After leaving the adventurers’ guild, which had seen a bit of excitement, we headed to our destination: the Radislav Magic Workshop.
At the workshop, everyone was bustling about just like yesterday, and the place was brimming with energy. The owner, Radislav, noticed me and waved me over with a friendly smile.
“Oh, Iriya ! What are you planning to make today?”
Despite being busy, he’s kind enough to provide us with a workspace. Truly a generous person.
“Thank you for your assistance the other day. These are Nordin and Rendal ,adventurers. Nordin has some questions regarding magical enhancement for his sword, so we came together.”
“Ah, I see! Welcome, both of you! Let’s hear what you have to say. Hey, Valen! Come over here!”
The man called over, apparently a specialist in magical enhancement, hurried toward us. He removed his hat and greeted us politely.
We parted ways with Radislav, who had other tasks, and were shown to a meeting space within the weaponsmithing section of the workshop. The walls were adorned with various weapons and armor, and shelves crammed with encyclopedias and notebooks gave the room a lived-in feel.
Nordin unsheathed his sword, revealing a thick blade that shone sharply in silver. The pommel held one gem, and the ornate guard had a gem on each side, for a total of three embedded jewels—clearly an expensive piece. Valen took the sword with a serious expression and inspected it meticulously.
“Hmm… Mithril, is it? This is quite impressive. Two enchantments, I see.”
“May I take a look as well?”
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a magically enhanced weapon. I couldn’t help but feel a bit excited. The sword was surprisingly light for its size, well-maintained with no nicks on the blade. The gemstones, however, showed slight surface scratches.
“This sword is enchanted with an attack power boost and ice magic.”
“You can tell that so quickly? Impressive for someone so young. No wonder the master thinks highly of you. By the way, I’d like to see it in action. Could you demonstrate it for us?”
Valen nodded at me approvingly before turning to Nordin.
“Sure. What should I cut?”
“Follow me.”
The next room, connected by a door, was an enclosed, windowless space with sturdy walls. Several cylindrical objects, wrapped in thick fabric and tightly bound with string, lay scattered. Nearby were a log-like stick and a slim, metal rod-like pillar standing upright.
“Here, try slicing through this fabric-wrapped one. It’ll help gauge the magic’s effectiveness. Let me set up the equipment first.”
“This is… an unusual device.”
Rendal, who had come along, examined it with great interest. He seemed to have a fascination for magical tools, as he quickly identified my robe earlier.
Valen fiddled with a machine behind one of the rods before returning to us.
Nordin took a breath, steadied himself, and swung his sword. The fabric split cleanly in two, accompanied by a cracking sound. The cut edges then froze solid with a crisp snap. Valen stepped over the fallen fabric to check the machine again.
“Hmm… the output is weak. The magic seems to be fading.”
“And the activation is a bit slow as well.”
The machine was measuring the magic power emitted from the gemstones. Valen studied the graph printed on a sheet of paper.
“I’d like to enhance the effects and perhaps add an enchantment to the third gemstone. But I’ve been told that three enchantments on a single sword are unfeasible.”
“Adding three enchantments does strain the sword’s integrity. If anything, I’d recommend reinforcing the sword’s durability instead.”
“I see… For now, could I borrow the sword?”
Nordin handed me the sword. At its current output, its full potential couldn’t be gauged. Before adding more magic, there was something I wanted to confirm.
“May I try slicing this fabric as well?”
“Go ahead, though… Are you sure you can handle a sword?”
Valen smiled wryly.
“I can’t handle swords. What I can handle is—”
As I spoke, I channeled magic into the gemstones, weaving it around the sword and forcibly linking its sluggish magical circuits.
“—just magic!”
Though I stumbled slightly as I raised the sword, I managed to strike the fabric. This time, the fabric froze entirely as the blade passed through, encased in ice before shattering into pieces with a sharp crash. Shards scattered across the floor and bounced lightly off the walls.
“Hmm, not bad. With some adjustments, it’ll work fine, Nordin.”
“Pff… hahaha! Your swordsmanship is so clumsy, I can’t bear to watch! Hand it over to me.”
Unlike the wide-eyed stares of the others, Rendal chuckled openly. Was my swing really that awkward? I admit I wobbled a bit.
Taking the sword from me, Rendal strode confidently to the metal rod.
“Wait! Won’t cutting that ruin the blade? Can you even handle a sword, Rendal?”
Though Nordin protested, Rendal ignored him and inspected the sword as if peering through it. A surge of magic flowed from his hand into the gemstones.
Then, with a single, casual swing, Rendal struck. Unlike Nordin’s deliberate motion, his was remarkably unceremonious.
“Aah! The sword’s going to break!”
Nordin’s shout was followed by the sight of the blade slicing cleanly through the metal rod. A diagonal line appeared along the cut, and the rod split apart. Frost crept across its surface before it shattered like glass, scattering icy fragments across the floor.
“See? Doesn’t this have more flair?” Rendal said with a smirk, gesturing with his empty hand. At that moment, the frozen fragments scattered like flower petals, sparkling in the light.
“…………”
Silence passed through the room.
I held my breath. This is… this is…
“…This is it!! Your Excellency!!!”
“…Hmm?”
“Show me—ah, the circuit’s already closed! This is a challenge, isn’t it?! What a brilliant idea… This is something we non-sword users could never have easily thought of! Oh, if only Master Sevillino were here, I could discuss this endlessly…”
Taking the sword back, I inspected it from every angle and quickly read the remaining magic power in the embedded gemstones.
(Your Excellency…? Did she just call him ‘Your Excellency’!? Was that a slip of the tongue…? No, she doesn’t seem like someone who would unconsciously misspeak. I already suspected he held some noble rank, but could he truly be of the highest order? Moreover, the undeniable pressure, the immeasurable magic power, and those graceful movements… It’s more than that… This demon—could he be something far greater…?)
Rendal froze, paralyzed by an overwhelming dread, as Belial ‘s crimson eyes looked down upon him with imperious superiority.
Unaware of this, I rushed to the table.
From my item box, I pulled out sheets of white paper, a pen, and my own collection of research materials, slamming them onto the table. These documents, bound in multiple volumes, were filled with meticulously recorded findings on magic—languages, spells, diagrams, seals—organized into categories.
“For the two effects to work at their full potential, the weapon needs considerable strength, but the cutting edge must also be sharp. That means the power boost in the pommel should activate first, followed by the ice magic! There’s no need for both effects to trigger at the same time… Why didn’t I realize this sooner? I must tell Master Sevillino later! First, I need to set the activation conditions. Since sword users grip tightly at the moment of impact, that’s when the power boost should surge in, triggering the ice magic right after… This is it!”
Muttering unconsciously, I quickly sketched a diagram of the sword from front and back, marking the gemstones and inscribed magic circuits. Flipping through my research files to the section on magical language, I jotted down a few candidates for spell inscriptions beside the sketch.
“This one is better… No, this part needs more refinement. I’ll add a pentagram here and some ornamental patterns. Then, with the second gemstone, I’ll amplify the ice magic effect.”
I grabbed a fresh sheet of paper, drew the sword’s blade in detail, and carefully inscribed magical symbols and diagrams along its spine. Then, I stood up energetically.
“How about this, Nordin? We’ll enhance the sword and ice magic using these three gemstones! It will produce a powerful effect, just like before, without compromising the sword’s durability!”
Nordin stared blankly at the excitedly extended diagram, as if not comprehending it.
“Yeah… I don’t get it. Just handle it, will ya?”
What came back was a deflated response.
Valen left to fetch an engraver for the magical inscriptions, and Radislav came along to observe. Both were astonished by the battered testing rods and nodded thoughtfully as they studied my design.
Behind the Workshop
Behind the workshop was a well, positioned so water could be drawn easily from the building’s back entrance.
To calm himself, Rendal stepped outside to fill his lungs with fresh air.
Exhaling deeply, he froze as a low voice sounded behind him, where no one should have been.
“…Is there not something you wish to ask me?”
The demon Belial . Tense, Rendal slowly turned to face him.
“…Well…”
“Ha, caution is vital.”
Rendal quietly shook his head.
“Speculating on ‘who you are,’ Your Excellency, or what kind of being you may be… would be uncouth.”
“Ah, so you have already reached your conclusion.”
Belial ’s haughty smile, with narrowed eyes, was like a foreboding blood moon reigning over the night.
A chill ran down Rendal’s spine. It was as if he had touched upon a forbidden secret, an inexplicable terror crawling up from beneath his feet.
“Do not misunderstand. I have never hidden who I am. I simply dislike being probed. Your demeanor, however, aligns with my preferences.”
“Therefore, I shall declare it. I am Belial , one of the kings of Hell, commander of fifty legions, and vassal to Emperor Satan Himself! There is no need to hide the glory of the ruler of darkness, the Flame King!”
Though Rendal had somewhat anticipated this, the reality surpassed his imagination. Even with his limited knowledge of summoning magic, he understood how perilous and reckless it was to summon a demon lord. Some nations outright prohibited it. And yet, here was such a being, bound in a contract with a mere human woman—an unbelievable situation.
Belial turned, his cloak billowing as he walked to the far side of the well, continuing with his back to Rendal.
“That young woman makes wishes of me that only benefit others. Annoyingly, she desires no gold, no power, no capable familiars, nor any of the wealth I can bestow. That insufferable girl rejects the blessings a king like me would grant.”
“…That sounds like her. She seems incapable of thinking of demons as ‘servants.’ Her philosophy appears to be that she must accomplish her own goals. She likely hasn’t even considered asking you to fulfill her wishes.”
Belial ’s words, though tinged with disdain, carried a subtle affection that hinted at a tranquil, inner sea beneath the terrifying facade of the demon lord.
“Indeed. However… I wish to give her something.”
