'It was the fox from the organization that wanted me alive...'

Oh, what should I do. I can't think of anything.
The box I was holding was as light as empty, but there was a rustling sound inside. Apparently my sister fox (I don't know her name, but I'll call her that for convenience) is preoccupied with satisfying her hunger. Sitri, who always has a calm expression on his face, looked stern this time.

Phantoms grow stronger according to their accumulated power. In a treasure house as large as the Lost Inn, the power of even a single lowly phantom is equal to that of a high-level treasure house boss.
To the phantoms, mana and materials are like air. By nature, phantoms can't live outside the Treasure House for long, and they don't go outside the Treasure House. But apparently, that doesn't matter to this fox girl.

'If I were in the position of that phantom, I would be able to destroy the country. Only a high level hunter can stand against the phantom of the treasure house. In addition, with its size, it would be very difficult to catch up with it if it escaped.

Sitri is making a terrible guess. Fortunately, the goal of the illusion of the [Lost Inn] is not the destruction of humanity.

'What do you think we should do?'

'............ I think it's not impossible to defeat it if the party gives it their all. If it's just one.'

Citri paused for a moment, then answered.
The sun was beating down on them. The air distorted with heat. You're talking about your life and death, and yet you're quiet inside the box.

Surely, it's an illusion in this box. But after all this time, it's unethical to kill a humanoid creature that doesn't attack you.
Besides, if we fight it and it escapes, this phantom will run rampant in this country. That's not good.

'I don't think that's a very good move.

'Well, even if we try to hang the ...... mixer, it's going to be destroyed.'

'? What's a blender?

'We're experimenting with creating a liquid mana-material by grinding up illusions. Originally, it would be dispersed into the air--'

'Oh, ......, sorry, sorry, that's enough.'

I had a feeling it was best not to ask any more questions, so I stopped Citri. I think it's fair to say that he looks a little disappointed, but there doesn't seem to be any good reason to ask.
I walked in circles around the capital of Toaizant. I can't think straight.

Anyway, I have to do something about this apparition. It'll probably take a long time for such a powerful illusion to dissolve into thin air. A powerful illusion means that it can absorb a lot of mana and material. They could live for several years if they absorb the weak mana materials in the air.

The quickest way to do this is to have a lost inn take you in. I set the box down in an inconspicuous alleyway, and slowly opened the lid with determination.

I had hoped that the contents would be gone, but inside the box was a phantom on its knees, completely contained.
It appeared to be a child wearing a fox mask. It could be mistaken for a kidnapping. It's been a while since I've crossed a dangerous bridge. For once I'm not at fault.

My sister fox showed no signs of attacking me. No, there's a promise between her and me. As long as we have that, even if the city falls, my friends and I will not be harmed.
I took a deep breath and confirmed it.

'Hey, can you contact ...... [lost inn]?

I mean, why are you here? Isn't it strange? Why don't you just take the box and go home!

The sister fox stood still for a while, then reached into her pocket and took out a thin green board about the size of a pocketbook and held it out.

It was smooth and shiny. When touched, the black surface emitted light and numbers appeared. It seemed to be the current time. I opened my eyes.

I know this is ----. I know it!

I explained to a curious-looking Citri.

'It's a smartphone. ...... It's a phone treasure.'

'A phone, is that a phone? There's no line connected to it. ...... Doesn't that need a line for communication?'

The telephone is a system of communication being developed in some technological countries. It is still in the experimental stage and has many hurdles, so it is not yet widespread in the empire, but it is a kind of sympathetic stone that connects to various places.

And the one with roughly the same function is this smart phone, a relic of an advanced physical civilization!

It's a treasure trove,......, and each device is numbered,......, so if you press the number of the person you want to talk to, you can talk to the person who is far away.

Citrie rolls her eyes as I share my knowledge for the first time in a long time.

'Doesn't that make sense if you don't know the ...... number of the person you want to talk to?

'Yes, yes. That's why it's harder to use than the sympathetic stone. That's why it's harder to use than sympathetic stones.

Also, for some reason, if you're not near a city, you won't be able to get a signal, and if you drop it or submerge it, it will break, and it has various weaknesses.

The important point, however, is that in ancient civilizations, technology was so advanced that they could communicate with each other over long distances without any lines.
Among scholars, there are two schools of thought: one is that it uses spirits to deliver voices, and the other is that it probably uses the same logic as the sympathetic stone, and they have been arguing about it fiercely, but it is meaningless because the logic behind the sympathetic stone is not well understood.

I would like to have one, but I don't have one and none of my friends have one, so there's not much point in getting one.
I don't know why my sister fox has it, but could it be that the [Lost Inn] is a treasure house from the time of advanced physical civilization?

''As expected of Mr. Cry, ......, you are very knowledgeable.''

Citry's eyes widen in respect, but I'm not too familiar with this treasure trove.
However, the gaze is a bit comforting, and I can't help but brag about it.

'This is ...... a new model, isn't it? The new one has a ...... camera. It's so small, but it has so many functions.

'I see. ...... What other features?'

It's just a rumor, but I heard that there are several types of smart phones and they can do different things. I hear they can do most things. It's like a magic wand.

'You can send out a beam from the camera to reap demons, or you can use it to ...... refrigerate food. ...... All the inhabitants of advanced physical civilizations used smartphones to protect themselves and help them live. It's an all-purpose tool.

Incidentally, the reason we know this much is because this treasure trove is often found in the treasure halls of advanced physical civilizations. It must have been so widespread that more than a hundred of them have been found in a single treasure house.

'But what's the point if the other person has the same one and you don't know their number?

'Now, now, calm down, Citri. I know that ...... can add a number to your contact list. Isn't that right?

Just then, the girl in the vision moved.



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