A week after the whole training yard incident happened, we got the news that an army from Noivern was heading up here. The force was about 10,000 men large and led by Second Prince Robert himself.
For a nation as small as ours, it looked like we had no choice but to submit or be annihilated by the army, but I had devised a plan on dealing with them.
Water was one of the most important things I wanted to deal with in this nation. As I said, there was a river, but the parts that were near towns or villages were polluted with wastes. I wanted clean water and a bath. So using earth magic, I ordered earth mages to create underground passages that acted as sewers and reservoirs to send water between places. It hooked up into the river and bring in and discharged water from inside the city. This method was copied to the other settlements. To make sure the water was clean, I built a water purification facility upstream where water mages (non-combat) went and purified water and a water treatment facility downstream where water mages (and other folks) sifted and cleaned water that left the city.
While doing this, I noticed a way for the city to destroy the other army without even lifting a finger.
I was sitting in my office contemplating when suddenly I felt a presence in the room. Looking up, I saw an unfamiliar androgynous person looking at me. They looked unfamiliar, but I felt a familiar aura…
“The god of gates?” I asked.
“Bingo!” They said.
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, I had some free time on my hands and wanted to know how my blessed human in this world is doing!”
“Blessed human? You didn’t even want to bless me, because of your mistakes I am here!”
“Hey, calm down a little will ya?”
“Hmph!” I was a little grumpy that the God who sent me here came without warning and suddenly called me his blessed human? Like he somehow was doing me a favor? I’m sorry but it was his fault I was even here and not at home, to begin with.
But to tell you the truth, I didn’t mind. If anything this accidental transportation was a blessing in disguise. I had made friends here that I never would have been able to in my old world.
“So?” I asked them.
“So. I was wondering if you’d like a little pointer on how to deal with that pesky army.”
“I don’t need your help, I have a plan of my own. Why do you even care?”
They made a pouty face. “Well, I’m well aware of your ‘plan’ but what if that fails to annihilate them? I have a plan that will surely destroy them for good. And besides, if I don’t put at least a little effort helping you, if I do get found out I would probably be judged much more harshly. I’m doing this to avoid that.”
I sighed, this god was still just a selfish jerk. “What is it?”
They smiled and pulled a book out of thin air. Bowing they presented it to me.
Taking it, I saw the cover. The Essential Guide to Becoming the Greatest Dark Mage.
“Sounds ominous, no,” I said, handing it back.
“Wait! It’s really rare in this world! I dare you to try and find a copy! I spent a week looking for it!”
“Well, that week was wasted. If you wanted to help, teleport the army somewhere else, why’d you spend a week looking for this book?”
“Well, I can’t use powers here, or else I’ll be found out, but I could look for this book. A friend of mine said it was your best chance!”
“Who was that friend?”
“The god of prophecy!”
“They know?”
“Of course, they know! They know everything! I’m lucky I’m friends with them otherwise they would have ratted me out! They have a keen interest in you, it’s kind of weird.”
I sighed, if the god of prophecy recommended it, then it was bound to be a game-changer.
“What’s this thing about?”
“Dark magic! It’s what you're best at right? You know that’s my blessing at work, summoning is like moving something with a gate, so naturally, you’d be good at it.”
“Uh-huh,” I said, disinterested. Flipping through the pages, I read a bit. It was a guide on how to use high-level summoning. I suddenly reached a page-colored place. White letters stared back at me, ‘What I have just shown you I great power, one to rule the world, what comes after is how to rule a person if you’re not ready for that, stop’
I looked up, immediately getting the meaning. Beyond that black page was probably stuff that would have to do with controlling people. I had heard about that branch of magic, it was called forbidden magic, and as of late, I had no desire to brainwash anyone. So I decided not to look.
“I’ll read the first part,” I told God.
“Well, that’s my job. Have a good time!” They said, then they disappeared with a flash.
Reading the instructions, it told me how to draw a high-level summoning circle, supposedly it would summon a high-level monster that would be bound to my service for a time that I could define. I could make life contracts with summoned monsters. I had never heard of a monster familiar being in anyone’s service for the amount of time they were describing, basically if uttered right any monster could technically be under control for the mage’s entire life. This was revolutionary material.
I decided that I would use what was written to summon a high-level monster. That monster would be bound to me and I would use it to serve as a last resort against the army. I hoped I would never use it, but it was reassuring to have.
Standing in a courtyard, I drew a magic circle on the ground. Traya and Razana were the only ones with me. Razana refused to let me do something dangerous like summoning a high-level monster without her there, and Traya was interested in the book.
Drawing the circle, I chanted, “Oh great creatures of yonder, Come out and serve, I call you to arms! Come forth Dark!”
The circle glowed eerily, suddenly a flash of light appeared in the middle of it. Out came a figure vaguely human. Although some monsters had humanoid forms, I was unfamiliar with this one. Usually, those humanoid ones were stunted goblins or gigantic orcs. This one was lean and…. Feminine.
It floated in the air for a bit, then fell. Its uncovered body lay quietly on the ground, ahead of pure yellow hair adorned it. I gasped and rushed forward.
Razana and Traya looked with eyes of horror. “Hey! Guys! Come here! We need to help her!”
“That's a demon!” Razana said, shocked.
A demon? LIke demonkin? Those weren’t classified as monsters so how would I be able to summon one. To be honest, she did look like demonkin. They had hair of every color of the rainbow and were long and lean like this woman.
She opened her eyes, seeing my face she said, “Master?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, master! I have finally found you!” She exclaimed, getting up and bowing.
I covered my eyes, “Oh thank goodness, I have been waiting for a long time for you. Please let me serve you!”
I rose, “Uh, um, Razana what’s going on?”
Razana came closer, “Silvi, what you're looking at is a demon! A fully-fledged demon! One of the holy entities! It could destroy the whole country if we're not careful!”
“What do you mean?” I asked. “Demon? You mean demonkin?”
“No,” Traya spoke up, “Demon, as in one of the holy entities. The holy entities are the creatures that are the most powerful beings in the world, with the power to rival those of the dark lords. They aren’t allowed to manifest in the physical world without extraneous circumstances though…”
“Wait what? What’s all of these holy entities you are talking about?” I asked.
“You know the three holy entities. There are spirits, the entities that are formed through leftover magic, and angels, the harbingers of calamity.”
I suddenly remembered a text I had read. The three holy entities. There were demons, angels, and spirits. Each one was formed separately and had their plane that existed separate but near the physical plane. Spirits lived in the spiritual plane and were made out of scraps of magic. They supposedly stood for nature and freedom. Angels lived in the heavenly plane, they only descended from the clouds that consisted of their domain after long naps in which they would recharge their energies. When the angel did descend, they would bring calamity to anyone under their rath. No one knew why angels were so hostile, but they were said to be beautiful. Lastly, there were demons. How to live in the demonic plane. They followed a strict hierarchy and were most commonly found. Demons existed for the sake of others. They couldn’t manifest without a mage summoning them, unlike the other entities who could use their magical power to break the barriers between planes and reach the physical world. ANy dark mage could summon demons, so they were often used. But summoning a demon, especially a powerful one, required a ton of mana, if a mage wasn’t strong enough, it could damage them to the point where they would lose years of their life or their entire life.
Demons were seen as hellish creatures that were dark and terrifying, that was because summoners often called upon their great power for selfish and nefarious reasons. Demon summoning was banned in most places, and the art was only passed on through ear and mouth nowadays. I couldn't believe that the high-level monster summoning circle was a demon summoning circle. I wanted to strangle that author.
“Gah! What should I do?”
“I find it strange you're even standing…” Traya said.
“Summoning a demon…. Silvi is something else…” Razana said.
“Argh! Well, what am I supposed to do? A demon? Here? It might destroy everything!”
“Pardon me, but master, I don’t have to destroy anything, unless you wish it.” The demon said.
I turned toward it, “what do you mean?”
“Well, you did summon me, I was hoping a powerful mage like yourself who could summon me, without even using sacrifice would let me into their service.”
Sacrifice… I just remembered sacrifice was also used as a way of summoning a demon, the consumed soul would often draw the required mana needed, so many summoners used souls as a way of summoning.
“Well…” I said, to tell you the truth, I detected no lies or harmful intent from the demon, she seemed to want to serve me.”
She bowed, “Master, please. I want to be of good use to you.”
“Um, well first things first, what’s your name?”
“I have none, might you bestow me one?”
“I mean, I guess? Let’s see here… how about Amber?” I said.
“Amber… Yes, Amber! I am AMber from now on master.”
“What’s up with the Master stuff,” I asked.
“You’re my master, master, I must call you by an appropriate title.”
“Well, at least you aren’t your majestying me like everyone else,” I muttered.
“Oh, my master is royalty. Well, then I shall change my mode of speech, your majesty.”
“No! Master is fine, no need for royal titles!”
“Very well, master.”
I sighed and looked at my feet. There was this gorgeous naked girl in front of me claiming to be a demon, calling me master, and now I had to deal with it.
“Um, I mean no disrespect. But do you mind going back? I didn’t mean to summon you and I don’t know how I’m gonna explain this…”
Her eyes widened in shock, “No master! I have waited such a long time! Please, let me prove to you that I am of some worth! Just let me serve you and stay!”
“Uh, I mean… Maybe? I don’t know. There isn’t much for you to do, we only have a gigantic army headed our way but…”
“An army? Perfect! Master, I can destroy them for you!”
“What! You can do that?”
“Well duh, she’s a demon! Demons could probably do that in their sleep. But something seems off about her, she’s way too powerful.” Traya said.
“Hmmm, well if she can protect us against the army then it might be useful keeping her around… And she’s pretty strong too, maybe it would be good to have her here…”
“Yes, master! I promise I won’t let you down!”
“Hmph, but what if she goes loose? Demons are dangerous, you know.” Razana said.
“That’s a good point…” I turned back to Amber the demon, “Amber, how do I know you won’t betray me?”
“Oh, rest assured master, I cannot betray you, if I did it would violate our contract. I am allowed to stay on this plane for as long as I am bound to you. By betraying you I would break that state of bondage and be sent back.”
“I see..” More or less what she said was true.
“Well, then I guess you can stay for a while. I don’t have much for you to do in the meantime. Can you read? I could use a secretary, it’ll be grueling work though.”
“Oh yes, I am a perfectly literate master! And I don’t mind working! I shall protect you and help you in any way I can.”
So I gained (Unwillingly) a demon as a slave and secretary. Why do I feel like this will be a pain?307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDkL1vexch
307Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbq6reVhie
