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

Chapter 3A: The Life Crystal

Shion, the silver haired mage, dragged his feet through the dark stairway,. In a cold voice, he went and said

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

“…………”

Zomgoyle stopped jumping, and distanced herself from Yuuki. She returned to a servant-like attitude.

However, something awakened from within Yuuki. He started being “rude” against the boy.

“Is your mental health better already? I thought you were sulking in bed.”

“Y- You…… Even if you want to hit on girls, you can’t do anything without my permission.”

It was then when Yuuki’s “Debate” skill was triggered. From Rude Language to Debate…… Yuuki had activated a combo that would bring him certain victory!

“Hmph, don’t be stupid. All I need to do is go to a place where there are people and say some words. Why would I need your permission to do something so ordinary!?”

However, Shion brushed his hair and showed an arrogant smile.

“Haha. It looks like you don’t understand a thing about this world. The reality is, without my permission, without my cooperation, you can’t make it to the city.”

“A- And why’s that?”

“Because this tower is surrounded by ‘The Lost Forest.’”

“T- The Lost Forest? And what the hell is that?”

“The Lost Forest is the Archelon Region’s symbol of terror. ‘Where bad kids are abandoned and bewitched by tree demons……’ is the tale told by parents to behave their kids.”

Yuuki smugly replied that was an overreaction.

“Ha, well that’s dumb. What kind of idiot would believe a fairy tale like that? I’m not from the Archelon Region, but the Kanto Region. More than tree demons, what I’m afraid of is my homepage PVs going down due to lack of updates!”

“PV?s W- What!?”

“So you don’t even know what PVs are.”

“I- I don’t know, but it probably has nothing to do with this. It has nothing to do with this world.”

Shion was drawn into this rhythmical conversation.

Yuuki used his skill to respond.

“What, so you’re calling PVs stupid? This is why I hate these rural isekais. In my world, what matters more than money is page views, which show how popular I am!”

It seems this debate was starting to get intense.

However, the silver haired boy went and shoke is head.

“T- This isn’t the time for this……”

“Well, yeah……”

The mage tried calming down by taking a deep breath, and then made a request.

“Yuuki…… I want you to come with me to the Second Crystal Chamber…… The Power Room.”

“Wh- Why’s that?”

“……To see if we can cooperate and build a win-win relationship. I would like to perform an experiment.”

“Experiment, you say?”

“I had an idea while I was meditating in my room. Yuuki…… As a summonee, the soul energy you possess could be converted to dark magic.”

　＊

Shion, Yuuki, and Zomgoyle head down the spiral staircase.

Halfway through, Zomgoyle separated from the two, and returned to the magic charging pedestal.

“……………”

Leaving Zomgoyle there, Shion and Yuuki went deeper down.

They passed the guest room, and the cafeteria, where Yuuki had breakfast earlier.

Finally, they reached the door with a nameplate reading “Second Crystal Chamber.”

Shion touched that door and muttered a spell.

With the sound of a click, the door opened.

“In here.”

The black robed mage entered the dimly lit room. Yuuki followed, shaking in fear.

The door closed automatically, thus making the room even darker than it was.

However, soon enough, Yuuki’s eyes got used to it, and he could see his surroundings.

The Second Crystal Chamber looked just about the same as the Seventh.

There were no windows, but a small altar in the center of the room.

There was a pedestal by the altar, and a set crystal that could be held by two fingers.

If there was a difference, it would be the room being humid and moldy.

For some reason, there was a dark curtain hung on all four sides of the wall. It seemed to amplified the moldy smell.

Yuuki felt the need to throw up.

“Isn’t this place kind of gloomy? It stinks of mold too.”

“Fufu…… I suppose you don’t understand the great potential this Crystal Chamber holds.”

“Yeah, I don’t know, so explain it to me. What kind of power does that crystal on the altar have? I know the top floor had that dimensional gate.”

“The Second Crystal Chamber is a storage place for dark magic. It stocks the magical power we take from the Earth.”

“But because of the “Great Purification,” it can’t be taking in much.”

“You’re catching on. After the Great Purification, this tower has barely absorbed anything. The dark magic of this world is fading day by day. As a result, the Second Crystal Chamber has been out of service for a while. That’s why…… I want you to take a look at this.”

Shion removed the dark curtain from the wall.

“What’s that? Ivy……?”

“Yes…… It’s ‘Magic Reserve Ivy.’”

The wall of the second crystal chamber was tightly covered with a thick ivy.

But looking closer, that ivy was dehydrated and cracked. It might crumble if it was touched.

Shion pointed to the crystal on the small altar.

“The ivy on the wall…… This ‘Magic Reserve Ivy” works with this “Life Crystal” to store magic.

I see…… But isn’t it pretty dry?”

“Nice observation. Yes, that’s right. The problem is there hasn’t been any new flow in magical energy. It will die at this rate. And once it does, the tower will collapse, awakening the Kin of Darkness and ending the world.”

“Hm. Sounds bad.”

“But I realized. To prevent the tower from collapsing and the Kin of Darkness from awakening, we can save the world with a new source of magical energy.”

“Where can we get it?”

“You will be our new source of magic, Yuuki.”

“……Ha? Hey, I can’t even use magic.”

“I know that. You don’t even have the smallest hint of magical power. However, you do have strength in your soul, as a summonee. Please chant, within the depths of your heart, “Surplus Soul Power Check.”

Yuuki said it with his heart.

“Surplus Soul Power Check.”

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

“You currently hold a bit of ‘Surplus Soul Power.’”

“It seems I have ‘a bit.’”

“Great. Then we’ve opened some possibilities.”

“Hey, what even is ‘Soul Power’?”

“Soul Power, or Soul Energy, is rises from within by the desires in your heart. Under normal circumstances, you would use it to acquire new skills.”

“Hm.”

“However, there is also Soul Power within that remains intangible. That is ‘Surplus Soul Power.’”

“What is it good for?”

“Ordinarily, nothing. Intangible Soul Power isn’t compatible and can’t be processed into skills. It remains unexposed.”

“Then what do we do about that?”

“Fufu…… I have a request. Please hold this ‘Life Crystal’ in your hand.”

“S- Sure.”

Shion placed the crystal from the altar into Yuuki’s hand. It emanated a warm orange light.

“This crystal is capable of absorbing all kinds of power, converting them to an easy to use form. ……Make sure not to drop it.”

It felt cold at first, but squeezing it harder in response to Shion’s words, a strange warmth spread spread across Yuuki’s body.

“Now, sit right here.”

Shion pulled the chair from beside the altar.

Yuuki sat down.

“Now close your eyes.”

“…………”

Yuuki closed his eyes.

“Now then…… Yuuki. May I drain a bit of your ‘Surplus Soul Power’ into this ‘Life Crystal’?

Yuuki said “No.”

“Skill ‘Denial’ has been acquired.”

“I’m begging you here. We’re experimenting. Draining a pinch of your ‘Surplus Soul Power’ into the crystal won’t affect you in the slightest.”

“……Fine, I got it.”

Giving his consent, Shion wrapped Yuuki’s right hand into both of his.

Yuuki felt the warmth from the crystal in his hand increase.

Covered in warmth with his eyes closed, Yuuki fell asleep.

Before dropping the crystal onto the floor, Shion caught it.

“Great, the experiment was a success. It’s not much, but…… we may just have found a way to prevent the end of the world.”