When My Doorbell Rang at 5am, I Got a Wife

Chapter 26: Invisible Efforts

…

“Nn…”

Even though I was sound asleep, I suddenly woke up for some reason.

I didn’t have to go to the bathroom, and I hadn’t slept enough.

I could go back to sleep anytime I wanted.

But I noticed that there was a slight light leaking from the gap between the kitchen and the room.

(Could it be a burglar?!)

I first thought that, but then I remembered.

Erika, who should have been sleeping with me after having sex, was not there.

(So it’s probably Erika in the kitchen.)

(But what is Erika doing in the kitchen in the middle of the night? Is she eating a midnight snack because she’s hungry?)

Suddenly, the old tale of “The Crane’s Gratitude” came to mind.

The crane, which came to repay the favor to the dull protagonist, wove beautiful fabrics and made the protagonist wealthy.

However, the crane, whose true form as a crane was seen while weaving the fabric, which she had said not to look at, left the protagonist, saying she could no longer stay.

“But in my case, I haven’t been told not to look or anything…”

I wonder what she’s doing secretly. It’s really intriguing.

I don’t know if it’s right to secretly peek, but I guess curiosity won!

I approached the door that separates the kitchen and the room, creeping silently, and peered into the kitchen through the small gap.

As expected, Erika was there, struggling with unfamiliar movements as she operated the smartphone and muttered to herself.

“Hmm, this is a desktop computer, and this is a notebook computer. This is a tablet…? This is a smartphone, and this is a flip phone…? The portable phone has evolved into a portable computer! This is completely different!”

“Um, this is a TV, right? I know this. But this is a monitor? At first glance, I can’t tell the difference. What’s the difference between a TV and a monitor? Can you watch Abema TV on a monitor? This ‘TV’ means television… right?”

Erika peered at the smartphone screen and mumbled in a small voice, probably to organize her thoughts.

(What is she doing? Is she studying about computers?)

“Hmm, what is this… hmm… hmm… so, the one that can watch NHK is a TV, and the one that can’t is a monitor. Those arrogant NHK people! I can’t forgive them! Please consider the feelings of people who are desperately trying to learn in a different world! Because of you, the distinction is so strange!”

Erika, who skillfully got angry in a small voice, quickly returned to a serious tone.

“Oops, I shouldn’t say that. I came to this world representing the core world, ‘Di-Maria.’ I have an obligation to repay Thor, the brave hero, in the best and greatest way. I can’t say difficult things or that it’s far beyond what I’ve learned before. I can’t afford to complain. I can’t bother Thor without knowing the common sense of this world.”

(N— you…)

“Also, the brave hero… Thor is a very kind person. He treated me, who suddenly came to him, very carefully. He was a bit of a naughty monkey, but he took care of me even during sex. So, dad and mom, everyone back home… I will fulfill my duties in this world. So, please watch over Erika in ‘Di-Maria’…”

(N—…)

I was shocked to see Erika, who looked a little lonely.

A girl in her early twenties came to a different world alone.

And it was a one-way transfer to the interworld, where you could never return.

Such a thing—there’s no way it wouldn’t be lonely.

When the company I worked for for ten years went bankrupt and I became unemployed, I was incredibly anxious.

I thought my already vague life was completely over.

But I had parents who worried about me and sent me food, and Japan’s generous unemployment insurance gave me a six-month moratorium to recover.

But Erika is different.

She came to this world alone, with no family or acquaintances, and started living with me as a pushy wife, worshiping me as a hero.

There’s no way she wouldn’t be anxious…

Erika looked and acted more Japanese than the Japanese, and I completely overlooked the fact that she was from another world because she said such silly things—.

(Damn it, you idiot!)

I stopped peeking through the door and quietly returned to bed.

I looked up at the ceiling in the dark room.

To be a little kinder to Erika.

To be Erika’s only ally in this world, even if nothing else can be done.

I will never abandon Erika.

I can’t do anything, but I can be Erika’s ally—!

I strongly vowed in bed, looking up at the ceiling.