Creating a Special Magic Item to Counter Demon Beasts

The day after receiving Lukie’s letter.

Having finished delivering the 'UV-Cut Parasol,' I decided to go gather some new materials.

"So, Agnis. Will you come with me?"

"Of course."

This was my workshop in the Raizenga domain.

Agnis sat in the chair across from me and nodded.

"What kind of materials would you like, Thor Canaan-sama?"

"If possible, I’d like something the people of the Empire don’t know about."

I said.

"From now on, General Raizenga and the others will be conducting a joint investigation of the border with the Empire. If the Summoning Magic caster summons another new species of demon beast then, it could be dangerous. So I want to prepare a powerful item as a countermeasure."

"But we have the 'Laser Pointer' and the 'Security Alarm'..."

"The enemy may already know about those items."

Our opponent was a caster capable of summoning a demon beast with a magic circle.

They might have watched the battle between the Demon Lord’s army and the new species of demon beast from somewhere.

To catch them off guard, we should make a new item.

"I understand. In that case..."

Agnis thought for a moment, then said,

"Then I think meteoric iron would be best."

"Meteoric iron. A stone that fell from the sky... a fragment of a meteorite. Come to think of it, you gave me some before."

I took a small stone from the 'Super-Miniature Simple Storage.'

It was the material 'Meteoric Iron' that Agnis had given me before.

──────────────────

'Meteoric Iron'

A fragment of a stone that fell from the dark heavens.

It possesses attributes and a composition different from terrestrial substances.

Attributes: Space, Space, Space, Darkness, Darkness, Earth

──────────────────

If I used this, I could give an item the mysterious 'Space' attribute.

However, the meteoric iron here was too small, so using it in synthesis would have little effect.

If there was a larger piece, I’d like to have it.

If I used that... I might even be able to conduct some magical experiments.

"There’s a place where legends say a large stone once fell from the sky. That’s where I found the meteoric iron."

"That sounds interesting. Is it far from here?"

"It’s nearby. It’s a rocky area at the foot of the mountain range."

"Let’s go take a look. Can you show me the way?"

"Yes!"

I decided to go gather materials with Agnis.

"It’s around here."

Agnis led me to a rocky area at the foot of the mountain.

It was farther downhill than the mine, and there was a mortar-shaped depression in the ground.

Apparently, it was where a meteorite had fallen long ago.

"When Agnis was little, she often came here."

"Really?"

"...Because people rarely come here. Even if flames came out of my body, I wouldn’t bother anyone."

Agnis murmured this softly.

Come to think of it, Agnis had been unable to touch people freely because of her tendency to spontaneously combust.

Back then, she couldn’t take off her armor unless she was somewhere deserted.

This might have been a place where Agnis could relax without worrying about anyone seeing her.

"Of course, now Agnis can wear ordinary clothes like this."

Agnis pinched up the hem of her skirt and smiled.

"But whenever I come here, I remember myself as a child. The me who couldn’t control my flames and caused trouble for all kinds of people."

"I see. So this is also a secret place that only Agnis knows about."

"Yes."

"Thank you, Agnis."

I bowed my head to Agnis.

"For bringing me to your secret place. Thanks to you, it looks like I’ll be able to obtain a valuable material."

"N-no! I didn’t do anything worthy of thanks..."

Agnis covered her face with both hands, looking embarrassed.

"...But if I can be of use to Thor Canaan-sama, then the Agnis from when she was little would be happy too... I think."

"You’ve helped me more than enough. Wait here. I’ll find the material right away."

I took my newly made 'Magic Detector' from the 'Super-Miniature Simple Storage.'

I opened the lid and put the small piece of meteoric iron inside.

Then I closed the lid and activated the detector──

Ping!

The wings on its back pointed toward one part of the rocky area.

"I found it. The meteoric iron is near that huge boulder."

"A-amazing!"

"...But it looks like it’s between two rocks. It might be difficult to get out."

"It’s all right. P-please wait just a little."

Suddenly, Agnis took my hand.

Then she closed her eyes as if waiting for something.

"Agnis...?"

"I’ll be useful. I’ll power up and move the rock for you!"

The 'Health-Boosting Pendant' on Agnis’s chest lit up.

"Thor Canaan-sama, please make the pendant produce a voice."

"A voice?"

"I want you to understand that you’re giving Agnis strength."

Saying this, Agnis guided my hand to her chest.

I activated Over-Alchemy.

I made it so that the 'Health-Boosting Pendant' would produce a voice──and, while I was at it, adjusted it so Agnis’s magic power could turn the voice on and off.

Then──the pendant proclaimed in a loud voice.

'Through Fire-attribute magic power: Vitality +100% acquired.'

'Converting excess Fire magic power into the magic power of other attributes.'

'Fire magic power converted into Earth magic power. Earth-attribute effect: Stability +100% acquired.'

'Earth magic power converted into Metal magic power. Metal-attribute effect: Fortitude +100% acquired.'

'Metal magic power converted into Water magic power. Water-attribute effect: Flexibility +100% acquired.'

'Water magic power converted into Wood magic power. Wood-attribute effect: Life Force +100% acquired.'

Agnis was trying to activate the 'Health-Boosting Pendant' by increasing her Fire magic power.

She was trying to move the rock with that power.

"Do your best, Agnis."

"Yes!"

Agnis enclosed my hand in both of hers.

She pressed that hand to her forehead, as though praying.

'Through Fire-attribute magic power: Vitality +600% acquired.'

'Converting excess Fire magic power into the magic power of other attributes.'

'Fire magic power converted into Earth magic power. Earth-attribute effect: Stability +600% acquired!'

'Earth magic power converted into Metal magic power. Metal-attribute effect: Fortitude +600% acquired!'

'Metal magic power converted into Water magic power. Water-attribute effect: Flexibility +600% acquired!'

'Water magic power converted into Wood magic power. Wood-attribute effect: Life Force +600% acquired!'

The 'Health-Boosting Pendant' emitted an unbelievable light.

The Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water magic powers circulated, and Agnis’s body grew hot.

It wasn’t the heat of flames. It was a heat like vitality.

"...Just as I thought, Thor Canaan-sama always gives Agnis strength."

Agnis released my hand and turned toward the huge boulder.

She placed her hands on the rock──

"Heave!"

Rumble!

The huge boulder, nearly as tall as an adult, rolled over.

It happened in an instant.

"...Amazing."

"Th-this is the strength Thor Canaan-sama gave me."

"No, but that’s way too amazing. If Agnis had a weapon, wouldn’t she be incredibly strong...?"

"Agnis relies on brute force in close combat..."

"Really?"

"I’ll train so I can protect you and the others even better from now on. But... Father doesn’t really train me much..."

"The General... probably can’t bring himself to point a weapon at you."

"Someday, I want to train under an amazing swordsman."

Agnis was General Raizenga’s heir, too.

Someday, she might inherit the position of general and protect this territory.

I should prepare a magic item for Agnis in case that day came.

"Thanks. It looks like I’ll be able to collect the material because of you."

"I’ve never seen such a large piece of meteoric iron before..."

"With this much, it’ll be more than enough as an alchemy material."

In front of me was a black stone about the size of a human fist.

This was a fragment of the meteorite that had once fallen here. It was meteoric iron.

Since meteoric iron came from the sky, its composition, hardness, and weight differed from those of other metals.

I would use those characteristics to create a magic item.

"For now, I’ll return to the workshop and try synthesizing this with a weapon."

"To the workshop?"

"I’m supposed to report it to Elte-san, the civil official, when I make a magic item with a major effect."

"Thor Canaan-sama is so serious."

"Elte-san looked busy preparing for the border investigation, so I asked Mabel to deliver a letter along with the 'UV-Cut Parasol.' She should have arrived long ago, though──"

"Alchemist-sama────!"

Huh? That was Elte-san’s voice.

I looked and saw Elte-san running up the rocky slope.

Mabel was behind her, too.

"What’s wrong, Elte-san?"

"The alchemist-sama was going to create a new item, so I came to see it... I-I came as fast as I could..."

"Don’t push yourself! First, catch your breath."

At my words, Elte-san sank down onto the rocky ground.

She must have pushed herself very hard to get here.

"You don’t need to worry. I’m not going to conduct the experiment without telling anyone."

"Th-that’s not it... Haaah."

Elte-san took a deep breath, and once she had finally calmed down,

"I didn’t want to make the alchemist-sama go to any extra trouble."

"Extra trouble?"

"You were planning to conduct the experiment after returning to the workshop, weren’t you?"

"Yes, but..."

"I cannot make you go to such trouble for my sake!"

Still sitting on the ground, Elte-san raised her voice.

Perhaps from overexertion, she began coughing violently.

Mabel, who had caught up, offered her a water skin. As expected of Mabel.

"Gulp, gulp... haaah. I-I did not come from the Demon Lord’s Castle to get in the alchemist-sama’s way. That’s why──"

"If Elte-san is here, I can conduct the experiment right here. That means we won’t have to go all the way back to the workshop, right?"

"Yeees..."

"Aren’t you taking this too seriously, Elte-san?"

"It runs in the family."

Ah, so it runs in the family.

Well, then, I suppose it can’t be helped.

"All right. I’ll take you up on that and conduct the item experiment here."

"I heard this was an experiment with a weapon..."

"This."

I took an arrow from the 'Super-Miniature Simple Storage.'

It was an ordinary arrow with an iron arrowhead, a wooden shaft, and fletching.

"I’m going to try adding the meteoric iron’s attributes to this and turning it into a magical weapon."

"A magical weapon... An enchanted weapon?"

"Something like that. Mabel, come over here too. Could you give me your opinion?"

"Y-yes, Thor-sama."

Mabel, wearing her maid uniform, came to stand beside me.

Agnis stood on the other side.

Sitting on a rock, I began explaining the magic item I was about to make.

"First, take a look at this."

I spread a piece of parchment covered in a magic circle over the rock.

"This is a magic circle for summoning. It was used by the people who summoned the demon beast. If you look closely at the magic circle, you can see drawings representing doors, gates, and bridges."

"...Indeed."

"...Now that you mention it, I see it."

"...I hadn’t noticed. Those lines do look like doors, gates, and bridges."

"Since they’re drawn in a magic circle for summoning, I think they must have some meaning."

Doors, gates, and bridges all serve to "connect" places to one another.

Doors connect rooms, gates connect the inside and outside, and bridges connect one piece of land to another.

And Summoning Magic "connects" the place where a hero or demon beast is with the place where the magic circle is, calling the target forth.

"As a basic principle of magic, Fire magic power creates flames, and Water magic power creates water, right? So I thought this summoning magic circle might create a 'connection' by depicting doors, gates, and bridges."

"I understand, Thor-sama."

Mabel nodded.

"They created the image of a 'connection' with the magic circle, activated it with an incantation, and brought Summoning Magic into effect... So that is the kind of technique the Empire was using."

"...Thor Canaan-sama is amazing after all."

"Analysis and appraisal are the basics of alchemy."

Back when I was in the Empire, I did little but read books at work.

There weren’t many books, so I developed a habit of reading too deeply into things.

"But, alchemist-sama, what does that have to do with a weapon?"

Elte-san tilted her head.

"That’s right. I thought I could create a weapon for magic by applying this principle."

"A weapon for magic?"

"I’ll try it for now. Watch."

I placed the meteoric iron I had just obtained beside the arrow.

"Activate──'Over-Alchemy.'"

Then I activated my Skill.

First, I would synthesize the meteoric iron──the fragment of a meteorite──with the arrowhead.

This was possible with Material Synthesis.

I just had to use the meteorite fragment as a material and add its attributes to the arrowhead.

Since this was a material I was handling for the first time... it was difficult.

It wasn’t something from this world’s surface, after all.

Just by synthesizing it with the arrowhead──the meteoric iron began to shrink.

I could make four arrows at most.

"Execute: 'Over-Alchemy'!"

The arrow synthesized with meteoric iron gave off a faint light.

This was the new magic item.

──────────────────

'Meteoric Iron Arrow' (Attributes: Earth, Earth, Earth, Space, Space)

(Rarity: ★★★★★★☆)

A combination of an arrow and a fragment of a meteorite that fell from the sky.

Its hardness and penetrating power have increased because it was synthesized with meteoric iron.

Its Earth attribute and Space attribute (special) allow it to draw things with an Earth attribute down from space.

An arrow travels through the air, falls, and pierces its target.

A meteorite also travels through the air, falls, and pierces its target.

Combining similar things turned it into a medium for ritual magic.

Infusing it with magic power and firing it can activate a certain spell.

──────────────────

"So, Mabel, could you shoot this arrow? Have it fall toward the target from diagonally above."

"Yes, Thor-sama."

"When you do, I’d like you to add this incantation. I think you know it, since it’s famous, but──"

I whispered into Mabel’s ear.

Mabel looked startled and said,

"Thor-sama!? That’s a spell only a hero could use!? Someone like me can’t..."

"It’s all right. This is just an experiment. Even if it fails, it simply won’t activate."

"...That’s true. No one has ever been able to reproduce that spell. Ah, so that’s why you made this arrow? Just as the magic circle supports Summoning Magic, this arrow supports the activation of a spell from the age of heroes..."

"That’s right. I weakened its power, so I think it’ll be all right."

"...That was the great spell that destroyed a fortress of the Demon Lord’s army..."

Mabel nodded repeatedly.

She seemed convinced.

Mabel took a bow from her own 'Super-Miniature Simple Storage.'

Holding the bow and arrow, she moved to the designated position.

"Agnis, make sure there’s no one around. I don’t think there’s anyone here, but just in case."

"I understand!"

"Elte-san, watch the results and report them to His Majesty, Chancellor Kelv, and General Raizenga."

"Understood. But what is about to happen?"

"It’s an experiment with a magic item. It’s also a test for when I make a magic sword."

"Haaah."

"You know the Holy Sword of Light, right?"

"Yes."

"It reacts to magic power and produces an incredible light, right? There were also flame magic swords and wind magic swords in the age of heroes, right? They produced flames or wind with magic power."

"There were indeed. But what does that have to do with this?"

"I thought I’d try to make something similar."

While we were talking, Agnis returned.

Apparently, there was no one around.

This place had always been somewhere people didn’t come. There were no wild animals, and no demon beasts either──though it wouldn’t have been a problem if there had been──so there was no issue.

Mabel had finished preparing the bow, too. She had nocked the arrow and was ready to fire at any time.

"I think the flame magic sword and wind magic sword may have been magic items for ritual magic. Perhaps you swung the flame sword with rage like fire, or swung the wind sword like the wind, and it created wind."

"That’s possible. Then is that arrow the same kind of thing?"

"Yes. It combines an arrow that 'travels through the air, ultimately falls, and pierces its target straight on' with a meteorite that 'travels through the air, falls, and pierces its target straight on.' The difference is whether they fly downward or horizontally."

"I see..."

Elte-san nodded.

"That makes sense. You combined an arrow that 'travels through the air, falls, and pierces its target' with a meteorite that 'travels through the air, falls, and pierces its target,' didn’t you? If a magic sword calls forth wind by being swung like the wind, then by firing that arrow... Wait, is that the spell the hero used!?"

"Yes. The great spell that fell from the sky and destroyed a fortress of the Demon Lord’s army."

I said.

"The incantation for that spell is famous, since the hero dramatically shouted it before an army. But even though everyone knows the incantation, no one was able to reproduce the spell."

"I-I know. Whether it was a Skill, magic power, or ritual──there had to be something the hero possessed that we lacked──"

"But if a magic circle depicting a gate supports Summoning Magic, then perhaps an arrow synthesized with a meteorite becomes a ritual that brings the spell into effect by 'flying through the sky, falling, and piercing its target.' If that’s possible, then we may be able to create a new magic ritual──"

"Um, wait a minute!? Alchemist-sama──!"

"Mabel Refrain... I’m firing the 'Meteoric Iron Arrow'!"

Whoosh!

Mabel fired the arrow.

Her form was beautiful enough to take my breath away.

For an elf like Mabel, bows and arrows were probably second nature.

The arrow flew through the heavens, reached the limit of its range, and began to fall──

"There’s no way it could work! There’s no way you could make an arrow that calls down the hero’s great spell, 'Meteor'──!?"

The instant Elte-san said this, the arrow shone.

The light became a line and stretched straight upward.

Roooar.

After a while, a small shadow appeared high in the sky.

It was a black rock.

It wasn’t particularly large. At most, it was about the size of a human head.

"...A failure?"

The hero’s great spell, Meteor, was said to create a gigantic rock and smash the Demon Lord’s army’s fortress.

The 'Meteor Mimic' in front of me now was nowhere near that.

At most, it could smash through a fortress wall.

Well, I had added only a small amount of the 'Space' attribute for safety’s sake.

"Everyone, take cover!"

"Y-yes!" "Understood!" "You really are──!"

We hurried behind the huge boulder Agnis had moved earlier.

The next moment──

Boommmmmmmmmmm────!!

The ground shook.

There was a thunderous roar, and fragments of rock flew everywhere.

At the same time, there was a smell of rock scorching.

The 'Meteor Mimic' created by the 'Meteoric Iron Arrow' plunged into the ground and opened up a huge hole.

To be blunt, that was all it did.

Its power was considerably weaker than the hero’s great spell, Meteor.

Perhaps I should refine it a little more as a ritual spell.

Since it had been created by magic, the meteorite disappeared completely.

What’s more, the 'Meteoric Iron Arrow' was gone, too.

It was a waste that it couldn’t be reused. It was hard to find a good use for it...

"But this could take out a new species of demon beast in one shot."

"That’s overkill and then some!"

Elte-san cried out.

"So you went and analyzed the magic circle after all! And on top of that, you reproduced the hero’s 'Meteor' with an item... Honestly, you really are something else."

"It’s only a fake, so it’s a 'Meteor Mimic.'"

I shrugged.

"It isn’t as powerful as the hero’s. It’s just a replica."

"All that... just to defeat the new species of demon beast..."

"That’s part of it, but I was also thinking this spell might be useful for civil engineering."

"Civil engineering?"

"You know there’s a river below the mountain range. You often hear about landslides blocking rivers and causing floods, or people downstream having trouble getting water, right? In situations like that, we could use this 'Meteor Mimic' to clear away the earth and rubble easily... Huh? Elte-san, why are you holding your forehead?"

"...Because I’m desperately trying to restrain myself."

"So, well, this is for demon beast countermeasures and landslide countermeasures."

"...Haaah."

Elte-san was trembling as she held her head in both hands.

Maybe a fragment of rock had hit her. I was worried.

"Um... Thor-sama."

"Hm? What is it, Mabel?"

"There is something I’m wondering about."

"Wondering?"

"What would happen if that arrow pierced a demon beast?"

"The 'Meteor Mimic' would of course fall toward the arrow, right?"

"Even if the demon beast ran away?"

"I think it would chase the demon beast."

"Homing?"

"Homing, yes."

"......"

"See──!? It’s easier to use than the hero’s 'Meteor'! A Meteor that always hits is impossible! Why, why are you like this──!?"

For some reason, Elte-san shook her head vigorously back and forth.

Agnis held her by the shoulder as she tried to walk away. Why?

"Use that power... to search for the Summoning Magic caster."

Eventually, Elte-san said this as if she had run out of strength.

"I understand that the 'Meteoric Iron Arrow' is powerful."

"Understood."

"You will, right?"

"But before that... I’m going to visit the town of Noza."

Before coming here, I had asked the winged fairies to deliver a letter to Princess Sofia.

I told her I wanted to meet and discuss the matter of the Grand Duke and Princess Liana in person.

I couldn’t keep talking in the bathhouse at the trading post every time.

"Agnis, will you come with me to the town of Noza again?"

"Of course! I would be delighted to accompany you!"

"Mabel, I’ll leave the workshop in your care. If you hear from His Majesty or the Chancellor, could you send a winged fairy to me right away?"

"Understood! Leave the workshop and relaying messages to me."

"And then, Elte-san."

I turned toward Elte-san and said,

"I think I can make three more 'Meteoric Iron Arrows.' I’ll entrust all of them to you."

"Y-yes."

"Please report this item to His Majesty and the Chancellor. Also, I’d appreciate it if you could teach General Raizenga how to use it."

".........Understood."

Elte-san nodded.

"I was surprised to be shown something like this so suddenly... but I understand very well that this is a trump card against the new species of demon beast. I also understand that you are seriously thinking about countermeasures against demon beasts."

"That’s right..."

"You seem happy about something?"

"Well, there are the demon beast countermeasures, but... I’m happy because I feel like I’ve discovered one of the mysteries of magic."

"A mystery?"

"An alchemist’s job is to discover new technologies and mysteries no one has ever known. I’m really happy that I found a new way to perform ritual magic."

Taking the magic circle as a hint, I had learned that ritual magic could be used through a magic item.

Well, since I used meteoric iron, this might be an exception among exceptions.

But that didn’t change the fact that I had advanced the Demon Lord’s territory.

"Honestly... you really are something else."

Elte-san let out a troubled sigh.

"You create something outrageous and then casually hand it over. Honestly... really..."

"Sorry for the trouble."

"Understood. As a civil official, I will support you with the procedures and everything else. So, alchemist-sama, do as your heart desires──ah, I’m sorry, that was a slip! Forget I said that! More importantly, why are you wearing such a wonderful smile!? Alchemist-sama!?"

As I listened to Elte-san’s flustered voice──

Mabel, Agnis, and I decided to return to the workshop.