Ch. 53

[Over there, Master! The display case farthest to the right.]

It was a display tucked in a corner.

As I approached, I saw the transparent glass shelves filled with rough gemstones of all shapes and colors.

What caught my eye was a blue stone radiating a peculiar energy… no, a spirit stone.

It looked translucent, yet hidden deep within were fragmented hues of deep and light blue intertwined subtly inside.

Staring at the spirit stone made my head feel fuzzy, like I was getting drawn into a trance.

[Got it. It’s that blue one, right?]
[Correct.]
[But it’s strange.]
[What is?]

The display with the spirit stone had a small sign that read: “Sale! Assorted Gemstones.”

[It’s a spirit stone, and even I can tell it’s giving off an unusual energy… so why is it just sitting there mixed in with other plain gemstones like it’s nothing?

Don’t others recognize how special it is?]
[Well, ordinary people probably can’t even sense its energy.]
[Can’t mages feel it?]
[What you’re sensing isn’t magical energy, Master. It’s spirit energy. Only Spirit Mages can detect it.]
[Hmm?]
[And even then, it’s so faint that only a spirit like me, who specializes in metal, could pick it up.]

So we got lucky.

It meant that no one else recognized it for what it was before it made its way to Remalli.

Makes sense. There aren’t many Spirit Mages to begin with, and it’s not like they’re working in jewelry stores appraising gems.

“Is there anything you like? I can take it out for you to see.”

The ever-diligent employee had snuck up behind me.

I already knew exactly what I wanted.

“That one. Please show me that one!”

“This one, you mean?”

“No, the one next to it. That one!”

Watching the employee’s slow motion as he reached into the glass case felt painfully frustrating.

I was getting antsy. The moment he pulled out the spirit stone, I thrust both hands forward.

“Give it to me!”

“Normally, customers should wear gloves when handling…”

Unable to wait, I snatched the spirit stone barehanded.

The moment it landed in my palm, I could tell immediately. That strange energy it held—

It was a cold chill.

A subtle cold that wasn’t felt in my skin, but in my mind. If my guess was correct, then this was definitely—

[An ice spirit.]
[…I was going to guess that!]
[Ah, sorry.]
[Saying sorry doesn’t cut it!]

I could’ve figured that out myself! I am a Spirit Mage!

“You seem to like that one. You have a sharp eye!”

As I turned the spirit stone over and examined it, the employee eagerly rubbed his hands together.

His eyes were full of determination to make a sale.

“That blue stone—though slightly soft in hardness—is large in size, making it perfect for a necklace.

If you buy the stone here, we can offer a heavily discounted price on custom settings.”

“Heh.”

“If you buy now, we’re offering a special—”

“What kind of gem is this?”

“It’s… aquamarine. A rough one, of course.”

Your pupils just twitched.

I’ll have you know I’m the master of a metal spirit!

I may not be into jewelry, but I know my stuff.

“Isn’t the blue too faint for aquamarine? And you said it’s soft—real aquamarine is a hard gemstone.”

“Haha, miss? It’s hard to tell before polishing. Buying a rough stone is about buying potential. How it’s cut can completely transform it.”

“Hmm… It’s too dark to be topaz. So what is it? Are you selling it without an appraisal? Or did you appraise it and not know what it was, so you’re just winging it?”

“Well…”

The employee trailed off, avoiding my eyes.

If you can’t define what kind of gemstone it is, then it’s just a shiny rock.

He was trying to scam me, pretending it was something it wasn’t, just so he could sell it.

“It’s aquamarine!”

You’re really going to push that? He must think I’m just some clueless kid.

I didn’t know how it was made or what gem was used—it was probably an ancient artifact—but one thing was certain: this wasn’t aquamarine.

“Fine. Let’s say it is aquamarine. How much?”

I planned to buy it anyway, so arguing more felt like a waste of time.

It was to my advantage that they didn’t know the true value of this spirit stone.

I just wanted to make it mine and get back to the inn.

For a Water Spirit Mage like me, an Ice Spirit was extremely appealing.

Water and ice—an absolutely perfect match.

When I asked the price, the employee finally beamed.

“Originally 8 gold, but discounted to 5 gold and 30 silver, young miss.”

“F-Five… gold…?”

“Gasp!”

Hansen and Philo were more shocked than I was.

5 gold wasn’t enough for a top-tier horse, but it was definitely enough to buy an old one with four good legs. It was a huge amount of money.

This guy really thinks I’m a sucker.

He couldn’t even identify the gem properly and still had the audacity to charge that much.

[Master, you don’t have that kind of money, do you?]
[Nope.]

All the money I’d brought from the Academy had been burned up when I summoned Ador.

I’d earned a little from helping the Shavel Mercenary Corps, but not much.

Rai had been regularly making silver shards for me, but all together they weren’t even worth 1 gold.

“Seems a bit expensive, doesn’t it?”

“It’s a discounted price.”

“Discounted, and it’s still 5 gold?”

“5 gold and 30 silver.”

That price was absurd.

Far from a discount—it felt like they were charging more than they should.

“Young miss! Large aquamarine rough stones like this are rare. Each rough stone is one of a kind—that’s their charm. You won’t find another like it.

It’s a special piece available only at Dunhel Jewelry!”

This guy’s a total scam artist.

Watching his fake smile as he ran his mouth freely gave me a brilliant idea.

“You’re not going to lower the price, are you?”

“Haha, the price is already discounted.”

“Before I decide whether to buy it… may I use the restroom real quick?”

“Of course. Please return the gemstone over here.”

Hansen and Philo were vigorously shaking their heads with a silent Don’t buy it! warning, but I walked off to the restroom with light steps.

Sometimes, my brain was downright genius.

* * *

“Rai.”

[Yes, Master!]

“This is a jewelry shop, right?”

[That’s right.]

“So obviously, they have gold bars, yeah?”

[Probably rolling around in the vault.]

“Fetch one.”

Sitting regally atop the toilet, I gave my command, and Rai tilted his head.

[What for?]

“Don’t absorb it. Just bring it back. Then reshape it into gold pieces. That barely takes any mana, right? It’s transformation, not creation.”

[That’s true.]

“I’ll pay for the spirit stone with that. They take gold pieces like cash.”

Ah, such brilliance! What a genius mind I have.

This isn’t stealing. It’s… circulation!

[Then you only need 5 gold, right? A gold bar is worth several times that.]

“Exactly, which is why I said get a gold bar, you idiot! If I buy the spirit stone for 5 gold, and they realize they’re short exactly 5 gold, I’ll be their top suspect!”

[But… you are the culprit.]

“You want your master thrown in jail unfairly?”

[That’s not really how the word ‘unfairly’— Wait, no! Wow, amazing language usage, Master! Truly eloquent!]

As I raised his tail and opened the lid of the shoddy wooden toilet, threatening to drop him in, Rai quickly changed his tune.

Below was a writhing cesspit full of maggots.

“Whew… Rai? Now search your conscience.”

[I don’t have hands… or a conscience… I’m a spirit—KYAA! Have mercy!]

Backtalk earns you a closer look inside.

“They stole it from that boy without paying a single coin!”

[Kyaaak!]

“And I even paid her properly! It was mine in the first place! Now they’re trying to sell it back to me for 5 gold?! That’s villainous!”

[Waaah! I was wrong, Master! I don’t know what a coin is, but please spare me!]

Rai’s desperate wailing made me question who the real villain was for a moment—but surely it wasn’t me. I was a righteous person.

Sighing, I closed the toilet lid and propped my foot up on it.

“Rai, the reason I get violent sometimes is all because of you. You provoke your master too much. I’m naturally elegant, you know?”

[Sniff… sob…]

“Did you hear me?”

[You’re too cruel, Master!]

I opened the toilet lid again.

Rai thrashed in panic.

[Kyaa! Anything but that!]

“What was that? I can’t hear you.”

[You’re elegant! Master is elegant! I love you! Radiant as milk! Master is the best!]

Whose snake is this? What a wonderfully honest one.