Chereads / Ephemeral World / Chapter 3 - Ephemeral World (Chapter 3) Establishing bonds

Chapter 3 - Ephemeral World (Chapter 3) Establishing bonds

They were led by the maids into the throne room. There they saw the king and some other men with distressed expressions.

"Yo fatass, what is it now?"

Without minding the atmosphere of the room, Xyndis insulted the king.

"O-oh you're here, good good. We have a major crisis at hand, that's why I called you here."

"Crisis? Human, what do you mean?"

"Our scouts has reported that an army of goblins are heading this way. They will reach the kingdom in 5 days time."

"Huh!? Goblins? Why does it have to be goblins!? Oh by the way, what's a goblin?"

"It seems this fellow here doesn't know what a goblin is, pathetic."

"What was that you bastard!?"

Xyndis and Levus started fighting as usual and Azazel just breathed a sigh.

"Thou both stop. Levus, is that how thou act in front of a king?"

"..."

Levus became silent with Azazel pointing out his rude behavior in front of the king.

"In simple terms. The creature called goblin is a green humanoid being that is small in stature. They usually live in groups and make or steal stuff in order for them to use it. That's the general idea about them but 'tis rather strange."

"Hmmm... So it's like those stories made for fun in my world huh? But what do you mean it's rather strange?"

"Human"

"Y-yes."

The king was surprised when Azazel called him instead of answering Xyndis.

"Does thy scouts seen a goblin king or shaman leading the goblins?"

"As a matter of fact, both of them are present."

"W-wait! What do you guys mean a king or shaman!?"

Xyndis interjected Azazel and the king due to his lack of knowledge about the goblins and he doesn't want to be left out.

"Normally, goblins live in caves and are only a small threat. A group of adventurers can exterminate them and their hideout for they are only using weapons made from wood and stones and sometimes old blades from dead adventurers or warriors. They would attack other creatures with barbaric tactics. But with a king or a shaman leading them, that's a different story. If the leader is quite capable, they can wipe out an entire town or a small army."

"Heh~ Then, this is a serious matter huh? Wait! Don't tell me you're planning to send us three to fight them, fatass!?"

"That is correct. But worry not, there will be knights accompanying you."

The king gave out a smile which pissed Xyndis even more.

"'Tis to be expected."

"O king, allow us three to accept this mission."

Levus knelt and asked the king for permission to carry out the extermination.

"Us three!? What do you mean us three!? Don't go deciding it on your own!"

"Very well, I have high hopes for you, heroes."

"Hey! Don't ignore me!"

They were dismissed and was asked to prepare for the upcoming fight. They were granted permission to use all the facilities of the castle.

"*sigh* This sucks."

"'Tis indeed bothersome."

"Hey you two, what's with those faces? Just think of it as a way to help the citizens and protect them."

Levus who was enthusiastic about the fight tried to cheer the two.

"Helping and saving the people? No thanks. I would rather lock myself up in a room and do experiments."

"The lives of humans does not matter to me. Futhermore, this bothersome task has no merits whatsoever."

Refusing to become enthusiastic about the fight, the two continued to refute Levus.

"Merits...Merits... There are some!"

"Huh?"

"You know, like thinking of it as a test practice for our skills and weapons if they are still usable and if they are, we can know their limitations on this world."

"Not bad for an orc."

"Heh~ So you also have a brain huh?"

They headed towards their respective rooms and made plans for tomorrow.

-----

Morning came and the first one to wake up was Levus.

"*yawn* What a great morning to start the day. Now then, I should go to the armory to check if there are weapons I can use."

He walked through a corridor that leads to the armory while listening to the joyful chirping of the birds. He greeted the maids and other people he walked passed by. After some time walking, he reached the armory which was filled with noises from the blacksmiths hammering metals to create weapons.

"Good morning everyone!"

Levus Greeted the people inside the armory with a loud voice that was enough to draw the attention of those people.

"Oh! You're one of those heroes that his majesty summoned. If I remember correctly, your called Levus, right?"

"Spot on! I am Levus Triliaq Respectacus, nice to meet you."

"Likewise. So, anything you need?"

"I was hoping to find a suitable weapon for me."

"Just look around and just pick whatever you like."

"Thanks."

Levus looked around the armory and examined various weapons from daggers to greatswords. After a few minutes of looking, he found his choice of weapon. An axe with a short handle and has a hammer at the other side of the axe.

"I'll pick this one."

"Good choice!"

"Well then, I'll take my leave."

"Come again anytime!"

-----

Xyndis woke up in a rather pleasant mood and

headed towards the workshop where inventors and engineers are gathered. They create new things in order to do something more easier or to improve the equipments of the soldiers.

"As I though. This place is stuck in the freaking steampunk age!"

"Well if Isn't one of the heroes. What brings you here?"

A man with large build who was wearing goggles approached him with a smile on his face.

"I was thinking of creating something using the equipments here. Is there any rooms I can use?"

"Is that so? How about you use one of the rooms we use for experimenting? It's rather large and has nobody will complain if you make some noises or explosions."

"Hmmm... Fine, lead me to where it is."

"Right this way."

The man lead Xyndis into a vast room and left Xyndis there. The room was filled with various tools and equipments.

"This room is not bad. Not bad at all."

-----

When Azazel woke up, he headed straight to the castle's library to check if there are some useful information and spells he can add to his gremoire. Upon arriving, he saw a bunch of people reading books, writing something on a sheet of paper or on a book and discussing something with others. Azazel ignored the people and began to inspect the books.

"U-uhmm... Mister, can I ask your name?"

Azazel looked at where the voice came from and saw a petite girl with long black hair and was wearing a lab coat.

"'Tis a must to give thy name first, when thou art asking for another person's name."

"S-sorry. My name is Macyl Berariel Risant, the head researcher of the Magic Research Department. And you are."

"Azazel Euryhar Naqcres."

"Really!? T-then you're one of the heroes who was summoned here?"

"I don't call mineself a hero but 'tis true that I was summoned. Why?"

"You three are rather famous. Due to the fact that you guys are summoned to this world in order to save it. If there's anything you need just tell me."

"Hmmm... Then, could thou check if thou have these materials."

Azazel placed a piece of paper which contained various materials into the head researcher's tiny hands. Macyl read the paper and looked at Azazel.

"Leave it to me!"

She dashed out the library and Azazel resumed inspecting the books.

-----

Levus headed to the training grounds after choosing a weapon. There he saw soldiers training and others was either sparring or resting.

"Hey guys!"

"Oh! It's one of the heroes, Levus! What brings you here?"

"Can any of you guys have a sparring match with me?"

"You heard him. Who wants to go first?"

A man raised his hand and he and Levus headed to the center while others watched with excitement. With difference with strength, Levus won and a another challenger stood forth and fought him.

-----

Xyndis was sitting in the room with various materials in front of him.

"Yui, how's the blueprints?"

"The first one is 100% complete, Master! But the other one is still 20% because I haven't yet fully analyzed the spell."

"It's fine, just continue."

"Yes!"

Xyndis conjured a hologram containing the blueprint for his weapon. He molded metals and shaped materials into parts and assembled it. The first weapon he made was a railgun that shaped like pistol. It shoots projectiles at breakneck speed by sending powerful electric currents through the barrel to create a magnetic field to shoot the projectile. Xyndis experimented and adjusted his gun until he was satisfied.

"Master, the blueprint for the second one is finished!"

"Good job."

Using the spare materials, he created his second weapon. It also looked like a pistol but instead of shooting projectiles, it conjures a magic circle that will cast and shoot a basic elemental spell like fireball. To make this possible, Yui first analyzed the basic principles of magic in this world which is using the caster's energy to conjure a magic circle and use it as a medium to cast a spell. She turned the conjuring sequence of the magic circle into data and inputted it on various circuits she designed and made an case to combine those circuits. The design of the case is a pistol because of her master's order. By using that gun, Xyndis will be able to cast spells with only a quarter of the energy needed to cast the original spell even though he has not trained to be a mage. Long story short, the both of them made a magical tool that can be used by normal people, that does not have any experiences regarding magic, to cast a spell with only a small amount of energy.

"And done! My weapons are done!"

"Master, congratulations! But Master, won't you give your weapons a name?"

"A name huh? Good idea! Let me think of one."

-----

Azazel finished reading all the books he needed to read and was just reading those he picked randomly when the head researcher came back and was carrying a large sack on her back.

"Mister Azazel~ I'm back with the materials!"

"Oh? I just told her to check if they have the materials and I will be the one who will get it but it seems I don't have to do that. But why Mister?"

Azazel approached the head researcher while being amazed by how she carried that heavy looking sack from the storage to here.

"Why didst thou brought the materials hither? Did I not tell thou to just check if there are any?"

"Y-yes, but Mister Azazel wouldn't bringing it here myself would be much faster than just telling you that we have the materials you need and I bet you will get them yourself."

"Not bad. But drop the mister."

"If I do, so how will I address you?"

"Just call me Azazel."

"Ok!"

The head researcher handed the sack to Azazel and he checked the materials and surprisingly, all the materials he need is there.

"Thou hath my thanks. Now then, I shall take my leave."

"Where are you going?"

"Somewhere where I can make my weapon."

"Can I go with you?"

"Suit thyself."

They left the library and headed towards the forest behind the castle. After a few minutes of walking, they reached halfway towards the area Azazel picked.

"Art thou sure thou still want to go with me?"

"Yes, why?"

"Nobody goes to this forest much less to the place we are heading. Art thou not afraid that I will do something to you?"

"Not really and if you want to do something to me, you would not warn me, right?"

"..."

They walked for a while and reached the place. They arrived at a vast empty place inside the forest.

"This place is good."

After placing the sack on the ground, Azazel then proceeded to make a magic circle on the ground with various runes and shapes.

"Azazel, what are you doing? Aren't you gonna make a weapon?"

"I am making one."

"Huh? Aren't weapons supposed to be made by molding them or combining parts? I have not heard of a weapon being made with a magic circle."

"Is that so? 'Tis seems thou still hath a lot to learn. I will be using this magic circle to use transmutation on the materials."

"E-eh? You can do that? Only high-class alchemists can do transmutation and they can only transmute a few metals and not this amount of materials."

"Is that so?."

Azazel finished the magic circle and placed all the materials at the center.

"O unholy Gremoire of Darkness, I command thee, come forth at once and serve me"

Darkness gathered in his left hand and materialized into a book.

"Woah! Azazel what's that?"

"'Tis my Gremoire. Now, be quiet and let me concentrate."

"Ok"

"Elements which this world contains. I command thee, change thy form into the form which I desire!"

The materials melted and fused together and after a few moments, it changed its shape into a sword. It hardened and it completed it's transformation, a sword with a dark red blade and handle with the same color. Azazel picked up the sword and started swinging it.

"This is good enough."

He looked over at Macyl who was still dumbstruck.

"Macyl!"

"Y-yes?"

"We are leaving."

"O-ok. But Azazel, that was pretty awesome! Could you teach me?"

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"Why?"

"The spell I used is a forbidden spell. If someone without training or experience use a forbidden spell, they will suffer greatly."

"..."

It was night when they headed back to the castle.

"Hey Azazel."

"What?"

"Could I ask you to come and eat with us?"

"us?"

"Yes, with the Magic Research Department."

"I don't mind. But why?"

"Since you used that forbidden spell without suffering from the side-effects. I guess you're from a world where magic is more advance than ours. So, I want you to teach us some tips to improve our magic."

"If that is the case then, sure why not?"

"Thank you!"

With Macyl leading the way with a big smile on her cheeks, they arrived at a dining hall that is filled with the people Azazel saw at the library.

-----

"That was fun! Thanks."

"We're the ones who should be thanking. You helped us improve our fighting styles and gave a few tips."

Levus and the soldiers finished sparring and was preparing to leave the training grounds.

"Levus why don't you eat with us? Just think of it as our thanks."

"I'll take you up on that."

-----

Xyndis left the room and was surrounded by the inventors.

"Yo Xyndis, why don't you have dinner with us? We want to celebrate because one of the heroes is a inventor like us."

"Why do you think I would eat with you!"

"Come on!"

The inventors begged Xyndis for a while and Xyndis admitted defeat.

"Fine! I will eat with you guys!"

"Yay!"

-----

"Your majesty, we have been told that the heroes will not eat dinner with you."

"I see. It's fine, we need them to get used to this world faster."

In the throne, the king sat on the throne worried about the impending disaster.