Episode 183 Consultation with the Branch Chief

"Grimm-sensei, won't you make the Shadow Puppets public?"

"I plan to publicize them eventually. However, there are many unknown points about Shadow Puppets. I'm thinking of doing more research before publicizing them."

Ami lifted Komugi up and rubbed her cheeks against it.

"It feels like a real cat, but it seems heavy for its size."

"It's not a real cat."

"Can a Shadow Puppet be made by anyone?"

"No, it must be someone who can use Life Magic fairly well."

Ami smiled broadly.

"Grimm-sensei, please take me as your apprentice."

I stared at Ami. She didn't seem like a bad girl, but I wasn't sure if she was trustworthy.

The reason why I told her about Shadow Puppets was because I thought that she would tell the people around her if I forcibly deceived her here.

Besides, I knew she was on Taichi's team, so I didn't think she had that bad of a character.

"Does that mean that you want to become an apprentice as a Life Wizard, or do you want to become an apprentice as a Magic Puppeteer and Shadow Puppet maker?"

"Both. But, if that's not possible, please make me a Magic Puppeteer apprentice."

She seemed to really like the Shadow Puppet.

"I can't make you an apprentice right away. I need time to determine what kind of person you are. By the way, why did you come back?"

"Ah!, I forgot. This is Grimm-sensei, right?"

Ami took out a French magazine from her bag. The canyon on the second floor of the Narukami Dungeon was on the cover, and a Life Wizard was shown flying about the canyon.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

I couldn't make out the face because of the light, but it was definitely me.

"It seems so. It must have been taken by a Dungeon Photographer."

"As expected, I thought so."

Ami looked happy. Then, she carefully put the magazine in her bag.

By the way, there was an adventurer's apprenticeship system. A young adventurer who longed for the fighting style of a veteran adventurer became an apprentice and learned how to fight. Unlike lessons and dojos, it was more about training successors of techniques, so it was similar to a system where rakugo performers took apprentices.(TN:A rakugo performer is a one-man-act show where the lone person on the stage acts out all the parts by themself.)

The development of that system was called a Battalion.

After talking with Ami, I decided to go to the student guidance room at the academy once a week and asked her to help me create a textbook on Life Magic.

This was started by talking with Karina about creating a new Life Magic textbook. Until now, I had been working with Karina alone, but I decided to ask for help. By doing the work together, I wanted to learn Ami's character and personality.

As Ami left the reference room, I turned my gaze to Komugi.

"Metis, before taking Komugi out, please check if there are people nearby."

[ I'm very sorry. It was my carelessness. But, weren't you planning on revealing the Shadow Puppets soon? ]

I felt that using Komugi and Geronta in the Dungeon while hiding the existence of the Shadow Puppets was the limit. If I kept it hidden, I would have no choice but to continue working solo.

"That's right. I think it would be good to patent the production method and make it public."

Magic-related patents were collectively managed by the Magic Agency, not the Patent Office. It was the same with Magic Tools, so it was called a Magic Patent.

[ How about talking to Branch Chief Kondou? ]

"Somehow, you're proactive about publicizing it."

[ If it's not made public, I can't use it in public. ]

Metis seemed to want to use it openly in public. Since the Shadow Puppet was a substitute for Metis' body. Metis seemed happy to be able to use it freely.

I almost suspected that she was showing Komugi to Ami on purpose, but Metis originally didn't care about her appearance, so I thought it was a coincidence.

I asked for a meeting with the Branch Chief, and we decided to talk in the Branch Chief's office. The Branch Chief called out to me sitting on the sofa.

"What's wrong. Did you find a treasure chest in the third floor sea again?"

"No, it's not the 3rd floor, but the contents of the treasure chest I found on the 1st floor at the KillerPlant grasslands, but it was actually not just an advanced healing magic potion."

The Branch Chief nodded.

"The five-year rule doesn't cover the contents of treasure chests, so you don't have to report it."

"I know that. It was just a book that came with the advanced healing magic potion."

THe Branch Chief's chair clattered as he stood up.

"Wh, what's that, don't tell me you got another Magic Book."

"That's not it. It's not a Magic Book, it's a different book."

The Branch Chief sat down in his chair looking a little disappointed.

"I see. If it was a Magic Book, it would have gone down in history as the adventurer who obtained two Magic Books for the first time in history. So, what kind of book was it?"

"It's a book called 'Shadow Puppet Making Method'."

The Branch Chief tilted his head.

"Shadow Puppet? What is that?"

"It's faster if you actually see it, so I'll take it out. Please don't be surprised."

Metis took Komugi out of my shadow.

"What is this!"

When the Branch Chief saw it, he shouted. His voice seemed to be heard outside the Branch Chief's office. Maria rushed in from outside.

"What's wrong? Oh my, isn't it a cat, does the Branch Chief hate cats?"

When Maria saw Komugi on the table, she thought it was cute and stroked its head. The Branch Chief saw it and warned her.

"That's no ordinary cat. Get your hands off it."

Maria tilted her head and stared at Komugi. Then she slowly let go with her hand as she realized that the eyes were Sorcery Eyes.

"Is that a familiar?"

"I think it's classified as a familiar, but it's not like I'm using a monster as a familiar, it's something I made."

The Branch Chief glared at Komugi with a stern expression.

"Isn't that a more serious matter than a Magic Book. Are all Shadow Puppets cats?"

"There are other things, too."

"Can you show me?"

"Understood. This time it's a frog type, so please don't be surprised. Especially Maria-san, please."

"A frog is it. If I know, it'll be fine."

Geronta jumped out of my shadow and landed on the table. Seeing that, Maria almost screamed and covered her mouth with her hand.

The Branch Chief was also started and was shaking. Geronta was visually stunning.

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