Got Dumped and Became a Nerf Ability User

Episode 90: Back to Daily Life

– Paat!

As Irlya and I escaped, the Gate closed behind us.

“Oh, oh… Is this the world you live in? You really are a person from another world.”

“That’s right, it’s not a lie.”

“Then does that mean I have become a person from this world?”

“That’s how it is.”

“Hoho… That’s kind of cool.”

I turned my head to look up at the sky.

It was just the night sky outside, different from what I had seen in Violet’s mansion; it seemed to possess a serene elegance with a relaxed stillness.

‘… It actually seems similar, though.’

I glanced around.

‘Has Harin gone back first to report to the Association President?’

There was no sign of her anywhere.

The only proof that someone had passed by was the footprints in the snow, answering my thoughts.

“The air here feels much colder than where I used to live.”

Despite being quite late at night, the scattered stars in the darkness illuminated the snow-covered ground, sparkling like tiny diamonds.

From this mountain, I could see the streets of the city all at once.

The sharp cold from the steadily falling snow and the eerie stillness made me feel alive, awakening my sense of reality and confirming that I had truly returned.

One peculiar thing was that, unlike other Gates, I felt a mysterious sensation when emerging, as if space and time had intertwined, broadening my senses.

It wasn’t the most pleasant experience.

And somehow, an unknown book was now in my hand.

This must be… a reward for clearing the quest.

‘It was definitely said to be a book filled with secrets.’

“Guide me to your residence.”

I felt Irlya’s cold hand touch mine.

I decided to return home first to check.

**********

Before I knew it, December was nearly over.

At first, I thought I had been in the Gate for quite a long time.

Therefore, after coming out with Irlya, I wanted to check right away if I had any missed messages…

But lost in the joy of leaving the Gate, I hadn’t checked at all.

Nevertheless, it wasn’t really a problem.

Because… I, Han Shiwoo, had not received a single call on my smartphone until now.

‘I’m fine…’

I hadn’t seen Harin during that time either, and I hadn’t received any contact from the Golden Rule side… So, I was living my life like usual, shopping for a week’s worth of food and necessities at the mart and coming home.

Since I went to the mart near the Association, I had to remember to drink the potion that changes my appearance.

Irlya was at home, and initially, she seemed frustrated but was getting along well.

She had casually pulled out one of my white t-shirts to wear, and it was so big that it looked like a dress on her.

Irlya, who had always worn high-end attire, had said to me, “Is this all the clothing you have?”

The ‘book filled with secrets’ that I received after going through the difficult quest wouldn’t open.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t unlock it.

Could it be that there was something more I needed to do?

“I’m so annoyed because my shopping basket is full…”

【Should I help you?】

“Don’t talk to me. What if I slip on the snow? And what do you think the people around here would think if you helped me?”

【They’d think you have a wizard helping you.】

“There’s no way there’s such magic.”

I grumbled as I arrived at my front door.

I typed in the door lock password and entered the house.

“Irlya, I’m back.”

I headed straight for the living room first.

In this small studio, I couldn’t see where Irlya was hiding.

– Excuse me…!!

A faint voice came from the bathroom.

“Irlya?”

I unpacked my things and slowly approached the bathroom door.

– Please let go of this…!!

That voice wasn’t Irlya’s, but another woman’s.

However, there was no need to think about whose voice it was.

“Harin?”

– Oh? That white-haired one, even though you look like that, you have a decent pretty red color here… No, is it pink?

– Four? D-Don’t say such things about me…! What’s wrong with how I look?! And don’t tell Siwoo when he arrives!

– Even hard… Are you excited? About my hand skills.

– Eek! What are you doing right now? Don’t touch that…!

– Compared to the soft ones, isn’t the end too hard?

– How would I know about that?!

– Hmm… If I keep growing later, will I get more fat on my chest?

– I didn’t want to grow that way! And what is this about first meeting…!

Their conversation traveled through the wall, and I had no choice but to pretend not to listen.

【Oh… What on earth are they doing?】

‘You don’t seem to be asking out of ignorance…’

【Want to interrupt?】

‘… What are you talking about?’

I honestly pondered it for a moment.

– No, that’s not it… I was going to say that this area should certainly be white too—

– I’ve never heard in my life that that part was white, not even skin color, you know?!

【That part… Judging by their conversation, are they not talking about the bump at the tip?】

“Puh!”

– Eek! Oh, you’ve arrived… What should we do? First of all, don’t keep holding it and let go of this hand…

– Hey… It can’t be helped now…

– What, what can’t be helped…?

– Then how about just revealing everything embarrassing to greet?

– I absolutely refuse!… Please give me my clothes back!…

– Boring.

**********

“… What were you doing?”

Harin and Irlya walked out of the bathroom.

Fortunately, Harin was properly dressed.

“I just came back after reporting… By the way, who are you, child? I feel like I’ve heard your voice before… Were you perhaps taking care of a lost child?”

“Ah… She is…”

“Wait, my dear. I’ll explain.”

Irlya stepped forward, blocking my way dramatically.

“Listen well, O blind one who cannot see the front. My name is Irlya Violet. The Violet surname no longer has meaning, so you can just call me Irlya if you wish.”

“I…rlya?”

Harin tilted her head.

“What’s wrong? Is the name strange? Don’t react too much. We have done everything in the bathroom, haven’t we?”

“That, that’s what we said we wouldn’t talk about!”

“Wa haha! How amusing, O white one. Coming to this world through a passage known as a Gate was a good choice.”

“You came out of the Gate?”

“That’s right.”

“Were you perhaps a hunter in this world who got trapped inside a Gate?”

Harin clutched her head and said.

“I am a person who crossed over from another world to this side, you know… Isn’t that cool?”

“It seems like you really liked that nickname.”

I said, looking at Irlya.

Noticing my gaze, Irlya suddenly gave a sly smile.

“Indeed… to continue explaining about myself, I am Siwoo’s attendant and… play the role of fiancée.”

“Fi-fiancee…?!”

Harin responded with a trembling voice.

“Ah… The engagement was almost forced…”

Irlya observed my reaction and then covered her sly smile with her neatly curled left hand.

“But you directly placed a ring on my left hand’s ring finger, did you not?”

“… You told me to just say goodbye and come back… and here you are with a hook attached…”

Harin’s shaking fists, visibly trembling in front of my eyes, seemed quite dangerous.

【Ah… Aren’t we in big trouble?】

“Um… there seems to be a misunderstanding.”

“Did you really place a ring on her left ring finger?”

“Yeah… that’s true, but…”

“But?”

Experiencing the situation directly made my head spin.

I couldn’t think of how to escape this situation.

“Well… um… I had no choice.”

“Oh… You had no choice?”

“I don’t know how to explain this.”

“I also have no idea how to educate you. That child… No, Lady Irlya seems rather young. Do you really like that young girl? Are you a pedophile?”

Harin’s words were speeding up.

“Calm down… It’s not what you think.”

“Calm down? Do you think you can calm down in this situation?”

“O white one, I am not a child. I’ve lived for over a hundred years.”

“… You sound like a longevity race. But that’s not important right now, is it, Lady Irlya?”

“Wa haha! O white one’s reaction is so amusing. This ring is actually not an engagement ring. For some reason, I was destined to be lonely and lose my life in our collapsing domain… but thanks to this ring, I was able to escape that world.”

“That, that’s what I was trying to say.”

I interjected into Irlya’s explanation.

“In other words, this ring is like a lifesaver for me.”

Irlya struck a confident pose with her hands on her hips.

“Then, why was it on your left ring finger? Did it have to be that finger?”

“Oh, it seems that if it’s not on the left ring finger, the effect doesn’t activate.”

【Hmm… Wouldn’t it have been better if you never put it on there in the first place?】

‘Please just shut up.’

“Then… are you going to grant me something too?”

“Uh, right now…”

Wait.

What happens if I say there’s nothing?

I experienced a chilling sensation down my spine in that instant.

It didn’t feel good.

“Ah, no, I mean… can you fulfill a wish?”

【That’s a bit cliché, isn’t it? I would have been disappointed.】

Chaewon said while playing with Irlya’s hair.

“Wish… will you truly grant any wish?”

“Yeah… as long as it’s not something troublesome?”

“Then I would like to borrow your 24 hours.”

“I’ll borrow my day?”

“Yes. It means I will possess you for 24 hours.”

“Then what are you going to do with me for a day?”

“This wish… I’ll use it tomorrow. Please look forward to it.”

Harin stood up and walked toward the front door.

“Are you leaving now?”

“I’d like to see you in front of the Association by 8 AM tomorrow. We’ll go on a date.”

“Um… Okay, I got it.”

“Of course, I’m sure you’ll be there, but just in case I’ll tell you this.”

“What is it?”

Harin returned to me.

Then, she leaned in and whispered into my ear.

“Btw, leave Irlya behind and come alone… If you bring her, I won’t let it slide.”

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