What's Inside My [Storage]

I decided to organize my [Storage] for the first time in a while.

My [Storage] was filled with a good number of dangerous things. Black balls that explode on a given keyword, a purple Dummy Core, a pure Dungeon Core I got from [Father], and an orichalcum blade. Those were just the icing on top of the cake that was my treasure horde. There were even a few unused spell scrolls I figured I'd get around to reading eventually.

"Huh?"

… At least, that's what should have been in there.

When I turned my [Storage] on its head to dump everything out, nothing came out. Only that Dungeon Core I got from [Father] came tumbling out. That's it.

"… What's going on?"

Fortunately, I was wearing my Divine Beddings — the [Divine Pajamas] as my jersey and [Divine Alarm Clock] as my wristwatch, so those weren't missing. The [Divine Comforter] and [Divine Blanket] were held on to by Rokuko, so those were safe as well.

Still though, where'd everything go? There weren't any of the dishes Kinue-san prepared or the blade golems I'd made in it either.

I put my arm into [Storage] to fumble around and try to find anything else, but there wasn't anything there. I was usually able to feel whatever's inside just by thinking about it though.

I tried looking inside. The open mouth to the [Storage] was just black space, but maybe I could see inside if I put my head in…? Time might stop for just my head, though, and then the blood flow from my body would stop and I could die. It'd be dangerous to try it alone.

Looks like I'll need someone to stand by and rescue me.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

"Which is why you want me to be here, huh."

"You're the person I can rely on for things like this, Rokuko. I'll be moving my hand as I stick my head into the [Storage], so pull me out immediately if it stops moving."

"Got it."

Which is why I decided to have Rokuko be my insurance as I take a look inside.

… Hmm, I put my head in, but I couldn't see anything.

There wasn't any sound or light.

Suddenly, light returned to me. It appeared that Rokuko pulled me back out. Moreover, I was a bit startled by feeling soft taps on my shoulder alongside a weird sensation of me also being hit there at the same time.

"Owah…!? Wait, why so soon? It hadn't even been five seconds."

"Are you okay, Kehma? You stopped moving. For about fifteen seconds."

"Eh, really?"

I didn't feel like I'd stopped, but I guess I wasn't even able to realize I stopped? It's a good thing I decided to get Rokuko first.

Also, it seems like she'd tapped my shoulder several times without me responding.

Wait, was it that the sensations from her doing that built up and came to me all at once? Like the sensations were frozen in time and were recognized collectively after I backed out…? It was hard to describe how strange and weird it felt.

"It's unexpectedly dangerous… [Storage], that is."

"You got that right."

But like, where did everything else go off to for just that Dungeon Core to be left behind?

It shouldn't be possible for a hole to open up in the [Storage]… No, I don't really know how it works at all, so maybe it was possible?

"Hey, Kehma. This is the core Otou-sama gave you, right? You still had it?"

"Hm? Yeah. If all I want to do is raise the level of [Super Transformation], Dummy Cores are enough for that."

Rokuko spoke while petting the extra Dungeon Core.

"… Maybe your stuff is in this?"

"Eh?"

"I just mean that, well, I have a Master Room, right? Maybe this core has one too!"

Rokuko slapped her hand down onto it. Her reasoning was sound enough.

"… I see. It's not a Dummy Core. It's an actual core."

"In that case, it could be convenient since there would be more space to store things… That said, looking inside might be a problem."

As she spoke, Rokuko placed her hand on the Dungeon Core and concentrated on something with a "Mmmh." It looked like she was trying to get inside.

Can you even get into another core like that? … Is what I thought, but come to think of it, I remembered getting into Mikan's Dungeon Core. Or would "being let in" be more accurate?

"I wonder if I can't somehow get in by, like, prying the door open? Kehma, you try too!"

"S-Sure."

I put my hand on the opposite side of the core that Rokuko did, matching her… Picturing the feeling of entering Rokuko's Master Room, I pushed a small strand of magical power into the Dungeon Core.

Wait. I'm trying to pry it open, maybe I should use more?

As I continued to increase the amount of magical power I was pouring into it, the while light shining from the core visibly magnified.

… Is that it? That's all?

"Hmm, I feel like we just need a biiiit more～"

"I'd at least like to get back my orichalcum sword."

When Rokuko also put some of her magical power into it, the core's light turned to a soft golden hue.

It felt divine… but also like there was something wrong with it. I mean, this doesn't happen when I enter Rokuko's Master Room or anything, right?

"Hey, Rokuko?"

"Hmm?"

"What are we even doing right now?"

"Eh? Well, obviously we're… uhh… what are we doing?"

Rokuko tilted her head to the side. Oi.

Just then, the Dungeon Core's light intensified.

"… Maybe we should stop?"

"How strange. I thought so as well and I'm still trying to stop, but it won't let me?"

"… I can't take my hands away!?"

It was like a vacuum cleaner sucking my hands onto it, making it so that I couldn't pull away. My magical power was flowing freely into it. It was just a tiny amount, though.

"Rokuko, are you okay?"

"Ah, yeah. My hand just won't come off, but there's no real problem otherwise. By the way, it's a bit sudden, but I'm getting the urge to bathe in the onsen, can't we?"

"We can't."

What are you saying when your hand's stuck to a core? What side are you planning on entering, the men's or women's? There's no mixed bathing at our inn.

"Mmm, no good. What should we do then?"

"… Ah. Maybe you could leave with the dungeon function?"

"There's also your [Super Transformation]. Ah, but, umm… maybe we could stay like this a while longer? Look, we can't leave each other～?"

Her hands still on the Dungeon Core, Rokuko moved her face closer to mine.

At that moment, the Dungeon Core suddenly shined brightly.

"Uoh, so bright!?"

"Hyah!?"

As soon as I moved my hands to shield my eyes, the Dungeon Core went flying. It seemed our hands came free partway through lifting it. It then dropped neatly right into my [Storage] I'd left open.

Boom! A freakin' godray of light rose from my [Storage] before settling down.

"… There're no marks on the ceiling… What the heck just happened…?"

"No idea…? But is the stuff in your [Storage] okay?"

"Everything but the core was gone from the start though… who knows?"

I put my hand into my [Storage].

… Mmm, there's a soft and warm feeling. Hmm?

—Just as I thought that, I felt something slimy tickle my hand.

"Whyah!? W-What!?"

"Eh — what's wrong, Kehma!?"

"Th-There's something in my [Storage]!! It licked my hand…!?"

"Eeeh, but [Storage] stops creatures from moving? Let me try too."

With that, Rokuko put her hand into my [Storage] and—

"Wawawah!? Wh-What is it!?"

"Wha—!? Wha—!? There's something in there!!"

"What's this, what's this!? Eh, there's something smooth. Hair?"

Rokuko felt around my [Storage].

"!? It grabbed me!? K-Kehma, help!"

"I-I've got you!"

I pulled Rokuko back forcibly. With that—

—A black-haired girl who was gripping onto Rokuko's hand appeared from my [Storage].