I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman
“Marshal Emperor, behold—the King of Hell!”
A man, a contractor of demons, knelt reverently before the throne. Behind him stood a youth, appearing no older than fifteen, hands on his hips, glaring down at the man addressed as the Marshal Emperor.
“You’ve done well! At last, you’ve succeeded! I shall reward you handsomely later! Now, tell me—what is your name?”
“…So you’re the one who summoned me?”
“…Indeed, but—how insolent.”
“Then die.”
Before the man on the throne could finish his sentence, the youth’s hand had already pierced his chest.
It all happened in an instant—so fast that even the close attendants standing nearby had no time to react. The luxurious crown slipped from his head and rolled across the floor.
A bloodstained hand was raised high before the stunned onlookers.
“…Now… offer your tribute! You have summoned the King of Hell—you must pay the price! With your wretched lives!!!”
In the youth’s grasp was the freshly torn-out heart.
With a squeeze, blood splattered across the room. His clothes were drenched in red, and he laughed—his face twisted with sadistic delight.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then, the castle was filled with screams.
A minister who had turned to flee lost his head. A trembling guard, raising his spear in futile defense, collapsed with a gaping hole in his armor. Attendants fell one by one, their bodies crumpling to the floor.
Even the court magicians, who desperately began their incantations, never managed to unleash a single spell.
When the slaughter ended, only two remained alive in the blood-drenched audience chamber—the demon and one man.
“W-What… what have you done…?! You said a sacrifice would be prepared…!”
“Shouldn’t the one who summoned the king pay the price first? But don’t worry—you won’t die. There’s a contract, after all. Instead, you have the duty to witness the game I’m about to play. And I know he’s not far from here… You’ve provided the perfect stage.”
The youth smiled at the trembling contractor—a smile completely out of place amidst the carnage, filled with nothing but amusement.
The sun stood high in the sky, the wind had stilled, and the warmth of the day remained. Sunlight streamed through the windows, as dazzling as ever.
Yet within the brightly illuminated chamber, the stench of despair hung thick.
[Iriya ‘s Perspective]
“I’ve been looking for you!”
A man—an adventurer, judging by his appearance—called out to us.
We had returned to Chenkasler, and now, I was walking through town with Sevillino and Equvar. At first, I thought the man was one of Equvar’s friends, but that didn’t seem to be the case. He was also wearing a D-rank adventurer’s badge.
“…I don’t recall seeing you before,” Sevillino muttered.
Did he have business with Sevillino? The man approached with a friendly smile, but Sevillino only gave him a suspicious glance.
“Well, you used some incredible healing magic back in the royal capital, didn’t you? That parent and child you saved want to thank you. I came to negotiate on their behalf.”
Is that part of an adventurer’s job? We had been away for a while—maybe we’d been rude by not responding sooner.
“That’s amazing, Sevillino! But when did you use such powerful magic?”
“I have no recollection of doing so…”
At our exchange, the adventurer tilted his head in confusion.
“…He is a court magician from Egdoarm, sent to bring closure to the incident. That was merely a charitable act—no thanks are necessary. Besides, that level of magic is nothing special for him. It’s so ordinary to him that he doesn’t even remember using it.”
Equvar stepped forward and explained.
Could it be that earth-attribute healing magic?
Then it must have been when he healed the child bitten by the summoned beast. I never expected someone to go out of their way to find him just to offer thanks.
Upon hearing the words “court magician,” the adventurer quickly fled. Well, Egdoarm’s nobility doesn’t exactly have the best reputation!
When we returned home, Equvar gestured for me to sit in a kitchen chair.
“He was just looking for a commission fee. That level of healing magic usually costs quite a bit. He was hoping to get a cut of it.”
“Oh, I see. So that’s why he was looking for us. But charging people after healing them without asking first… doesn’t sit right with me.”
“Exactly. For magic of that level, I don’t even see a need for payment.”
I suppose in town, it’s normal to charge for magic. There are even magical clinics.
But honestly, the idea of using magic to earn money feels strange to me. I was always paid a set salary—and a generous one at that.
“You probably haven’t realized this yet. Well, Sevillino might have, but you, Lady Iriya , should have known better, considering you’ve been here longer than I have… In Chenkasler, if something summoned causes injury, the summoner is held responsible. If it’s just an injury, they’re fined.”
“Really?! In Egdoarm, all we had to do was heal them and settle things privately, right?”
“That’s because Egdoarm prioritizes nobles and magicians over maintaining order.”
I had no idea…
If this had happened in Egdoarm, Sevillino would have healed the injured person, and that would have been the end of it.
At worst, there might have been a stern warning. I wonder if the Adventurers’ Guild penalties are the same everywhere.
As for medical fees… If the injured party were a noble, they wouldn’t be obligated to pay unless they offered to do so. In Egdoarm, commoners don’t have that kind of right. His Highness wants to change that, even just a little.
So, does that mean that adventurer might have ended up paying both the medical fee and the fine?
I really need to learn more about different legal systems.
“Equvar, you’ve done a lot of research. Do you hear about these things from your adventurer friends?”
“…Master, about that…”
“Look, if I’m going to infiltrate a place while hiding my identity, and then get caught over some minor legal violation, that would be ridiculous. I have to know at least the basics.”
As I began explaining, Sevillino went to make tea. He’s always so diligent.
“…I see.”
“I really do worry about you. Your grasp on common sense is seriously lacking…”
“That’s not true! I’m perfectly fine!”
I’ve managed to live here just fine, so there’s no problem. Equvar just worries too much!
“Then let me ask you this: what do you think a wide-area attack spell is?”
“Um… It covers a large area and is useful, but if it’s too wide, it could be a problem…?”
Clatter. The tea set on the tray rattled.
“S-Sorry about that.”
“Sevillino, are you okay?”
“He’s fine, but you’re not. Not at all.”
Equvar smirked, looking at me like he was saying, “See? I told you so.”
“Wide-area attack magic is strategically important—so much so that if you can prove you can use it, you’d be recruited into the military with excellent treatment. In most countries, its teaching is heavily restricted, and in Chenkasler, it’s outright banned for sale. You won’t find it in any magic bookstores, no matter where you go.”
“…Now that you mention it, I have never seen it in any store.”
I guess I never realized its importance because Belial and the others taught it to me when I was a child. To me, it’s just another tool to use depending on the situation.
“Even Egdoarm’s court magicians can usually only use their specialized attributes. How many different types can you use?”
“Types…?”
As I started counting in my head, Sevillino returned with the tray and placed a cup of tea in front of me, looking my way.
“Master, this is a trap. You must not answer. That is a magician’s secret weapon.”
“…Ah! I almost fell for it!!”
I shot Equvar a light glare, but he just chuckled and said, “That wasn’t my intention, really.”
“I was just curious…”
“I’m not telling you!”
I won’t be fooled that easily!
I’m really glad Sevillino was here. Equvar is way too sneaky!
