The Sleeping Devil

"What... what is this?"

Twisting my neck while still holding Didier's wrist, I looked around the dining hall to see familiar faces gathered. Sergio, Dior, and even nobles from the northern region like Hermes and Claira were present.

"Isn't that my line?"

In response to Sergio's incredulous voice, I quickly let go of Didier's wrist and straightened up.

The large dining table had been removed, replaced by a round table adorned with flowers and filled with dishes and fruits, resembling a cocktail party.

"Huh? But the salon's unveiling party is tomorrow..."

"Hehe, surprised? Today is Sheriel's birthday."

Didier tossed his sword into a magic space and instead took my hand. With Didier lightly bending his arm for me to rest on, I was escorted into the dining hall.

"Huh, but the next birthday celebration is next year..."

Noble birthday celebrations are lavish affairs, usually held only on milestone years. Starting from the baptism celebration at age seven, followed by ten, thirteen upon entering the academy, sixteen as an adult, and then eighteen upon graduation from the academy, each year marks a significant event.

Each year's birthday is usually just a family affair with exchanging well wishes, so I hadn't expected a birthday celebration at all.

"It's a small private dinner. But it also serves as an early celebration for tomorrow."

Sergio smiled warmly as he welcomed us.

"Um, there was no one in the mansion..."

"I asked Julius to set up soundproof and detection-blocking barriers to surprise Sheriel. It wouldn't be fun if the preparations were revealed, right?"

I caught a glimpse of glossy long black hair and sparkling golden bobbed hair in the back. Ah, so the teachers are here too. But despite calling facility usage for magic a waste, setting up barriers for a surprise... Isn't this a bit wasteful?

"Oh, thank you. I was surprised."

"Hehe, of course, of course. Since there's also a business meeting, we invited Claira's people. And Father happened to come too."

With a push from Hermes, who seemed restless, I walked on, still in a state of confusion.

"Sheriel, happy birthday a day early."

"Thank you, Grandfather. Thank you for treating the children. Since I couldn't visit in the summer, please tell me all about it."

Half of it was an excuse, as I couldn't make up my mind about a long journey.

Even in my previous life, as someone who became a recluse due to being a homebody, I'm not suited for traveling. I wish they had left the teleportation array behind...

"You've grown a little taller again. Let's talk later. Now, let's greet everyone."

While talking to Hermes, glasses were distributed, and for some reason, I was entrusted with a toast. As I climbed onto the prepared platform, I saw many familiar faces.

It seemed to be a free-for-all, with each aide and servant having a glass, including Kyle.

"Thank you all for this wonderful gathering in honor of me tonight. Since we have another feast tomorrow, let's not drink too much..."

Raising my glass, I finished my short speech, and everyone congratulated me one after another.

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It might be the first time I've had a meal with Mary and Sarah. It would be nice to have this kind of gathering for my birthday next year, too... But I can't afford to think like that.

"Professor Julius, are you okay?"

Julius and Owens were quietly drinking in a corner of the dining hall. Gardo seemed to be piling meat onto Licht's plate at another table.

"I'm fine. Happy birthday, Sheriel."

"Thank you. I thought maybe you didn't like crowded places."

Instead of replying, Julius accepted a small wooden box from Owens and handed it to me. I reflexively took it, but is it really for me?

"It's not much of a celebratory gift, but since we're at it."

"May I open it?"

"Of course."

I gently opened the thin wooden box that fit in both of my hands.

"Gems... No, are these magic stones?"

Inside the box, delicate platinum chains formed circles. Hanging from the chains was a sparkling colorless magic stone resembling a diamond. It seemed to be a bracelet in size.

And in the center, apart from the bracelet, was a small magic stone.

Carefully picking it up to avoid dropping it, I noticed a pearlescent white needle on the back, along with a clasp.

...It's an earring! But why only one? Normally, wouldn't there be a pair? No, wait, that's not the point! Platinum with magic stones, and as accessories... I'm only eight, no, nine years old! Even in my previous life, I never received jewelry from men... Is this what nobles do? Is this common sense among nobles?

"It's a magic stone of your attribute. It's a bracelet and an earring, but do you have pierced ears?"

"I'll open them right away! N-no, wait! Um, what does this mean...? Is it really okay for me to receive magic stones?"

"It's for experimentation. It's good to have a bracelet to cover up in public. Even if you conjure a wand without an incantation, people will think it's a magical tool."

Ah, I see. That makes sense. It's for experimentation... Bracelets seem to be given by teachers or parents, so it wouldn't be strange if it's a gift from Julius. Or would it? Really?

To hide my growing unease, I glance at Julius's wrist.

"You're not wearing a bracelet, Professor?"

"I've never used magic in public. If necessary, I'll make one eventually."

"There are magic stones for all attributes?"

The term "all attributes" doesn't exist in the world. Even if it's a magic stone, it should be the same thing.

"This stone is considered non-attributed. Unlike other magic stones, it can be used for all types of magic regardless of the attribute you infuse into it. It's a very useful stone, but that's not its intended use. For us, who possess all attributes, it functions like any other magic stone, amplifying our own magic."

"That sounds quite rare..."

Originally, magic ore and magic stones overwrite the user's magic with the stone's attribute. Even if you're a water attribute, infusing magic into a fire magic stone allows you to use fire magic. Conversely, a water magic stone can only be used for water magic.

If the stone automatically converts to all attributes, its value is unimaginable just to think about.

"Yes, it's arguably the most valuable known mineral. Be careful not to break it."

Ah, did I go too far? Is it really okay to receive something so valuable? Can it even be priced?

"...Are you sure this is okay?"

"I haven't imbued it with a spatial array, so feel free to use it. Can you try infusing it with magic?"

Julius calmly handed me the bracelet. As instructed, I infused it with magic, and it smoothly absorbed my magic. "Be careful not to exceed its capacity; it will crack," Julius warned, and I quickly stopped releasing magic. I wish he had mentioned that earlier.

"How do I use it?"

"You just have to focus on channeling magic through the magic stone. You'll understand once you try wearing it."

Julius took the bracelet from my palm and gently placed it on my right wrist.

The slightly playful chain swayed, and the sparkling stone followed its trajectory, falling along the chain.

It's a bit embarrassing.

Unlike a wand, which is close to the skin, the magic wrapped around the stone seems to create a path, slightly away from the skin.

With magic usable here, ice seems like a good choice. Since I've only infused a small amount of magic, it should fit into a glass.

As I focused on channeling magic from my wrist to the magic stone and then to my fingertips, I began to feel the skin tingle.

"...Whoa!"

I thought it was dangerous, but Julius skillfully caught the fist-sized ice I conjured towards him. That was close...

"The stone also possesses inherent magic power. Using it might require a little practice."

"You should have told me... I was only trying to create a thumb-sized piece of ice, but it turned into this massive chunk... But it's really amazing. With this, I could perform the baptism ceremony alone, couldn't I?"

"I told you it has a capacity, right? With this size, you can only infuse magic of about intermediate level. Trying to store or release more will cause the stone to crack. Think of it as the source of your magic power."

Now that I think about it, noble bodies are amazing... Ah, that's why they turn to stone. I completely forgot about the signs of petrification after spending two years without any symptoms.

"I'll think about imbuing it with an array. And about these earrings?"

"I've imbued them with a temporary coordinate mark that serves as a personal identifier. Remember when you analyzed the slave mark before? I applied that to these earrings, so you can save the engraved mark and link coordinates anytime."

Is it like a phone number? Indeed, I've previously analyzed the ritual of servitude and the slave mark, but... Julius can only read a few words of divine language, yet he's able to create a new magic array. I'm truly amazed.

"That's amazing! Do you have one too, Professor? With this, we can contact each other anytime."

Julius brushed his hair behind his ear and tilted his head slightly towards me. A small black stone was adorned on his left earlobe. It's small and hard to notice, but it faintly shimmers with seven colors depending on the angle.

"It seems to have limited range. Including that, I'd like to experiment with it later. I'll explain how to use it another time."

Since my self-healing ability prevents normal needles from piercing my ears, Julius agreed to pierce them for me next time.

"Wouldn't Owens-sama need this magical tool instead?"

"Oh, Owens doesn't have a talent for magic, so I gave him something else."

Owens, who had been waiting behind us, had already resumed eating. He hurriedly swallowed his food, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, and stood next to Julius with a composed expression.

"Sorry for the interruption. Are we talking about improving communication with magical tools?"

"Improving?"

As Owens extended his left hand forward, a gold ring with a flat top that looked like a small platform snugly fit on his pinky finger.

For a moment, a small magic circle emitted light, presumably because Owens infused it with magic.

"Communication through this?"

"Yes. Since I can't handle magic without incantations or within my own dimension like Julius-sama, I asked for an improved communication magical tool. When Julius-sama contacts me, I can wear it directly on my ear like this and hear his voice."

His gesture of pressing his palm against his ear made him look like a bodyguard receiving instructions via an earpiece. By directly contacting his ear, he can send thoughts to Julius through the linked coordinates as long as they are connected.

He must have activated the sense-sharing magic array with Julius's gift and then applied it to the ring.

"I didn't know you could make such complex improvements, Professor... I wish I could have researched with you."

"It's just a minor adjustment. You seemed busy with your business preparations. I'll ask you for help next time."

Julius gently patted my head. Treating me like a child again...

I unconsciously purse my lips, but Owens chuckles and laughs at me.

"When is your birthday, Professor? I want to get you something too... Did you perhaps come of age last year!?"

"Huh? Yeah, I came of age around the beginning of last year."

Oh no...! I've always had the impression that he's quite mature since we met, so I had completely forgotten about his recent coming of age.

I received the perfect gift of magic at my baptism, and even today, which isn't a milestone year, I received such a wonderful magical tool...

I realized that I had never celebrated Julius's birthday, and the thought of my negligence made me dizzy.

"Why didn't you tell me?! What about the coming-of-age ceremony or celebrations?"

"I just had a casual coming-of-age ceremony by myself. My birthday isn't particularly worth celebrating, so don't worry about it."

Even if he says not to worry about it, I'll still worry. Certainly, big parties can be tiring, but being celebrated by a family like today is very heartwarming. When I think about how Julius spends each year alone, my chest tightens with a painful pinch.

"At least let me give you a gift. Coming of age is an important milestone, isn't it? Do you have anything you want?"

"I really don't need anything."

"It can be anything! Besides helping with magic, anything I can provide."

As we continue this fruitless exchange, Owens intervenes with a smile, suppressing his laughter.

"Julius-sama only knows how to obtain things by using others, so he's not used to receiving kindness. He was very puzzled at first when he was invited to dinner or given sweets and bread as souvenirs. So please gradually get him accustomed to it."

"...Is that so?"

Julius turned his face away with a pout, and his ears were slightly reddened. He seems to be blushing slightly. Could it be that he's embarrassed? Is he becoming a bit more human-like?

"Sigh... I'll think about it until next time."

"It's besides helping with magic!"

As Owens, who usually only serves, seemed to enjoy the dish with vegetables, he quickly went back to get his meal.

Next time, I'll make bento for Owens and Gardo too.

After that, I boasted to Didier about the bracelet and asked Hermes about the situation in the north. The ninth year of this life's birthday party turned out to be lively and enjoyable.

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