ISEKAI NANPA ~Hitting on Elves, Nekomimi Girls, and Loli Dragons as an Unemployed Hikikomori~

Chapter 02: Zomgoyle

As Yuuki’s heart jumped for joy about his isekai nanpa adventure beginning, the black robed boy up and left the room.

“……Where’s he going? Is he planning to come back?”

Just to be sure, Yuuki waited for the boy.

However, the boy did not come back at all.

Left in the dark, Yuuki started getting scared.

“What the hell, man.”

He started walking slowly, exploring the room.

Doing so, Yuuki found this room he found so vast before was actually about the same size as his old room.

The walls were made of stone and there were no windows.

There was a table in the center, a mysterious small item above, and a mounted crystal on the pedestal.

He decided not to touch it in case it’d break.

“I guess for now…… I’ll head outside……”

The old wooden floor was dusty, and made a squeaking sound while as he walked to the door.

Yuuki exited through that wooden door that was reinforced with iron.

Looking back, the door had a nameplate labeled “Seventh Crystal Chamber.”

It seemed Yuuki had been in the Seventh Crystal Chamber all this time. He had no idea what that was, though.

“…………”

Beyond the door was a stone staircase. A spiral staircase at that.

Yuuki walked down that staircase carefully, one hand on the wall so he wouldn’t fall over.

There were no windows or lights anywhere. However, looking closer at the wall, there was a line of light emitting. This seemed to be the light source.

He would continue down that spiral staircase following that dim light.

“…………”

There were several places to stop on the way.

Doors of sorts and with them were nameplates.

“Sixth Crystal Chamber”

“Fifth Crystal Chamber”

Every stair he walked down, he would pass by one, but each one was locked and wouldn’t open.

“What the hell. Is no one here?”

Yuuki continued down the stairs, aiming for the next landing.

　＊

Yuuki kept descending down the cylindrical building.

It’s been a while, but he still hadn’t reached the bottom.

What the hell is with this building.

“How tall is this thing? Where’s that black robed kid? ……If you’re going to summon me, at least take responsibility.”

Yuuki went down the stairs, muttering about the boy who disappeared on him.

Finally…… Yuuki found himself at an especially large landing.

There was a door at the end reading “Fourth Crystal Chamber.”

When he saw the object on the side, he jumped back in shock.

“Uwohh!”

It was a statue of a monster as tall as Yuuki.

It was displayed on a heavy pedestal.

It was…… like the horror of a gargoyle turned into a zombie .

For some reason, the devilish statue wore an apron. A freshly washed apron. This satanic statue wearing something so motherly gave Yuuki a sense of inconsistency.

“What the hell. That’s gross.”

Yuuki approached the statue with curiosity.

The statue was made of concrete-gray gray material, but when touched, had a softness like rotten meat.

Such an organic yet inorganic material bound together made for something grotesque.

“Damn, what bad taste. It’s like a gargoyle turned into a zombie…… A zomgoyle?”

The statue’s mouth suddenly opened.

“Wrong. I have no name.”

“Uwohh, it spoke!”

Yuuki jumped back instinctively . Behind him, his foot touched the stairs.

At this rate, I might just fall……!

Immediately, the clawed hands grabbed Yuuki.

“It’s dangerous. These stairs run steep.”

“Ah…… Th- Thanks……”

“Are you Yuuki?”

“Y- Yeah.”

“I shall take care of you. My master has ordered it.”

“I- I see.”

“I was going to see you after charging my magic. I’m sorry I’m late.”

“It’s fine, I guess……”

“I have no name. But…… If you wish, you may call me Zomgoyle.“

“No, that’s fine.”

“If you wish, you may call me Zomgoyle.”

“I said no.”

“If you wish, you may call me Zomgoyle.”

“Alright already. Zomgoyle.”

Zomgoyle returned to his pedestal, seemingly somewhat happy.

“Please wait, My magic charge is almost complete.”

It seemed Zomgoyle was being charged through that pedestal.

Yuuki still couldn’t shake his fear and stood there, unable to look into Zomgoyle’s obsidian embedded eyes.

　＊

After a while, Zomgoyle seemed to have finished his charge, and took Yuuki’s hand.

His soft concrete hands were as cold as raw meat.

For a second, his sharp claws jammed into Yuuki's palm, but Zomgoyle immediately retracted.

“…………”

Zomgoyle pulled Yuuki down the spiral staircase.

After a few floors, Zomgoyle led them to a door.

“Here.”

The nameplate on the door read “Guest Room.”

Zomgoyle took out a keyring from his apron pocket and led Yuuki in.

It was a dark room.

“Let me turn on the light.”

Operating some thing by the door, several lines of light ran through the wall.

The room was about the size as the one on the top floor, that is to say, the same as Yuuki’s own room. It was fully furnished with a bed, desk, and chair, though DIY, and clearly not by a professional. An odd room, decorated in poor sense.

“Make yourself at home.”

Zomgoyle exited the guest room.

Yuuki hastily stopped him.

“W- Wait a sec.”

“What is it?”

“What should I…… do?”

“You may sit on that chair.”

“Uh……”

“I believe you may feel nice if you laid on that bed.”

“…………”

“Is there anything else?”

“Uh…… Well, um……. Sorry about earlier. Calling you gross and all.”

“It is fine. I have no emotions.”

“Just what are you anyway? You’re-”

“You may call me Zomgoyle.”

“S- So what are you, Zomgoyle?”

“An artificial spirit. My master created me.”

“…………”

“Tower maintenance and customer service. That is what I’m tasked with. Master gave me those orders.”

“Y- Your master………… Is he that guy with the silver hair and red eyes…………? Shion?”

Zomgoyle nodded.

“Where is Shion now?”

“Master is ill in bed. It seems he feels awful about his plan failing.”

“Failing? Why? His summoning was a success. I’m here in this world, and I got his “power.” Everything went as planned.”

“I do not know the details. Why not talk to him? Directly, with my master.”

“Eh? Uh, sure.”

Zomgoyle sat down on the bed and touched a lithograph part on his abdomen.

There was a sound of ringing, followed by a wait, and then the voice of the boy in the black robe.

“Hello, it’s Shion.”

“Um, it’s me. Yuuki.”

He immediately slammed the phone.

“…………”

“Why not try again?”

“Eh? Uh, sure.”

Zomgoyle touched the lithographic part on his abdomen. After a while, a boy's voice came again.

“Hello, it’s Shion.”

“Um, it’s me. Yuuki.”

He immediately slammed the phone again.

Yuuki touched Zomgoyle’s abdomen. After a while, a boy's voice came again.

“Hello.”

“It’s me.”

“…………”

“Hey……”

Silence followed.

At the moment, the boy in the black robe didn’t want to speak to anyone.

However Yuuki, who’s been summoned left and right, couldn’t stand being lost in this crazy tower.

Back at Sugukuru Deliver Center, there were many things Yuuki didn’t understand.

However, afraid of being rude, Yuuki left that be and didn’t consult with his co-workers.

As a result, he was yelled at.

Right…… What’s happened, happened.

However, now that Yuuki’s in another world, he may as well live a little different.

That’s right. I just need to gather a little courage……

Yuuki gulped and started talking.

“H- Hey. What should I be doing from here on out?”

“Whatever you want.”

The boy didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

For some reason, Yuuki got the feeling he might have been drinking.

“But…… Even if you say that, I don’t know anything about this place.”

“Just ask Zomgoyle about anything you need to know. I’m tired…… I’ve completely failed……”

“Wh- What are you talking about? Cheer up, man.”

“…………”

“I- I made it here and got that nanpa skill. Your summoning was a success. You should be proud!”

“…………”

“I mean, I’ve been talking quite a bit up until now. I think the skill is actually working.”

“Th- Th- Tha- That’s what I mean by failed! What kind of skill is ‘Basic Conversation’!?”

“What the hell, yelling like that all of a sudden. You scared me.”

“I’ve been trying all this time to prepare a warrior to fight the ‘Kin of Darkness,’ and all I got was some idiot who wanted to hit on girls. Hahaha, you’re kidding me, right!?”

On the other side of the phone, Shion laughed, his heart in pain.

Yuuki felt grim.

“Wh- What the hell…… You’re the one who told me to say I wanted to hit on girls.”

“…………”

“You’re the one who pulled out this hidden desire I have. It’s confusing to me as a hikikomori too. I mean, picking up girls at my age is crazy embarrassing!”

“Ahh…… Yeah, sorry…… This is all my fault. There’s no way I could have calculated some I’d summon some guy who wanted to hit on girls. Really…… I’m so damn stupid.”

“Hey………… Stop talking like that. You’re killing the atmosphere.”

“…………”

“Hey, it’s not over yet. Let’s think positively for a sec. My skill might actually be useful somehow. Right! I can have a basic Level 1 conversation now. We can definitely use that somehow!”

“Like hell we can! Sealing the Kin of Darkness took the first tower master, Exedos, and the seven legendary heroes! It was a final battle that shook the entire world! Light vs Darkness. Good vs Evil. ‘Basic Conversation’ wouldn’t even stand a chance!”

“Y- Yeah?”

“In the first place, ‘Level 1’? What’s with that? What about your other skills?”

“According to that navigator voice I heard in my head, this Level 1 ‘Basic Conversation’ is all I got.”

“Y- You idiot! If you calculate the distance between our dimensions, you should be able to awaken more skills on top of that! But just ‘Basic Conversation,’ and Level 1 at that, just isn’t possible! That doesn’t make sense at all!”

“Is it weird? I’m pretty happy. Having a basic conversation is something I never dreamed of. Really, I’m thankful. Ahh…… How many decades has it been since I’ve had a nice conversation? Is it my first time ever? Hey, having a conversation like this feels pretty nice……”

“I see…… So that’s how it is…… I get it now.”

“What?”

“Your ability to converse was always that low, Yuuki. All the transfer bonuses were used to get you out of the negatives! All the transfer bonuses were used to fill that void!”

“Filled?”

“You’re finally up to the surface with Level 1, aren’t you?”

“Level 1…… By what scale are we measuring that by?”

“You’re on the same level as the average guy.”

“Th- Thank you so much, Shion!”

Yuuki’s eyes began burning with passion.

For years, he’s been frustrated with this terrible complex.

His lack of conversation skills was…… difficult, to say the least.

But now, thanks to this mysterious power called transfer bonus, he could finally talk like a person. If Shion was there right in front of him, he might have just given him a hug.

Yuuki’s gratitude had the strength of a tsunami.

“I- I never knew such happiness could possibly exist. Thank you…… I’m so grateful you summoned me here!”

At that moment, the navigator voice ran through Yuuki’s brain.

“Skill ‘Gratitude’ has been acquired.”

As Yuuki bawled, as he used a new skill.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you! ……That’s right, what can I do for you, Shion……? If there’s anything I can do, don’t hesitate to ask. With this ‘ Basic Conversation’ skill and my newly awakened ‘Gratitude,’ I’ll do anything for you.”

“Ha, ha, hahahahaha! All my years of hard work have been wasted! I mean, The Kin of Darkness, that God of Evil, being defeated by ‘Basic Conversation’ and ‘Gratitude’? Hahahahahaha!”

Behind the phone, Shion made the laugh of a broken man.

“Hey, don’t laugh. I might awaken a whole bunch of other skills……”

“It matters not. I’m such an idiot…… Hahaha…… Haha.”

Shion had closed his heart.

Yuuki focused on what was practical.

“Ah, I know. What should we do about dinner?”

“There’s a cupboard in the guest room. Cafeteria’s on the lowest floor. You can ask the artificial spirit for the details. I’m going to bed. Fufufufufu……Hahaha……Haha……”

The call disconnected.

Zongoyle, who was playing the role as the telephone up until now, got up and made the bed with his claws.

As Zomgoyle readjusted the small objects in the room, Yuuki asked about the tower’s facilities and how to use them.

It was small, but there seemed to be a bath and toilet behind the tower. He would be taken there later.

“I see……” Surprisingly, it was quite the decent living environment.

The place was shrouded in darkness as there wasn’t a window in sight.

Troubled by magic, Zomgoyle showed him how to operate the lighting.

“This is off. This is on. Do you understand?”

“Yeah.”

“I must prepare dinner. Please wait here.”

Zomgoyle left the guest room.

Yuuki took off his safety shoes from Sugukuru Delivery Center and laid in bed. He started to get comfortable on these sheets that were clean as can be.

　＊

A little while later, Zomgoyle’s voice echoed through the guest room’s magical speaker.

“Dinner is ready. Please come down.”

“Sure thing.”

Leaving the guest room in his safety shoes, he headed down a few floors to the cafeteria.

Yuuki arrived at the front door, reading “Cafeteria/Second Crystal Chamber” on the nameplate.

He opened the door.

“Oh, something smells good.”

There was an appetizing scent in the room.

In the center, was a clothed table suited for six people.

There were several grilled dishes lined up, all for Yuuki.

“Here. Right here.”

The apron wearing Zomgoyle pulled out a chair.

Yuuki picked up his knife and fork as Zomgoyle watched.

It seemed cutlery dishes were the same both here and in Yuuki’s world.

On the other hand, there was one dish steaming Yuuki had never seen before.

Paying no mind, Yuuki stuffed the mysterious meat and vegetables in his mouth.

“……Hm?”

“How is it?”

“I- It’s delicious!”

Surprisingly, it had a very home-y taste.

Each bite was filled with happiness, as Yuuki stuffed his stomach.

Expressing his joy, Yuuki kept mumbling as he couldn’t put down his knife and fork.

“Incredibly delicious!”

“I don’t have feelings,” stated Zomgoyle, who seemed to be a bit happy, even so.

“Oh yeah, where’s Shion?”

“Still feeling ill in bed. Shion will not eat.”

“What an idiot, missing out on a feast like this. Fuu…… Thanks for the food. It was delicious. Seriously, thanks.”

Putting down his knife and fork, Yuuki heard a voice in his head.

“Skills ‘Basic Conversation’ and ‘Gratitude’ have leveled up.”

A great sense of joy filled Yuuki’s heart.

One last time, Yuuki thanked Zomgoyle.