"Hey, Cazzy, I think I understand your methodology here... but what makes you think I'm worse than the little angel?"
"Hmm, well, I don't really know. Their roles are different, but since she's the healer... But Lys can go first, if you want."
"No, it doesn't matter. I still want to know what I'm getting. Hehehe, let's see, give me something good and another skill if possible... Ugh! A crystal. I don't need a combat art, I'm a mage. Well, let's see what's in there."
The excited Naelune was next and approached her chest. She opened it and three things appeared: a small staff, a book, and the crystal. Luna took it immediately and used it.
"Let's see... oh, it all goes into my head right away... By Poseidon, what the hell is this? Water element... improves the efficiency of this element's magic by thirty percent, speed... and what is this about related material consumption...?"
"Luna, what happened? What was it? What are you muttering about?"
"Hey, Cazzy, don't get so close, you're basically on top of me. Wait... hmm, I didn't say anything, you can continue."
"So you also got a martial art?"
"No, I didn't get an art. The information it contained was a Breath, which is what we magicians usually use. It's actually the first time I've seen one that gives passive effects. Usually, they only differed in how good and fast they were at absorbing mana. Hmm, this is very good
"Hmm... I don't understand, since I don't know what a Breath is..."
"Well the warriors are not very interested in this....Fine, let's see what else came out and leave the good stuff for last."
"oh!, let's see, the other one is a small staff. It says it improves water magic. Well, you didn't get any equipment last time... and let's see the last one... Oh! The fourth volume! Of books... hmm~, you know what? If you don't want it, I'll take it."
"Damn!, why do those keep coming out? They're taking up space from my real reward. I thought it was a skill, because these books don't have covers..."
Yes, Naelune got what looked like a small stick with a white pearl on the tip and another book, which was the fourth volume of the books on moderation in speech.
Cassian didn't want it at first, but they looked like collectibles and now they caught his attention. If there was nothing else to do later, he would read them.
"ah! Celes, do you want yours?"
"No, you can have them."
"Oh, that's good. If you get more later, give them to me."
"...hmph, what are you implying-"
"Well, now I guess it's your turn, Lys."
Without stopping to argue with Celestine, he went straight to Lys, as if knowing it would be her turn. She was already standing near her chest, just waiting for Cassian to call her. She opened it, and three items fell out.
"Let's see... yes, another crystal. So I guess it's also a Breath, right? Try it, let's see..."
"Yes... hmm, oh, it's impressive. It improves my healing spells."
"Oh, everything fits like a glove for everyone. We see that you were also given a staff, and let's see... hey, Lys, don't hide it, what was it? I couldn't read it."
Lys had also been given a crystal and an artifact that improved the effectiveness of healing spells. But when Ellys placed the shard on the third one—which was a pink book—before Cassian could read it, she hid it. He didn't understand why.
"I-is it an informational book..."
"Oh, did you get Volume V? If so, can I have it?"
"N-no, it's not that. Hmm... it's about... um... girl stuff."
"Huh? Really? Well, if that's the case, it doesn't matter."
"Come on, little angel, what is it? I'm a girl, I can see it, right...?"
"N-no!"
"oh! , that intense resistance just makes me more curious. Tell me, what is it?"
"No!"
"Hehe, you can't resist me anyway. I'll see what that book is, even though— Ugh! Little knight! Why are you stopping me?"
"Stop bothering her..... Miss Ellys, if you want, I can keep it for you. I promise I won't look at the contents."
"Y-yes... thank you."
"Tsk, really? Why all the mystery? Hey, Cazzy, don't you agree with me? Don't you think they're being petty?"
"No. Besides, if it's just for women, it's better not to get involved or ask questions. Well... I guess it's my turn now. Or do you want to go, Ria?"
Putting Nora's advice into practice again, Cassian didn't dwell on the book. If it was "just for girls," he, being a man, was better off not getting involved. It was another piece of reasonable advice from Nora.
On the other hand, he continued with the opening of the chests. Cassian was a little unsure about the order of opening. Sure, he helped kill an extra spider and the woman, but Ria was the leader, and he believed that was important in everything else, so it was a bit balanced.
"Well, if you don't mind, Sir Cassian, I want to go first. I'm curious about the things that are coming out, although I don't know if these martial arts and the combat arts of my world are the same."
"Fine."
With Ria agreeing to go first, he followed behind her. This time he would make sure to see up close what she managed to pull out. The shards turned to dust when used, so even if he wanted to, he wouldn't be able to see what they were later.
"This... Sir Cassian..."
"Hm? What is it?"
"...It's nothing."
Fwoosh!
Ignoring Ria, who seemed uncomfortable with him so close behind her, he looked at what she had gotten: a book, a crystal, and a spear.
Although she had already received a weapon before—he remembered what her skill was about—it seemed that it would still be very useful to her. Besides having a penetration-enhancing effect, it didn't seem particularly different from what had come out before. The important ones were the other two.
_______________________________________
Affinity to Metal
Type: Skill / ■■■■w / Elemental
Effect: A great affinity for metal is gained, enabling ████ at will.
[To obtain, place your hands on it and say 'discere']
_______________________________________
Ah, a skill, and it's affinity with metal. I thought they weren't going to come out this time, but now that I think about it, the one I got was the only one that was unreadable in some parts, but now Ria's ... and that 'w' in what is supposed to be the range ... hmm ....
Cassian was thinking that there was something here. Before, he had no references because it was the first skill and he hadn't thought about it too much, but with everything he had seen—now it seemed curious to him.
Plouthys said that there could be errors, especially if they are unique skills, but when he spoke to Naelune, he implied that in addition to the unique ones, the white ones were part of a categorization.
He thought about it, and perhaps the splinters, like the sap, could only read the white skills clearly, because curiously, those were the ones that were always completely clear.
That made him think that maybe his skill and the one Valeriane had just acquired were of a higher rank, although it was only a hypothesis, since he found it suspicious that the rank—although mostly illegible—ended in a 'w' instead of an 'e'.
But is there any difference? Do they work differently?
Cassian didn't really understand if there was anything different. Perhaps, as Plouthys said, it wasn't important at the moment.
"'discere,' I see... so this is what it means to have an affinity. My Family will be surprised when I return, hee~"
"What's going on, Ria? You seem very happy."
"Ah… Indeed, I alone in my family possessed a deficient affinity.. In my family, affinity for metal is important for many of our techniques. I had practiced tirelessly, but I just couldn't... now I understand the problem. And opportunely now I received this. I am very grateful to the god Plouthys."
"Oh, I see. As always, it rewards are fair, I hope that with me... well, it's the crystal's turn."
"Yes, let's see... Ah!? The information appears in great detail. Ah! This is incomparable — the circulation, the effectiveness, the techniques... it's overwhelming. Now my family's techniques seem far too lacking. I always thought metal-related arts made you slow, but this even enhances speed!!"
"Hey Ria, are you okay because you look Agitated?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, my mind is busy processing all the information that suddenly appeared, so unconsciously... ah, it can assimilate mana from creatures and even metals! How mysterious! Ah, I'm sorry, there are amazing things and I..."
"Well, don't worry, it seems like something impressive, well, now it's my turn... Let's see what I get."
Finally, only he and Celestine remained. She had been watching all this time, and there was clear impatience in her.
But as she had said, it seemed she would wait until the end. Now it was her turn, and he approached her chest. Cassian personally had high expectations.
There was something he had wanted ever since he realized he could get it last time. More than any art or skill, this was what he truly hoped to receive.
Fwoosh!
"Let's see... a crystal, two books, and... (/_\) ...it's not armor."
Yes, Cassian, ever since he saw that Valeriane had gotten one, he thought that he would get one next time too, since it was something he really needed.
Really, even though he tried to ignore it, he didn't like being exposed. He was even wondering if he was lucky and could replace even the silly heart pajamas—which he regretted wearing the night before—but it seemed that it wasn't his lucky day, because when he evaluated the equipment it appeared...
_______________________________________
Reinforced Bracers
Type: Equipment / White / Physical
Effect: +25% improvement in physical defense
Automatically conforms to the user's forearms for optimal protection.
[Must be worn on the forearms]
_______________________________________
It was obvious that it wasn't armor. But with everything that was going on, there was a small chance that it might be something like compact armor... But no, they were just bracers that slightly improved his defense, which Cassian found a bit useless, not to mention that the design was somehow rustic with animal skin parts, which reminded Cassian of equipment that a barbarian would wear.
Haah~ Should I have asked Ling-Ling to open it? Wait... I don't think that was possible. Hah, well, next is...
It was disappointing, but he continued and looked at the crystal. He was curious about what happened every time someone used them and how they worked, but he remembered something just as he thought about using it.
"How do you use mana? Do I even have any?"
Yes, the instructions said he had to put a little mana in it to make it work, but he didn't really know how to do that.
He didn't even know if he had mana. To begin with, he was supposed to come from a world without it, so there was a chance he had none.
"Hmm... I have to ask Luna or Lys. I don't think it's as easy as just wanting to use it and putting it on the crystal that..."
-----------------------------------------
Art of the Inner Void
Type: Harmonization(art) / Gray / None
Description:
Martial art that trains the user in the absorption, circulation, and purification of mana through the body.
It adapts to any type of mana, allowing the body to be strengthened in a balanced way.
Its style is based on opportunity, learning in combat, and the efficient use of the opponent's energy. As it is practiced, it strengthens the physical foundations, allowing for immediate and adaptive responses.
Technique:
— Finder's Keepers:A counterattack that absorbs the enemy's energy and returns it amplified along with one's own strength.
— {block}
— {block}