The aftermath played out as follows.
Rest and the others made their way back to the surface, dispatching the remaining centipedes along the way. Without their queen to lead them, the insects were scurrying about in total disarray, making them easy pickings.
The carcasses were hauled away by a recovery team Andrew had sent in. As it turned out, the centipede carapaces were ideal for crafting armor. The Adventurer Guild bought them up for a staggering sum—enough to purchase a sprawling mansion in the Royal Capital’s Noble District, even after the profits were split three ways.
But the true haul was the Rainbow Crystals.
As a token of his gratitude, Andrew presented Rest with an ample supply of the gems. It was more than enough to make six engagement rings; in fact, there was enough to craft twenty. Between the crystal reward and the money from the carapace sales, Rest had come away with a profit that far outweighed the effort involved.
"No, you were truly a lifesaver. I can't thank you enough, Lord Clover," Andrew said, his face glowing with satisfaction when Rest delivered the final report. "Please, take it without reservation. The deposits are vast, so there’s no need to worry about the cost."
"I’ll certainly take you up on that, but... are you sure the remaining centipedes won't be an issue?" Rest asked.
"Ah, they’ve lost all coordination without their queen. I’m having adventurers hunt them down while we continue mining. If anything, my biggest concern is whether the adventurers might try to make off with the Rainbow Crystals. I’m making sure everyone is thoroughly searched whenever they enter or leave the mine shaft."
"That sounds like a headache. Though, these really are beautiful stones," Rest said, narrowing his eyes as he held a large Rainbow Crystal up to the light.
True to its name, the gem shimmered with seven distinct colors, the hues shifting and dancing with every change in the light's angle. Even back on Earth, there had been stones like alexandrite that changed color, but this was on another level entirely. It was likely due to the high concentration of mana within the crystal.
Mana has a profound impact on the natural world, Rest mused. It brings magic to life, mutates plants and animals into monsters, and even works strange wonders on the minerals of the earth.
"Did you know?" Andrew asked. "Rainbow Crystals are often used as protective charms. Legend has it they have the power to ward off evil."
"Given that a swarm of monsters made their nest right on top of the vein, that’s a hard legend to believe," Rest remarked dryly.
"Well, you have a point there. Regardless, this means we can both give something wonderful to the people we care about."
"Someone you care about? Does that mean Your Highness has a gift to give as well?"
Andrew didn't have a formal fiancé. There had been rumors once of a match with Celestine, but those had long since evaporated. The gossip mill claimed he was involved in a scandalous, forbidden romance with someone of a different social class, but no one knew for sure.
"I’ll leave that to your imagination," Andrew said with a coy smile. "But I will admit there is someone precious to me. That’s why I’m so grateful to you. Thanks to your help, I’ll be able to see the one I love smile."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"I wonder what I should get... A ring might get crushed the moment they swing their fists, so perhaps a pendant is the better choice? I’m sure those seven-colored gems will look magnificent against those muscles."
"..."
Swing their fists. Look good on those muscles.
The comment was certainly... intriguing. It raised a lot of questions, but Rest’s intuition screamed at him to leave it alone. If he went poking around in that particular bush, he wouldn't just find a snake; a dragon would likely come roaring out.
Well, I mean... there are women who are great at martial arts, right? And muscles aren't just for men, obviously. Some guys probably have a thing for muscular women, right? Rest tried to rationalize it.
"I'm going to commission a jeweler I know to process the stones," Andrew offered. "If you’d like, I can have yours done at the same time."
"...Yes, please. Six rings, if you would."
Despite a sudden, inexplicable chill running down his spine, Rest nodded and accepted Andrew's proposal.