"Such an unbelievable truth is being revealed already...?! Is this really okay?? Isn't this the kind of information that's supposed to come out much later in the story??? Just putting a filter on the skill's unlock conditions isn't nearly enough, is it????"

"Mweang? Myaang??"

Perhaps startled by the sight of me clutching my head and spewing question marks while staring at the Skill Window, Yor flusteredly circled around me.

Was it my fault for getting so worked up that I ended up making the Baby Dragon anxious?

The moment that thought crossed my mind, guilt welled up inside me.

I needed to pull myself together.

This won't do. Calm down. Calm down...

What I needed most right now was my adorable, lovable Baby Dragon.

"Yor."

When I called her name and lightly patted my lap, Yor immediately stopped circling and flew over, landing neatly on my legs.

As I stroked the Baby Dragon, I felt my thoughts gradually settle.

"...Alright. I've reached a conclusion. The attribute of this sky blue Ether is Divine Power. Am I right?"

After organizing my thoughts and explaining them to Yor, I ended with a question.

Based on Yor's reactions up until now, she had almost certainly known what attribute the sky blue Ether possessed.

"Yaooong~!"

Judging by that refreshingly cheerful reply, the answer was correct.

"Did you also know that I had the 【Writing】 Skill, by any chance?"

"Yanyang. Nyan nyang, nyaooo, myooo, yaong yaong myang myang."

"...Huh?"

I couldn't understand a single thing Yor was saying.

After I simply blinked at her blankly, she finally pulled a whiteboard out of the Yeouiju and began writing.

「 Knowledge → N / Guess → Y 」

"So you didn't know. You just guessed I'd eventually acquire a skill like this?"

"Yaong yaong~."

"And the reason you didn't write it down and explain it when I asked about the sky blue Ether ability..."

"...was because you thought it was something I'd discover on my own soon enough, and that I'd accept it more naturally if I realized it myself?"

"Yaooong, myaoong~."

Yor nodded repeatedly while meowing.

I had secretly felt that she was being a little cruel, knowing things and refusing to explain them.

But that feeling completely melted away.

At last, I understood Yor's reasoning.

"Then... should we check the rest of the skill descriptions now?"

"Yaooong~!"

No matter how long I stared at the description window of a skill I couldn't currently use, the word [Locked] wasn't going to magically disappear.

So I closed the description for 【Writing】 and touched the words 【Weather Manipulation】.

══════════

【Weather Manipulation】 - (S)

: Controls and governs atmospheric phenomena.

: Additional abilities unlock according to proficiency.

Stage 1. Cloud Formation

Stage 2. Airflow Manipulation [Locked]

══════════

"The lock appeared again..."

Just in case, I opened Yor's 【Weather Manipulation】 description window.

The contents were identical, word for word.

After informing Yor of that fact, I read the description aloud.

"Ah, right. Yor. Come to think of it, didn't you say that later on it would be possible to create snow, hail, and even lightning?"

"Yaong!"

"In that case, does that mean Stage 3 abilities and beyond can only be viewed after increasing the skill's rank?"

"Yaong yaong~." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

To raise a skill's rank, its proficiency first had to reach the maximum limit of its current grade.

Deciding to worry about breaking through rank barriers later, I resolved to focus on unlocking Stage 2 for now.

This time, I opened the description for 【Geological Shift】.

══════════

【Geological Shift】 - (S) [Locked]

: Can be unlocked when the following condition is met.

Condition: Unlock the fourth-stage ability of 【Weather Manipulation】

══════════

So even after raising the rank of 【Weather Manipulation】, it still couldn't be unlocked until I'd raised its proficiency high enough.

There was still a very long road ahead.

But strangely, I didn't feel discouraged.

Perhaps it was because I'd checked the unlock condition for 【Writing】 first.

The fact that it only had a single condition, and that no filter had been applied to it, made it feel achievable.

With that reassurance in mind, I read the description aloud and moved on.

══════════

【Character Analysis】 - (S)

: A derivative skill born from the reflection of {Disposition: Author}

: An author should naturally be able to infer a character's hidden psychology through speech, expressions, and actions, as well as predict their next move.

: Grants a Thought Acceleration effect while analyzing characters.

══════════

Since I was already familiar with the Thought Acceleration effect, there wasn't much to examine.

My concentration kept breaking earlier, so it was activating inconsistently... but this skill definitely activated when I was fighting the Boss Monster, didn't it?

Apparently, it generously categorized monsters as "characters" too.

The broader its applications, the better.

That was good news for me.

"Then is it finally my turn to check the Purple Ether skills?"

══════════

【Exaltation】 - (S)

: Enhances abilities by increasing feelings of exhilaration. The greater the amplitude of sound waves, the greater the increase in stats. The affected target must be able to hear the sound.

: Effect - All stats except Ether × n.nn%

└ Maximum coefficient increase through sound waves - [1.23]%

══════════

【Encouragement】 - (B)

: A derivative skill born from the reflection of {Disposition: Possessiveness}

: Awakens the will of something that belongs to oneself and strengthens its abilities. Can only be applied to granted targets designated with the form "My ○○○."

: Effect - All stats except Ether + [3] per keyword

└ Currently registered keywords

: Jörmungandr - "My Familiar," "My Happiness," "My Comfort," "My Confidant"

: Karvaldr - "My Possessed Body"

══════════

【Encouragement】 - (S)

: A derivative skill born from the reflection of {Disposition: Author}

: Stories move forward and characters advance through an author's writing. Temporarily raises a target's potential and grants an opportunity to shine.

: Effect - Ether Attribute Skills × [1.10]

※ This buff effect is not applied to this skill.

══════════

For reference, the values inside [ ] changed according to proficiency.

If the number stopped increasing no matter how much training I did, that meant it had hit a rank barrier.

Though that wasn't the important part right now.

"It enhances Ether Attribute Skills...?!"

"Yaooong...?!"

After reading the description of 【Encouragement】, my eyes widened.

Even the Saint of the Holy Theocracy—a character who specialized in healing and support magic and had appeared in the most recent chapter of the original novel—

couldn't cast a buff that enhanced Ether Attribute Skills.

It only took a moment's thought to realize how absurdly powerful such an ability was.

If someone was blocked by a rank barrier, receiving this buff would allow them to experience abilities beyond that wall.

In other words, it could provide a direct hint for breaking through the barrier itself.

And the fact that it specifically says the buff doesn't apply to this skill means I can still use 【Encouragement】 on myself, right?

If I used 【Encouragement】 on myself, the effects of 【Exaltation】 and the other 【Encouragement】 would become even stronger.

After explaining this fact to Yor and reading the description aloud, I voiced a thought.

"The proficiency is still low, so the multiplier is only 1.10x right now, but still..."

"If I'd used the enhanced 【Exaltation】 on Ríolíkin, and then boosted his 【Armor of Protection】 as well..."

"...wouldn't he have lasted a little longer against the Boss Monster?"

"Yaong yaong..., nyaat—!"

"If that had happened, Reisir would've ended up hugging Ríolíkin instead."

"Yaong yaong..., gyaong?"

What was the point of regretting something that had already happened?

Besides, if I'd opened the Skill Window back then, I might have panicked after discovering the G-rank skill 【Writing】 and handled everything far worse.

So I set aside my lingering regret and continued reviewing the remaining skills.

══════════

【Whip Technique】 - (D)

【Dagger Techniques】 - (E)

【Martial Arts】 - (F)

══════════

That was the entirety of my general skill list.

Vigdís had even given me private swordsmanship lessons, yet swordsmanship hadn't been registered as a skill at all.

Even considering how terrible she was at teaching, I had no choice but to conclude that this body's talent with the sword was hopeless.

From now on, I should just ask her to spar with me during those lessons. That would probably be more efficient.

The skills listed above were exactly what their titles implied, so opening each description window and reading them would only waste page space.

I skipped them and moved on to Yor's general skills.

══════════

【Miniaturization】 - (S) [Active]

【Dragon Fear】 - (S→C)

【Mental Interference Immunity】 - (SS)

══════════

【Dragon Fear】 - (S→C)

: Reveals the presence of a Great Dragon and suppresses the opponent's mind through overwhelming dignity.

※ Skill rank currently reduced due to the user's appearance.

══════════

"Right... Yor's a Dragon, and this is a fantasy novel, so naturally she has 【Dragon Fear】."

"She's still a baby, and she's tiny, cute, adorable, and lovable, so I guess the rank dropped because she doesn't really have that majestic presence yet."

"Anyway, this must be why both Ríolíkin and the Boss Monster flinched when they looked into your eyes, right?"

"Yaong yaong!"

"But what does it mean that 【Miniaturization】 is active...?"

Ordinary familiars were born with the 【Gigantification】 skill.

Considering Yor was a Dragon, having 【Miniaturization】 wasn't hard to accept.

I assumed it was simply a unique trait of the dragon race.

But one fact couldn't be ignored.

The skill was currently active.

That meant Yor's true form was larger than what I was seeing now.

Yor quickly scribbled on the whiteboard.

「 Me = Growth Period 」

"So... you've grown? And you're using 【Miniaturization】 to shrink yourself?"

"Yaooong~♪"

"Then if you release 【Miniaturization】, how much bigger do you become...?"

"Myaong mya!!"

Yor answered enthusiastically and spun once in midair.

A sky blue halo wrapped around her body before fading away.

The Baby Dragon became very slightly longer.

Maybe five centimeters.

"...Yor. Could you come over here for a second?"

"Nyang nyang~!"

When I picked her up, her body did seem a little thicker as well.

But only barely.

So little that I could've dismissed it as my imagination.

Naturally, a change of that magnitude couldn't possibly affect the rank of 【Dragon Fear】.

After checking Yor's status window, I found no change whatsoever in her stats.

The whole thing was so absurd I nearly laughed.

How could I possibly brush off the growth of my precious familiar as insignificant?

"You've been growing steadily all this time~?! At this rate, you'll become a magnificent adult dragon before I know it!"

"Nyaong nyaong nyahahat—!"

"Are you keeping 【Miniaturization】 active because daily life becomes inconvenient if you get too big?"

"Yaooong~!"

"But you know what? I want to watch our Yor grow too."

"So every now and then, could you turn off 【Miniaturization】 and show me your real form?"

"Myat...! Nyaoo, myaaaang~~!"

At my words, Yor became overjoyed.

Still about five centimeters longer than usual, she wrapped herself around me and rubbed her cheek against mine.

That gesture filled me with overwhelming happiness as well.

"Let's skip studying and training until dinner today."

"How about we just relax and play with Yor?"

"Nyan nyan nyan nyan nya—!!"

Yor reacted more enthusiastically than ever and vigorously shook the Yeouiju.

The Yeouiju promptly spat out several items.

"...You want to play with these?"

"Yaong yaong nya~!!"

To think I'd be seeing the items I'd prepared back in Chapter 31 again.

You're a Dragon. And that's a cat toy.

The words rose all the way to my throat.

But faced with those sparkling sky blue eyes full of anticipation, I simply couldn't bring myself to object.

So I diligently waved the feather wand around for Yor's hunting game.

Fortunately, my Agility stat was still higher than hers, so the Baby Dragon never became bored and thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Yor so often carried herself with dignity, and because she was a Dragon, I'd assumed she wouldn't be interested in games like this.

From now on, though, I felt I should make time every so often to play with her.