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Translator: Barnnn
The second most critical task, after evaluating their skills, was to assess their possessions.
Initially, it seemed like a simple matter of rummaging through their baggage — hardly worth their concern.
However, the moment their belongings manifested in the “Possessions” tab of their otherworldly status windows, the situation took a drastic turn.
“Takada-san…”
“Ichikawa-kun…”
“It happened to yours, too?”
“Yup.”
With a single exchanged glance, they could both anticipate what they would find next. Their expressions became strained, tight with unease.
Though their baggage differed — Izumi’s was a backpack, while Takada’s was a suitcase — the text describing them was identical.
Magic Bag (∞)
An otherworldly bag.
Items from the other world contained within are indestructible and unchanging.
Also maintains the state of items from &¥h@9エad while in storage.
“Does this mean our things from Earth won’t break?” Izumi wondered aloud.
“Yeah, and the ‘unchanging’ part probably means they won’t spoil either.”
“I see… that would be nice. I’ve got some groceries and instant meals in mine.”
“Same here — stocked up on all sorts of provisions for my supply manager job.”
“Well, at least we won’t have to worry about meals for a while, then.”
“That’s reassuring to know.”
“It sure is… By the way, what do you think about the ‘∞’ symbol? Does that mean there’s no limit to the bags’ capacity?”
“Seems like it.”
“Isn’t that kind of… scary, though?”
“L-let’s just try not to think about it.”
The one cryptic, garbled word within the description was troubling, and the implications extending even to their possessions left both of them shivering from a chill of unease. Nevertheless, they somehow managed to press on with their conversation.
“All right, next up is…” Takada began.
“The ‘staff,’ right?”
“Yeah, it’s been bugging me for a while now. Mind if I appraise it?”
“Yes, please do.”
Izumi handed Takada her crutch — though, in her status window, it was strangely listed as a “Staff.”
“I knew it,” Takada muttered, scribbling the appraisal results onto a piece of paper.
Staff
An indestructible staff made from otherworldly materials.
Assists in the invocation of magic.
Transfer: Not possible.
Shape-shifting: Possible (Crutch).
Magic Effect Multiplier: 1 to ∞.
“Shape-shifting?” Izumi repeated, her brow furrowing.
“This is just a guess, but I think you might be able to freely mold it.”
“Free molding, huh… So you’re saying it could be turned into… well, something other than a differently-shaped crutch?”
“That’s what I’m thinking. Carrying it around like this all the time would be pretty inconvenient, don’t you think?”
“Right, but… what would be the most practical form for it, then? A cane, maybe?”
“You don’t have to overthink it so much. Since it’s supposed to assist with magic, maybe something compact like an accessory would be better.”
“That makes sense. Let me give it a try.”
Izumi took the crutch back and held it close to her chest.
She proceeded to concentrate on the “Staff” in her status window, visualizing the shape she desired.
Almost immediately, the crutch began to shrink, contracting until it fit neatly within her cupped hands.
“Oh? It’s much smaller now,” Takada observed.
“Yes. How does it look?”
Izumi opened her palms, revealing within them a sleek silver bangle.
She lifted the bangle and placed it over her right arm. The moment the metal made contact, it clasped itself around her wrist and began to shift and adjust, molding itself until it fit perfectly, snug and secure.
“The ‘Shape-shifting’ section of my status window now says it’s a ‘Bangle,'” Izumi noted.
“That’s a nice choice. Very convenient. But you know, I kinda thought you’d go for something like a ring instead,” Takada teased.
“No way. A ring would be a little bit too flashy for me. This just feels more natural — it’s not so different from the wristband I wear for basketball.”
“Fair enough. I almost forgot you’re still in junior high… Maybe you’re still a bit too young for rings after all, huh?”
“Oh, mind your own business. It’s not like you’re wearing any, either.”
“Oof…!”
Izumi’s sharp retort prompted Takada to feign a stagger, his actions edging closer to the antics of a junior high schooler. Perhaps the de-aging actually had influenced his mentality after all.
For a moment, Izumi watched him with a mix of amusement and curiosity, before returning her gaze to the staff’s description.
“This ‘Magic Effect Multiplier’ — it sounds too good to be true. Could it really be a simple power boost, just like that?”
“I think it is, actually. The potential here is mind-blowing, too. Seriously, this is some potent gear they’ve given you… whoever ‘they’ are.”
“But neither of us has any skill for using magic, right?”
“We’ll have to figure that out later. Maybe we have to buy the skills, or maybe they’ll awaken naturally.”
“Hmm… all right. We should remember to test this multiplier out once we learn some spells, then.”
With that tentative plan in place, they decided to set the staff aside for the time being.
Their attention shifted to the rest of their belongings. Izumi’s backpack was filled mostly with camping gear and food supplies.
“Oh, Takada-san, could you check these for me?”
Izumi handed over the small bag of medication she had picked up earlier from the pharmacy.
Her once-injured knee had healed completely, but she thought it wise to keep painkillers on hand, just in case. If these too had become ‘unchanging,’ it would be a significant relief.
But when Takada took out the medicine and appraised it, his reaction made her pulse quicken.
“What the–!?” he exclaimed, eyes widening.
“I-is something wrong?”
“T-they’re…!” Takada’s voice trailed off as he hastily scribbled down the appraisal results.
Izumi peeked over his shoulder, and what she saw made her freeze in shock.
Healing Potion
A liquid medicine that heals all wounds.
Curing Potion
A liquid medicine that cures all diseases.
“Umm, these were originally just antibiotics and painkillers…” she stammered.
“Can you tell which one became which?”
“I’d guess the antibiotics turned into the Curing Potion, and the painkillers into the Healing Potion.”
“So, the antibiotics, which were meant to reduce inflammation, now cure diseases… And the painkillers, because they relieve pain from injuries, have turned into something that can heal all wounds?”
“That’s… probably right.”
A heavy silence followed Izumi’s affirmation.
Takada, after a moment deep in thought, proceeded to rummage through his suitcase, eventually laying out a couple of items on the floor in front of them.
Izumi recognized one as a calculator with more buttons than she was accustomed to, and another as a somewhat large bathing set, likely meant for travel.
Seeing no immediate connection between the two items, she observed Takada’s serious expression.
“These two items are things I always take with me when I travel for work. First, this…”
He pointed at the calculator before placing its appraisal results beside it.
Cash Converter
An otherworldly calculator.
Allows currency exchange within &¥h@9エad.
Additional function: Buying.
Transfer: Not possible.
“…I use it all the time, to calculate prices when negotiating with producers. Now it’s got a currency exchange function and something like a flea market access.”
“I understand the currency exchange, but what’s this about a flea market?”
“That’s what I’m guessing the ‘buying’ additional function refers to. You hold something you want to sell up to the converter, it shows a purchase price, and you can sell it — bada bing. That’s all I know, though. We’ll have to experiment more to see what else it can do.”
“But… who’s buying the stuff, anyway?”
“…I have no idea.”
Yet another unsettling development.
Izumi’s eyes shifted to the bathing set. Nervously, she pointed to it.
“Uh, so what about this?”
“Just a normal bathing set… originally, anyway. I’m kind of a hot springs enthusiast, you see. Whenever I travel, I always make time for a soak in the local baths.”
Takada proceeded to scribble down the appraisal results and placed them beside the set.
Cosmetics Set (Ultimate)
A set of spray potions filled with otherworldly beautifying ingredients.
Can be used on hair and the entire body.
Bottles have an infinite generation feature.
“Ultimate…” Izumi groaned in disbelief.
“Yeah, this is getting absurd. It was just shampoo, body soap, men’s skincare products, stuff like that. Now it’s a supposedly never-ending supply…?”
“That does seem to be the case… Gah…”
Overwhelmed by the string of astonishing discoveries, Izumi buried her face in her hands and heaved a sigh.
“You okay there?”
“No, not really… I’m feeling even worse than that vertigo I got when we were first transported…”
“…Hey, I know how you feel. Here, how about we take a little break?”
Takada reached into his suitcase, pulling out a square package. He tore open the wrapping and presented the contents to Izumi.
“Nothing beats sweets when you’re feeling worn out,” he said, revealing a selection of ankoro mochi, traditional sweet bean paste rice cakes from a region renowned for its connection to Amaterasu, the goddess of the sun.
Izumi accepted the offering with a small smile. “Thank you very much.”
“Don’t mention it.”
They proceeded to nibble on the sweets using the tiny toothpicks provided, washing down the gentle sweetness with bottled tea from Izumi’s backpack.
Healed by the sweetness, and grateful that she had packed extra drinks for the summer heat, Izumi allowed herself a deep, steadying breath.
“Let’s try to get some rest for now,” Takada suggested after a while. “We’ll go over things again tomorrow, then decide on what to do next.”
“Yes, that sounds good,” Izumi agreed, her voice calmer now.
In the end, they spread their spare clothes in a corner of the room and settled down for the night.
Then, the next morning…
They screamed in unison upon discovering that the sweets and drinks they had consumed the night before had replenished themselves, as though nothing had been touched.
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