Ch. 5: Super Appraisal.
--<3rd PoV>--
"Ray-sama… you really gotta stay in bed a bit longer," Lilia pleaded, kneeling by the bedside, her crimson eyes wide with worry.
Her hands glowed with a soft green flicker—Healing Breeze, for the fifth damn time. She was fussing like he'd been half-dead, not just winded from the morning's mana backlash.
Ray sat up against the headboard, platinum blond hair spilling over his shoulders, catching the sunlight like molten silver. His jade-green eyes, glittering like polished gems, flicked to her with faint amusement.
"I'm fine, Lilia. Told you, I didn't black out. Popped back up in seconds."
"But you fainted, Ray-sama!" she huffed, voice spiking. "Even if it was just a minute, what if it happens again? Not just now—this also happened two nights ago! You always say you're fine, then go do something crazy!"
He raised a brow, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Trying out new abilities is something you ought to do."
"But, you collapsed."
"Nearly collapsed."
"Still collapsed!"
Ray sighed, leaning back. 'Hah, she's such a worrywart.' Mana backlash stung, sure, but he wasn't some frail kid coughing up blood. Lilia, undeterred, cast another Healing Breeze over his arms like she could nag his mana circuits into submission.
"That's number six, you know," Ray said, his grin sharpening. "Healing Breeze isn't fixing what's not broken."
Lilia blinked, then puffed her cheeks, silver hair shimmering as she tilted her head. "I-I don't care! It might help, and… it makes me feel better, okay?"
Her face—earnest, flushed, pink eyes sparkling with devotion—hit like a spell. Damn, she's come a long way in just two months. Not even the Six Emperors were this fast, were they?
"Fine, you win," Ray said, closing his eyes with a theatrical sigh. "You give me a lap pillow, and I'll rest till noon—oh but you gotta feed me as well."
"Eh?!" Lilia's face turned a shade of red that could shame a sunset, her bouncy breasts rising with a sharp breath, straining the fabric.
"You heard me."
"Y-Yes, Ray-sama!" she squeaked, scrambling up, her maid skirt swaying with a flustered skip. "I'll whip up something light and warm! Wait right there!"
As she bolted out with a skip, Ray let a lazy smile spread. 'Worrywart or not, she's got spirit.'
By noon, Ray was done humoring her. He stood, stretching, a simple coat slung over his shirt. The Dimensional Chat Group countdown ticked in his vision—20 hours still left. Whatever that thing was, it better be worth the hype.
Now was the time to apply the practical use of his third subskill. His mind was already on the capital's markets—metals, herbs, maybe something to stabilize his busted mana circuits. Rest is for suckers.
Lilia blocked the door, arms spread like a tiny barricade, her silver hair shimmering in the light, crimson eyes squinted with a tearful look and that same stubborn worry.
"Ray-sama, are you sure you should go out?"
"I gave you all morning, Lilia," Ray said, raising an eyebrow. "That's enough pampering for a lifetime."
Her lip quivered, then she clutched her skirt, puffing her cheeks in a dramatic pout. "But if something happens again, I—"
"Then come with me," Ray cut in, eyes glinting. "Keep up or get left behind."
"Eh?" Her pout vanished, head popping up.
"You're clinging like a lost puppy. Tag along in town while I work."
"I-I wasn't clinging!" she sputtered, then froze, face reddening as she recalled her earlier fussing. "... I'll grab my coat!"
The capital's streets buzzed with life—clattering horse carts, kids chasing balls through alleys, and the occasional shadowed stall where cloaked figures traded cursed relics, eyes darting like thieves. The sky was clear, a rare break after a week of gloom.
Lilia stuck close to Ray's side in the merchant quarter, her crimson eyes wide with wonder, silver hair catching the market's light like a beacon.
Still a far cry from the broken girl I bought, Ray thought, a flicker of pride hitting him.
...
"Ray-sama, look! Rainbow pearls from Sapphire Lake!" Lilia pointed at a stand with glimmering orbs under enchantment.
"Unstable," Ray said, not glancing. "Dissolve under high mana."
"Oh… I didn't know," she murmured, stealing a glance at him.
"Pretty, though."
"You think so?" Her smile bloomed, bright as the sun.
They stopped at a fancy shop, its silver sign carved with fancy letters:
Sephia merchant Association
The door chimed, and a balding man in his late 40s, Gon, the manager of Lushthorn City's association branch, rushed out.
"Master Virelios!" he beamed. "An honor! What brings you today?" Gon said with a cheerful smile, spotting Virelios's approach.
Ray was his only stable, major customer in this town for the last year and a half. Without him, the owner would've shuttered this branch long ago, leaving Gon accountable—either jobless or demoted to a mere staff member at another city branch.
To put it bluntly, Ray was his savior.
Ray nodded. "Restocking materials. This'll be my last time in this shop, so give me five times the usual."
"Five times the usual! I'll get it done as fast as I can!" Gon said, excitement clear in his voice. But then Ray's later words sank in, hitting like a thunderbolt.
'Wait! Did he say last time in this shop?!'
He couldn't believe their only VIP customer in this backwater city was saying he wouldn't return—ever.
This was a big deal. Without Ray, Gon's great deals would dry up next month.
Not every genius inventor had the Mage Tower bankrolling them to buy whatever they wanted, unlike Virelios.
"But why?! If anyone in our store displeased you, please tell me! I'll do my best to ensure no inconvenience!" Gon pleaded.
"That's not it. I'm leaving town in a few weeks. My work here's done," Ray said, voice flat.
"This…" Gon fell silent, swallowing his protests. He wasn't some cute girl who could act coy and spoiled to sway Ray.
So, there was only one thing he could do. Accept his fate.
'Sigh, so be it. I will just apply for transfer tomorrow.' He thought with a melancholic expression on his face.
As Gon was thinking how unfortunate the day was, Ray was thinking of what extra he should buy for his last shopping spree.
"Ok so got anything interesting on clearance?"
"Of course!" the manager clapped. "Platinum Steel herbs, stardust seeds, and bloodflower sapling's leaves—your usual. And browse all you like. Since it is our last deal i will give you a 50% discount on all you buy."
With a smirk Ray replied, "Then I won't be polite."
Ray moved through the shop with ease, Lilia trailing, her fingers brushing shelves like a kid in a candy store.
"You come here a lot, Ray-sama," she said, smiling at a jar of fairy-glass beads. "It feels old but… magical."
"They don't sell garbage," Ray replied. "Rare in this pigsty of a district."
'Of course they don't.' Lilia rolled her eyes, 'Even if it is a branch store, it is still of the continent's number one merchant association.'
Ray grabbed a dull, gray chunk from a bin labeled: 'Clearance – 1 copper per stone.'
Super Appraisal – Activated
[Earth Attribute Mana Stone (unrefined)]Value: 3 gold (market) / 20 gold (refined).Contains traces of pure earth element. Can substitute for high-grade spell catalysts and Leaf-Shroud's crystal flower herbs in potion making.]
Ray's lips curled. Jackpot.
Lilia tilted her head. "Ray-sama? That's just a rock."
"It's a rock," he said, eyes scanning, "that'll outshine noble-grade catalysts once I'm done with it."
"Eh?! Really?!"
Ray tossed three out of forty fragments into his basket. "Manager! How many of these useless stones you got?"
"T-Two crates!" the manager stammered, eyes gleaming. "We were gonna toss 'em!"
"I'll take 'em all."
Lilia blinked, confused but trailing as Ray grabbed wilted green stalks from another shelf.
"Why these?" she asked.
"Amplify flame-reactive elements," Ray said. "Replace Dragonroot with the right solvent."
"But Dragonroot's crazy expensive!"
"These cost three silver."
Her jaw dropped.
Outside, purchases set for delivery, Ray walked with a smug bounce. The sun was warm, the breeze light.
"My ability lets me see what others miss," Ray said, flicking a ring into his pouch. "Items, people, failures—doesn't matter. I appraise the truth."
Lilia froze, eyes wide. "Ray-sama… you've got appraisal magic?"
"Something like that."
"That's insane!" she blurted, hands flapping. "You're already smart, talented, and now this?! So unfair!"
Ray smirked. Hah, unfair? Try being born with brains and no mana circuits to match.
"It's why I'm the boss, Lilia."
She pouted, crimson eyes glinting. "Then I'll work twice as hard so I can become one of the subjects you can be proud of!"
"Looking forward to it," Ray said, his jade-green gaze gleaming.
Ray told Gon to deliver everything—every last stone, herb, and seed in stock—to his mansion. Then, with a flick of his cloak, he and Lilia wandered deeper into the shop, where shelves brimmed with dazzling but ultimately worthless trinkets: glowing orbs, jeweled daggers, enchanted mirrors.
Small-time nobles and middle-class adventurers drooled over this junk. But Ray wasn't here for spectacle—he was after true treasure hidden in plain sight, the kind only his evolved appraisal could sniff out like a bloodhound.
They continued down the aisles—two silhouettes, one golden, the other silver—side by side, scanning the wares like wolves in a flock of sheep.
Ray's eyes casually swept across the luxurious displays, a small frown tugging at his lips.
This shop is extravagant to a fault, he thought. 'Even though hardly anyone comes here, they still stock so much. No attendants watching over anything either… just letting visitors browse as they like. Wasteful. Even if the items are cheap or useless, this kind of behavior speaks of either arrogance or deep pockets.'
Behind him, Lilia was entranced by the gleam of polished stones and softly glowing charms, her red eyes sparkling. She twirled around at times, a soft smile playing on her lips as she explored the shelves, her maid uniform—black-and-white fabric hugging her curvy waist and full, bouncy breasts—swayed along with her silver hair bounced around with each movement.
This all looks so beautiful! she thought, utterly absorbed.
But Ray, noticing her slowing steps and how she lagged behind, narrowed his eyes.
"Lilia," he called lightly.
No answer. She was too busy examining a floating lotus-shaped lamp, her mind clearly elsewhere.
'Hah, like a kid in a candy shop', Ray thought, rolling his eyes.
With a quiet sigh, Ray stepped toward her—and with a swift motion, *Thump*—his hand slammed onto the wall right beside her head.
Lilia yelped, spinning to find Ray looming over her, his jade-green eyes glinting with a dangerous mix of amusement and challenge.
His cloak framed his lean, sculpted frame, and his face—sharp jawline, cheekbones like carved marble—was close enough to make her heart lurch.
"Caught you slacking, kitten," he said, voice a low and calm voice, but that whisper sent a shiver down her spine.
Her breath hitched as his free hand drifted up, fingers grazing her cheek to tuck a strand of silver hair behind her pointed elf ear.
The touch was light, deliberate, and her crimson eyes widened, a flush blooming across her pale skin like wildfire.
"R-Ray-sama…" she stammered, her large breasts rising with a sharp, trembling breath, straining the fabric of her uniform.
He leaned in, lips just a breath away from her ear.
He leaned closer, lips brushing just shy of her ear, his warm breath teasing the sensitive tip. "You're supposed to be protecting me, aren't you?" he whispered, each word a slow, molten taunt.
"But you've been prancing around like a kitten chasing shiny things."
Her ears twitched, and he exhaled ever so softly against one.
"Want me to teach you what happens to little kittens who wander too far?"
The breath against her sensitive ear was too much, at the same time teasing her sensitive tip with his fingers.
A tremble ran through her, and her knees nearly buckled. Her body flushed, heat spreading like wildfire from her ears to her toes.
Her crimson eyes glazed, turning heart-shaped, and her lips parted in a soft, panting gasp. "…pant… Ray-sama… pant… please… not my ears… pant…"
Ray paused, blinking. Then he studied her expression—half-lidded eyes, flushed cheeks, trembling lips—and frowned slightly in realization.
Ray froze, his smirk faltering as he clocked her reaction—flushed cheeks, trembling lips, eyes half-lidded with something dangerously close to ecstasy.
'Holy hell', he thought, 'Right... elves are especially sensitive around their ears.'
He'd heard the rumors before, thought them exaggerated. It seemed especially fake when there were no rumor or talk about this in this world... maybe cause elves are in super minority.
So, he hadn't heard the rumors, sure, but seeing Lilia practically melt under a whisper?
'That's a whole new level of sensitiveness.'
'Even if she is an elf… this is kind of ridiculous. Right?' Or does her being a Demon elf have something to do with it?
She looked ready to melt.
Her body quivered, her curvy frame swaying like it might collapse. Ray's teasing grin vanished, replaced by a flicker of awkward guilt. 'Okay, maybe I overdid it.'
Reluctantly, he pulled back his hand, suppressing the teasing that bubbled up in his throat. They were still in public, after all.
He pulled back, hand dropping from the wall, but Lilia's legs gave out, and she pitched forward with a soft whimper.
Ray caught her in a flash, his arm hooking her slender waist, pulling her against his chest. Her silver hair spilled over his arm, her crimson eyes dazed, breaths hot and ragged against his cloak. Her fingers clutched weakly at his shirt, her body radiating heat like a furnace.
"Sorry, it's my bad" Ray said, trying to hide a lite blush which made it's way to his face somehow. "I didn't realize… you were that sensitive."
But Lilia didn't reply. Her fingers clutched weakly at his cloak, her mind still spinning. She didn't move away, didn't pull back—only clung to him in silence, trying to calm the storm he'd unknowingly unleashed inside her.
__________________________________
To Be Continued:
[Word Count: 2350]
A/N: Sorry for the late update guys, college assignments and project submissions were pretty wild this week with the sem exams coming near. Didn't have the motivation or time to write at all.
Next time will try to not make to much of a gap between update time.
So give dat powO stonE