Ask him about other worlds.

"All right. Fine." You step up to his desk and take a deep breath. "What do you know about the idea of someone coming here... from another world?"

His bushy brows raise. "Even if I did know, such valuable information would surely not be worth nothing at all. You've come a long ways, but I'm sad to say that doesn't mean I owe you just anything. It's strange enough that you'd ask a question like that."

You reach into your pack. It's warped by the water, but you pull out the hentai magazine, and place it down in front of him. "This is from another world, Lord Barkis. The same one I'm from. If you tell me all about it, you can keep this thing too."

His eyes light up as he looks to what rests before him. He pulls open a page with his fingers, and then another. Red glows over his nose as she become quite immersed in the literature.

"Uh. Archmage?" you ask.

"Y-Yes," he mumbles. "Fascinating. Wonderful. Where is it you found this?"

"Some cyclops collected it for this treasure hoard. Who knows where he got it."

He clears his throat. "I accept this trade. I will investigate this treasure at a later date," he says as he closes it again.

The girls look to him sceptically as he glances back to the magazine.

"Are you sure we can trust this guy?" Niki whispers as she leans over. "Think about the kind of maid he keeps around too."

"Earth," the old man says. "That is where you're from, correct?"

"Yeah. How'd you know?"

He grunts as he pulls himself up from his seat. The light from the window behind him bathes his golden robes in an illustrious glow. "You are not the first to come from Earth. There have been others. Though even the most educated scholars have struggled to actually bring somebody from there to here. You are an amazing experiment, or an outstanding accident. Either way, yes. I do know of this Isekai Theory, and I know it to be more than just a theory."

"Then how did I get here?" you ask.

"There's no way to be certain. I do know that some mages did succeed, whether it be from accident or not, to bring transport somebody over. I have yet to see proof that it could happen by accident, but it would be difficult to prove that, wouldn't it? I'm afraid I wouldn't know, if you don't know yourself."

So there have been others. It sounds like not many, but... what if I could find someone else from Earth? Do I even want to? If I have no idea who summoned me, I guess it doesn't really matter. I should just do whatever I want.

"Can you do me one last favour?" you ask, and then draw your blade. "I found this. I thi--Wait. It's glowing pink again. Just a little bit. I don't understand this thing at all."

"Hmm. I'll tell you what. If the rest of you wait here, I'll speak with Kyle in the other room. That's where I keep my instruments. Come, Reko. You too." He beckons you to follow as he walks towards a door to the side of his desk.

You follow him through, with the catfolk behind you. Once the door shuts, it's only the three of you in a wide room of tables covered in various tools you hardly recognize. There's class vials of different liquids, more books, and monster parks aplenty.

Barkis takes the blade and places it down, and proceeds to poke at it with various instruments. "Truly, a summoned man... Interesting indeed."

"What was that?" you ask.

"I've only met one other person from Earth in all my years alive. It was long ago. Hmm. Reko. I need your assistance."

He whispers something into he ear and both of them walk over to you. He holds it up nearby, while the catfolk steps directly in front of you. Due to being slightly shorter, she has to glance upwards to meet your eyes. She's incredibly cute, which isn't unexpected given she also has the fluffy ears of a kitten, but now she's only getting closer.

"What's going on?" you ask.

When he doesn't answer, you start to worry. Reko giggles and places her hands on your chest, and stands on her toes to linger her lips close to yours. "I saw nyou peeking at my butt earlier, meow," she whispers.

"I didn't..."

"I dyon't mind." One of her hands starts to glide down your torso, and it stops at your waist. "Did nyou see what colour I wear?"

"No," you mumble.

"Do nyou know why, meow?"

"What's going on?"

"I'm nyot wearing any," she whispers into your ear.

As your trousers start to tighten, you look to the side to see your sword glowing pink once again.

"Marvelous," the archmage says. "Thank you, Reko."

"Huh?!" you look between them as she steps back. "Does it detect people who are commando or something?"

Reko winks. She takes the side of her skirt with one finger, and gently lifts it to show a pair of dark blue panties.

"No, no," Barkis replies. "It glows in the presence of arousal, though not the wielder's. Watch."

He hands the sword to you. As you take it, the glow starts to fade... though not all the way. You look to Reko who blushes, and then retreats back several steps. As she goes, the light dims more, until it's barely noticeable.

You squint at the sword. "That sounds... so incredibly useless."

Barkis chuckles. "Well, it's also an elven blade, and made with excellent craftsmanship. It should be incredibly durable, cut better than any normal sword, and it's nearly half the weight one would expect. Treasure that weapon, Kyle, even if you don't use its... other effect."

"I guess that's fine. Wait a minute. Why was it glowing at your desk earlier?"

"Anyway! Let's get back to your friends," he quickly says and starts walking back towards the door.