Vol 2 Chapter 9 – Using Fellow Countrymen as Decoys to Set Up Various Acquisitions

The magic ship’s true identity was, as expected, a Japanese deep-sea fishing vessel.

To people of this world, an engine-powered ship must have looked like an unknown magic ship, but it had apparently run out of fuel and stopped working.

Apparently, that idiot had ridden it around so much she’d run it dry.

“That’s one more charge added.”

The offenses already accumulated would take her entire lifetime to atone for, but Yumeba-san shows no sign of mercy.

◇◇◇

Regardless, we ended up interviewing the deep-sea fishing vessel’s crew—or rather, the fishermen.

“We don’t understand. We were fishing off Japan’s coast, but when we came to, we were in this country’s waters, surrounded by wooden ships. Then we were taken away by soldiers or something with anachronistic weapons and… received horrific torture.”

The man speaking as representative shuddered at the memory of being tortured.

“Hey, where is this? We know it’s a foreign country, but none of the foreign languages we know work, radio doesn’t connect, and most of all, the weapons are way too anachronistic. Did we somehow time slip to the past?”

Of course, I don’t precisely understand what happened to them either, but for them, “we time slipped to the past world” is probably easier to accept than “we suddenly transferred to another world.”

Unless you read light novels, you probably wouldn’t even think of the term “otherworld transfer.”

“For now, just understand that you’re not guests here. The idiot who tortured you without thinking is beyond the pale, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re illegal immigrants.”

“That’s not…! We…”

“I’ll give you bracelets that translate language. With these, you won’t have trouble communicating.”

Interrupting the man’s protest, I handed over bracelets for everyone.

These aren’t as high-performance as Yumeba’s ribbon, but they have translation magic inscribed, so they’re fine for practical use.

Well, the bracelets have tracking markers attached, so if they try to escape, we’ll catch them instantly.

“???”

The men receiving the bracelets look confused—but once they can communicate, they’ll eventually understand their situation.

That this is another world, not Earth, with mysterious powers like magic.

◇◇◇

“For now, I said that, but I should at least make arrangements to send them back to their world.”

“You can do that? Their world is completely different, right?”

“Normally impossible, but right now… there’s a possibility.”

My teleportation magic and transfer gates can’t jump without knowing the destination coordinates.

Of course, I don’t know Japan’s coordinates—or even Earth’s coordinates—so normally it would be impossible to send them back, but…

“My teleportation spell—the precursor to teleportation magic—created spatial distortions each time it was used. These distortions persist for a certain period, becoming markers for both locations.”

“So if you find the distortion from when they arrived, you can determine the other world’s coordinates?”

“…It’s just a possibility though.”

They said they came to in nearby waters and were surrounded by wooden ships then.

If we question whoever was on those wooden ships, we should be able to narrow down the location somewhat.

“Then let’s use the letter of full authority from the emperor to command them.”

“…Right.”

Come to think of it, if we’d used that first, maybe that idiot wouldn’t have annoyed us.

Well, neither Yumeba nor I like bulldozing with authority from the start, so it can’t be helped.

◇◇◇

Using the letter of full authority, we questioned the people on the wooden ships.

Apparently they were all subordinates of that idiot, but the problem child was only her—their response was proper.

Though you could say that’s the effect of the full authority letter.

So Yumeba and I used flight magic to reach the approximate location.

“Around here. There’s still a faint distortion remaining.”

“Really? I can’t tell.”

“It’s such a small distortion you can barely detect it even using spatial magic. I would’ve missed it too if I didn’t know it was here.”

Regardless, I immediately used dimensional magic to investigate the distortion’s destination.

It was precise work like tracing a thin, breaking thread, but since it hadn’t completely severed yet, I successfully obtained the coordinates on the other side.

“Now I can use teleportation magic or a transfer gate to go there, but… it’s dangerous, so I’ll send this guy first.”

What I retrieved from my Item Box was a sphere shaped similarly to Yume II floating by Yumeba’s shoulder.

“What’s that?”

“Lio II—control magic with part of my consciousness transferred.”

Yeah. I’d made it as a set with Yumeba’s Yume II, but I didn’t really need it, so it’s been shelved until now. Pronounced “Lio Two.”

I’m magic-specialized unlike Yumeba, so even if my consciousness gets taken by magic, there’s no problem.

“Mm.”

Also, Yumeba-san had forbidden me from using magic that transfers part of my consciousness—that was a big factor.

“Ah.”

Whether knowing this or not, Lio II activated and immediately headed toward Yume II, while Yume II also came toward Lio II.

The two spheres then pressed their bodies together with a clunk.

They kept pressing together repeatedly with clunk clunk sounds, so I wondered if they were fighting, but…

《~♪》

Through simple telepathy, Lio II’s cheerful emotions came through, so I quickly realized it was a misunderstanding.

“They get along well.”

“Well, even if partial, it’s me and Yumeba, so it’s natural.”

“That’s true♪”

Thanks to that, Yumeba-san’s mood recovered.

I thought something might happen to Lio II with part of my consciousness transferred, but she probably figured that with Yume II—which has part of Yumeba’s consciousness—it’s the same as Yumeba and me flirting.

“So what are you doing with this?”

“Of course, sending Lio II to the other world.”

“…Isn’t that dangerous?”

“It’s dangerous, which is why I’m having Lio II scout.”

With a mithril body, Lio II can operate without problems even if it appears in outer space.

Plus, since Lio II shares part of my consciousness, I can link to its recognized field of view and see it myself if I want.

Furthermore, Lio II has various inscriptions engraved, so returning via teleportation magic is also possible.

After explaining all this to Yumeba…

“Then Yume II should go together too.”

“…Why?”

While Yume II also shares part of Yumeba’s consciousness, so I could teach the method to link and share vision, Yume II’s manufacturing purpose was purely supporting Yumeba, so its range of capabilities isn’t as broad as Lio II’s.

Specifically, Yume II can’t return independently using teleportation magic.

“It would be lonely sending only Lio II!”

“Ah, I see.”

Well, logic doesn’t work on Yumeba.

So as a result of Yumeba pushing through, we ended up sending both Lio II and Yume II.

“Alright, sending them now.”

I’m using teleportation magic, not a transfer gate.

Just in case—if we used a transfer gate and the destination turned out to be outer space, it would be no laughing matter.

◇◇◇

So I linked with the sent Lio II to share its vision…

“Ocean.”

“Ocean indeed.”

Apparently the two appeared in the middle of the ocean.

“Come to think of it, they said they were fishing offshore.”

Well, you don’t fish where you can see land.

“What now?”

“For now, let’s analyze just the atmospheric composition and have them return. If we leave a marker here, we can transfer anytime.”

So I performed atmospheric analysis using Lio II’s analysis function…

“Hm. Extremely low mana. At this rate, Lio II and Yume II can’t operate even half a day.”

Lio II and Yume II normally operate on my and Yumeba’s magic power, but in emergencies they can absorb ambient mana to operate.

But on Earth—the provisional Earth planet—mana was scarce, making long-term operation impossible.

“Does that mean it’s a world without magic power?”

“…Maybe.”

Considering magic and spells didn’t exist on Earth to begin with, the speculation of no magic power doesn’t seem wrong.

If we’d carelessly transferred ourselves, we might not have been able to return.

“Anyway, let’s bring them back.”

I instructed Lio II to return with Yume II.

Lio II’s teleportation magic apparently activated properly—the two immediately returned to our side.

“Success.”

Next I’ll make a compass or something to check direction and head toward land.

◇◇◇

“Phew. A lot happened in one day, huh.”

“Yeah.”

Having finally finished what could be called work, we returned to the inn and gazed at the ocean while snuggling together.

Of course, I had my arm around Yumeba’s shoulder, pulling her close.

We flirted a bit during the day, but that’s nowhere near enough for young us.

Rather, this is where the real show begins.

The time is evening—watching the sun set over the ocean with Yumeba creates a romantic atmosphere, inevitably raising our spirits…

“Yumeba.”

“…Lio.”

Before we knew it, we were staring at each other and pressing our lips together, completely ignoring the sunset over the ocean.

And after kissing while embracing passionately—we realized the sun had completely set and night had fallen.

“About time for dinner.”

“Yeah.”

With a slightly embarrassed atmosphere, Yumeba and I left the room together and headed to the dining hall.

After that?

Of course, we let ourselves go with the travel atmosphere, set up a soundproof barrier in the room, and loved each other to the fullest.

We’re married, so it’s natural, right?

◇◇◇

The next day, we decided to operate the magic ship—or rather, the deep-sea fishing vessel.

That idiot emptied the fuel tank, but I can create fuel with magic power.

But I’ve never piloted a ship, so we had those fishermen board and operate it.

“…It’s fast.”

Yumeba was surprised by the ship’s speed, but I didn’t mention that she’s many times faster—not just with flight magic, but moving underwater with water jet propulsion magic.

“Um… what’s going to happen to us?”

“Did you understand your situation somewhat?”

“…Yes.”

After giving them the translation bracelets, I permitted interaction with personnel in the management facility, so they must have gathered minimum information—they looked more dejected than yesterday.

At least they seem to have recognized this is another world where unknown technology like magic exists, not Earth or Earth’s past.

“Want to go home?”

“…We want to go home.”

Well, they’re not reincarnators who died and received cheats from Earth’s gods, but victims of spiriting away who accidentally came to another world.

If they can return, wanting to return would be their true feeling.

“Then I’ll send you back to your original world.”

“…Huh?”

Already last night, I had Lio II carry a compass and discovered land.

And I’ve confirmed it’s definitely Japan on Earth.

So returning them with my teleportation magic was possible.

“Lio, is that okay?”

“This magic ship wasn’t what the Empire wanted. Showing the Empire’s engineers a ship made with scientific technology without magic would just leave them at a loss.”

Well, actually the ship’s already been analyzed by my newly developed analysis magic.

I collected the bracelets from the fishermen, then snapped my fingers to open a transfer gate ahead of the ship.

Of course, the destination is Japan’s coastal waters.

“Then, farewell. Otherworldly strangers.”

I had the ship proceed toward the transfer gate, and after confirming it went to the other world, I closed the gate.

I slipped Lio II through incidentally, but initially they seemed dazed, unable to understand what the land before them was.

But when radio contact came in and their smartphones started ringing loudly, finally recognizing they’d returned, cheers erupted.

Confirming that, I had Lio II return.

“Did it work?”

“Of course.”

Naturally I didn’t send them back out of goodwill—I sent them all back with tracking markers attached.

And I set the new map magic World Map—Earth version—to display their locations.

Yeah. The more they move around on Earth, the more my Earth version World Map fills in, increasing the places I can send Lio II to in that world.

I’m not interested in fishermen uncles, but if they’re useful, I should utilize them maximally.

Yumeba and I going to Earth carries high risk, but let’s send Lio II and Yume II to acquire various convenient products.

First—to make Yumeba even more beautiful, I’ll acquire Earth’s beauty products.

If I know the ingredients, I can make them with magic, but I need to get the real thing first.

And smartphones.

I secretly confiscated a smartphone from one of them, so I want to analyze it with analysis magic and make it usable in this world too.

The telepathy device set of earring and necklace is still bulky and not functional.

Specifying the telepathy recipient is also tedious.

“Alright.”

“Ah♡”

While thinking about such things, I princess-carried Yumeba, who’d been flying with flight magic, and decided to return to port.

Yumeba seems to like flying herself too, but she’s happier being carried princess-style like this.

◇◇◇

When we returned to port, it naturally became a problem.

The precious magic ship had gone somewhere.

I appropriately explained that the magic ship had unknown technology installed and probably escaped with mysterious power.

Eventually we’ll report to the emperor anyway, so then I can just say the magic ship was already analyzed and reproducible.

I have no intention of making engines in this world though.

Yeah. Ultimately the magic ship technology ends up monopolized by the Saionji ducal house, so we’ll probably see the emperor’s orz pose.

“Hehe. Lio, you look so wicked♪”

Yumeba caught me smirking, but she looks amused too, so it’s fine.

“Well, reporting to the emperor can wait. For now, let’s enjoy our trip.”

“Yeah♪”

Today too, I pulled Yumeba close and decided to tour around the port town.

◇◆◇

In contrast to Emilio and Yumeba enjoying their harmonious married life, someone let out a resentful voice as if squeezing grudges from the bottom of their heart.

“Damn him… damn himmm!”

It was Yunix, who’d lost composure due to Emilio’s achievements, exposed his disgrace through Serina’s machinations, and burned with hatred from the emperor’s careless remarks.

The latter two clearly weren’t Emilio’s responsibility, but such things probably didn’t matter to Yunix right now.

He’d shut himself in the forbidden library that Emilio—the discarded prince—couldn’t enter, frantically reading various forbidden books there.

Being forbidden books, they contained dangerous magic operation methods, but…

“No good! This level won’t work—forget that guy, it won’t work on the Saionji ducal house!”

No convenient magic existed to break through the Saionji ducal house’s protection and curse only Emilio to death.

“Somehow… I have to do something. At this rate, I’m doomed.”

Truth be told, just being treated as a pervert within the palace didn’t bring him as close to ruin as he thought, but since he believed it, others’ opinions didn’t reach his ears.

So while agonizing and devouring forbidden books, Yunix…

《Do you desire power?》

He stopped moving at that voice suddenly heard.

Yunix thought it was an auditory hallucination for a moment, but…

《Do you desire power?》

The voice came again, making him realize it wasn’t a hallucination.

“I do! I want power surpassing that guy, power surpassing the Saionji ducal house!”

And sealing away the feeling somewhere in his heart that this was suspicious, he desired power.

《Fufufu, very well. Then I shall grant you the ability of [Fan Master].}}

“…Fan Master?”

《In that world now exist multiple heroes with special powers we sent. It’s the power to guide and manage those heroes. Use it to employ the heroes and defeat your nemesis.》

“O-ohh.”

The identity was naturally one pillar of Earth’s gods, who contacted Yunix and granted power while breaking the taboo against interfering in other worlds.

《Gyah! W-wait, Reincarnation God! Getting this angry over something like… hiiii!》

Immediately after, he was discovered by the Reincarnation God and beaten to a pulp.

In terms of divine rank, the Reincarnation God—who alone governs the matter of reincarnation—was overwhelmingly superior to one pillar of Earth’s gods composed of multiple deities.

If Earth’s gods wanted to oppose the Reincarnation God, they’d need to mobilize all gods existing on Earth.

Well, Earth’s gods’ objective was wanting to see the showdown between cheat reincarnators sent to other worlds and Emilio soon, and giving Yunix power as the instigator accomplished that.

“Fu, fufufu. I understand, I can tell. I don’t know why, but I can tell the locations of powerful beings in this world who obey me as if holding them in my hand!”

The cheat reincarnators who’d been playing freely in other worlds using cheat abilities until now were summoned by Yunix from this day—and the vast majority ignored him.

Naturally, since Earth’s gods selected them for entertainment, the majority were Japanese NEETs and shut-ins.

For Earth’s gods too, they obviously had no intention of deliberately sending excellent people beneficial to the world to another world, and naturally selected scoundrels who received advanced education but didn’t utilize it at all.

Yeah. People who received advanced education in Japan but stayed shut-in without utilizing it could be disposably used in other worlds without regret.

Moreover, they had full rebellious spirits, easily ignoring even Yunix’s summons despite being set as their superior.

What mattered to most of them was getting serious and becoming happy now that they’d come to another world.

On Earth they were buried among the masses, but having received Japan’s advanced education, they could excel in other worlds, and with cheats, they didn’t struggle.

As a result, only a few people gathered under Yunix.