"stop!, don't open it yet!"
While Yefeng was talking about his sister, Cassian was stopping Celestine, who had also rushed ahead to open her chest.
"Even if I overlook your previous actions, you have to learn to be more respectful, starting with not questioning what I do? Do you think someone like you should question me, someone who possesses the ancestral draconic lineage? You are only my subordinate, whom I have given the honor of serving me and—"
"Hey, stop, you're going back to how you started, and besides, Plouthys didn't tell you it wasn't good to continue with that. You know that being used as a consumable doesn't sound good..."
"Hmph, I'm not afraid to express my lineage, ahem!... but you're right. Making my lineage clear is unnecessary."
"Yes, yes, after all, you have that Dragonization. It's no longer necessary to keep saying it; actions speak louder than words."
"Haha! I see you understand, my subordinate! Just because you understand that, I'll overlook your disrespect in wanting to contradict my actions and forgive you. hem!, let's see what I'll get now."
"Wait, don't open it... look, there's a reason: you did more than everyone else, didn't you? After all, you have the greatest contribution. The best is always last, isn't it?"
"Oh! As I expected from my subordinate... you are brimming with reason. Obviously, I am the best, and of course, I must go last. Well, patience is a virtue that someone like me possesses, so you may open yours first."
After all, Cassian really believed that, instead of Ria, this time it was she who had the best, so he wanted to leave her for last. It was good that she agreed, with the little reasoning he gave.
"So, Ling-Ling, do you want to go first? Last time you got something good, even though you didn't do anything."
"..."
"Huh? Did I say something wrong? I mean, you just stand there like a shadow or something, doing nothing, right? ... Or did you kill any spiders?"
"..."
"See? Well, your chest should be the worst, like last time... okay, open it."
Cassian wasn't really criticizing Yeling, he was being objective. Since she spent the whole time hiding like last time, it was likely that this would be the worst chest.
Still, it was a surprise that she got a skill last time, which Cassian thought was the best thing you could get. Maybe contribution wasn't everything and luck also played a part, even though it should be the worst chest again. He was eagerly awaiting something unexpected to happen.
"..."
Seeing that Cassian's eyes were filled with anticipation — as if they were saying, "Go on, open it" — she understood that it wasn't indirect criticism or sarcasm.
He just wanted to see what she got. So she decided to open her chest.
As before, Cassian's burning gaze on her made her so nervous that she could barely put the key in the lock, and in fact, even though she had plenty of room, she failed to insert it twice, but finally succeeded.
Fwoosh!
"Let's see what you got!"
"..."
And again, when the light appeared and revealed the objects, Cassian approached her from behind, making her tremble; her legs, for some reason, felt like they would give way at any moment.
But Cassian didn't pay much attention to her reaction and instead looked at what came out: again, it was a single object, along with the splinter.
"A gem? And this size? It looks very valuable. If you exchanged it for money, wouldn't you be very rich? ... You're one of those people who has good luck even with few chances ... Hey, how about coming to my world and helping me 'click' when I want a ... no, wait, it's nothing... Bella,(┬┬﹏┬┬) I only had you for a short time, but I won't forget you."
Cassian suddenly remembered another tragedy he had overlooked. If the electricity failed, it meant that his computer, internet, and everything else were down too. He had lost the rabbit MILF he loved so much and had worked so hard to get the night before, which made him a little sad.
"…"
Yeling looked at him, confused. Cassian suddenly seemed melancholy for some reason. She thought he was thinking about someone he had lost, and even gave him a few hesitant pats to comfort him, but Cassian's mood didn't last long...
"Well, maybe all the electricity and technology can be restored in the future... okay, let's think that way. Ling-Ling, evaluate it, now that I think about it, it could be something else magical, something that looks like a gem."
Deciding to think positively, Cassian focused on the present. If he thought about it, it could be something interesting, besides just a very large gem, like the books that were skills.
"..."
_______________________________________
Gem of Vélix
Type: Artifact, Consumable / White / Mental
When a small amount of mana is inserted, it immediately transfers all stored information directly to mind; once the information is saved and retrieved, it is destroyed.
_______________________________________
"Oh, another new thing! That means we can put information in there, or it already has it. Ling-Ling, try putting mana in it, let's see, you can do it, right?"
"..."
Cassian was curious. From the way it worked, he couldn't tell if there was anything inside, and it seemed like a single-use item, but he couldn't think of what it would be used for. He couldn't help but think of some use for it; maybe Yeling's luck had run out and she got a junk item.
"..."
But when she did what Cassian said, mainly because of the pressure he exerted, the gem suddenly turned into emerald dust.
"Oh, what happened?"
"..."
"Did information suddenly appear in your head? A martial art? Do you know what it is?"
"..."
"Oh, so they existed in your world? I see... so that's how they became strong. Hmm... can you use it right away like skills?"
"..."
"Hmm, I understand, it's not convenient like skills that work right away. But if I practice something like that, will I become stronger?"
"..."
"No, I've never practiced anything? Hmm? I wouldn't say I'm impressive. Well, is it because of the skill I have? Although, honestly, now that I know what it is, I don't think it's such a big deal. I mean, Celes's seemed better, don't you think?.... Hey, but going back to what you was saying before, what do the arts do? Is it like a 'tiger strike' and stuff?"
"..."
"Oh! It's to accumulate aura and disrupt it through the body. Oh, the one you received has a footwork and attack technique. Is that good? Hm? Have you never seen such a powerful one? Is it as good as a family treasure? Well, it seems that everything here is on another level—"
"Hey, hey!, hold on a second, Cazzy! What the hell!? Why does it seem like there's a smooth conversation going on here?"
"Hmm?"
"I mean, how are you understanding her? She's just making little gestures! How the hell did you understand 'family treasure' and all that? Just from that!"
In the middle of their conversation the rest of the group approached and Naelune couldn't help but wonder: it was one thing to understand simple gestures and another to understand that level of detail.
At most, she understood that Yeling was trying to convey something with small gestures and body language.
At first, she thought Cassian was just guessing what Yeling was saying, but there was a fluidity to their conversation that made her question it.
"What's so strange about it? Yefeng can do it too. She's easy to understand, isn't she, Yefeng?"
"This... I don't think I can do it. I mean, Ling and I use the method taught in our clan to read lips, so we can communicate. Although I understand simple gestures... I don't know how you're doing it."
"Oh, really? Let's see, Ling-Ling, say something using this method, and see if I can understand you that way."
"..."
"Hmm... Are you hungry?"
"..."
"Hmm, I don't understand, go back to the gestures, let's see."
"..."
"Oh, did you mean that your favorite color is pink?"
"She really understood that!? What the hell? Or is she just always agreeing with Cazzy?"
"Huh? Ling-Ling, you're doing that."
"..." (N-no)
"See, she's not doing it."
"Well, that denial was easy to understand, but explain to me: how the hell did you get pink from the gestures she made earlier?"
"Hmm, now that you mention it, how did I understand it? Hmm... I really don't know, I just know that she wanted to tell me that. Hey, Ling-Ling, do you know what's going on? Do you have some skill that does that?"
"..." (No, I know.)
"Oh, right, my fault, you don't know. Oh, but I had a third one, didn't I? It was blurry, but I think it said 'mind' in the name, maybe it's something of mine. Hey, Luna, let's try it, make some gestures and try to tell me something."
"Oh, interesting, let's see what I say now..."
"Hmm, are you hungry?"
"No, I thought I wanted to stroke your muscles, why doesn't it work with me and it works with her?"
"Hmm, with her it's like I listening, but at the same time not. I don't know how to explain it. Let's see, Ling-Ling, I'm going to close my eyes, you say something complicated to me, let's see if I can still understand you. It must be a skill of yours or mine."
"..." (Hmm, my brother was rejected by a girl a month ago.)
"Oh, now that I have my eyes closed, I think I understand. It's as if the thought of what you're saying just formed itself. Let's see, you said that—Yefeng was rejected by a girl a month ago, right?"
"..." (Yes.)
"Ling! What are you saying? Rather, how do you know? Did you follow me secretly?"
"..." ╯︿╰
"Hey, Cazzy, I want to do it too, it looks fun..."
"In what way?... ah!, let's not get sidetracked, whatever this is, it's convenient because Ling-Ling doesn't talk, but more importantly, we have to keep going. Yefeng, it's your turn. It's your turn to open your chest. According to Ling-Ling, powerful martial arts are coming out."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yes, she said it's better than even the one her family gives them. Try it, let's see."
"Y-yes, let's see... the indigo one is mine."
Fwooosh.
When he opened the chest, under the fiery gaze of Cassian, who got excited again with the rest of the chests, the opening light came on and three objects appeared.
One was another speed enhancement potion, another was a sword just like the one he had received before, and the other was a green gem just like the one Yeling had received. Yefeng, not hesitating and following the instructions, put aura on the gem and...
"Oh, that's right, wind element, and dual wielding, and I just received a sword. But what does this have to do with martens? ... Hmmm, looking at it, it does seem to follow a mysterious principle and circulation. Hmm, are aura and mana the same thing? Can it be moved like this?"
Yefeng, suddenly, while using the stone, lost himself in thought as he muttered, which Cassian heard and took note of.
"So yes, it's the standard for these rewards: they're the arts. Well, Luna, you're next."
Cassian, already satisfied with Yefeng, went after his next target.