Chapter 78
The leg of the 'Demon Beast Gargarossa' was something I received after the subjugation was over.
This time, let's use it to test the 'Magic Circle Detector.'
"The leg of this 'Demon Beast Gargarossa' still contains magic power from the demon beast itself. If it was summoned, the magic circle might retain similar magic power as well."
I explained this to Mabel and the others.
"I want to use that magic power as a clue and see whether we can find the magic circle itself, just as the hero world's 'Radio Wave Detector' uses radio waves as a clue to search for wiretaps and transmitters."
"So the 'Magic Circle Detector' is a magic item that finds specific magic power?"
"Yeah. But I don't think I can make it as small as the one in the 'Mail-Order Catalog'..."
The items in the 'Mail-Order Catalog' were small enough to fit in a person's palm.
I couldn't make something that small with my skills.
Besides, it needed to be reasonably large to fit the leg of the 'Demon Beast Gargarossa' inside.
But how did the hero world's 'Radio Wave Detector' find 'wiretaps' and 'transmitters' without any materials? I wonder how it works.
As expected, my skills still couldn't compare to those of the hero world.
It was frustrating, but that was reality.
"Mabel, prepare the materials. A lump of metal, a magic stone, and magic-woven cloth of Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind—all six attributes should be enough."
"Yes, Thor-sama."
"I'll help too!"
"Agnis, I'd like you to keep records. Please note what materials we use to make the 'Magic Circle Detector.' Then, after it's made, we'll conduct an operational test, so could you record the progress and results as well?"
"So we can report it to Her Majesty the Demon Lord?"
"That's right. General Raizenga will need permission from Lukie-sama and Chancellor Kelv-san before his troops can use it. I intend to make two detectors: one for the general to use and one to report to Lukie-sama."
"Understood!"
The two of them immediately began preparing.
Then Pixie Soleil came over to me,
"Soleil wants to help too!"
"Sure. I had something I wanted to ask you, too."
"What is it?"
"How do pixies sense magic power?"
"It's simple. When magic power similar to our own is nearby, we feel as though we're being pulled toward it."
"A sensation of being pulled?"
"Soleil is a Light Pixie, right? So when Light magic power is nearby, Soleil feels a faint, tingling pull. It's like how you feel vaguely drawn to something when your favorite food is nearby."
"Something like resonating with the magic power you prefer?"
"That's right. It's the sensation of resonating with magic power that is similar to our own."
"I see."
As expected of a professional at detecting magic power. This would be useful.
"Come to think of it, magic power is drawn to magic power of the same attribute, right? That's why Light magic power can produce light, and Fire magic power can produce flames. In the same way, a Light Pixie like Soleil is drawn to Light magic power."
"Yes. I sense the magic power I'm drawn to through the wings on my back."
"Thanks, Soleil. That was helpful."
"It was no trouble at all. Is there anything else?"
"Then could you help with the experiment later?"
"Understood!"
Things really did proceed smoothly when there were more hands to help.
I'm glad Agnis and Soleil came.
"Thanks to you, I can focus on the work. Activate 'Over-Alchemy'!"
I activated the Skill.
First, I imagined the shape of the 'Radio Wave Detector' in the 'Mail-Order Catalog.'
The 'Radio Wave Detector' was box-shaped, with something like a rod attached to the top.
They were apparently called an 'antenna' and a 'sensor.'
This was the part that sensed 'radio waves.' It was somewhat like a pixie's wings.
In that case, I should attach wings to the 'Magic Circle Detector' as well. I'd use them in place of what the other world called an 'antenna' and a 'sensor.'
The wings would be made of magic-woven cloth.
I would layer magic-woven cloth of Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind to make a single wing.
Magic power had a tendency to react to magic power of the same attribute, so the magic-woven cloth wing should serve as a 'sensor' for each type of magic power in the surrounding area.
Inside the box, I would make space to insert a material like the 'leg of the Demon Beast Gargarossa.'
When it found magic power identical to that of the material, the magic-woven cloth wings would resonate.
It would be easier to understand if the wings changed direction to point toward the location of the magic power.
Just in case, I would put magic stones of every attribute inside: Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.
By reading the material's magic power and activating the magic stone corresponding to it, I could amplify that magic power.
Then the 'sensor' wings should be able to sense the material's magic power accurately.
When I made the 'Body Pillow,' I confirmed that magic power contained personal information. The detector would amplify that information, identify it, and search for similar magic power.
That was the design concept behind this magic item.
Yeah. This should do.
...If it fails, I'll make it again.
Mabel, Agnis, and Soleil would all help me with that.
"Execute 'Over-Alchemy'!!"
The pieces of metal Mabel had prepared transformed into a box.
The magic-woven cloth she had laid out overlapped and took the shape of wings.
They were magic-sensing wings, just like a pixie's. They attached themselves to both sides of the box.
The extra magic-woven cloth became a belt and attached itself to the back of the box.
Since carrying it would be difficult, I made it possible to wear it like a backpack.
Finally, the magic stones melted into the box.
Now the 'Magic Circle Detector' was... no, that wasn't right.
This was a magic item capable of detecting all kinds of magic power, including magic circles—the 'Magic Power Detector.'
"All right. That completes it... I think."
Clunk.
The box-shaped 'Magic Power Detector' fell onto the worktable.
It was a rectangular box shaped like a backpack, with wings attached.
The box had a door, allowing materials to be placed inside.
A magic item that detected the magic power of the material inside and searched for the location of matching magic power—that was the 'Magic Power Detector.'
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'Magic Power Detector'
(Attributes: Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind)
(Rarity: ★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆)
Magic stones of all attributes amplify the magic power of the material stored inside.
Magic-woven cloth of all six attributes (six layers of Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind) detects magic power in the surrounding area.
When it detects magic power resembling the amplified magic power of the material, the wings point toward the location of the target's magic power.
A magic item created with the hero world's 'Radio Wave Detector' as a reference.
Its concept is to vastly magnify a pixie's ability to sense magic power.
By placing a material inside the box, it can find objects and locations with similar magic power.
Detection range: approximately several hundred meters to one kilometer.
(The distance varies depending on the strength of the target's magic power.)
When it finds magic power similar to that of the material inside, the four wings point toward its location.
By inserting demon beast materials, it can also locate other demon beasts of the same kind.
In the case of a demon beast summoned by a magic circle, it can also locate that magic circle.
Physical Destruction Resistance: ★★★ (Can only be destroyed by a weapon enhanced with magic.)
Service life: None in particular.
Includes three years of user support.
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"So this is the item that finds magic circles..."
Mabel gazed at the 'Magic Power Detector' with an awed expression.
"It's amazing that you can search for a magic circle using demon beast materials as a clue! This can be used not only for new species of demon beasts, but ordinary demon beasts as well, right? That means if we have the materials, we might be able to find the lairs of all kinds of demon beasts. If that happened, subjugation would become... much easier..."
I was happy to be praised, but I wasn't satisfied with this item.
It was too large and too heavy.
That couldn't be helped since this was for searching for demon beasts, but I wanted to make a smaller version for general use. I wanted it to be portable enough that no one would notice it was being carried. Or perhaps I could make it stylish enough to take to a party or some other formal occasion.
"Still, it performs the minimum functions required, so I suppose it's fine."
"Thor Kanan-sama, you truly aspire to reach the heights of alchemy..."
"Soleil is honored to have been able to help..."
"Thanks. Then let's test whether it actually works."
I had made this item to search for magic circles.
However, the 'Demon Beast Gargarossa' had appeared in a mountainous region, quite far from town.
It would be a problem if General Raizenga took this there and it failed to react. Let's test it together and make sure it can properly detect magic power.
"Yes! Soleil will be helping with the experiment!!"
"Please do. First, could you put something you're wearing into this 'Magic Power Detector'?"
I pointed at the worktable.
"After that, I'd like you to hide somewhere near the mansion. Then we'll use this 'Magic Power Detector' to see whether we can find you."
"You want me to give you something I'm wearing?"
"Yeah. Anything that still contains your magic power will do."
"I-I understand. If that is what my Benefactor-sama... wishes..."
Soleil turned her back as she said this.
Then she let the outfit made of 'Light Magic-Woven Cloth' that she was wearing slide down to her feet with a rustle—
"Here you go, Soleil-san. A 'Dress-Up Pajama'!"
"If we're playing hide-and-seek, I thought the cat design would be perfect!"
Just before the clothes fell, Mabel and Agnis surrounded Soleil and held out a 'Dress-Up Pajama.'
Seeing this, I realized something.
Pixies generally didn't carry anything except the clothes they wore.
Which meant that, for this experiment, Soleil had no choice but to hand me her clothes.
Had I just told Soleil, 'Let's play hide-and-seek naked'...?
"Meow."
While I was thinking about that, Soleil had finished changing.
Having turned into a pure-white cat in the 'Dress-Up Pajama,' she left the room.
She ran straight into the forest surrounding the mansion.
"Thor-sama, please be careful with your wording."
When I noticed, Mabel was staring intently at me.
"The pixies have sworn loyalty to you, Thor-sama. They'll do anything you order them to. So please be careful when giving them instructions."
"Sorry. I'll be more careful from now on."
"...Of course, I'm also Thor-sama's loyal subordinate."
For some reason, Mabel looked at me with flushed cheeks.
"Please remember that. If Thor-sama asks me for a favor, I won't refuse."
"U-uh, yes."
"I won't refuse."
"Why did you say it twice?"
"...It doesn't mean anything in particular. More importantly, Thor-sama, here."
Mabel picked up Soleil's clothes from the floor.
When I opened the door of the 'Magic Power Detector,' Mabel put the clothes inside.
After closing the door, I put the 'Magic Power Detector' on my back—
Tug.
"The wings on your back are moving!"
"I can feel it too. It feels like something is pulling me from behind."
So Soleil must be behind the mansion.
We decided to go outside.
"Meow." "Meow." "Meow-meow."
There were meowing sounds.
It wasn't just Soleil. There were other voices as well.
"It seems some of the other pixies came nearby, too."
"They saw Soleil playing hide-and-seek and wanted to join in..."
I had given the pixies cat-shaped and owl-shaped 'Dress-Up Pajamas' so they could go to 'Noza Town' whenever they wanted.
Apparently, the other pixies had followed Soleil's lead and turned into cats as well.
"Meow."
"I'll join the experiment."
"Meow-meow."
"...Looks fun."
"Meow."
"Meow-meow-meow, fluffy and whispery."
Voices came from all around us.
I couldn't see them. Pixies were good at hiding.
It was perfect for the experiment, though.
I closed my eyes and focused on the sensation from the wings of the 'Magic Power Detector.'
Twitch.
"Thor-sama, the wings on the left and right are pointing in different directions."
"One is pointing toward the white tail visible through the grass. The other is pointing toward a tree..."
She was right.
The four wings attached to the 'Magic Power Detector' were pointing in separate directions—some to the left and some to the right.
One was pointing toward a white tail sticking out above the grass.
That was definitely the tail of Soleil's 'Dress-Up Pajama.'
Then what was the other one pointing toward?
"A-Agnis can't tell. What is this...?"
"There can be no mistake in anything Thor-sama makes. In that case..."
"The left wing is pointing toward the tail sticking out of the grass. That's the 'Dress-Up Pajama' Soleil took off. Soleil herself is in the direction indicated by the right wing—in other words, hidden behind the tree."
It was a simple trick.
Thinking she couldn't fool the 'Magic Power Detector,' Soleil had another nearby pixie disguise itself as a cat.
Then she set her own 'Dress-Up Pajama' in the grass as a decoy.
She must have gotten serious because I said we were going to play hide-and-seek.
Pixies were good at hiding their forms, after all.
"So, what do you think, Soleil?"
"C-correct! As expected of my Benefactor-sama!"
Soleil stuck only her face out from behind the tree and clapped her hands.
"Ooh!"
Mabel and Agnis clapped as well.
"Distracting your opponent's attention in one direction and hiding in the opposite place is a pixie's specialty. But it doesn't work against my Benefactor-sama's 'Magic Power Detector'!"
"Thanks to you, we had a good experiment."
The 'Magic Power Detector' had reacted even to the 'Dress-Up Pajama' Soleil had worn for only a few minutes.
That meant it could detect even the tiny amount of magic power transferred to something while it was being worn.
Then it should be able to detect the magic power remaining in the 'Demon Beast Gargarossa' and the magic circle as well.
"Since we're here, let's do a little more testing. Will you help me?"
"Yes, yes, yes! Meow-meow!"
"I want to try it too!"
The pixies' voices came back from within the forest.
──Wait—is Agnis raising her hand too?
"Then, Agnis. Could you do it?"
"Understood! I'll go change!"
With that, Agnis went into the mansion.
After a while, she returned wearing a cat-shaped 'Dress-Up Pajama.'
She had left the hood up, so she was still in her pre-transformation state.
"Now I'll transform into a cat and hide. Please find me, Thor Kanan-sama."
"Next we'll test the detection range, so try to get as far from the mansion as possible."
"Understood! I'll give you what I was wearing!"
Agnis held out her clothes toward me.
Everything she had been wearing until just moments ago. Every last piece.
"Um, Agnis..."
"Yes, Thor Kanan-sama!"
"You don't have to take off your underwear, you know?"
"──!"
Agnis's eyes widened.
You hadn't realized that...?
Agnis was wearing the cat-shaped 'Dress-Up Pajama' I had made for Mabel.
Since it was made of Water Magic-Woven Cloth... it clung tightly to her body. You could even make out the shape of the 'Health-Enhancing Pendant' on her chest.
"Then I'm off, meow!!"
Pop!
Then Agnis transformed into a cat and ran into the depths of the forest.
"Thor-sama."
"What is it, Mabel?"
"We should conduct as many experiments as possible, shouldn't we?"
"Yes. I want to test various things, such as the distance at which it can detect magic power and what happens when the target enters a building."
"Then let's take turns being the one who hides."
"Huh?"
"First it was Soleil-san, and next it was Agnis-sama. So I think taking turns would be fair."
"U-uh, yes."
"Let's take turns, shall we?"
"...Understood."
And so, we continued experimenting with the 'Magic Power Detector' until late into the night.