IBFLFR 36

Chapter 36

He listened to my explanation, thought deeply for a moment, and then shook his head.

“Unfortunately, it’s difficult to find that kind of color in rubies. However…”

He closed the lid of the box and continued speaking slowly.

“With special processing, we can achieve that color.”

“What kind of processing?”

“It’s a method where we infuse the gem with special magic to deepen its color. If we process a magic stone used by wizards, you’ll likely be able to get the ruby you desire.”

Magic processing? I tilted my head in confusion.

“By the way, there is someone who can handle this processing, but he’s a bit eccentric, so it’s hard to introduce him.”

“Who is it?”

Baron Byurbel smiled faintly and replied briefly,

“Teferi Kylar.”

…That little kid owner?

Standing in front of the mage tower, I recalled what Baron Byurbel had said a few days ago:

―Do you know him? That’s good. We’ll send a letter to Teferi so you can receive his help. Sorry for the trouble of coming back and forth. But this is the only way we can assist you. I was worried since Teferi isn’t usually interested in this kind of thing, but if you two already know each other, it’s not impossible.

Blind tower or wizard’s tower… I pictured the strange little kid with soft, chubby cheeks who held the odd title of “owner” of this place.

All I wanted was a single gemstone, yet somehow it had come to this. I sighed and opened the door to the mansion that carried the grand title of “tower.”

Despite his eccentric personality, the receptionist mage in this bizarre place, who seemed almost unnervingly normal, was smiling. The mage greeted me with a bright smile and a slight bow.

“Teferi is waiting. Please go ahead.”

I stared at the person who was once again guiding me toward a place like an elevator. Last time I had been tricked, but this time I wouldn’t be. Since I had already experienced it, I was able to descend safely without shouting.

Honestly, I hadn’t expected to return here so soon. I had heard meeting Teferi was quite difficult, and yet here I was, seeing him twice in under a month. Fate, perhaps.

I hesitated briefly at the door, wondering whether to knock. Should I knock? But he was such an eccentric person, he might hate it. I also remembered I hadn’t knocked last time. After a moment of indecision, I licked my lips and opened the door roughly, stepping inside.

Well, if he gets mad, I’ll just pinch his cheek once.

The room hardly felt underground. Bright sunlight streamed through wide-open windows. I followed the strange, multicolored reflections dancing in the sunlight with my eyes, then glanced at Teferi, who was looking at me. He was smiling gently. Those cheeks of his always looked so soft.

“I received your message.”

“Can you help me?”

“It’s not difficult, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

He got up from his seat and waddled over. His appearance was cute enough to make anyone want to take him somewhere, but his manner of speaking was like that of an old person who had lived a full life—quite disarming.

Teferi fiddled with his plump cheeks and nibbled at his lips. I wondered what he was eating. When I glanced down, he smirked.

“These days, snacks are really good. Back when I was younger, they were hard to come by, but now there are shops dedicated to snacks. Thanks to that, I can enjoy treats fairly often.”

The strawberry-flavored snack in his hand matched his hair perfectly. The oversized bag in his small hands made him look even younger. It was hard to believe this little person was a creature who had lived ten times longer than me.

“Sit down. You can stand if you want, but my neck hurts.”

“Oh, sorry.”

I took a seat across from him. Teferi sat down opposite me and extended his hand. Huh?

“A handshake?”

“…Not that.”

He frowned slightly and shook his head, and I tilted mine in confusion.

“I mean the gem. Let me see it. I need to inspect it.”

“Oh, just a moment.”

I had purchased a top-grade ruby from Sageret’s shop, so I pulled it out of my pocket and handed the entire pouch to Teferi.

He looked at it casually, then opened the pouch and took out the red gem. To anyone else, it would have been a shockingly expensive jewel, but Teferi didn’t seem particularly interested. He glanced at the ruby as if it were just a pebble on the street, raised his eyebrow, and looked at me.

“It’s already pretty, isn’t it?”

“I’d like it to be a bit redder.”

“How much?”

“Darker.”

Too abstract?

Teferi tilted his head, snapped his fingers lightly, and the room darkened instantly. Transparent orbs floated in the sky just like before. At his gesture, three orbs flew over. He tapped each one, and they gradually changed into varying shades of red.

Interestingly, they glowed, but the light didn’t reflect in the dark room. It felt as though the light was being absorbed into the orbs. Teferi pointed to the spheres and asked,

“How about these colors?”

“The ruby already seems about this color. Besides, it feels a bit bright… I’m looking for a darker shade.”

“Darker than this?”

He tapped the orb in the center, and it darkened slightly.

“How about this?”

“Just a little darker.”

“Picky. Okay, this one?”

After tapping the orb again, he finally achieved a satisfactory shade.

“This one. I think this is fine.”

“You want a pretty deep color, huh?”

With another snap of his fingers, the room brightened and the orbs vanished. Truly magical—it felt like watching real magic.

He placed the gem on the table, paused thoughtfully, then turned his gaze to me.

“The size of the gem is its capacity. The color intensity is the amount of magic contained within. So, to make the gem darker and deeper, you need to cram more magic into that limited capacity. To achieve a color as deep as I just showed, a lot of magic is required. Also, gems infused with magic turn into magical engineering materials, so the price skyrockets.”

“Very expensive?”

“If you want to achieve the color you mentioned earlier, the price would triple.”

Insane. Really? I thought I’d have to pay at most 50% more, but triple? That’s absurd.

“Condensing magic requires high-level focus and skill. Amateurs can’t even attempt it.”

He puffed out his chest confidently.

“Because I can do it.”

Ah, so he’s bragging. Hmm, but… should I really process it? Even with a lot of money, if I spend recklessly, it will eventually run out. Spending so much on this is a bit extravagant. What to do?

I rolled my eyes, and Teferi studied me silently before speaking bluntly:

“But hey, you cashed a guaranteed check last time, so I’ll do this for free.”

“Really?”

“Just so you know, I never go back on my word. I’m the owner of this tower and the leader of wizards, after all.”

Wow. That small body seemed to radiate light. Incredible. Could I call him “older sister”? No, age-wise he might even surpass a great-grandmother. Oh well, does that really matter?

I stared at him in admiration, and Teferi smiled confidently, puffing his chest even more.

“By the way, that’s unusual. Usually people like sparkling colors. This ruby is already among the best. Why do you want to process it?”

“Oh, it’s a gift.”

“A gift?”

Teferi looked up from inspecting the gem, and I nodded.

“Yes. A gift.”

“For whom? Oh, would that be rude to ask? Your red eyes suggest it’s for your parents?”

“Ahaha.”

Their birthdays were a little way off. I shook my head and smiled in return at his grin.

“No, another friend.”

“Which friend?”

Would he recognize the name? Oh, come to think of it, I sort of knew the classmate too. I glanced at Teferi’s expression, wondering if I could tell him. After a brief hesitation, I decided it probably wouldn’t matter much to someone who had lived over 200 years—someone almost like a sage.

I stopped fiddling and smiled.

“Ban.”

“Ban?”

“Bertacylin, the crown prince of this country.”

Was that surprising? I studied Teferi’s face. He looked more intrigued than shocked.

“Why for him?”

Him…

“His eye color resembles the gem. It’s a gift.”

“…”

Actually, I wasn’t giving it immediately. Later, when we have an engagement ceremony, there’s a tradition of exchanging rings, so I wanted to prepare ahead of time. Since his eye color was red, I chose a ruby.

Teferi’s expression shifted strangely. Suddenly, he placed the ruby on the table and frowned.

“I cannot allow this.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s forget this matter.”

“Wait, why all of a sudden…? I can pay you.”

“Do you think it’s about money? No. Just take it back.”

I stared in disbelief at the chubby cheeks that had just turned away. What? Could it be his looks had charmed Teferi too?

“Teferi!”

“Hmph.”

I had fallen for a man with a dangerously attractive face.