Once we finished our tea, Rosmiel-san led me down to the basement. It caught me off guard when a section of what I’d assumed was an ordinary floor reconfigured itself into a staircase. Logically, I knew such things were well within the realm of magic, yet the physical shift felt uniquely "fantasy" in a way that teleportation never did.
Descending the wooden stairs brought us into a vast subterranean space. The area was brightly lit, and the atmosphere reminded me of a high-end art museum. Vases and urn-like vessels were displayed with meticulous spacing between each piece.
"This is incredible! There’s so much here."
"This is the pottery room," Rosmiel-san explained.
"Pottery? Does that mean there are other rooms as well?"
"Yes. There are separate areas for paintings and sculptures. Each medium requires its own display style. When you're appreciating fine art, the angle and intensity of the lighting are vital factors."
"I see..."
So she had organized the entire collection by medium. If that was the case, the sheer scale of this basement was staggering. Just this pottery room alone was massive; the careful arrangement of the exhibits gave it the professional air of a world-class gallery.
"...Wait, is this the Five-colored Pottery from the Kingdom of Sinfonia?"
"It’s impressive that you recognize Five-colored Pottery, Kaito-kun, especially since you’re an otherworlder. Are you a student of ceramics?"
"Oh, no. An acquaintance of mine who loves pottery mentioned it once... personally, I’m a total amateur."
I spoke up because the color palette looked familiar, and my guess earned me a look of genuine admiration from Rosmiel-san. However, since I’d only picked up the barest essentials, I made sure to clarify my lack of expertise before the conversation went over my head. This wasn't the time to pretend I was some cultured connoisseur—and even if I had tried to show off, I wouldn't have stood a chance against her level of knowledge.
"I see... actually, I’m sorry. This isn't Five-colored Pottery."
"Eh? It isn't?"
"No. This is called Four-colored Pottery, fired in Sinfonia about 340 years ago. As you noted, Five-colored Pottery is the most famous export, but many offshoots have emerged throughout history. This specific style was created by intentionally omitting purple from the standard palette. Because Five-colored Pottery uses both red and blue pigments, the challenge was in layering the tones without inadvertently creating purple. The technique proved too difficult to maintain and eventually died out."
"I see. Now that you point it out... there really isn't a hint of purple anywhere."
The Five-colored Pottery of Sinfonia traditionally utilized green, yellow, red, purple, and blue. By excluding one, it became Four-colored Pottery.
"Is it the work of a famous artist?"
"This piece was actually fired by the King of the Kingdom of Sinfonia at the time. He was a monarch with a profound devotion to the arts, and he was the visionary who laid the groundwork for the modern North District of the Royal Capital. Relative to the rest of my collection, it’s a fairly recent acquisition, but it’s a wonderful piece brimming with the ambition to create something new."
"Wow... this might be a strange question, but what would something like this be worth?"
"When I purchased it, the price was 20,000R. However, its value has appreciated significantly since then; it would likely fetch around 45,000R today."
Forty-five thousand R... that was roughly four and a half million yen. Fine art really was in a league of its own. Even if I had seen this urn sitting in a regular shop next to common dishes, I never would have guessed it carried such a price tag.
"...I was just thinking, the vast majority of people probably wouldn't understand the true value of a piece like this. Even if this pottery were sitting in my own house, I doubt I would have realized its significance unless someone explained it to me."
"Art can be quite esoteric," she agreed.
"True. But thanks to your explanation, Rosmiel-san, I feel like I finally understand its value—or rather, what makes it so special. I think art pieces are truly fortunate when they end up with owners like you who truly appreciate them. I mean, the person who created this is amazing, but the person who finds it and can convey its intent and worth to others is just as incredible."
When I said that, Rosmiel-san looked at me with a mix of surprise and admiration. Then, a gentle smile lit up her face. She reached out and began stroking my hair as she spoke.
"...I really love that perspective. You truly are a kind soul, Kaito-kun."
"O-Oh, thank you. E-Err... Rosmiel-san?"
"Eh? Ah!? I-I’m so sorry! I just... I was so happy that I acted without thinking..."
"N-No, it’s fine."
I wasn't entirely sure what was "fine," but she seemed to have patted my head purely on instinct. She pulled away in a flustered panic, and I was left giving a clumsy, confused response.
Needless to say, an indescribably awkward silence lingered between us for a long moment afterward.
Serious-senpai: "...Ha... hahaha."
???: "Oh? You’re looking surprisingly composed. Have you finally built up some resistance after everything you've been through?"
Serious-senpai: "Yeah, it’s no problem. After all, I’m 'mock battle, 2000 times, special'... I’m perfectly fine."
???: "...She’s definitely not fine. Her brain has basically turned into carbonated water at this point..."