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Chapter 176: Within Limits

「Jean, don’t go making it too seriously, alright? Leave it for the real deal later. Anway, you’ll be making it for sure instead of just buying it together, right? 」
I was thinking what to make when Dinosso warned me.

Oh, right, it’ll be a problem if it doesn’t suit her tastes. I see, I see, so it’s something you choose together, huh, I learned something new. Heh, as expected of a married guy.

「I don’t know anything about jewelry. I’ll be happier if Jean chooses it for me… 」
Mm, seems like it also depends on the person, huh.

「It’s definitely gonna be outta this world if we leave it all to you. I’ll prepare the stone from what I got now, so choose later. Anything you make will definitely stick out like a sore thumb, so you can’t use anything except magic silver, got it? 」
「Indeed, I believe that’s how it should be done. It’ll be a problem if we can’t return because it stands out too much, so… 」

Tsk, I got restricted! Oh well, I guess it’s fine, my goal is also to avoid the spotlight in Canum afterall. I’m currently experimenting to what extent I can stand out on the island.

Afterward, Ash and I chose magic stones among the ones Dinosso brought. Ash chose a fingernail-sized violet spinel. Spinel reacts to mana, so it’s a stone that mages frequently wear. It has a wide array of colors, but red spinel are popular so they are expensive.

「Are you sure about that? Isn’t red better for spinel? 」
Red can easily draw out power, and it’s famous as a fire prevention talisman.

「Mm. I like this one. 」
Is violet her favorite color? 」

「Yeah. It’ll be great if it’s color-changing. 」
Dinosso quipped.

「Color change? 」
「There are spinels that have a bright, grayish blue hue in the sun that changes to violet under the candlelight. It’s rare so it can fetch a hefty price, though. Ah, but it’ll probably be a brighter shade of violet than your eyes. 」
Dinosso’s gaze was implying that mine is duller than dull.

The grayish blue color represents Ash, and my pupils are the same shade of violet as the magic stone that Ash chose just now.

But, they’re more like the deep brown shade of Japanese!!! It’s not as if mine are dull! Uh, I think?

I didn’t manage to hold on to them, so they’re set to leave very soon. And so, I hurriedly went to hole up in the workshop and do some clang clang — ack, wait a sec, I haven’t tried metal carving before!

So for the meantime, I rushed to Nalluahdid, looked around different jewelry stores, and also checked out the workshops. I spent money to do this observation tour.

I learned that spheres are considered special; most of the stones here have flat underside with only a few exceptions.

「Yeah, novel, isn’t it? It’s not really that obvious under the sun, but the way it shines under the candlelight is amazing. The hero-sama of Shrum came up with this type of cut, and it’s popular for evening events. 」

Didn’t expect I’d find some traces from the heroes — from Sis and the other guys. Seems like she came up with the same idea as I did with my bags — register several types of jewelry cuts to the Commercial Guild. I feel a bit disgusted knowing money will enter their pockets every time I use these cuts, so let’s just avoid using them in the future. Alright, let’s spread hygiene culture, hygiene culture it is!

With that thought in mind, I continued observing the engraver’s work. I devoted an entire day to learning stuff.

So, that’s what happened yesterday, and for today, I arranged all the tools I needed and lined them up on the workbench along with the magic silver with varied colors and the spinel I received — I ended up staring a bit longer and harder at them than I meant to.

Metals also have varied colors depending on the influence of the spirits and monsters. Gold changes color entirely, like the case with white gold and pink gold. With silver, the deeper shade separating the light and dark areas of the metal tends to get subtly infused with color.

So, which color to use now? Spirits with different attributes were attracted to the varying colored silver. They tried to lift the metals, press their cheeks on them affectionately; basically doing whatever they wanted.

Violet spinel should be more on the bluish side, right? Ash also has affinity with water attributes. I pulled the magic silver that turns blue under the light, ignoring the napping spirit that fell from on top of it, and checked its color compatibility with the spinel.

What design will be best? Something that won’t get in the way, and it shouldn’t stand out. Ah, and don’t forget that it should make it obvious that the owner has a partner.
The color is naturally quite subdued, so maybe go with a fancy shape? Ash’s first impression… Nah, I’ll definitely get scolded if I continue this so scrap. Ash gives off the impression of pure and clear water, but tranquil, huh. Maybe put a small flower on it and make it flexible like vines?
I considered drawing a sketch while staring at the materials, but what to do now?

I tapped the magic silver lightly with the chisel while mulling on how to shape it.

Spurt!

Ugh, it suddenly collapsed and flowed like water. Why? Oh, spirit, huh. Well, thanks, I’m grateful that you can give shape to these vague thoughts of mine, but still, it took me by surprise.

I dunno why, but when I tapped it more, a thread of greenish-hued magic silver also flowed and mixed with the bluish silver. They smoothly flowed together, creating a pattern of vines and water intertwined as it stretched and swallowed the spinel. The end product was a small leaf-shaped bracelet supporting the spinel.

It’s not obtrusive, it’s delicate with an intricate pattern — wait, it’s flowing… Ack, this bracelet can change its form!!

Two tiny spirits clinging to the magic silver happily played while going round and round.

The bracelet can heal a finger cut in a day, and it can also detoxify, albeit weak. Plus it can also amplify mana. The first two can be attributed to the magic silver’s properties, while the mana amplification must’ve been the effect of spinel, I think?

Well, nobody’s gonna know about this unless something happened, so I guess this much is fine? Yep, should be fine.

「You guys, can you possess this bracelet and protect the owner only during emergencies? 」
Since it has that mana amplifying effect, then it should be fine putting these two spirits in it.

I tried asking the humanoid spirit that looked like a mouse flower because of its blue clothes and the pale green gooseberry-looking spirit sitting on my palm.

The humanoid politely bowed, while the round one happily jumped, so they must’ve understood. I held them, one per hand, and poured mana as thanks while naming them.

Blue humanoid’s name is Water Drop, while the round, pale green spirit is called Green Circle.
Just accept my abysmal naming skills, alright?

See, if I named it Mouse Flower going with my first impression, then what would I do if there’s a real Mouse Flower Spirit somewhere else?

I already regret naming a spirit Corn a long time ago just because it’s yellow.

Blue Drop’s wearing a miniskirt or dress, dunno, while Green Circle has two of those. Eh? Is it 2-in-1? Spirits really are quite mysterious in a lot of ways.