Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 189: “Fiddling with the ‘Pseudo-Smartphone’”
“The Justice Smartphone” successfully activated.
We were able to obtain information about the Hero World.
Since then, the “Smartphone” hasn’t changed. It’s just been displaying the same message.
After confirming that, Rukie and Kelve-san concluded that we couldn’t get any more information from it in its current state.
So, I ended up taking custody of the “Smartphone”—
“Alright. Now I can mess around with it as much as I want.”
—And I began analyzing the “Smartphone” in my room.
Of course, it’s not just out of curiosity.
This item needs to be thoroughly investigated.
Considering the sender likely sent it with good intentions, I don’t think it will activate any dangerous magic.
But it’s possible it contains information beyond just the message.
I want to see if there’s any data on the “Cursed Smartphone” too.
So, I need to appraise and examine its internal structure thoroughly.
It’s not like I want to mess with it as a hobby or analyze it to make a copy or anything like that.
I just want to find a countermeasure against the Cursed Smartphone. That’s the truth, really!
“—So please, Agnis-san. Don’t look so worried.”
This is my room in the Demon Lord’s castle.
While I’m investigating the “Smartphone,” Agnis is staring intently at me from the side.
She looks kind of troubled.
“…Thor Canaan-sama.”
“Yes, Agnis-san?”
“I’d like you to sleep properly in your bed tonight.”
“Huh? I always sleep in bed normally, though…”
“Bringing the Smartphone into bed and messing with it until late at night is no good.”
“No, I did sleep properly!”
“There’s a difference between lying down and sleeping, and just losing consciousness while sitting!”
I got scolded.
But… this item investigation really is necessary.
If my hypothesis is correct, the “Smartphone” is also a ceremonial item from the Hero World.
There’s also the testimony of the Hero.
With the Smartphone, he said he could talk to people far away or look down on the world from the sky—
This “Justice Smartphone” might awaken and reveal its true functions.
To figure that out, I need to investigate it in detail.
“…After all, Mabel really is amazing.”
Suddenly, Agnis muttered that.
“Mabel was able to make sure Thor Canaan-sama slept properly at night.”
“…Agnis-san?”
“I’m not strong enough as Agnis… what should I do…”
“…I’m sorry.”
I didn’t mean to trouble Agnis.
I was just so close to completing the appraisal that I got too absorbed in it.
…I’ll reflect on that.
“Please don’t make that face. I’ll sleep properly tonight.”
“…Really?”
“So, could you also share your thoughts on the appraisal of the Justice Smartphone?”
“My thoughts?”
“I need a hint. I feel like I’m close to figuring out a lot.”
I took the “Justice Smartphone” in hand and activated the “Appraisal Insight” skill.
“Appraisal Insight” is a skill used to examine the attributes and effects of items or materials.
What I found out with this skill was—
────────────────
Justice Smartphone
A magical item from another world.
Displays various types of information through its internal mechanisms.
Operates using special thunder-like energy.
Its power can be replenished using extremely low-power “Lightning-type magic.”
However, precise control is needed. Recharging must be done while “Appraisal Insight” is active.
Functionality is currently limited.
There is a protective barrier inside to safeguard its information.
Attribute: Unknown
────────────────
“That’s as far as I can get with Appraisal Insight.”
I explained to Agnis.
“The problem is that something like an anti-magic barrier is embedded in the Justice Smartphone.”
“A barrier even Thor Canaan-sama’s skill can’t break?”
“Appraisal Insight can shake the barrier a little. I feel like if I do just one more thing, I might be able to break it… but for now, it’s still too difficult.”
“A barrier to protect the information… I guess the Hero World really is an unimaginable place…”
“Exactly…”
“If it’s an anti-magic barrier, it would break if hit with strong magic or a large amount of mana. But we can’t just fire magic into the Smartphone’s internals…”
“That’s true… Wait, hmm?”
Something’s bugging me…
If the same method works as with anti-magic barriers, and I can find a way to do it without damaging the Justice Smartphone, that would be ideal.
…I feel like I’m on the verge of a breakthrough.
“Thank you very much, Agnis-san. That was helpful.”
“Not at all. I understand how difficult it is to handle a Hero World Smartphone.”
“Still, it’s rewarding work. It’s for the safety of the Demon Lord’s domain, after all.”
“Yes. I understand that.”
“So, it’s okay if I stay up all night sometimes, right?”
“Huh?”
“If I’m trying to break through a Hero World barrier, then it can’t be helped if I forget the time, right?”
“…U-uh…”
“It can’t be helped.”
“…C-can’t be helped.”
“Yup yup.”
“Y-yes.”
Agnis and I nodded at each other as we met eyes.
Alright, I managed to smooth things over.
“The problem is that the screen of the ‘Justice Smartphone’ has frozen with text displayed. Maybe it’s because of functional restrictions, but we can’t do anything beyond that. If we knew the correct way to use it, we might be able to activate other functions, but…”
“If we force it, we might break it.”
“Right…”
Most likely, there’s some kind of spell or action required to unlock all the functions.
Or maybe a specific emblem is needed.
But I don’t know how to do any of that.
This is hard…
I really feel like I’m just one step away from figuring something out… It’s frustrating.
“Maybe we should take a break and clear our heads.”
Suddenly, Agnis said that.
She had a point.
Besides, I can’t keep making her worry any more than she already is.
“Alright. I’ll look into it for another 10 minutes. If I don’t find any clues, I’ll take a break.”
“Yes. I think that’s a good idea.”
Agnis gently chided me,
“If you eat lunch and take a nap, I’m sure a good idea will come to you.”
“You’re right.”
Ten more minutes, huh.
Yeah. Putting a time limit on it actually makes me feel more focused.
For now, I’ll concentrate for the next 10 minutes—
“““We’re back!!”””
Just as I thought that, the winged fairies, the Pixies, flew in through the window.
“—We’ve returned from the ‘Forest of Confusion’.”
“—We traveled with burning passion!”
“—We’re back.”
“—Nyan nyan! Rub rub ruuub!!”
The Earth Pixie bowed politely.
The Fire Pixie flew in circles around me.
The Water Pixie was blushing shyly by the window.
And the Wind Pixie—while putting on and taking off her “cat costume pajamas” hood—rubbed her face against my cheek… Wait, why do you always crawl into my clothes? Is that a habit or something?
“Great job, everyone… Wait, where’s Mabel?”
When I asked that, the Pixies replied—
“She’s outside the castle.”
“We tried to stop her—”
“For safety reasons.”
“Wafu wafu wau wau wooo—!”
—That’s how they explained it.
“W-What does that mean exactly…?”
“…Yeah. I kind of get the idea.”
“Eh!?”
“What’s wrong, Agnis?”
“You understood that!?”
“Yes. In other words, Mabel made it back safely from the Forest of Confusion, but in her current state, it’s better for her not to enter the castle. So she’s waiting outside. Just in case, I should go pick her up, right? I think that’s what it means.”
““““That’s right!””””
“…A-Amazing.”
“Well, he is an alchemist. Let’s go then.”
“Y-Yes.”
““““We’ll guide you—!””””
And so, Agnis and I went to go meet Mabel.
Afterward, we reunited with Mabel under a large tree outside the castle.
But Mabel—
“Wau wau wau! Woof woof woof wooof—!”
“M-Mabel!?”
“S-She’s pretending to be an animal!? What happened to you, Mabel!?”
—I ended up getting tackled by Mabel in the form of a dog.
“Wau wau! Woof woof!”
“Hey!? Get a hold of yourself, Mabel!”
“W-Wah!? Thor Canaan-sama is being pinned down! I-I’ll help you right away! Take this!”
Agnis activated her Health-Enhancement Pendant.
She boosted her physical strength slightly and pulled Mabel off of me.
“A-Are you alright, Thor Canaan-sama!?”
“I’m fine. But Mabel…”
Mabel rolled on the ground, then sat up—in a sitting posture, looking at me.
In the form of a silver-furred dog, she was wagging her tail vigorously.
She didn’t even seem aware that she was an elf. She had completely become an animal…
“Come to think of it, I heard you had to become an animal to get through the Forest of Confusion…”
“Since Mabel is so earnest, maybe she fully became one in both body and spirit…?”
“Sorry, Agnis. Can you help take off Mabel’s ‘pretend-animal pajamas’?”
Since Mabel had become an animal in both body and spirit…
Let’s start by restoring her physical form to an elf.
“Understood. I’ll take them off right now!”
Pop!
Agnis swiftly removed Mabel’s “pretend-animal pajamas.”
Mabel didn’t resist.
Because she had fully become an animal.
She probably wasn’t even aware that she was wearing clothes.
That makes sense.
“She wasn’t aware she was wearing clothes”—that’s exactly it.
Because when Mabel’s pajamas were removed—
“W-Wah wah wah wah waaaah—!?”
Oh, she came back to her senses.
And just like that, Mabel, now sane again, returned to us.
“………………I’m terribly sorry for showing you such an embarrassing sight, Thor-sama.”
She sat formally on her knees.
Now clothed again, Mabel was sitting on the floor of my room.
By the way, the 10 minutes I promised Agnis had already passed a long time ago.
But it couldn’t be helped.
The promise was “If we don’t find any clues in 10 minutes, we’ll take a break.” But Mabel might have some insights that could help us analyze the Smartphone.
So I’ll just extend the time limit a little.
“…Um… so, Mabel.”
“Y-Yes. You’re asking why I was dressed… like that, right…?”
“Does it have something to do with getting through the Forest of Confusion?”
“Y-Yes…”
And so, Mabel began to talk.
—To pass through the “Forest of Confusion,” one must imitate animals.
That’s what we heard from the “ancestor,” Karotia-san.
So, Mabel and the winged fairies were wearing “animal pajamas,” but apparently that wasn’t enough.
Because animals don’t wear clothes.
Therefore, those undergoing the trial were required to be naked under the animal pajamas.
Mabel did exactly as instructed.
By fully becoming an animal, she passed the trial, reached the location of the “Dragon Bone,” and collected the material.
However, since she also had to act like an animal on the way back—
“You completely became an animal, both in body and spirit, huh…”
“…………Y-Yes.”
“But you still brought the materials back. That’s amazing.”
On the desk sat Mabel’s “Ultra-Compact Simple Storage.”
Even while fully playing the part of an animal, the fact that she managed to put the material in this and bring it back is really impressive.
As expected of Mabel.
Beside the “Ultra-Compact Simple Storage” was a semi-transparent material over two meters in length.
This was the “Dragon Bone.”
Also known as “Spirit-Reactive Material.”
A dragon that once lived in the northern lands left it behind for the people of this region.
It looked more like crystal than bone.
It’s said that the bones of aged dragons crystallize into such a form.
Beautiful. And it radiates a powerful magical aura.
“Even though you became an animal, you didn’t forget to bring the materials back. That’s really something.”
I nodded to Mabel.
“Thank you so much, Mabel.”
“I-If you praise me that much… I’m going to get embarrassed.”
Mabel bashfully covered her cheeks.
“It seems it was a good idea to cast a suggestion on myself before fully becoming an animal.”
“A suggestion?”
“Yes. I visualized the scene where Thor-sama commanded me, ‘Go fetch it!’ and burned it into my heart… um, Thor-sama.”
“Yeah?”
“Could you… pat my head?”
“Sure, but… Mabel, you’re fully conscious, right? You’ve turned back into an elf, right?”
“I’m fine. Also, if you could pet my tail too…”
“Mabel, you don’t have a tail!”
“…Uugh.”
Mabel looked like she was about to cry.
When I patted her head, she closed her eyes in pleasure. She still acted a little like a dog.
She must’ve gone through a lot to bring back that material. I need to be grateful.
“By the way, where’s the ‘ancestor’ Karotia-san?”
“She stayed in the forest. She said she’ll visit us sometime.”
Mabel looked at the “Dragon Bone” on the desk.
“This is a dragon’s rib. I took the part Karotia-san recommended. I couldn’t take the whole thing, after all.”
“That’s more than enough. Thank you.”
“Mabel, good work.”
Agnis and I both nodded.
Then I held my hand over the “Dragon Bone” and activated my Appraisal skill.
And what I discovered was—
────────────────────
『Bone of the Ancient Dragon Vira』
A rib bone from a dragon that once lived in this land.
It reacts to the owner’s spirit.
The bone contains the lingering thoughts of the “Ancient Dragon Vira.”
Its form changes in response to spirit due to the effect of those lingering thoughts.
Elemental Affinities: Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Dragon
────────────────────
“““…Whoa.”””
We couldn’t help but let out a breath of amazement.
So this is the “Spirit-Reactive Material” from elven legend. Incredible…
With this bone, it might even be possible to create the dream weapons like the Ultra-High-Frequency Blade, the Thought-Controlled Power Suit, or the Spirit-Reactive Cannon.
“By the way, Thor-sama, what happened to the ‘Pseudo Smartphone’?”
“It activated safely.”
I explained to Mabel about the Pseudo Smartphone, now dubbed the Smartphone of Justice.
“—And that’s how it went. It didn’t trigger any ultimate magic or summon any new monster species. But…”
“You’re saying a ‘Cursed Smartphone’ sent by evil people has arrived in this world.”
“Exactly. There might be more information about the Hero’s World inside the ‘Smartphone of Justice.’ But it’s protected by barriers and its functions are limited, so we can’t extract any more data.”
“Since it’s from the Hero’s World, it may require a special keyword or incantation to unlock.”
“Yeah, maybe. I wish there was another way…”
Let’s think like a hero would.
The Smartphone of Justice has limited functions, and barriers are blocking Appraisal.
To extract the internal data, we need to break through the barriers and lift the restrictions.
And the favorite word of the heroes is “Awaken.”
“Erase the limits within yourself, awaken! Unleash your true power!”
—These are words still remembered in this world.
They’re even used as the motto at a noble academy in the Empire. Not exactly a memory I enjoy, but it’s a clue nonetheless.
In other words, if we want to awaken the Smartphone of Justice and release its true power… Wait, hold on?
“…Would heroes really chant incantations just to use their smartphones?”
Heroes are a warrior race. That means they’d likely use their smartphones during combat.
They wouldn’t have time to touch the phone or chant spells in the middle of a battle.
It’s definitely a combat-use item. Every hero that came to this world wanted one. If warrior-types wanted it, then it had to be a battle-use item.
So then—
“Maybe the heroes controlled their smartphones with their thoughts?”
“With their thoughts?”
“…That does seem quite possible.”
Mabel was surprised.
But Agnis nodded as if she’d expected it.
“It’s dangerous to mess with a complicated magic item while clashing swords with an enemy. That makes the theory of controlling it with thoughts very plausible.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“A skilled knight fights in perfect harmony with their horse—‘as one.’ So perhaps the heroes, too, fought in unison with their smartphones.”
“…As expected of Agnis. That’s very convincing.”
General Reisenga’s only daughter, Agnis, has extensive knowledge about combat.
If it’s her judgment, then there’s probably no mistake.
That means the ‘Smartphone’ from the Hero’s World is most likely operated through thought.
This ‘Smartphone’ is meant to transmit messages, so perhaps the function to read thoughts was deliberately removed.
In that case, we just need to add that function ourselves.
“Alright. Let’s try using ‘psychic-responsive material’.”
On the desk in the room lies a ‘dragon’s bone.’
If I synthesize this with the ‘Justice Smartphone,’ it should result in a ‘Justice Psychic Smartphone.’
There’s plenty of material.
Since we only need about a fist-sized portion for the ‘Justice Smartphone,’ the material consumption is low. Plenty will remain for other items.
However—
“…The dragon might not be too thrilled about combining with an item from the Hero’s World.”
Still, this is something that must be done.
To protect this world, we have to investigate the ‘Justice Smartphone.’
“I think it’ll be alright, Thor-sama.”
Suddenly, Mabel spoke up.
“The ‘Ancestor,’ Karotia-san, once said: even the deceased dragon would allow us to take the bones if it was for the sake of protecting this land. If it’s that kind of dragon, I’m sure he’ll understand your feelings, Thor-sama.”
“Agnis feels the same!”
“Besides, we’ll probably return to the dragon’s resting place again.”
Mabel smiled as she said this.
“That place is like the dragon’s grave. Let’s pay our respects and report to him. We used your bones for an item like this… all of us, together.”
“Yeah. You’re right.”
Just as Mabel said.
The ‘Ancestor,’ Karotia, who guards that land, permitted us to use the materials.
Let’s trust that the dragon would allow it too.
Someday, I’ll return to that land myself.
When I do, I’ll visit the grave and report on what I’ve made.
He might get mad, but… I’ll accept that too.
…Still, to go back there, I’ll have to fully act like an animal.
What if I end up like Mabel did?
Traveling with everyone while I’ve lost all reason… that sounds kind of dangerous…
“Oh well. For now, investigating the ‘Justice Smartphone’ comes first.”
I touched the ‘dragon’s bone.’
Since this is a ‘psychic-responsive material,’ it might be able to understand my thoughts.
Apparently, it also contains the residual consciousness of the ‘Ancient Dragon Vira.’
“My name is Thor Canaan, an alchemist. May I use your bones to protect the people of this world?”
I asked the ‘dragon’s bone.’
The ‘dragon’s bone’ gave off a faint light.
When I touched it, I felt a gentle warmth. A kind, comforting heat.
…Maybe it accepted what I was about to do.
“Then let’s begin. Activate! ‘Material Synthesis’!”
I activated my ‘Creative Alchemy’ skill.
Then I brought the ‘Justice Smartphone’ and the ‘dragon’s bone’ together.
Slowly, I began to synthesize the two.
Letting the ‘dragon’s bone’ melt and blend into the entire ‘Justice Smartphone’—
The synthesis progressed smoothly.
It offered less resistance than when I used other materials.
It was almost as if the dragon itself had allowed its bones to be used as material.
I wonder what kind of dragon Ancient Dragon Vira was.
I wish I could have talked to him while he was still alive…
As I was thinking about that, the ‘Material Synthesis’ completed.
This is the upgraded version of the ‘Justice Smartphone’: the ‘Justice Psychic Smartphone.’
────────────────────
Justice Psychic Smartphone
A ‘Smartphone’ from the Hero’s World, synthesized with the thought-responsive ‘dragon’s bone.’
It can be operated solely by the owner’s thoughts.
The functions that can be used depend on the strength of one’s mental power.
Powered by the magic of the ‘dragon’s bone,’ so it does not require external energy.
Contains the residual consciousness of ‘Ancient Dragon Vira.’
Currently, function restrictions are in place.
A defensive barrier is installed to protect internal information.
Attributes: Light, Dark, Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, Dragon, Unknown
────────────────────
“So this is the ‘Justice Psychic Smartphone’…”
“Controlling an item from the Hero’s World with just thoughts is incredible!”
Mabel and Agnis’ eyes sparkled with amazement.
“Now we can access all of its information!”
“We’ll be able to learn about the Hero’s World and the ‘Hard Creatures’ too!”
“…No, it doesn’t look like everything’s been solved just yet.”
As expected of an item from the Hero’s World. Even with the ‘dragon’s bone,’ I haven’t fully gained control over it.
When I use Appraisal, I can tell.
This ‘Smartphone’ still has function restrictions, and the barrier remains.
“I’ll give the ‘Smartphone’ a command.”
I held the ‘Justice Psychic Smartphone’ and declared:
“Unlock all functions.”
‘──Beep.’
A sound rang out.
The text that had been displayed all this time began to fade.
Then, the screen darkened—
‘Please enter the function unlock code.’
A different set of letters and numbers appeared.
“Unlock all functions. ‘Justice Psychic Smartphone’.”
‘Please enter the function unlock code.’
“Tell me the unlock code.”
‘Please enter the function unlock code.’
“…No good.”
The internal barrier is still active. Looks like I need an unlock code to disable it.
That code is probably inside the ‘Justice Psychic Smartphone’ itself. But to find it, I’ll need to bypass the barrier.
The strength of the barrier… it’s weaker than before. With effort, I think I can break through it.
“…Even the ‘dragon’s bone’ can’t take full control?”
“…As expected of a Hero’s World item.”
“It’s okay. I’ve thought of a way to break through.”
“That quickly!?”
“The barrier inside this item is similar to an anti-magic barrier. If that’s the case, I think I can handle it the same way we deal with those.”
Agnis taught me how to break an anti-magic barrier earlier.
This should be easier than that.
I don’t need to destroy the ‘Smartphone’s’ barrier.
All I need to do is weaken it enough that my Appraisal skill can read the information.
But I must be careful not to damage the Smartphone itself.
It has the ‘dragon’s bone’ synthesized into it. I can’t let that go to waste.
For the sake of the Ancient Dragon who left the bone behind, I’ll approach this carefully and respectfully.
“Your will won’t be in vain. Thank you, Dragon.”
‘──Beep.’
Huh?
For a moment, it looked like the text changed…
I thought I saw something like ‘──How may I help you…’ appear…
Maybe I imagined it?
“First, let’s consult with Rukie-sama and Kelve-san.”
To break through the barrier, I’ll need their help.
They might be busy, but it won’t take too much of their time.
The actual process should only take a few minutes.
Thinking about that, I began preparations to go meet the two of them.