◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Moonshine Shop ◆
“…And accessories with special effects are inherently very precious. Most of them can only be obtained from high-purity ores, and often only a handful can be extracted. Furthermore, some must be processed from materials found in locations that are difficult for even seasoned Adventurers to reach. Such processing requires a skilled ‘Jeweler,’ who is also a rare find. By the way, ‘Jeweler’ is a shorthand for jewelry craftsman…”
It was long. Just when I thought he might introduce himself, he launched into a monologue without stopping. Starting from the history of accessories, he was now explaining their intricacies. I was starting to doze off, and no one was stopping him. On the contrary, everyone seemed quite interested. Even Kurinka was nodding along with a thoughtful expression. Elmera was asleep, right there on top of the glass case.
“As such, most shops selling accessories display fakes. Among them, Moonshine Shop stands out as one of the finest specialty stores in the country due to its quality and selection. So why are they engaging in such business?!”
“Yikes!”
The sudden question startled both the shopkeeper and Kozel. After being thoroughly frightened by Kurinka earlier, they were clearly exhausted.
“You don’t need to say it. The reason is simple: there’s a shortage of genuine items, right? No matter how abundant the selection, as I mentioned earlier, it’s impossible to display real ones for decades. Therefore, in order to maintain the reputation of a shop that has gained traction, they end up resorting to fakes. Especially with accessories, even a rough imitation can be indistinguishable from the real thing to an amateur. Just look at this Power Bracelet; the seams are quite sloppy. They probably used a different metal during assembly, right? No matter how they try to disguise it with color, my eyes won’t be fooled.”
“I’m so sorry! Truly, I am!”
“This Pregnable Ring is just as bad. It’s horrendous; instead of the ‘Pilas Rizuli’ that should be used, they incorporated the cheaper ‘Pillar Mazuli.’ These two are very similar, making them hard to distinguish. That’s why Pillar Mazuli is perfect for fakes. It’s lamentable… Pillar Mazuli is originally…”
“Um, excuse me! I’d like to know who you are soon!”
Well said, Kurinka. The person who had been talking non-stop finally paused. After brushing back her wavy bangs, she suddenly struck her palm with a fist as if remembering something.
“It seems I got a bit carried away. My apologies, I am this person.”
“…Master Appraiser Sadameru?”
“Y-You’re a Master Appraiser?!”
The thick card handed to me bore various symbols. It felt special, different from a Guild card. The moment Kurinka read the name inscribed on it, shock rippled through the crowd.
“A Master Appraiser is here in the Royal Capital?!”
“This spells the end for Moonshine Shop…”
“Hehehe, hehehehe!”
I understood he was an impressive person, but it was clear I was the only one left out of the loop. The remark about Moonshine Shop’s demise only pushed the already seated shopkeeper and staff further into despair. Now they were laughing strangely, which was a bit frightening.
“Kozel, what does ‘Master Appraiser’ mean?”
“It refers to the Grand Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild and an appraiser certified by at least three different countries. There are only a handful in the world; they’re remarkable individuals. Appraisers have various jobs, but they also have the authority to seize shops like Moonshine Shop that engage in fraud… So, what does it mean for such a person to appear?”
“Of course, it means that Moonshine Shop is finished today.”
“Noooooo!”
Faced with the truth, the shopkeeper and his staff finally broke down in tears. Seeing these grown men sobbing was somewhat pitiful. It was their own fault for deceiving everyone in the first place.
“A Master Appraiser holds tremendous influence, often receiving requests for wedding ring appraisals directly from royalty. Even first-class appraisers are considered chosen ones, but a Master Appraiser is revered not only by merchants but also by royalty.”
“For merchants, they are a more terrifying presence than monsters. To put it bluntly, no matter how excellent a product is, if a Master Appraiser says ‘no,’ its market value will plummet.”
“Hmm… I don’t quite understand, but it’s like an S-rank Adventurer, right?”
I could tell from Kurinka’s wry smile that there was a subtle difference. But since it was a common occurrence, I let it slide.
“Please, have mercy! From now on, we will turn over a new leaf and conduct our business honestly! Of course, we will refund everyone! So please, I beg you!”
“First, you have something to do, right? Hand over the reward to that Rua over there.”
“Huh? Ah! Y-Yes!”
He hurried over to me, pulling out a hefty sum from his pocket. I had no idea how much it was, but it was quite a lot. I couldn’t fathom how he had managed to stash away so much.
“Rua! This is your reward of 150,000 gold!”
“Hmm…”
“W-What’s wrong?”
“When I first met Kozel, he said he would give me any accessory I wanted. If possible, I’d prefer that instead.”
“Is that really okay?”
“Yeah, so just give me something.”
“Understood! Choose anything you like!”
“…That’s fine, but aren’t they all fakes?”
Someone said that, but I understood it too. However, the truth was that I had already decided on a gift for Kurinka halfway through. It was something Kozel had mentioned, and also what Sadameru had talked about. To be honest, I didn’t know its value, nor did I understand the meaning of giving it. But since my father had given one to my mother, and others had done the same, I felt I couldn’t avoid it. Even if I didn’t understand the meaning or value, it felt like I wouldn’t be able to connect with Kurinka unless I did.
“This is a wedding ring, right?”
“Y-Yes, it is… But are you getting married? Oh my, more importantly, wedding rings are usually given by the gentleman…”
“Yeah, I don’t really get it, but it’s my feelings.”
Yes, what I wanted to convey was my feelings. There were rings with various colored gems, and I had no idea which one would be best. If I ended up giving her a fake, as the earlier person had said, it might be disrespectful to Kurinka. So I thought for a moment about which one to choose.
“Everything displayed there is a fake. The ‘Rose Rizuli’ listed as a popular gem for wedding rings is actually just another name for ‘Pillar Mazuli.’ Because it’s cheap and readily available, it’s often used in all sorts of fakes. That’s why… it’s lamentable.”
“If they’re all fakes, then there’s no reason to choose one.”
“More importantly, the Flash Strike Girl has a marriage partner?”
“She seems to have no connection to frivolous rumors, yet she’s doing things properly.”
“Don’t say such rude things! A girl can fall in love regardless of age!”
“No way? My… Flash Strike Girl… a guy, huh?”
People were saying whatever they wanted, and there were some strange individuals around. It was quite embarrassing to present it here. Just as I was thinking of postponing it, Sadameru pinched a ring made of Pillar Mazuli.
“This gentle, bright red glow is indeed Pillar Mazuli. Though not widely known, when submerged in water at night, it emits a soft pink hue. The principle behind it is still unclear. This is a quality that Pilas Rizuli does not possess. Despite being cheap and labeled as a fake, Pillar Mazuli is so beautiful.”
“Really? I want to see that.”
“This is not just the words of a Master Appraiser, but of a human being. Personally, I prefer this Pillar Mazuli over the generally valued Pilas Rizuli.”
The words coming from a Master Appraiser were unexpected, causing everyone to furrow their brows in confusion. Just seeing this reaction made me increasingly aware of the greatness of a Master Appraiser.
“The pink glow it emits at night is unique and unparalleled; you won’t find anything with the same brilliance anywhere in the world. The label of ‘fake’ is merely one aspect. To blindly believe in predetermined value and overlook the wonderful essence of what it is would be a foolish act, don’t you think?”
“Hmm, but still, doesn’t the value imply that Pilas Rizuli has a brilliance or quality that exceeds that of Pillar Mazuli?”
An unfamiliar man interjected. He was with a woman and a small girl, so I assumed they were family.
“Then let me ask you, why did you marry that woman? To put it mildly, her appearance is average, a common woman. In terms of gems, she would be akin to Pillar Mazuli.”
“Wha—! How rude!”
“See, you love your wife enough to get that angry, right? You must have found a reason to love an ordinary woman and spend your life together. There must be a unique value in that for you.”
“Ugh… well, that’s true…”
“Exactly, value is something determined by the individual. Though it’s not something I should say given my position, if that’s all value amounts to, it would be quite sad.”
Everyone fell silent at once, each lost in their own thoughts. I, too, found myself gazing intently at Kurinka. The reason I had come to like this girl, who tilted her head like a small animal, was something I couldn’t articulate or fully understand, but I knew one thing for certain: I loved her. I realized that the value I found in her was something she held within herself.
I had never seen the true brilliance of the Pillar Mazuli, nor did I understand the worth of gemstones in general. But just now, I made a decision.
“I don’t really understand the complicated stuff, but in a crowd of people, I’ve come to like Kurinka. I can’t quite explain what I like about her, but just like Sadameru said, there are people who love this Pillar Mazuli too.”
I picked up the Pillar Mazuli ring, which had been priced quite high, and took slow steps toward the blonde girl.
“To me, Kurinka is a Pilas Rizuli, no, she’s worth even more than that. No matter where you search in the world, Kurinka is the only one here!”
Kurinka, who was presented with the ring, looked back and forth between it and me in surprise. I took her wrist gently and slipped the ring onto her delicate, pale finger.
“Rua…chan. This…?”
“It’s my… gift to you, Kurinka. A, um, wedding ring…”
Overwhelmed by the embarrassment swelling within me, I couldn’t bring myself to look up. Kurinka, too, seemed to understand the meaning behind my words, her ears turning red as she kept her gaze fixed on the ring adorning her finger.
“It’s just an ordinary gemstone… I’m sorry. But even though there are many gemstones, it has that special brilliance Sadameru mentioned… That’s why I chose this one…”
“…I.”
She rubbed the ring with one finger, still not lifting her face. She seemed to shrink into herself, her shoulders and arms pressed tightly against her body.
“When I was little, I said I would follow Rua-chan on her adventures… but honestly, I was scared. I thought there was no way I could do it. I wanted to say that I should just stay in the village and not go on any adventures. I was that timid. But now, look…”
Suddenly, she gripped her staff with one hand. Still blushing, she gradually lifted her face, revealing tears glistening in her eyes. For a moment, I felt a pang of anxiety, wondering if she was sad. But Kurinka was smiling.
“Thanks to Rua-chan, I am here. Rua-chan made me strong. So, Rua-chan is my life… no, my very existence.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks, and her smile was the most beautiful answer I could have hoped for.
“I love you too, Rua-chan! Let’s always, always be together!”
As the droplets of her tears danced in the air, Kurinka found herself in my arms. We had shared moments like this before, but this one felt special. After the burning of Ikana Village, ten years spent in the Abyss Cave, and finally reuniting with Kurinka, who had lost her memories, I had thought we had finally come together in the truest sense. But now, it felt like we had truly become one.
“Congratulations on your wedding! Congratulations!”
Sadameru’s booming voice echoed like a battle cry, followed by a thunderous applause from everyone present. No one dared to utter a word about two girls sharing such a moment. Even the shopkeeper, Kozel, and the rat-faced man were inexplicably clapping while shedding tears. Shin, who peeked out from the item pouch, and the three adventurers hired here were also clapping, while Elmera rubbed her eyes and sleepily joined in.
“I don’t know why, but I’m so moved!”
“I can’t help but remember the moment I first met my wife…”
“May you both have a long and happy life together!”
Perhaps they were all so joyful because they thought we were just two children. After all, we were serious about this.
“Tonight, try soaking the Pillar Mazuli in water. It should shine with a soft light that blesses the two of you. The brightest brilliance in the world that you found… cherish it.”
“Thank you, Sadameru. You’ve truly helped us.”
“Let me express my gratitude as well.”
“No, no, it’s surprising that I ended up being useful in the end. This shop was the catalyst that brought you two together… Alright.”
Sadameru looked at the shopkeepers, as if he had made a decision.
“Originally, I planned to crush this place without a trace, but I’ve changed my mind. Reform this shop as I instruct. If the Pillar Mazuli is sold at a fair price, there’s no reason it wouldn’t have demand. And thanks to you two, it seems the demand has increased.”
“Thank you so much! From now on, we will conduct our business sincerely and with all our hearts!”
Indeed, no one was willing to part with the Pillar Mazuli, even though they knew it was a fake. On the contrary, they seemed to admire it.
“If you’d like, we can also help arrange your wedding ceremony here?”
“Really?!”
“I’ve taken a liking to you two. I’ll make sure it’s done before you depart.”
“Wait… depart? Sadameru, you won’t come with us?”
“Ah, it wouldn’t be right to keep my partner waiting.”
“Where have you been, you fool!”
That familiar voice, with its broken speech, belonged to the girl from the massage parlor, who skillfully leaped over the crowd with her long twin tails swaying.
“I came to pick you up since you were taking so long. What have you been doing?”
“I was celebrating the young couple’s new beginning. Look, Shiny, clap your hands!”
“What are you doing?!”
Shiny, forced to clap her hands, was a surprise. I hadn’t expected these two to know each other. Wait, could they be the duo who calmed the Phantom?
“By the way, Rua-san and Kurinka-san, would you like to join me for a meal afterward?”
Something felt different from before. It wasn’t Sadameru, who had appeared to explain the accessories and bless us. While inviting us to dinner, his eyes still held the gaze of a Master Appraiser.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Inn “Silver Bird’s Nest,” Midnight ◆
“Ahh, refreshing, refreshing.”
“Put some clothes on, you fool!”
“Bwahaha!”
Perhaps because I was often alone, I had forgotten that I was sharing a room with Shiny. It would seem unnatural for two male and female travelers to take separate rooms, so it was an unavoidable arrangement. Right now, we were pretending to be a loving couple. After all, deceiving the guards of this country was truly challenging. Due to repeated attacks, security had become extremely tight. In the past, even those of unknown identity could pass through this royal capital, but now, one had to present proof of identity to be allowed entry. The soldiers, suspicious and vigilant, were truly skilled.
Of course, I had anticipated this, but this royal capital, no, this country, could really pull it off. Including today’s events, I found myself liking this country more and more.
“So, were you able to conduct the appraisal properly?”
“Yeah, perfectly.”
“Then, what was the win rate?”
“It came out to a mere 0.063%! Bwahaha!”
I was hit with a pillow for the second time, but I wasn’t joking. My appraisals could see through a person’s character, preferences, past, and inclinations. By integrating all of that, I could analyze how that person would act and think. That was the essence of a Master Appraiser. Determining the authenticity of a gemstone was as simple as recognizing that a Cave Rabbit could never be mistaken for a Dragon.
“That’s a joke, right? You’re just trying to make me angry. Did you include my preparations in that?”
“That includes everything. To be honest, defeating that one is impossible. I’ve seen all sorts of extraordinary weapons, magic, and people, but that one is beyond human comprehension. No matter how many strategies we devise, they all lead to a dead end. And I’m saying this after committing all our forces.”
“…You really think so?”
“Of course, that’s only if we exclude him.”
Yes, if he were included, the win rate would likely be… As I pondered this while sipping my iced tea, it tasted incredibly bitter. It felt as if it reflected the sentiments of those who resented his existence.
“The World’s Strongest Man… I really can’t stand him. I hate those who take life and existence for granted.”
“That can’t be helped. To put it bluntly, he would succeed even while sleeping. Because of that, he doesn’t even need to put in effort… or rather, he doesn’t even need to eat, which is essential for living.”
“He’s a monster. A country that keeps something like that is boiling over with stupidity.”
“From the general public’s perspective, we’re probably seen as just as ridiculous.”
Shiny, who fell silent with an unamused expression, seemed to embody effort and strictness. She believed that if one worked hard, they would surely reap the rewards, and that it was only natural to acquire skills and work hard to survive. She stood in stark contrast to the World’s Strongest Man, whom she despised. I, too, would say I disliked him if asked.
“Anyway, I plan to report that win rate to them.”
“Ugh… that feels heavy.”
The reason isn’t just that. I’ve come to genuinely like this country, and even more so, those children. In a world like this, that’s truly a rare thing. They live so purely and earnestly, and yet they are happy. I’ve assessed many humans up until now, but it felt like my eyes were opened anew. While same-sex marriage is hardly accepted, I found myself almost blurting out that I would lend a hand without thinking.
“Well, I did promise after all.”
“Hm?”
“Nothing. Now, let’s get some sleep.”
Not wanting to provoke her, I left Shiny behind and quickly slipped into bed. It was so warm. In this country, the only people who could sleep comfortably in a proper bed like this were the residents of the Royal Capital. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was truly alright, and as I continued to question myself, I gradually drifted off to sleep.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Marriage!
Bride!
Virgin road!
Somehow, my forehead felt hot all the way to the end.
Those two kids have grown up to this point.
It was worth raising them until today.
Well then, it seems I must take on the role of the matchmaker.
Thinking back to when we first met,
Hmm, it was a rather lackluster start.
I suppose I’ll have to pile on the support generously.
In any case, this is a joyous occasion!
I feel like there’s something fundamentally wrong here,
Hmm?