v1c1 part1 (2/2)

(But well, a mirror is something that is troublesome to sell through auction. It’s fragile. Most importantly, I don’t think a mirror like this would be useful)

As I was thinking so, I casually touched the mirror’s surface with my finger.

No. To be more precise, I tried to touch it but I wasn’t able to.

My fingers went through it when I tried touching the surface.

And—-I lost my balance due to the shock, causing me to fall towards, or rather, into the mirror——

“O…O-ouch……….Nn? Eh?” [Jirou]

How did I end up in this unfamiliar looking room built out of stone?

No, I was able to distinguish the surrounding only to a bare minimum with the help of the flashlight. It’s a room that is completely devoid of lights.

Gripped with fear, I looked back in a hurry to find the same mirror as the one in the storehouse earlier behind me. The storehouse in which I was at just now was reflected in the mirror.

“Wh-….What is going on here…?” [Jirou]

There shouldn’t be anyone answering me even if I was to ask this aloud. It would actually be scary if there were.

When I tried looking around, I realized that the room was indeed built of stone. There appears to be a wooden door leading outside and a wooden box in this room.

The original storehouse in which I was at was still reflected in the mirror. No, if this were a mirror, the reverse image of this room would be reflected in the mirror instead. In other words, this is not a mirror. But, it is a mirror………. I wasn’t able to collect my thoughts properly due to the confusion.

I tried touching the surface gently again but, as expected my fingers couldn’t come in contact with it. They just slipped right through the surface.

Ehh….in other words, this is…

“The world inside the mirror…..?” [Jirou]

I became anxious the moment I came to that idea. Can I go back? What should I do if I can’t go back?

I leaped through the mirror right away to the other side.

*crash* I ended up sending the items scattering all over the storehouse. I have returned.

When I looked around, I brought my hand onto my chest, breathing a sigh of relief as I managed to return safely.

There was nothing but a black image reflected in the mirror again. However, if that was indeed another world then the stone room should be projected in the mirror.

“But, well, what should I do….” [Jirou]

I went outside once to take in a lungful of fresh air so I could sort out my thoughts.

I understood it well that something that seemed impossible has happened.

“Well now…what should I seriously do now….” [Jirou]

…….The only thing that I can say is that, this mirror can definitely sell for an amazingly high price! That was the only conclusion that I have drawn……..

After graduating from high school, I have failed in looking for employment so I ended up becoming a NEET for nearly two years.

That being said, it doesn’t mean that I wasn’t capable of looking for a job anymore. I did wind up joining the black company thoughtlessly, getting myself mentally and physically drained before I resigned —-that was all.

Nevertheless, I lost all my motivation to work after I left. The only thing I did was just lazing around by confining myself indoor. However, I was aware that this lifestyle cannot go on forever.

Thereupon I came across and bought a book ent.i.tled, ‘Lucrative Side Business! A monthly income of 300,000 yen from just net auctions!’ Following what was stated in the book, I decided to sell second-hand books and used tools through internet auction. I ended up obtaining a huge profit from them and…….from there on, was how I started living my life.

Fortunately, a weekly flea market would be held in the neighbourhood. I managed to purchase decent goods from the local shrine’s flea market and increased my revenue in auctions more than what I expected. Halfway through, I became fascinated by it and it was not an exaggeration to say that half of the reason was as a hobby and half of it was for money.

Originally, due to my strong materialistic desire, there were times when I developed deep attachment to the items purchased since I have good judgement when it comes to selecting items. Nonetheless, I ended up selling all the items at a really high price so it might sound conceited to say that I was rather talented in it. Well, on the other hand, I did wind up purchasing unnecessary things unintentionally too so, it wasn’t actually a huge profit all in all.

Still, even though I was able to obtain quite a reasonable profit during the first year, more and more people started earning money the same way. I had always thought that I was the only one doing something like this, but I was actually the only one amongst many in this kind of business.

At any rate, that was the reason why it has become increasingly harder to stock up on products now.

Items that are difficult to be acquired like antiques aside, there has been an increase in the number of new young patrons for the flea market or second-hand bookstores. It is common scene now to see all those young people going over the market rate of each items with their mobile phones before making their purchases.

Frankly speaking, it will no longer be a walk in the park to run this business and acquire even an average income.

Well, life is not a bed of roses for one who secluded himself in his room most of the time other than s.h.i.+pping the auctioned items out…….

That is why—–the discovery of a mirror that leads to another world looks far more tempting than anything else. Especially for one like me who is currently living in anxiety and uncertainty.

Hence I approached baa-chan to convey my interest in that mirror and loaded it into the car carefully so as not to break it. (There were occasions when I have to deal with fragile items so cus.h.i.+oning was already readied in the car)

“This mirror seems strange but, do you happen to know anything about it?” [Jirou]

Even when I tried asking baa-chan, it appears that she hasn’t got a clue of when she even obtain it. The mirror might be something that was acquired by jii-chan 4 but there was no possible way to confirm it since jii-chan has pa.s.sed away a long time ago.

After about an hour drive from baa-chan’s house, I finally arrived at a single-family detached home (SFR) belonging to the Ayase family in the residential district. It is a newly built property that was bought by my parents with a 35-year mortgage loan after years of saving. The place is slightly small, at about 30 square meters.

Yeah. I’m living with my parents. I might be what people referred to as ‘parasite’.

Having no job as an excuse, all I did was just covering the slight cost for food. I’m a 21-year old NEET who is living off my parents. I do have an older brother and sister but both had already left the house.

It couldn’t be helped that I became a parasite. Being the youngest in the family, I was always spoiled as a child……..

Once I get myself a job, I would either contribute to the household expenses or leave the house. Until then, it was my hope that they would be able to look after me for a little while longer…..

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