Hostile Entity: "You're a T? We're Done!"
My girlfriend of two years dumped me. For the most ridiculous reason imaginable.
"I've put up with it long enough. I just can't anymore."
What the hell kind of logical connection was there between me supposedly being a 'T' type and breaking up? I'd never even taken a MBTI test in the first place. It was a classic logical fallacy on her part.
I wanted to correct that twisted reasoning. And fix our relationship while I was at it.
"I've never taken a MBTI test. And I'm a very sensitive person. Labeling someone like me as a 'T'—which means logical thinking—and using that as grounds for a breakup is a blatant error."
Why was she grimacing like that at my perfectly valid point?
"You just don't get it. What you're saying right now in this situation..."
"Fuck this! Don't ever contact me again!"
On the way home after getting dumped, I brooded endlessly. Why the hell did she break up with me?
"Hmph. People are just too damn complicated."
I'm a voluntary hikikomori. Or, to put it more elegantly, an introvert pursuing a hermit lifestyle. Either way, I had a strong aversion to social interactions.
Even I, with my antisocial tendencies, felt a sudden wave of loneliness and fear when I realized I'd been dropped into some unidentified Gate instead of my original world.
But I guess I wasn't alone after all.
"People! It's the residents!"
Overjoyed, I rushed to the window and flung it wide open. Peering down, I could vaguely make out a crowd gathering and murmuring at the officetel entrance.
"Hey, over h—"
Wait a second. I stopped myself just before calling out.
How could I be sure those were the building's residents? They might be the 'hostile forces' the system mentioned.
Even if they were residents, what would I gain by pretending to know them and going downstairs right away? The system had clearly stated I was the owner of this Gate. I already had the information advantage—no need for me to head down there and mingle just to boost the headcount.
I quietly closed the window and plopped back down in my chair.
"Whatever. Let's check the monitor."
I turned my attention away from the outside world and back to the screen.
"Huh? What are these new dots?"
New dots had appeared on the monitor. Counting them up, there were 15 fresh red ones. If the yellow dots near the entrance were the residents, these red ones were approaching the building at high speed.
"What the hell are these? Scaring the shit out of me."
I hovered the mouse over one of the red dots.
They perceive weaker lifeforms as slaves or food.
These entities are hostile to you.
Wake the building managers immediately and block them.
SUCCESS: Appropriate rewards
FAILURE: Become their prey
The moment I identified them, the system's alarm blared, and a warning message flashed across my retina.
Hostile entities approaching you!
Repel the intrusion appropriately.
"Ah, fuck! Not again!"
These bastards wouldn't give me a moment's peace.
The yellow dots on the screen were probably the residents, just as I'd thought. The PC even labeled them as 'insignificant humans bundled with the building in the Outer God's Gate.'
At worst, they were at least 'people' like me. I'd initially suspected they might be hostile entities targeting me since their identities were unknown, but they weren't.
Hovering the mouse made enemies and allies crystal clear on the monitor. And the system had hammered home that the approaching red dots were 'hostile entities.' Which meant the yellow dots clustered at the entrance weren't my enemies—at least not yet.
The problem was the incoming Black Orcs. They sounded terrifying from the description alone, and the defenseless humans shivering outside wouldn't stand a chance.
No matter how much I disliked people, I couldn't just stand by and watch them get devoured right in front of me.
"Wake the managers?"
The word 'managers' immediately brought to mind that massive head stuffed in the toilet—the one who'd scammed me by saying he'd handle hot water instead of the plumbing not working. With a face like it could chomp an elephant, it probably kicked ass in a fight.
I flung open the bathroom door.
"Jangbi! You any good at fighting?"
Jangbi didn't scare me anymore. The moment I recognized him as my 'subordinate,' that horrifying appearance strangely lost its terror. It was still a bit burdensome, but... comforting, in a weird way.
At my question, Jangbi immediately perked up and fixed me with an intensely hot gaze.
"My lord! What need is there for words? This humble servant can take on a million-strong army single-handedly as your bodyguard! For my lord, I stand ready to charge into flames with faggots on my back!"
Damn, check out those lungs... A voice worthy of that enormous head—deafeningly confident. I nodded.
"Good. Then go out and deal with those Black Orcs or whatever they are."
"...That might be a bit difficult, my lord."
Where'd that bravado go? Jangbi suddenly shrank, lowering his voice meekly.
"Why?"
"This servant cannot leave the 10th floor where my lord resides. My primary duty is to defend this building's 10th floor—my lord's abode—and manage your lord's abundant cultural life."
"Aren't you the building manager?"
"I'm not the manager, my lord..."
Jangbi guiltily averted his massive eyes, peeking at me.
You have encountered your loyal subordinate, courier, nanny!
Oh yeah, the system had said something like that.
"Then can you wake the building managers?"
Jangbi mumbled, unable to even meet my eyes anymore.
"Those are entities unrelated to this servant... I don't know how I could possibly wake them..."
Useless bastard. I'd gotten my hopes up for nothing.
I headed straight back to the PC. I briefly considered asking the pervert toad in the breaker box, but she looked like she'd have negative combat power, so I scrapped the idea.
"Where do I even click?"
I sighed at the unfriendly management screen.
Four menus were active.
"Construction's locked, so the most relevant one for now is probably this."
I clicked [Race Management/Tax Settings]. Submenus cascaded down like a waterfall. I frantically searched for anything related to the building or managers.
"Found it!"
I clicked [Facilities/Managers Management] without hesitation.
My cursor hovered over [Managers: OFF]. There were tons of other options like electricity, water, waste processing, but they weren't the priority right now.
Managers were set to off, so I clicked to switch it to ON.
Managers setting changed to ON.
"Yes!"
Relief washed over me. At least I wouldn't have to watch someone get murdered in my building.
"Phew~ Hope that did it."
But my relief was short-lived. Who knew what kind of backstab this system might pull next? My neck prickled.
Still, I'd completed the mission so clearly—even a shameless world like this wouldn't screw me over again, right?
Managers awakening from hibernation.
"Huh? Why's the loading taking so long?"
The loading bar in the center of the screen crawled at a snail's pace. Getting impatient, I madly clicked the mouse, and a tiny number appeared in the corner.
30:00
"...What?"
My mind went blank. That ominous feeling was never wrong.
I hurriedly clicked the red dots approaching the building again. Their ETA flashed in red, filling my vision.
15:00
"Fuck!"
I sprang from my seat like a coiled spring. Managers would take 30 minutes to wake, but these murder machines would reach the people in just 15.
What would happen in that 15-minute gap was obvious.
"A one-sided massacre."
It's not people themselves I hate. I hate people who do shitty things. More accurately, I hate interacting with people.
No hesitation. I spun on my heel and kicked open the front door.
I had to get those people inside the building before the orcs arrived.
"These fuckers are really making my life hell!"