It's been more than ten days since we defeated Rupesleks.
　I haven't given the Demon Yuan Stone to the Association yet so as not to make it unnatural, considering the number of days to travel back and forth to the Lugen Valley since then.
　Since it's that big, it would normally take a long time to bring it back, and I'm giving it a slightly larger period of time.

　
　I've already accumulated more than 950 magic stones, and I'm close to my minimum goal of 1000.
　And today, before collecting the magic stones again, Sisha and I have come to the Rugen Valley to get the gemstones in the rough.

''The magic blade is still the best way to hunt lapis. It's frustrating that it doesn't have much of a response, but it's a lot of fun to do this.''

You can handle swords as well as fighting and wands.

''It's a magic sword with no substance. No matter how much I'm a priest, a sword of substance is still hard to handle.

　When dealing with large lapis, it was hard to get through attacks if you just hit them with physics, so he had given Sisha a layered and reinforced magic blade.
　Since it was a sword-type weapon, he didn't seem to be very familiar with using it.......but now he was slicing through lapis one after another neatly while making a buzzing sound.

''Okura-san has been using the centimeter tarbula more and more in hunting lately too, right?

The only thing that's left to do is to use it in a way that's not at all well handled, even though it's an UR equipment.... I'm going to actively use it to get more familiar with it.

''Still, if you're dealing with Lapis or something like that, it already looks like enough, so good luck moving more than two.

''Gu........I'll try to be positive.......''

　I was terribly shocked when I dealt with Lupes Lex, and I was terribly shocked to see my centipede shattered just by hitting it.
　It's so tragic that it's the best equipment, UR, but it's just shattered all the time.
　That's why I've been actively hunting with the Centimeter Turtles since then, in an effort to do my best.
　Thanks to this, my hardness and attack speed have increased, and I've been able to lightly deal with goblins, orcs, and lapis.

　However, I could originally operate five Centimeter Turbolas at the same time.
　If I'm having such a hard time controlling one of them, I wonder when I'll be able to control them all at the same time...

　Despite my worries, I finished today's hunt in the Rugen Valley and took a break to look at the gemstones I had obtained so far.

'Hmmm, I got a lot of things, but I don't know what to choose from among them.

''Mmm I'm the same way. This sounds like something that would be good... but I think I have something better...

　We collected a lot of them, nearly 50 in total. The big ones are about the size of my fist.
　I'm going to deliver the gemstone to the association in Queres tomorrow, so I'll choose one to ask them to process the gemstone while I'm there.
　I don't know if there are any, but since we're close to the place of origin of the jewels, there should be a shop that processes jewels....

'The bigger the better after all, right?　Which would mean ... this fist-sized one?

Well, it's an ornament.... I don't think it's a good idea to be too big.

　Is the fist size too big after all?
　As for the things you wear, something this big would be a hindrance and it's also slightly heavy.

The choice of jewels is important, but what kind of ornaments to give them is also a problem. Is Sisha going to use it as a necklace?

'That's what I thought at first. I'm starting to feel like a hair clip or bracelet would be better...

　Sisha crossed her arms and tilted her head in distress.
　Not only do I have to choose jewelry, but also what kind of things I can give to make them happy.
　As I've never given a gift to a girl before, this is more troubling to me than choosing jewelry.
　.........well, I have an idea of what to give her to make her happy.

What do you think I should give Estelle to make her happy?

The ring.

That was quick.

Don't you...understand that...even Okura-san knows that?

Well, yeah, I guess so.

　I knew it was a ring........
　When I gave him the Gacha-produced ring, he looked so happy.
　I feel like it's an engagement ring again or something, but if it makes you happy, is it the best thing to give it to her?
　But he already has a ring from Gacha and I don't think he'll be too happy about it.
　I think it would be good to ask the person in question what he or she wants, but Sisha wants to give it to me as a surprise, so I haven't asked her because I'm thinking of giving it to her as a surprise as well.

By the way, what would you want if it were Sisha?

'What, me?　Well ... maybe a knuckle duster or something.

It's a weapon!

'Uh-huh, just kidding. As for me, I'd normally prefer a necklace or something.

You already have one from the Gacha, right?

'You don't understand, Okura-san, anymore. That and this are two different things.

　I believed it because Sisha would seriously say she wanted a weapon........
　More importantly, gifts like this are different from those made in the gacha.
　I've been thinking that many of the ornaments from Gacha are beautiful and well made, so even if you give them as gifts, they shouldn't be worn, but apparently that's not the case.

'Something like that. And while we're at it, what do you think Nol would want?

Mr. Nole?　Well ... eat ... gosh. Is it a hair clip or something?

You were just about to say food.

　Agreed, for me, I totally agree.
　I'm sure he'd be happy if I gave him ornaments and stuff, but I feel like Nol would be more pleased if I gave him good food.
　It might be terrible to treat a self-proclaimed maiden that way, but it's an established image, so I can't blame her.

　After that, I stared at the jewelry for a while.

''........I've decided. I will choose this yellow gemstone!

'Oh, you've finally decided. Well, I guess I'm going to have to go with this red gem.

　Sisuha chose a yellow jewel about three centimeters in length and width, and I chose a red jewel of the same size.
　Estelle often uses fire magic, and it's still red in the image.
　Besides, this gemstone is close to the color of Estelle's eyes, so perhaps... no, it would suit her.

●

　The day after I finished selecting the jewels.

'You are going to Sisha and the Society today, sir?'

'Yeah, it's bad enough that I have to ask Noll to chaperone me every time.

I don't mind, sir, but Sissiya, I asked for Okura-dono.

Leave it to me. I'll take care of Okura-san with full responsibility.

'Why do I have to be worried every time...'

　Today is the day I'm going to give the demon gemstone to the Society of Queles.
　Normally I have Nol accompany me, but today I'm taking Sisha with me because I'm going to go to the shop where they process the gems afterwards.

''Your brothers seem to be really close these days.

No, I don't think so. Huh?

'Yes, that's right!　It's just a coincidence, just a coincidence!

　Esther, who was sitting in the chair, looked at me and Sisha with zit eyes and muttered.
　It's true that lately, Sisha and I have been doing a lot of things together.
　I was beginning to forget all about that boob fiasco, but I have a feeling that Esther has been strangely suspicious since that day.
　I think it's inevitable that people think that, partly because I was sneaking around so that they wouldn't find out that I was giving them jewelry as a gift.

　If I reacted any more poorly, they might find out, so before they did, we made a beacon move to Queles.
　Outside of town, we took out a large magic elemental stone from a magic bag and put it on the cart we had prepared and went inside.
　It's a pain in the ass to do this all the way, but I can't just take it out of the bag in front of me.

'I knew this would be too big...'

''All the people on the street are looking at it. Even if it's not the Demon Yuan Stone, this size is still very noticeable.

　As we walked into the Queres, all eyes were on us as we walked with our carts in tow.
　And they all looked at the white stone tablet we were carrying as if it were a curiosity.
　Few people would know that this is the Demon Yuan Stone, but it would look strange to carry such a large stone all the way through.
　But it should be no better than lifting and carrying this by myself.
　Even though it can be lifted normally, if you do that, it won't be at the level of being noticeable or anything.

　As it is, we arrived at the Adventurer's Association while receiving a few stares.
　Because of its size, it would be a hindrance to get inside the association, so I asked Sisha to guard the demon yuan stone for once and I went inside and called the receptionist.

''Wha, what is this? I've never seen a Demon Yuan Stone of this size before.... How did you manage to carry it in?

Haha I had a hard time bringing it in.

　I didn't have any problems carrying it because it was in my bag, but I'll pretend it was hard work.
　By the way, I've never seen anything so big before, this Majo stone must be a rare item.

　The staff carried the demon stone with a cart, and we went into the association to receive our reward.
　And I thought we would receive our reward without incident

You have done a great job in completing your request. We'd like to hand over the reward right away, but before we do that, there's one thing we'd like you to confirm.

Yes?　Perhaps ... is there a problem?

　What is it?　I brought the Demon Yuan Stone properly, but was there something wrong with it?
　

'You were given this request first as three million g's, right?

Yes, I do.

''So the reward is three million g's to be given to you... but that's just for a normal sized demon yuan stone.

　Oh, I knew it was too big, didn't I?
　It would break my heart if they told me it had to be a normal sized demon stone or something like that.
　I've been hunting over there for a good amount of time with Sisha and collecting gems, but I've never had a Lupeslex spring up there.
　I haven't been to the first place I found it, so it may have sprung up there, but if not, it would be tough to find it again.

'Does that mean it's too big?'

That's the way it is. But don't worry, it's not a bad thing because it's big.

　Thank goodness I don't have to go looking for it again, apparently.
　But then, what the hell are we going to talk about?

If it's a normal request we'll only give you the amount you need. However, since this is a research institute request there is no limit to the number of items we can give you. If we are able to collect two of them, the reward will be six million g's.



Yes, sir.

　Whoo-hoo!　Seriously?
　Come to think of it, Chrystia-san also seemed to want as many Demon Light Stones as she had, so I wonder if this is the same kind of thing.

''But the Institute doesn't know how much reward we should give you with these Demon Yuan Stones. So this time, I will only give you 3 million g and the rest will be after I hear from the institute. Is that all right with you?

Yes, I'm fine.

Thank you. Then this will be your reward of three million g's.

　Okay, so it's one big chunk of money, not multiple pieces, so you can't keep track of how much you're being paid.
　I don't really care about the money that much, and if you say you'll get more later on, I'm grateful for that.

　Finally, the conversation is settled and I receive a bag full of gold coins.
　And I was about to go to the next objective, which is to find the processing plant, but it occurred to me that I should ask here before looking for it.

'Oh, excuse me. I'd like to ask you something, if that's okay?

Yes, I'm at your disposal.

Is there a shop in town that processes jewelry?

'Oh, it's a jewel!　Maybe you got it from the Lugen Valley!　In that case........

　As soon as the receptionist heard it was a gemstone, her eyes lit up and she explained it to us.
　It seems that there are shops that process several gems in Querres, because the place of origin of the gems is close to us.
　It seems that there are various shops that process with normal tools and shops that process using magic.
　It was enthusiastically talked about how handcrafting with tools has a better cut, and that magic increases clarity and shine, but... I don't understand.

　Anyway, after listening to a briefing, I left the association with a map of the shop's location.

I heard about the jewelry processing plant, so let's just go ask for it.

'Yes!　Uh-huh, you're going to have to wait for me, Luna.　I'll send you my loving gift!

　When I finally get to give it to him, Sisha is in a state of heightened excitement.
　I don't think I can bring it today and do it right away, but even for me, I'm looking forward to seeing what this gem will look like.
　I hope Estelle will be happy with it.