250 Just Like a Boy

A mage’s staff was a piece of expensive equipment, even within the circles of Noblesse Oblige.

The reason for that was clear: their rarity was off the charts.

After carving out a piece of mana-rich wood, the material had to undergo special processing. Even for the most skilled blacksmith, there was always a chance the mana would simply evaporate from the staff during the forging process. It didn't just require high-level technical skill; you needed a fair amount of luck, too.

Of course, this world followed the same rules as the Original Story.

A rough estimate of the staff Carta always carried suggested it was worth at least five large gold coins. To put that into perspective, it was enough to buy a decent house in the Royal Capital. Her staff was an outlier, though; most people carried something more reasonably priced.

Depending on the individual, some opted to attach blades to their staves, like Sierra’s scythe. However, unless the caster possessed an exceptionally high mana capacity or a powerful Gift, the weapon would shatter in an instant.

I owned a staff from House Fanscent, but honestly, if you weren't proficient in Flight Magic, the mana efficiency was terrible. It was fine if I treated it as a simple tool for transportation, but in a world where I never knew when or where I might be attacked, its usefulness was limited.

Despite those drawbacks, magic staves were something almost everyone in this world yearned for.

And the biggest reason for that was—

...The Falcon New Version 2000, huh? I had no idea a new model had been released.

It was because they were just so cool.

They featured designs that charmed people regardless of age or gender—a sophisticated, timeless form that one could never tire of looking at. There was also a certain sense of prestige that came from owning something so rare.

I wasn't interested in that sort of thing myself, of course, but the masses tended to love it. Honestly, I didn't see the appeal at all.

"Cynthia-san, Weiss-sama surprisingly seems to like this kind of thing, doesn't he?"

"It appears so. But seeing him gaze at the staves like a little boy is quite wonderful."

We had arrived at the largest shop in the city.

Magic staves lined the walls, their tips featuring intricate craftsmanship or embedded gemstones meant to amplify mana. Naturally, one was allowed to bring a magic staff into the Noblesse Magic Academy, but since the goal there was to improve one's basic Gift, the school required a strict screening process before allowing students to use personal equipment.

The Dual Sword I used was a reward, making it an exception, though it had still gone through its own tedious screening process.

Regardless, the texture of this one... It’s good. It’s really, really good.

...I want it.

"You're right, Cynthia-san. He really does have the eyes of a young boy."

"Perhaps I should buy them all for him. Or perhaps I could simply buy the entire shop."

Unfortunately, the latest models had a fatal flaw: their combat durability was pathetic.

The staves in high-end shops like this were designed for use within the country, where the ambient mana density was high. Considering we might have to use them while actually fending off enemies, they just weren't a good fit for us.

I felt bad since Lilith had gone to the trouble of scouting the place for me, but it was time to move on.

"Let's go, Cynthia, Lilith. We're heading to the next shop."

I turned and made my way toward the exit.

"Weiss-sama has stopped at the entrance again."

"He's so cute. I want to give him every single staff in the world as a gift."