"Ares, what are you going to use that magic stone for?" Silvia asked with interest.
"I intend to make a weapon out of it," I replied casually, my gaze still fixed on the black onyx magic stone.
"...."
"...And what kind of weapon are you talking about? You didn't want to make a sword out of that, did you?" Silvia inquired, confused.
"Yeah, I want to make two-bladed shurikens with this," I stated.
!?
"...You have got to be kidding me, right? Silvia inquired in a concerned tone.
Instead of responding to her, a huge grin spread across my face as I visualized my new weapon.
"...."
"Is he for real?" As she noticed Ares's expression, Silvia muttered.
"Shurikens? Are you referring to the weapons used by ninjas in the anime? Irethiel inquired amused.
"It won't be exactly the same, but something close," I replied.
"...The magic stone with the properties of enhancing mental strength and then turning them into shurikens, I think I understand what you're trying to do here," Irethiel stated with a nod.
!?
"How come I can't understand what you're saying? Am I the dumb one here or is there something that I don't know of?" Silvia was perplexed.
"First and foremost, there can only be one dumb person in the room, and you are certainly not dumb," I said with a chuckle as we both turned our gazes to Irethiel.
!?
"H-Huh? Do you mean to say I'm the stupid one here? Without you having to explain, didn't I already deduce your intentions regarding that magic stone?
...so why am I the stupid one in this situation while this vampire was the one who was unable to understand anything? "Irethiel strongly objected.
I held back my laughter as I heard Irethiel's justification and responded.
"It's because she was unaware of my psychokinesis."
"...."
"...Eh? What psychokinesis?" Silvia inquired, perplexed.
Rather than responding, I decided to demonstrate it to her.
I then activated the magic circle by moving my mana around on my left hand, and soon the transparent magic circle started to glow blue.
After which, I focused my attention on the black onyx stone, and it instantly began to float in the air under the power of my will.
I then moved the stone in a circle around Silvia.
—Float!
"W-What? Is that your newly acquired skill?" Astonished, Silvia asked while her eyes were glued on the floating magic stone.
"...Yes, it's something of the sort," I responded.
"Wow, that looks really cool! I can see why you wanted to make shurikens out of it, though daggers would also be a good option as well.
However, I respect your choice," Silvia stated.
"...."
To be completely honest, I did consider using it to create daggers, but after testing both with daggers and shurikens, I found that I had more control over the latter.
So, in the end, I went with shurikens.
Silvia spoke again while I was thinking.
"Do you want me to assist you in locating a skilled craftsman who can custom-make the shurikens of your choice? I am aware of a skilled dwarf craftsman who can do what you requested," Silvia said excitedly.
"...I appreciate your offer, but I already have someone in mind for crafting them, and if I'm not mistaken, she'll be here any second now," I replied, smiling.
"Eh? What do you mean by that, Ares? Is there a renowned craftsman present in this auction hall?" Considering that no one can enter this auction house without an invitation, Silvia asked, confused.
However, as we were having a conversation, we suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Yes?" Silvia inquired, her brow furrowed.
"...."
There was a brief pause as the person who had knocked on the door did not immediately respond.
"Ah, A-Actually, I'm a guest from the room next door," We heard a woman's voice.
'Yep, she's finally arrived. The person who will craft me what I require,' I muttered inwardly, a huge grin on my face.
"...From Room number 1?" Silvia inquired.
"Y-Yes!" exclaimed the woman.
"...So, what exactly do you want?" Without making an effort to invite her inside, Silvia asked her directly.
"...."
"Erm," the woman didn't say anything for a moment as she didn't expect that tone.
"...The door is open, you may enter," I said abruptly, and after hearing me Silvia stared at me blankly.
!?
"T-Then please excuse my intrusion!" The woman spoke before walking in.
And when she walked in, we noticed that the woman appears to be in her twenties, with long blonde hair, standard blue eyes, and average-looking features.
"...."
"...She is camouflaged," Irethiel told me as soon as the woman entered the room, but of course, I already knew that since I knew who this woman was.
"Hello!—"
She greeted us and gave Silvia and me a quick glance as she entered the room. However, when she caught sight of me, her eyes widened in shock.
"A-Ares?" She muttered.
!?
"...Do you know who he is?" Silvia asked, her brow furrowed, as she overheard her.
"Of course I recognize him; who hasn't heard of Ares the Executioner? As he is now regarded as nothing less than a celebrity," The woman responded by awkwardly giggling.
"...."
"...That makes sense," Silvia said quietly.
"So, what brings you here...miss?" With a smile on my face, I inquired.
"Oh, my name is...Lia, that's right, my name is Lia," she pondered for a moment before answering as if making up a fictitious name on spot.
"...."
'How obvious can she be?' I pondered.
"... And I just came to check on a person who purchased the onyx stone; if I'm not being impolite, could you please tell me why you were so interested in that stone that you bid more than five times its estimated price?" Lia inquired, her gaze drawn to Silvia.
!?
"...It wasn't me who bought that stone," Silvia explained as she felt Lia's curious gaze on her.
"Heh?" She made an awkward sound when she heard Silvia and then turned her attention to me.
"So...was it Ares— er, Sir Ares who bought that stone?" Lia wondered.
"...Yes, that stone was purchased by me. Is there something wrong with that?" As I sat on the sofa, I inquired.
"...."
"...."
"...N-No, there's no problem with that; I just wasn't expecting you to be so interested in that stone," Lia quickly explained.
"Don't worry, I understand what you mean; after all, these kinds of stones are mostly used to make jewelry for women, right?" I inquired as I sat on the sofa, my fingers intertwined.
"...Y-yes, that's right," Lia agreed with a nod.
"And I believe you would have made a lovely necklace and earrings with this magic stone if you had purchased it, correct?" I said with a smile on my face.
Lia's eyes widened in surprise as she heard me, her mouth slightly open.
Silvia, on the other hand, simply stared at me in bemusement, unable to comprehend the situation as she saw Lia's expression.
"...."
'It could just be a coincidence, right?' Yes, it's just a coincidence!' Lia shook her head and convinced herself to come out of her thoughts.
"May I inquire as to what you intend to do with that stone?" Lia questioned, with a serious expression.
"Hey, that's impolite of you to inquire about such things; what does it matter to you, since he can do whatever he wants with that stone?"
That shouldn't bother you! Even he wanted to use that stone as a paperweight!" Silvia remarked, her face displeased as she looked at Lia.
!?
"...S-Sorry for being rude, I didn't realize and just asked away because I was curious what made him bid so much on that stone," Lia apologized quickly as she heard Silvia's remark.
"Don't worry, Silvia; it won't matter even if I tell her what I intend to do with this stone," I said abruptly while smiling.
"Heh! Ares, Are you sure you're serious? We don't even know who she is, so you don't have to answer her," Silvia stated dissatisfiedly as she looked at me.
"...."
But after observing my smile, she said, "Tsk, Alright, do whatever you want."
"I'm going to make throwing shurikens out of that," I replied, still smiling.
!?
"...Do you mean the novels' ninja shurikens?" Lia inquired, perplexed.
"Yes, but it will only have two blades and be the size of my palm," I replied.
"...."
"...Why not make it into simple rings that, when needed, can be transformed into throwing shurikens by forming two blades from its sides?
As a result, it can be used as a secret weapon, and you will be able to make better use of the stone's properties."
Lia abruptly stated and walked over to the sofa, where she sat across from me.
She quickly took a scrap of paper and a pen from her storage ring and began sketching a rough design of the shuriken she had just described.
"...."
"...."
On the other hand, Silvia and I didn't bother her and let her carry on with what she was doing.
Meanwhile, Silvia just stared at Lia, realizing why I had declined her offer to introduce me to her craftsmen.
And what I mean by saying "I already have a person in mind,"
'So it was her he was referring to?' Silvia thought to herself.
***