Chapter 6

If it were a peaceful world, I could continue staying in that conspicuous place, but now I have to suppress my presence as much as possible and move without being noticed.

I left the beach, which was too open, and stepped into the inland where the trees were thick.

"Am I not in my school uniform?"

I checked my attire again, and such a thought slipped out of my mouth.

I was wearing jeans, a black shirt, and a thick olive-green hoodie. In a way, this might have been a stroke of luck.

The hoodie was waterproof, had a hood, and would be fine for a light rain. It also had several pockets, so I wouldn't have to worry about storing small items for a while. Reluctantly, I had been forced to accompany a family member on a mountain trip next week and had bought this hoodie for a considerable amount of money.

The shoes on my feet were hiking boots.

I had worn them once for shopping nearby, thinking I might as well try them out. I was walking on a path overgrown with weeds, where there was no paved road anywhere.

"Damn, I should have memorized it to check if that was the sea."

I had assumed it was the beach because I could see the horizon, but it could have been a large lake. I had walked a considerable distance, so I wasn't in the mood to go back now.

I would check later. If it wasn't seawater, it might be usable as drinking water.

"Is this the right direction?"

I activated the 'Search' skill and headed towards the point where a reaction was detected.

This 'Search' skill, I think I might be the only one who has it. It's a bit tricky to use.

First, when you activate this skill, you can search for an object within a 5-kilometer radius centered on yourself. If the object exists, you will feel its distance and direction.

It sounds quite useful, but there's a problem.

When you say 'Search,' a thin, long blue frame appears in front of you. You need to focus your attention on it and input the name of the object. This can be done without touching it.

Then, you must vividly imagine the object you have written down.

In other words, you can only 'Search' for objects whose correct names you know and whose appearance you can vividly imagine. This means that even if you wanted to use it to search for classmates, you couldn't unless you knew their names and had memorized the details of someone you had only seen once.

Vague targets like weapons, armor, healing potions, or edible items are completely useless with the 'Search' skill.

However, I consider this skill to be a lifeline in this different world. This is because there was another note in the description.

(If you have touched the object, you can search for it even if you don't know its name.)

I looked down at the student ID in my right hand when I activated 'Search.'

Everyone in that class definitely had this student ID. By searching for this student ID and heading towards the point where a reaction was detected, I would find a classmate.

There were two reactions. One seemed to be wandering around, as the point was moving busily. The other was completely still.

Without hesitation, I headed towards the stationary point.

"Almost there."

I activated the 'Presence Reduction' ability, which is one of the abilities of 'Ki.' 'Ki' allows you to activate several abilities just by possessing it. One of them is 'Presence Reduction.' The effect is minimal now because my level is low, but it's better than nothing.

I cautiously approached the stationary point, being alert to my surroundings and confirming that no other points were approaching.

I crouched down to blend in with the tall weeds and moved to the shade of a large tree, significantly reducing the distance.

There was still no reaction from the other side.

I judged that the distance was less than 5 meters, within visual range. I cautiously peeked out from behind the large tree and saw a person covered in blood, bleeding profusely from all over their body.

"Ugh..."

The existence of a person covered in blood, and their bizarre appearance, made my stomach churn.

"It's not even comparable to horror movies."

I had never felt sick from seeing such things in horror or splatter movies, but the real thing was completely different. The vividness of the sight and the smell of rusted iron made me feel even worse.

The person, who was completely still, seemed to be wearing a suit, but it didn't look like they were used to it. They were probably a job seeker or a new employee.

I think it's a man. From the look of the suit, there were no feminine curves. I could tell at a glance if I looked at the face, but I didn't want to see that blood-covered face again.

Judging from the attire, this person was not a local of this world but one of the classmates who had been transferred to this place.

"I don't really want to get any closer."

I took out the sewing thread I had put in my pocket from the shopping bag and held it in my right hand.

By the way, the shopping bag in my left hand still contained fishing line, cloth, and raisins.

Using the 'Thread User' ability, I manipulated the thread to approach the corpse.

I could move the sewing thread, but not the fishing line. Probably, because my level is low, I can only manipulate certain types of thread.

The fishing line is made of polyethylene (PE line) and is quite strong and water-resistant, so it would be more convenient to use. However, since I can't use it, I'll look forward to when my 'Thread User' level goes up.

While manipulating the thread, I channeled 'Ki' into it to increase its strength. By channeling 'Ki,' the sewing thread can become as strong as fishing line, so I think this is sufficient for now.

The thread reached the corpse and began to search the suit pockets.

There was nothing in the trouser pockets.

But there was something in the breast pocket on the inside of the suit.

Finding the item I was looking for, I wrapped the thread around it and pulled it towards me. I took out a piece of cloth and, through the cloth, grabbed the blood-soaked item and wiped off the surface blood.

After wiping off the blood, I saw the words "Kami-tachi Hetero World Transfer Academy" on the cover, just like my student ID.

When I opened the corpse's student ID, I saw a photo, name, age, and status, all written in the same way.

"The name is... Yokomichi Oki. A man, a bit older than me. His intelligence is lower, but the other stats are higher. He was probably not good at sports."

This personal information didn't have much meaning, but I became interested in someone in the same situation and examined it carefully. The real prize was what came next.

In the list of acquired skills, I saw the words 'Strength' 2, 'Intelligence' 2, 'Spirit' 2. No points had been allocated to other stats.

Indeed, the cause of this person's death was not acquiring any stats. Without strength or toughness, they couldn't even maintain their own body.

Bleeding to death from all over their body upon arrival in this world. With more 'Strength,' they might have survived a bit longer, but that would have just prolonged their suffering, which is too pitiful.

I'll indulge in sentiment later. The real prize is what comes next.

The only skills they had were 'Time-Space Magic' 1 and 'Magic Capacity' 2. This 'Time-Space Magic' seemed to consume a lot of points.

'Time-Space Magic.' A magic that can transfer you to any place and even manipulate time. It would be quite powerful if you could use it normally, if you could use it normally.

When I touched the 'Time-Space Magic' written in Yokomichi's student ID, information appeared in my head. It seems that the 'Explanation' skill's effect applies even to other people's student IDs.

Hmm, the consumption points are... 500. No wonder they couldn't get any other skills. However, the problem is the next part of the explanation.

'Time-Space Magic' cannot be activated unless 'Calculation,' 'Precision,' 'Fire Attribute Magic,' 'Water Attribute Magic,' 'Earth Attribute Magic,' 'Ice Attribute Magic,' 'Wind Attribute Magic,' and 'Light Attribute Magic' are all level 5. It seems to be a trap skill with strict prerequisite skills, like alchemy. You might be able to use it if you master other powers, but that's only if you have the time to develop them.

By this point, about 600 points had been consumed. What did he get with the remaining points? I looked below the acquired skills.

There was an 'Item Box' 1 in the possession column, the text I had been hoping for.

"Alright, got one."

I couldn't help but clench my fist.

The 'Item Box,' a convenient item or ability that protagonists in world-transfer stories often have, was a stroke of luck that he possessed.

I had been targeting this since I found the 'Search' skill.

The reason I didn't spend skill points on a convenient item is all here. Using the student ID to search for transfer students and, if they were dead, taking the items they possessed.

I thought the probability of someone else getting an 'Item Box' would be quite high if they had knowledge of world transfer like me. Even if they didn't choose an 'Item Box,' I thought they would choose one or two items.

"I didn't expect to get it so early... which one is the Item Box?"

I tried to avoid looking at the corpse's face as much as possible and observed from the neck down. Since it exists as an item, I think it should be a bag or something similar.

The corpse, lying on its back, was only wearing a suit, and there was nothing else that looked like it was possessed. There was no backpack or anything. So, it must be a pouch-like item worn around the waist.

I didn't want to take off the blood-soaked suit with my hands, so I channeled 'Ki' into the thread and manipulated it with both hands to take off the clothes.

At my current 'Thread User' level, I can only manipulate one thread per hand, for a total of two threads.

"Ooh, this is... quite difficult..."

Even with 'Ki' wrapped around the thread, it doesn't become as sharp as a blade; it just becomes sturdy, so it took a considerable amount of time to take off the clothes.

"Ah, I finally... took it off, but... I'm so exhausted."

Even though I only manipulated the thread and didn't move myself, I was quite out of breath. I had been concentrating on releasing 'Ki' continuously, so I must have consumed a lot of 'Strength' and 'Spirit.' The 'Thread User' skill being active also had an effect.

I found a small rectangular leather pouch on the left waist of the corpse, who was now in a shirt. It might be the 'Item Box,' but it's a bit uncool to call a box a bag.

I took a short break to rest and, once my body felt a bit better, I manipulated the thread again to pull the 'Item Box' from his waist.

Despite being soaked in a lot of blood, the small bag was completely clean, confirming that it was not an ordinary bag.

"This is the turning point of fate."

I cautiously reached out to the bag.

Would I be able to use an item that someone else possessed? This question had been bothering me, but there was nothing I could do about it now.

If I couldn't use it, one of my plans would be ruined. The value of 'Search' would also decrease, but I'll deal with it if it fails. It will be what it will be.

The moment my slightly trembling fingertips touched the Item Box, words appeared in my head.

'The owner has died, and the item rights have been transferred. Do you want to own this Item Box? Yes No'

I was surprised, but there was no need to hesitate. I chose 'Yes.'

'Ownership change confirmed.'

At that moment, the deceased's student ID and my own student ID glowed slightly.

"What, the pages are glowing?"

I placed both student IDs on the ground and opened the glowing pages.

A red X was overlaid on the 'Item Box' in the deceased's possession, and 'Item Box' was written in my possession.

It seems to have worked. When I attached the Item Box to my waist, it stuck firmly. This means I can store five types of items in the bag.

I tried putting a piece of sewing cloth, still in the plastic bag, into it.

Wow, even though the cloth is clearly larger, it went in without any problem.

When I put my hand in, an image of the cloth appeared in my head, and when I thought about taking it out, I felt the cloth in my hand.

I experimented a few times and confirmed that there were no problems with putting in and taking out items, then threw in the remaining thread, cloth, and raisins.

I had misunderstood the 'Item Box.' It can store five types, not five items.

The threads, which differ in color, length, and thickness, are all categorized as threads. The cloth is treated the same way. The raisins are categorized as dried food... I wish they were categorized as food.

But, it was a pleasant surprise. The 'Item Box' seems to be more convenient than I thought.

Additionally, there was one item already in the Item Box.

Four 'Wound Medicines.' They must have belonged to the corpse. I remember that a set of wound medicines was five, but one was missing. It's possible that... he was still alive when he was summoned to this world and managed to use one. But, he didn't survive in the end.

...If that's the case, he must have suffered for a long time.

I imagined it realistically and felt down again, but I need to get used to the situation.

I took several deep breaths and, with a slightly clearer head, calculated the consumed points and remaining points. The numbers match perfectly.

Honestly, I wanted a weapon, but that's a luxury. I can't help it; I'll pick up a suitable stick. It's better than nothing.

After confirming that there was nothing else worth noting, I prayed for the soul of the unknown corpse—no, Yokomichi—and observed a moment of silence.

"I will make good use of the items. Rest in peace."

Ideally, I would dig a hole and bury him, but I don't have the time in this situation. However, when I become stronger, I want to pay my respects to the body, so I left a red thread on a nearby tree as a marker.

I bowed deeply, turned my back, and left the scene.