#452 A Jewel’s Purpose

What role do rings have in this world?

Aileron answers, “They’re used in war.”

“Huh?”

But why?

Do you like, wear the ring and beat up your enemies with it?

“Or, more specifically, it’s the gem you put on the ring. They usually have special attributes, after all.”

Apparently, the jewels here are formed when a spirit’s breath solidifies in the earth.

They are sacred.

“That’s why you don’t find jewels in dungeons. You didn’t find any in Sensei or Veil’s dungeons, right?”

“Yeah...”

Mana metal is found in dungeons, so wouldn’t it make sense if the same applies to jewels?

But again, I’ve never seen them once.

I wasn’t interested anyway.

“The jewels, therefore, have a variety of powerful spiritual power that affects those who possess them.”

For example...

Equipping a jewel can enhance the owner’s physical abilities, nullify certain conditions (like poison or curses), enhance magic, or protect yourself from the enemy’s magic.

This sounds like typical RPG equipment!

“That’s why our customers are usually from the demon army. They wear rings to reinforce or supplement their equipment. Others are just rich people who buy it as an asset.”

“You know a lot for an elf.”

“Of course. What’s a bandit if they know nothing about their loot?”

“Huh?”

I’ll take the initiative and ignore Aileron’s careless remark.

I see.

The most functional form for wearing jewels is a ring.

Then, this ring becomes a practical item in battle.

“Don’t you wear rings as an accessory?”

“Accessory? Why?”

Guess not.

That’s another cultural gap in my books, then.

When the discrepancy between our understanding became clear, Pops speaks again.

“Anyway, I highly recommend you the Broken Diamond, Lord Saint! Let’s put it in a ring and make it chunky!”

“No, please!”

It’s a cursed gemstone, isn’t it?!

No matter how much the gemstone may benefit its owner with its mysterious powers, a cursed one is the opposite!

Why do you want me to have such a thing?!

“Because you’re a saint!”

“Is that a personal grudge?!”

Did I do something to make Pops hate me?!

“No, that’s not it! I think the reason this diamond came to be called a cursed gem is that no one has ever been able to properly control its power.”

“That’s why all its previous owners fell into ruin on their own?”

“I believe you have what it takes to tame Broken Diamond’s curse, Lord Saint!”

“I see your point,” replies Aileron.

No thanks.

I’m not gonna take that stone so obediently like I’m the chosen one.

I’m a lot more normal than you guys think.

I don’t want to die from some curse, especially at the peak of my happiness when I’m blessed with a wife and child.

“I’m sure Lord Saint will give this gem the right effects it deserves!”

Even if I could handle the curse, I can’t imagine how the benefits I would gain from it would be useful for my farm work.

Do you know what my life cycle is like?

I’d only invite trouble if I got something I knew was beyond my control.

“Well, just pick it up for starters...”

“No! Don’t try to force me to hold it!”

“The effect of the gem itself is exerted just by touching it directly, even if you don’t put it on the ring!”

Hey!

This shitty dwarf actually has gloves on!

Those have to be the kind that can suppress the curse in fantasy settings.

I, on the other hand, am bare-handed!

Stop it! I don’t know about you guys, but I have a god’s gift, the Hand of Supremacy!

It brings out the maximum potential of anything I touch.

What do you think would happen if I touched that jewel?!

It’d be great if I could cancel out the curse, but what if it unleashes the curse’s full potential? I might die instantly!

I never thought I’d be in danger of dying a dog’s death while preparing for the wedding!

I want to attend that wedding aliveeeeeee!

But the moment the jewel brushed against my hand...

It shattered.

The jewel.

“...”

“...?!”

“...?! ......?!”

“HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH?!” exclaimed the three of us.

The jewel shattered into a thousand shards and scattered all over the place!

This is no time to be talking about how beautiful and shiny they shine like stardust!

I wasn’t expecting this!

Does it mean that my ability destroyed the source of the curse to protect me from it?

It’s amazing how versatile the Hand of Supremacy is!

But then, a new problem arose.

“The reimbursement!!!”

Such a big gem, which could be worth hundreds of millions in market value, was shattered into a million pieces!

I can only rely on my memory to tell me the original size, but it must have been big enough to be used as a skipping stone!

And now it’s gone!

How...?

How can I compensate for it?!

[There is no need to go through such measures.]

I hear a voice from somewhere.

Is that from... my palm?

In the light emitted from the tiny shard on my palm appears the vision of a beautiful woman.

...Is this a hologram?!

“I am the spirit that resides in this jewel. You have freed me from the curse.”

“Wha...?”

“I was once a divine being meant to bless people with my spiritual power. And yet an evil monk put a curse on me! Because of that fatso, bald man with a stinky breath, I was unable to properly exert my power...!”

I could see how the genie was so devoted to his resentful spirit.

“But thanks to you, the curse has been lifted. I can now prove myself useful again after hundreds of years. To repay you for your kindness, I will do my best to protect you.”

Perhaps the spirit had said all that she wanted that she vanished.

All that remained were countless shards.

“...Ye-”

“Yes!”

The elf and dwarf with me rejoice.

“Amazing, Lord Saint! You have indeed broken the curse! Yayyyy!”

“A jewel that was at most bargained for its shady history is now worth a fair priceeeee!”

I don’t know what these guys are talking about, but is it safe for me to assume that I’ve got a gem for the wedding ring?