Chapter-06 · EP-085
Episode 85: Smartwatch
"Where is Okutama?"
Yuno, who like me was from the countryside, asked.
I wouldn't have known where Okutama was either until recently, but now I could answer.
I took out my smartphone and read the text displayed.
"Okutama is a mountainous region rich in nature, located at the westernmost tip of Tokyo. Although it's less than two hours by train from the city center, it feels like another world, and it's said to be the least Tokyo-like place in Tokyo."
"What are you reading?"
"Meiris."
"What's that?"
"An AI."
"You're being taught by an AI?"
"Yeah. Meiris is an AI specialized in dungeon exploration."
"Wow!"
Yuno seemed interested in Meiris. Maika also looked interested, but Iori didn't.
The reason I wanted to go to Okutama was that I wanted to explore alone.
Currently, the academy dungeon only allowed exploration of the first floor, and I might accidentally run into someone I knew.
I wanted to do things like upgrade potions and research how to use my skills in a dungeon where I wouldn't be seen by acquaintances. So I asked Meiris if there were any open dungeons with few people, and it recommended a dungeon in Okutama.
It was a convenient location, about an hour and a half by train from the academy.
"Okutama… where? A mountain? Wait, is there a station? Do people live there?"
Yuno rattled off.
"There is a station, and people do live there, even though it's deep in the mountains. I want to go somewhere that isn't crowded like the Shinjuku Dungeon."
"Huh."
"Hey, Shirou-kun. How do you use that AI?"
Now Maika asked.
"How? Just like any other AI. It's connected to the Explorer Guild's database, so you can get dungeon information right away. It seems convenient, so I started using it recently."
"I see. If it's handy, show me too."
"Yeah, of course."
"Can you use it inside the dungeon too?"
"You can, but I don't take my phone into the dungeon because I don't want it to break."
"I wish you could use it with a watch or something."
"That's… that's it!"
Getting an idea from Yuno's offhand comment, I headed to an electronics store after school.
To buy a smartwatch.
Meiris supported voice input, and after checking, I found it could also be used on a smartwatch.
I couldn't look at my phone while exploring a dungeon, but a watch type wouldn't tie up my hands or fall. Though I was worried it might break if I took a hit.
Anyway, wanting a type suitable for taking on explorations, I entered the electronics store.
In a corner of the smartphone section, there was a smartwatch corner. There were many models, and as a complete novice, I couldn't tell the difference.
I decided to ask a store clerk.
"You're looking for a smartwatch. Functions differ by model, so you need to choose one with the features you're looking for. Many have health management functions like heart rate and sleep quality monitoring, or workout support features."
"I don't really need those."
"What kind of features are you looking for?"
"I want to use an AI, so I need one that can do voice input and output."
"An AI can't be used unless the app supports it."
"The app I want to use seems to work on almost any smartwatch. But apparently, it won't work without input and output."
"In that case, models with a call function have a microphone and speaker. Models like this one, or this one…"
"Ah, also, I want one that's durable and won't break easily if bumped."
"In that case…"
As I talked with the clerk, I realized.
"Ah, I should just ask the AI! Sorry, let me check."
I used my phone to ask Meiris which smartwatch was suitable for installing Meiris on.
"Um, it recommends one with an accelerometer, gyroscope, and digital compass…"
"Then, this one or this one…"
As the clerk looked for products with the functions I read out, I told him the product name Meiris had answered.
"Do you have an Ultra Watch?"
"In that case, we have the latest third-generation Ultra Watch in stock. However, it's our best model, so even with a discount, it would be 120,000 yen…"
120,000 yen! That seemed very expensive for a fifteen-year-old like me. But I had the 2 million yen from selling the potion to Hikaru!
"That's cheap! I'll take it!"
"Since you mentioned voice input and output, how about some wireless earphones and a microphone to go with it? They connect easily via Bluetooth."
"I'll take those too!"
I ended up buying everything the clerk recommended.
But now, I finally had the setup to take Meiris with me into the dungeon!