Completing the Warehouse and Storage Space (with Item Management Function)

──Demon Lord Lukie's POV──

Demon Lord Lukie watched in a daze as Thor began working.

She had certainly given him permission to create the Simple Warehouse.

But she hadn't expected him to start making it right there and then.

"Are you seriously planning to make it right now, Thor Rigas!?"

"Demon Lord-sama, shh."

"Mabel?"

"Once Thor-sama gets like this, he won't stop. Besides, he would never make anything bad."

"You trust him quite a lot, Mabel."

"Of course I do."

Mabel smiled.

"Thor-sama noticed that I was sensitive to the cold and suddenly made something called a 'Foot Bath.'"

"That was why!?"

"Yes. Exactly."

"I thought it was to improve the circulation of magic power in your body..."

Lukie couldn't help wondering if she had heard correctly.

The 'Foot Bath' Thor Rigas had made was an exceedingly rare item.

An item that improved the circulation of magic power within the body could easily be worth as much as an entire mansion.

And he had made it because Mabel was sensitive to the cold...?

"What on earth is that alchemist thinking?"

"Thor-sama is such a kind person."

Mabel closed her eyes and murmured as if sharing a secret.

"That is why I trust Thor-sama. This person who came from the Empire is a good envoy for us."

"Y-yes. I suppose you're right, Mabel."

Lukie nodded.

"Besides, Thor Rigas seems interested only in making items. Since he started working, he hasn't even heard a word from either of us. His concentration is incredible."

"It certainly is. Thor-sama's passion for magic items is amazing."

"Indeed. He's engrossed in it like a child."

"Yes. Thor-sama looks so dashing and cool when he concentrates on making items."

"That's not what I meant, Mabel."

With Demon Lord Lukie and Mabel watching over him, Thor continued working.

And then—

──Thor's POV──

I pictured the Simple Warehouse shown in the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'

The front view, side view, and overhead view. The view from an angle.

I combined them, turning them into a three-dimensional image in my mind.

However, I made it a little smaller than the dimensions given in the book.

Small enough to make with the materials I had on hand.

And as simple as possible—

"Front view—Imaging. Side view—create. Three-view drawing—create. Expand 3D drawing."

As I declared this, a translucent image of the 'Simple Warehouse' appeared in the air.

I only had the photograph for information. How accurately could I copy the Hero's world's Simple Warehouse with that...?

While picturing the photograph, I imagined the actual warehouse.

The feel of the walls. Their hardness. Their color.

Its weight. Its temperature. Its color.

Good, the image was taking shape. Next came the size.

"Shape identification—complete. Set size."

The warehouse shown in the book was several meters long and wide.

But I didn't need anything that large.

It would get in the way in my room, and require too many materials.

I was going to create a storage space inside it anyway. The size of the exterior didn't matter much.

"Set dimensions. Height, width, depth... all 1.2 meters."

The image of the 'Simple Warehouse' floating in the air changed.

A small warehouse, just large enough for a person to enter while crouching, now stood before me.

"Determine materials—begin creation."

I moved the image of the 'Simple Warehouse' floating in the air over to the materials.

The prepared lump of metal overlapped with the translucent image.

"Generate the Simple Warehouse using the metal lump as material. Infuse it with Dark Magic Power to create a storage space inside. Stabilize the material with 'Earth' Magic Power. Reinforce the walls, floor, and roof."

The metal lump began changing shape according to the image.

Slowly, it took the form of a warehouse—

"Execute 'Creation Alchemy'! Create 'Simple Warehouse'!"

Clunk.

A metal 'Simple Warehouse' appeared before me.

"...I did it."

──────────────────

'Simple Warehouse (Otherworld Style)' (Attributes: Earth, Wind, Dark Dark Dark) (Rarity: ★★★★★☆)

Creates a separate space inside using powerful Dark Magic Power.

Creates air within the separate space using Wind Magic Power.

Fixes and seals the separate space using Earth Magic Power.

The 'Simple Warehouse' is a warehouse containing a separate space for storing items.

Food, water, and other stored items can be kept without deterioration.

Important items are automatically stored and sorted.

If left in the Demon Lord's Territory, it automatically absorbs Dark Magic Power, so no magic stone is needed.

Physical Destruction Resistance: ★★★★★ (It cannot be destroyed without high-level magic. However, even high-level magic has no effect if it is stored in the internal space.)

Service life: 100 years.

──────────────────

"So this is the Simple Warehouse from the Hero's world."

What I had made was a box 1.2 meters wide.

A large door was set in the front, allowing me to enter.

But although it was complete... it was still a far cry from the items of the Hero's world.

The warehouse in the 'Mail-Order Catalog' had gutters to drain rainwater, as well as holes for attaching a lock.

Mine had neither of those things.

I couldn't copy details that fine.

I didn't have enough materials, and my skills weren't good enough.

I had no choice but to simplify it by cutting out the finer details.

"The items from the Hero's world really are amazing."

Still, it was worth doing.

My goal was to create perfect copies of items from another world.

To make things the Empire would grovel to obtain.

"Thor Rigas, you are... truly amazing."

"You really are amazing, Thor-sama!"

"Oh."

I'd forgotten.

Lukie and Mabel were in the room.

I had been so absorbed in alchemy that I had completely forgotten about them.

"Since I had your permission, I made this Simple Warehouse to use as a workshop, Your Majesty."

I said this.

"Thank you for permitting me to create a new room, despite my being a foreigner, Your Majesty. I am deeply grateful."

"Well, an ordinary person couldn't create a room. Besides..."

Lukie stared at the 1.2-meter-tall warehouse and said,

"Would something this small really be usable as a workshop?"

"I've already thought of that."

"What do you mean?"

"Your Majesty, do you know that the Hero from another world used things called a 'Storage Box' and an 'Item Box'?"

"I do. A storage space with unlimited capacity, correct?"

"I've given this the same ability. I made it on the spur of the moment, so I don't know whether it worked properly, though."

"...You're joking, right?"

Lukie said this with a strained expression.

"Are there actually alchemists in the Empire who can manipulate space...?"

"...I don't know whether anyone else can do the same, though."

Probably not.

The Empire had weak Dark Magic Power, after all.

Even I couldn't have made this using only my own magic power.

"Regardless of the Empire, may I check the inside first?"

We could talk afterward.

I wanted to make sure the storage space had been created properly.

I'd gone to the trouble of making it. I wanted to see the inside as soon as possible.

"I apologize for being so presumptuous in Your Majesty's presence, but may I?"

"Y-yes. You have my permission."

"Thank you."

"May I come along too, Thor-sama?"

Mabel stepped forward.

"Cleaning Thor-sama's room is my responsibility. So I suppose I will be cleaning this... um..."

"'Simple Warehouse.'"

"Um, I suppose I will be cleaning this 'Simple Warehouse.'"

"Of course. Go ahead."

The warehouse entrance was 1.2 meters tall.

I would have to crouch to enter.

I couldn't exactly turn my backside toward the Demon Lord, so I turned the warehouse around, and—

The door—good. It opened and closed smoothly.

"All right, I'm going in."

"I will be going in too, Demon Lord-sama."

Mabel and I bowed to Demon Lord Lukie before entering the 'Simple Warehouse.'

──Inside the Otherworld-Style 'Simple Warehouse'──

"It's insanely huge!"

"How can there be a space like this inside that tiny box!?"

Beside me, Mabel's eyes were wide open.

The inside of the warehouse had become an enormous space.

It was probably about as large as the grounds of the ducal estate.

I was amazed too. I never expected it to be this spacious. I could store items without limit... Actually, I could probably live here.

"It's amazing, it's amazing! I can run all the way to the edge, Thor-sama!"

With her skirt swirling, Mabel ran around the warehouse.

She spun around, ran to the wall, then came running back, excited.

"It's incredible! Even the Demon Lord's Castle treasury doesn't have an item like this!"

"It's just a copy of an item from the Hero's world. The people in that world are the amazing ones."

That world really was in a league of its own.

Well, I suppose that's only natural, since it was the Hero's world.

"You said earlier that your goal was to surpass the Hero, Thor-sama."

Mabel looked at me curiously.

"But wasn't it the Heroes from other worlds who laid the foundation of the Dulgaria Empire where you came from, Thor-sama?"

"Well, yes, that's true."

"When you say you want to surpass the Hero, do you mean you want to surpass the Empire—in other words, become 'the greatest alchemist in the Empire'?"

"...Something like that."

Mabel was sharp.

Just as she said, it was the Heroes summoned from other worlds who laid the foundation of the Empire.

That's why I wanted to surpass the world of the Heroes.

If I did, it would mean I had surpassed the Empire that had exiled me.

But in the end, that was just—

"Probably nothing more than self-satisfaction, though."

"...Hey."

"It's been more than a hundred years since Heroes stopped being summoned. I wonder what the world would be like if a Hero had remained here and continued bringing technology to this world. I'm curious."

"If the Hero's technology had continued coming to this world all that time...?"

"Yes. Maybe this world would have become as convenient a place as the Hero's world."

"But... if Heroes had continued being summoned, the Demon Lord's Territory might have been destroyed."

"That's not what I meant—"

"I know. Thor-sama, you are kind."

"...............What is going on? Mabel, are you all right...?"

"Thor-sama repaired my item. He even made an item to relieve my sensitivity to the cold. I know that Thor-sama is a good person."

"...Mabel-san."

"I will never forget how grateful I am to Thor-sama. I put both the pendant and the 'Foot Bath' in a box, tied ribbons around them, and stored them carefully."

"No, no, please use them!"

The pendant was one thing, but the 'Foot Bath' was a practical item.

I wanted her to use it and tell me what she thought so I could improve it.

"Earlier, I said that I wanted to repay your kindness... but that isn't quite the truth."

Suddenly, Mabel took my hand.

She gazed intently into my face with her large eyes and said,

"I want to help Thor-sama live comfortably here in the Demon Lord's Territory. I feel that the things Thor-sama makes are meant to bring happiness to people. So please let me assist you, Thor-sama, the alchemist."

"Thank you. Then, Mabel-san, please see what I make."

"Yes!"

"Now, about the next item I'm going to make—"

"That's too soon! You don't need to make things so quickly!?"

"No, with things like this, it's better to make them while I'm in the mood—"

"What is going on!? Mabel! Thor! Answer me!!"

"Your Majesty!?"

"S-sorry! We're both safe!!"

Mabel and I hurriedly answered.

We hadn't noticed that Demon Lord Lukie was calling us.

Since the warehouse was a separate space, it was difficult to hear voices from outside.

"As long as you're safe, that's fine. I've been worried because you didn't respond when I knocked on and shook the warehouse."

"You knocked and shook it?"

"I didn't feel a thing..."

"──Would it be safe for me to enter the warehouse?"

"You're going inside too, Your Majesty?"

"Of course. A guest has created a separate space inside my castle. As the master of the castle, I cannot fail to check whether it is safe."

"But it seems disrespectful to invite Your Majesty into a warehouse I made..."

"Thor. Did you make something dangerous?"

"No, that wasn't my intention."

"Then surely there will be no problem with me entering?"

The Demon Lord didn't seem inclined to back down.

I looked around the warehouse.

There were no dangerous objects. In fact, there was nothing inside at all.

Would it really be all right to invite the Demon Lord in?

"I understand. Please, Your Majesty."

"Very well."

The Demon Lord entered the warehouse.

Looking around inside, the Demon Lord said in apparent amazement,

"Who would have thought you could create such a vast space inside such a tiny warehouse...? Amazing, Alchemist Thor Rigas."

"I am honored by your praise, Your Majesty."

"I see. It is softly lit inside. The space is... about as large as the arena in the Demon Lord's Territory. It should be large enough to have familiars fight here."

Wearing her mask, the Demon Lord looked around with interest.

At that moment—

'A high-importance Rarity SS item has been detected. It will be automatically stored in your space.'

Suddenly, a voice sounded inside the Simple Warehouse.

'"Recognition-Obscuring Robe (All-Attribute Defense)" has been stored.'

'"Recognition-Obscuring Mask (All-Attribute Enhancement)" has been stored.'

A black robe and silver mask appeared at my feet.

They were the things Demon Lord Lukie had been wearing.

"...............What!?"

A beautiful blonde girl stood before me.

She wore a jet-black dress with a jewel and ribbon at the chest.

She stared at me with her large eyes wide open.

Her eyes were a dark reddish-black. Looking into them made me feel as though I might be drawn inside. They held a profound darkness, yet were beautiful. She looked exactly like a work of art created by the gods.

The girl's body was slender. She was probably shorter than me, too.

Even so, she didn't seem frail. If anything, I could feel a vitality overflowing from her.

So this was the true form of Demon Lord Lukie. She was incredibly beautiful...

I couldn't help realizing how inadequate my own abilities were.

Good grief.

Even with a power like Creation Alchemy, I couldn't begin to rival the beauty created by nature.

The Hero world's items—and Demon Lord Lukie, the pinnacle of beauty.

"There are still so many things I don't know about this world. I need to train harder..."

As I was thinking that—

"W-what just happened──────!?"

Demon Lord Lukie's scream echoed through the warehouse.