#468 Magic Redevelopment

For the time being, the Demon King’s diet ended in success, and the usual peaceful days have returned.

...

I guess this is what you would call putting off a problem for later.

No matter.

Let’s change topics.

As I walk around the farm, I spot a couple of people who caught my attention, or rather, are attracting attention—Sensei and the Professor.

“It’s unusual to see Sensei at the farm.”

While he doesn’t need to have a reason to pay us a quick visit, the fact that he is hanging out with the Professor concerns me.

After all, both are among the best Lifeless Kings in the world who have lived for thousands of years. It would be strange not to be alarmed if these two were having a secret conversation, heads huddled against each other.

A cat has a small head, though.

“But how should I approach them?”

They look like they’re discussing something serious. Sensei has never been bothered by such matters, but one must still be respectful towards the elderly.

“In such a situation, it’s the youngest’s time to shine.”

And so, I invite the earth spirits.

“Kitty cat!”

“The kitty cat is here!”

“Let’s pway with the kitty caaaaaaat!”

Professor, in his feline form, is very popular with the earth spirits. And since they’re basically children, they can boldly interrupt without worrying about the situation.

“Gaaaaaaah! They’re here again! Help me, meooooow!!!”

The Professor struggles to wriggle free, but his body is already in the spirits’ arms.

He can’t escape.

“Oh, Sensei!”

“Hewwo, Sensei!”

The spirits carefreely greet Sensei.

Children know no fear.

“Hello. What good girls you are to greet your elders.”

“Yesh!”

“We’re good!”

Sensei loves children, so he tends to pamper them.

Even though his conversation with the Professor got interrupted, he didn’t get angry. Rather, he smiled gently.

“Sensei, can we pway with the kitty?”

“Of course.”

“Why, meow?!”

The Professor has a betrayed look on his face.

“Sensei said yes!”

“We have the go signal!”

“Pawmission acknowledged!”

The earth spirits did whatever they wanted.

They forced their feline plaything to lie on his back and rubbed his belly.

At this time, the Professor (cat) already had given up.

“Sorry, the kids can be so mischievous at times,” I say to Sensei as naturally as possible.

“It’s okay. I tend to pamper them too, agreeing to whatever they want.”

“You their grandpa or something, meow?!”

...If so, maybe the farm’s three-way deadlock is also in effect here.

1. Sensei cannot go against his senior, the Professor.

2. The Professor is teased day and night by the earth spirits.

3. The adorable earth spirits get whatever they want from Sensei.

...

Never mind. This lineup only makes Sensei look the weakest.

Oh well. At least I can talk to him now without the tense atmosphere.

“What were you two discussing earlier, if you don’t mind me asking?”

They looked so serious, so I couldn’t help but be curious.

“Developing new magic, meow,” says the Professor while still getting belly-rubbed.

“New magic?”

I remember we’ve talked about this before.

“Are you talking about creating original magic for the human race?”

“Yes, meow!”

But wasn’t the idea dropped?

The demons and humans are the two primary races that occupy the land.

Demonfolk have established their own magic system called alchemy, while humans do not have any particular magic. Although they have what they call thaumaturgy magic, it is nothing more than a privilege for the religious sector that drastically damages the natural mana and nature with every use.

There was a time when Sensei and the Professor were struggling to develop more efficient magic for the human race as a replacement. Their efforts were ruthlessly crushed by the gods, though.

“The gods tinkered with the world settings and made alchemy accessible to the human race, too, didn’t they? Didn’t that solve all the problems?”

“That’s naïve thinking, Lord Saint!”

Oh?

Sensei sounds agitated.

“Each race has its own strong and weak points. Alchemy is activated with the help of the spirits that exist throughout the world.”

“Hades and Demetersephone created all the spirits that live on this earth, including these petite girls, meow!” says the Professor, referring to the earth spirits having fun with him.

The two of them sound pretty psyched up.

“Similarly, the demon race was created by the gods of the earth, so they share the same ancestor with the spirits, thus making them compatible with each other.”

“In contrast, the human race, created by the celestial gods, is different! They’re incompatible with alchemy that forges bonds with spirits!”

I see.

It’s not as simple as giving them the ability to use it.

Alchemy is invoked by borrowing spiritual power and requires communication with nature, so the human race has an awkward affinity with it.

Then, just at the right moment, a couple walks by.

It’s Ritheseus and Eryngear.

This couple’s human-demon relationship is still considered unique in this day and age.

“Perfect. You two, come here for a minute.”

“Huh? What is it?”

I make the earth spirits face the two students standing next to each other.

“Big Sis! Pwease cawwy me!”

The earth spirit acts friendly toward the demoness Eryngear.

“Huh? Ugh, don’t cling to me! I hate kids!”

Sounds like something a child would say.

But in the end, Eryngear gave in and picked up the spirit.

“Wheeee!”

“Hm... I guess you do look cute up close. Maybe someday, Ritheseus and I will have a baby like you... Ehehehehe...!”

While she’s immersed in her fantasy, the other pair...

“...!”

“...?!”

...has a mysterious tension between them.

The human, Ritheseus, and the earth spirit keep their distance, jittery, as if wary of each other’s presence.

“Um, what is the meaning of this? The child is obviously being cautious of me. And I thought I was good at babysitting back home...” says Ritheseus, confused.

Is it because he’s a human?

His race was made to invade the earth and has harshly affected it with their magic.

However, that is in the past, and Ritheseus should not be held responsible for his race’s crimes.

Let’s just hope the earth spirit understands.

“Fine. A minute for a thousand gold, pwease.”

“Um, what?”

Ritheseus got to embrace the earth spirit, but there was still some tension in the air.

“As you just witnessed, the human race is disliked by the spirits, meow.”

“Depending on the spirit, some may even hate the human race even more aggressively. Which is why it’ll be hard for humans to use alchemy, which harnesses its power from spirits.”

I see.

The gods made some pretty sloppy adjustments, then.

“We knew the human race needed magic specific to them, meow!”

“Education exists to develop the students’ individuality! We must develop new magic for our human students!”

They’re really fired up about this.

Thus, redevelopment of new thaumaturgy magic is underway.