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Chapter 131 - The assassin makes an announcement

Translator: VALIANT

After that, I worked on the third gemstone, the emerald.

Like diamonds and sapphires, emeralds were gemstones that could be improved through engineering.

The cut was made after a procedure called the impregnation process.

In doing so, the emerald’s color would change from green to jade green. It would change to a jewel of gentle and serene beauty, perfect for Tarte.

And finally, I moved on to the last gem. I took out the alexandrite I had prepared for Mom.

An alluring gem with two different aspects, shifting from a bluish green glow in the sunlight to a calm red color when illuminated by a candle or a lamp.

Most natural alexandrites either didn’t change colors or looked dull, and even if they seemed shiny, the quality of both of their different colors was usually mediocre.

The alexandrite, with its distinctly shifting colors and their respective beauty, was an incredibly precious and rare gemstone. It was scarcely found on the market.

But with a bit of engineering, I could make the shift between green and red crystal clear while improving the beauty of both colors.

[This is the one thing I can achieve only with magic.] (Lugh)

I couldn’t do it with science. If it had been the answer to that, it would’ve required a ridiculously large and accurate machine.

And so, for this one, I resorted to magic to tamper with the composition of the gem itself.

I chose this stone for the symbolism behind the alexandrite’s colors: serenity and passion. So I thought it would be a perfect fit for my mother, who was always smiling quietly, but possessed a strong spirit at the same time.

I swiftly used a magic trick to rearrange its composition.

[With this, I’m done processing the jewels. Now I’m gonna use them along with the mithril to craft the necklace and the rings. …And so, I’d like you both to leave.] (Lugh)

[Whaaaat!? But I wanted to keep watching.] (Dia)

[I was hoping to see how you were going to craft the necklace and the rings.] (Tarte)

[If I let you see that, it won’t be a surprise anymore when I hand them to you as your presents. From here on out, it’s only a matter of time before I finish them.] (Lugh)

I promptly sent them out of my workshop.

Starting now, this is going to be the most crucial part.

The best gemstones were nothing more than raw materials.

It was its design that determined whether it was a success or a failure.

Fortunately, I had seen an astonishing amount of first-grade jewelry, both in my previous life and in this one.

I would follow their example and create jewelries worthy of the girls based on my experience with them and the senses I had polished.

A whole day had passed since I made the necklace and the rings.

Dia and Tarte had been fidgeting at me since morning.

They seemed to be dying to receive the rings I made.

I completed them the day before, but I purposely avoided handing them to the girls.

I had already decided when I would.

Just as we finished dinner, I brought up the subject.

[Mom, I have a present for you, since I had yet to give you a proper pregnancy gift.] (Lugh)

After I said that, I pulled out the necklace.

It was adorned with an alexandrite.

A bluish green gem that turned red when illuminated by a candelabra.

My father twitched his eyebrows. Since he realized the value behind that necklace, it came as a surprise to him.

[My! What a lovely necklace. But… It must have been awfully expensive, no? I’m glad for your attention, but I don’t want you to push yourself for me, Lugh-chan.] (Esri)

[It wasn’t that expensive, actually.] (Lugh)

[This can’t be true. Even I can tell this is of great value. Cian, how much is this necklace?] (Esri)

Thinking that I was lying, my mom referred to my dad.

She really was a tough customer.

[Hmm… This beautiful silverwork on the mithril looks refined and exquisite. And this alexandrite is of the greatest quality. It must weigh 5 carats. Do you remember the residence of Count Lingland, who invited us to a tea party some time ago?] (Cian)

[Yes. It was a very sumptuous, beautiful and spacious mansion.] (Esri)

[Well, this necklace is worth about as much as that mansion.] (Cian)

Mom’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t expected it to be this valuable.

[I can’t accept this! Please sell it back immediately! You should use that money for your own sake!] (Esri)

I knew my mom would say that.

Which is how I knew what to say in return.

[Don’t worry. It wasn’t as expensive as it looks because I made it with my own hands. I couldn’t afford a special-grade gem, so I went for a first-class article that cost only a hundredth of its price, and processed it to make it a beautiful piece of jewelry.] (Lugh)

Even if it wasn’t a special-grade, it could still be considered pricey, but nothing too unreasonable considering my income.

[Is this true?] (Esri)

[Yes, it is. So please take it. I worked really hard on it for you, Mom, so it would hurt my feelings if you rejected it.] (Lugh)

[Uugh… That’s not fair. If you say that to me, then I have no choice but to accept it.] (Esri)

Although she spoke like she was complaining, she couldn’t hold back from smiling.

[Thank you. I’ll take great care of it.] (Esri)

At that moment, she put on the necklace.

It suited her marvelously. With this, no one would dare slander her behind her back during social gatherings anymore. Even if she didn’t mind it, I hated it when people spoke ill of my dear mother.

…Not that I’m going to say it out loud, or people could accuse me of having a mother complex.

As I thought that, I heard Dia’s voice in my ear.

She was using her mana to carry her voice so only I would hear it.

[That alexandrite was larger before, wasn’t it?] (Dia)

Dia was right. Since it was a first-grade gem and not a special-grade, I was able to purchase a large piece of it within my budget.

It was originally one size larger than it was now.

[I trimmed it because it was too large. If I had left it as it was, it would’ve been too crude. A gemstone of this size is what suits my mother best.] (Lugh)

[I agree, but I’m impressed you went through with it. If it were me, I would’ve been reluctant to waste it.] (Dia)

Even among the nobility, the belief that the bigger the jewel, the better still prevailed.

However, this trend was changing little by little.

The leading figures were abandoning the belief that bigger was better, and were beginning to focus on design and total balance.

And my mom was someone who believed not in the general opinion, but in her own sense of beauty.

Which is why I crafted what I personally believed to be the pinnacle of beauty for her.

[What do you think? Does it suit me?] (Esri)

Esri asked me with a bashful look.

[It looks great on you, just like I thought it would.] (Lugh)

[I’m so glad. Fufu…! Please tell me your opinion as well, Cian.] (Esri)

[It’s dazzling. …Though I must say, it makes me a bit jealous.] (Cian)

Dad gave me an unusually bitter look.

Seeing Mom staring at him in puzzlement, Dad proceeded with his statement.

[First of all, I was surprised that Esri, who never accepted any jewelry other than her wedding ring despite my repeated recommendations, accepted this necklace so easily.] (Cian)

[Oh, dear me. I’m sorry for that. I just cannot refuse a handmade necklace from Lugh-chan. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you, Cian. Also, you said “first of all”, which means that there is another reason?] (Esri)

[Indeed. Lugh gives you presents every now and then, but I’ve never received any from him… So I feel a bit lonely.] (Cian)

Now that he mentions it…

Compared to Dad, Mom often demanded this and that. So once in a while, I would give her presents.

The other day, she asked me for more chocolate, so I arranged to get some, and before even that, she wanted to eat a deer dish, so I went hunting and procured one.

But my dad never demanded anything, and I didn’t remember ever giving him anything.

[Dad… Well… Sorry about that. Can I give you this, then?] (Lugh)

I took out a knife from my breast pocket.

I always carried three types of knives on me: a dagger I could throw at a moment’s notice, hidden blades that I had incorporated into my shoes and sleeves for instant surprise attacks, and a self-defense tool that I carried with me at all times.

The dagger was disposable and could be easily created by magic. As for the hidden blades, I was more concerned with how well I could conceal them than with their performance.

On the other hand, the self-defense tool that I always carried around was made by further processing what I could create with magic, making it decently efficient.

And since I always kept it on me and could use it as both a weapon and a regular tool, I was able to dedicate the best of my knowledge to it without making any compromise at all.

This should be enough to satisfy him.

Dad accepted the knife with a bitter smile.

As a result of my pursuit of efficiency alone, it looked too uncouth to be handled by an aristocrat as there wasn’t a single decoration on it. But knowing my dad, he understood the true worth of that knife.

[Yes. This is a wonderful present. Thank you, Lugh. Sorry I urged you for one.] (Cian)

[Don’t be. I was thinking that I should repay you someday myself.] (Lugh)

I meant it.

I’m the man I am today thanks to what my father taught me.

Being born as a Tuatha Dé- No, being born to the people who were my father and mother was the greatest joy of my life.

[In that case, I’ll happily accept it. And I’ll have something for you in return.] (Cian)

Dad said so, but the nuance of that sentence suggested that he had already prepared it in advance.

Also that he had been waiting for the right time to give it to me, and he thought that me giving him a present was the perfect excuse to do so.

[Fufufu…! We’re so lucky to have the best son in the world.] (Esri)

[I know. Lugh really did grow up to be a good boy.] (Cian)

My parents smiled, poured a drink and made a toast.

It made me feel a bit bashful.

[But I just have one thing I must tell you, Lugh-chan. If you’re going to give such presents, you ought to give them to Dia-chan and Tarte-chan first and foremost. When it comes to girls, they can even get jealous of your mother.] (Esri)

She said that with a pout and her index fingers crossed.

It scared me how well that gesture suited my mom despite her age.

[In that case, no need to worry. I’ve thought of everything. I’ve got the engagement rings of Dia, Tarte, and Maha, whom I’ve told you about before, ready.] (Lugh)

[Oh my! Then you should give them immediately.] (Esri)

[I know. But since I’m engaged to the three of them, I want to hand over all the rings at the same time. And about that, Maha will be able to come over next week. I was thinking of holding an engagement party on that day at home. And when it’s done, I want to make sure everybody knows that the aristocrat Lugh Tuatha Dé is now engaged.] (Lugh)

Noble engagements held a special meaning.

So far, I had only verbally established my relationships with Dia, Tarte, and Maha.

Normally, that would’ve been enough, but as an aristocrat, I was obligated to spread the news, and unless I did, we weren’t considered engaged.

And once that was done, there was no going back.

If an engagement was called off, the other party would become the laughingstock of nobility.

[I’m fine with your wishes. But what about…] (Esri)

Mom glanced at Dad’s face.

The decision of the Tuatha Dé patriarch was absolute.

Any member who disobeyed him had to leave Tuatha Dé.

No ordinary aristocrat would want to be engaged to Dia and the others.

Because marrying them offered no political advantage.

Especially for Tuatha Dé, as our medical expertise was the brand of our family, and I now had the title of Holy Knight and the achievement of defeating demons. If I wanted to, I could make all the connections with the high nobility I wished for.

[I understand. We’ll prepare that way. If that’s what you’ve decided of your own volition, I won’t object.] (Cian)

[Thank you very much, Dad.] (Lugh)

[So, when do you plan to marry them?] (Cian)

[I’d like to graduate from the academy first, then I’ll wait for a year or so to see how things go.] (Lugh)

I’m gonna have to save this world by then.

That was the resolve I had when I said that.

Only then would we tie the knot.

[Very well. …Children truly grow up in the blink of an eye. I never thought Lugh would make such a announcement. Once you and that girl named Maha have decided on the day of her arrival, let me know. I’ll be sure to give it priority over everything else.] (Cian)

[Yes, sir.] (Lugh)

And with this, I was finished with my family matters.

Come to think of it, Dia and Tarte have been pretty quiet for the past while.

I thought they would react in some way since it concerns the both of them, but-

[Uuuuggghh…! Oh no…! This is all too sudden!] (Dia)

[Oh my god, oh my god! I can’t stop panicking!] (Tarte)

They both turned red and froze up.

Maybe I should’ve told them everything in advance.

Anyway, we were going to have an engagement party.

Normally, we were supposed to call out to all the nobles we were associated with and make it grandiose, but neither my parents nor the girls were fond of that approach.

Which was why we would only invite family members to have a fun and heartfelt party.

And then, I would hand over the rings I had made with the utmost care.