The Villainous Son Loves His Mother - Chapter 70

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I was strolling through the Imperial Capital on this day.
The academy was closed.
My mother was delighted that I was going out.

–“Oh, Hein! It’s rare for you to go out. I thought it wasn’t good to stay holed up all the time.”

She had said.

“Young Master, this is the Slein Magic Jewel Shop.”

“Very well.”

I thanked Misha, the servant leading the way, and gazed at the shop.
It was quite impressive, as it was said to be the most prestigious magical jewelry shop in the Imperial Capital.
The white outer walls were adorned with delicate bas-reliefs, and the gracefully arched entrance stood out prominently.
By the way, Misha seems to be an acquaintance of Feri, and is a Dalfen woman who calls Feri “princess.”
Her skin was dark, and her ears were pointed.
I had hired her as a servant for the House of Aster on Feri’s recommendation, and she proved to be quite diligent.
On the first day, she worked until she collapsed. I thought that was a bit much and warned her,

“Work until you’re on the verge of collapsing!”

Anyway, I was strolling through the Imperial Capital today on business.
That business was—

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“Make way! This is Hein Sera Aster, the future head of House Aster! Summon the shopkeeper immediately!”

Misha delivered the message concisely to the shop clerk as soon as she opened the door.
It was a clear and easy-to-understand way of stating our request.
Feri had been personally training her, and I must say, she’s doing quite well.
The clerk blinked, then his face rapidly paled.
His frantic bowing and straightening up, like an Inferior drowning in water, was quite a sight to behold.
Soon, a small man rushed out from the back room—presumably the shopkeeper.

“T-this is House Aster… What brings you here?”

“As you wish.”

Misha understood my intention immediately.

“Show us all your products! There’s no budget limit! If we find anything good, we’ll buy it all!”

The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, his lips twitching, bowing profusely as he barked orders at his staff.

“Y-yes, right away! Everyone, quickly bring all the Magic Gems from the warehouse—no, even the hidden treasures from the back! Don’t keep the customer waiting!”

That’s right, I wanted Magic Gems—stones known for their excellent conductivity of Magical Power.
Magic Gems are typically sold in their raw form, and their uses are diverse.
Primarily, they serve as amplifiers for Magic—in other words, they’re used in wands, orbs, and similar tools. But they’re also used in amulets and as light sources in street lamps.
Despite being called gems, their prices vary widely. Many are of a quality that even commoners can afford.
Of course, this shop caters to nobles, so they likely stock particularly high-quality specimens.
I wanted to acquire these materials to craft jewelry as a Mother’s Day gift for my mother. Mother’s Day was still about three months away, but considering the time it would take to process the stones, I wanted to prepare the materials well in advance.
I considered using the Dragon Eye Gramman had brought, but what satisfaction could there be in using parts from a lizard that looked down on humans? Besides, the value of a gift isn’t measured in its price, but in the sentiment behind it. I would pour all my current crafting skills into creating this jewelry.

“That one, that one, and that one too,”

I said, pointing to the stones that caught my eye.
Once the shopkeeper finished packing, Misha carried the bundle away in her arms. A box labeled “Secret Treasures!” was offered from the back, but I intended to buy any worthwhile stones inside without hesitation. I knew I’d likely fail many times, so I factored that into my calculations.

“That’s enough. This should suffice.”

But as I glanced over the mountain of jewels I had purchased, a small hazel-colored gem caught my eye.
It was modest in size, but not unattractive.
Tucked away in a corner of the shop, it possessed a luster that rivaled any of the others.

“…Misha.”

“Yes, Young Master?”

“Buy that one too. I’ll give it to you. It matches your eye color, so consider it a bonus.”

“…Huh?”

Misha, struggling to hold the mountain of jewels, blinked in surprise.

“N-no, that’s… that’s far too much for someone like me…”

She was overwhelmed with gratitude, but I wasn’t joking.

“All is well.”

In this context, it meant, “Stop fussing and do as I say.”
Urged in this way, Misha tenderly cradled the hazel gem in both hands.
The shopkeeper, beaming, began to explain its origins.

“This is an extremely rare piece called the ‘Celestial Lilith.’ It’s said to calm the mind and promote the smooth flow of Magical Power.”

“That’s enough. I’ll buy everything. Wrap it up.”

“Y-yes! Ah, um… the price…”

I silently reached into my inner pocket, pulled out a single silver coin, and pressed it into the shopkeeper’s hand.

“Is that enough?”

“Y-yes! More than enough! More than enough! It’s more than sufficient! But… isn’t this too much?”

The flustered shopkeeper kept glancing back and forth between the coin and the jewels, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

(What a pain. Should I get rid of him?)

Just as that thought crossed my mind, Misha conveniently spoke up.

“This is the Young Master’s mercy. If you understand, disappear at once!”

It’s precisely because she works so diligently that I occasionally feel inclined to reward her.
But Misha seems to have made one mistake.

“No, we’re the ones who should disappear. Let’s go.”

As soon as I said that—

“Ah! You’re absolutely right! We’ll disappear immediately!”

With that, Misha hurried to the entrance and opened the door for me.
What a foolish woman, but at least she’s earnest.