Chapter 50

7/21 This is my first post today.

I am staying at the inn called "Billy Corn."

I am in one of the larger rooms, a four-person accommodation.

The time is just before 8 PM according to my watch.

We had previously agreed that Yagov, Amanda, and Peyro, who is in charge of managing relics and knows the inside story, would come to this room.

My aluminum case, which contains items from Earth, is a somewhat special type of bag even in my original world.

I didn't want to carry such items outside unless there were special circumstances like moving bases, so thanks to Yagov's consideration, I was able to rent this room so I wouldn't have to go out.

Of course, the cost is covered by the guild.

Additionally, I won't let the items out of this room.

I have set the condition that I will only show and explain them here.

I can't lend them out, of course.

Also, since there is a "Shintō" time today and I plan to go hunting tomorrow, I have set a time limit of 10 PM.

I have already eaten dinner and wiped my body clean...

They said they would rush over after finishing their guild work, so they will most likely come without eating anything.

Still, these are unknown items from another world.

When I proposed this, they seemed to be momentarily stunned, but once they understood, all three of them answered immediately, so I don't think they will resent me, only be pleased.

I will hide the things that are not worth showing, but I will disclose everything else and provide explanations within the scope of my knowledge.

---

Knock, knock, knock

"Roki, it's Yagov. Can I come in?"

"Yes, of course."

Saying that, I opened the door, and Yagov and Amanda were standing at the entrance.

"Huh? Where's Peyro?"

"Peyro went to a stall to buy some food. He came here directly because he was in a hurry, so he will probably come to this room later."

"Haha, he's on an errand, then."

"I told him to buy a bit more, so if you need anything, Roki, feel free to eat."

"Thank you."

While having this conversation, I welcomed them into the room and pointed to the bag on one of the beds and the suit I had prepared just in case.

"This is what I was wearing when I was brought to this world, items from another world."

"The first time you came to the guild, you were wearing this and carrying this bag. It feels nostalgic..."

"Yes, back then I couldn't even get a room and was completely lost..."

"From that situation, to become a promising newcomer in such a short time is quite impressive."

"I was just desperately fighting monsters, though."

While saying this, I opened the bag that they were focusing on.

"You can touch them directly if you want. If there's anything that catches your attention, let me know. I'll explain within the scope of my knowledge."

"Is this the same as the board in the guild's storage? The shape seems a bit different, though?"

"Yeah, the smartphone is the same, but this one is newer. There are a few differences, like the lens here."

"I see, the latest model... By the way, does it work?"

"Hmm, I'll try, but I doubt it... It's been over half a month since I was brought to this world, so the battery is probably dead."

Saying that, I turned on the power, but the screen remained black and didn't start up.

Well, it ended up being a high-tech device that couldn't be used.

"If it works, and there's a battery, how does it function?"

"This screen displays various things, and you can operate it with your fingers. It might be hard to imagine just from a verbal explanation, though."

"Various things appear on this thin board. It's a mysterious object... but it must be very advanced, right?"

"Yes. By the way, this long, thin one is something that was popular before the smartphone. It's specialized for the function of a phone."

"I missed asking earlier, but what is a phone?"

"Well, for example, if Peyro, who is out buying things, had a phone, he and I could talk directly using such a device. Think of it as a medium for talking to someone far away."

"Hmm... I hear that very few people have them. Is it similar to the skill 'Far Talk'?"

"I'm not sure. I don't know what 'Far Talk' is, but with a phone, you can talk to someone far away, even across countries."

"Really...? Even that far...? That's a whole different level of performance compared to 'Far Talk.'"

"Roki! What's this square thing? When I pressed it, something came out and it was scary!!"

"Huh? Oh, that's a calculator. Think of it as something that does difficult calculations for you."

"Huh? Is there something inside this?"

"No, it's not. It's a bit complicated to explain... but it's programmed to convert everything into binary, which is made up of 0s and 1s, and perform calculations... but you probably won't understand that. It's basically designed to do calculations that are far beyond what a person can do mentally, instantly."

"Wow... It's like a national treasure-level artifact!"

"Huh? An artifact?"

"Yes, in this country, we call the three relics we have in storage 'artifacts.' The former guild master reported them to the country, and I was assigned here because I have knowledge about foreign objects. However, this is the first time we've seen something that actually works."

"Was the wristwatch not working when it was first discovered?"

"Yes. From its shape, we could tell it was probably a clock, but it had already stopped when it was brought in."

"I see. Then this one works. It's called a flashlight."

"Hmm? It's small but... quite heavy."

"Yes, it's quite sturdy, so I used it to hit goblins."

"Is it used as a blunt weapon?"

"No, no, try pressing this button. Oh, don't point it at anyone."

"Whoa!! What is this!? Is there a light magic spell built into it!?"

"Of course not, this is a world without magic. It's powered by electricity and an LED, which lights up. Its purpose is to illuminate dark places... it's a function that could be in a magic spell, I guess."

"Indeed, there is such a spell... but the light from this is incredible. It's hard to keep my eyes open."

Saying that, Yagov squinted and tried to look at the flashlight's tip with a strange expression.

Well, looking directly at it is impossible... it could damage your eyes.

"The worst-case scenario is that it could cause blindness, so it's better not to."

"Sorry to keep you waiting! I bought a lot of things from the stalls!"

"Finally, you're here."

"Yaaah!!! It's too bright!!! Too bright!!!"

"Ah!! Yagov, don't point it at people! Don't point it at Peyro!!"

"Hmm? Ah, sorry, I reflexively pointed it that way. Peyro, are you okay?"

"No! I think I'm going to die! This world is dangerous!!"

...Peyro might have some trauma, judging by the way he's looking at me with fear... His reaction is a bit extreme.

"No, no, it's not a weapon, so it's fine. And it was just for a moment. I used to get hit by it a lot when I was younger."

"Huh? Ah... My eyes still feel weird, but I can see... That's good..."

"Hey, Roki. This is paper, right? It's much cleaner and whiter than parchment. Is it made with a different method?"

"Yes, the raw material is wood—"

---

Thus, while eating skewers, bread, and sandwiches, they showed interest in the unknown items and exclaimed in amazement at my uncertain explanations.

Peyro was tasked with a new mission to buy drinks from the innkeeper, so he didn't touch the items directly much.

Still, I showed them everything I had, and we all thought about what could be reproduced in this world or what could be made similarly.

Among them, the item with the highest possibility of being reproduced was decided unanimously.

It was—

"The ballpoint pen, I think, could be made if we understand its structure."

"Yes, it's easy to see how it works when you take it apart."

"Having this would make writing much easier. Not needing to add ink is revolutionary!"

"Actually, the ink is inside this tube, so it needs to be refilled when it runs out... but compared to the quills we have now, it would be much more convenient."

"Hmm... a hollow tube... I think there might be something similar in plant stems."

"We already have ink, and the tip could be made from iron or other minerals, right?"

"Yes. The outer part is made of plastic, which is impossible here, but the part could be made from processed wood. The key is to ensure the ink flows steadily. To prevent it from leaking when inverted, the tube should be sealed with oil or something after filling it with ink. The ink tube would be disposable, so we need to choose a material that can be obtained steadily. If we can solve these issues, the retractable mechanism can be developed later, which would speed up the process."

"Excellent... Writing is involved in most jobs. If this becomes widely available to the common people, more people will be motivated to study."

"Out of curiosity, Roki, how much does a ballpoint pen cost in your world?"

"It varies, but this one is cheap. About the price of a loaf of bread."

"..."

"It's mass-produced using machines, so the price here isn't a good reference."

"True... Such a convenient item being the same price as a loaf of bread... No one would bother making it."

"It's all about supply and demand. Initially, the price will be high due to unstable supply, but as production methods stabilize, the price will gradually come down and become more accessible to the common people. If you want to sell it at a higher price to the wealthy, you can develop a more luxurious version later."

Saying that, I handed over a more expensive ballpoint pen.

"This one is much heavier despite being the same size..."

"It feels more luxurious, and it writes more smoothly compared to the previous one."

"This one costs about 300 loaves of bread. Even with similar functions, adding a sense of luxury makes it appealing to buyers. So, when it becomes widespread, you can develop such a version. Use better minerals or refine the design."

"...Roki, you could make it as a merchant. It's a bit odd for the guild master to say, but becoming a hunter might have been a mistake."

"Haha, it's fine. I enjoy hunting monsters. Selling things won't make me stronger, after all."

"Hmm, that's true... Today has been a wonderful day. I'm grateful. Thank you, Roki."

"No, no, I'm glad if it was helpful."

"By the way, I didn't expect you to go to such lengths. As a token of gratitude... Roki, are you interested in other people from your world who are in this world?"

"Huh?"

"Within the scope of what I know, if you need it, I can tell you everything without holding back."

This is unexpected.

I was planning to ask the goddess eventually, but since direct contact with the lower world is impossible, the information will mainly come from other people from my world who have been reincarnated, and it will be outdated.

However, the person in front of me is the guild master, who is in a position to gather information easily.

Moreover, the phrase "the nail that sticks out gets hammered down" sounds like something someone learned directly in Japanese.

So, the answer is clear.

"Please, I would appreciate it."

I bowed my head and said that.

Thank you for reporting the typos!

I will correct them gratefully!