Aoyama Nanami naturally did not think too much of it and said in realization:
"I understand. It's something like an amulet, right?"
This kind of accessory was very popular in Tokyo.
Still, their boss Yin Kong really was generous. He even used gemstones to make protective charms.
Although Aoyama Nanami did not know much about gemstones, she had an inexplicable intuition that these two exquisitely designed "Genshin Eyes" would probably cost far more than she could imagine.
Miss Yoko, meanwhile, recalled how Kuki Shinobu had deliberately displayed her Genshin Eye while introducing herself when they first met yesterday. She seemed to understand something.
"So, all employees of our Cunning Rabbit House wear Genshin Eyes?"
Yin Kong nodded.
"You could say that. At least for now, aside from a very small number of exceptions, that's the case."
Aoyama Nanami secretly thought that, in that case, as long as she saw someone in strange clothing wearing a Genshin Eye, she could basically assume they were her colleague.
But Boss Yin Kong did not seem to be wearing a "Genshin Eye."
Aoyama Nanami quietly examined Yin Kong a few more times. Sure enough, she did not see any gemstone accessory on him.
Noticing her gaze, Paimon proudly puffed out her chest and said with a sense of shared glory:
"Yin Kong may not have a Genshin Eye, but he's special. He's an exception!"
Idol Miss's Desire
"Do Genshin Eyes truly represent the gaze of the gods? Do gods really exist in this world?"
After leaving the office and returning to the apartment, Miss Yoko finally could no longer suppress her curiosity and began questioning them about Genshin Eyes.
If demons and monsters existed, then gods corresponding to them would naturally exist as well.
However, Miss Yoko was certain that Yin Kong had never seemed to hold any particular expectations toward the local shrines.
Yin Kong nodded slightly.
"When faced with circumstances beyond their control, people always lament their own powerlessness. But at life's steepest turning point, should a mortal's desire reach its utmost limit, the gaze of the gods will fall upon them...
That is a Genshin Eye—an external magical organ granted to those acknowledged by the gods, used to channel Elemental Power."
Ono Yoko only half understood, but she quickly recalled Yin Kong saying that Genshin Eyes could be used to identify companions. She could not help asking in surprise:
"So every member of our Cunning Rabbit House is someone acknowledged by the gods?"
Paimon rubbed her chin.
"I guess that works? Of course, Neuvillette and Skirk should be exceptions."
After all, one was the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, while the other wielded the power of the Abyss.
Miss Yoko remembered that name. After Paimon formed a contract with that strangely named cat, she had tried to transform into a woman named Skirk.
Though she had ultimately only become a miniature version, Skirk was indeed a strikingly beautiful and formidable figure who was clearly no ordinary person.
Of course, what Miss Yoko cared about most now was something else.
"Can an ordinary person like me also have a chance to obtain a Genshin Eye?"
According to Yin Kong's explanation, as long as a mortal's desire reached its utmost limit, they could receive the gods' gaze.
Did that not mean she, too, might have a chance to become someone favored by the gods?
"This... probably isn't possible." Paimon scratched her head, her expression unconsciously growing heavy as she clearly thought of Teppei and Zhiqiong. "I can't really explain the exact rules, but if your goal itself is to obtain a Genshin Eye, then the more deliberately you pursue it, the farther away it will become."
There was actually such a rule?
Paimon's words immediately extinguished more than half of the idol's hopes.
"Actually, Miss Yoko, there's no need to be too discouraged." Seeing this, Yin Kong hurriedly comforted her. "For certain special reasons, Genshin Eyes have actually stopped being granted. Even if you met the requirements, you still wouldn't be able to obtain one."
Unlike the Adventurer's Guild Tokyo Branch, which Yin Kong had put together so casually, Genshin Eyes were essentially fragments of ancient dragon authority.
Their distribution required support from many things: Celestia, the Seven Archons, the authorities of the seven dragons, even the false sky, constellations, and more.
Not to mention Yin Kong—even if Zhongli's true self, Morax, crossed over here now, he likely could not recreate this entire system through his own power alone.
Clearly, Yin Kong had also thought of Teppei and Zhiqiong's stories.
Rather than let Ono Yoko cling to false hope, it would be better to cut off that hope from the very beginning.
As for whether the idol actually felt comforted, that was another matter entirely.
After thinking for a moment, Yin Kong first took out the Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers that Shikanoin Heizou had been holding.
"Miss Yoko, can you understand this book?"
Seeing the mysterious sword-and-shield pattern on the notebook, Ono Yoko was briefly stunned before delight appeared on her face.
Could it be that Yin Kong wanted to teach her some miraculous knowledge?
But after opening the notebook, the idol dejectedly discovered that it was filled with mysterious writing she could not understand.
The feeling tugged at her heartstrings, like getting hold of a song destined to become a smash hit but being utterly unable to read its sheet music.
Seeing this, Yin Kong asked thoughtfully:
"Do you feel anything unusual when you hold this book?"
A level-one Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers only granted 39 points of attack.
To the current Yin Kong, such a value was naturally insignificant.
But for an ordinary person as delicate and physically weak as Miss Yoko, it would be no exaggeration to call it a complete transformation.
He had always been curious whether the equipment, artifacts, Experience Books, and other resources in his inventory could be used by others in this world.
Now, he could try it on Miss Yoko.
Unfortunately, after hearing the question, Miss Yoko held the catalyst and concentrated intensely for a long time. In the end, she could only shake her head blankly, saying that she had noticed no change whatsoever.
"Then how about this?"
Under Ono Yoko's nervous gaze, Yin Kong nodded thoughtfully and replaced the Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers in her hands with the heavy Educate To Convince.
This time, the idol immediately showed a delighted expression.
The instant she gripped Educate To Convince, she felt a surge of warmth flow from the menacing spiked club into her body. Her spirits lifted at once, as if she had suddenly gained inexhaustible strength.
Skyward Greatsword, Scion of the Strongest, Raven Bow, Black Tassel Spear, Fleeting Sword, Dawn Sword...
One weapon after another, each with a different design, was handed to Miss Yoko. Following Yin Kong's instructions, she tried them one by one and described every sensation she felt.
"Is that so? I think I understand now."
In the end, Yin Kong successfully reached a conclusion.
Judging from Miss Yoko's feedback, she seemed completely unable to benefit from the weapons' special effects.
The Skyward Greatsword and Educate To Convince, Fleeting Sword and Dawn Sword, and other weapons of the same type gave her almost identical sensations.
As for the weapons' stats, the degree of enhancement she received varied according to the difficulty of using each weapon type.
Catalysts were the lowest. Since she could not understand them at all, she felt no stat boosts whatsoever aside from being able to hold them and hit people with them.
Next came claymores and bows. They were the most difficult to use, so the boosts they provided were comparatively low.
Of course, even with spears and one-handed swords, which gave the greatest boosts, Yin Kong believed she was only tapping into a small fraction of their stats.
Perhaps only masters already skilled in those disciplines could fully benefit from the attack boosts these weapons offered.
"So, how did it go?"
Watching Yin Kong sink into thought, Ono Yoko asked nervously.
The idol felt as though she had suddenly returned to several years ago, when she had wanted to enter an idol agency and faced an interviewer, filled with unease and apprehension.
"It still won't do."
However, Yin Kong's shake of the head filled her with despair.
Fortunately, his next words lifted her fallen heart again.
"As expected, only artifacts will work?"
Blessing of the Ruler of Life
"Yin Kong, isn't the way you talk a little... well, overly suspenseful?"
Even with Ono Yoko's temperament, after experiencing such emotional ups and downs, her gaze could not help becoming resentful.
"Exactly!" Paimon nodded vigorously beside her, completely lacking any self-awareness. "If Paimon weren't such a reliable companion, the way the Traveler talks alone would probably cause all kinds of trouble."
Yin Kong smiled as he re-equipped the weapons on Little Deer and the others, then took out a one-star Flower of Life.
"Yes, yes. Thanks to Paimon, my journey has become much more exciting."
"That's more like it." Paimon had only grinned smugly for a few seconds before suddenly realizing something. "Wait, much more exciting? Don't tell Paimon you mean Paimon caused you lots of trouble?"
Yin Kong said with a chuckle:
"You said that yourself. I never meant that."
"Darn it! Yin Kong, you're getting more and more cunning!"
Paimon stomped her foot indignantly, yet could not think of anything to say in rebuttal.
In the end, she remembered the matter at hand.
"So, since Miss Yoko can already use the power of these weapons, even if it's only part of it, why does Yin Kong think it won't work?"
Seeing Miss Yoko immediately perk up her ears as well, Yin Kong shook his head and explained:
"It's simple. She can't hide those weapons the way we can."
When out of combat, Yin Kong and the characters he had pulled could choose to hide their weapons. Yet as long as the weapons remained equipped in the character interface, they could still enjoy all the bonuses.
By comparison, ordinary people like Ono Yoko seemed to only receive the corresponding boosts while holding the weapons in their hands.
"Can you imagine Ono Yoko carrying Educate To Convince on her back every day while attending events everywhere?"
Hearing Yin Kong's question, Paimon imagined it and hurriedly shook her head.
"All right, that image really is hard to describe. No wonder you said artifacts were the only option."
Compared to heavy, cumbersome weapons, even if Ono Yoko could not directly equip artifacts through the character interface, these things were still much more convenient to carry with her.
"Artifacts?"
Looking at the exquisite black flower Yin Kong had taken out, whose material she could not identify, Ono Yoko could not help growing excited.
From Yin Kong's words, this seemed to be the treasure he truly intended to give her.
Sure enough, the moment the flower landed in her hands, she immediately felt a strange sensation completely different from any of the previous weapons.
Unlike attack, which affected strength and speed, HP increased one's physique and stamina.
After a full day of work and then accompanying Yin Kong through all those tests, Ono Yoko was already quite exhausted. It was only her curiosity and excitement over the mysterious power that had kept her from showing any weariness.
Yet the moment that strange black flower fell into her palm, she felt as though an invisible spring had appeared inside her out of nowhere.
The gentle trickle unconsciously relaxed her mind while nourishing her already exhausted body.
"Unlike Travelers, if ordinary people pray sincerely to artifacts, the effect is even better than wearing them directly."
Hearing Zhongli's reminder, Yin Kong suddenly understood.
So in Teyvat, people did not need to actually wear artifacts. As long as they prayed devoutly, they could receive the blessing of their power.
However, unlike weapons that could be forged on one's own, even on the Teyvat Continent, a complete set of artifacts was an exceptionally precious and rare treasure.
Not every adventurer could easily bring out the full power of artifacts. As for five-star artifacts, there was basically only a chance of seeing them in the gods' own stockpiles.
The only oddity on the entire continent who could casually pick through five-star artifacts and even disdain them as fodder was probably the Traveler.
Ono Yoko asked curiously:
"Pray devoutly? Is this flower also a blessing from the gods?"
Yin Kong considered it.
"It wouldn't be wrong to say so."
Before you continue