Ch.7272. Pervert?

After experimenting alone, I discovered that putting items into my inventory required one simple condition.

I needed to be in contact with the item.

Whether with my hand or foot, I had to be touching the object.

However… the range of this “contact” was quite generous.

When I wanted to put something from my bag into my inventory, just touching the bag itself was enough.

I wondered if this meant I could become the world’s greatest murderer by touching someone and putting their bones or organs into my inventory, but unfortunately, that wasn’t possible. Living beings were outside the inventory’s acceptable range.

Just to be sure, I tested as much as I could, but it wouldn’t accept even a small insect.

I wasn’t disappointed. The storage function alone was already at a cheat level, so wanting more would just be greedy, right?

Rather than lamenting what I couldn’t do, it would be more productive to explore and utilize what I could.

That’s when I thought about taking items from others.

Equipment I use naturally comes in contact with my body. Therefore, I can freely put it in and take it out of my inventory.

However, equipment used by others isn’t in contact with my body. So the condition for putting it in my inventory isn’t met.

But doesn’t that mean if I just touch it, I could put it in my inventory and take it?

This obviously wouldn’t work in a game, but now that this had become reality, I couldn’t imagine such restrictions would apply.

“…So, you want to experiment whether you can take items others are holding?”

“Exactly. Of course, I don’t intend to use it for anything bad.”

“You know that’s not very convincing, right?”

“Well, that’s true….”

But it seemed the idea of taking other people’s belongings didn’t appear very favorable to others.

That makes sense, right? This is pretty close to theft no matter how you look at it.

If even Celia was saying that… well, I guess I’ll have to test this later against some real bad guys.

While I was thinking this, Celia changed her tone with a smirk.

“Why so serious? I’m just joking. I know you’re not that kind of person, so I’ll trust you.”

“…You seem to be enjoying teasing me lately?”

She does this often, but usually her pranks are more action-based.

Maybe that’s why I still had trouble distinguishing when her words were sincere or just jokes.

“I’m just a little excited because this is the first time you’ve asked me to come out with you.”

“Was it?”

“Of course it was! Don’t tell me you didn’t realize?”

…Come to think of it, that seemed to be true.

I’ve always been with Celia, but I’ve never actually invited her anywhere myself.

I really have just been dragged along this whole time.

“Seriously… even if it’s just occasionally, you should at least ask me to go somewhere first.”

“But you always beat me to it, so I can’t help—”

“Ludion. At times like this, even if it’s a promise you can’t keep, you should just say ‘okay.'”

“That’s right, Ludion. Why don’t you understand my feelings?”

How am I supposed to know that?

It felt extremely unfair, but I just agreed because I didn’t know what they might say if I argued further.

Celia looked satisfied, and Alkine rarely laughed out loud watching us.

Then she casually brought up the conversation Celia and I were having earlier.

“Let’s put that aside. Let’s continue what we were talking about before. I’m quite interested in that experiment too.”

“Really? Don’t you think it looks like something that could be used for bad things?”

“Of course it could be. But I don’t think you’d use your ability that way.”

She showed the same trust as Celia, which helped ease my uncomfortable feelings somewhat.

Only somewhat, not completely, because… there was actually a bigger reason why I was hesitating.

‘Compared to that… stealing might not be such a big deal.’

Actually, my hesitation wasn’t just about feeling guilty about stealing items.

Of course, that reason wasn’t completely absent, but if we’re being honest, I’ve already stolen from the Imperial Palace’s treasure vault, so… I feel relatively less guilty about it.

The reason I was swayed by their attitude was just one thing:

This experiment could potentially give them a negative experience.

It might be fine between guys, but I had to be careful with them being women.

What do I mean? Well… because the inventory’s detection is more generous than expected, sometimes I end up putting in more than I intended.

Taking things out isn’t a problem, but putting things in always has this issue.

It doesn’t matter much when you’re putting in a bunch of things at once, but… this situation is different.

So, um… if something goes wrong, it could turn into a magic show where her clothes disappear.

That’s why I thought I shouldn’t do it if she showed even the slightest reluctance.

…Then why not ask other friends, you ask?

Unfortunately, I don’t have other friends. I told you I always hung out with Celia, right?

Because of that, it was difficult to interact with other classmates who attended lectures with us.

I’m not the type to approach others first, and they probably find it hard to approach me since I’m always with the princess and I’m also Professor Reina’s assistant.

‘Celia must be in a similar situation.’

According to what Lilith told me, there are many passionate friends targeting Celia, but they all have difficulty approaching her.

Apparently, they see me as some kind of bodyguard… Does Celia really need a bodyguard?

Well, the other students don’t know the internal circumstances. They probably say such things based solely on the impact from the entrance exam.

Oh, and at that time, Lilith also subtly asked if there were people targeting me.

I was curious too, you know? Especially since I had possessed the body of a handsome extra.

Our conversation went like this:

-“Do you want to think about that while having Celia by your side?”

-“No, I’m just curious.”

-“Right. That’s just like a man….”

-“So, are there any or not?”

-“Occasionally, yes? But they all disappear quickly.”

-“Disappear? Why?”

-“…Ask Celia.”

What could that possibly mean?

I still haven’t gotten an answer even after asking Celia, so it remains a mystery.

…Anyway, the conclusion is this:

Both Celia and I are quite isolated when it comes to relationships.

So it was impossible to ask another friend of the same gender.

I had no choice but to ask Celia, despite the risk.

Since I couldn’t proceed while hiding something so important, I honestly confessed, and Celia reacted exactly as expected.

“Ludion. You were actually hoping for that, weren’t you? Pervert.”

“…I can’t argue with that. If you don’t want to do it, we can stop right now.”

There’s no point in being shameless here. No matter what, I’ll be the bad guy in this situation.

But… their reactions were completely different from what I expected.

“If Celia doesn’t want to do it, I’ll help you.”

“Wait a minute, Alkine. I never said I didn’t want to do it. Could you please not interfere?”

“No, Celia. You came to help, but if there’s any risk involved, I should be the one to take it.”

“What kind of logic is that? I said I don’t mind!”

They’re fighting over who gets to do it? This is unexpected.

I wondered if I had explained something wrong, but both of them had understood what I said correctly.

Then why do they want to do it? What’s wrong with these people?

While I was watching in disbelief, Celia, who had hastily escaped from the argument, exclaimed:

“Come on, Ludion! Do it now!”

“Do what? The only thing I could take right now is your clothes.”

Celia was talking nonsense, as if I had already given her something to hold.

“Ah, oh. That’s right. Haha, hahaha.”

Soon realizing what she had said, she lost her momentum and started backing away with an awkward laugh.

Alkine approached her and whispered something.

“Celia. Have you been waiting for Ludion to undress you all this time?”

I don’t know exactly what she said, but it must have been something outrageous.

I’ve never seen Celia’s face turn that red before.

“W-wha-what are you saying?!”

“Was I wrong?”

“Of course you were! D-don’t laugh!”

The argument between Alkine and Celia continued for quite a while… Um, everyone? I appreciate your agreement, but when can we start the experiment?

In the end, we were only able to properly begin the experiment after a long time, when Celia’s flushed face had calmed down.

“Haa… haa…. Really. Alkine just drained all my energy.”

“What did I do? I barely said anything.”

“How can you say that wasn’t anything…!”

“Okay, okay. Let’s just continue with what we were trying to do, shall we?”

I quickly intervened, seeing that Celia’s face was about to heat up again.

“If you both want to do it so badly, I’ll do it with both of you. Is that okay?”

“Both of us….”

“What a greedy man….”

But their reactions are strange again.

…Did I say something wrong?