Chapter 88 - The Gem Artisan
She might be a handful, but she was still a craftsman—though even I had to admit that was probably too rude of me to think.
In any case, the moment Nia laid eyes on the [Crimson Rabbit Ornament], all her tomfoolery vanished. Seeing her like that, I started to reconsider, thinking that Kagura-san's stamp of approval for this artisan might not have been a joke after all.
"May I have a look?"
Her voice, unexpectedly clear when she was calm, asked for my permission. I nodded and pushed the crimson ornament toward her.
"Pardon me."
After another polite word, she picked up the rabbit ornament from the desk and tapped its surface with her fingertip. The indigo artisan fell perfectly still, her gaze fixed on the detailed information window that had appeared.
Her narrowed eyes were the very picture of seriousness, with no trace of the goofy demeanor from moments before. For more than ten seconds, Nia remained locked in a staring contest with the [Crimson Rabbit Ornament]—
"Well now, this is something else."
When she finally looked up again, her familiar, friendly smile had returned. As a dopey grin spread across her face, I, who had been slightly caught up in the intense atmosphere, could only stare blankly, unable to keep up with her rapid change in demeanor.
"The special effects are ridiculous, of course, but its potential as a gemstone is top-class... no, it's way beyond that. To be honest, I’m not even sure I can handle this thing."
"If you can't handle it, no one else can either," Kagura-san replied on my behalf as Nia, as if burdened by the task, placed the ornament back on the desk.
For Kagura-san to state it so confidently… it seemed this troublemaker's skills were the real deal. Perhaps I should just stop thinking about whether I liked her or not and just try to get along with her.
It's true that I'm not great with people who drag me around at their own pace, but it's not like I disliked her, either.
"I appreciate the vote of confidence, but…"
As she said that, her glance in my direction surprisingly seemed to hold a hint of hesitation and anxiety. If I took her reaction at face value, she was probably worried about the possibility of causing me a loss.
So she can be serious when it counts... Yeah, okay, I guess—I don't dislike her.
"If you're willing to take it on, I'd like to leave it to you."
My sudden sincerity must have surprised her. Nia's eyes went wide at my words, then narrowed suspiciously.
"Ehh…? I know I shouldn't be the one to say it, but are you sure you want to entrust it to someone like this? Are you okay?"
"You've got a point. It doesn't inspire much confidence when you say it yourself."
"Hey, shut up!"
When I laughed at how her mood shifted on a dime, she puffed out her cheeks as if to hide her embarrassment. Given enough time to get used to it, I'd probably reach a point where keeping up with Nia's energy wouldn't be so taxing.
…Probably. Maybe?
"…Ahem. W-Well then, I will formally accept your request—"
"Are you surprisingly shy?"
"I am. Isn't it cute?"
"Oh, for crying out loud! Shut up, shut up! This is a request! So what is it you're requesting?!"
And so, it was officially decided that I would commission her to process the [Crimson Rabbit Ornament]… but even when she asked what I wanted, I had no answer. I didn't know the first thing about gem crafting or accessories in Arcadia.
"Like Kagura-san explained, I'm embarrassingly ignorant about this. I'd rather you tell me what my options are."
"Ah, right, that makes sense. Hmm, let's see…"
After a moment of thought in response to my troublesome counter-question, Nia casually operated her inventory and took out several items.
Lined up on the desk were several types of gemstones, along with a number of accessories like rings and necklaces, each presumably belonging to a different category.
"First off, in Arcadia, even within the single category of 'Magic Artisan,' everyone has their own specialization, you know?"
"Right. Like how Kagura-san is good with 'metals,' right?"
To be precise, her specialty was metals and the whole range of materials obtained from enemies. Or rather, since rare enemy materials are essential for high-end equipment, there wasn't a Magic Artisan who couldn't handle them.
"Exactly, exactly. My specialty is 'gemstones,' and since I mainly work on fine pieces like accessories, I'm called an artisan. A Gem Artisan, to be specific."
"I see."
Kagura-san had told me before that Arcadia doesn't have a job system. This meant these were likely nicknames popularized by players to make communication smoother.
"And now, for what gem crafting actually entails—behold!"
With that, Nia pointed to what were probably unprocessed gemstone materials.
"These are the raw stones before processing. And next, over here!"
Next, she indicated the accessories, like the rings that had been crafted.
"And these are the processed accessories. It goes without saying that this is my job, but the important work can be broken down into three steps."
As she spoke, Nia raised one hand and held up her index finger.
"First, the cut! We cut the raw stone and shape it to match the desired finish."
Next, her hand formed a peace sign.
"Second, the polish! We polish the cut gemstone and transform it into sparkling jewelry."
Finally, her ring finger went up.
"And third, the adornment! We combine it with decorations like rings or settings that complement the gem to complete it as an accessory!!"
She was starting to get worked up all on her own. It didn't really matter, but her exaggerated gestures were a bit visually distracting.
"So! These three processes work together in a complex way to determine the final accessory's special effects and status bonuses! So if you have a request like, 'I want an accessory with this or that effect,' the type and shape are naturally decided—but that's not all!!"
"Nia-chan."
"Yes, what is it!!"
"You're being loud."
"I'm sorry."
Kagura-san was laughing beside me. Even if she said we had good chemistry, all I was doing was making simple retorts.
"Ahem… S-So, anyway, we can use our skills to cleverly work around those limitations and change the category. And of course, even if it looks like two artisans made the exact same thing, their processing methods could be completely different, leading to a world of difference in the effects."
"So that's where your 'skill' comes in."
"Correctamundo! —Ah, I'm sorry."
I'm not going to glare at you just for being a little loud. In any case, I now had a better grasp of what a Gem Artisan does.
"And so, as I have been introduced, I am an artisan of considerable 'skill'… What will you do? Dear customer?"
In other words, she was telling me to just state my request without overthinking it.
If that was the case…
"If the effects change depending on the crafting method, does that mean there's a way to bring out the gemstone's maximum potential?"
"Ah, yeah. Of course there is."
"Then I'll ask for that. I wouldn't say I'm uninterested, but I don't really have any particular taste when it comes to fashion accessories… So, basically, I want to leave it to your professional judgment."
I felt a little bad for just dumping it on her, but in the end, that was all I really wanted. Judging by her own attire, Nia seemed to have a good sense of style, so leaving it to her probably wouldn't result in a bad design either—
"Hmm, let's see… Kagura-san, can I borrow him for a bit?"
"Hm?"
"What, all of a sudden—hey, wait!"
After pondering my words for a moment, Nia abruptly stood up, grabbed my arm, and pulled me to my feet.
Thinking it was just another one of her antics, I instinctively tried to shake her off—
"This is important. A serious discussion. Just come with me, okay?"
A clear voice whispered in my ear.
Frozen by the same resonant tone I'd heard earlier, I looked down to see the artisan's face unusually close to mine.
She positioned herself on the other side of me, hidden from Kagura-san's view.
Bringing an index finger to her lips in a mischievous gesture, Nia then pulled me toward an opening at the back of the room—the entrance to what was likely her workshop.
P.S. It's pronounced Ní-a, not Ni-á.