Despite already being struck by an overwhelming impact and taking considerable damage, Eris carefully took the desk clock out of the wooden box and placed it on the desk.
[……It’s so exquisite that it takes my breath away. I imagined it had been designed with a forest in mind, but even the feathers of the birds perched on the branches are intricately detailed. This is no ordinary craftsmanship.]
[Indeed. I’ve seen many works of art, but this piece wouldn’t seem out of place in a national museum.]
As the Marquis’ wife gazed intently at the desk clock, Marquis Hamilton nodded in agreement. Both of them, accustomed to viewing many art pieces due to their positions, were impressed by the exceptional quality of the clock.
The clock was surrounded by trees and animals from the forest, crafted with such meticulous detail that it was both intricate and refined in design. Despite its complexity, it functioned perfectly as a desk clock, showcasing the incredible skill of its maker.[The wood used for the clock is remarkable as well. I’ve never seen wood of this quality before.]
[……This is just my guess…… but I believe this might be from the World Tree.]
[Hyiih…… F- Father? A- Are you serious?]
[Yes, I once saw a wooden cup made from the World Tree at a party hosted by the nobility of Symphonia Kingdom, and this clock is strikingly similar. However, it seems like the creator made use of two different types of wood, with slightly varying textures…… It’s well-known that Miyama Kaito-sama owns a World Tree, so it’s possible that World King-sama’s World Tree might also have been used for this.]
The wooden cup that Marquis Hamilton had seen was a piece that Nebula and Illness had tried to discard as impractical, but Lilia had passed it on to a noble with a passion for collecting woodcrafts. Coincidentally, the two pieces he had seen were crafted by the same person.
Eris had no time to dwell on such matters. She paled even further upon hearing the Marquis’ words.
(A desk clock made not only with Midnight Crystal but also with the World Tree…… I- Is it really okay to use such a precious item for a desk accessory? N- No, but considering Kaito-sama’s intent in gifting it, it would be rude to just store it as an art piece, I suppose using it is the right thing to do……)Eris clutched her stomach in agony, overwhelmed by the thought of owning something that, let alone a family heirloom, could easily be designated a national treasure.
[……Father, is there a possibility that Kaito-sama mistakenly gave us something meant for his own use?]
[That’s highly unlikely. If it had been given to you simply as the clock, maybe, but it was clearly packaged, so it must have been prepared as a gift. Besides, the materials used for it make sense. Midnight Crystals are found in the Land of Death, and considering Kaito-sama’s close relationship with the Death King, he could easily obtain it. As for the World Tree, Kaito-sama should have no trouble acquiring it either.]
[While it would take us immense effort and resources to get even one piece, for Kaito-sama, it may not have required much effort at all…… It’s truly awe-inspiring to think about his capabilities.]
The materials used for the desk clock were leftovers from the time Kaito had made music boxes and accessories, but as the Marquis had surmised, acquiring such materials wasn’t much of a challenge for Kaito.
At that moment, the Marquis’ wife spoke, her eyes still fixed on the desk clock.
[……I wonder what powers this clock? I don’t see any part that looks like a key to wind it, and judging by its shape and size, is it a magic tool?]
[It’s highly likely that it’s a magic tool. But since there’s no visible mana crystal…… perhaps it’s hidden inside?]
When Eris picked up the desk clock and examined the bottom, she noticed that it was designed to come off when rotated. Cautiously, she removed the bottom and checked inside…… After putting it back together, she held her head in her hands.
[…………………………………………………………There’s a black magic crystal inside.]
[ [ ……………………….. ] ]
The Marquis and his wife both looked up at the sky with expressions of utter disbelief at Eris’ strained words. The mental strain on all three of them had already been immense, leaving them all feeling physically sick.
But then, another shock followed. At exactly 7 p.m., the desk clock underwent a change, and with eyes resembling those of a dead fish, Eris muttered.
[……The color of the decorative flowers changed…… What’s happening now……]
[I- It seems likely…… that the magic crystal is imbued with an enchantment that alters the decorative elements based on the time…… but perhaps, could it be that it changes every hour?]
As the voice of the astonished Marquis Hamilton echoed faintly in the background, Eris looked at the desk clock with a dry smile.
(……I can’t just declare this a national treasure and hand it over to the country, can I? It was a gift from Kaito-sama, after all. But Kaito-sama…… please, I beg you, show a little mercy or restraint next time……)
<Afterword>
Serious-senpai : [The biggest issue here is that Kaito originally commissioned it for his own use, so he didn’t hold back on the materials at all. Plus, Nebula made it with the highest level of craftsmanship. As a result, they ended up making multiple intricate versions, and one of those leftovers was given to Eris as a gift……]
? ? ? : [From Kaito-san’s perspective, he probably thought it was better to give it to someone than to just throw it away or leave it in his magic box. And since, in Kaito-san’s mind, they were just made from leftover materials, he completely forgot that the materials used for them hold an absurd amount of value in the eyes of the world.]
