Chapter 27

While waiting for the doctor to arrive, I drew a picture of a gem.

Complex cuts are difficult, so I drew round ones. Cabochon cuts, I think they're called. I drew those. Circles and ellipses, with variations. I drew about ten at once, in a rush.

First, a garnet.

A translucent hemisphere casting a colored shadow. I've practiced drawing marbles and lenses before, so this was easy. It materialized without a problem.

Next, a turquoise.

It has the color of a large bird's eggshell. However, it's difficult to depict the texture of opaque turquoise. So, I drew black-brown patterns, referencing the marble pillars in Faye's house. It was a bit difficult, but it also materialized successfully.

Next is... amethyst. This one, I drew in the shape of a hexagonal prism.

The vivid purple petals I found while chasing birds in the forest. The paint I made from those petals comes in handy here. Mixing in other paints, like pink, I used watercolors to their full potential. When drawing something transparent, watercolors are really strong. ...So, this one also materialized successfully.

"...They're beautiful, aren't they?"

Faye peered over and sighed in admiration.

"Then, I'll give them to you."

I picked up three garnets from the pile on the desk and placed them in Faye's hand. Since I used the crimson paint made from the scales of the red dragon, which was born from our blood, it's kind of half his.

"Hey, is that okay?"

"Yeah. I can draw more."

Next, I want to try drawing more complex cuts. What kind should I try? Ah, but it might be difficult without a real sample. Hmm...

Just then.

The window was tapped, tap, tap. Looking over, there was the red dragon.

"Oh, what's up?"

When Faye opened the window and reached out, the red dragon rubbed its head against Faye's hand, showing affection. Even though it's a dragon, it makes such gestures, so it's cute.

"...Huh? What's wrong with you?"

It's no wonder Faye was flustered. The red dragon stuck its head further into the window, leaning out. It was a bit dangerous, mainly because the window frame might break.

I wondered what was wrong as I watched the red dragon... The red dragon seemed to be making a cooing sound, stretching its neck to try to touch Faye's other hand.

...Ah.

"Maybe this?"

I took one of the garnets still on the desk and held it out to the red dragon.

The red dragon seemed to say, "Yes, that's it," and made a cooing sound.

"Ah... I see. That's right. You probably want to go back into a magic stone, don't you?"

While saying this, Faye gently placed the garnet he was holding back on the desk.

"But this is too small for you to fit in."

When Faye said this, the red dragon made a sad cooing sound. ...Hmm.

"Hey, Faye. Can any stone be used for a summoned creature to enter?"

"Huh? No, not just any stone. It has to be a magic stone with magic power. And each summoned creature has its preferences."

...I see. Yeah.

"Um, did the red dragon, maybe, like this stone...?"

In other words, could it be a magic stone?

Faye told me there was a simple way to test it, so I tried it right away.

"This is a magic stone lamp. It lights up using the magic power of a magic stone. ...Right now, it's filled with scrap magic stones, so I'll take them all out."

Faye brought a beautiful hand-held lamp and opened the lid at the base. Then, rough, murky-colored pebbles came out. These seem to be 'scrap magic stones.' They probably have magic power but aren't beautiful, maybe because they have a lot of impurities.

"Wait a moment. I'll burn off all the magic power left in the lamp."

Faye lit the lamp and left it for a while. ...In less than a minute, the lamp's flame went out.

"Ugh... It feels wasteful, but is it really okay?"

"Yeah. I can draw more."

Then I put one gem into the lamp, closed the lid, and lit it.

And then.

"Wow."

With a puff, the flame lit up. ...A brighter flame than before illuminated the surroundings.

The lamp has beautiful designs, which glow through the flame, making it look very pretty. The shadows on the desk where the lamp is placed also become beautiful, as they are filtered through the lamp's cover.

The light flickers with the flame, which is fun to watch. It's nice. I want to draw this someday.

"Wow... Umm..."

On the other hand, Faye was groaning.

"...Are you wearing a seal right now?"

"No."

I wanted to materialize the gem, so I drew it without wearing a seal. That way, the gem would be completed faster.

"Try wearing a seal and drawing it."

"Huh? Okay."

Well, it's fine. As Faye suggested, I put the seal back on and drew the gem again.

The gem was drawn and materialized. Faye picked it up and offered it to the red dragon, who was still looking outside the window, wanting something.

"Here."

However, the red dragon turned away. The cooing sound seemed like a protest.

"Does it not like this one?"

When Faye asked, the red dragon cooed and leaned out. ...It seemed to be more interested in the first gem I drew, which was still on the desk.

"In other words, when you pour more magic power into the gem than just to materialize it, it becomes a magic stone!"

"That's right."

I see. That's a big deal.

I still don't fully understand what a magic stone is, but it must be a big deal, since Faye is flustered.

"Wow, this is quite a big deal... Ugh, Togo, you could become a royal magician or the world's best gem merchant..."

"I don't want to be either."

"Of course not. I can tell just by looking at you."

Although Faye said this with a disappointed face, it can't be helped. I don't want to be a royal magician or a gem merchant.

But at least, the things I've drawn and materialized so far... might have been a bit of a big deal. The gem turned into a magic stone, so maybe our house has become a magic house or something. I'm not sure, though.

While Faye was pondering what to do with the gems on the desk, I looked at the red dragon still waiting outside the window.

When I reached out, the red dragon showed affection like it did with Faye. It's cute.

...The red dragon kept staring at the gem on the desk. The cooing sound seemed a bit pitiful.

I don't fully understand what a summoned creature is, but... if it doesn't have a home, that must be very sad.

"Hey, Faye."

"Hmm? What's up?"

So, I decided to offer.

"Can I draw a stone for the red dragon to live in? A bigger one."

Faye, after a moment of surprise... smiled broadly and answered.

"I was just about to ask you to do that!"

So, I drew a large gem.

An oval shape, about 5 cm long. The color ranged from deep crimson to bright orange, with various hues shimmering. ...I remembered the lamp's flame from earlier. When the red dragon first came to this world, it breathed fire. The color was beautiful, so I wanted to recreate it as much as possible in the gem.

"Wow... It's beautiful."

Faye picked up the gem, which looked like it had a fire burning inside, and held it up to the light, his eyes shining. The gem somewhat resembled Faye's eyes.

"Hey, red dragon! Do you like this? What do you think?"

Then, when Faye offered the gem to the red dragon... the red dragon headbutted the gem.

With a tap, the moment the red dragon headbutted the gem.

"Whoa."

The red dragon's body was smoothly absorbed into the gem and disappeared.

...Is this okay?

"Alright. Come out now."

Then, Faye held the gem out the window, and the red dragon came out again.

...How does it get in and out?

It's a very mysterious sight...

"Togo! The red dragon likes this magic stone too!"

The red dragon was going in and out of the gem, doing somersaults outside the window. It must be having fun.

"I'm glad it likes it."

I was a bit tired from focusing, but watching the red dragon's joy made the fatigue disappear.

Yeah, it's good.

"Alright, let's go!"

Then, Faye said, holding the gem with the red dragon inside.

"Huh? Go where?"

When I wondered what he meant, Faye started laughing.

"To town! We need to buy food, right? Did you forget?"

...Oh.

That's right. The reason I started drawing gems was for that.

I wanted to sell the gems, get money, and buy things for myself. I had forgotten while drawing.

"Um, I'll wrap the gems I drew."

"Ah... Togo, about that."

Just as I was about to draw a small bag or something and hold a pencil, Faye said,

"Probably one will be enough."