I Quit Being a Court Magician Apprentice to Become a Magical Item Craftsman
“How was it, Lord Belial?”
“Hmm, that was certainly not a sea serpent. It was likely a dragon from the Dragon God Tribe, a subordinate of Aoshun, the ruler of the North Sea among the Four Sea Dragon Kings.”
“…The Dragon God Tribe! That would make a subjugation mission utterly reckless.”
Just when I thought it had been a while since Iriya summoned me, a royal decree arrived demanding the subjugation of a sea serpent. However, the decision was made based solely on eyewitness accounts from the residents, with no proper preparation time. There were concerns, so I was sent to investigate.
Using the King of Hell as a scout—how impudent. But considering that this insolent contractor of mine, who never consulted me about anything, actually asked for my help this time, I could call it progress.
That said, mistaking a Dragon God Tribe member for a mere sea serpent? That’s an absurd misunderstanding.
“This is a perfect opportunity. Just abandon those who caused this mess and leave the country at once. You’ve been crying about wanting to go elsewhere, haven’t you?”
“Ah, that was…! I just let a moment of weakness slip, that’s all…! I can’t just abandon everyone who’s fighting alongside me! I’ve made it this far thanks to Lord Severino and everyone else!”
“…Well, very well. I could defeat it, of course, but if I were to take down one of the Four Sea Dragon King’s subordinates, it could lead to conflict with the Dragon God Tribe.”
“That would be a problem…”
It seems she’s embarrassed about crying. I suppose that means she has grown, at least a little.
But even I cannot slay a Dragon God Tribe member without cause.
“…The dragon must be dealt with. And the sortie in two days cannot be stopped. Perhaps we could lure the dragon away, pretend to lose, and fall into the sea… Then escape somewhere far away and never return…”
Muttering ideas while considering possible strategies, I spoke.
“…Hmm. That sounds like an amusing plan. You focus on defense in battle and dive into the sea! Leave the rest to me—I will take care of everything!”
“Thank you so much! If I use Protection, I should be able to keep the seawater at bay for a while. I feel guilty about deceiving everyone, but I can’t waste this chance!”
It seems she has a strong reason to leave this country, but she won’t talk about it. She’s as stubborn as ever! If she would just rely on me, there would be nothing that couldn’t be solved!
Still, the idea of tricking a Dragon God Tribe member—how delightfully absurd! This girl is as reckless as ever!
I parted ways with Iriya and immediately headed for the palace of Aoshun, ruler of the North Sea. The dragon could not be far from its location.
As I dove into the depths and searched, I sensed a faint magical energy flow likely belonging to a dragon. Following the current, I soon reached a palace made of crystal and pearls, gleaming in the clear and refreshing waters of the sea. This was Aoshun’s residence, concealed by magic.
As I passed through the gates, various sea creatures—rays, flounders, and the like—gathered. Though there was no water here, it felt like air, yet the fish swam as if they were flying.
“Who goes there!? Do you not realize this is the residence of the Four Sea Dragon Kings!?”
A crab was acting as a guard. But if an intruder needed to be chased out, how could it even walk forward?
The barrier here prevented magical energy from leaking to the surface. I released my power, revealing my presence as the King of Hell.
“I seek an audience with Aoshun! I am Belial, King of Hell!”
“T-The King of Hell… in the depths of the sea…?”
The lesser beings trembled in fear, their voices shaking.
As I stepped forward, they instinctively took a step back.
“My apologies! Please, come this way.”
A palace official, realizing my presence, hurried over, bowing deeply and offering to guide me.
“Very well.”
The heavy doors opened, and I passed through crystal-clear pillars and hallways shimmering with blue light, occasionally crossing paths with fish swimming in the open space. Soon, I was led into a large chamber. Likely the audience hall—ornate carvings, a grand table, and several people in human form.
A man with deep blue hair tied high was undoubtedly Aoshun, ruler of the North Sea. He wore a long, flowing robe of blue, transitioning into a darker navy at the hem in a beautiful gradient, adorned with intricate white and light blue patterns.
A man with a sword at his waist stood nearby—his body language marked him as a guard. He wore a headband, gauntlets, and chest armor. Two women, likely attendants, stood beside him.
“To think that the King of Hell would come all the way to this underwater palace… What brings you here?”
Aoshun gestured for me to take a seat as he inquired about my visit.
I sat back deeply, crossing my legs, and gestured toward the water.
“It’s about the dragon lurking in the sea. That is one of your subordinates, correct?”
“That would be Keiga, my direct subordinate. But… surely he has not offended you?”
“No. But in two days, humans will arrive to ‘subjugate’ him. It seems they have mistaken him for a threat. Among them is my contractor.”
“Such a thing…! Then I shall summon him back immediately. If your contractor is harmed, it will mean standing against you…!”
He quickly moved to issue an order, but I stopped him.
“Wait. I have not finished speaking. I would like you to play along with a little charade.”
“…A charade, you say?”
Aoshun instructed his attendants to prepare refreshments while listening closely to my words.
“My contractor plans to fake her death by falling into the sea after losing to the dragon. Instead of scheming like this, she could simply let me kill off any pursuers, but she insists on being considerate.”
“Considerate or not, I see. So you wish for Keiga to make it appear as though he has defeated your contractor?”
“Wouldn’t that make for an amusing spectacle?”
“Heh… Perhaps it will teach those humans not to arrogantly assume they can ‘subjugate’ anything they please.”
The deal was settled surprisingly quickly.
“Would you care for something to eat?”
“Oh, I’d love that. I need to inform my contractor, but with two days to spare, I might as well enjoy myself!”
“Then let us prepare a feast! We rarely have guests here, so everyone will be delighted!”
“There’s alcohol, I presume?”
“Of course. What’s a feast without it?”
I had assumed that a ruler of the deep sea might be a difficult man, but he was unexpectedly understanding. It seemed he was the one suffering from boredom. While I delivered the plan to Iriya , the palace would prepare a grand welcome. This must be done quickly!
Iriya had come to a seaside town.
“The negotiation was a success! Just as planned, you will fight the dragon and fall into the sea. Leave the rest to me. I have arranged everything with Aoshun, so there is no cause for concern!”
“Really!? Thank you so much! Then we’ll proceed as planned…!”
“Indeed. Your meal is being prepared as well.”
“…A meal?”
Hmph? She’s giving me a strange look. She seemed impressed by my negotiation skills at first, but now she looks suspicious, as if wondering if I was just playing around.
“This is all part of the job! More importantly, it’s best if humans do not realize he is a Dragon God Tribe member. If they track the palace’s location, the North Sea Dragon King will not stand idly by. Let them believe he is merely a powerful sea dragon.”
“Understood. …In any case, the day after tomorrow, then.”
She’s becoming harder to handle. Then again, she has always been a troublesome little girl.
The Day of the Operation.
Keiga, a member of the Dragon God Clan serving under the Four Sea Dragon Kings who rule over the North Sea, engaged in battle with the human subjugation force as planned.
From the dragon palace at the ocean floor, I watched the scene alongside the Four Sea Dragon King, Aoshun, through a water mirror. The silver-glowing mirror clearly reflected the enormous dragon roaring under the azure sky, and the tiny human ships that had set out to slay it.
“Those fools mistook it for a sea serpent and came to hunt it. Look at them—scrambling to escape in a panic.”
“A sea serpent? How could they possibly make such a mistake…? Humans are foolish creatures, no matter the era! And yet they somehow continue to survive and multiply!”
“Exactly!”
We laughed together and downed our cocktails, which shimmered in delicate blue gradients. In no time, the humans found themselves in a dire situation. Naturally—after all, they had mistaken the dragon for a mere sea serpent.
“We’ve successfully isolated the contract-holder from the others. It’s time—let’s go retrieve them.”
“Indeed. No matter how skilled in magic they may be, they cannot remain in the sea for long.”
Rising slowly, we departed the palace and ventured into the ocean.
On the water mirror, Iriya was shown flawlessly defending against Keiga’s attacks, despite Keiga being a dragon god, even if just a subordinate one.
Thanks to Aoshun’s magic keeping the water at bay, moving through the sea was effortless. This was quite convenient—far less pressure than if I had done it myself.
As planned, Iriya was struck by the dragon’s tail and plunged into the ocean. Their protective barrier was nearly at its limit, and water would soon break through. However, Aoshun conjured a magical wall to enclose them, slowing what would have been a rapid descent into the deep.
The dragon that had pursued them halted upon recognizing the presence of the Four Sea Dragon King, withdrawing its turbulent magic.
“Keiga, that is enough. This one is a guest of the dragon palace. You should return as well.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The dragon instantly transformed into the form of a rugged warrior, his previous ferocity now subdued.
“Huh… Lord Belial. This barrier…?”
Even Iriya , with all their experience, found the dragon king’s magic—allowing them to move through the sea as if it were land—utterly mystifying.
“It is a courtesy from the Four Sea Dragon King, Aoshun. You may move freely, much like with flight magic.”
“…I see. This is quite comfortable. Thank you, Your Majesty.”
With just a brief explanation, Iriya quickly adjusted to moving within the bubble-like barrier. Their magical control was well-trained indeed.
“As expected of the contract-holder of the King of Hell—you adapt quickly. Now, allow me to escort you to my palace.”
“The King’s… contract-holder!?”
Keiga turned sharply toward Iriya . Their eyes met, and the young human merely tilted their head in curiosity.
“Explanations can wait.”
At the dragon palace, seats had already been prepared for them, and the banquet resumed.
Fish served the food, while other dragon gods in human form stood by.
Here, guests sat on cushions rather than chairs, each with a personal tray of food in front of them. The cuisine was centered around the bounties of the sea—fish, shellfish, and seaweed.
As we dined, I explained the full scope of our plan, which Aoshun and I had devised.
“…In other words, you informed His Majesty the Dragon King of the plan for me to feign death, but you didn’t tell Lord Keiga anything at all…?!”
Iriya ’s face twitched as they processed my words.
“Did it not add to the realism? It was a surprise, after all!”
“…Lord Belial. If something had gone wrong, the responsibility would have fallen on me…”
“Hahaha!! Do you truly think my contract-holder would be undone by something so trivial? Besides, I only ever told Aoshun that I had spoken with him—nothing more!”
“…That’s right. I should have expected this from you, Lord Belial…”
It seemed Iriya had assumed that Keiga had been informed so he would hold back. But where’s the fun in that? With both myself and Aoshun present, there was no need for such petty tricks.
“Honestly, I had considered secretly informing Keiga… but it was such an amusing plan that I simply forgot!”
“Ugh… Two drunk schemers are too dangerous…”
“His Majesty the Dragon King was simply bored. I had no choice but to go along with this dreadful plot…”
Despite the delightful entertainment we provided, they seemed oddly deflated!
“By the way, why was that one lingering in the same place for so long?”
A sudden thought struck me as I looked at Keiga. Aoshun smirked mischievously, glancing at the now-uneasy dragon warrior.
“Apparently, he has fallen in love at first sight with a woman. He’s been searching for her ever since.”
“A woman? In the sea? Was she a mermaid or something?”
“No, she was a woman walking on the ocean. She had long, blue-gray hair reaching her ankles, was tall for a woman, and possessed a dignified presence. Her golden eyes, brimming with deep sea magic, were utterly captivating…”
“…Your Majesty…!!!”
Keiga turned red as Aoshun revealed his secret for amusement. But oddly enough, while I knew who he was describing, these fools seemed unaware.
“If I had to guess, I’d say it was Tiamat. She was nearly as tall as I am, wasn’t she?”
“Lady Tiamat…!? Now that you mention it, she did have the aura of a dragon…!”
“Keiga.”
“How unfortunate.”
“Your love is doomed.”
We spoke in unison, and Keiga’s flushed face instantly paled. He slumped over, muttering, “More wine…” to the server.
For some reason, the server brought him grilled salmon instead, mistakenly assuming he was asking for food.
After that, we continued the grand feast for the entire night, only departing the dragon palace the next day. Aoshun seemed truly regretful to see us go.
Had I known this underwater paradise existed sooner, I would have visited far more often!
