After all, the more, the merrier. Cassian heard that Ellys was good at healing spells. In his logic, a good healer was necessary. Valeriane seemed like a DPS, since she had a sword and all.
So, to balance it out, he would be the sub-DPS tank. Yes, his love of role-playing games was working to its fullest now that he was putting together a team.
"Yes, me too. ~Purificatio mentis."
"!!?"
At that moment, Ellys seemed to accept his offer as she clung to Cassian's arm.
Because of what had happened earlier, he almost pushed her away on reflex — especially after she spoke in that strange language.
But just then, Cassian felt that same sensation he'd experienced twice before. And it wasn't like the one from that strange ritual.
huuff, my heart almost jumped out of my chest there... luckily there are no more weird rituals.
"Hey, angel, what did you just whisper?"
"...Nothing."
"눈_눈 hmm, well, whatever. I really only wanted it to be just Cazzy and me, but the more, the merrier. And you, little Knigth, what will you do?"
"My name is Valeriane... haaah~. As Sir Cassian said, having prejudices is not a good attitude. And although I understand, I honestly still can't trust you. Still, I can put that aside and team up with you. I just hope you don't make me regret this decision."
"Yes, I won't. I'd like to keep talking, but we have to get back to the important stuff. They said the test would start shortly, right? Do you know what they meant? Do we have to go through that door for it to start, or has it already started?"
Naelune brought up the subject of the test again, and it was true that, although Plouthys had said it would begin shortly, some time had passed and nothing had changed.
Perhaps the test would only begin once they crossed the door. However, when Cassian looked in that direction, he saw the dragon lady who had simply remained in a corner, not approaching anyone, trying to open it.
"That woman looks strong, and she's not moving it an inch... I still don't know if that was a real god, since I've never heard of him, but he's really someone out of our league. It doesn't look like it can be opened with pure force. That number 'ten' must be a clue."
Valeriane, who also looked, focused more on the 'ten' above the door, as it seemed that force was not the solution. Cassian, who was thinking the same thing, agreed. And if he had to think about why a ten...
"This... Valeriane, I don't know, how about... well, if we count those three demons, there were ten of us, right? But now that... well, I disqualified them..."
"oh!, Cazzy, was it you? You said there were two more, what happened, did you disintegrate them or something? How strong are your punches? They're really strong, right! Did you disintegrate them?"
"Um... yes? I mean, no. To begin with, that was an unfortunate incident. The other two just left, but if we really need all ten, then... it's my fault..."
Cassian was actually a little taken aback by the reactions of the girls here. He was grateful just that they hadn't run away or cried in his presence, but it was another level when they even seemed indifferent, when it was mentioned that he had killed someone, and Naelune even seemed excited.
Well, he didn't think much of it either. He didn't really feel guilty, but he did feel uncomfortable. And even more so now that it might have hindered the rest from the beginning.
"No, Sir Cassian. Obviously that's not the case. Otherwise, this wouldn't be a test, as that person said... Nothing seems to be happening. Maybe it's some kind of riddle. We need to inspect the surroundings. But before that, since we have time, why don't we decide on a leader for—"
Rumbleer! Rumbleer!
Just then, Valeriane's words were cut off by a sudden tremor. Cassian couldn't help but feel that today had been nothing but earthquakes.
Now that he didn't know the source of the tremor, he immediately became alert and looked carefully at his surroundings.
He also had a slight warning: something told him that something was
"They're coming from below."
He couldn't pinpoint where, until Ellys said that. Cassian immediately turned his attention to the ground, and indeed, he could feel that what his instincts were warning him about was coming from there.
At that moment, something seemed to emerge from the ground right beneath him. Cassian didn't hesitate for a moment and...
Bang!
Without holding back, he stomped down hard, causing a loud noise and stopping whatever was trying to come out, scattering a strange liquid around.
Due to the state it was left in, whatever it was, it couldn't be identified. But it definitely stopped moving forever.
"Cass!"
At the call, he looked over at Ellys—who had first noticed the creatures. To begin with, they weren't very far from each other, but she had moved, as a creature had also emerged right below her and she had to dodge it.
This creature had emerged completely, and this time she could see it properly: it was a huge black spider, a meter and a half tall, with a thick body and short legs.
Its abdomen seemed to be cut in half vertically, so that the rear formed a smooth, perfectly rounded surface.
Ellys was trying to get away from the spider and circle around it to reach him. Cassian, without pausing for a moment to think about the peculiarity of the creature—which foolishly turned its back on him right in front of him—kicked it sideways.
Boom!
With all his strength imprinted in that kick, he sent it flying and crashing into the wall, leaving it in an unrecognizable state, like the first spider.
Then he looked at Ellys and considering her inability to defend herself, without asking, he picked her up as if she were a cat and placed her under his arm.
"...."
Ellys, although she seemed a little surprised, did not resist at any time.
"Good, healer secured."
For Cassian, this was more efficient and reasonable. The healers in the group, with zero attack power, had to stay safe.
In that position, he would keep her away from danger and he could still move freely, only losing mobility in one hand.
"Ugh, Cazzy, if you're free, I could use a little help here. Ugh... I know I'm pretty, but why are two of them coming at me?"
At that moment, she heard Naelune voice, who seemed to be struggling. Looking over at her, she noticed that she was facing two spiders, which seemed to be restricted by streams of water.
"I'll take care of it."
Swooosh! Swooosh!
"Hey! W-wait, Little kni—"
But just as he started to move in her direction—since he wasn't very far away either—Valeriane's voice came, and in an instant, two silver spears flew and pierced the heads of the two spiders.
This surprised Cassian a little. When he looked over at Valeriane, he saw that there was also a spider near her with a spear through its head.
"Oh, little knigth... I appreciate it, but I could have sworn a spear was coming toward me, and then it changed course."
"....It must have been your imagination. For now, you are my ally, and I would not hurt an ally, but I feel that you could handle them on your own, or am I wrong?"
"Um, I don't know... I panicked because these crabs were so ugly."
"They're not crabs, they're spiders. Have you never seen one before...? Wait, I've never seen one that big either. Are they spiders?"
Cassian, seeing that his intervention was unnecessary, took it easy, approached, and corrected Naelune. But then he thought that, to begin with, he had never seen a spider that big either. They could well be something else, and he was wrong too.
"Yes, they are, Sir Cassian. In my world, they are known as coin trap spiders, because of the coin shape of their shells, which, interestingly, are also gold in color."
"Oh, how interesting. Oh, but Valeriane, I'm curious... where did you get those spears...? Ah! Did they disappear?"
Cassian was actually a little curious. It occurred to him that Valeriane might have some kind of storage, because she obviously hadn't been carrying those three spears a moment ago. But when he looked again, the spears stuck in the spiders had disappeared, which intrigued him even more.
"Yes, I think that's my unique Skill , as that god said."
"Huh? Isn't it just metal attribute magic? Well, you didn't chant, so it must be metal affinity, just like my water affinity, right?"
"Not exactly. It's true that metal affinity is inherited in my family, but I've always felt that mine was different, since I can only recreate weapons or armor. And since that god said we all have unique abilities, I think that's mine. It's the only thing I can think of."
"uh?, but doesn't that make it worse than affinity...? Does it feel very limiting and less useful than affinity...? Or rather, is it okay to say this? You didn't seem to trust me?"
"Well, as I said, we'll be allies at this point. The more we understand each other, the better. I don't want to hinder our teamwork, and eventually it would come out."
"Hmmm, that makes sense. The truth is, I don't understand that unique abilities thing either. Affinity with water and charm are the only Skill I have. I've never felt any different from the others in my clan, and I don't think I have anything else... maybe I haven't discovered it yet. Hmm."
Oh, so it was a skill... but they talk about magic and spells. Besides, earlier Ellys cast that spell on me, which I guess is magic... maybe that language will be the key. So, if I say them too, will I be able to use magic? Or is something else needed?
While listening to Valeriane and Naelune conversation from the sidelines, Cassian was thinking about that. After all, one of his secondary purposes for going to another world was to learn magic... although the harem was a priority.
But now wasn't the time for that, so he didn't ask any questions. More importantly, since they were talking about their skills to improve teamwork, he added his own.
"I... think mine has to do with my body. Let's see... I think that's why I'm stronger and very resilient... I also think I have something like a sixth sense, although I'm not quite sure how it works."
"Oh, I knew it! You know, Cazzy, physical skill are among the rarest. You destroyed those two spiders in an instant! You seem to have an ability very similar to my father's. Now I understand why you have such great muscles. You're really amazing."
"Um... thanks for the compliment... I guess."
Cassian scratched his head as he replied hesitantly. He really didn't know how to react. Naelune seemed excited about what appeared to be his skill.
It was the first time anyone had ever praised him, and she was genuinely excited about something he had always rejected, which gave him an inexplicable feeling... but it didn't feel bad at all.
"But if you had time to see it, that means you weren't really in trouble."
"You're still at it! I already said that those spiders, or whatever they're called, were really giving me a kind of 'mental attack' with how ugly they were. I couldn't help but look at him to relieve myself. But changing the subject... don't you think that guy is in trouble?"
Naelune changed the subject and pointed to the man dressed as a martial artist. The woman he had been with from the beginning was nowhere to be found.
He was surrounded by three spiders, and as Luna said, it didn't look like a good situation, since the man had no weapons. Although he landed some heavy blows, he didn't hurt the spiders much; he just seemed to make them angrier, turning them more vicious.
The man already had several wounds, and he looked like he was about to give in to those three spiders.