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

Chapter 05: Talking to Shion

On the top floor of the dark magic tower, in the Seventh Crystal Chamber, Yuuki stared at Shion.

Shion’s red eyes showed a strong killing intent. However, he stopped pushing Yuuki towards the gate.

“Fufu, so you’ve finally angered me. I was going to apply defensive magic before you went back, but I changed my mind.”

In this tense atmosphere, his voice was calm.

Yuuki took one step forward and responded.

“You shouldn’t speak so calm when you’re mad.”

However, Shion did not show any anger.

“Fufu. Controlling one’s emotions is a mage’s second nature, after all. Be thankful. If I couldn’t do that much, you’d be burned to a crisp by my magic by now. With this.”

At that moment, Shion’s black robe burned with an aura. An aura that held the prominence of the sun itself.

While being pressed against that fearsome pressure, Yuuki argued.

“I thought magic was scarce. Are you sure you want to waste it?”

At that moment, the navigation voice ran through his head.

“Skill ‘Debate’ has been acquired.”

“………”

Learning such dangerous skills like “Rude Language” or “Debate,” this skill system must have been broken.

However, I could use “Debate” at a time like this.

I could make a deal with Shion with this.

Because……

“I…… don’t want to go back. At least, not now.”

“Please understand. There’s no point in you being here. I want you to go back.”

“Let’s make this a win-win relationship. I’m sorry about being rude.”

“I certainly would like a mutually beneficial relationship. However, there’s no benefit in guy who has foolish desires like ‘picking up girls.’”

“Foolish?”

“Yes, foolish. It’s incredibly stupid. Wanting to pick up girls.”

“You’re 20 years younger than me. How would you understand that?”

“I understand just fine. Picking up girls is stupid.”

“And why? What’s stupid about picking up girls!?”

“Seizing the human heart. I can master that kind of low level magic. If I just recite some spells, I can make anyone bend down to my will.”

“Th- That’s amazing. Hey, teach me that kind of magic!”

“……Fufu. In the end, humans are but machines with no will of their own. No matter how beautiful they may appear, their true nature is like a clay doll. Even if you manipulate them, there’s nothing to be gained. So it’s stupid. Do you get me?”

Yuuki didn’t mean to get into such a philosophical argument. He tried going for a different approach.

“Ah, that’s right. Let’s be friends!”

“Friends? That’s something that only holds with with people on the same level.”

“Is my level too low?”

“If you’re an ant, I am an elephant. Elephants who know their own size would never befriend an ant.”

“Alright. Yeah, being friends is kind of weird, so let’s forget that. But still, I’m not going back. I- I- I know. I’ll cook you some dishes from my world. Do you know about tonkatsu……? It’s derived from katsudon…… It’ll shock you, how good it tastes.”

“I’ll pass. My body has no need for low level needs like eating or drinking.”

“I see. So that’s how it is. I thought this tower was lacking facilities for basic human needs.”

“That artificial spirit spent years building you a bath and toilet. Was it of any use?”

“Y- Yeah. It was a nice bath…… He’s a good guy.”

As Yuuki said that, he heard a noise behind the door.

It seemed that Zomgoyle was listening in.

“Fufu……”

Shion laughed a little and at sat down on the wooden chair by the altar.

　＊

Shion’s face, in the light of the dimensional gate, seemed rather tired.

He sat on the chair, relaxed his shoulders, and spoke again.

“……I summoned you as a last resort. I thought a summonee with some sort of strength could at least create a barrier against the Kin of Darkness.”

“…………”

“I lost that bet, so you don’t have to feel responsible. In the first place, no matter how strong of a summonee, the tower would collapse in 10 days. I don’t think any summonee could defeat the Kin of Darkness without the dark tower’s support. There was never any winning in this bet I made.”

“Hey, hey, 10 days? I thought you couldn’t live without the tower.”

Shion let out a smile.

“There’s a dream-like aspect to transferring from another world. The ultimate technique a mage of darkness can perform, miraculously shaking the truth of the world. I inherited this sacred art from the first master of this dark tower, Master Exedos’s lineage. Exedos saved this world with his summonee.”

“Oh, nice.”

“However, the tower masters of the following generations were all killed their summonees.”

“Seriously?”

“It actually scared me too. LIke my predecessors, I was prepared to be killed by you and his acquired skills.”

“…………”

“However, you are harmless. So harmless…… So kind…… That’s why I’m sending you back home. After that, I’ll clean up without complaint here. Yes…… This is how it should be. This is actually a good ending, as dark mages are destined to meet cruel fates.”

“…………”

Yuuki felt a calm sad feeling within the transfer room.

It seemed the mage known as Shion was at his limit.

Anyone who knows that feeling of loss can not continue.

He felt bad for Zomgoyle, but he thought he should go. Back home.

Yuuki put his hand on Shion’s shoulder.

“I’ll leave the defensive magic to you. The boxes at Sugukuru are heavier than they look. Just give me the best defensive magic you go, alright?”

“Of course. Let’s do this then.”

Shion got up from the chair and drew magical patterns in the air with the objects on the altar. From his mouth came a spell.

A few centimeters outside of Yuuki’s body, a thin layer of light appeared.

“This should be fine. In the next while, even if you were stabbed by a blade, you’ll come out unhurt. You can even resist magic, and it’ll be impossible to undo by anyone less skilled than me.”

“That sounds good.”

Yuuki turned his back to Shion.

One step, then two, he got closer to the dimensional gate.

Within the gate, he could see his home world.

Sugukuru Delivery Center.

He really didn’t want to go back to work.

However, now, he had his basic conversation skill.

If he used this, he might even be able to get into customer service.

If he got a part time job, he could get a present for his parents.

“Alright……”

Yuuki tried to pass through the gate.

But…… on the way, his foot went back.

“……Actually, I changed my mind. I won’t go back.”

“Are you still going on about that? I’ll push you in with force if I have to.”

Yuuki used the small items on the altar and created a magical force that hit Yuuki.

However Yuuki, using defensive magic, managed to disable it.

“Ah……”

Shion let out a surprised voice.

Unable to follow up, it seem Shion could not cancel the effect.

“Whatever. This is fine.”

Although Yuuki didn’t plan it, it felt like things were going in his direction.

In his mind, Yuuki once again heard the navigation voice.

“Skill ‘Go With the Flow’ has been acquired.”

Yuuki, going with the flow of the situation, headed to the door leading to the spiral staircase.

As soon as he put his hand on the doorknob, the door swung open, Zomgoyle jumping in.

Zomgoyle, who claimed to have no emotions, hugged Yuuki while jumping up and down.

“I’ll be in your hands for a while. My regards.”

Yuuki, leaving that message behind and looking back, went down the stairs with Zomgoyle, jumping by his side.