The Corner Room Hikikomori Moca Mellow
The Corner Room Hikikomori Moca Mellow.
It has finally begun.
The 「Moca Mellow」 conquest.
The Magic Tower Lord 「Beatrice」 left me a brief message along with her address.
— That girl, I can never hear it from words. I locked it with triple magic locks on the door too. So, use this…….
I reread the contract Beatrice gave me once more.
On the heavy parchment heavy with magical power, harsh content was written.
------
[ Magic Tower Command ]
Recipient: Moca Mellow
According to the command of the Magic Tower Lord 「Beatrice」 of 「Arche」, you are to faithfully respond to the interview with the Holy See dispatched counselor and receive mental treatment.
If you refuse, the following restrictive measures will immediately take effect.
1. Total freeze of research funds and suspension of payments.
2. Permanent revocation of magic engineering network access rights.
3. Prohibition of use of all shops in the city of Arche.
------
“Truly, she's ruthless……”
Beatrice clicked her tongue and handed over the parchment with the red seal.
It wasn't just heavy magical power, but the weight of the content was significant.
In particular, the three restrictions that would be imposed if counseling is refused.
This was no different from the end of her happy hikikomori life.
Staying inside the house without coming out was thanks to the enormous funds named "research funds".
The prohibition on purchasing goods was a clear and powerful statement that even delivery food couldn't be ordered.
Most importantly, the magic engineering network revocation.
Slitting the internet line was like declaring to cut the oxygen respirator from a corner room shut-in.
'No matter what, by taking such a strong measure, it means she really cares about her little sister.'
Thinking this, as I moved, Penril stopped abruptly.
Krrruung────!
If I had walked this vast city on foot, it would have taken at least an hour.
Thanks to Penril, I arrived comfortably.
There's no separate national rice or anything.
The place I arrived at was a shabby house located deep in an alley.
「Moca Mellow」 seemed to have chosen a one-room hideout instead of a luxurious mansion despite being affiliated with the Magic Tower.
“......Thank you for your hard work.”
I stroked the machine Penril and canceled the summoning.
There was no proper parking spot anyway.
As I climbed the narrow stairs, a single door placed alone came into view.
But it wasn't a normal door.
Purple magical power leaking from between the door gaps.
And warning signs stuck all over the door like wallpaper.
[Beware of the fierce dog (no dogs)]
[Prohibited entry for peddlers]
[Do you know the way? Refuse]
[If you knock, I curse.]
Harsh phrases representing the owner's closed and twisted personality.
Indeed, as Beatrice said, it was not someone who could be heard with words.
I took a light breath and knocked on the door.
Knock, knock.
“Excuse me, are you there?”
......
No reaction. No, more precisely, there was a sense of presence.
From inside the door, there was a sound of something tumbling hurriedly, and it was clear that they were holding their breath.
'Hmm...... Trying to ignore me?'
It was natural to be on guard since a strange man had come.
So, I had a trump card prepared.
I took out 「Iron Bag」 from my inventory.
It was some junk bought cheaply at the PT store, but it would be useful at this moment.
I don't know if delivery culture has settled in this world, but I saw paper containers piled in the trash heap I saw on the way.
She definitely knows 「delivery」.
I curled the corner of my mouth and knocked on the door again.
With a smoky tone in my voice.
“Are you there? Delivery has come~”
─ ………
Reaction was minimal.
I pressed the point with one more knock.
Clang, clang.
“Aren't you going to eat? I'm leaving it?”
─ Ah, ahueueue...... W, wait a sec!
The effect was direct.
From inside, there was a noisy sound of things tumbling, and hurried footsteps approached.
Finally, with a bad sound of creaking, the door opened slightly.
“......I clearly told you to leave it in front of the door. Why......?”
A voice like crawling.
Whether she protested or not, I didn't miss the chance and opened the door wide.
“Haha! Sorry. Because there's service.”
“Ah, ahueueue......! W, who the hell are you?!”
The tone was old-fashioned, but her appearance was truly a genuine 「hikikomori」.
The strange air rushing in from the open door gap.
It wasn't just dirty or rotten stench.
The smell of old bookstore paper, strong coffee aroma.
And...... a sweet yet slightly salty body odor mixed with the closed room's smell.
But the eyes reacted first, not the nose.
“U, uue...... W, who are you asking......?!”
It seemed like she was speaking strongly, but the small voice seemed to crawl more as it went on.
Moca Mellow, the owner who opened the door by mistake.
Her defenseless figure filled my vision.
Her jet-black hair was unkempt as if not washed for days, and her pale cheeks were flushed red with sweat beads forming.
Most of all, it was her clothing that stole the gaze.
“…….”
A thin white t-shirt that looked small in size.
Overwhelming volume that even Elara and Ruby Scarlet couldn't refuse.
Through the thin cloth soaked with sweat and transparent, the colors of her skin were clearly visible.
The heavy breasts that swelled so much that one thin cloth couldn't hold, swayed up and down with each breath she took, showing her presence.
The neck line that had descended to below the collarbone, revealing a deep valley, was what she was doing inside the room just now.
Looking down, short dolphin pants that exposed the thighs came into view.
More than health, the pale thighs that were unnaturally white because they didn't see sunlight trembled.
She seemed unaware of how stimulating her appearance was.
Just scared of the intrusion of a strange man, with teary eyes looking up at me.
“Truly, impolite......! Why are you staring so intently......!”
She tried to cover her chest with both arms belatedly, but the voluptuous volume only made it more prominent against the arms.
“Q, quickly give me the food......!”
─ Chijijijik.
├─ Tier 1:Basic ability ✓
├─ Tier 2:Enhanced ability ✓
└─ Tier 3:New ability — UNLOCKED ★
With Lv.3, the ability became even sharper.
Instead of the color of the aura, intuitive keywords suitable for the situation floated in the air.
[Anxiety]
[Fear]
Two emotions swirled, and soon the [Fear] keyword began to fade.
At the same time, thanks to the heroine's special skill 「Truth in the Ashes」 of 「Ruby Scarlet」, which calms the heroine's emotional outburst just by contact.
I pretended to be calm, and shook the iron bag in my hand.
My gaze fixed on her wet t-shirt...... no, on her trembling eyes.
“Ah, you should eat later. Today is not delivery, but counseling.”
“D, delivery......? Who the hell are you?!”
“Let me formally introduce myself.”
I put down the iron bag and held the Holy See ID card right in front of her nose.
“Holy See dispatched counselor, 「Aris Mardia」. I will be your dedicated counselor from now on.”
“......I, I have no sick place. J, just go......”
─ Chijijijik.
Once again, the wave of agitation was transmitted.
It seemed quite burdensome.
If I forced my way in here, it would only backfire.
I pretended to be troubled and scratched my cheek.
“Oh dear, oh dear...... What to do? Just going is difficult.”
“If you don't leave this place...... I, I won't stay still!”
“I also want to go as you said, Moca Mellow. Especially since the Magic Tower Lord gave this to me.”
“......?”
Swish─────.
I placed the parchment with the red seal on her trembling hand.
「Moca Mellow」 read the contract for a while, and her eyes shook uneasily, as if not believing.
“......T, is this really from Master Beatrice?”
“Yes, unfortunately, it is so.”
“......Hah.”
Once again, Psychological Insight read her inner self.
[Anxiety] and [Irrationality]
She had been hiding in the corner room instead of the outside world, but if counseling is refused, support funds, internet, even purchasing goods would be blocked.
There could be no bigger shock than this for her.
“…….”
“For now, I will step back. But if you refuse counseling, I will report and leave this city. I will come back tonight, so decide by then.”
It was the best to step back now.
All decisions would be made tonight.
If she refuses, her life will be 「bad ending」 confirmed.
But she won't be able to refuse.
Because things equivalent to her lifeline are hanging.
I greeted Moca Mellow who was standing blankly.
“Please read it slowly...... I will wait for your wise judgment.”
“......!”
I turned my body without hesitation.
From behind, there was a sense that something was hesitating and calling me, but now is not the time to look back.
Thud, thud.
The footsteps descending the stairs echoed unusually loudly in the old corridor.
And a moment later.
Clang──────!
As expected, the sound of the door slamming shut harshly from behind came.
Then, click, click, chururuk.
Even the magical lock was locked with triple, quadruple sounds.
It was like a desperate struggle to cut off the connection with the world.
I only laughed after descending the stairs.
“Locking it won't stop the problem......”
♣
“Haa, haa, haa......!”
As soon as the door closed, Moca Mellow leaned her back against the front door and sat down.
Her legs had given out.
Her heart was pounding as if it would break her ribs.
A strange man.
That man with eyes that strangely pierced through a person's soul.
The lingering scent he left in the narrow entrance hall made my spine chill.
But...... why?
I had never had a conversation that long with a person I saw for the first time.
Moreover, I didn't feel any disgust as much as I thought.
Instead, there was a strange sense of relief......
“Ah, a......! No, but w, what...... It's counseling....... I can't do it...... I absolutely can't do it!”
She grabbed her chest with trembling hands.
Through the thin wet t-shirt, the pounding heart was clearly transmitted to the palm.
She staggered and ran into the room as if fleeing.
Passing through the books and delivery containers piled like trash, to the only sanctuary 「Mana Board」.
「Arche」 city's unique magic engineering communication network.
A tool that combined internet and computers, indispensable for her to maintain life.
Whoong──────.
The pale blue light gushing from the monitor screen only illuminated her haggard complexion.
But the relief didn't last long.
Because of the crumpled parchment piece clenched in her hand.
[2. Magic engineering network (Web) access rights permanently revoked.]
“S, is Master really too much...... This, is this all a lie?”
Moca Mellow's pupils shook as if an earthquake had hit.
Not having money was tolerable.
The goods accumulated under the name of research funds were enough to spend lavishly even if I played and ate.
And since I usually lived on scraps of bread, I could endure this.
Not being able to buy things was okay. After all, I had no intention of going out.
But.
“T, cutting off the magic engineering network......?”
That was a death sentence.
For her, the web was not just a sea of information.
A space where she could speak freely behind the anonymity without being laughed at by others.
The only world where she could reveal her true self and be recognized.
Would she cut the connection line of such a world with scissors?
“B, is Master Beatrice really......? To me?”
She hurriedly tapped the holographic keyboard in the air.
Dadadak!
She tried to connect to the magic engineering network and check if Beatrice's contract was real.
But her hand was shaking too much, and typos kept happening.
[Connecting......]
The short time the loading bar was turning felt like an eternity.
If.
If tonight, when that man comes back and I don't open the door.
If tomorrow morning when I wake up, if the despairing message [Network disconnected] appears on this screen?
“Ah, ahueueue......”
Just imagining it, my breath was blocked.
Moca Mellow covered her head with both hands and crouched under the desk.
The sweat-soaked t-shirt stuck to her skin was unpleasant, but she didn't have time to care now.
The mind of the corner room hikikomori mage was about to burn white.
'O, tonight...... He said he would come?'
Night would come soon.
I had to make a decision.
“......Haaah, no choice......”