Thinking About Storage and a Workshop

──Thor's POV──

"Thor-sama. Please open your mouth. Here comes a bite."

"It's all right, Mabel-san. I can eat by myself."

Evening.

I was having dinner in my room.

Back in the Empire, I had heard rumors that 'the people of the Demon Lord's Territory eat magical beasts raw,' but... in reality, that wasn't true at all.

Mabel had brought me freshly baked bread, piping-hot soup, and a meat dish.

The bread was a little hard, but sweet nuts had been kneaded into it. The soup was rich, and the herbs on top of the meat brought out its flavor.

Actually, it was tastier than the food I had eaten in the Imperial Capital.

The elf Mabel was sitting across from me, watching me eat with a delighted expression.

I had been nervous when I started eating, but I was used to it now. I knew Mabel was a good person, after all.

However—

"I am indebted to you, Thor-sama. Please allow me to repay you."

It was troublesome that she kept trying to feed me whenever she saw an opening, though.

Every time she tried to bring a piece of cut meat to my mouth, I caught sight of her low neckline.

At any rate, I had learned that elves had remarkably beautiful skin.

But Mabel, with a serious expression,

"Thanks to you, Thor-sama, I can now use magic. You also repaired my mother's pendant. It would disgrace the proud name of the elves if I continued merely receiving your kindness without repaying you. Please, allow me to return the favor."

"No matter what?"

"No matter what!"

"All right. I'll let you repay me eventually."

"Eventually?"

"I still don't know anything about the Demon Lord's Territory."

I said,

"So, when you have some free time, I'd like you to show me around the castle and the territory."

"Of course. This is the first step in repaying you."

How many steps are there to the finish line, Mabel-san?

"I will obtain the Demon Lord's permission and show you around the castle and the territory in the next few days."

"So I do need the Demon Lord's permission."

"Only the first time. The Demon Lord is a broad-minded person."

...Is that so?

When I had seen her in the throne room, she had seemed rather overbearing.

Besides, I had gotten the impression that she was a highly capable ruler.

"Is there anything else you would like?"

"What if I said I wanted another room?"

"Then you would need the Demon Lord's permission as well."

"I thought so."

This was my room in the Demon Lord's Castle.

There was a bed, a table, a chair, and a desk. Besides the entrance, there were two doors in the walls.

One led to the storage room next door, and the other led to the toilet.

There was no bath, incidentally.

Apparently, the castle had a large communal bath, but I was still reluctant to soak in a tub with everyone from the Demon Lord's Castle.

There was a large window near the bed.

Through it, I could see the forest I had traveled through and the capital of the Demon Lord's Territory.

I thought it was a good environment. In fact, it was far better than the room I had lived in in the Imperial Capital.

However, I wanted another room to use as an alchemy workshop.

The Demon Lord had apparently intended to turn the storage room into a workshop, but there were many valuable things in there. There were mountains of books from another world and things that could serve as materials.

Alchemy's 'Transmutation' and 'Processing' also sometimes required fire or chemicals. If I wasn't careful, I might damage the books from another world or the materials.

To avoid that, it would be better to have a room dedicated to my work, but...

"What shall we do, Thor-sama? If you would like another room, I can go to the Demon Lord now and obtain permission for you."

"The room can wait. Before that, please show me around the castle."

"Understood."

"The sooner the better... Could you do it tomorrow?"

"Of course. I would be delighted to accompany you, Thor-sama..."

With that, Mabel bowed her head toward me.

"If there is anything else you desire, please ask without hesitation. Mabel Refrain will devote her very life to fulfilling your wishes, Thor-sama."

"You don't need to risk your life, all right?"

I said that,

But Mabel merely gave me a gentle smile.

──Did she really understand?

After a while, we finished eating, and Mabel left the room.

I brought the 'Mail-Order Catalog' from the storage room and spread it out on the desk.

"I wonder if there's a magic item that can make a workshop?"

Thinking that, I turned the pages.

The first page of the catalog contained a table of contents.

What item could become a workshop...? Perhaps the 'Storage' section.

...Storage.

Come to think of it, the Hero who came from another world had the ability to store items, didn't he? I had read about it in a history book when I was in the Empire.

That ability had been called various things, such as a 'Storage Box,' a 'Storage Skill,' and an 'Item Box.'

It was an ability that allowed one to store a huge number of items in another space, and apparently the stored items could be taken out freely at any time.

The items were probably automatically sorted inside.

It was an ability unique to the Hero.

There was no one in the Empire today who possessed the same ability.

For that matter, no one even knew whether it had been a Skill or an ability provided by an item.

It was truly the 'Lost Technology' of the Hero's era.

"That 'Storage Box' was one of the reasons the Hero was so powerful..."

You could carry around a huge number of items without them becoming a burden.

Moreover, you could take out any item you wanted at any time.

It was an incredibly convenient ability for both travel and combat.

If I could create something that served as a substitute for a 'Storage Box,' it might give me a clue toward surpassing the Hero's 'strength.'

It seemed worth trying.

If things went well, I might even be able to create a 'workshop' inside the storage space.

I opened the 'Storage' items page in the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'

If this book came from the Hero's world, I thought there might be something similar to a 'Storage Box.'

"...Could this be it?"

I stopped turning the pages.

The item shown there was a metal storage shed.

There was a description. It read—

'Compact on the outside, unbelievably spacious inside! Store anything you want! Easy to organize! Take things out whenever you like!!'

──It had exactly the same ability as the Hero's 'Storage Box.'

Amazing. It really existed...

The item's name was 'Simple Warehouse.'

It was two meters high, three meters wide, and three meters deep.

It was made of metal and had a large sliding door.

The photograph showed only the warehouse's exterior.

The description said, 'Space beyond common sense, on another dimensional scale! See for yourself just how spacious it is!' 'Another dimension'—in other words, it had a 'vast separate space' inside.

If so, perhaps this was an item that created a separate space for a 'Storage Box' inside itself.

The Hero who had once come to this world had stored items in another space.

And this book came from the Hero's world.

It wouldn't be strange for it to feature an item with the same ability.

"...I'll give it a try."

My goal was to surpass the Hero.

I would create convenient items like those found in the Hero's world and spread them throughout the Demon Lord's Territory.

I would make the Demon Lord's Territory a place far easier to live in than the Empire.

I had decided to use my 'Creation Alchemy' for that purpose.

So I would try to see whether I could create this 'Simple Warehouse.'

"Activate 'Creation Alchemy.'"

I activated my Skill.

I carefully examined the page in the 'Mail-Order Catalog,' checking the abilities and parameters of the 'Simple Warehouse.' Then I checked whether my Skill could copy it.

The answer from 'Creation Alchemy' was—

──────────────────

'Simple Warehouse' (can be created with 'Creation Alchemy,' but you currently lack sufficient Magic Power)

・Required Magic Power

Earth Magic Power (creation requirements met)

Wind Magic Power (creation requirements met)

Dark Magic Power (insufficient)

──────────────────

I could make it.

However, apparently I didn't have enough Dark Magic Power right now.

The 'Simple Warehouse' required Earth Magic Power, Wind Magic Power, and Dark Magic Power.

Apparently, Earth Magic Power enclosed the space, while Wind Magic Power filled it with air.

But without enough Dark Magic Power, I couldn't create the separate space used for storage.

'Dark Magic Power' meant darkness in the literal sense, or emptiness and nothingness.

In the Empire, it was a type of magic power with nothing but negative associations, but emptiness and nothingness were necessary things.

People couldn't move if there was no empty space around them.

A bucket or a room could hold things precisely because there was nothing inside it.

So I understood why creating an empty storage space inside the 'Simple Warehouse' required a large amount of Dark Magic Power.

But I still had very little Dark Magic Power available to me.

That was because I had been in the Empire until recently. It was a place with strong Light Magic Power and weak Dark Magic Power.

In that case... what should I do?

It seemed like absorbing enough Dark Magic Power would take some time.

"If only there were someone nearby who possessed a great deal of 'Dark Magic Power.'"

"Excuse me. Is Thor Rigas here?"

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.

'Dark Magic Power' flowed in through the gap around the door.

'—You have absorbed the necessary "Dark Magic Power." "Simple Warehouse" can now be created.'

A voice spoke inside my head.

"Huh? Why?"

"I am Demon Lord Lukie Evergald! Thor Rigas! You are in there, are you not!?"

"Ah, yes."

When I opened the door, Demon Lord Lukie Evergald was standing there.

She looked just as she had in the throne room.

She wore a black robe and a silver mask covered her face.

Mabel stood beside her. It seemed she had guided Demon Lord Lukie here.

"I have come to speak with you. May I enter?"

"Y-yes."

"No, there is no need to kneel. I came incognito, so relax."

I stood up when she told me to.

I faced the Demon Lord.

This was the first time I had seen Demon Lord Lukie from so close.

As expected of a Demon Lord, she was filled with dignity.

I couldn't see her expression because of the mask. As for her height... I had the vague impression that she was taller than me...

The mask and the jet-black robe were probably powerful magic items, too.

My instincts as an 'Alchemist' whispered that they were powerful items.

I was interested, but touching them carelessly seemed dangerous.

Blond hair spilled out from beneath her hood.

She was probably a woman, but I felt a pressure in her voice that transcended gender.

That was why I reflexively dropped to one knee.

"First, allow me to thank you, Thor Rigas."

The Demon Lord cleared her throat before speaking.

"I am grateful that you enabled Mabel to use magic. She is my childhood friend and a very important person to me. I thank you for solving her problem. Thank you, Thor Rigas."

"You honor me, Demon Lord-sama."

I answered with my head still slightly bowed.

I had been a noble myself, after all. I knew how to behave in situations like this.

"Mabel-san has taken care of me ever since I came to the Demon Lord's Territory. I'm glad my alchemy was able to help her."

I meant it.

I had been abandoned by the Empire, forced into a carriage, and brought here.

I was truly grateful to Mabel for welcoming me so warmly.

"...You are an unusual one."

"Am I?"

"Apparently, the person who came from the Empire during my father's reign—the previous Demon Lord—was so frightened that he could barely speak properly. Though apparently he left soon afterward without even saying hello."

"...People are all different."

"You are remarkably composed. Hmm. Fascinating. You are fascinating... but—"

The Demon Lord looked at me with interest.

"I also find you suspicious. I wonder whether you are plotting something."

"Can you tell?"

"Are you plotting something!?"

"Actually, I was thinking of making this."

I showed the Demon Lord the page from the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'

"It's a 'Simple Warehouse That Can Be Assembled in Two Hours and Won't Break Even with Fifty Sheep on It.' May I make it? I want to use the inside as a workshop. I can't seem to relax when my bedroom and alchemy workshop are in the same room."

"...You really are an unusual one."

Demon Lord Lukie sighed.

"May I ask you one thing, Alchemist Thor?"

"Yes, Demon Lord-sama!"

"Why are your eyes sparkling?"

"I was just happy that the head of a nation officially recognized me as an alchemist."

"...What is it you want?"

Demon Lord Lukie said,

"You came here as an envoy from the Empire. An envoy's role is to foster relations. Yet you repaired Mabel's pendant and even improved her constitution. Why would you go so far for her? What is your purpose? Tell me."

That was a difficult question to answer.

I had been abandoned by the Empire and brought here.

The duke and the soldiers who brought me had treated me as a sacrifice to the Demon Lord's Territory.

But it would be difficult to explain that.

It would be a problem if things became complicated and they changed the way they treated me.

So, if I answered honestly—

"To surpass the Hero."

I said it.

The Demon Lord was speechless.

"Surpass the Hero... you say?"

"Ah, yes. More precisely, I want to create magic items that surpass the Hero's world."

"Foolishness! The Heroes possessed mighty Skills and came from a world far more advanced than this one! You intend to surpass the world of those Heroes!?"

"Fortunately, I have reference materials."

I showed her the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'

"It describes the forms and abilities of the magic items from the Hero's world. I don't think I can make something exactly identical, but I believe I can create similar items."

"..."

"Oh? Do you happen to know the source of the Hero's power, Demon Lord-sama? Could it be what this book calls 'required electrical power'? But if the Hero's source of power was 'required electrical power,' then it couldn't be used in this world, could it? Which means it must be magic power after all. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"..."

"Ah, sorry. I got off track. As for why I want to create magic items that surpass the Hero's world... The Hero is a transcendent being to me, which means I can't understand them at all. But if I create items from their world and actually use them, I might be able to understand the Hero. Wanting to surpass the Hero also means that I want to understand them..."

"Thor Rigas."

Suddenly, the Demon Lord spoke in a solemn voice.

She was staring intently at me from beyond her mask.

This was bad. I had gotten carried away and talked too much.

Getting carried away whenever the subject turned to alchemy was one of my bad habits.

My conversational partner was Demon Lord Lukie Evergald, the ruler at the pinnacle of all demonfolk.

I shouldn't have been speaking to her so casually in the first place...

"You know that my Demon Lord's Territory was once defeated by a Hero from another world, do you not?"

Demon Lord Lukie Evergald said,

"Thor Rigas. You wish to surpass that Hero. Is that correct?"

"...Yes. That's right."

"I see."

Demon Lord Lukie took a deep breath, then said,

"Ha! Fascinating. You are fascinating! Someone from the Empire is going to create items in the Demon Lord's Territory that surpass the Hero—how fascinating! Go on and try it, Thor Rigas!"

"Is that all right?"

"I am called the Demon Lord, after all. I like to think I possess at least that much magnanimity. I shall accept your ambition!"

The Demon Lord declared this proudly.

Thank goodness. She wasn't angry.

Moreover, she had accepted my goal exactly as I had stated it.

Mabel had said that the Demon Lord was broad-minded, and it seemed she had been right.

"You said earlier that you wanted to make a warehouse. I grant you permission. Go ahead and try it."

"Really? You will permit that as well?"

"You are only making a workshop, are you not? I have no objection."

"Thank you. And here are the materials I prepared."

"Wait, wait, wait!"

"What is it, Demon Lord-sama?"

"Now? You are starting right this instant!?"

"But you said I could."

"I did! I definitely did!?"

I took out the materials I had prepared 'just in case.'

They were masses of metal made by softening the shields and armor from the storage room.

The Simple Warehouse was made of metal, so I could use these metal masses as material.

The warehouse itself would be about two meters high, three meters wide, and four meters deep.

But I didn't need to match those dimensions.

The Hero from another world had used a 'Storage Box' with unlimited capacity.

The size of the warehouse itself was meaningless.

What mattered was the space inside.

Space was governed by Dark Magic Power, which represented 'nothing' and 'emptiness.'

The essence of the warehouse was not its walls.

It was the empty space inside. Things could be put inside because it was empty.

The stronger the 'Dark Magic Power,' the larger the warehouse's interior should be.

I had already absorbed the necessary 'Dark Magic Power.'

The strongest magic power in the Demon Lord's Territory belonged to Demon Lord Lukie, who was right beside me.

With the magic power overflowing from her body, I should be able to create the storage space.

Now that I had the Demon Lord's permission, it was time to begin my alchemy.