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 50

Episode 50: “Demon King Luquier and Chancellor Kelve make predictions about Thor” 

　──The next day, at the Demon King’s Castle──

“That’s all for this morning’s report. Your Majesty”
“Thank you for your efforts. You may step aside.”

　Demon King Luquier nodded after receiving the report from the civil servant.
　With a bow, the elf civil servant left.

　The time was early afternoon.
　After the work that continued from the morning had settled down, Demon King Luquier rested her body on the throne.

“Maybe because the demon beast subjugation is over, everyone seems to be calm.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”

　Next to the throne, Chancellor Kelve said.

“However, development of the mine will begin soon. It is a major project, so it will cause quite a stir within the Demon King’s territory. There are also issues to be addressed, such as securing human resources and ensuring safety.”
“That’s right. I guess we’re taking a short break now.”
“Yes. As you say, I consider it a valuable break.”

　Muttering, Chancellor Kelve sighed.
　As if noticing this, the Demon King, Luquier,

“What’s the matter, Kelve? Is there something bothering you?”
“No… I was just thinking.”
“Tell me.”
“Yes. It’s nothing serious.”

　Chancellor Kelve looked out the window to the south—in the direction of General Raizenga’s territory.

“The Demon King’s Castle without Thor-dono is too quiet and unsettling.”
“…Kelve.”
“Excuse me. I have no intention of ridiculing or disrespecting Thor-dono.”
“There’s no need to apologise. I know you have no ill intentions.”

　Demon King Luquier waved her hand, stopping Chancellor Kelve from bowing.
　She couldn’t help but remember what happened after subjugating the demon beast.
　At that time, Luquier told Princess Lianna, “I will not hand over Thor,” “I will make him happy here,” and “I will always be by his side.”
　At that time, Kelve and Raizenga were nearby.

　The two of them pretended not to hear what Luquier had said.
　However, Kelve had become a little more reserved when talking about Thor.

“Don’t worry, Kelve. I was thinking the same thing.”
“Your Majesty too?”
“Yeah. I think the Demon King’s Castle has become quite lonely.”

　Demon King Luquier said as she looked around the throne room.

　The Demon King’s Castle was the same as usual.
　Many people were coming and going, and it wasn’t like Demon King Luquier’s workload had decreased.
　Of course, with health in mind, she also ensured there were breaks and tea times.
　Occasionally, she held tea parties with those who worked at the castle and listened to their stories.

　Nothing changed.
　It was just that the Demon King’s castle had returned to how it was before Thor arrived.

(But still… I still feel like it’s not enough…)

　After subjugating the demon beasts and returning to the castle, the Demon King Luquier visited Thor’s room many times.
　Of course, Thor was nowhere to be seen.
　It was a simple thing, but she found herself repeating it over and over again.

“I wonder what Thor and Mabel are doing right now.”
“That’s a stupid question, Kelve.”

　Kelve muttered, causing Demon King Luquier to give a wry smile.

“Knowing him, he must have been crafting a new magic item the day he arrived at Raizenga Manor.”
“Thank you for your kind words, but that is not necessarily the case. Your Majesty.”
“What?”
“Thor-dono has a strong desire to explore. He may be travelling through General Raizenga’s territories right now, deepening friendships with unknown races.”
“That may be the case…”

　The Demon King Luquier suddenly tilted her head and said,

“Maybe you’re saying that because you’re afraid that Thor will send you a 『Magic Item Promotion Application』?”
“Yes, that’s true.”
“You’re being honest!”
“Ever since Thor-dono came to the Demon King’s territory, I have been constantly surprised.”

　Chancellor Kelve nodded obediently to the words of Demon King Luquier.

“As the Chancellor who inherited history, I am losing confidence. He is only creating items that are not in the oral traditions left by successive prime ministers. Thor-dono…”
“But still, do you think that Thor is deepening friendships with other races?”
“…Thor-dono is proactively solving the problems of Mabel and Agnis.”
“That’s right…”
“So I think that When Thor-dono arrives in Raizenga territory, he will be the first to deepen his friendship with a race unknown to him.”
“You are trying to understand Thor, Kelve.”
“I don’t want to be so frightened anymore that I hit my head on a pillar.”

　Saying this, Chancellor Kelve pressed his hand against his forehead.

“But Your Majesty thinks that Thor-dono will create a new item and immediately send us a 『Magic Item Promotion Application』.”
“Yes. That’s where I disagree with Kelve.”

　Demon King Luquier nodded with a grin.

“But I am confident. You can bet on me if you like.”
“Unfortunately, I can’t make a bet with Your Majesty.”
“Really?”
“At least when Thor-dono returns, we will tell him the story and surprise him.”
“Yes. I will tell him that Kelve and I had a theory about what Thor would do first in Raizenga’s territory. I think he would be amazed at how well we guessed it.”
“I can just picture in my mind the look on Thor-dono’s face when he hears that story.”
“He always surprises me. I need to get revenge sometimes.”

　Demon King Luquier instinctively covered her mouth and laughed.
　Thor would surely be surprised that his actions have been accurately predicted.
　Luquier had confidence.
　Surely one of the predictions made by Demon King Luquier and Chancellor Kelve would come true.

　Would he create a new magic item and try to popularise it?
　Would he become friends with the races in Raizenga’s territory?
　Thor must be doing one of these things at any given time.

(Thor never ceases to amaze me. I might as well guess his actions and surprise him.)

　When Luquier thought about this──

“Excuse me. There is an urgent report to His Majesty the Demon King and His Excellency the Chancellor!!”

　A guard’s voice came from the other side of the door.

“Entry permitted! Report immediately!”

　As Chancellor Kelve answered, the door opened and a Minotaur guard entered.
　He looked towards the Demon King Luquier and said.

“I’ll report. In front of the main gate of the Demon King’s Castle… the winged fairies (pixies) have appeared.”
“What the hell?!”
“A winged fairy, in public?!”

　Demon King Luquier and Chancellor Kelve shouted.

　Winged fairies were a mysterious race that rarely appeared in public.
　They were given an autonomous territory by an ancient demon king and lived there in hiding.
　They would help you with work if you made a request, but they rarely show up.

　Even the Demon King, Luquier, had only seen them a few times.
　They greeted her properly, but only vocally.
　When the Demon King’s territory was first developed, the winged fairies read the magical power of the land and found suitable locations for farming and pasture.
　Because of this achievement, they were allowed to hide in their own dominion.

“Is there someone in the Demon King’s Castle who made a request to the winged fairy?”
“There shouldn’t be. What, why on earth are they here…?”
“I don’t really know, though.”

　The minotaur guard looked at the note written on the wooden tablet in front of him.

“Winged fairies (pixies) said, 『Applications』, 『Alchemist-sama』, and 『Delivery』.”
“”……Eh?””

　The eyes of Demon King Luquier and Chancellor Kelve widened.

　The two of them had just said this.

　Chancellor Kelve said, 『When Thor-dono arrives in Raizenga territory, he will be the first to deepen his friendship with a new race.』
　The Demon King Luquier said, 『Knowing Thor, he will create a new item and immediately send us a ‘Magic Item Promotion Application’.』

　The two of them had thought that one of them would be right, but──

(…You don’t have to do both at the same time, you know!? Thor!!)

　The Demon King Luquier instinctively shouted in his mind.
　Incidentally, Chancellor Kelve was silently holding his head.

　Luquier and Kelve’s predictions had been spot on, but they had also been wrong.
　Neither of them expected Thor to do both at once.

“Anyway, bring the application here. I’ll talk to the winged fairy.”
“Yes. I will bring the documents right away.”

　The guard replied.

“But the winged fairies are hiding behind the trees… and they won’t come out.”
“…They are a shy species after all.”
“… How did Thor-dono become so close with them?”

　To Luquier’s words, Chancellor Kelve muttered dumbfoundly.

“The winged fairies came to deliver the application at the request of Thor-dono? No… that doesn’t explain why they appeared at such a time of day. They are shy, so they would have left the form quietly at night or early in the morning… but…”
“There’s no point in just making guesses.”

　Demon King Luquier rose from her throne.

“Let’s first take a look at the application form. Then I’ll talk to the winged fairies. The back garden of the castle would be a good place. There will be no one there, and there are plenty of trees to hide from. The fairy should feel at ease.”
“Understood”
“But don’t force them.

　Just to be sure, Luquier added.

　The motto of the Demon King’s territory was 『the right person in the right place』.
　They had decided to have people of different races do the work that they were suited to, wherever possible.

　And the winged fairies were able to use their special ability to read the flow of magical power to do their jobs properly.
　In that case, they had to accept their shy nature.
　That was what it meant to put the right person in the right place.

“But if possible, please keep me updated on Thor’s situation as his friend—no, rather as his lord. I need to know what he’s doing and what he’s up to.”
“I got it!”

　With a bow, the Minotaur guards exited the throne room.
　After a while, he returned with a 『Magic Item Promotion Application』 and a letter from Thor in his hands.
　Furthermore, he then delivered a message from the winged fairy saying, 『I will speak with the lord of the alchemist-sama』, and then left.

“I would like to give some clothes to the winged fairy, so I would like permission… That sounds like Thor-dono.”

　After reading the application, Chancellor Kelve breathed a sigh of relief.

“Good. If it’s only to this extent, there won’t be any problems.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Because the winged fairies wear clothes made of leaves, their movements are restricted. If they wear clothes made from the magic-woven fabric of Thor-dono, they will be able to fly freely in the sky, appear in public, and help people openly… The Demon King’s territory will be able to fully borrow that power… huh? Hmmmmmm!?”

　Chancellor Kelve’s tone changed, and his hand holding the application form began to tremble.

　The winged fairies (pixies) could blend in with the people of the Demon King’s territory and do their jobs normally.
　It was as if he had realised that the winged fairies’s powers──might change the course of the Demon King’s territory.

“…But if we reject this application, we will miss an opportunity for the Demon King’s territory to develop…”

　Chancellor Kelve cried out as he pressed his head against a pillar.
　After hitting his head three times, he endured and turned towards the Demon King, Luquier.

“How about your Majesty? What did Thor-dono say in his letter?”
“It seems they’ve created a parasol that can block 『Ultimate Vivid Light』.”

　Demon King Luquier said.

“It also says that he has become friends with a winged fairy who can use light magic. So he’s asking if he can do an experiment to use that parasol to block light offensive magic.”
“I see. If he had only created an item, it would be just the usual status update. Right, a parasol? It can block the ultimate light-element offensive magic, 『Ultimate Vivid Light』… the “『Ultimate Vivid Light』 that destroyed the defensive barrier of His Majesty the First Demon King…?!”

　Bang Bang bang!

“That’s why I told you to stop headbutting; it will damage the pillars, Kelve.”
“…Why is your Majesty so calm?”

　Chancellor Kelve said, pressing his forehead against the pillar.

“Thor-dono has become friends with the winged fairies and created an item that can protect against the ultimate light-attribute magic!? It was within our expectations… but the species he has become friends with and the item he has created are extraordinary! And yet your Majesty was only surprised once and has remained calm ever since… but that’s…”
“…I wonder why.”

　Even Luquier herself didn’t understand.
　However, the words she had shouted earlier echoed within Luquier.

　──I will make him happy here.
　──I’ll always be by his side.
　──I won’t give him to you.

　Those were the words that the Demon King Luquier herself spoke to Princess Liana.
　When she said those words, it seemed that Luquier had already made up her mind to 『accept everything about Thor』.
　Thor’s past, his thoughts, and everything he creates.

　It might have been something akin to the Demon King’s feelings of acceptance towards his subjects and citizens──but for Demon King Luquier, it was also a vow she had made to herself.

“Thor just said he wanted to conduct an experiment to block the light-based offensive magic.”

　But telling that to Kelve… she thought that was wrong.
　So, as the Demon King, Luquier decided to give a common sense answer.

“Besides, the parasol’s usefulness hasn’t been proven yet. Let’s hear from the winged fairies about Thor first.”
“Y-yes. Indeed, it is, as Your Majesty says.”
“The fairy is waiting in the backyard. I’ll go and listen to what she has to say.”

　With that said, Luquier stood up from her throne and began to walk away.

“You can wait here, Kelve. I will give you the details later.”
“Your Majesty.”
“What is it, Kelve?”
“Your composure is something I’m proud of as your vassal. You’ve grown so much, Your Majesty.”
“You don’t need to flatter me. Kelve.”

　Demon King Luquier replied, touching her mask and robe of 『Recognition Inhibition』.

“I still have a lot to learn. Well, it’s just that there is someone who makes me realise it. That alone makes me feel more blessed than any previous demon king. Because there is someone who supports me and helps me grow.”

　And also an alchemist who will definitely be on my side.
　With him, the empire, and the great demon kings of the past… I’m not afraid of my immaturity.
　Thinking like that, Luquier smiled again.

“I am a happy Demon King. That’s all.”

　And so, Demon King Luquier headed to the backyard, where the winged fairies were waiting.