|Heh... this sure brings back memories... Surou's playthrough-stopping event. Just remembering looking for answers and digging through every possible dialogue option makes me so feel so tired~!|
Zoemi thought to himself while jawning, before stretching as he reminiscent of the excruciating time in his previous life when he was checking out every rumor about changing the fate of the tragic villainess in the game.
Through the heroine, the player had to go through a lot to finish Surou's rote.
First taking Surou to Atreterve during the vacation between the semesters, then finding the old jeweler...
Learning about the old man's backstory and the tragedy he caused to his son and his son's fiance... Everything that Zoemi said towards Remberu was exactly how the heroine should have played this damned event to unlock the secret CGI of Surou working on a piece of jewelry...
It was something that only the most hardcore Surou fans, and Zoemi, completed.
Many people on various forums thought that this ultra-hard and the annoying event was the sole reason that the option of jumping to different routes existed in the first place.
Seriously, the jeweler's legacy was so damn annoying event that many people voted Surou's route to be the absolute worst in the whole game.
But on the bright side, since that world wasn't the game although it was similar to it, Zoemi could use his knowledge to get a far better reward than it was intended.
...that did not change the fact that the black-haired boy couldn't help but get bored with just watching the blue-haired work – it would be a different case if it was a speed-up video, but actually having to sit through the entire process of making jewelry wasn't exactly everyone's cup of tea.
It certainly wasn't for Zoemi.
The black-haired boy became restless and initially went around the shop and checked out the available merchandise.
...after another hour or so Zoemi went behind the counter too, and since the owner of the place was too busy looking Surou over the shoulder and watching him work, the black-haired boy went ahead and began checking the equipment that the old jeweler usually used.
There were many perfectly normal tolls like chisels, picks, brushes, and scalpel-like knives – but Zoemi was most interested in a mana-stone powered drills,
"...can I take a look at those...?"
Zoemi glanced over his shoulder, deciding to ask for permission in the end, and pointed at the slightly too technologically advanced tools for their time period.
"Huh..? Yes, sure, they all have mana stones removed so they are safe to check. Just know that you will be paying for everything that get's broken bo..."
*brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*
Remberu waved his hand dismissively after quickly checking what Zoemi was talking about, but he closed his mouth in shock when the black-haired boy picked up one of the supposedly safe drills that began working with full power that very moment.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Even Surou raised his head from over his project and all three of them stared at the buzzing drill.
*brrrrrzzz....*
After another second Zoemi slowly put the working droll back where he took it, and the tool went silent, actually making the situation even weirder because other than the black-haired boy's touch there was no stimulus to the drill.
"..."
The old jeweler walked over with a concerned expression and grabbed the very same drill – but the tool stayed silent, even when he tinkered with it.
"It doesn't have the mana stone... How did you make it work?"
"I am not sure...?"
The man asked but the black-haired boy could only shrug his shoulders with a dumbfounded expression because he honestly did not know.
He certainly wasn't using his mana willingly, as that could stir up the tormenting pain from his damaged mana reservoir.
"My friend! I don't mind having an audience, but I must disappoint you – if I am supposed to really do my best here, it will not be done in an hour. Get yourself something to eat – and while you're at it, grab something for me too. Thank you."
The atmosphere was getting rather awkward, but the second prince dealt with it rather swiftly, with a simple but effective change of subject...
-----
The evening came but Surou wasn't stopping working and the old jeweler wasn't going to make him stop either.
The evening became night and the night became day.
And Surou wasn't done yet either.
Only in the middle of the second night, did the blue-haired boy's hands stop and he raised his head.
"Oh?"
"Hoh...?"
Zoemi and Remberu peeked over his shoulders and saw a beautiful flower attached to a hairpin.
It was a flower that neither of them had ever seen before, it had such ridiculous details that not only it was hard to say it was an accessory and not the real thing, it went even beyond that as the creation looked almost alive as if it was growing out from the precious metal the hairpin was sculpted from.
"I hope you aren't biased against flowers – I am not that good with animals so this is what I ent for. It still isn't finished, but you should be able to see where am I going with it. "
Surou's shrugged his shoulders indifferently, ignoring the shocked faces of his audience while he pushed the hairpin right to Remberu's nose.
"~!"
Zoemi glanced at the old jeweler's expression and smirked to himself.
"Boy – I will teach you all I know – no, please, let me teach you!"
There was no way that the hairpin could be considered anything less than a masterpiece, which was further accentuated by the tearful gasp of the old jeweler grabbing onto Surou's hands as if they were the most precious thing in the world.
"Ah. Recognition. So that's how it feels~"
Surou nodded with satisfaction before looking over at Zoemi and wiggling his brows triumphantly.
"What's your name, my boy?"
The old jeweler asked, actually getting tearful for some reason.
|Connect me to him immediately!|
"(Active!)"
"|You shouldn't use your name, not the first one at least. Go with your second name, Delche.|"
Zoemithought in panic and started talking immediately after his sentinel confirmed the use of the spell.
"..."
"...?"
Surou closed his mouth and glanced at Zoemi – with annoyance that made the black-haired boy tens up.
"[Sir Banemor, are you an idiot? If my first name isn't safe to use, why would my middle name be alright? I did a good job with the accessory, why should I half-ass it with the name...?]"
"|Oh... yeah... you are correct... Just remember whatever name you choose, it would be suspicious if you would not react after being called...|"
"[I will manage.]"
After the second prince's scolding, Zoemi nodded timidly and looked away embarrassed.
"My name is Roytou, mister."
The blue-haired boy looked back at the old jeweler and said confidently without even batting an eye.
"Roytou, my boy, I will take you as my apprentice and I will pass all my knowledge on to you. If your potential to be an enchanter is even a fraction of your talent as the jeweler, you will surely become the greatest enchanter in the world!"
Remberu called out elated, shaking Surou's hand so much that the blue-haired boy almost dropped the hairpin.
"Mister, this means that you will provide Royto a place to stay and food and..."
Zoemi shook his head again and said to the old jeweler cautiously.
"Of course, I will be providing for him! I just said I will make him my inheritor, right!?"
Remberu scoffed at Zoemi in disbelief, as if the black-haired boy suggesting another outcome has greatly offended him.
"Well – if so, this is perfect."
Zoemi nodded with satisfaction.
At least one thing worked out as he intended.
...although he did originally underestimate the second prince's talent, that's for sure...