As a result of my experiment alone, I found that there was a very simple condition required to put things into my inventory.
It was simply to be in contact with the item.
Whether it was with my hands or feet, as long as I was touching the item, it worked.
However… the range of this contact was fairly lenient.
When I wanted to put something in my inventory from inside a bag, I only had to touch the bag itself.
Then, I thought, if I was in contact with someone, couldn’t I put bones or organs into the inventory and kill them, becoming the world’s greatest murderer?
Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. Living creatures were beyond the inventory’s capacity to hold.
Just in case, I tested it as much as I could, but it wouldn’t even take in a bug.
It wasn’t disappointing, though. The ability to store items was already overpowered, so wanting more would be greedy, right?
Rather than regretting what I couldn’t have, it would be more productive to explore and utilize what I had.
So, what came to mind was simply stealing items.
The equipment I used, of course, was in contact with my body. Therefore, I could freely put things in and take them out of the inventory.
However, the equipment used by others wasn’t in contact with my body. This meant the condition to place it in the inventory wasn’t met.
But that meant, if I could just make contact, I could take things from others by putting them in the inventory, right?
In a game, of course, this wouldn’t be possible, but now that it was reality, I didn’t think such limitations would exist.
“…So, you want to experiment to see if you can steal things from other people?”
“Exactly. Oh, of course, I don’t plan on using it for anything bad.”
“You know, that doesn’t sound very convincing, right?”
“Well, that’s true…”
But it seemed that the idea of stealing someone else’s possessions wasn’t going over well with others. As expected, right? It was basically theft no matter how you looked at it.
If even Seria was saying that, then… I guess I’ll need to look into this against real criminals later.
While I was thinking about this, Seria giggled and changed the subject.
“Why are you so serious? I’m just joking. I know well that Rudion wouldn’t do something like that, so I’ll trust you.”
“…You must have started enjoying teasing me from earlier?”
She often did this, but usually her pranks were based on actions rather than words.
Maybe that’s why I couldn’t really tell if her teasing was serious or just a joke this time.
“It’s just because it’s the first time Rudion asked me, so I’m a little excited.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, you didn’t know?”
…Come to think of it, I guess that’s true.
I had always been with Seria, but I never actually asked her to go anywhere with me.
I really had just been dragged along.
“Really… Even if it’s only once in a while, you could at least ask me to go somewhere.”
“Well, it’s because you’re always the one to make the first move, so what can I do…”
“Rudion, when that happens, even if you can’t keep the promise, just say okay.”
“That’s true. Rudion, why don’t you understand my feelings?”
How could I possibly know that?
I felt quite wronged, but I just agreed without arguing, since I wasn’t sure what I’d hear if I did.
Seria showed a satisfied expression, and Alkine laughed out loud, which was rare for her, watching Seria and me.
Then, casually, she brought up the conversation we had earlier and continued.
“Shall we stop that topic for now? Let’s finish the conversation we were having earlier. I’m actually quite interested in the experiment.”
“Really? Doesn’t it seem like it would be perfect for using it for bad things?”
“Of course, it could be used that way. But I don’t think you would use your ability for something like that.”
She, too, showed the same trust as Seria, which made the uneasy feeling inside me disappear to some extent.
Not completely, though, because the real reason I hesitated had more to do with something bigger.
‘Compared to that, stealing might not be such a big deal.’
The reason I was swayed by what they said wasn’t just because of the guilt over stealing things.
Of course, that’s not to say there wasn’t some guilt, but in that case, I was already a thief who stole from the royal treasure vault, so it didn’t feel as bad.
The real reason I was swayed by their attitudes was just one thing.
This experiment might bring them a negative experience.
If it was a guy, it might not have been as bad, but for them, as women, there was something I had to be cautious about.
What was that? Because the judgment for putting things in the inventory was surprisingly lenient, sometimes it would take in a little more than I intended.
There was no problem when taking things out, but the issue only arose when putting them in.
Normally, when putting something in, it would be in bulk, so it wouldn’t matter much… but this situation was a little different.
So, if I wasn’t careful, it could turn into a magic show where her clothes disappear.
Because of that, I thought I shouldn’t do it if they showed even a slight sense of discomfort.
…So, couldn’t I just ask another friend?
Unfortunately, I had no other friends. I was always with Seria, remember?
Because of that, I didn’t really get the chance to interact much with the other classmates I always took lectures with.
I’m not the type to approach them first, and they probably find it hard to approach me since I’m always with the princess and also an assistant to Professor Reina.
They just couldn’t be too friendly with me.
‘Seria’s probably in a similar situation.’
According to Lilith, there were many people who were after Seria, but they all had trouble even approaching her.
Apparently, they think of me as some kind of bodyguard… Does Seria really need a bodyguard level like that?
Well, the others probably don’t know the internal circumstances. They’re probably just saying that based on the impression I made during the entrance exam.
Oh, and I even casually asked if anyone was after me at that time.
I was curious, right? I had just possessed the body of a handsome extra.
The conversation went like this.
-“Do you really want to think that way with Seria by your side?”
-“No, I’m just curious.”
-“Yeah, that’s what guys are like…”
-“So, is there anyone?”
-“Sometimes there are. But they disappear quickly.”
-“They disappear? Why?”
-“…Ask Seria.”
What could that possibly mean?
In the end, I couldn’t get an answer from Seria either, so it remains a mystery to this day.
…Anyway, the conclusion is this.
Both Seria and I are quite disconnected when it comes to relationships.
So, asking another same-gender friend for help was impossible.
I had no choice but to take the risk and ask Seria.
Since I couldn’t proceed without hiding such an important matter, I honestly told her, and she reacted just as I expected.
“Rudion. You were hoping for something like that, weren’t you? Pervert.”
“…Even if it looks that way, I have no excuse. If you don’t want to now, I’ll stop.”
There was no benefit in being shameless here. No matter what, I would end up being the bad guy in this situation.
But… the reactions from the two of them were completely different from what I expected.
“If Seria says no, then I’ll help.”
“Wait a second. Alkine, I never said no! Could you not butt in?”
“No, Seria. I said I would help, so I should be the one to take on the risk.”
“What logic is that? I said I don’t mind!”
I didn’t expect them to argue over who would do it.
I checked again just to make sure I hadn’t explained things wrong, but they had understood me correctly.
So why do they want to do it? What’s going on with them?
I was so taken aback that I just watched as Seria quickly escaped the argument and shouted.
“Come on, Rudion! Do it already!”
“What do you mean ‘do it’? The only thing I can take right now is your clothes.”
I hadn’t even taken anything out yet, so what was so urgent for Seria to say something nonsensical?
“Oh, right. Aha, haha.”
As soon as she realized what she had said, her confidence deflated, and she awkwardly started to step back with a forced laugh.
To her, Alkine approached and whispered something.
“Seria. Were you waiting for Rudion to undress you all this time?”
I don’t know exactly what she said, but it was clearly something outrageous.
I had never seen Seria’s face turn so red before.
“W-What are you saying?!”
“Wasn’t that the case?”
“Of course not! D-Don’t laugh!”
Thus began a long argument between Alkine and Seria… But, hey, everyone? Thanks for agreeing to help, but when can we actually start the experiment?
In the end, the actual experiment didn’t start until a while later, after Seria’s flushed face had calmed down.
“Ha… Ha… Really. I’m only embarrassed because of Alkine.”
“What did I do? I didn’t say anything!”
“How is that not saying anything?!”
“Okay, okay. I get it. Should we just finish what we were about to do?”
Seeing Seria’s face about to turn red again, I hastily intervened to mediate.
“If you both really want to, I’ll do it for both of you. Is that alright?”
“Both of us…”
“You’re a greedy man…”
But their reactions were strange again.
…Did I say something wrong?