Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic

Chapter 280 The Ownership of the Ring

"Please trust me, absolutely do not drink too quickly,"

Shard advised kindly as Miss Galina took the cup. The Duchess looked at him with a puzzled expression, then held the cup and sipped twice. With the action of swallowing, her fair throat moved slightly.

She heeded Shard's advice and only drank three sips before closing her eyes. A full half-minute later, she placed the cup on the coffee table:

"It has some effect."

Without any further comment, it seemed to have an effect, but it was not particularly noticeable.

Shard didn't bring up the matter of helping with healing again. After taking out the jewelry box with the necklace, he went back to the events that had occurred the previous night in the ruins.

He omitted crucial information about the fight, discussing only the outcome, but he still mentioned how he was grabbed by the neck and lifted by the vampire when the Ancient Witch's Golden Necklace suddenly lit up.

"There are two things that are wrong, first, I indeed had direct contact with him, but I did not have a severe allergic reaction; second, what's with the necklace glowing? Does this necklace have such a function?"

The black-haired Maid took the necklace out of the jewelry box and put it on for Miss Galina. The Duchess, however, was not surprised by this:

"This necklace endows the wearer with an amplified version of the Witch's Curse's negative traits, which are useless against a witch herself. Otherwise, a necklace meant to protect a witch's own self would actually intensify our curse, wouldn't it be ridiculous?"

"Useless against a witch herself, so I..."

Shard, surprised, thought of himself and said in his mind:

"You still claim you're not..."

[Listen further.]

"You're definitely not a witch. A witch's sensing of her own kind is even more sensitive than her reaction to men. My current guess is that your gender conceptually presents a blurry state—it can be male, it can be female, or it can be a witch. Hence, the witch's curse, gender-oriented magic potions, and this necklace all have peculiar reactions toward you,"

the Duchess said.

"No, no, I'm definitely a man,"

he supplemented in his mind "so says God," and then shook his head, not wishing to discuss the topic further:

"Then what was that golden light?" Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

"Of course, it was the Arcane Technique I left on the necklace to protect you. Why else would I insist that you not lend the necklace to anyone else? Just because I didn't want others touching my jewelry? Certainly, it's not just that. While my Arcane Technique was protecting you, it would react to anyone else who touched it, after all, I don't have the power to make it accurately identify who has touched the necklace."

Miss Galina said, and seeing that Shard wanted to express gratitude, she stopped him before he could speak:

"I've provided you with so much assistance because your action this time is of value. So, have you brought what I asked for?"

"Of course, I've brought it."

In front of the two ladies, Shard, using a handkerchief, restored the corpses of the Silver-Eyed One and Vampire Kind tied to his waist, and identified them:

"The one without a head is the Silver-Eyed One, whose head was vaporized. This one, whose original appearance is unclear, is a vampire identified by the Blood of Mercury people as Mr. Medis from the Blood Spirit School. Although the corpse is incomplete..."

Miss Galina sat up straight with a flush of excitement on her face:

"A vampire? Medis? Oh, I think I know who that is. It's useful, very useful."@@@@

Shard raised an eyebrow, picked up the ring, and brought it close to his finger, but there was no reaction:

"See, I am indeed male."

Relieved, Shard placed the ring back into the ring box on the coffee table; Miss Galina raised an eyebrow:

"What I mean is, put on the ring and recite the incantation 'The change from positive to negative is the beginning of a new life', and see what happens. I am quite curious if a man like you, one who does not trigger a witch's curse, can use a similar relic."

"No, sorry, I can't use it."

Shard shook his head in refusal; it was a matter of principle. He definitely did not want to become a woman.

"Try it, and I'll give you a reward. Like... a kiss?"

She tilted her head jokingly.

"No, no reward will do."

Shard continued to shake his head, not only because of the ring's negative traits but also because the ring's last two owners had met untimely deaths and because he had a psychological aversion, absolutely unwilling to become a woman.

Thinking Miss Galina would offer more tempting conditions or force him to wear the ring, he was surprised she let the matter go.

The Duchess said with regret:

"I see... well, alright then. But the ring is of no use to me, and even though Tifa is not yet a true witch, I don't want her to become a man. The 'Transmutation Ring' is yours, Detective, as a reward for showing your concern for me."

This strategic retreat was very effective; although Shard would not use the 'Transmutation Ring', he did not refuse to keep it temporarily. Strictly speaking, the ring was stolen property; not to mention selling it locally, even selling it at Coldwater Port City could likely lead the determined True God Church to apprehend all cultists. And selling it to the Academy, which exchanged information with the Church, would require explaining the origin of the ring, which would then lead back to the witches.

Miss Galina probably figured that the longer the ring stayed in Shard's hands, the more likely he was to use it.

The witch didn't try to hide her thoughts and waited rather curiously for Shard's decision. He pursed his lips in contemplation, his fingers on his knee trembled slightly, his expression twisted, but in the end, he leaned over and took the ring box from the coffee table into his hands.

After all, the ring was indeed valuable.

"Thank you for your generosity, I'll accept the ring... but I won't use it. After half a year, when things have calmed down, I'll sell it."

Shard emphasized again, and even the dark-haired maid standing behind Miss Galina couldn't help but smile at his demeanor.

"Detective, I never said you would use it."

The Duchess said jokingly, the maid's smile growing more pronounced:

"But remember, if you happen to use it by accident, let me know whether it works for you. Regardless of the result, I'll give you a sum... as an experimental fee. I like that term."

"No, I won't use it."

Shard emphasized again, then securely placed the ring box in his pocket.

"I believe you."

The Duchess was in a good mood now.

"I believe you too."

The whispering voice by his ear also carried a hint of mirth.