Kays Translations

Chapter 49: Search

Mia and I entered the entrance of the warehouse.

The door in front of us was sealed with a metal lock, preventing it from opening.

"You can't enter from the first floor. Please go up to the second floor," the security guard informed us.

We went up to the second floor using the staircase on the right.

Upon opening the door on the opposite side of the corridor and stepping inside, everything became clear.

The building was structured like a gymnasium.

The center of the second floor had a large open space surrounded by spectator seats.

We entered through the door of the bleachers.

And in the middle of the gymnasium's central space, there was a towering pile of bulky garbage that reached up to the second floor.

"This... It's completely different from what I expected. It makes sense that we can't enter from the first floor," Mia commented.

"Yeah, this might be a problem," I replied.

"Are all of these artifacts?" Mia asked.

"...I don't think so. I just realized, how do we differentiate between artifacts and ordinary tools?" I wondered.

"It might be difficult to tell without the Appraisal skill. The result of not being able to differentiate seems to have resulted in this mountain," Mia speculated.

"One of the benefits of being a Dwarf is having a 'good eye,' but I guess they can't distinguish whether something is an artifact or not. They probably left things here that they deemed to have a certain level of value, for now," I explained.

There were also broken objects with parts scattered around and remnants of large machinery.

Searching through this pile seemed daunting, but we had no choice but to do it.

We descended from the front row of the spectator seats on the second floor and landed on top of the piled garbage.

If we lightly jumped from the landing spot, we could grab onto the handrail of the spectator seats, so we didn't need to worry about returning.

Assuming the pile didn't collapse, that is.

"By the way, what should I be looking for here?" Mia asked.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention. I need something like a communication device, similar to a phone. Now that we have established connections with the Dwarves and Demons, I want to secure a means of communication. It would also give us a significant advantage in battle," I explained.

"Okay. I'll let you know if I find anything else interesting too"

We split up and started searching.

After a while, Mia called out to me.

I went over to her, and she silently pointed at the ground.

...It looks like a gun or something.

It doesn't seem to shoot bullets but emits a beam. Is it a laser gun?

"This looks powerful, but it's dangerous, isn't it?" Mia said.

"Yeah, let's not take it. While we may be overthinking in a world where magic exists, weapons that can easily kill anyone are risky. If an Elf who learned about this laser gun started researching and developing something similar with magical tools and spread it throughout the world, it would be a disaster."

Light sabers are similar, but gun-type weapons are bad.

If we can't notice the attack, we can't defend with the ‘Heart Wall’ barrier.

Living in a world where anyone can use long-range weapons with high lethality is extremely unfavorable for both Mia and me.

Above all, I don't want to live in a world where I’m afraid of guns.

With that in mind, we have to be very careful with what we create in the future.

With the dwarves involved, we can't control them like we have in the past.

"Ah, here it is!"

I looked where Mia was looking.

There it was, a telephone booth.

I didn't know its original purpose, but it looked like a telephone booth to me.

"If we have this, it will be difficult to carry around," I said.

"No, it's not like that. This is a...," Mia started to explain.

"No, that won't work. If we use it, we will end up in a different world. I want to save Kukuto-san and Maruru-san in this world," I interrupted.

"Y-Yes, you're right. I almost fell into a dangerous trap there."

What kind of item is this? Could it be an artifact surpassing the "Crimson Atonement Gate"?

It's an exciting prospect, but now isn’t the time.

Afterward, we found things that resembled microwaves and refrigerators.

They would be useful to have, but we don't need them right now.

This is bad.

Time is mercilessly passing by.

In the first place, I can hardly find anything palm-sized.

Maybe they’ve gradually fallen through the gaps to the lower levels.

I thought that if we came here, I would definitely find something.

Thinking about it now, it would have been better to be shown a house in its original state and search there.

But technology has advanced this much, the ancient people must have used communication devices.

...Ah! I see.

Rather than a mobile phone or smartphone, that would be far better.

What am I doing?!

"Mia, let's hurry and get out of here."

I grabbed Mia's hand, as she looked at me puzzled with a question mark floating above her head, and quickly left.

"Takumi, how about the good items...?"

"I'll explain later. Just follow me, we don't have time."

◇

——The reception room in the Entrance Control building.

"Tatara-san, I'm sorry for barging in so suddenly. Could you please tell us how this facility communicates with the 'Gonhirrim Pass'?" I asked.

"From your appearance, it seems to be quite important, right? I've been instructed by the king to assist you, Takumi, so it's fine," Tatara replied.

Oh, as expected of the Dwarf King, he's a capable man.

"Thank you! Then, I would like Mia to experience making a call using the 'Gonhirrim pass' first. Since only I can wear my 'Gonhirrim pass' bracelet, is there any other way?"

"In that case, please use this guest version of the 'Gonhirrim Pass.' It's designed to be usable by anyone."

Come to think of it, I remember they mentioned going to the surface a few times a year to dispose of garbage. Could it be the wristband they use for that?

After borrowing the guest wristband, we were transferred to the Shirakami Dungeon.

◇

——Shirakami dungeon 3rd basement near the transfer magic circle.

I heard Tatara-san's voice directly in my head.

"How is it? Can you hear me?"

"I-It's amazing. It feels like you're speaking directly into my head."

Carla and Gale couldn't hear anything at all.

But we could hear it. Could it be...

"Tatara-san, can multiple people talk simultaneously with this?"

"Yeah, you can. If the magic circle and the control device are connected, you can talk to everyone around that magic circle. However, owning the bracelet is a requirement."

Being able to have conversations without anyone noticing, it's the perfect communication device.

If the mechanism on the control device side is simple, we might be able to manage somehow.

I asked Mia to sketch a couple of copies of the teleportation magic circle on paper.

While Mia was doing the sketches, I had Carla and Gale try out a conversation using the "Gonhirrim Pass."

Both of them were surprised and impressed, but Gale seemed to realize the usefulness of it and his face turned pale.

"T-Takumi. Are you sure you want to make this?"

"Yeah, I understand what you're trying to say. Don't worry. I don't intend to spread this to the world. It's a secret communication method for a limited group of members."

"I see. Then I have nothing more to say. But the thought of this being used in wars or for evil deeds gives me chills."

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