Chapter 19

Is this a bit of youth?

■■■■■■■■■■

019＿Verification of the Item Box

■■■■■■■■■■

Gorteo's shop had all sorts of things, including items like washing machines and fans. Honestly, they reminded me of the Showa-era goods from before and after the first Tokyo Olympics, as I had seen in a drama.

On the contrary, it was so fresh that I could forget the time. Before I knew it, it was already evening.

Today, since Gorteo wasn't there, the deputy manager followed me around the entire time. I'm not that big of a customer, so I thought he might not mind.

"I'm sorry for staying so long without buying much."

I bought a few small things, but they weren't worth much, so I thanked the deputy manager thoroughly.

"Not at all, we hope to see you again in the future."

He was a model merchant, maintaining good service without a single unpleasant expression.

As soon as I left Gorteo's shop, I checked on the thieves while walking.

"What happened to them?"

"Yes, all three are following us from behind."

I had been in Gorteo's shop for about four hours, and they had been waiting the whole time. They must have been quite dedicated.

I didn't want to go straight back to the inn, so I passed by the town hall and the guard station.

"They've fallen behind."

The guard station was indeed a nightmare for thieves.

"Turn the corner and run."

"Yes."

We turned the corner and ran, then turned another corner, and did this several times.

Before I knew it, I was holding Annelise's hand. How soft it was. I wanted to hold it forever.

"Master, it seems we've lost them."

"…Really?"

Come on, put in some effort and chase us! I don't want to let go of Annelise's hand, do you understand? Hey, do you understand?

"There's no reaction nearby."

Annelise's magic perception range is about 50 meters. They were quite far away. Damn, useless thieves.

"Shall we go back to the inn?"

"Yes… um…"

"What?"

"Hand… can I keep it like this?"

Annelise looked at the hand I was holding.

"…Sure, keep it like this."

Of course!

"Yes."

We returned to the inn holding hands. It felt like youth, but it was a bit embarrassing.

But this was a good thing. We moved silently, holding hands.

When we reached the inn, Annelise said she couldn't sense the thieves anymore.

We had dinner in the dining room and returned to our room, where Annelise used her magic perception to check if anyone was inside. It's always better to be cautious.

"Those thieves are after me."

"Why you, Master?"

"It happened nine days ago. I was walking on the road to this Kelniff."

Back when I didn't even know about Kelniff…

"At that time, I encountered a band of thieves attacking a caravan."

I told her about that day, including how I defeated the leader of the band.

"Master did what was right. It's just resentment!"

Annelise was particularly indignant. Her pouting was cute, and it healed my heart.

"I think so too. If they don't want to be killed, they shouldn't be thieves."

The thieves might have their reasons, but I didn't want to hear about people who kill, steal, and assault women.

"I hope this inn isn't known, but I think being too optimistic will lead to trouble. So, I'll set up a little trap."

"Trap?"

I took out the items I bought from Gorteo's shop and placed them on the bed. They were a large number of bells and strings similar to octopus strings.

"Can you attach the bells to the string, leaving one head's length of space between each?"

"Yes."

Annelise didn't complain and quietly attached the bells to the string.

While she was doing that, I decided to verify the item box.

First, I put the clothes I was wearing into the item box. Yes, it worked.

"What are you doing, suddenly getting naked?"

Annelise was surprised to see me completely naked. I should have said something, sorry.

"It's just a verification of the item box. Don't worry about it."

Annelise returned to attaching the bells, and I continued the verification.

Putting items I was wearing into the item box was successful.

Next, I tried to retrieve a dagger placed about 50 centimeters away from me. This also worked.

Then, I tried 1 meter away. This also worked.

2 meters didn't work at all.

1.5 meters also didn't work.

According to the detailed appraisal, the distance will increase as the proficiency of the item box increases.

My item box can retrieve items without touching them, but the distance is limited to 1 meter.

Conversely, when taking items out, they can be placed within a 1-meter range. This might be quite powerful.

If I put a stone or a dagger in the item box and release it inside someone's body within 1 meter, I think it would kill them. A scary thought came to mind.

This is not something I can easily experiment with. Maybe with a monster, but they won't stay still for an experiment within 1 meter, and I don't know where their hearts are. Even putting a stone in their head should have an effect, though.

When my item box proficiency increases, I'll try it then.

"Master, I'm done attaching the bells."

"Thank you."

"Are you going to stay naked?"

"…Ah!?"

I had been so focused on the verification that I hadn't realized I was completely naked. No wonder I felt cold.

Annelise's gaze was on my lower abdomen… Don't look at me like that!

I put on my clothes and hung the bell-string on the door. The trick is that the string will fall off when the door moves. I did the same for the two windows.

This way, if someone enters through the door or windows, the bells will alert us. It won't guarantee a peaceful sleep, but it's much better than nothing.

Next is…

"Annelise, can you tie me up with this rope?"

"Eh?"

I asked her to tie me up with the rope. It's not that I have a fetish; it's also part of the verification.

"Assume the thieves have tied me up and tie me like that."

"Understood."

Annelise started wrapping the rope around my body. She was quite skilled. Her breathing seemed a bit fast. Wait, is this a turtle shell binding!?

"You seem quite experienced with tying people up…"

"I've participated in several bandit hunts. While it's acceptable to kill bandits, capturing them alive and selling them as criminal slaves increases the reward."

"I see…"

But doesn't the turtle shell binding feel a bit different? Am I the only one who thinks so? No, in the Edo period, criminals were bound in this way, so it's fine, right?

Well, it's fine. I shouldn't think too deeply about it.

If I can retrieve the rope used to tie me up with the item box, it should help me escape if I'm captured.

When I willed it, the rope disappeared.

"Master, I understand what you were doing. You're really smart."

Don't flatter me so much. My nose might grow.

However, I still feel like there's something more to do—something else to verify. I'm thinking about it, but I can't figure out what it is.

Despite the lingering feeling, I finished the verification. Let's wipe our bodies and go to bed.

"Should we get some hot water?"

"It's getting colder, so that would be good."

Water comes from the sink in the room, but we can get hot water from the inn for 50 grils per cup.

I'll endure with cold water today and get hot water from tomorrow.

We both undressed. I used the item box to collect everything at once. What a convenient skill I've learned.

Annelise, looking embarrassed, turned her back to me while undressing. I like both OPPAI and OSHIRI, so either way, it's a feast for the eyes.

"Sit there."

"Yes."

I had her sit on a chair and wiped her from behind her ear, down her neck, back, and waist.

"Raise your arms."

"Yes."

I wiped her left armpit. Her breasts jiggled. I wanted to grab them.

Excited, I wiped her right armpit and then had her face me.

"…Yes."

Her face was as red as I could see even in the dim room.

She covered her chest with both hands and hid her lower abdomen by crossing her thighs.

I dislike women who lack modesty. In my class, there were girls who would sit with their legs wide open in short skirts. They were the worst.

Compared to them, Annelise's manners are feminine. She's modest, gentle, and considerate.

Comparing her to those trash might be disrespectful to Annelise.

I wiped under her breasts, which were about to spill out, and gradually moved up to the top. This is the summit! I've successfully reached the peak! The view from the pink summit, covered in white snow, is the best!

Thank you for reading.

I hope you continue to enjoy this work.

Also, please bookmark and like it.

If you enjoyed it, please rate it.

You can rate it from ☆☆☆☆☆ to ★★★★★. The minimum is ★1 and the maximum is ★5.

★★★★★ would make me very happy (＾◇＾)