The scheduled date to explore the dungeon was approaching.
　I gradually begin to prepare for it.
　It is important to take care of the armor and replenish the medicines, but today's focus is on the magical gemstone.

　The stone that can confine magic, which is often used in the adventurer's school.
　It's a necessity for exploring dungeons.

　When stepping into an unknown dungeon, managing your magic power is a must.
　You don't know how many levels there are, and you may even get lost.
　If you come across powerful monsters, there's a chance you'll run out of magic power all at once.

　In that respect, the magical jewels are very useful.
　It's also good to have some recovery magic and attack magic in there.
　However, the situation where you have to use the magical gemstone means that your magic power is exhausted.

　Something like escaping the dungeon or securing safety would be necessary.

　To be specific, it's magic like 【Transfer】 and 【Warding】.
　But all of them are intermediate magic as magic.
　You can't buy poorly made magical gems.

　The magical gemstone is excavated together with other ores and other materials.
　That's why they often contain impurities.
　Removing them was one of the jobs of the [Blacksmith] since ancient times.

　A magic called 【refining】 is used in the removal process.
　However, this is quite profound.

　It's not just about using magic.
　The user's magic control and output, or experience, is what counts.
　This is truly a craftsman's world.

　That's why there are ranks called pure grades, based on the degree of impurities mixed in.
　The lowest grade, the fifth grade, had 42% of magical gems and 58% of impurities.
　The highest grade, the 1st grade, must have less than 1% of impurities.

　When I used to be a [Blacksmith], I used to sell 1st grade magical gems to make a rough profit.
　I had to close my shop after seven days because I was getting so many customers.
　We were so inundated with orders that we didn't have time to train.

　Looking back on it now, it's a good memory.

　It's a good thing that I'm a little nostalgic as I walked into the demon jewelry store in the royal capital.


　◆◇◆◆◆.


Welcome!

　It was a fox-eyed clerk who greeted me.
　He smiled affectionately as he rubbed his hands.
　But then his complexion changed.
　He stares at my school uniform.

(Tch!　(Students.)

　I clicked my tongue in a small way.
　Obviously, I'm not happy about it.

　You can lick it with the students, but at least don't put it in your face and mouth.

''I'd like to see that third-grade magical gemstone...''

Third grade?　Students?　Do you have any money?

Some.

Hmm. And you're an adventurer's school student, right? You don't have a crest on your left shoulder, what do you do for a living?

[Villagers].

'What?　[Villagers].

　The clerk grinned for a moment.
　But he quickly retracted that smile.
　Eventually, he returned to his sales smile and rubbed his rubbing hand.

''The Adventurer's School has fallen to the ground - no, they've become so generous in admitting [villagers], haven't they? It's a lot of work, isn't it? I'll give you a discount.

................... So where is the third grade product then?

Yeah. That's right. Here it is.

　He points to the demonic gems in the basket.

　It's a very careless way to handle it for a 3rd grade.
　In the past, we would have put them in a glass case with a [Warding] attached to prevent theft.

　And it's obvious from what I can see.
　This isn't 3rd grade.

'You're a student, right?　I'll keep it cheap.

Can I touch it and check it out?

Come in.

　I grin again for a moment.
　He probably thinks that I, a [villager], can't understand it anyway.

　I activate 【Appraisal】.
　I checked the purity of the magic gemstone.
　I frown.

　It says 26% magical gems and 74% impurities.
　What's this?
　Is this what you're selling?

　I glared at the clerk with a guileless stare.
　This one is taken aback.
　They probably didn't expect me to be able to use [Appraisal].

''What's this?　It doesn't appear to be a third grade.

　I threw a stone at him with a pop.

'Gyaaaaaaah!

　The clerk screams.
　He hurriedly picked up the magic gemstone.

''Wait!　Wow, I'm sorry. I didn't think you were going to [appraise]........ And anyway, please don't shabby what you're selling.

For sale?　A rock that's less than a fifth grade?

Don't be ridiculous. It's a grade 5.

　The clerk desperately refutes it.
　Perhaps this guy was 【refined】.
　He doesn't look like a craftsman, but he seems to be a [Blacksmith] in a way.

　I'm not telling a lie.

　That means he's the usual guy.
　He must be lower in rank than he was 300 years ago.

　What in the world is a magic gemstone with 26% magic gemstone and 74% impurities used for?
　Just a few enchantments of elementary magic and you'll go ballistic.

''Then do you have any magic gems with more than 75% magic gems?''

''Well, 75% demonic gems!　Or, you've got to be kidding me, that's second grade!　It's a national treasure. We don't have that in our shop.

　The old 3rd grade is now a 2nd grade.
　The ranks are still changing.
　What's more, it's a national treasure level!

　Then what kind of treatment is it, like 1st grade or something.
　Come to think of it, the magic jewels used in the adventurer's school were said to be on par with the divine tools.
　Probably, by the current Galveer standard, it's probably 1st grade.

　In the meantime, I checked, and it seems that other stores are also similar.
　I heard that the old 4th grade products were the best they could do.

　Weakness.
　We had confirmed a certain amount of technological regression.
　But I didn't expect to be able to get even 3rd grade magic gems....
　It couldn't be helped.

''I understand. Please give me the purest magical gemstone in this store.''

Well, that's fine, but.... Will you be able to pay for it?

　I activate the [Storage] magic.
　What fell on my raised hand was a bag of gold coins.

''Gee, gee!　That was it!

It's [storage] magic.

"Appraisal and storage!　Ki, are you really a [villager]!

'Yes. Will this be enough?

　I hand you the bag.

"Hey, how many pieces of...

Roughly 50.

Fifty!

Do you need more?

Well, no way!　If this is all you have, I'll give you everything you need.

　The whole shop?

　Magic gems have become so cheap.
　With the war gone, a steady supply of them became available.
　Maybe that's why they became cheaper.
　Also, it's probably because there are more stores now.
　Maybe it's because there are more competitors, which has created a price war.

　Oh well.

　If that's all it takes, it's a relief for us.
　I've got enough money to roar.

　I check the magical gems that the clerk says are of the third grade.
　It's 58% magical jewelry and 42% impurities.
　It's definitely a 4th grade in my time.

Are you sure it's that grade?　Wasn't that what the customer was looking for, a second grade?

Yeah. So here's what I'm going to do.

　I rent a refining room at the back of the shop.
　It's soundproofed to make it easier to concentrate, so that you can't hear the sounds outside and the magic power is stable.
　On the desk in that room, I placed the magic gem on the desk and activated the magic.

　[Refining]

　The magic gemstone glowed.
　It swirled around and began to heat up red.
　Eventually, something melted out of the stone.
　The smell of metal pierced my nostrils.

　The impurities of the magical gemstone are melting and flowing out.

　The work is done.
　The appraisal confirmed it.
　It's 75% magical gemstone, 25% impurities.

　Okay, that's good. This should be good.
　It's been a long time since I've done the [refining] work, but it went well.
　From now on, I'll have Cecil do it as well.
　【Refining】 requires extreme concentration, magic output and control ability.
　As for the training, it would be perfect.

　The magical gemstone was clearly more glowing than before.
　Seeing its glow, the shopkeeper's face also shone.

''Oh, customer!　I mean, would you be willing to work for us?

What?　I'm a student.

Well, you must come join us when you graduate.　I promise you high pay.

　He was completely palmed off.
　Before I knew it, there was an expensive looking tea and an expensive looking tea package on the side.
　It seems that they plan to somehow trick me into believing they can get me to stay.

　I'd say that's a tough sell....

　I don't ever want to go near a store with such a bad attitude ever again, but....

'Hohohoho......... Well, well, don't say that. Then, just for today, it's fine. Can you refine the magic gemstone that's here for me?　No need to pay for today, sir.

　Impossible.
　Apparently the shopkeeper has forgotten about it.

　The magical gems here were bought up by me....