For some reason, I can feel magic power emanating from this ruby.
“Ara, did you notice? As expected of you, Ryouma-san. Actually, the ruby of this necklace is a magic gem (魔宝石).” [Elia]
“By magic gem (魔法石), you mean the same as those used for lamps?” [Ryouma]
“No, that’s incorrect. The ones used for lamps are called magic stones. Putting it simply, those are magic tools. Ryouma-san, do you know of magic jewels?” [Elia]
“Magic jewels… From what I know, there’re plenty of those in places where the concentration of magic power in the air is strong. In other words, those are stones that have magic power in them, right?” [Ryouma]
“Precisely. Magic jewels have magic power within them, and that magic power can be pulled out when using magic to use as assistance for magic control. And amongst magic jewels, there are those that are not just any ordinary stones, but gems. These gems that contain magic power came to be called as magic gems. In the same vein, if it were an ore, it would then be called a magic ore.
Magic jewels are used to aid in the assistance of magic, while magic ores are used to increase the efficiency of magic tools.
And as for magic gems, these can be used for anything. Whether it be to aid one’s magic, or to increase the performance of a magic tool, or even as a simple gem. On top of that, its effect is also stronger than a normal magic jewel. However, these gems are precious as their production rate is low, so these things are quite special.” [Elia]
After explaining that in one breath, she rested for a bit.
“… So what you mean to say is that this is a really valuable item.” [Ryouma]
“Yes, exactly.” [Elia]
“There’s no way I could take something so precious, you know?” [Ryouma]
“I want you to take it!” [Elia]
“Like I said, this thing is too expensive…” [Ryouma]
Like I could possible take this!
As I firmly refused, Elia firmly proposed. There, Sebasu-san interjected.
“Please calm down you two. Ryouma-sama, although the Ojousama wants you to accept this, she isn’t actually giving this to you. She only wants you to keep it until you meet again.” [Sebasu]
“Keep it? Why?” [Ryouma]
“Ryouma-sama, you may not be aware of it, but there is a belief where letting your friend keep something precious before going somewhere far, will increase your chances of meeting again. It isn’t known who spread this belief, but it’s a story from long ago, and it’s being practiced even till today as a bringer of luck.” [Serge]
Ahh, so it’s something like that.
“And so, because of that, you want me to take the necklace.” [Ryouma]
“Exactly.” [Elia]
“… Isn’t this something important to you? Is it really ok?” [Ryouma]
“If it wasn’t, then I wouldn’t have told you so in the first place. I believe you, so please give it back in 3 years.” [Elia]
Mu… to actually be trusted to this degree… Moreover, for it to be because of a promise to meet again…
“I understand. I’ll take care of it until we meet again.” [Ryouma]
“Really!?” [Elia]
“In exchange, I’ll definitely give it back.” [Ryouma]
“Of course.” [Elia]
And so, I accepted the box, and put it inside my ‘Item Box’. If it’s here, then I definitely won’t lose it.
“Next is…” [Elia]
I thought that I should also give Elia something, and so, I thought of what I could give.
… What’s my most treasured item? Money? Wait, I couldn’t give something like that. It’d be too bulky to carry… Then in that case, pelt? But that’s not particularly important…. How about building stones? Ingots? Waterproof cloths? … Erm, I don’t seem to have anything satisfactory…
Then it hit me.
“ ‘Dimension Home’ “
I take out a heal slime and a scavenger slime from my ‘Dimension Home’ and present them to Elia.
“Ryouma-san, these two are?” [Elia]
“I couldn’t think of anything precious I could give you, and the only thing I could really think of as precious are my slimes, so… I think these two slimes could become useful to you, so please take them.” [Ryouma]
Elia was taken aback when she heard that, and barely keeping herself together, she covered her mouth with her hand as she tried not to laugh.
So it’s weird after all, huh? Or rather, why did I pick slimes as my mementos? Well, it’s actually because I didn’t have anything else that’s suitable, but… No, in the first place, it’s a bit questionable to use slimes as a memento, but… isn’t there anything else?
“Fufu… I’m sorry, Ryouma-san. I just thought it was just like you to think of something like that… thank you, I’ll take care of them.” [Elia]
“Really? Thank you very much.” [Ryouma]
“No, the pleasure is mine. Thank you for lending me your most precious slave monsters.” [Elia]
I let down the heal slime and scavenger slime in my arms, and then cancelled the contract. And then, Elia contracted those two.