I presented a single blue gem as payment for the escort role.
It was one of the gems I had obtained from that pair of skeletons in the abandoned ruins.
If Seras recognized it, she might understand its value.
"Ah."
Seras, who had been observing closely, nearly dropped the gem.
But she caught it before it hit the floor.
"I-I'm so sorry."
"You okay?"
"I was just... a little surprised."
"About what?"
"Touka-dono."
Seras held the gem out toward me.
Her gaze carried a hint of interrogation.
"This can only be a Seiryu Stone."
"Seiryu Stone? Someone gave this to me. All I was told was that it should be worth quite a bit."
The owner had said this in that illusion (?):
"I think it should sell for a decent price... but I don't know the current economic situation, so it might actually be worth less now. If it turns out to be cheap... sorry about that..."
Seras held it up to the lamplight and began inspecting it closely.
"It's genuine, isn't it?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Touka-dono, could you try channeling magical essence into the gem?"
"Hm? Can't you do it yourself?"
"We elves are not very good at infusing magical essence compared to humans. The amount we can channel is also limited. Verifying authenticity requires a considerable amount of magical essence."
Elves have lower capacity for channeling magical essence than humans.
That's why they primarily rely on spirit techniques.
"Got it."
I took the gem and channeled magical essence into it.
In an instant, a prism-like sparkle danced across its surface.
A beautiful play of light.
The glow quickly subsided.
"It matches the phenomenon described in the literature I've read. This is almost certainly genuine, Touka-dono."
"You're making a very serious face. Is it really that valuable?"
"I'm not sure whether it can be summed up simply as 'valuable'..."
Seras began to explain.
"The Seiryu Stone is said to be a gem produced only very rarely by a dragon known as the Blue-Eyed Dragon, a being on the level of legend. When the Blue-Eyed Dragon meets its end, its body dissolves—but in rare cases, after the corpse has completely melted away, a beautiful stone remains behind."
Seras stared fixedly at the gem.
"The Blue-Eyed Dragon possesses strength far surpassing other monsters and would frequently descend upon human settlements to devour people. In its time, it was classified as a disaster-level threat. Many heroes and mercenaries once challenged it dreaming of a single great fortune, but most were slaughtered in return."
I had been focused on the Great Sage...
But that pair of skeletons holding hands in death in the abandoned ruins.
They must have been quite powerful in their own right.
"Seiryu Stones do not currently circulate on the open market. To put it bluntly, their value——"
Seras pressed a hand to her forehead, looking somewhat troubled.
As if trying to calm the confusion welling up inside her.
"Would lightly surpass the reward for the Dragon-Eye Goblet."
"I see. Then this will do as payment for the escort? It sounds like something so rare it might be hard to convert to cash."
Even so, it could prove useful in major negotiations.
As exchange material.
"Touka-dono."
"Hm?"
Still holding her forehead, Seras thrust out her hand.
As if to stop me.
"You mustn't."
"Huh?"
"This is not something that can be handed over so casually."
What an extreme goody-two-shoes.
Or rather,
"..."
I glanced at the small pouch containing the other Seiryu Stones.
Even after giving her one, plenty remained.
I tossed the Seiryu Stone toward Seras.
"Ah!"
She hurriedly caught it between both palms.
She lifted her gaze from her hands.
"Um, Touka-dono..."
"That one's yours now. If you want to throw it away, go ahead."
"Eh? No, but——"
"I've paid the reward. It's not too little, is it?"
"That's... true, but..."
If it's worth more than the Dragon-Eye Goblet reward, there should be no complaint.
"Then the reward negotiation is settled, right?"
"Pi?"
Pigi-maru chimed in as if pressing the point.
After a moment, the corners of Seras's mouth softened.
"Yes."
She closed her eyes as if in resignation.
"It seems I've lost this one."
▽
I put away the pouch containing the Seiryu Stone and sat back down in the chair.
"For the time being, please call me Hati in front of others. Of course, I'll also call you Mist outside. When we're absolutely alone, or when it's just the two of us plus Pigi-maru, feel free to use whichever name you prefer."
"Understood."
At that point, Seras showed a faint sign of conflict.
"It's a little late to say this now, but... are you really sure about this?"
"Hm?"
"As you know, I am being pursued. There are many personal matters I have not yet told you. However... I still haven't decided whether I should tell you everything."
She was hesitating.
I could tell from her tone and expression.
She really is an upright person.
"You can tell me the circumstances and background whenever you feel ready. For me, the important thing was just to create a relationship where you can sleep without worry."
An environment where Seras could sleep peacefully.
That was ultimately what I wanted.
Constant sleep deprivation would hinder her as an escort.
But once the sleep issue was resolved, the rest didn't matter much.
"I think you already understand, but what I wanted to make clear wasn't your past."
I know Mist's true identity.
Seras knows that I know Mist's true identity.
All that was needed was to share that recognition.
"As long as we can maintain the optimal state of employer and escort, that's enough. Well, like I said earlier, if you feel like talking during the journey, you can tell me then. I might ask for information I think is necessary, but I basically have no intention of prying into your past."
Seras's expression softened.
"You always show such consideration for me, Touka-dono."
"Of course. I'm a kind person, after all."
In truth, I had simply stated facts.
But if she interpreted it as consideration, that worked in my favor.
"So, think you'll be able to sleep tonight?"
"The amount used in the ruins plus the accumulated disguise should wear off by tonight."
Her desire for sleep would return tonight.
I added lightly, half-joking.
"Then it looks like my [Sleep] won't be needed tonight."
"Fufu, it seems not."
"Then go back to your room and rest properly. Someone like you probably gets mentally exhausted from receptions and the like."
Seras gave a wry smile.
"You saw right through me."
Seras altered her face and ears.
Her elven ears changed back to human ones.
She wouldn't let her guard down even for the short walk down the hallway.
In this regard, she was an extremely cautious elf.
Before leaving the room, Seras said to me and Pigi-maru,
"Then, good night."
"Pi♪"
Seras smiled at Pigi-maru.
There was a slight pause.
"Touka-dono."
"Hm?"
"Would you like to have breakfast together tomorrow morning?"
"Yeah, sure."
After deciding on a time to meet the next morning, Seras finally left the room.
▽
For me, it was still too early to sleep.
I had taken a nap earlier today, after all.
I stood up and picked up the bottle containing the monster enhancement potion.
"Pigi-maru."
"Pi?"
"Is it okay if I have you absorb this enhancement potion now? Well, if you're scared, take a moment to prepare your heart——"
"Pigi!"
Immediate response.
Affirmative color.
"I'm already prepared!"
That was the vibe.
"As expected of my partner."
"Pi♪"
Pigi-maru transformed into a bowl-like shape.
"You want me to pour it into that hollow?"
"Pi."
"All right, here it comes?"
"Pi!"
The transparent enhancement potion.
I poured it into the bowl-shaped depression.
Eventually, the bottle was empty.
Pigi-maru enveloped the potion and returned to its round form.
Then,
"Pi?"
Pigi-maru's body began to glow.
"Piiiigiiiiii――――!"
To state the result simply: the second enhancement experiment succeeded.
Pigi-maru exhibited exactly the reaction described in the experiment notes.
"Since it's night, I'll leave detailed verification for tomorrow... For now, I'll just keep an eye on things until I get sleepy."
I sat cross-legged on the bed and opened the Forbidden Arts Compendium.
Occasionally checking on Pigi-maru, I continued turning the pages of the Forbidden Arts Compendium until sleepiness came over me.