The Bracelet of Power
Translated by: ME
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*****
I had come to Obaba-sama’s shop to buy the materials I needed to learn the Enchantment skill, and to my surprise, there was actually a customer there before me.
He was a boy with a youthful face who wasn't much taller than I am, with vibrant silver hair. He possessed a soft-spoken manner and radiated a remarkably calm aura for someone speaking with Obaba-sama, who was famous for her eccentricity.
He might be a regular. Their conversation seemed to be about a bracelet Obaba-sama was currently appraising.
It was a sturdy-looking piece made of metal, as large as a gauntlet.
「You’ve become able to perform a halfway decent enchantment, I see.」
「To think the day would come when I’d hear you say that, Lady Barbaril...! Thank you so much!」
The boy’s expression brightened instantly, his eyes sparkling with joy like a puppy. It practically looked as if he were wagging a short little tail in delight.
「I wasn't praising you. I said it was 'halfway decent,' that's all.」
On the other hand, Obaba-sama wore a sour expression, looking every bit the stubborn old artisan.
I wanted to tell her she should just praise him honestly, but I had no intention of sticking my nose into their business. Since the boy looked happy, they clearly understood each other well enough.
「I know I still have plenty of challenges to overcome. In proportion to the high mana consumption, the output increases excessively...」
It seemed he had brought in a handmade bracelet to consult with Obaba-sama. I’ve known her for a long time, but I’ve never seen her like this, which felt quite fresh.
Knowing her, there must have been something she found interesting in the bracelets this boy made.
「Don't go fretting over trivial things, for goodness' sake. If I’m to talk any more than this, you'd better go buy me some sweets to clear my throat.」
「I’ll be sure to have some ready the next time I visit!」
Since she seemed to want to chat leisurely over tea and snacks, he must be quite a favorite of hers.
(I really shouldn't be eavesdropping...) I thought, but the moment I saw that mana-infused bracelet, my "alchemy-lover sensor" went *ping!*
(Could that be a Magic Item?)
Though I knew I shouldn't listen in, I kept my ears pricked. The boy finished his payment and handed Obaba-sama a slip of paper.
Then, he put on the bracelet he had been showing her and effortlessly hoisted a large crate filled with massive amounts of magic ore and mana stones.
I knew for a fact that such a quantity of magic ore was heavy enough to snap one's back.
He didn't look particularly strong, yet he carried it with such ease. Which meant, as I suspected...
Without even a change in his complexion, the boy walked past me and left the shop.
After watching him go, I rushed over to Obaba-sama.
「Was that bracelet that boy had just now a Magic Item!?」
「There's no way a piddling thing like that is a Magic Item. It’s just a knock-off that hasn't quite made the cut yet.」
「B-but he displayed incredible strength before he left!」
「He’s just using it within a controllable range. If it couldn't even do that much, it wouldn't even qualify as a knock-off.」
(What...!?) Even gaining that much powerful strength only earns it the status of a "knock-off Magic Item"?
Come to think of it, even Vanessa-san’s necklace—which was worth enough to buy a mansion in a prime location—was called a knock-off.
But if one could obtain that kind of power, the world would surely change.
「A Magic Item for superhuman strength... a Bracelet of Power...!」
If I wore a bracelet like that and let people believe I possessed monstrous strength, maybe those pesky marriage proposals would stop.
Even if I were forced into a marriage, if I became a "Strong-Arm Lady" who could easily lift boulders, no one would be foolish enough to do something as shallow as cheating on me.
Since I often find myself in a subordinate position due to my rank, I could simply seize the upper hand through a difference in physical power.
Alice had once told me some phrases used by commoners:
*Power is Might.* *Muscles never betray you.*
...In this case, it might be alchemy instead of muscles, but I decided to stop overthinking the details.
「What’s this? Are you interested in Magic Items too?」
「I’ve suddenly developed a very keen interest in them.」
「Hee-hee-hee! Well, that’s good to hear. I feel it might be a bit early for you, but I have high expectations for you as well.」
"You as well," she said. It seems that boy really was a favorite of hers too.
Master Clein mentioned he wasn't very good at Enchantment, so it would be nice if I could at least talk to that boy sometime.
「I’m still just an apprentice alchemist, so please don't have *too* high expectations. I only just came here to buy supplies so I can start practicing Enchanting today.」
「You should have said so sooner. Honestly, you've got no luck at all. I just finished a sale, and all the choice bits have been snatched up.」
「Using expensive materials for practice would be a waste. I’ll settle for the cheap stuff.」
The moment I said that, Obaba-sama’s face lit up with a predatory grin.
「If it’s trash-tier materials you want, I’ve got plenty of 'good' ones! Take whatever you like—at a premium price, of course.」
「Please make that a 'discounted' price.」
「Don't be so stiff. You’re the assistant to the Court Alchemist; just slap it all on the expense account. Here, let me pick out a special recommended set for you.」
I watched as Obaba-sama pulled out filthy monster materials from who-knows-where and began assembling a "recommended set," and I moved to stop her with everything I had.
「That's very kind, but I'll pass. I have a feeling you're about to put together a tru-u-u-ly useless assortment.」
「Didn't I teach you to accept the kindness of others?」
「Price-gouging is a different story.」
Watching Obaba-sama click her tongue in annoyance, I couldn't help but worry if that boy from earlier had been ripped off too.
*****
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