Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 128: Extra Story: Thor, Mabel, Rukie, and the “Hero from the Heroes’ World”
This time, Mabel seemed to have found a strange paper from the Heroes’ world…
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“Thor-sama, Thor-sama.”
“What is it, Mabel?”
“I found some strange paper in the corner of the warehouse. Could you take a look at it?”
One day,
while tidying the warehouse, Mabel said this.
What she was holding was an old piece of paper.
Judging from the photograph printed on it, it had to be from the Heroes’ world.
It looks like a page torn from some book.
“I can’t read it, but what does it say?”
“It says, ‘We buy hidden treasures.’”
“Hidden treasures, you say?”
“It’s like a notice posted in taverns in the Empire. Places where people gather often have bulletin boards with all sorts of requests posted.”
“There are such things…”
“For example, things like ‘We’ll pay a reward, so please collect medicinal herbs,’ or ‘Looking for people or items. Those who find them will be rewarded…’”
“So information gathers where people gather, huh?”
“The book this page came from was probably distributed widely throughout the Heroes’ world.”
“As expected of the Heroes’ world.”
Mabel and I sighed.
The page titled “We Buy Treasures” had probably come from a publication distributed to major facilities throughout the Heroes’ world.
In our world, that would be places like the royal palace or large stores.
They might have been spreading information there to gather items and personnel.
The Heroes’ world truly was unfathomable.
“Then what sort of treasures exist in the Heroes’ world, Thor-sama?”
“This page has only one listed. It says, ‘Because it’s an ultimate and special treasure, this magazine is searching with full effort. If you know anything, please contact us.’”
“…Amazing. The entire Heroes’ world is supporting the search.”
“That’s right. And the name of the treasure is… huh? ‘Transformation Item’?”
“Transformation? An item that changes your appearance when you wear it?”
Mabel’s face showed surprise.
“In this world, there are the Transforming Pajamas Thor-sama made. Is it something similar?”
“Not quite. It seems this was an item used by heroes from another world when they transformed to fight against evil organizations.”
“Evil organizations!? The Heroes’ world actually had such groups!?”
“Yeah. Also, to keep records of the battles, they apparently took detailed notes. See, here it says, ‘We’re searching for the early model transformation item used during filming.’”
“Filming… That means taking photos, right?”
“It also means recording moving images. The Heroes’ world apparently kept meticulous records. Battles between Heroes and evil organizations may have been among them.”
The photograph showed a Hero.
A strangely shaped helmet completely hid the Hero’s face.
A complex belt circled the Hero’s waist, glowing and spinning.
The belt appeared to be the Transformation Item.
Yeah… I understand why people would want it.
In our world, it would be like a holy sword or a scroll of ultimate magic.
It’s understandable to want to obtain it even by paying a large sum.
“How expensive is this ‘Transformation Item’?”
“That’s unknown. It says ‘negotiable’ and ‘we accept offers.’”
“I see…”
“If it’s about as valuable as a holy sword or an ultimate magic scroll… it would probably cost several thousand gold coins.”
“Right.”
Mabel and I sighed.
Of course, the idea that a holy sword costs thousands of gold coins is just speculation.
The holy swords owned by the Empire can’t be bought with money.
Sometimes magical swords appear on the market, but those cost a few hundred gold coins.
I didn’t know how powerful a Transformation Item from the Heroes’ world was, but given the extensive search,
it was probably as valuable as a holy sword—
“No, maybe it’s cheaper than a holy sword.”
“Huh? If it was used by heroes from another world, wouldn’t it be more valuable than a holy sword?”
“Listen carefully, Mabel. I’ll read the description again.”
“O-okay.”
“It says here, ‘We’re searching for the early model used during filming.’”
“──!”
Mabel seemed to have realized it too.
Yes. The requester specifically wanted an early model of the Transformation Item.
In other words—
“The requester is searching for an early model of the ‘Transformation Item.’ Compared to later models, it might be unstable or defective. That’s why I think it’s cheaper than holy swords or ultimate magic scrolls.”
“I-I see!”
The existence of an ‘early model’ implies there must be ‘later models’ or ‘improved versions.’
That means there are upgraded versions with better performance.
Not only that—the paper implied that many different Transformation Items existed in the Heroes’ world.
But if so many Transformation Items existed in the Heroes’ world…
“Maybe the ‘Transformation Items’ are used for ritual magic. Instead of the power coming from the item itself, the transformation might come from the ritual’s power.”
“Is that so?”
“It would be unnatural for there to be many types of items causing the single effect of ‘transformation.’ The belt might determine what form you transform into, but the important thing might be the ritual for the ‘transformation.’”
“Like priests using ritual items to call forth holy power?”
“It’s common for what you wear to show your status or power.”
“…So that’s what it was.”
“…The Heroes’ world is truly deep and complex.”
Mabel and I sat side by side, reading the page titled “We Buy Treasures.”
It seemed that various replicas of this item existed.
It said that even replicas might have value and asked readers to contact the buyer.
“Thor-sama.”
“Yeah, Mabel.”
“Thor-sama, wouldn’t you be able to copy this belt?”
“I think I can. Since it’s used in ritual magic, the important thing should be its shape. But… the problem is the material. From just this paper, I can’t tell what material the item is made of.”
…If I’m going to make it, I’ll have to try various materials.
Maybe I should make about five versions with different materials.
At least one should produce a magical reaction. I could study that version and gradually bring it closer to the original item from the Heroes’ world.
“As expected of Thor-sama. Then even people of the Demon Lord’s Domain might be able to transform into Heroes!?”
“But there’s one more problem.”
“Is that so?”
“It seems a special pose is needed to transform into a hero. If we don’t know that, just making the ‘transformation item’ would be meaningless—”
Wait, hold on. Rukie said something like this before.
“That there might be another hero summoning someday.”
At that time, a “transformation Hero” might appear.
It might be good to study it now.
Even if I couldn’t solve it alone, perhaps everyone in the Demon Lord’s Domain could help identify the correct ritual.
“Mabel, could you deliver a message to Rukie-sama?”
“Y-yes. What should I say?”
“I’m going to copy this item, and I want permission to exhibit it.”
I told Mabel my plan.
Then I activated my ‘Creation Alchemy.’
Using “We Buy Treasures” as a reference, I began making a replica of the “transformation item.”
—A few days later, at the entrance to the Demon Lord’s Castle—
“So these are what people in the Heroes’ world used to transform…”
“How on earth do they do it? Could we perhaps do it too?”
“Let’s consider it a ritual for selecting heroes. It might be worth a try.”
People had gathered at the entrance to the Demon Lord’s Castle.
What they were surrounding was the replica ‘transformation item’ belt I made.
Stone steps had been built around it to support the belt, and letters were carved into the steps.
“This is an item from the Heroes’ world used to transform into a Hero.
It’s believed to be used in ritual magic.
To understand the Heroes’ world better, touch it and conduct various experiments.”
—that’s what it said.
“…ritual magic.”
“I don’t understand. What kind of thing could it be…?”
“The Heroes’ world is too complicated. We just can’t grasp it…”
Everyone was wrapping the belt around their waists, shoulders, or foreheads.
They seemed to be imagining how a hero wearing it would move, what kind of weapons they’d use, and so on.
“Studying items from the Heroes’ world will help us understand the Heroes.”
Next to me, Demon Lord Rukie said this.
She wore the mask and robe of the Demon Lord.
From the balcony of the throne room, she looked down at the people at the castle entrance.
“Perhaps someone will succeed in transforming. Thor, you’ve made something interesting.”
“Thank you, Rukie-sama.”
“I heard that Heroes from another world fought evil organizations. If someone from the Demon Lord’s Domain can transform successfully, it would prove that we aren’t evil. Showing that transformed form when Heroes arrive might prevent conflict.”
“As expected of Rukie-sama.”
“I’ve told everyone as well. Let’s watch warmly over their efforts.”
“Yes, Rukie-sama.”
Rukie and I looked down at the people warmly.
On the ground, everyone continued various experiments with the belt in hand.
“—Ritual magic requires concentration and a strong wish. In other words!”
“If you wear it and wish strongly, you can transform, right!?”
“Let’s try! Transform! Transform! Trans-for-mation!”
“…No. It seems impossible. Perhaps it requires concentration and magic power surpassing even that of the Heroes—”
“Now that I think about it, there were heroes who got stronger when they sensed a life-threatening situation.”
“So latent potential awakens in danger.”
“I see. Then I shall—Wait, Chancellor, where are you going with the belt still on your head!? Eh? You want to encourage transformation by delivering an impact…!? Please stop! What if the belt breaks!?”
A peaceful afternoon.
Rukie and I sat side by side, drinking tea and listening to the people’s voices.
The number of people gathered at the Demon Lord’s Castle entrance kept increasing.
Everyone was fascinated by the Heroes’ world’s Transformation Item.
As expected of an item used by heroes from another world—it seemed to have the power to captivate everyone.
Some people researched transformation poses.
Others copied the Transformation Hero pictured on the displayed “We Buy Treasures” page.
Some even read documents they had written themselves, with titles such as “Special Moves of Heroes from the Heroes’ World” and “Secrets of Heroes’ World Hero No. 22.”
The gallery kept growing.
Looking down at this scene, Rukie and I—
“…It’s turned into more of a commotion than expected.”
“…Perhaps we underestimated the influence of Heroes from another world.”
Before it caused an uproar across the entire Domain, I began to think we should remove the Transformation Item.