Experimenting with the UV-Cut Parasol

Then, I hereby declare that we will conduct an experiment using the 'UV-Cut Parasol'!

Lukie addressed the members gathered at the experimental site.

About an hour after the party ended.

We had gathered in a grove near the mansion to conduct the experiment with the 'UV-Cut Parasol.'

The members were Lukie and me, Mabel, Agnis, General Raizenga, and Chancellor Kelv-san.

And Soleil and Rune, the Pixies.

"First, show everyone the 'UV-Cut Parasol,' Thor."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

I took the 'UV-Cut Parasol' out of the ultra-small simple warehouse.

I held it out toward Lukie while it was still closed.

"This parasol is a copy of an item from the Hero's world. It can nullify Light magic or reduce its power. Also, the 'UV' in 'UV-Cut' is presumably an abbreviation for the ultimate Light-Attribute magic 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light.'"

"...Oh."

Chancellor Kelv-san and General Raizenga both gasped in amazement.

Of course, it seemed that both of them knew the legend of the ultimate magic 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light.'

I continued explaining.

"According to the 'Mail-Order Catalog,' this parasol can 'cut UV by 90 percent.' It probably reduces the power of 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light' to ten percent. Also, I have confirmed that this parasol can extinguish the light from a magic lamp."

"So its ability to counter Light-Attribute magic has already been proven."

Demon Lord Lukie picked up where I left off.

Then Lukie sighed and said,

"──I have heard of the terror of the Light-Attribute ultimate magic 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light' since I was a child. It was the strongest magic used by a Hero from another world, and it destroyed the barrier of an ancient Demon Lord. To the Demon Lord's Territory, it is like an archenemy."

I understood how Lukie felt.

Although the Hero from another world was gone, there was no guarantee that someone capable of using 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light' would not appear again.

As the ruler responsible for the people of the Demon Lord's Territory, she must want to remain wary of that magic.

"No one in the Demon Lord's Territory can use 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light.' Therefore, this time we shall conduct the experiment with ordinary Light-Attribute attack magic. That is why I asked you to come here, Soleil, since you can use Light attack magic."

She looked up at the treetops while wearing the 'Perception Obstruction' mask and robe.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty."

Soleil answered while hiding behind a tree.

Rune, dressed in black, was beside her.

"Soleil and Rune, I thank you for cooperating with this experiment and for listening to my alchemist's request."

Lukie said this to the two of them.

"Soleil and Rune, as Thor's friends, continue to help him from now on."

"Y-yes!"

"We Pixies are the ones who have been helped by Thor Kanan-sama. We will repay that kindness with our entire race."

Soleil answered in a tense voice, while Rune gave an elegant bow.

Lukie nodded at their words, then looked toward the others and said,

"Now, as for who will use the 'UV-Cut Parasol'..."

"Yes. Of course, as its creator, I'll take Soleil's magic."

I raised my hand without hesitation.

"I can't cast magic at Alchemist-sama!"

"I cannot permit that, either."

"We cannot let Thor-sama do anything dangerous."

"Even at ten percent power, attack magic is dangerous."

"Thor-dono should be aware that he himself is an important person."

"Kelv must object as well."

They all opposed me.

Soleil, Lukie, Mabel, Agnis, General Raizenga, and even Chancellor Kelv-san.

...I don't think everyone had to reject it together.

"It would be better to have someone with a sturdy body and defensive magic do it."

Lukie looked toward the general and the chancellor.

"Raizenga, Kelv, can you do it?"

"Understood, Your Majesty."

"I can ward off magic of that level with a barrier. There will be no problem."

It was decided that General Raizenga and Chancellor Kelv-san would hold the parasols.

"Then, Soleil, could you first fire Light attack magic at that boulder? I want to confirm the power of your magic."

"Is that all right, Alchemist-sama?"

"Yes. Please do it, Soleil."

"Understood..."

Saying so, Soleil emerged from behind the tree.

She raised an arm and began chanting.

"O great light, deliver a powerful blow to whatever obstructs your path!"

A sphere of light appeared at Soleil's fingertips.

It was about the size of a human fist.

"I'm firing! 'Vivid Light Strike'!!"

When she swung her arm, a bolt of light shot out.

It flew straight toward the enormous boulder jutting out of the ground──

It bored a hole the same size as the sphere of light through the boulder, then vanished.

"...Ooooooooooh!"

Everyone cried out in amazement.

So this was the Light attack magic 'Vivid Light Strike.'

Light has the meanings of 'existence' and 'existence itself.'

It hurls that mass of magic power at another object—in other words, it strikes the opponent with a stronger 'power of existence' and makes the weaker one disappear.

That was the power of 'Light-Attribute attack magic.'

"Soleil, you're incredible... To think you can use magic with this much power."

"Th-thank you, Alchemist-sama."

When I said that, Soleil lowered her head shyly.

Instead, Rune whispered into my ear.

"Light and Dark Pixies have greater abilities because there are fewer of them. There are many Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind Pixies, but Soleil and I are the only Light and Dark Pixies. Perhaps the abilities of several people are concentrated in one person, probably to make it easier for us to survive."

I see.

So that was why Soleil and Rune could use such powerful magic.

"B-but still, Pixies are small, so we can store only a little magic power in our bodies. We cannot use magic many times, either. I can use 'Vivid Light Strike' one or two more times at most."

"Understood. Then could you do it one more time?"

"If that is what Alchemist-sama wishes, Soleil will do her best."

Soleil clenched her fist with a small, spirited grunt.

"For Alchemist-sama's experiment, Soleil will pour all her remaining magic power into 'Vivid Light Strike'!"

"That's the spirit, Soleil."

"I'll do my best, big sister!"

Soleil and Rune stood with their arms around each other's shoulders, staring intently at me.

It was good that they were motivated, but I hoped they would not overdo it.

"Chancellor and General, you will receive this 'Vivid Light Strike' with the 'UV-Cut Parasols.' Are you sure you will be all right?"

I looked toward Chancellor Kelv-san and General Raizenga.

"There is no need for concern, Thor-dono."

Chancellor Kelv-san nodded confidently.

"I am a demonfolk, after all, and I am confident in my magic. Even if the 'UV-Cut Parasol' fails to work, I can withstand it with a barrier."

"Of course. An item made by Thor-dono should work without issue. I'm not worried!"

General Raizenga laughed heartily.

Both of them radiated confidence.

The chancellor and the general were both Demon Lord Lukie's close aides, after all.

They had stood on the front lines during the 'Gargalossa Magical Beast Subjugation Battle,' so they must indeed be extremely strong.

Perhaps there was no need for me to worry.

But I was still concerned, so──

"Just in case, could you use this?"

I took another 'UV-Cut Parasol' out of the ultra-small simple warehouse.

I handed it directly to General Raizenga.

"Thor-dono, what is this?"

"It's 'UV-Cut Parasol No. 2.'"

"No. 2?! You made two items capable of defending against Light magic?!"

"It's only a precaution."

I said.

"Hold this so that it overlaps with Parasol No. 1. After 'UV-Cut Parasol No. 1' cuts ninety percent of the Light magic, Parasol No. 2 will cut ninety percent of the remaining ten percent. In other words, the two parasols should cut ninety-nine percent of the Light magic's power."

I had been concerned by the words '90 percent UV cut rate' in the catalog.

A ninety-percent cut meant that the remaining ten percent would get through.

That wasn't enough as a countermeasure against magic.

So I made 'UV-Cut Parasol No. 2' so that it could cut ninety percent of that remaining ten percent.

If we held them so that the fabric of Nos. 1 and 2 overlapped, they should cut ninety-nine percent of the Light magic attack.

That was what I explained to Lukie and the others.

"I see. Clever thinking, Thor."

Lukie nodded, impressed.

"But with this method, both hands are occupied. You cannot swing a sword or hold a shield while defending against Light magic. It would be nice if there were a more elegant way to do it..."

I shook my head.

"Originally, I wanted to incorporate several layers of fabric into a single parasol. But because that would make the structure more complicated, I could not finish it in time for today's experiment. It's unfortunate."

"No, this is enough for now."

Saying so, Lukie—after rising slightly onto her toes—patted me on the shoulder.

"The first parasol reduces ninety percent of the power, and the second reduces ninety percent of the remaining ten percent. Therefore, the damage that can be prevented is ninety-nine percent──in other words, it reduces the attack power to one percent. I think it is a rational approach."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

"I value your inquisitive spirit, too. If you notice anything else, do not hesitate to say so."

"Yes. Then this is 'UV-Cut Parasol No. 3.'"

I took out a third parasol.

"By overlapping three parasols, we can reduce ninety percent of the one percent that passes through the second layer... In other words, the three together can reduce ninety-nine point nine percent of the Light magic attack──"

"Isn't that overkill?!"

"Because we can't let anyone get hurt during the experiment."

If I were the one serving as the test subject, one parasol would have been enough.

But if someone else was holding the parasols, I absolutely could not allow them to be injured.

As the Demon Lord's alchemist, that was something I could never accept.

"I have a responsibility as an alchemist. If someone else is going to conduct an experiment for me, I will take every possible safety measure to ensure they are not injured. Isn't that only natural?"

"...Thor-dono. You thought so much about us?"

"...This Kelv was almost moved to tears... Grrr."

"So, Your Excellency the General and Your Excellency the Chancellor, please hold the three parasols so that the layers of fabric overlap."

I handed the third parasol to the two of them.

"Soleil, aim at the part where the parasols overlap when you fire your magic. Also... Chancellor Kelv-san is the one who can use a magic barrier, correct? Then it would be better to leave one hand free. I think General Raizenga should hold two and Kelv-san should hold one."

"U-understood, Thor-dono."

"Let's finish the experiment before a fourth one appears."

Once the chancellor and the general had accepted my instructions, the experiment began.

The chancellor held one 'UV-Cut Parasol,' while the general held two, all aimed at the tree where Soleil was standing.

The three parasols overlapped somehow, forming a three-layered defensive wall.

"...Then, I shall fire the magic."

Soleil raised an arm and began chanting.

"To answer Alchemist-sama's trust! O mighty light──strike with force at whatever obstructs your path──"

A sphere of light appeared at her fingertips──wait, what? It was bigger than the one before.

The first one had been about the size of a human fist, but this one was about the size of a human head.

"Soleil has released all her magic power, in order to be of use to Alchemist-sama!"

Rune cried out beside me.

In other words, Soleil seemed to be trying too hard.

The surfaces of the three 'UV-Cut Parasols' began to tremble, perhaps in response to the Light magic power.

But Soleil's magic was activating.

It seemed that even the 'UV-Cut Parasols' could not cancel an attack spell of this level.

Chancellor Kelv-san and General Raizenga held the parasols with tense expressions.

Lukie watched them with a serious look on her face as well.

Mabel and Agnis were also watching the results of the experiment intently.

"Firing! 'Vivid Light Strike'!!"

Then──the magic shot out from Soleil's fingertips.

The bolt of light flew straight toward the general and the chancellor.

It slammed into the fabric of the 'UV-Cut Parasols'──

Splash!

It shattered harmlessly, like a raindrop.

"...Huh?"

The bolt of light bounced off the parasol fabric, scattered, and disappeared.

The only thing that passed through the parasol was a tiny, pea-sized bolt of light.

It touched 'UV-Cut Parasol No. 2' and shattered again.

By the time it passed through No. 2, it was the size of a grain of sand.

It struck No. 3 as well──and the light that passed through it was no longer visible.

"...J-just in case. Anti-Magic Barrier."

Chancellor Kelv-san deployed an anti-magic barrier beyond the parasols.

But the barrier did not appear to react to the attack magic.

It seemed that 'Vivid Light Strike' had been cut by ninety-nine point nine percent, but...

"Are you both all right? Do you feel unwell? Is anything hurting?"

When I called out to them, the chancellor and the general looked at each other and said,

"...Rather than being all right, we merely held some parasols."

"...There was absolutely no problem."

"Did you feel the Light magic hit? And what about the magic power consumed by using the parasols?"

"I barely felt the magic hit. I don't feel as though I used any magic power, either..."

"I did infuse a little magic power into the parasol, but it was only an amount that would be consumed during ordinary life. There would be no problem holding it continuously. Compared with maintaining a barrier, it is nothing at all."

The two of them tilted their heads.

"Rather, did the attack magic really hit us...?"

"I felt no impact whatsoever. What defensive ability..."

It was good that there had been no problems.

There was no damage to the surfaces of the parasols, either.

Even the places where the magic had struck remained unchanged. There were no burned, scorched, or chipped areas.

I checked them with my Skill, 'Appraisal,' and found no problems.

They seemed safe to continue using as they were.

"Rune-san, how is Soleil-san feeling?"

"She seems a little tired, but she is fine."

"...I'm tiiired."

Soleil was sitting on a tree branch, supported by Rune.

It seemed she had used too much magic power.

It would be better to let her rest at the mansion today.

"Agnis-san, is the Light Pixies' area in the great hall still set up?"

I asked her.

"It would be difficult for Soleil-san and the others to return to the forest now, so I would like to let them rest there today."

"No problem. I've left it as it was."

"And... Mabel, could you lend me your 'Foot Bath'? Soleil just used magic, so I think she should use it to recover."

"Of course. Since it was made by Thor-sama, please feel free to use it."

"Thank you. And... Rune-san, would you like to use it too?"

When I asked, Rune happily said,

"That is a most welcome offer. Thank you, Alchemist-sama."

She bowed deeply to me.

Then I turned toward Lukie and said,

"That concludes my report on the capabilities of the 'UV-Cut Parasols' I made, Your Majesty."

──I knelt on the ground and made my report as an alchemist.

Mabel and Agnis did the same on either side of me.

Soleil and Rune──knelt on my shoulders. How nimble.

"I had hoped to reduce the magic's power by ninety-nine point nine percent with a single parasol, but my skill was insufficient to make that possible, so Your Excellencies the General and the Chancellor had to hold three parasols. I apologize for my lack of ability."

"..."

"I intend to continue my research and improve them so that the fabric for three parasols can be combined into one. Until the improved version is ready, please use these 'UV-Cut Parasols.'"

"..."

"Also, I would be grateful if you could offer words of praise to Light Pixie Soleil, who cooperated with the experiment. She had only just recovered, yet she still took part in this experiment. I believe it is proof of her loyalty to Your Majesty the Demon Lord."

"..."

"...Um, Your Majesty?"

"...Thor."

"Yes."

"...I told you earlier that I have heard since childhood about the Light-Attribute ultimate magic 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light,' which destroyed the barrier of the ancient Demon Lord."

Lukie looked up at the sky as though gazing into the distance.

"Therefore, I feared Light attack magic──no, I was simply bad at dealing with it."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"You erased that aversion in an instant. 'Vivid Light Strike' may not equal 'Ultimate-Vivid-Light,' but it is still a powerful attack spell, is it not? And yet you blocked it with a single parasol... You really are... really..."

"No, it was three parasols, Your Majesty."

"That is not the point."

"It isn't?"

"I was just wondering what my aversion had even been about."

Lukie laughed.

I could not see her expression because of 'Perception Obstruction,' but I somehow understood.

"Very well! The Demon Lord's Territory shall adopt the 'UV-Cut Parasols' you created! We shall use them as a countermeasure against Light magic. As for their use... Let us first give them to the soldiers patrolling near the border."

"No, that would be dangerous, Your Majesty."

Chancellor Kelv-san suddenly spoke up.

"The 'UV-Cut Parasols' are too powerful. If they were stolen and the technology leaked to the Empire, it would be disastrous. Especially now, when the Empire is making strange moves. It would be better to keep these items within the Demon Lord's Territory and use them domestically."

"Then there would be no point in having UV-Cut. Most people who use Light-Attribute magic are outside the Demon Lord's Territory."

"If we are going to use them abroad, we need to devise a way to prevent them from being stolen."

Saying that, Chancellor Kelv-san looked at me.

"Do you understand what I am saying, Thor-dono?"

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Thor-dono's item is marvelous. Its abilities are unbelievable... though they should be impossible. The word 'UV-Cut' does not even appear in the traditions passed down by successive chancellors."

Chancellor Kelv-san scratched his forehead vigorously, then said,

"Precisely because this item is impossible, we must use it with the utmost caution. For the soldiers to use it, we need some way to prevent it from being stolen──"

"I understand. So I tried making a 'Chain Lock' to prevent theft."

I took a black chain out of the ultra-small simple warehouse.

It was several meters long, with a locking mechanism on both ends.

Its surface was wrapped in tube-shaped 'Earth Magic-Woven Fabric.'

I had secretly made it before the party.

After hearing Chancellor Kelv-san talk about 'keys and locks,' I could not resist reading the 'Mail-Order Catalog.' Sorry for keeping it secret, Mabel.

"First, I put the 'UV-Cut Parasol' inside the ultra-small simple warehouse. Then I wrap the 'Earth Lock Chain' around the warehouse──there."

"Huh? Wait, what? Wh-what?!"

"Finally, when I infuse magic power into the lock──"

With a click, the two ends of the chain joined together.

The reason it would not move when pulled was that a sturdy locking mechanism had been built inside it.

Then I placed the ultra-small simple warehouse, wrapped round and round with the chain, in front of the chancellor.

The door of the ultra-small simple warehouse was completely blocked by the chain.

It could not be opened, and nothing inside could be removed.

"You said we needed a way to prevent the 'ultra-small simple warehouse' from being stolen, Your Excellency, so I thought of a countermeasure. What do you think?"

"W-well..."

"You always give me hints for new items, Your Excellency. Your words about 'a way to prevent items from being stolen' gave me a new idea this time. My research based on it resulted in this 'Chain Lock.'"

"F-from my words? I... I see..."

"Yes. Thank you, Your Excellency the Chancellor."

I bowed to Chancellor Kelv-san.

"Please look at this ultra-small simple warehouse. Its door is completely blocked. With this, there should be no concern about the items inside being stolen. It is also possible to wrap this Chain Lock around the parasol itself."

"B-but... there is still a danger that the item itself could be stolen!"

Chancellor Kelv-san cried out.

"Even if it cannot be used, stealing the item itself would defeat the purpose. Since the simple warehouse and parasols are valuable, we need security to prevent them from being stolen!"

"Understood. Then, Chain Lock: activate 'Land Lock' mode."

I touched the 'Chain Lock' and declared this.

A chain for locking appeared with a rustle.

It stretched toward the ground──

Clank.

It stopped moving with a sound like something locking into place.

"Your Excellency the Chancellor, could you try lifting the ultra-small simple warehouse in front of you?"

"Huh? Oh, yes."

Chancellor Kelv-san crouched down and put a hand on the ultra-small simple warehouse.

"Look closely, Thor-dono. A simple warehouse this light could easily be carried away──"

The ultra-small simple warehouse was wrapped round and round in chain.

Spare chains extended from all four sides and were buried in the ground.

It looked as though it should be easy to lift, but──

"──I-it won't move?! Such a small box?!"

Chancellor Kelv-san's eyes went wide.

He remained frozen in a crouching position.

The ultra-small simple warehouse did not move even slightly. It was as though it had been fixed to the ground.

"G-grrr?! It won't budge. How is this possible?!"

"Now, Kelv-dono. Surely you are exaggerating. A box this small should──whoaaaah?!"

General Raizenga also tried to lift the ultra-small simple warehouse, but the result was the same.

Even with the general and chancellor working together, the ultra-small simple warehouse would not move.

That was because the 'Chain Lock' I had made had fixed it to the ground.

The Chain Lock in the 'Mail-Order Catalog' was meant to connect an item you did not want stolen to the world itself.

That was why it was clearly labeled 'Earth Lock.'

But the one I had made was not quite as powerful.

I had merely strengthened its Earth Attribute so that it would connect to the earth through magic power.

The chain that had entered the ground was magically connected to a deep, hard layer underground. Its strong Earth Attribute fixed it in place. Unless someone had enough strength to lift and move the entire ground, anything fixed with this 'Chain Lock' could not be moved.

That was the security system of the Hero's world.

Heroes were people with absurdly powerful Skills, after all.

Security in the Hero's world probably needed to be this extreme to be meaningful.

"With this Chain Lock, I think we can transport items safely."

I told the chancellor and the general.

"Whether it is a parasol or a simple warehouse, anything fixed with this chain cannot be moved unless it is broken. And once it is broken, the other party will be unable to use the item. They probably will not be able to analyze it, either."

Besides, without the 'Mail-Order Catalog' from another world, they would not know how to use it in the first place.

As for me, as long as I had the materials, I could make the same thing over and over.

I did not want it to be broken, but... I suppose it could not be helped for security's sake.

"The locking mechanism is at the ends. When magic power is infused, the two ends of the chain join together, and the same person who locked it can release it by infusing magic power. The item from the other world used a combination of numbers, but I decided to use magic power because it would be easier to make. When I made the body pillows, I confirmed that magic power contains personal information."

"...Ah, yes."

"...It will not lift. It truly... will not lift."

"As an anti-theft measure, if unlocking fails four times, it becomes completely impossible to unlock. In that case, I seem to serve as the master key. When I infuse magic power──there, it comes off."

Then I looked toward Lukie.

Once again, I knelt on the ground before her.

"This 'Land Lock Chain' can be used to prevent theft, and I believe it will also keep items such as the 'UV-Cut Parasols' from being stolen or lost while they are being transported. Would you please allow everyone to use it?"

"...Thor."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"For now, could you tell me everything about this item, from beginning to end?"

Lukie shifted her 'Perception Obstruction' mask just slightly and glared at me with her large eyes.

She looked angry──but also as if she were enjoying herself──

"Tell me when you made it, how much power it possesses, and its precautions and problems. And... whether I should keep watching you constantly. Let us discuss all of that."

──That was what Demon Lord Lukie said to me.