell during the journey, but we insisted on bringing her along. It’s always nice to have another girl around!

Lini’s violet eyes sparkled whenever she saw something new, and she would tug on Equvar’s clothes and ask, “What’s that?” in a reserved tone. It was adorable. I think her tail was wagging more than usual. Does it move with her emotions?

Summoning magic was also widespread in this country, and various non-human species were visible in town.

I spotted catfolk who looked like large bipedal cats, tigerfolk with manes and tiger-like faces, and even dwarves. There was even a centaur—human upper body, horse lower body! The anti-discrimination laws must make it easier for beastfolk to live here.

Summoned beasts wore tags like nameplates, and even large ones were allowed in the city.

At the entrance, they asked a lot of questions about Belial, but they didn’t inquire beyond whether he had a noble title. Instead, they just kept praising him in awe.

Next to the Adventurers’ Guild stood the Summoners’ Union building. I had never seen one before.

Sebirino had insisted on stopping in this country to observe this organization. I was curious as well.

Inside, there was a large reception area connected to the Adventurers’ Guild. On the opposite side, there were chairs and tables, likely for negotiations and information exchanges.

“Welcome!”

A cheerful voice greeted us from the reception desk.

“Ahh!”

A sudden scream came from nearby.

A small demon, about the same size as Lini, bolted behind the reception counter in an instant.

“What happened??”

The receptionist, likely its contractor, looked surprised and tried to calm the little demon before turning to us—her gaze landing on Belial.

It was because of Belial, right…?

Greeting him would have been the correct reaction, but instinct must have taken over, and it just ran away.

“I’m sorry! Lord Belial isn’t scary at all! It’s okay!”

“…I must say, I find it somewhat displeasing to be called ‘not scary’…”

“What are you trying to do, terrorizing a little demon!?”

I shooed Belial away to sit by the window so he wouldn’t scare anyone else.

“Apologies, my charming lady. But no need to worry—he is a very rational demon.”

“Huh…?”

Equvar complimented the receptionist, but she just looked confused.

“We are from Egdoarm. If possible, could you explain the role of this Summoners’ Union?”

Despite everything, Sebirino remained as composed as ever.

His calm demeanor seemed to bring the receptionist back to her senses. She looked around quickly.

“Ah, um… Oh! Union Master!”

She called out to an older woman with short hair and robes in the back. So the head of this union was a woman.

“What is it?”

“The guests here from the Kingdom of Egdoarm would like an explanation about our Union…”

“The Kingdom of Egdoarm is interested in our organization? That is wonderful. Please, come to the reception room.”

“Oh, should Lord Belial come too…?”

Belial, resting his chin on his hand, looked utterly uninterested.

If we kept him waiting too long, he might get annoyed, so I told him to do as he pleased—wander the town, go hunting, whatever.

Once inside, Sebirino, Equvar, Lini, and I sat on a sofa while the guild master, exuding confidence, began her explanation.

“In our country, summoners must register with us so that we can regulate them and prevent dangerous summoning. You see, nearly twenty years ago, in a neighboring country, someone summoned the King of Hell, and the Summoning Experiment Tower was destroyed. Many people were killed or injured. It was said to be a fiery red demon.”

…Ah. I think I know who did that…

“We provide lectures on summoning, spread awareness of contract procedures and precautions, and support contracts with house fairies and small demons. We also teach about humanoid summons in the adjacent facility. You’re familiar with humanoids, correct?”

“Yes. There are those who transform into humans and those whose true form is human-like.”

There are two types of humanoid beings.

First, there are those who transform into humans, like foxes or badgers. Some dangerous creatures, such as man-eating monsters, can also disguise themselves as humans. These beings can take the form of familiar people or freely change their appearance.

Of course, the effectiveness of their transformation depends on their skill. Especially foxes that have lived a long time and possess strong magical power—it becomes difficult to tell whether they are transformed or truly human.

Then, there are beings that naturally take human form, like demons and angels. Unlike the first type, they are not transforming; they simply possess a human-like appearance from the start. Even among demons, whether they are lowly imps or high-ranking nobles, some have alternate forms, such as beast-like appearances. However, their humanoid form is fundamentally different from that of shape-shifters—it is their true form.

The human form is said to resemble the image of God. God is a perfect being. Therefore, the closer one’s true form is to that of a human, the closer it is to perfection.

That is why lesser demons like Rini have features such as horns and tails, making them distinct from humans. Some minor demons have the ability to hide these features.

Some argue that humans are superior to humanoid beast races like catfolk or sheepfolk, but I feel that is not quite accurate.

For instance, Kingu of the Dragon God race belongs to the divine lineage. His indistinguishable human-like appearance is, in fact, his divine form. His dragon form, on the other hand, is meant for battle. If he were to appear in his dragon form, humans would likely have no chance of escaping.

By the way, when people commonly refer to “gods,” they usually mean the creator gods—beings with the ability to create from nothing. Kingu, however, does not possess such power.

“What safety measures are in place at the facility?”

When Sebrino asked this question, the guild master nodded enthusiastically, as if waiting for someone to bring it up.

“A staff member is always present, and summoning circles and coordinates are pre-written on the floor from the beginning. Summoners typically draw magic circles on paper or boards themselves, and coordinates are written each time. However, if one lacks the knowledge and ability to do this properly, summoning at home is impossible. We also keep usage time short and prohibit copying of the instructions.”

I see—this system does indeed reduce the risks. Sometimes, people intending to summon a minor demon accidentally end up calling a high-ranking noble demon instead. If an ignorant summoner angers such an entity, it could lead to disaster.

“As for those summoning higher beings, they are registered with us. If any issues arise, we have agreements in place to contact them and seek their assistance in resolving the matter. However, those who recklessly perform dangerous summonings will have their summoning privileges revoked and may even face exile from the country.”

A combination of thorough support and firm consequences—this is how they maintain order.

“If it’s not too much trouble, may we observe the summoning facility? We are all knowledgeable in summoning techniques and will not be a disturbance.”

When I made this request, the guild master readily agreed.

“By all means, please have a look!”

Entering the Summoning Facility

The guild master led us to the facility at the back.

It was a three-story building. The first floor housed the reception and meeting rooms, the second floor had lecture halls, and the third floor contained study rooms and archives, accessible only to those with permission. The summoning chambers were located underground.

A summoning was taking place as we entered. They were calling forth a minor demon to use as a porter. It’s quite common to assign such tasks to minor demons—fairies can’t carry heavy objects, and even lower-ranking angels rarely agree to act as porters.

Minor demons, however, are often willing to take on such work because they seek income for tribute payments.

On the floor, both the summoning circle and coordinates were clearly drawn. The summoner stood at the center of the circle, with an assistant positioned diagonally behind them. In this case, it was an instructor. This was the proper method.

The method was correct…

“Guild Master!! That summoning circle… One of the crucial inscriptions is fading! It won’t provide full protection!”

“What!? …You’re right! How did no one notice this…?!”

Summoning circles on the floor tend to wear out quickly—just walking over them causes erosion.

Daily checks are crucial, but they must have become careless over time. Of all things, the part that was fading happened to be a segment of the sacred Tetragrammaton—the divine name itself.

The summoned minor demon seemed to have noticed the weakness in the magic barrier.

Judging by the guild master’s panicked reaction, the instructor in charge probably wasn’t very combat-capable.

“Excuse me!”

There was no time to hesitate—I opened the door. Normally, the door remains closed during summonings because only the area within the summoning circle is protected.

In this case, even that protection was compromised.

The Crisis Unfolds

“What do you think you’re doing!?”

The instructor turned toward us, shouting angrily. However, he seemed unaware of the summoning circle’s flaw.

He was chanting an incantation to reinforce the barrier, meaning he at least realized it was weak.

The summoned minor demon began sprinting toward the summoner.

It was about waist-high to a grown man, with greenish skin, pointed ears, fangs, and sharp claws. This wasn’t a porter—it was a hunter-type minor demon. Everything was completely off!

The guild master seemed to realize this as well and raised his staff, preparing to cast a spell.

“This looks like my cue!”

Ekvar leaped forward past the summoning circle, intercepting the minor demon’s attack. The sound of claws clashing against a steel sword rang out several times before the demon jumped back, creating some distance.

“Gyee-gyee… You’re quite skilled. But I refuse to be some human’s pack mule—you insult me!”

“No, no, they genuinely just wanted to hire you for a job. Seems like they weren’t aware of the summoning circle’s flaw.”

“A flaw!?”

The summoner and instructor quickly checked their feet. After a moment, they finally noticed the faded inscription and their eyes widened in shock.

Ekvar’s familiar, Rini, peeked in from the entrance, looking slightly uneasy with half of her face visible.

“This person is seeking a minor demon willing to carry their luggage. Could you introduce them to someone?”

Since the instructor was too flustered to act, I decided to take over the negotiation. Technically, negotiations should take place within the summoning circle, but I had little choice.

“Why would I help a human!?”

“Of course, we will pay a referral fee.”

“…A referral fee, huh? Well, in that case, I might consider it…”

The minor demon’s stance softened. At the very least, it no longer seemed inclined to attack.

With this, things should be fine from here. Minor demons will listen if treated with respect and fairness, even if they get angry.

“Guild Master, may I leave the negotiation to you?”

“Of course! You are remarkably skilled at this. As expected of the envoys from Egdoarm!”

He seemed deeply impressed. Though I was no longer affiliated with Egdoarm, I saw no need to correct him.

“She is my master, after all—this is only natural!”

Sebrino, honestly…

A Peaceful End

After completing our tour, we wandered through the city before heading back to the inn.

Since we had another long journey ahead the next day, I planned to rest well for the night.

I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman

I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman

宮廷魔導師見習いを辞めて、魔法アイテム職人になります
Score 9.9
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2024 Native Language: Japanese
The prologue may appear serious on the surface, but it’s fundamentally comedic. And there is no romance. The pairings are left to the readers' imagination. Updates are generally once a week on Fridays. This is a fantasy story about Illya, who is a magic-focused, effort-driven character with zero physical combat ability, and the demon Belial with whom she has made a contract. It includes elements like magic incantations, magical enhancements, demons, summoning, and amulets—packed with things I love! For those coming from the books: Volume 1 covers the first chapter. The continuation starts from Chapter 2, Episode 27. Volume 2 contains Chapters 2 and 3, but Episodes 49 and 50 have been cut. Volume 3 includes Chapters 4 and 5, with content from Episodes 51 to 74, but Episodes 71 and 73 have been cut. It also includes Episode 80, "The Master’s Return of Favor." The first part is complete. The first wide-area attack magic appears in Episode 37, and demons will increase in the latter half! (;'∀') The second part is also complete: The Hell King War! The third part has finished as well: The Fiancée Annulment Arc! A lot of travel takes place. The fourth part is also complete. Cutting through the darkness of Egdualum!?

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