Chapter 157 Master
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The residence of my alchemy master, Kogima Pigole-shi. Just as I finished hearing about the peerage from his wife, the master himself, who seemed to have been immersed in his research, made his appearance.
Usually, he looks like a dandy man with slicked-back hair and a mustache, but now he has reverted completely to the same bedraggled state from back when he lived in the workshop in the back alley street. With disheveled hair, stubble, sunken eyes with dark circles, and wrinkles in his mage’s robe, he looks like a ghost or something out of a B-grade horror movie.
It is a pathetic sight, but I feel strangely happy and nostalgic. That’s right, this old man was always this kind of old man. He is a lovable research idiot who loses sight of everything around him when it comes to his studies. Or so I thought, but…
”Nnn-gh… I’m tired, Josephine… Give me some ‘there-there’ pets…”
”Yes, yes, what a hopeless person you are. I will prepare a meal, so please move away for a moment,” Josephine said.
”No way, ‘there-there’ comes first…”
The master didn’t even notice my existence. He drifted toward his wife Josephine-san’s lap like he was being vacuumed in, buried his face there, and began to throw a tantrum like a child. Along the way, he even started pestering his youngest daughter, who was originally on his wife’s lap, and got his hair pulled, making it even messier.
This is so… painful to watch…!!!
How hideous is the sight of a grown-ass man acting spoiled with his wife! However, that scene also overlapped with the image of myself burying my face in Lily’s stomach a few hours ago…
While thinking that I didn’t need to match my master in this regard, a sense of resignation washed over me, making me feel that this old man really isn’t a stranger after all.
”Kento-kun, give me ‘there-there’ too!”
”Do it!”
”Ah, yeah, there, there…” Kento said, after a pause.
Eventually, the children who had been watching the scene with me started burying their faces in my lap and begging for pets for some reason. Well, the kids are cute, so it’s fine, I guess…
”Nn…? Kento… Kento!?”
”Ah, hey. Sorry for intruding…” Kento replied.
The master, who seemed to have noticed my presence from the children’s voices, snapped his head up from his wife’s thighs and looked over here.
”Y-Y-You! Why are you here!? Get out! Get out of my happy home!!!”
Well, yeah, that’s what happens. I think I would do the same. The old man tried to pull my arm and kick me out, as if trying to cover up the unsightly display he had completely exposed.
”What about Kento-kun’s ‘there-there’?”
”Give us pets!”
For some reason, the children joined in as well, pulling on the hem of my shirt and my pants. If you tear my clothes, Lily will be appalled, so please stop…
”Now, dear. I think your stomach is weak, so eat this first,” Josephine said.
”Hmph, barley porridge, huh…”
After struggling for a while, the wife brought out some barley porridge, and the old man quieted down. He used to hate this kind of dish because it reminded him of his hungry days, but he’s completely powerless in front of his wife.
”Master, you weren’t called out to the war, then?”
”Hm? Ah, His Majesty understands those things well. It’s not that I can’t fight, but he prioritized my research instead.”
”I see. So your intense research is related to that?”
”Umu. I was told to come up with countermeasures against the enemy’s new magical weapons. It’s not compulsory, but I must protect my family when the time comes…”
The master said so while sipping the barley porridge. In the old days, he probably would have thought of a way to flee the country, but he’s really changed after having a family…
”Does it look like it will go well?”
”I don’t know. I’m thinking of reinforcing the city walls or developing defensive materials, but both take time to produce, and development is difficult…”
The master’s specialty is the utilization of monster materials. In normal times it might be fine, but when the enemy is approaching, gathering materials for production is difficult. His Majesty likely requested development for a long-term war or for the future.
”How about you?” the master asked.
”Well… I’m not ignoring it, but our specialties are too different. If it were something that could be solved with the ‘Ddo-Buddy’ ¹, that would be great, though…”
”Kuku, that’s good. Why don’t we try shoving it up the enemy general’s ass? Or maybe fly it like an arrow?”
”Pfft! Ahaha, that’s a good one.”
Imagining ‘Ddo-Buddy’ raining down on the enemy, I accidentally burst out laughing. The master also seemed to find it funny as he said it, nearly spitting out his barley porridge.
”Well, you aren’t suited for fighting. When the time comes, you should rely on those mysterious connections of yours and run away quickly.”
The master said that with a look typical of him, so I nodded silently. I don’t want to think about it, but at that time, I’ll probably end up fleeing to the monastery. Right now, I can only believe in Tania and the others who are on the battlefield.
”So, what’s your business today? Surely you didn’t just come to threaten my happy home.”
”Yeah, that’s one of the goals, but actually, our shop has decided to take in a ‘Sacred Artificer’ ²…”
”Straight to the talk about mysterious connections, I see… But, a ‘Sacred Artificer’, huh…”
The master made a difficult face and stroked his unshaven chin. Then he finished his barley porridge, wiped his mouth, and after worrying for a while, began to weave his words.
”Indeed, that’s a field I haven’t spoken to you much about… Do you know about ‘Sacred Relics’ ³?”
”Yes, I’ve heard they allowed one to run through the heavens like a horse, made dialogue with a distant partner possible, or even made it possible to resurrect the dead…”
”That’s not all. There’s the ‘Spear of God’ that pierces all things, and conversely, the ‘Shield of God’ that nothing can violate…”
Oops, I’ve heard this story somewhere before… I wanted to ask, “Then, what happens if that spear pierces that shield?” but the master had a serious look, so I’ll refrain.
”In other words, they were making things that current magic tools cannot reach, even regarding weapons and armor?”
”Umu, in this time of war, they would certainly be useful to have on hand. But at the same time, to restore the authority of the Church, those people will likely come to snatch them away with desperate effort. ‘Sacred Artificers’ are those who pour their heart and soul into reproducing those ‘Sacred Relics’ and bet their lives on it.”
I see… But if that’s the case, why would such people come to learn about my magic tools? Is it that the times are changing, or…
”Well, I’m not that well-versed in it either. It’s a story passed down continuously from my master, to his master, and from that master to the generation before. Probably from an era when alchemists and magic toolmakers were persecuted just like ‘magic users’.”
That’s certainly a convincing story. Just as ‘magic users’ and ‘holy art users’ were at each other’s throats, ‘magic toolmakers’ and ‘Sacred Artificers’ hated each other. It’s a story that we in this era don’t really feel…
”For now, I can refuse the acceptance if I want, but should I do that?”
”Do as you like. If it were me, I would flatly refuse, but you probably have your own thoughts anyway? Just be sure to stay on guard. Don’t you dare do something like showing them all of your research.”
I’m a little happy that he seems to evaluate me unexpectedly well, but at the same time, I worry whether I can make use of that advice. I mean…
”Ah— yeah… I’ll… do my best…”
”What’s with the hesitation…”
”No, it’s just, the ‘Sacred Artificer’ coming over seems to be a woman…”
Once I said that much, the master’s expression became like he had chewed on a bitter insect, and saying, “You idiot disciple!!!” he tried to kick me out again…
—
Summary:
Kento visits his alchemy master, Kogima Pigole, and finds him in a disheveled, research-obsessed state. The master is working on wartime defenses and warns Kento about his own safety as the war approaches. Kento reveals that his shop is taking in a ‘Sacred Artificer’ to learn his techniques. This leads to a discussion about the history of Sacred Relics and the rivalry between artificers and magic toolmakers. The master warns Kento to be careful, but gets angry when he realizes the artificer is a woman.
—
Character Insight:
This chapter highlights the deep, almost familial bond between Kento and his master, showing they share similar ‘degenerate’ traits like acting spoiled with their partners. We see Kogima’s transition from a likely rogue alchemist to a protective family man who works for the state to ensure his family’s safety. Kento’s hesitation at the end reveals his awareness of his own tendency to get involved with women, which his master recognizes as a recurring ‘idiot’ trait that might complicate the professional warning he just gave.
—
Behind the Scene:
The ‘Sacred Artificer’ lore introduces a classic fantasy trope of ancient, superior technology (Sacred Relics) vs. modern craftsmanship. The master’s reaction to the newcomer being a woman suggests he is well-aware of Kento’s ‘protagonist’ luck or tendency to build a harem, adding a layer of meta-humor to the mentor-disciple dynamic.
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Lily – the sl*ve and primary experiment subject for the magic shop, ‘Harvest.’ She has striking pink hair, Blue eyes, medium breasts, which the Protagonist associates with being ‘wanton’. She has a working knowledge of magic, which she kept hidden from the slave trader.
• Kento – The owner of the magic tool shop ‘Harvest,’ which discretely sells adult goods. He’s a former overworked, ordinary salaryman from modern Japan who was suddenly transported (isekai’d) to this fantasy world. He has dark hair and an unremarkable appearance, typically wearing a plain, slightly suspicious-looking shop owner’s clothes looks like Kazuma Satou from certain series. He has a minimal amount of magic power, enough to craft his specialty items.
• Soi – An old professor from Ajire seminary, the first to raise a question. Looks like wizardly.
• Suu – Secretary for the Royal Capital Beast-person Mutual Aid Association and a cat beast-person. Sample No. 19 in Kento’s report. She steps up as the first witness for the defense.
• Tania – An Elf adventurer who, despite her race’s reputation for low sex drive, is secretly quite passionate. She initially seemed ‘wasted’ (emotionally dry) to her friend Raika, but was easily introduced to the pleasure-items sold at ‘Harvest.’ She is easily embarrassed and attempts to maintain a dignified facade, despite her recent, frequent purchases. She wears practical but light armor over a simple cloth tunic and short pants, highlighting her grace and agility. Her primary relationship is one of friendly senior-junior with Raika.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply