After closing, I explained to Pryce that I wouldn’t be able to help out around the shop much anymore. He said, “Young miss, you caaaaan’t!” but Dad talked him through it.
Dad also pressed the point to me that he let me help out today thanks to the way things went, but for Pryce’s sake, it was best that I didn’t help out too much. Apparently, Pryce wanted a shop of his own someday. It was true that he’d at least need to get his act together enough that a peak rush like that wouldn’t do him in.
I kept the twintails, by the way. My hair always hung down behind me before, but I liked the feeling of nothing covering my neck.
That may have been the first time I actually appreciated this power. Though I did wonder how it was going to look, coming in with a hairstyle skill when everyone else was all bang, bang! with their magic.
Back in my room, I took the crown off again and gave it a look. There was no mistaking it: my parents’ treasures had somehow become absorbed into this gear. The red gemstone and transparent material were just too familiar to be anything else.
“Can they... be separated?”
[—Analyzing.
—Due to conceptual link, physical separation has been judged impossible.]
This little one’s getting aaaall chatty again...
The transparent plate (?) that reminded me of the analyze card floated before my eyes, with the words “Separation impossible” written on it. It had also said “Status: Twintails” on it earlier, but it didn’t seem like my parents or the customers could see that. Was it some sort of magic only I could see? And this voice ringing in my head was the same as the one from the analyze card. Now that I calmed down and listened, I noticed it sounded like a girl’s voice.
“...I’ve got a question. Are you my skill?”
I felt a little strange talking to a crown, but for now I figured I may as well give it a shot.
[—Explaining.
This unit, “Crown Gear,” was created through the synchronization of a unique skill and items. The skill Gearcraft Lv. 1 is reflected in the results of this union.]
Um, the wording there is a little complex, so I don’t quite get it...
“In other words, part of you was made by my skill, right?”
[—Affirmative.
An exemplary answer.]
Thanks for the praise.
“I don’t really get the whole item synchronization thing, but how exactly did you get stuck together?”
[—Explaining.
—Due to unique conditions, synchronization entered the realm of possibility, and permission was granted.]
“Permission? Who gave you that?”
[—Anti Kythera.]
“Wait, it’s because of me?! I don’t remember that at all!”
[—Permission was granted the previous night.]
“L-like how?”
[—”You’re so loud... just do whatever you want...” was the response received.]
“Hey, hold on!!”
It’s only a vague recollection, but I actually do remember that!
The night before, I dreamed I was being bombarded by an annoying question like, “Impossible, impossible, what should I do?”... And then I got really annoyed and just yelled at it to do whatever, I think... But that had just been a dream.
So that was totally just me talking in my sleep, wasn’t it?!
“Aaaaagh, that’s ridiculous...! Hey, wait, are you... like... sentient? You’re talking really fluently...”
[—Explaining.
The unique skill Gearcraft cannot be analyzed, but the item effect “analyzer” was able to open a channel with the unique skill via the item effect “item storage.” Under a request from the unique skill, a synchroshift was carried out. The analysis channel formed within the storage at that time possessed a skill assistance ability, and vocalization of text is possible via the analyzer.]
I-I see... I pretty much didn’t get any of that...
In other words... three elements that shouldn’t have gone together were all combined and ended up like this...?
“...! Right, the item storage from the dimension stone! Can you put things away and pull them out?”
[—Confirmed.
—Core functions of each component have not been lost.
—Please specify a corresponding item.]
“Huh? Um, hold on a second...”
That came out of nowhere... Then, then...
“Then, my bed. Heh, just kidding...”
There’s no way it could put away something that big, right?
[—Ready.
—Carrying out given order.]
“Huh?”
Vwrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Gah! A golden gear just popped up out of nowhere in my room! And it’s huge...!
That ring shape with the teeth coming off it looked like the one from yesterday, but this was way bigger.
The hole in the middle must’ve been as wide as I am tall!
The angle of the massive gear slowly shifted, and it moved until it was hovering over my bed. W-what was going to happen?
Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
Like some odd game of ring toss, the gear descended upon my bed.
...It’s gone. My bed just disappeared... no way!
Right now, there was just the massive gear, which had fallen to the floor where my bed had been.
[—Storage complete.]
“...”
Huh...? I-it really fit...
So if I ring toss my gear over something, it’ll disappear completely...
[—Explaining.
—Due to dimensional shift, no substance has been lost.
—In order to withdraw, please designate an item.]
“Oh, ah, then... ‘Bed.’”
Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
The gargantuan gear rose up off the floor. Then, in the next instant...
Kabaaaaaam!!!!!
“Gwaaaaaaaaah!!”
H-hey! You just dropped my bed from about as high up as I am tall!! And this is the second floor, you idiot!! If you do that...!
“Anti!! What happened?! What was that noise just now?!!”
“Are you alright, Annie?!”
See!? Both of them just came running!
“S-sorry! I’m fine! I’m totally alright!”
“I se— Hey, what’s that giant gear?”
“My, it sure is big, isn’t it?”
Afterwards, I apologized, giving them a full explanation of what happened with the item storage and my bed. In response, I got, “Wow, amazing! It’ll store something that big?!” Give me a break... this is going to be the death of me.
“...Hey, the next time you bring something out, do it so it’s touching the floor.”
[—Order accepted.
—Crown Gear offers an apology.]
“...Apology accepted.”