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

Chapter 02: Effective Use of the Dimensional Gate

In The Lost Forest, while leaning on a tree trunk, Yuuki closed his eyes.

He recalled half a day ago……

The morning of his second day in another world.

　＊

That is, shortly after he enraged Shion with his talk in the “Tower of Darkness.”

Shion’s cry echoed behind the door of the Seventh Crystal Chamber, as Zomgoyle lept onto him.

“Uwaaaaaaaaahhhh! Magic! I just need more dark magic!”

He claimed to be the ultimate mage, but he was screaming for something as unrealistic as a hundred million yen.

There seemed to be nothing he could do about the “Great Purification” exhausting the world’s “Dark Magic.”

It was ridiculous.

He couldn’t help but cry like a child for more magic, because the tower was collapsing in 10 days.

It was pitiful……

If only there was something I could do.

Though the way I am now, all I have are “Basic Conversation,” “Gratitude,” “Rude Language,” and “Debate.”

“…………”

Yuuki pretended not to have heard Shion’s cries.

At that, he headed off the cafeteria with Zomgoyle, still in her zombie gargoyle-like form.

　＊

After a while, Zomgoyle brought him breakfast on a platter at the cafeteria table.

With a colorful meal in front of him, he asked Zomgoyle about what was on his mind.

“How is Shion? Is he still in the Seventh Crystal Chamber?”

“Nah. I think he’s feeling ill in his room.”

“Oh no…… Is he running from reality?”

“That’s partially my fault,” Yuuki replied. Though feeling guilty, he tried changing the subject.

“……Hey, this asparagus-meat-thing is pretty good.”

“Thank you. They are buds picked from behind the tower. The meat is of some nightingales I caught.”

Zomgoyle’s apron was stained with freshly dried blood and feathers.

It seemed that she had killed them just recently.

“Th- Thanks.”

“It is fine. It is my job.”

Zomgoyle poured water into the unglazed cup in Yuuki’s hand.

Yuuki tilted the cup.

“Heh, herb water, huh? There’s a subtle sweet-yet-spicy flavor…… I don’t think there’s anything like this in my world, but it’s good.”

“That’s good. It is my job. But say…… What are you going to do? From here on out?”

“I’m going to town to hit on girls.”

“……Is that alright? The Dimensional Gate is still open. You can still go back home.”

“W- What’s with you……? You’re the one who wanted me to stay here, Zomgoyle.”

“I am sorry. However, I was wondering. About your future.”

Now that she mentioned it, Yuuki still had no idea what he’d do if he went back home.

Like his part time job.

He'd hate it if his three hours of blood, sweat, and tears at Sugukuru would go to waste.

“…………”

But more important than that, he was concerned about his family.

While he led an awkward lifestyle at home, being unemployed, suddenly disappearing would surely cause them to worry.

“…………”

“Yuuki, I would be very happy if you didn’t go back home. However, you should think about this carefully.”

Having heard that, Yuuki thought for a bit.

“Mm……”

Thinking about it only made him more anxious.

Staying in this world to hit on girls meant disappearing from his old world.

Wouldn’t that be crazy and irresponsible for a member of society?

“But wait…… If I cut ties with his old world, none of that really matters.”

Zomgoyle’s obsidian eyes looked at Yuuki.

Suddenly, he was hugged.

“I’m so sorry!”

“F- For what?”

“Because of me, Yuuki, you’re…… Yuuki, you’re……”

“I’m-”

“You’re throwing away your entire world…… It’s my fault. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry……!”

Yuuki felt Zomgoyle shaking, as if she were crying.

“…………”

Zomgoyle claimed to have no emotions, but was thinking about me and worried for my sake.

Not even human beings would cry this more for someone else.

“D- Don’t worry about it. I was an unemployed hikikomori. I was never any use to society. Hell, I wasn’t even a member!”

“Unemployed hikikomori? I don’t know what that means, but society is where people gather. Yuuki, you’re a fine member of society.”

“Y- Yeah?”

“Absolutely. Besides, you have a family, Yuuki.”

“I can’t make more than 30,000 yen a month. It’d be better if I didn’t have one. As of late, my little sister won’t even play games with me.”

“That’s not true. If I was a parent, I would always want a child like Yuuki at home. And if I were a little sister, I would always want to play with you.”

“Y- Yeah?”

“Absolutely. If you ever left home, I would be so sad.”

Zomgoyle, who Yuuki thought of as still a gray zombie gargoyle, began to shake again.

“I’m sorry…… I’m sorry…… It’s all my fault……”

“…………”

Yuuki, surrounded by such emotions, began to think maybe he shouldn’t disappear.

Yes…… That’s right…… Just like Zomgoyle said, I might have been a member of society after all.

After all, I did my final tax returns.

A member of society who disappeared without even a word to his parents is no good.

“…………”

In that book Yuuki once read for his affiliate sites, “Business Person: Basics of the Basics,” there were three points every members of society should protect.

Those three points were Report, Note, and Discuss.

Forgetting these rules for another world would mean throwing away his social membership.

“…………”

But he couldn’t give up on his plans for “Isekai Nanpa.” It was the first time he wanted to do something in his 35 year old life.

“…………”

Yuuki, embraced by Zomgoyle, felt those sharp claws stabbing into his back.

“Right…… My social standing and what I want to do. Maybe I can just do both……?”

No, that line of thought was too naive.

In the end, sacrifices had to be made to make one’s dreams come true.

In order to achieve this aspiration, he would have to throw away his social standing and take risks.

Though……

“I don’t want to give up either one…… Man……”

He sighed.

As Zomgoyle hugged him even tighter, Yuuki’s smartphone fell out of his pocket.

Before it could hit the floor, Yuuki managed to catch it.

It was at that moment.

A great idea flashed into Yuuki’s mind.

A groundbreaking idea that balanced both his own desires and society’s.

“…………！”

Pushing Zomgoyle’s claws away as he was about to be hugged again, Yuuki stood up.

“What is wrong?”

“I’m going to the transport room for a bit!”

Yuuki ran out of the cafeteria, and to the top floor. He headed to the The Seventh Crystal Chamber.

　＊

“Haa, haa…… I finally made it……”

Sweaty and out of breath at the top floor, Yuuki entered the Seventh Crystal Chamber.

At the Seventh Crystal Chamber/Transport room was the Dimensional Gate, still shining in all its glory. Like Zomgoyle had stated, the gate was still open for the time being.

On the other side of the Dimension Gate was Sugukuru Delivery Center.

While it was completely still earlier, at the moment, it seemed time was passing.

He could see his co-workers doing their jobs on the other side.

“Now, then……”

Yuuki looked at his smartphone in his right hand.

The phone was protected by a solar charger battery case.

He bought it earlier from Amazon to write articles for his affiliate sites.

However, this ugly case was heavy and useless when Yuuki only used it at home. It was only in another world where he finally found a use.

Yuuki, confirming this on his display, cheered.

“Hell yeah……! With this huge battery, my smartphone will be completely charged!”

Thus…… now that Yuuki confirmed his smartphone did indeed work, he gulped as he went and checked the signal.

This is another world.

Simply thinking about it, there’s no way a smartphone would work.

However, right now, he is in the Seventh Crystal Chamber with a dimensional gate opened. And on the other side of that gate was his home world, completely visible.

If he could even see the other side, the electromagnetic waves should reach.

And with those electromagnetic waves, there should be a phone connection and even wi-fi.

“……Y- Yeah! It’s coming through! The connection’s coming through!”

Yuuki leaped excitement by the dimensional gate, confirming his expectations.

His fingers trembling in front of the phone, he decided to call his workplace.

The call connected.

“Um, this is Yamada Yuuki and actually……”

“Actually, I got suddenly sick and had to leave early,” is what he told the delivery company. He got afraid of his superior might get angry.

However, the delivery company valued Yuuki’s health. Not only that, the pay was surprisingly good.

“We would ordinarily require a timecard, but it can’t be helped if that’s the case,” they replied. The pay for his three hours of work would be transferred to his account.

“Th- Thank you very much!”

Yuuki thanked his superior and ended the call. His gratitude skill level upped.

Continuing on, Yuuki called home. The call managed to connect.

“I actually found a job with housing, so I’ll be in their care. I won’t be home for a while,” is what Yuuki told his family.

Beyond the phone, beyond the dimensional gate, Yuuki’s family was worried.

It might be possible Yuuki may never see them again for all eternity.

“…………”

His home was only one step away.

He can go back to the comfort of his own room right now.

However, thinking of hitting on girls in another world, Yuuki pulled apart.

“I’ll be back with some souvenirs soon.”

I’ll go home for sure.

Just, right now, it’s isekai nanpa time……!

Yuuki hung up.

“…………”

Leaving the Seventh Crystal Chamber, he was glomped by the jumping Zomgoyle, who was waiting by the door.

Yuuki made a declaration, carefully pulling away Zomgoyle’s claws.

“We’re going to hit on girls now! Show me the way to the nearest city!”

However, it was then.

Coming from the darkness of downstairs, was the black robed mage.

The red eyed boy started to speak.

“There’s no way you can do it. Hitting on a girl, I mean.”