Case 21: On the release of smartphones.

In the end, I got to go on two separate dates with both Rachael and Penelope.

Although they ended up happening way later than the initial Wednesday since both of them were busy, I was just glad they didn't appear to be fighting anymore. Not in front of me, at least.

Meanwhile, there was also Kiara, who actually visited our manor quite frequently.

[Look, little girl! The snow is piling up!]

''Um.''

[Let's go out and play! You seem to be good at a snowball fight, so it'll be fun.]

''...No.''

Seeing the scene of Kiara's Soul Guardian, Mr.Chief, excitedly hovering around Lyra gave me a fuzzy warmth right in the heart. Like her owner, Amethyst didn't like to exercise all that much, so she was currently curling on the sofa and fast asleep.

I wondered if there would be a day where I could put her on my lap. I'd prefer that full-looking dragon than this tiny, hairy lamb clinging to my head.

On the other hand, unlike his owner, Mr.Chief appeared to be too energetic for Kiara. It wasn't as though the princess was gloomy—she was just, by any measure, normal.

Normal on the inside, perhaps.

I couldn't exactly read her thoughts at the moment. Even as she sipped the tea, not a single part of her face except the lips moved.

''It'll be the end of the year soon.''

''Indeed. Do you have any plans for the New Year Festival?''

''A live show. I'll be on television on the eve.''

Posing a victory sign, Kiara 'proudly' reported.

For always keeping the conversations alive and trying to lighten everyone's day, I deeply appreciated her. It might have seemed like nothing, yet I knew she was nervous under that calm countenance.

''My, that's awesome. I'll make sure not to miss it.''

So, with a soft smile, I returned the good gesture.

''Mhm.''

A sense of satisfaction spread over my chest as I stared at her shyly adorable expression. Through small talks like this, we were able to get closer, bit by bit.

Thinking back, a considerable amount of time had passed since I first moved to this manor. Almost half a year?

''...''

Looking at Lyra now, she seemed to have definitely grown a lot. Soon, would she be just as tall, if not taller than me? I also got to know these lovely people, those I once considered mere characters in a game...

Yet, I barely felt anything had happened.

I always felt a peculiar sense of regret every time I thought of a past event. When I finally realized it, too much time had already passed.

It was regret before I got here, and now... fear.

I had decided on my path, but how long could I actually survive?

One morning, I was reading the newspaper.

''Hm... so it's already time.''

[What? It's already lunchtime?]

''Hell no, Mrs.Minister of Food Consumption. It's seven in the morning.''

[Oh.]

''You just ate breakfast. Go back to sleep.''

Dejected, Lucy quietly retreated into the bed again.

Either way, in the Libre Empire of this era, where numerous technological and magical advances were made each year, there would naturally be a number of conventions designed to showcase the new techs.

One of them was the Winter Convention, which happened at the very end of every year.

As far as I knew, they would appear on the front page of newspapers and television every time, so we could consider it a big event. This time, the hook was none other than a certain engineer's ace product—the smartphone.

Portable, versatile, and highly convenient.

The advertisements here must have sounded like the equivalent of the governments on Earth trying to preach about light-speed traveling. Maybe not so extreme, but Quasar's invention was simply that ahead of the time. I'd imagine people were freaking out.

People would know that these things were authentic, too, since the convention was sponsored by the imperial family. At this point, maybe Rachael was already carrying a smartphone with her.

''Heh.''

Well, then, shall we visit the star today?

Putting down the newspaper, on which Quasar's brightly smiling face appeared, I slowly prepared for the outing.

''Ah, Miss Rael! Welcome back.''

''Hello.''

As soon as I set foot in the little workshop, I could feel the atmosphere had significantly changed. Now, there were no odd electronics lying around and waiting to be sold anymore, signifying the owner's complete transition to selling smartphones.

Still with those messy, dusty pink hair, still those brilliant azure eyes.

Quasar warmly welcomed me inside.

''I still can't believe... I made it!'' She exclaimed. ''I-It's all thanks to you, Miss Rael!''

''No problem. I just made the right decision. That's all.''

''Heheh... y-you're too humble. Ah, right... I got t-this for you...''

What Quasar handed me was a clean box in which two different models of the now-famous smartphones sat. One was of a quartz-like white color, while the other one was black.

''This is...''

''My gratitude!''

Quasar shyly grinned, baring her two sharp, fang-like teeth. She looked like a tiger cub.

I had initially come here only to check on her, but it seemed I wouldn't need to buy commercial smartphones anymore.

''T-This stuff runs on mana, so you can c-charge it yourself... or plug it somewhere. A-Also, these two are not serialized, so the government won't be able to t-track you.''

''Oh?''

That was... unusually useful. According to Quasar, the imperial family was planning to put a magical tracker, the equivalent of a GPS, into every phone. For what purposes? I wouldn't know.

''It just seems like something you would w-want...''

When asked, all she replied was that sentence.

Quasar, I love you.

In the end, I properly thanked the genius inventor and went home with the phones—of course, only after smoothing out the commercial aspect of our deal.

''Hm...''

For now, the anonymous phones couldn't be seen by others. Since these phones worked on mana signal instead of relying on cellular networks, there was no equivalent of sim cards. Instead, one's phone number was the same as the phone's serial number.

It would be so suspicious if I used these two non-serialized ones.

I still needed to buy commercial phones, after all.

Well, there was no need to hurry at the moment. I wanted a phone so that I could text my crushes, but there was no point if they didn't have it yet.

So, a few more weeks lightly passed and then came the Winter Convention.

Sitting in the living room with Lyra on my lap, we intently watched as the anchor interviewed Quasar, who meekly yet merrily advertised her phone.

[Y-You can even charge it with an ordinary battery charger!]

[That's amazing, Miss Quasar!]

[Heheh...]

[Then, would you kindly let us know where we can buy your phones in the future?]

[O-Of course! T-The very first model, Q-01, will be available at most electronic and m-magic stores across the capital—]

''Lyra, Lyra.''

''...Mhm?''

As I poked my little sister's plump cheek, she turned to me.

''Do you want that?''

''...''

After staring intently at the phone in Quasar's hand for a while, she eventually nodded. Immediately, ideas of buying matching phones popped up inside my head.

''Shall we go out to buy them later?'' I grinned, combing through her hair with my fingers.

''Can't we leave that to Albert?''

''Silly. Things like these need to be chosen carefully—in person!''

''...I guess.''

Like so, we decided on a date to shop for the brand-new smartphones. While Lyra would obviously be the first to exchange contact with me...

I wondered who the second one would be.