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019 Item Box
Verification
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Translator : PolterGlast
Golteo-san's shop had
all sorts of things, even items like washing machines and electric fans. My
honest impression was that they were like Showa-era products from around the
time of the first Tokyo Olympics, which I'd seen in old dramas.
Conversely, it was
fresh and I lost track of time looking at them. Thanks to that, I realized it
was already evening.
Perhaps because
Golteo-san was absent today, the sub-manager stayed with us the whole time. I'm
not a big customer, so I couldn't help but feel a bit bad.
"I apologize for
staying so long without buying much."
I bought a few small
things, but nothing substantial, so I profusely thanked the sub-manager.
"Not at all,
please continue to patronize our store in the future."
He was a model
merchant, providing excellent service throughout without a hint of displeasure.
Immediately after
leaving Golteo's shop, I checked on the bandits while walking.
"What happened to
them?"
"Yes. All three
are still following from behind."
We had been in
Golteo-san's shop for about four hours, and they had apparently waited that
whole time. What a bother.
I was annoyed at the
thought of just going straight back to the inn, so I made sure to pass in front
of the government office and the guard post.
"They've fallen
behind."
The guard post must be
a bane for bandits.
"When we turn
that corner, we'll run."
"Yes."
We turned the corner
and ran, then immediately turned another corner, turning many corners
repeatedly.
Before I knew it, I
was holding Anneliese's hand. What a soft hand it was. I wanted to hold it like
this forever.
"Master. We seem
to have shaken them off."
"...Is that
so."
Come on, put some
effort into chasing me! I don't want to let go of Anneliese's hand, you hear?
Hey, you should understand!
"There are no
reactions nearby."
Anneliese's Magic
Sense has a range of about 50 meters. They'd fallen quite a distance behind.
Tch, useless bandits.
"Shall we head
back to the inn?"
"Yes...
um..."
"What is
it?"
"My hand... is it
okay like this?"
Anneliese gazed at the
hand I was holding.
"...Oh, it's fine
like this."
Of course, it is!
"Yes."
We walked back to the
inn hand-in-hand. It felt like we were having a youth romance, and it was a bit
embarrassing.
But this is a good
thing. Moving while silently holding Anneliese's hand.
We arrived in front of
the inn, and Anneliese said she hadn't sensed any bandit presence since then.
Even when we returned
to the room after eating in the dining hall, I had her use Magic Sense to check
if anyone was in the room. There's no harm in being extra careful.
"Those bandits
are targeting me."
"Why
Master?"
"It was 9 days
ago. I was walking along the road towards Kerniff."
This was back when I
didn't even know what Kerniff was...
"At that time, I
encountered a group of bandits attacking a caravan."
I told her about that
time, and how I defeated the bandit leader.
"Master merely
did what was right. Their grudge is completely misplaced!"
Anneliese was
particularly upset. Her pouting was adorable, and it soothed my heart.
"I think so too.
If they don't want to be killed, they shouldn't be bandits."
The bandits probably
had their excuses, but they kill people, steal, and assault women. I have no
intention of listening to people like that.
"I'd like to
think this inn isn't known to them, but being optimistic might lead to trouble.
So, I'll set up a little trick."
"A trick?"
I took out the things
I bought at Golteo-san's shop and laid them on the bed. A pile of bells and
some string like kite string.
"Can you attach
these bells to this string, leaving about a head's length between each?"
"Yes."
Anneliese quietly
attached the bells to the string without complaint.
In the meantime, I
decided to test the Item Box.
First, I put the
clothes I was wearing into the Item Box. Yes, success.
"You suddenly
became naked, what happened?"
Anneliese looked
surprised to see me completely nude. I should've said something, sorry.
"Just a little
Item Box test. Don't mind me."
Anneliese returned to
attaching bells, and I returned to my verification.
Storing items I was
wearing in the Item Box was successful.
Next, I retrieved the
dagger I placed about 50 centimeters away from me. This was also successful.
Now about 1 meter.
This also worked.
2 meters yielded no
response.
Even about 1.5 meters
didn't work.
Reading the Detailed
Appraisal's explanation, it seems this distance increases as the Item Box's
proficiency levels up.
My Item Box can
retrieve things without touching them, but only up to a distance of 1 meter.
Conversely, I can also
take things out within a 1-meter radius. This might actually be an incredible
ability.
I can put a stone or a
dagger, anything, into the Item Box. Then, I could take it out inside a
person's body if they're within 1 meter. If I put a fist-sized stone in their
heart, they'd die. A dangerous thought crossed my mind.
This isn't something I
can easily experiment with. It might be okay with monsters, but they wouldn't
quietly cooperate under a 1-meter condition. And I don't know where a monster's
heart is. Although putting a stone in their head should also be effective.
When the Item Box's
proficiency increases, this range will extend, so I'll try it then.
"Master. I'm done
attaching the bells."
"Thank you."
"Um, are you
going to stay naked?"
"...Ah!?"
I was so absorbed in
the verification work that I was still stark naked. No wonder I felt cold.
Anneliese's gaze fell
on my lower abdomen... Don't stare like that!
I put my clothes back
on and hung the bell-attached string on the door. The trick was to make sure
the string would fall off if the door moved. I set up similar mechanisms on the
two windows.
Now, if anyone invades
through the door or windows, the bells will alert us. It's not like I can sleep
completely soundly, but it's much better than nothing.
Next up...
"Anneliese. Can
you tie me up with this?"
"Eh?"
I asked her to tie me
up with a rope. It's not because I have that kind of hobby. This is also a
verification.
"Please tie me up
in a way that assumes a bandit has restrained me."
"Understood."
Anneliese began
wrapping the rope around my body. She was quite skilled. Anneliese's breathing
seemed a bit fast, though. Huh? ...Wait, is this a kikko shibari (tortoise
shell bondage)!?
"You're quite
used to tying people up..."
"I've performed
bandit subjugations several times. It's fine to kill bandits, but if you
capture them alive, you can sell them as criminal slaves, which increases the
reward."
"I see..."
But I feel like the
kikko shibari is different, am I the only one? No, criminals in the Edo period
were supposedly tied in kikko shibari, so perhaps it's fine?
Well, whatever. I
won't think too deeply about it.
If I can retrieve this
rope binding me into my Item Box, it should help me escape if I ever get captured.
When I willed it to
store, the rope disappeared.
"I understand
what Master was doing. As expected of Master. You're clever."
Don't praise me so
much. My nose will grow longer.
However, I feel like
there's still something I need to do—something to verify. I'm trying to think
of what it is, but it's not coming to me.
I still had a nagging
feeling, but the verification was complete. Time to wipe my body and go to
sleep.
"Maybe I should
get some hot water soon."
"It will get
colder gradually, so that would be better."
Water comes from the
washbasin in the room, but hot water costs 50 Grill per cup if you ask the inn.
I'll put up with cold
water today and use hot water starting tomorrow.
We both took off our
clothes. I used Item Box to collect mine in one go. I've learned a convenient
technique.
Anneliese shyly turned
her back to me and undressed. I like breasts, but I also like butts, so either
way, it's a feast for the eyes.
"Sit there."
"Yes."
She sat on the chair,
and I wiped her from behind her ears, down her neck, back, and to her waist.
"Raise your
arms."
"Yes."
I wiped her left
armpit. Her side boob jiggled enticingly. Pant, pant, I want to grab those
breasts.
Excitedly, I wiped her
right armpit, and then asked her to turn around.
"...Yes."
Her face was flushed
red, visible even in the dim room.
She hid her chest with
both hands and covered her lower abdomen by crossing her thighs.
I dislike women who
have no shame. Some of my classmates would sit on chairs with their short
skirts pulled up, and legs spread wide. And those were always the worst kind of
trash.
Compared to them,
Anneliese's gestures were very girlish. She was shy, modest, and considerate.
Is it rude to compare
Anneliese to those trashy people?
I wiped the lower part
of her breasts, which seemed about to spill out, gradually ascending to the
peak. This is the summit! I have now successfully climbed it! The view from the
pink peak, after pushing through the white snow, is the best!
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