Hearing Grand Duke Karon's Account (Preparations)

──Thor's Perspective──

The 'IC Recorder' was complete.

I had worked pretty hard on it.

I conducted experiments with Chancellor Kelv-san and confirmed its performance as well.

It still falls short of the Hero world, but this is the best I can do for now.

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'IC Recorder (Voice Recorder)'

(Attributes: Earth, Water, Water, Fire, Wind, Wind, Light, Dark)

(Rarity: ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★)

It activates magic using magic stones of every attribute.

The added water attribute stores recorded voices as vibrations.

The added wind attribute circulates recorded voices inside the water magic stone.

The 'IC Recorder' can record and freely reproduce its target's voice.

It looks like a metal box, with a super-small 'Improved Hugging Pillow' inside.

By infusing the 'Improved Hugging Pillow' with the incanter's magic power, it creates a pseudo-state in which the incanter is 'present' inside it.

When a voice is played back in that state, magic is activated.

The owner only needs to touch the 'IC Recorder' with a finger and think, 'Play.'

It makes no difference whether the owner is talking to someone or asleep.

The 'Super-Small Hugging Pillow' inside the 'IC Recorder' and the voice recorded in the magic stone activate magic in place of the owner.

In other words, it is as if a substitute incanter were inside it.

Only the person who recorded the incantation can activate the magic.

Anyone can record and play back audio if that is all they wish to do.

It can play recordings at double speed, quadruple speed, and eight times speed.

Physical Damage Resistance: ★★★ (If the internal 'Super-Small Improved Hugging Pillow' is destroyed, it loses its ability to activate magic.)

Service Life: Same as the 'Improved Hugging Pillow.'

Recording Time: 10 minutes.

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"So this is the completed 'IC Recorder'..."

"The finished product is quite impressive..."

Mabel and Agnis gazed at the 'IC Recorder' with tense expressions.

It was only natural. The two of them knew what this item could do.

They had both witnessed Chancellor Kelv-san continuously fire magic with the 'IC Recorder.'

That had truly been incredible.

Since it was before I made it smaller, I had Kelv-san use the 'IC Recorder' while hugging the 'Improved Hugging Pillow.'

At the time, its playback speed only went up to four times, so it did not produce truly high-speed chanting.

Kelv-san had looked rather sour during the experiment.

It had been advertised as an 'IC Recorder capable of high-speed chanting,' but it only went up to four times speed.

I could hardly blame him for feeling disappointed.

But thanks to that, the 'IC Recorder' was complete.

I made two completed units. The one here is one of them.

The other had already been presented to Lukie.

I think she said she would gather the high-ranking officials and conduct an experiment later.

I am looking forward to hearing what they think.

The 'IC Recorder' is about the same length as an outstretched hand.

I also made another 'Voice Recorder' that only records sound.

This one is about half the size of the 'IC Recorder.'

"...It has gotten so small."

Mabel let out an impressed sigh.

"The prototype was about large enough to hug, and you managed to make it this small... You're amazing, Thor-sama."

"It is not just the size. The functions are amazing, too!"

Agnis looked excited as well.

"Being able to record ten whole minutes of chanting is going to change the way magical battles are fought!"

"Yes. Ten minutes is certainly enough for use in this world, but..."

I opened the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'

The recording time listed for the 'IC Recorder' there was──

"But IC Recorders in the Hero world can record and play back up to fifty hours."

"Fifty hours!?"

Mabel and Agnis opened their eyes wide.

"B-but, Thor-sama..."

"There isn't any magic in this world that takes fifty hours to chant!"

I agreed with them.

But there were 'IC Recorders' in the Hero world capable of recording for fifty hours.

What that meant was──

"Maybe the Hero world has an incredibly powerful ultimate magic spell that takes several hours to chant."

"──!?"

Yes. It was startling.

I had been quite surprised myself when I realized it.

The 'IC Recorder' was an item capable of 'knocking out' the Hero's superior──the Great Hero.

And judging from the example of the 'Instant Caster,' there was an extremely high likelihood that it was an item intended for chanting magic.

Based on that, it was possible to speculate that fierce battles had unfolded between Heroes in the Hero world.

The Heroes from another world had relentlessly sought greater strength even in this world, after all.

It would not be strange if they had done the same thing in their homeland.

"The Heroes were absurdly strong. Strong enough to overwhelm the people of this world."

I said that.

"If those were battles between Heroes, I think victory would come down to who could unleash a fast and powerful technique first."

"So that is what the 'IC Recorder' was for?"

"...In the Hero world, it would not be strange for there to be an incredibly powerful ultimate magic spell that could only be used there."

Mabel and Agnis nodded.

I continued explaining.

"In other words, I think the reason the 'IC Recorders' in the Hero world had sixteen-times playback was to activate magic like that quickly. No... Looking at it the other way around, perhaps the 'IC Recorder' was necessary because magic that took a long time to chant existed in the first place."

"I see!"

──Of course, this was only a hypothesis.

I had merely inferred it from the records of the Heroes from another world who had once lived here and the descriptions in the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'

But if we assumed that such unbelievably powerful ultimate attack magic had existed, it also explained why the 'IC Recorder' needed a 'fifty-hour recording function' and a 'sixteen-times playback function.'

"But... Thor-sama, there is something I do not understand."

Mabel murmured in a trembling voice.

"If there were unbelievably powerful ultimate magic spells that took several hours to chant, they would be terrifyingly strong... Probably strong enough to blow away an entire mountain. If the Heroes fired such spells at one another, wouldn't their world be destroyed...?"

"I think that is precisely why they had the 'IC Recorder.'"

"What do you mean, Thor-sama?"

"With this 'IC Recorder,' they could deploy unbelievably powerful defensive magic at high speed."

"──!?"

Mabel caught her breath.

"T-that is true. If there is an ultimate attack spell that takes an hour to chant, there must also be an ultimate defensive spell that takes about as long to chant!"

"Maybe the Heroes used the 'IC Recorders' to suppress one another's ultimate magic."

Even an ultimate attack spell that took several hours to chant would be meaningless if the opponent activated ultimate defensive magic.

It would only damage the surrounding area.

They probably used the 'IC Recorder' only when they were prepared for that to happen.

So──

"By possessing the deterrent of the 'IC Recorder,' the Heroes may have avoided large-scale conflicts. If a lower-ranking Hero used an 'IC Recorder' with the resolve to self-destruct, their superior would literally be knocked out."

"...So that was how it worked."

"...The higher-ranking Heroes had more to lose..."

"The 'IC Recorder' may have also served to prevent battles."

Good grief, what a terrifying item.

But the Hero world was even more outrageous.

Someone without combat abilities like me could never live there.

That was why I could not understand the people who had gone and performed 'Hero Summoning.'

Sure, hearing about Heroes from another world might raise this world's technological level, but──the danger was far too great.

What would they do if, immediately after being summoned, the other side pulled something like, 'Sixteen-times playback! Activate the IC Recorder loaded with three hours of chanting!!'?

It could blow away the entire continent. Seriously.

"Well, using the 'IC Recorder' in this world should be fine. There is no ultimate magic here that takes several hours to chant."

"Y-yes. Besides, there are no more Heroes from another world."

"So it is safe!"

We all let out a sigh of relief.

For now, I should tell Lukie what I had been thinking.

Maybe Chancellor Kelv-san could use it in 'The Oral Traditions of Heroes Passed Down by the Chancellor of the Demon King's Domain.'

As we were leisurely drinking tea and thinking about that──

"Alchemist-sama! Soleil has a message from Princess Sophia-sama!"

"I came as fast as I could. Let me rub against you!"

The light wing fairy Soleil and the wind wing fairy Jilfe, whose name I had only recently learned, flew in through the workshop window.

Soleil landed lightly on the desk.

Jilfe clung to my chest and rubbed her cheek against me.

"Thank you for waiting! Soleil will deliver the message!"

"Calm down. I like being this close!"

"These are words from Princess Sophia-sama."

"This is the best thing after work. Rub rub!"

"...The message, please."

"Fuwawa. This feels so good!"

"...The message."

Jilfe remained clinging to my chest, looking blissfully content.

Soleil, watching her, began to look rather sad.

I suppose I could not blame her.

"All right. Soleil, you can join in, too."

When I said that, Soleil floated lightly down onto my shoulder.

She sat down hesitantly, cleared her throat, and then said,

"T-then I shall deliver the report."

"We shall!"

"Princess Sophia-sama said, 'Regarding the matter we promised to discuss before, hearing Grand Duke Karon-sama's account, would the afternoon of the day after tomorrow suit you?'"

"If it is too late in the day, you may have to stay the night. I am also worried about the roads at night."

"Alchemist-sama may bring an escort."

"However, only Alchemist-sama himself may hear the account."

"During that time, your escort will wait outside."

"They would like neither side to bring weapons into the meeting."

"Grand Duke Karon-sama, Princess Sophia-sama, and Princess Riana-sama will guarantee Alchemist-sama's safety."

"If anyone tries to harm you, the three of them will beat that person senseless."

"Princess Sophia-sama said at the end, 'I apologize for making such a presumptuous request, but please forgive me.'"

"She bowed deeply when she said it."

"That was the message from Imperial Princess Sophia Dolgaria-sama."

"Imperial Princess Riana Dolgaria-sama apparently agrees as well."

"That is all!"

Having said that, Soleil and Jilfe bowed.

Mabel, Agnis, and I all applauded in response.

"Thank you. Then we will be in Noza Town the afternoon of the day after tomorrow."

At last.

I would finally learn the reason 'the Empire had become what it was' and 'what the Empire should never have lost'──the things Grand Duke Karon had said he would tell me about before.

This was a rare opportunity. I wanted to hear all about what had happened in the old Empire.

"Could you tell Princess Sophia-sama that we will arrive in town around noon? It would be hard on Soleil and the others to make the round trip... Have another wing fairy deliver the message."

"Understood!"

"Soleil and Jilfe, get some rest. You must be tired."

"Yes, yes, yes. May I make a request?"

"I want to take a fizzy bath!"

"All right. I will prepare it right away. We have fruit water, too. It is just fruit juice mixed with water. Would you like it warm or cold?"

"Cold!"

"I see. Then, Mabel, could you handle it?"

I handed the 'IC Recorder' to Mabel.

"Of course. Please wait a moment."

Mabel brought over a pitcher of fruit water from the kitchen.

She poured it into a wooden cup and held up the 'IC Recorder.'

Then──

'──O great spirit... cold!'

A voice flowed from the 'IC Recorder,' and a wind mixed with ice sprang forth.

The fruit water grew cold.

"Amazing... Mabel."

"It is faster than the wing fairies' magic. I am amazed..."

"It came whoosh and made it fizzy and icy!"

Agnis, Soleil, and Jilfe were all astonished.

The magic Mabel had used was the water-attribute spell 'Cold Breath,' which created a chill.

Chanted normally, it went,

'Great spirit of water, bring forth your refreshing breath of cold! Cold Breath!!'──

It took about forty seconds to activate.

Mabel had played it back at eight times speed.

The whole thing took five seconds. Even so, the magic activated.

It had followed all the steps needed for magic, so it made sense when I thought about it.

The chanting at the time of recording had been clear in both words and pronunciation.

Once Mabel infused it with her magic power, there was no reason it would fail to activate.

All she had done was play back the chanting at eight times speed.

"...I am amazed."

"Yes. It activates the magic in an instant, so it is surprising."

"No, I am amazed that I simply accepted it as, 'Of course. It is one of Thor-sama's items.'..."

Mabel smiled awkwardly.

I nodded at her, then looked toward Agnis.

"Agnis, could I ask you to be my escort when we go to Noza Town?"

"Y-yes. Gladly!"

"Good. Here you go."

I handed the 'IC Recorder' to Agnis.

"Keep this with you, Agnis. I do not expect anything to happen, but... if you ever think you are in danger, could you use it?"

"...Huh?"

Agnis tilted her head in confusion.

"You're giving the 'IC Recorder' to Agnis?"

"Yes. I realized while making it that this item might be useful to you, too."

"Really?"

"Thor-sama? What do you mean?"

"Soleil does not understand either."

"Yes, yes! Jilfe gets it! But she cannot put it into words!"

Agnis, Mabel, and Soleil all stared blankly at me.

Jilfe raised her hand with absolute confidence. Apparently she understood but could not put it into words. I wondered if that was really true.

In any case, I would explain.

The reason the 'IC Recorder' would be useful to Agnis.

How it would allow Agnis to switch between her two abilities──

A few minutes later,

"So, by using the 'IC Recorder' and the 'Health Enhancement Pendant,' Agnis will be able to choose how she uses her abilities."

I finished my explanation.

I had tried to explain it as clearly as possible. I wondered if they had understood.

Yes. Mabel was nodding with an extremely convinced expression.

Soleil was waving her arms wildly. She seemed excited.

Jilfe had apparently gotten bored and was asleep clinging to my chest. She was certainly carefree.

And Agnis──

"...Thor Kanan-sama."

──She suddenly came closer──and enclosed my hand in both of hers.

"Thor Kanan-sama, had you really been thinking this much about Agnis...?"

"Of course I was. You are someone precious to me."

There was a short pause.

Agnis nodded as if making up her mind, then closed her eyes and said,

"...Thank you. Thor Kanan-sama..."

She slowly brought her face closer and whispered beside my ear.

"U-um, Agnis?"

"I am so happy that Thor Kanan-sama understands Agnis... and gave me a choice..."

"...Yes. I am happy that you are here, too, Agnis."

I was grateful to Agnis as well.

She always escorted me whenever I went to the human world, and she helped me with my experiments.

Because that was the kind of person Agnis was, I had thought, 'This might help Agnis,' while making the 'IC Recorder.'

"No matter what happens, Agnis will protect Thor Kanan-sama."

Agnis said that in a faint voice.

"Even if evil people from the Empire attack, or a Hero comes, Agnis will not let them lay a finger on Thor Kanan-sama. I will protect you. To Agnis, Thor Kanan-sama is someone she wishes to serve 'in the name of the Primordial Flame.'"

"Hey, Agnis."

"Y-yes?"

"Are you going to tell me what those words mean soon?"

"...I would like you to wait a little longer."

Agnis whispered beside my ear.

──'In the name of the Primordial Flame.'

As someone descended from an Ifrit, that must have an important meaning for Agnis.

I hoped she would tell me what it meant someday.

I had asked General Raizenga about it once, too, but for some reason he had only said, 'I am sorry. Agnis has sworn me to secrecy...' and refused to explain.

"Th-thank you... Thor Kanan-sama."

Having said that, Agnis took half a step back.

Her body moved away, but she was still holding my hand in both of hers.

Agnis remained that way for a while, then looked around.

I followed her gaze──yes. Mabel and Soleil were facing away. Jilfe seemed to have been forcibly turned around by Mabel and Soleil, though.

"..."

Agnis and I looked at each other again.

What was this feeling? It was incredibly embarrassing.

Neither of us could find the right words. Our eyes kept darting away, and we seemed not to know what to do.

...Come to think of it, I had tried to hug Agnis tightly once before.

It had been right after I made the 'Health Enhancement Pendant.'

General Raizenga had shown up, and the moment had ultimately passed without anything happening.

But... my heart was beating faster now than it had then.

This time I had not even hugged Agnis... How strange.

"Th-then... Agnis will go practice using the 'IC Recorder'!"

Agnis said that while looking down.

"I will practice somewhere deserted so I do not inconvenience anyone. I will show that I can switch between these two items so that I can live up to Thor Kanan-sama's expectations!"

"Y-yes. Do your best, Agnis."

"I will do my best!"

Agnis clenched her fist determinedly.

I wanted to stay by her side and cheer her on while she practiced, but... that would probably be impossible.

Knowing Agnis, she would practice in a way that would not burn her clothes.

Of course, what she was wearing was made from 'Earth Magic-Woven Cloth.' It would not burn from anything minor.

But to Agnis, these were clothes she had only recently become able to wear.

She treasured them dearly and probably did not want to damage or scorch them.

That meant it would be difficult for me to watch over and encourage Agnis while she practiced──

"But... call me if anything happens."

"Y-yes, understood. Then I am off. I will be back by evening!!"

With that, Agnis dashed out of the workshop.

Perhaps because she had been 'enhanced' by the 'Health Enhancement Pendant,' she moved incredibly fast.

Oh, she was already near the forest.

"Yes, yes! Soleil will help Agnis-sama!"

The wing fairy Soleil suddenly raised her hand.

"There is a rocky area deep in the forest where no one ever goes. Soleil will show Agnis-sama the way so she can practice without holding back."

"I am counting on you, Soleil."

"Come on, Soleil!"

"Jilfe is coming, too! How long are you going to wait for Alchemist-sama to hold your hand!?"

"I want you to hold my hand. I want to take a fizzy bath with Alchemist-sama."

"That will be after we see Agnis-sama off!"

"Okay!"

Jilfe waved her hand as Soleil carried her by the collar.

Wing fairies really were incredibly carefree.

"Then, we are off!"

"See you later! Fluffy!"

And so, the light wing fairy Soleil and the wind wing fairy Jilfe flew out through the window.

After they left, Mabel and I remained behind.

"For now, let's have some fruit water, too."

"Yes. I will chill it."

Mabel chanted normally and activated the magic 'Cold Breath.'

She handed me fruit water that had been chilled thoroughly.

"Come to think of it, we have to prepare for the meeting now."

Mabel said that after finishing her fruit water.

"I will arrange the luggage. Thor-sama, please rest."

"I will help, too. I did not stay up all night this time, so I still have a reasonable amount of energy."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"What about the times you jolted awake in the middle of the night and wrote down ideas you had thought of while sleeping?"

"About ten times?"

"And the times you could not resist and immediately conducted experiments...?"

"Only four times."

"Indeed, you did not stay up all night."

"Because I promised you, Mabel."

I nodded.

For a while after that, we drank fruit water.

"But you are right, Mabel. I intend to take it easy today."

"Yes. We have no particular plans, either."

"I want to get myself in good condition before meeting the Grand Duke of the Empire."

This meeting had been arranged with Demon King Lukie's permission. Grand Duke Karon had also sent her a letter saying, 'I wish to speak with Alchemist Thor Kanan.'

So both the Demon King's Domain and the Grand Duchy had approved it, making it an officially arranged meeting.

"Then please try on your clothes later. Her Majesty the Demon King has sent clothes for the meeting."

"All right. And there were clothes for Agnis, too, right?"

"Yes, they were made from 'Earth Magic-Woven Cloth.' I would like Agnis to try them on herself, but..."

Agnis had dashed out to experiment with the 'IC Recorder' and had not returned.

She would probably be back by evening, but... she would likely be exhausted when she came home.

Agnis was very serious, after all.

"Hey, Mabel."

"Yes, Thor-sama?"

"You and Agnis are almost the same size, right? Agnis wore your maid uniform before."

"Yes... Except in a few areas, our sizes are quite close."

"If Agnis comes back tired, would you try the clothes on in her place? We need to check the skirt length and various other things, right?"

"Yes, if Agnis-sama does not mind."

"Actually, I would like to see you wearing something cute, too, Mabel."

"Y-yes."

"For now, let's wait until Agnis comes back. First, could you help me try on my clothes?"

"Leave it to me!"

And so, we went into the next room.

I put on my clothes and had Mabel check whether they fit properly.

After that, Soleil and Jilfe returned, so we put them in the bath, gave them chilled fruit water, and let them bask in the sun──

While we were doing that, evening arrived, and Agnis returned.

"──The experiment was a success!"

Agnis announced.

"I was able to master the items. I can now let Thor Kanan-sama watch me, too!"

Agnis was excited and immediately tried to show us the results of her experiment──but I stopped her.

She was drenched in sweat and looked extremely tired.

For now, we had Agnis take a 'fizzy bath' as well and let her rest.

Afterward, I told her about the clothes fitting, but──

"Agnis wants to see Mabel looking cute, too! I want Thor Kanan-sama to come with me!"

──and that was how it was decided.

So I helped Mabel try on the clothes, and checked their sizes together with Agnis, Soleil, and Jilfe.

Lukie had prepared a dress made from 'Earth Magic-Woven Cloth.'

It was primarily yellow, with a short skirt and short sleeves. It had been made with ease of movement as the priority.

We had Mabel spin around a few times and strike walking poses──

──and that was how we checked whether there were any problems with the outfit.

The result was that the clothes fit perfectly.

Agnis tried them on as well, and the size was fine.

Actually, Mabel and Agnis looked good in anything they wore.

The next day, we reviewed the etiquette for meeting high-ranking Imperial figures, went over what we would say, and checked the items we would bring.

In the afternoon, Lukie came to visit, so we reconfirmed the plans for the next day.

That was how the preparation period passed peacefully──

On the day we were scheduled to meet Grand Duke Karon, we headed for the forest along the border.

Mabel and General Raizenga accompanied us until we left the forest.

At the exit, we performed one final check of our luggage.

I had the 'Voice Recorder' and the 'IC Recorder.'

The clothes for the meeting were inside the 'Super-Small Simple Storage.' I planned to change after entering Noza Town so that I would not soil them.

There were no problems with the rest of the luggage, either. We had everything we needed.

We had snacks. We had souvenirs. Everything seemed fine.

After finishing all the checks, Agnis and I──

"Then, we are off!"

"Agnis will protect Thor Kanan-sama!!"

──waved to Mabel and General Raizenga and headed together for Noza Town.