A Creative Alchemist Enjoys His Freedom – After Being Banished from His Hometown, He Is Now Free to Create Magical Items with Incredible Effects Under the Control of the Demon King - Episode 3

Episode 3: “Awakening of 『Creative Alchemy』”

　Mabel Refrain, an elf girl dressed in a maid’s uniform, said.

　We were at the entrance to the Demon King’s territory, in a forest filled with tall trees.
　Leading the way were four Minotaurs.
　Behind them were the elf Mabel Refrain and me, side by side.
　The remaining Minotaurs were guarding the rear.

“For some reason, humans become frightened when they approach the Demon King’s territory… but I’ve never seen anyone as courageous as you before.”
“It’s not that I’m particularly brave.”

　But Mabel Refrain was right.
　I didn’t find her or the Minotaurs frightening.

　This was the Demon King’s territory, where non-humans lived.
　There were no allies anywhere.

　Elves have great magical powers.
　That magic could easily kill me.

　There were eight Minotaurs in front of and behind me. I didn’t have any weapons, but I was sure they could easily strangle me to death.

　But I was not scared.

　For now, the Minotaurs were treating me as a guest.
　They supported me in places where it was difficult to walk and watched over me with their surprisingly large eyes to ensure I didn’t fall.
　Compared to the Imperial soldiers, there was a world of difference.

　But anyway, for now──

“The human territory and the Demon King’s territory have signed a non-aggression pact. It would be rude to be afraid.”

　──I decided that this was the case.

“…I see. There is a reason why you came here alone. You are a good person…”

　Mabel Refrain looked at me with her sparkling violet eyes.
　I seemed like a nice guy—maybe.

“If you get tired, just let us know. The Minotaurs will carry you.”
“No, I’m fine.”

　I shook my head.
　The ground was difficult to walk on, but I don’t feel tired.
　In fact, I felt like my health had improved since entering the Demon King’s territory

　I sensed a mysterious magical power that I had never felt before when I was in the Empire.
　It filled my body.
　And then a voice echoed in my head.

『The absorption of dark magical power is complete.』

『In addition to the magical powers of light, earth, water, fire, and wind, the magical power of the six basic attributes has been absorbed.』

『 The skill 「Alchemy」 has evolved into 「Creative Alchemy」.』
『The skill 「Material Refining」 has been fully awakened.”』
『The 「Add Attribute」 skill has been fully awakened.”』
『The 「Appraisal Grasp」 skill has been fully awakened.』

　──What was this?
　I instinctively checked my skills and…

──────────────────

『Creative Alchemy』

　The skill to create something from nothing.
　It is also the highest level 『Alchemy』 skill.
Only those who can accept the magical powers of the six basic elements “Light”, “Darkness”, “Earth”, “Water”, “Fire”, and “Wind” can awaken to this skill.
　With information about an item’s appearance, effects, and abilities, it is possible to create an equivalent item.

『Material Refining』
　Can create matter from magical energy.
　It is possible to synthesize substances and create new materials.
　You can process the materials and change them into any shape you likes.
　The materials you can create will vary depending on your current level.

『Add Attributes』
　You can add any attribute you like to the target substance.
　The number of attributes that can be added varies depending on the target material.

『Appraisal Grasp』
　Evaluates the attributes, materials, and effects of the target item.
　The appraised information is recorded as data within the skill.

──────────────────

　──Has my 「Alchemy」 skill changed?
　How?!
　Moreover… creating matter from magic… does that skill even exist?

　No, it was true that the skill description told me that I could do it.
　But it was so convenient.
　I thought the reason I didn’t have combat skills was that I used all of my abilities in 『Creative Alchemy』.
　Otherwise, I didn’t understand why I was awakening to this skill.

“What’s the matter, Thor-sama?”

　Suddenly, I noticed Mabel Refrain standing nearby.
　She peered at my face with a worried look.

“Are you tired? Or maybe you’re feeling a bit sick because you’re in unfamiliar territory…”
“No, I’m fine.”

　I quickly shook my head.

“If you feel unwell, please let me know. The strength of magical power in the Demon King’s territory is different from that in the human world.”
“Now that I think about it, the magic power of ‘darkness’ is strong in the Demon King’s territory, isn’t it?”
“You’re right. And the human territory is filled with the magical power of 『Light』, isn’t it?”
“In the Empire, the magical powers of 『Fire』 and 『Earth』 are also strong. The 『Fire』 represents the power to burn out the enemy, while the 『Earth』 signifies the strength of steel that never breaks.──Ah.”

　I just realised.
　The skill was awakened by absorbing the magical power of 『Darkness』.

　In the human realm, the magical power of 『Light』 was strong, while that of 『Darkness』 was weak.
　In the Demon King’s territory, the magical power of 『Darkness』 was strong and the magical power of 『Light』 was weak.

To awaken to the skill of 『Creative Alchemy』, one must embrace the magical powers of the six basic elements: light, darkness, earth, water, fire, and wind.
　I was probably absorbing a lot of dark magical power in this forest.
　And so, once I had gathered all the necessary magical power, I awakened to 『Creative Alchemy』.

　That was all I knew for now.

“What’s the matter, Thor-sama?”
“……It’s nothing.”
“Is that so?”

　The elf Mabel nodded.
　She was so close to me, so close that we could almost feel each other’s breath──or rather, she didn’t seem to be wary of me at all.

　No matter how much magic she could use, at this distance, it would be quicker for me to restrain Mabel.
　Well, she was so unguarded that she didn’t even feel like that.

　I could always run away.
　Right now, I want to try out this 『Creative Alchemy』.

　With that thought in my mind, I started walking again alongside the elf Mabel.

“Thor-sama, Mabel-sama.”

　Suddenly, the minotaur walking in front of us cried out.

“The roads around here are getting worse. Please be careful.”
“Thank you…oh.”

　Mabel stumbled.
　I instinctively reached out my hand to support her body.
　
“OK?”
“I’m so sorry! For bothering the messenger…”

　Mabel hurriedly moved away from me and bowed deeply.

“I warned Thor-sama and then tripped myself… How embarrassing.”

　Snap.

　There was a cracking sound around Mabel’s neck.
　The necklace she was wearing fell to the ground with a whoosh.

“……ah”
“Mabel-sama?!”

　The minotaur panicked and picked up the necklace that had fallen to the ground.
　It was a necklace with a blue stone.
　The golden chain had broken.

“When I stumbled, it got caught on a tree branch.”
“I’m sorry, Mabel-sama. We should be more careful.”
“It’s fine. The chains were almost broken to begin with.”
“But it was a keepsake from your mother…”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

　In Mabel’s palm was a pendant with a blue stone.
　Apparently the chain had gotten caught on a branch when she stumbled earlier and snapped.

“Can I try to fix that?”

　Before I knew it, the words were coming out of my mouth of their own accord.

“If the chain is broken, I’ve fixed it a few times.”
“Thor-sama, are you a craftsman?”
“No, I’m an alchemist.”

　This was the first time I’d ever called myself an alchemist.
　But it felt great.

“I’m Thor Regus, an alchemist from the Empire. I think I can probably fix the chain.”

　Mabel Refrain and the Minotaurs looked at me in shock.

“…Is it alright to ask the messenger to do something like this?”

　Mabel handed me the pendant.

“This is a keepsake from my mother… it’s something really precious to me. If you can fix it, I’d like to ask…”
“got it”

　I sat down at the base of a tree.
　Taking the pendant, I touched the chain and activated the 『Appraisal Grasp』 of 『Creative Alchemy』.
　The information on the pendant appeared before my eyes.

『Water Spirit Stone Pendant』

　A pendant blessed by the water spirit.

　The pendant head is equipped with a water magic stone.
　The chain is made of metal (unknown as material has never been touched: currently under analysis).
　Attribute: Water

　The broken part was the deteriorated part of the chain. It could be fixed.
　All I had to do was create the metal from that part and then add the water attribute to it.

“Activate──『Material Refining』”

　I placed my finger on the broken chain.

　I used my magic to “create” the metal parts.
　Metals are born from the “magic power of the earth.” All metals are basically the same.
　To match the surrounding chains, I could transmute metal from magical energy and give it the 『Water Attribute』.

　When I activated the skill, an image popped into my head of me pouring magical power and stirring it.
　This seemed to be a substitute for the alchemist’s alchemy cauldron.

“Executing 『Material Refining』 commences repairing.”

　The pendant in my palm made a hissing noise.
　The broken part of the chain began to move like a living thing.
　And then──

“──Oh, oh. Mabel-sama, what is happening?!”
“The chains are being mended.”
“──And there’s no material or anything? Metal is being created!?”

　The Minotaurs were surprised.
　Actually, I was surprised too.
　It was really possible to create materials using only magic.
　Moreover, the chain was completed exactly as imagined.
　This was the power of 『Creative Alchemy』…”

　Katyan

　After a while, the pendant repair had been completed.

　The chain’s missing part returned to its original shape.

“It’s done. Here you go.”
“…………”
“This is just a temporary fix, so there may be something wrong. Just to be on the safe side, have a professional take a look when you get back to town.”
“…………”
“Of course, just to be on the safe side. I don’t do my work half-heartedly. Although I may look like this, I am an alchemist. I’ve only just become one, but I’ve decided to call myself an alchemist.”
“…………”
“Um, Mabel Refrain-san?”
“Huh, Messenger… no, Thor-sama!”

　Grab.

　It was sudden.
　Mabel Refrain clasped my hands together with both of hers.

“Thank you very much! It’s my mother’s memento… in a perfect form… to…”
“A perfect form?”

　Ah, the traces of the joints were missing.
　The broken part of the chain was repaired without a trace. I was glad it worked out.

“Thor-sama must be a very famous alchemist…”

　Mabel Refrain was clutching the pendant and in tears.

“I was moved too, Thor-sama.”
“So this is the technology of the human world.”
“Even a dwarf craftsman couldn’t fix it in just a few minutes….”
“An incredible person came from the human world….”

　The minotaurs’ voices were trembling as well.
　This was the first time I’d been thanked like this.
　I’d never worked as an official alchemist.
　So when people around me expressed their gratitude like this… it made me feel a little embarrassed.

“…I see. So this is how alchemists around the world always feel.”

　As a result, we resumed our journey toward the Demon King’s territory.
　Before I knew it, the elf girl, Mabel, was walking next to me, keeping pace.
　She laughed and said, “Please call me Mabel,” so Thor tried calling her that.
　Mabel looked happy.

“Yes, Alchemist Thor-sama!”

　──She called me by my name as an alchemist.

From translator: The reason to choose creative over creation is that creative means “to create” and creation means ‘production’ or similar to ‘originations’ and 『Creative Alchemy』 sounds better.
*The reason for telling is that there’s already 84 translated chapter available.
Feel free to compare the quality. I don’t alter the author’s writing style, like combing four simple sentences into a complex one.