That Time a Shut-in for 300 Years Continued to Make Antiques , but All of It Turned out to Be Cheat-Level Magic Tools - Chapter 10

After checking the room thoroughly, Mei and I returned to our original room. Since there was still time left, I thought we might head out to the city.

There was also the matter of the magic tools. To earn some money, it was necessary to sell a few items.

While discussing our plans for the future, the wooden door of our room was knocked on. I responded briefly and the innkeeper, a woman, appeared, wanting to see the room.

I had already removed the nameplate, so I thought there wouldn’t be any problem and agreed, but as soon as she entered, she scrutinized the room intensely. Sensing something amiss, I asked if there was a problem, to which she mentioned something about a previous guest possibly leaving something behind because the cat-eared girl had seen something.

I felt uneasy about her response. The cat-eared girl seemed like she wanted to say something but, intimidated by the innkeeper, ended up leaving the room without saying much.

“…Mei, was that perhaps…?”

“Yes, I suspect she might have seen the door we installed in the wall.”

That’s what I thought. Even though it was for a short time, not concealing it properly had caused this issue.

“Mei, do you think we should be honest about the magic tools?”

“It may not be the best idea. It would be better to keep quiet about that magic tool if possible.”

“I see. But, it might trouble her…”

“Then, how about this option?”

Mei shared a new idea with me. Indeed, that might be more manageable to disguise.

We left the room and followed the innkeeper, who was near the stairs, brandishing a wooden stick, seemingly about to strike the cat-eared girl.

“Excuse me. Did you, by any chance, see a door?”

It would be terrible if she got hurt because of my mistake. That’s why I addressed the issue that seemed to be the cause of the scolding.

“Yes, I did! I saw a door on the wall of the guest’s room.”

“I see. I’m sorry. Actually, I am a magic researcher, and I was testing an illusion magic.”

“Illusion magic?”

“Yes. I tend to get absorbed and become unaware of my surroundings. She must have entered while I was continuing the magic, causing her to see illusions.”

“Is that so…”

The cat-eared girl’s expression showed confusion but also relief. At least this should prevent her from being unfairly scolded.

“Hmm, but is that really true?”

“What?”

“I’m not doubting you, but you don’t look like a powerful magician. And I hope you’re not just covering for her. Slaves get out of hand when you’re too lenient with them.”

She sneered, looking down on the cat-eared girl before turning back to me. It was clear that some people don’t regard slaves as human or even as objects but rather something to be treated roughly.

“Well then, will this satisfy you?”

As I snapped my fingers, doors began to appear on the surrounding walls and ceiling. The innkeeper exclaimed in surprise.

“Oh, this is amazing, you really can use magic!”

That’s a misunderstanding. I can’t use magic. Naturally, this was also the effect of a magic tool I possess. It’s called the Illusion Mirage Mini Box, and it creates illusions by interacting with the surrounding Mif particles centered on where it is placed.

Despite being a child’s toy-like magic tool made in jest, it proved to be useful. It was Mei who chose the timing to use it, and I quickly retrieved it to demonstrate after snapping my fingers.

“Are you convinced now?”

“Well, if that’s the case, I’m sorry for the bother. You can go now!”

“Yes, thank you very much.”

It seemed she was convinced, though not without reluctance. The cat-eared girl thanked us and followed the innkeeper.

This would hopefully improve things a bit, but it might not change how she is treated from now on.

Hmm, it’s concerning, but I can’t dwell on this matter too much.

Anyway, since we had secured a room, Mei and I left the inn. Our destination was the magic guild.

The reason being, you can’t just sell magic tools on your own. Magic tools can be dangerous depending on how they’re used. Unlike magic, anyone can use a magic tool if they have it in hand, and selling them carelessly could lead to their use in crimes.

Therefore, registering them before sale is mandatory. This system was established a long time ago, and according to Mei, it hasn’t changed since we last visited the town.

So, we left the inn and headed to where the magic guild was supposed to be.

“Mei, this says ‘Commercial Guild’?”

“That’s odd. There used to be a magic guild here.”

It seemed that the facility Mei remembered had been replaced by a commercial guild.

What should we do now? For the moment, I activated my portable MFM, a miniature version of the magic tool installed in my magic car. However, while it could display terrain and lifeforms in buildings, it couldn’t identify what each building was.

The device essentially observed Myif particles, invisible particles that show minute changes under various conditions. The MFM could sense these changes, but that alone couldn’t determine what the buildings were.

So, I took out a useful magic tool from my bracelet, a tiny insect-like device called the Survey Bug.

Releasing it to scan the entire city, the bug automatically updated the information on my portable MFM. Within seconds, the previously unknown facilities were identified, as the bug zipped around at the speed of sound. The task took hardly ten seconds.

“Good job.”

I put the magic tool away and looked at the updated map again. A translucent screen floated in the space before me, now clearly showing the names of previously unidentified facilities. The display was conveniently iconized for easy understanding.

Where is the magic guild then?

“Here, perhaps?”

Guilds usually have distinctive crests, which are iconized; the magic guild often uses a wand motif, making it very recognizable. I quickly found the location, but…

“It’s quite hidden.”

“Yes, the building looks small too.”

Normally, such guilds are either prominently located on main streets or slightly off but still in accessible and visible locations.

In contrast, the magic guild didn’t fit any of these criteria. It was situated on the outskirts of the town, deep down an alleyway, almost as if it was being pushed out by the people.

However, wondering why this was the case wouldn’t help now.

“Well, let’s go and see for ourselves.”

“Yes, Master.”

And so, we decided to head towards the magic guild.

“Is this the place… could this be it?”

Finding the guild wasn’t hard with the map, but the building itself raised doubts.

The location was surrounded by derelict houses in a desolate area, and the building itself was a very dilapidated wooden structure. It hardly looked fit for a guild, yet a sign with the guild’s crest hung apologetically in front of the door.

…But this is it, right?