Author: Yume Neiji

【Status】 Name:  Shinichi Tanaka Age:  17 years old (56 years old) Race:  Homeless Occupation:  Homeless Magic attribute:  No Attribute Magic:  None Skills:  Appraisal (Beginner), Pressure Point (Beginner)

This is the contents of the status.

It’s absurd, but for now, I understand that this is reality and decided to take a look. The first thing I was interested in was my age.

Looks like I have turned back to 17 years old. Of course the one enclosed inside (), 56, is my real age. No wonder, my current body is youthful and full of strength. So, this information can be taken as a fact.

It’s hard to believe but there’s no other explanation.

The next thing that took my interest was the race. I thought it should be human, but apparently it was a homeless race.

I see… I see…

―As if there’s such a thing!

I have always been a human. If you are certified as homeless from the time you were born, you will make your parents cry! I would like to offer a firm protest to this information!

Fu……  (deep breath)

However that’s fine. Since my race is homeless, it’s necessary to watch the situation first. This is not the real world. Perhaps in Hell, the deeds during one’s lifetime were reflected and became one’s race. I decided to think so.

Next is occupation.

It’s also homeless, there is no objection to that. I am certainly homeless, it was my livelihood. It may also be called work. In this case, it’s the correct information in a sense.

Next is the Magic Attribute.

Having magical attributes simply says that magic exists. It’s a lie right? Is what I’m thinking but after seeing those monsters, there’s no denying it –for sure, there’s magic here.

There are times I longed for magic and extra-sensory perception. I also have those dark history. However, I’m 56 years old now.

Trained in a tough society, I wore common sense and reality as an armor, but now it’s magic!

―I was so happy that my hands were trembling! I want to see magic quickly! Give me some magic!

Oops, I was too excited. Calm down. Information is still being collected.

The next thing that catches my eye is Magic. Seems like I can’t use magic yet because it says None. When I look closely at the magic attribute, it is written as “No Attribute” instead of “None”.

I can understand that I have no attributes. Eventually, I want to be able to use magic without attributes.

Now for the Skills, I feel this is the most important part. What has been learned are Appraisal (Beginner) and Pressure Point (Beginner). The red dot from before is probably the effect of this skills…

I’m not too sure, but somehow my intuition is whispering.

The question is which of these two displayed the red dot. I think that Appraisal skill taught me the weaknesses of the enemy, but it is also possible that it’s the Pressure Point skill that taught me of the weak point. From there, I decided to try using the two skills.

Let’s try it out on something.

“Hmmm… What is this giant’s race?”

Words come to my mind when I used appraisal skill on the giant.【 Appraisal Result: Orc 】

It’s a success!

However, the monster I thought as a giant was from an Orc’s race instead. Speaking of which, I feel like there was such enemy too when I played the game. Enma-sama seems to like games after all.

“Okay okay, this time I’ll use Pressure Point skill.”

When I tried it in my own body, a green glowing dot and a red glowing dot appeared throughout my body. I already tried the red dot on the orc earlier so now I’ll try the green dot.

When I hit the green dot at the bottom of my foot, I felt strangely light.

The fear and excitement I had before settled down, and my calm thoughts began to rotate rapidly… If this is the effect of pressing the dot, it is amazing.

Not to mention running a massage shop, I could even be revered as the god of massage.

“It’s definitely determined that the red dots appeared due to this skill. But in both cases, it means that there would be intermediate and advanced levels. Hmmm…I think it’s better to train the skills somehow.”

When I tried appraising the knife, unexpected results were displayed.

【Appraisal Result: Mithril knife】

Hmm? What kind of metal is Mithril?

I’m not too sure, but I think it’s a good metal. I thought I would see “steel” after the appraisal but… It seems that Hell is full of things I don’t know yet.

I stand up and decided to cut off the right foot of the orc with the knife.

There are very few dried meats and breads on hand. So I decided to feed on the orc. I don’t like cannibalism, but I can’t be picky in a place where food is scarce. Orcs have the shape of a person, but they are clearly different from humans. If I have to say, it is only a humanoid pig.

Upon cutting the orc’s meat, a beautiful pink color comes in sight. With the surface’ rough skin, it doesn’t look delicious, but the meat inside is certainly like pork. I know that this meat is not so bad.

“I can only carry one leg. If there could be a backpack somewhere…”

Looking around the room, I found a person carrying a backpack amongst the human corpses. It has a little blood on it, but it’s not unusable. Looking inside, there was some water and food left.

“Sorry, I’ll take your belongings.”

I placed my hand on the corpse as I say sorry, I then took the backpack and carry it on my back.　There were tools as well as food in it. I may have found a good one.

Looking at the corpses again, all of them were strong men wearing leather armor. Most of the figures I could see are those of white men, some are of yellow race while others where dark men.　With their swords on their hips, they feel like they’re out of from a fantasy world.

“There are no Japanese…”

There was no Japanese figure in the corpses. I suddenly felt a sense of isolation in my heart. Even when I became homeless, I was still surrounded with Japanese people. Some of them even became my friends and shared with my loneliness. That’s why I may have forgotten my true loneliness.

I’m the only one here….

“Heh! I’m lonely! I’m homeless! I have accepted that long ago!”

I plunge the foot of the orc into the backpack and explore further inside the room.

“Oh? Stairs?”

I found a staircase in the corner of the room. The end of the stairs is dark, and moist air is blowing up. I could also hear a faint water sound. I’m a little lost here…

If there is a ground floor, I don’t know whether to go up or down.

However right now, not to mention water, there is no food left. Moreover, I don’t have enough power to fight monsters such as wolves and orcs head on.

I was just lucky to win the previous victory. It may have been me who was killed instead.

“I’ll go down here for now. If water is there, I can’t throw the possibility that there are people there too. First, I must secure a living area.”

Once I’ve decided, I go down the stairs without any hesitation.

◆◇◆

“Buwahahahaha! The water here is delicious!”

I scoop up the clean water flowing in the water canal and drink it up. There was a water canal down the stairs.

The appearance of the dungeon has also changed, the brick wall has become concrete, and a water canal was installed on the floor. It’s more like an old water supply. The width is about 3m, but the depth is not so much, it maybe up to my lower leg.

But what’s with this degree of clearness?

The water is very transparent and it has no odor. I was wary of raw water, but I’m not against thirst. When I took a sip, that’s when I noticed the delicious taste.

“Phew, it’s been a long time since I drank such delicious water.”

Satisfied, I leaned my back against the wall. There are passageways at both ends of the water canal. I checked the floor that I have descended from again.

The passageway continues along the water canal, a candle stand was similarly installed on the wall. The small crystals placed on top of the candle stand gives off a pale light. It’s a fantastic sight.

“This water is nice. It might be okay to build a living quarter around here. I’m sure there’s someone else here.”

Taking out the water bottle, I draw water from the water canal just in case. It is important to secure water because I do not know how far this water canal goes.

The reason the homeless set up their bed in the park is because of the toilets and water supply there. Securing water is one of the basics of a street life.

“Now, I have to find a place where I can live. But I’m alternating on whether I should aim upstream or downstream of the water canal.”

Naturally, if I aim upstream, I could reach the water source. Probably, going downstream would be a sea or lake. So I decided to aim downstream.

If I’m lucky, I could probably meet people once I can get out of here.

As I start walking, the saucepan and water bottle inside my backpack collides. It was good that I got something I needed from rummaging thru the corpses but the sound is too noticeable. If there are monsters on this floor, I think I’ll be a good prey.

I continued to walk just beside the water canal, and after walking for an hour, I found the end of the water canal.

“I see, it is like this…”

The water canal was cut off here while darkness spread beyond the area.

The water in the water canal pours into a huge vertical hole –like a waterfall. I looked into the bottom just in case, but the darkness was still widespread. Moreover, I can’t even hear the splashing sound of the falling water, I’m scared on how deep it is.

 “I give up… I wonder where I’m really at. I thought I’m in Hell, but maybe I’m making a big mistake here…”

As I was looking in the dungeon, I gradually realized that the major premise was different. I thought that this is the world after death but what I saw were still very different from my imagination.

Above all, I really did rejuvenate! I don’t know what I look like without a mirror, but I definitely know that my body is that of a young man.

In that case, one more hypothesis crossed my mind. Speaking of death, it’s not just about Heaven and Hell. There also reincarnation.

I may be reincarnated rather than rejuvenated. If that’s the case, I can consent, since I actually died once.

The problem is this place. If this is still Earth, I can return to Japan one day. After that, I want to know what happened to Tokyo. However, if this is a faraway place that I don’t know of, I cannot return to Japan –forever…

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed. Thinking again and again about the uncertain elements like this is my bad habit. I keep thinking about avoiding risk.

I don’t think such a man will be attractive. I’m that unappealing that even my wife turned away from me. It’s been over 20 years since then.

Is our son fine?

“Show your spirit, Shinichi Tanaka! You’re already a certified homeless person! When you’re this worried you can’t do anything!”

I inspired myself and decided to return the way I came. When I arrived at the starting point, I start walking upstream again. I feel like three hours have passed since I got down to this floor.

It’s about time to eat, but I want to avoid being caught off guard especially in this place where safety cannot be ensured. I continued walking the opposite direction and after an hour, I finally came to the water source.

Large amount of water are discharged from the mouth of a lion-like stone statue that is about 3 meters long. The water poured into the water canal gently and beautifully filled it. It feels like a sacred place because of this water source.

“So there’s a lion head facing the walls at both ends huh… these three lion’s head looks pretty cool.”

I approached the statue of the lion, which is the source of water, and I stroked it a little, it was smoother than I expected.

I could also predict that the craftsman had carved the lion from a block of rock without a seam. It can be seen that the craftsmanship is sophisticated and made by a very skilled craftsman.

This time, I felt strange when I approached the lion’s head faced on the wall. The left eye has a hole. Looking at the lion’s head opposite each other, both have eyes properly placed.

This is strange after all.

I was curious about it so I decided to put my finger in the eye’s hole.

“I felt a protrusion at the tip of my finger…”

It felt like a button so I tried to push it in, then I heard a clank sound from somewhere right after. A little vibration ran on the floor, looks like something is starting to move.

Garagaragara-  Gakon!

With such sound, I look at the water canal closely, a chain that hangs from the ceiling appeared before me which looks like a mechanism for a hidden door. I am deeply moved. There’s a device in front of me that I could only see in movies. I forgot myself and ran into the hidden door.

 “Wow?!”

The previous dark view was suddenly enveloped in light. It appears that the thing which looks like a light stand works automatically. A warm brown light illuminated the surroundings. When I finally get used to it, I was able to confirm what this place was.

In a nutshell, it was a place that could be called a warehouse.

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I checked my body in the dark.          

My skin seems to be rejuvenated as if it can repel water. Besides, there is no beard on my face. On the contrary, it seems to have been rejuvenated as I’m now without wrinkles!

My body is full of strength―.

“I feel so young again! What is this?… What’s going on?!”

I’m naked right now but I don’t even feel cold. I tried to jump around naked like some ethnic group, then I remembered what happened earlier, I sat down on the floor.

“What was that? Meteorites fell and monsters appeared. Even Shige-san… Damn!”

I was killed at that time. It’s not a mistake.

Since I have seen a revolving lantern, this could only be Heaven or Hell. As far as I can see, it seems that this dark and cold passageway is just continuing, but how far is it?

I wonder if I have to wander in the labyrinth forever because of the sins I committed…

Thinking that, I roam my eyes around. I found something like a white lump. Upon closer inspection, it was a human corpse’s skeleton. The head of the skeleton is half-crushed. The bones of the whole body were also crushed. It feels like it was killed rather than it died.

The body of the corpse’s skeleton have unfamiliar items such as leather breastplates and shin pads. Next to its waist was a fallen knife and bag.

“This is good, I might get some clothes for myself.”

When I look inside the bag, I find a set of clothes that I could wear. I’m apparently lucky. I thought that the leather breastplate looked beautiful, so I put it on my chest without hesitation. Finally, I attached the knife to my waist and my getup’s complete.

In addition, there’s dried meat and bread inside the bag, but it seems that I can barely eat it. I was relieved in my heart though, the food for today was secured.

Thinking this far… I realized something strange.

If this was either Hell or Heaven, is there still a need for food?

And this breastplate and knife…

Why would there be a skeleton in the world after death?

Such questions swell in my head.

“I should look for people first. Someone might be able to answer my questions.”

Just in case, I used the knife to mark this place where I appeared. If there is a chance that I can go back to my world, then that should also be in this place. If that’s the case, it may be dangerous to leave here.

So I decided to stay here for a while.

I have a very accurate body clock. This is one of the few special skills that have been honed ever since I manage the company, and it has been sharpened further when I became homeless. Perhaps, because of that I feel that time takes longer than other people do.

It should have been three hours from the time I have waited…

Nothing happened at all. I’ve been sleeping and waking up repeatedly, it’s just that, the emptiness makes me hungry.

If this is really Hell, would Shige-san be here too? If that’s the case, I would be happy.

Ah, No no! It’s unwise to be happy if your friend is in Hell. It would be nice for him not to be here.

“However, this place looks a lot like a dungeon…”

I looked like this but I have also played video games. When I was young, I experienced a famous RPG game, so I can understand the concept of dungeon. Still, it’s strange that Hell looks like a dungeon.

Most likey, Enma-sama of Hell likes games.

“Awooo–”

I could hear a howling like sound of wolfs. I immediately get up and hold the knife.

“I was careless. This is Hell, it’s not only limited to human beings!”

“Awooo–”

The wolf’s howl sounded even closer. This is bad. I start running immediately. I could hear the cry of the wolf and someone’s scream from a distance. I focused in running continuously through the passageway. Then I arrived at an open place.

The room was dome-shaped and contained a pile of corpses in the center. When I draw near, it didn’t smell bad. Well, my nose is paralyzed by rubbish, so I can’t really count on it.

On the wall, there are small crystals on top of a candle stand giving faint light that brightly illuminated the entire room.

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr–”

Hearing a wolf’s growl, I dive into the mountain of corpses. When I look out through the gap, four wolves appeared in the room. All of them are big and would be about 2 meters long. The brown fur that covers its entire body makes it look like a hyena.

What are those creatures? A wolf? It’s too big for it to be one…

Through the gap, I watched as the wolves look around.

Sniff- Sniff-

One of the wolves sniffed from the corpses I’m hiding at!

The corpse’ rotten smell should have misled my own scent, but I am not really sure. If that’s not the case, it will definitely find me hiding here. A line of sweat flows from my forehead.

“Awooo–”

One of them howled and the other three howled in the same way. And then, they ran back to the passageway.

I-I was saved…

I just thought of that when the floor begins to shake slightly, and gradually, the shaking grew. I wanted to scream, is there something else here?

“Gugaaaaaa–”

A rumbling sound which seemed to be coming from a stomach echoed in the room. I peeked thru the gap, and looked around but I cannot see where that sound’s coming from. This time, fear rises in me as I think of what kind of monster will come out.

With a thud, a thick pillar appeared before my eyes. The brown surface was ragged like that of an elephant’s skin which is quite impressive. Cautiously, I moved my eyes towards the top of the pillar.

Hairless head… Thick lips with a pig-like nose…

Sharp and pointed canine sticks out of its mouth, the eyes are yellowish and do not convey any emotions. If there is one, that would be its hunger. The naked giant was about 3m in height and it was hungry for human corpses.

“…?!”

I almost screamed unintentionally.

It’s too ugly and terrifying, I trembled at the sight of the horrific monster. Even now, blood drips and falls on the floor, telling me what the giant is eating.

Wha-What should I do? Should I escape here?

However, there are other monsters outside…

While I am pondering on what to do, the mountain of corpses is gradually decreasing. There is even a part of me that makes me want to ask if the giant’s appetite is bottomless…

It is only a matter of time before the place where I’m hidden would be exposed!

“It’s sink or swim! I was once a President! Gambling is my expertise!”

I slipped out of the corpses and cut the giant’s leg with my knife to keep a distance. Even if I escape to the passageway, wolves would be there. There are only two choices left –fight or be killed. In that case, it’s better to deal with one giant than many wolves.

“Guaaaaa!”

The giant noticed that its leg had been cut, it looked back and saw my face. Its face was painted with fury. Furious, it hit the floor hard with both hands.

“Monster! Try catching me!”

I started running inside the room and decided to aim for the giant’s weakness. The legs are slow because of its huge figure. Frantically chasing, it stomped on the floor as it can’t catch me.

Apparently it’s not intelligent enough to go around and catch me.

“The problem would be its weak point… I only have a knife so there is slim chance winning…”

If I look at my knife, it gives off a silvery white reflected light. Probably, this is very good quality knife. I can understand it because I am good at seeing things…

But with a knife alone, I can’t beat such huge monster. When I look at the giant, I notice that its shin is glowing red. It’s a small red dot that can’t be seen unless you look closely. I tried rubbing my eyes but the red dots still remained on the giant’s knees.

What is that?

“Guaaaaa!”

I kept my eyes on its knees, waiting for an opportunity to be taken. As I entered the attack range of the giant, its arm slowly swings down towards me who was running to the nearby wall.

“Yo!”

The attack shatters the wall while the giant’s right arm pierced deeply. I avoided it by a hair’s breadth. Barely going through his inseam, I immediately stab the knife at the red dot on the back of its right knee.

I don’t know what it means but I wish it was an option for me to beat this monster.

“Gugyaaaaaaaaaaa!?”

The giant screamed loudly, for some reason it also fell to the floor. Then it presses on its right knee as it run wild.

…No, it’s suffering from pain.

In that case, the red dots may have been its weak spot…

Seeing a chance, I thrust my knife into the other knee. The giant slammed his hands violently on the floor, much like a whining child.

It must have been a considerable pain. But I can’t pass up this opportunity. I jumped on the giant’s back, raised my knife and thrust it to the neck. Fresh blood gush out vigorously from the slit –I forcefully cut off its neck.

It tried to spit out a sound yet it was not able to, the giant gradually get cold.

It’s dead.

“Phew, killing living things doesn’t really feel good. I don’t feel guilty even if it’s human-like though. But… my hands are now shaking.”

I sat down beside the giant and took a break. I want to drink water but unfortunately, I don’t have one. So I can only be patient here.

Other than that, the red dot earlier… It was also my first time seeing such thing alive.

“I don’t think it’s a hallucination…”

This is Hell. Of course, that’s only my conjecture, but I believe in Hell now. In addition, those who have fallen into Hell may develop some special powers…

That red dot, could it be considered as some kind of power?

“Is it that I’ve woken up a spiritual ability like Shige-san?”

At this moment, something popped in me, and some characters were on my mind.

“Status Open”

It was those characters.

It’s a funny thing, this is real life yet I’m trying to see a status window that is often seen on games. However, my instinct is telling me to speak it.

I can no longer wait so I tried singing it.

“Status Open”

Almost at the same time as the words finished, a small blue translucent window opened. It’s as if the PC window is floating in the air.

【Status】 Name: Shinichi Tanaka Age: 17 years old (56 years old) Race: Homeless Occupation: Homeless Magic attribute: No Attribute Magic: None Skills: Appraisal (Beginner), Pressure Point (Beginner)

“What is this…………”

I’m stunned because of the information written on the status window. Moreover, unfamiliar words were written plainly.

Magic?  Skill?  Eh…? What?

It was the race that worried me more.

What homeless race?!

Are you kidding me?

I’ll hit the guy who wrote this!

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When I woke up, the chills in the early morning pierced me. The surroundings were still dim, the slides and swings were frosting.

This is Shinjuku Central Park.

“Fuaa-, seems like today too, I’ll need to try my best to collect food.”

I stretched my body and I then crawled out of the corrugated box that was my home.

Yes, I’m living my life as a homeless.

“Shinichi, I found a good thing in the trash can at the convenience store. You can eat it too.”

At my place, I’m most familiar with another homeless person –Shige-san. He has white beard on his face and he wears a tattered blue hat coupled with tattered brown clothes. It’s such shabby clothes that would make one truly look like a homeless. That said, I am the same. My face is covered with black beard and I am also wearing a tattered black shirt paired with white trousers.

Nowadays it’s fine to be homeless.

Shige-san approached me, threw a bag which came from the convenience store and then he sat down on my side. When I look inside the bag, I saw four convenience store rice balls.

“Shige-san, is this really ok? Isn’t this Shige-san’s food?”

“Don’t worry about it. I’m already this old so my stomach can’t accept food in the morning. Besides, I won’t lose anything as I’m selling a favor you know.”

“My bad Shige-san. Next time, I’m going to offer you some sake.”

“Oh, that would make me happy. Sake is the best medicine for me.”

Shige-san is an old man who used to be a doctor. For some reason, both his wife and children died and his privately owned clinic was destroyed. Shige-san, who has lost his path, arrived at the place of the homeless. Since the homeless welcomed the lonely Shige-san, Shinjuku Central Park became his place from then on.

There are many homeless people here. Of course, some people say that they have run out of money, while others say that they are lonely. Everyone had a wound of his own and ended up here. And I am one of them.

I thanked Shige-san for the rice ball. As expected, C-chicken mayo is delicious. Convenience stores are really amazing.

“By the way, Shinichi. Can you listen to my story?”

“Sure. If it’s Shige-san’s matters, I’m all ears. Then, please lie down.”

With Shige-san lying face down, I press the acupuncture points on his back and waist.

“Aa-ah, as expected, Shinichi is good at pressing acupuncture points. I wonder if you should have opened a massage shop rather than running a company?”

“Yeah, I wish I had done that. However, I don’t have that energy anymore.”

I’m Shinichi Tanaka, currently 56 years old. Originally, I manage a large company. I have a wife and a child, but since I poured all my passion into the company, my family left me.

And the company I called the fruit of my life was taken away just like that. Because of another person’s mistake, I was dragged down by the representative director. I was fired, so to speak. I never imagined that I would be fired from the company I built myself. When I lost the company, I also lost everything. The acquaintances I knew also went away as soon as my money disappeared, there was no one left around. It’s indeed a laughable tale.

However, I wanted to make a comeback so I went to “Hello Work” and applied for a job. I worked as a part-timer and worked daily. I was laughed at by many because I was once a famous person.

And finally, I reached my limit…

I went to Tokyo to go somewhere far away, and I just kept running away without any destination. I’m already at my limit.

What happened to my life?

Is this the result of pouring everything into the company and sacrificing even my family?

Return my life! Give me back my life!

Then I finally arrived at the place where Shinjuku Central Park is. The homeless people there warmly welcomed me and listened to me in a friendly manner. Everyone understood my hardship. The homeless person, who I was laughing at from my luxury car, became the best person to understand me. That’s when I decided to be homeless. Now, I have no regrets in my life.

“By the way, Shinichi please hear me out. I felt weird since I got up today.”

“Weird feeling? Oh my-, Shige-san, have you grown senile?”

I joked.

“I-AM-ONLY 78 years old! I am not senile!”

Shige-san who’s on the ground flail in protest. Certainly, it is a little early for him to develop dementia. In that case, I wonder if it’s his supernatural sense. For a long time now, Shige-san has an ability to sense the supernatural. He’s too well known that’s why sometimes other people mistakenly talk to him. Sometimes, I can also see him drive away cats and dogs that I can’t see. Well, it’s also because of Shige-san that I became interested in supernatural stories.

“Then, what makes you feel weird?”

I asked as I pressed Shige-san’s shoulder blade with my finger. It seems that his blood flow is bad as his muscles are stiff.

“Oh, y-yes, t-there… that’s the spot, that’s what works best. Well, that’s what I’m going to talk about. After waking up this morning, I feel terrified, it felt sickening. It is also the first time I felt that.”

“Is it not Shige-san’s imagination?”

“I thought so too… but the atmosphere is strange. It feels like I’m being swallowed by a huge monster.”

“Monster huh…”

I massaged Shige-san’s back and looked up at the sky. It’s a cloudy sky today. It made me feel like it was about to rain. The low pressure must have made Shige-san feel that way. I decided to think so.

“Alright, the massage is over. How are you feeling?”

“Un, it’s excellent. As I thought, Shinichi should have opened a massage shop. Uhihihi”

Shige-san stood up slowly, rotating his neck and shoulders before leaving. After I sent him off, I also prepared to leave the park.

It’s a big mistake to think that homeless people just sleep. Most of our day is devoted to collecting food, which means that if we don’t collect food for a long time, we will not survive. Of course, we search and secure not only our food, but also our clothing and other things that will help us avoid getting sick.

Most of the time, I search from the garbage storage area but I also get some things like “free garbage” from shops we have a good relationship with. The easiest place to get it is from the convenience store. Over there, foods that can still be eaten were thrown away which is such a waste.

We try to get acquainted with the store clerk and the store manager and have them deal with their waste by giving it to us. Anyway, we will eat what they will throw away so it will not make trouble on the store.

We eat our “prey” by ourselves. Same as hunting. Each of us even have a territory and we ask help from strangers with proper courtesy. I don’t intend to claim human rights or dignity, but it is true that I live as a person. I want to say that we all have the right to live.

As I was “fishing” in the trash can of the store, I found a new bread in a bag.

“Is this the age of satiety? Haah-, there will also be an end to it…”

As I mumbled so, the ground began to shake.

“Ah, why an earthquake!?”

Then it was followed by a roar that I had never heard before. I, who had my back on the wall behind the alley, immediately rushed to Omotesando. (TL note: Omotesando “表参道” is a place.)

Something glowing red from the sky was pouring down. It hits the building and shatters it. Debris poured down the road and people began screaming and running away. Not only that. The buildings and roads from afar were destroyed by that “thing” that is still pouring down. A roaring sound echoes each time and the ground shakes.

I immediately understood what was happening.

“It’s a meteor…”

Fear crawled from my feet and reached my brain. Many people have already fled in front of me. Everyone cried and their expressions seemed to say that they don’t care about other people besides themselves.

“Gaaaaaaaaa!!”

I heard a loud scream.

When I turned to look at that area, a red and black wolf-like creature was attacking a woman. It’s a monster that would be about thirty meters long. I now doubted my eyes!

The wolf chewed on the woman, swallowed her flesh, breaking her bones with each bite and blood dripped over. Then the wolf starts to move again. It laid its fangs on the people who tried escape and inflate its stomach. From one at first, the number of wolves gradually increased. Now I can see two to three wolves.

What is this? What’s happening!!?

Being stunned, a man bigger than me hit my shoulder.

“Shinichi!  What are you doing!? Run away quickly!”

“Shige-san…?”

I then moved towards Shige-san. As we start running away from the back alley, the screams also went away.

“Shige-san, what’s going on here?!”

“I also don’t know! I thought that meteorites have suddenly fallen but monsters appear everywhere! Tokyo is over! We have to run away somewhere—”

Shige-san’s neck, which was only right in front of me, suddenly fell down on the ground. With a thud, his body fall to the ground and I could see his blood spreading in the asphalt.

“S-Shige-san?!!!”

I run towards Shige-san but he was already dead. As I was thinking of what had happened, I heard a sharp wind noise right behind me.

“Kuh!”

When I avoided it, a deep cut was made in the place where I was.

“Gugegege”

Turning to that voice, a strange creature was watching me. A black cloth was draped over its body and a pair of yellowish eyes were looking through the small slit. The green-skinned hand extending out from the cloth was holding a large sickle in the air.

It looks like a small Shinigami.

“Gugyaa!”

When the Grim Reaper shook his sickle, a utility pole in a distant place was sliced and it fell down. Sparks also scattered everywhere. There’s no doubt about it, it was the one who killed Shige-san!

I grasped an iron rod that has fallen on the ground, then I slashed towards the Shinigami.

How dare you!!! To Shige-san!…

“Gugyaagya!”

The Shinigami avoided the attack, it then sliced its sickle towards my neck.

“Uah…………”

My view rotates, and my thoughts sped up by ten times.

The images of my house and my family were played before me. Memories of elementary school, junior high school, high school, college –all of my student life were played. The smell, the sound, and the conversation are all reproduced like a video. One of the most beautiful women on the university campus –my wife. At that time we were so in love with each other…

But, why is she here at this moment?

My wife rushed to me and kissed me with a smile. Then a child was born. He is such a treasure to me. Moreover, he’s a boy. I thought of working for that child’s sake. I was willing to dedicate my everything to them but my wife and child left me. I had nothing left. I ran around trying to get my child back, but my wife and child were gone. Then I became more and more engaged in my work…

Stop it already!

Don’t remind me!

 I’m already… already…!

“I-, it hurts! uh-, pain?”

My butt hurts. The pain felt like I was struck butt naked.

“What the heck… oh-, ouch!”

When I rubbed my hips, I realized, I am not wearing anything? When I touched my body, I can’t feel any clothes either…

I’m fully naked!

Looking around, it was dim and the place looked like some passageway. The floor is like a stone pavement and time worn bricks covered the area.

Where is this?

I was at loss as I moved my back away from the wall.

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A woman lying in bed opens her eyes slightly and smiles. Seeing that, the young man clasped the woman’s hand. He showed his earnest smile, but his stiff face cannot hide his emotions inside.

Before he knew it, his tears fell, and the young man bit his lips.

“Mother……… that’s enough. I’ll do the rest somehow so….”

“P-Please… say… sor….. to….–san…”

“Un, I’ll tell him…”

The woman then comfortably closed her eyes and never woke up again.

The young man was filled with sorrow, he sobs and cries bitterly, still tightly holding the woman’s hand.

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