Category: Homeless Tensei: Isekai De Jiyuu Sugiru Majutsu Jisoku Seikatsu

When I arrived at the third miniature garden, the same forest as before is spreading. According to the map, there seems to be something here, but I can’t understand what’s here because I can’t read the letters.

As soon as I go further, I soon find something unusual.

Hundreds of mushrooms grow on the trunk of a dead tree that has fallen to the ground. It looks like brown mushrooms, but I can see that some have grown into fairly large ones.

Again, I feel doubtful.

As for the environment where microorganisms cannot reproduce, how can mold and moss reproduce?

Mushrooms are a type of mold and are made up of small pieces called mycelium. I think it violates the rules of the dungeon that I thought of.

“Can I say that plants are an exception?”

Nonetheless, I try to determine whether or not I can eat the mushrooms. Actually, it doesn’t matter as long as it becomes food.

【Appraisal Result: Cure Mushroom: A mushroom that grows naturally on dead trees. The healing effect is excellent, and if it is a minor injury, it will heal in a few seconds. It is known for being very delicious, and depending on the size it can be traded at high prices. Another name is Life Extending Mushrooms】

I have my rucksack taken out, I harvest the cure mushroom until my rucksack’s bulging. If I have such a useful mushroom, why not pick it up? And if it sells at a high price, it could be used for negotiations when meeting people. I’m happy when I find a good place.

Since then, I encounter Kobolds and big lizards, but I cut everything down and continue on.

Many mushrooms seem to grow naturally in this miniature garden, and in addition to Cure Mushroom, I’m able to harvest many mushrooms such as shitake mushrooms (shiitake mushrooms) and maitake mushrooms (Maitake mushroom). (TLYN Note: maitake written in katakanaマイターケ vs. kanji舞茸)

However, one question still remains.

In the Appraisal, “Mithril Sword” is displayed, while vegetables and mushrooms are not displayed in its equivalent Earth name. I think of it and made a hypothesis. The sword has the same recognition on earth. On the other hand, vegetables and mushrooms are just similar in appearance, but has high possibility of being another thing.

Hasai, who I think as chinese cabbage, is not really noted as chinese cabbage, the perceptions cannot be the same. I think that the appraisal is displayed with subtle difference.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

Un, it wasn’t a big deal when I realized it. I move on to the next miniature garden. According to the map, the 21st floor consists of four miniature gardens. So the next miniature garden is also the last one. As I expected, I once again arrive at a forest when I exited the passage. While paying attention to monsters, I proceed to the center of the miniature garden.

The map had a note in the center of the garden.

I am expecting that there would be good things like vegetable gardens and balm trees, but the thing that appeared before me is beyond my expectation. A round stage with a diameter of about 10 meters made of white stone is lined with pillars like a Greek temple. At the center was a black stone plate.

“A building? Stone monument? W-What is this…..”

As I approach the stage, I gently put my foot on it. There is no particular change, so I step inside the structure, I walk to the stone slab I am curious about.

“I don’t know what’s written…”

On the black stone plate, the letters were engraved in about three lines. Is it the grave of the former resident? However, it may be rude because I do not know if I he is really dead or not.

I touch the stone plate gently then words came to my mind.

【Tanaka-sama cannot be moved because there is no transfer destination at the moment. Please go to the ground once or find some transfer point.】

“Transfer point? What is that?”

I touch the stone plate again, but the same word is displayed and I’m struck with a NO. I can judge from the words that I can move from here, but for that, I need to go to the ground or go find some transfer point.

Speaking of which, I remember having moved magically when playing famous RPG games. With a swish, I fly to a town I’ve been to. I think it’s the same as that. I’m sure it is!

I get excited and took a deep breath.

“Once I can use this, I’m sure I’ll be able to come back to the hideout right away. I found a good one. Long live dungeon!.”

I make a small leap and expresses my joy.

“Ah- right!, I’ll also look at the floor below.”

I muttered out and I begin to explore the miniature garden, but for some reason I can’t find the stairs –even though the map certainly has 22nd floor. I tilted my head. Looking at the map many times reveals that there are no stairs in the 21st floor. However, the map shows up to thirty levels. It’s strange.

When I check the nineteenth floor, I find out the reason and everything is now clear. There are writing on some part of the wall in the nineteenth floor and there is a room in the back where I met the Orc. The place I live in is a hidden area. No wonder I didn’t meet any person.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

“It’s too early to get depressed. With my current strength, I might be able to conquer the nineteenth floor. I should be able to win against the brown wolves now.”

As I understand that, I can’t stay calm. I quickly return the way I came in and go back to the hideout.

　◆◇◆

“Erna, don’t lose the luggage okay? I’m hiring you for that purpose.”

 “I-I know.”

I illuminate the surroundings with light magic and reply to my companions. On my back is a rucksack filled to the brim and a heavy iron sword purchased for self-defense is on my waist.

I’m Erna Frederia, 19 years old. I’m a young elf. My parents are mages, super-famous people who are well-known not only in the elf country but also in other countries. They tend to think that as their daughter, I also inherited that talent, but I can affirm that it is not the case.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

There seems to be a lot of magical power in me, but for some reason I can only use it at the degree of a beginner level. Even the attribute has two attributes, fire and light, but I have to say, it’s nothing but an unused treasure.

My fellow mages remembers the intermediate and advanced levels and got a job at an aristocratic mansion or royal palace. Not only that, they have good-looking boyfriend and ridicules me as I’m single. If I tried to use the advanced magic of fire, I would burn everything. I had no job, so I became an adventurer like the rest.

Adventurers basically fight against demon beasts and monsters to make a living, but the magic stones that are sometimes obtained are also used as a source of income. After that, I usually spend my life on quests requested by the guild. But the case is a bit different now because there is a dungeon near the town where I live.

Dungeon exists all over the world, it’s a nest of ferocious magical beasts and monsters. It is famous for its abundant collection of magic stones and minerals and the occasional unexpected treasure.

Not only that. Many researchers and interested people want to know the dungeon simply because they don’t know who created it, for what purpose and when. So those who reach the bottom are promised with honor and money for giving information to scholars.

Having reached the bottom of the dungeon is not without exception. Some dungeons have already been traversed, and nowadays there is a competition over who goes through which dungeon first.

The worst dungeon among them is said to be “Mohed’s Great Dungeon” located here. The reason is that the monsters inside are too strong.

Even though it is only one layer, it’s incredibly wide, the magical beasts and monsters that emerge are also powerful. It is famous for being the labyrinth that is the most difficult to traverse, as the dungeon around here is so vague.

It was after coming to Mohed’s Great Dungeon that I realized that my fellow adventurer party are people that confused courage with recklessness. I can’t use much magic, so I’m just carrying luggage, but when I look at it from the side, the more scared they become, the more risk they choose, and the more I want to cry. I don’t want to die yet.

 “Hey, isn’t it suspicious around here?”

“”Yeah, there seem to be many missing people in the nineteenth floor, and maybe a very dangerous magical beast or monster is lurking.”

A male adventurer and a female mage are having a conversation. This is a party of five people including me. I mean, I’m not an official companion. It’s the first time I signed a contract as a baggage carrier.

I’m an elf, so I’m more powerful and quicker than a human female, and I can use even a little magic, so looking at it I’m a bit useful. And lastly, I have exceptional hearing.

This party is an intermediate adventurer, and since it is already nineteen levels, I can see their high level ability. At the same time, my fear develops. If this four people dies, I cannot live.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

So…. let’s go home today? That’s what I’m asking in my mind, I also have a very bad feeling…

“Okay, so today we’ll camp after going to the 20th floor.”

“Eh!? But the rucksack’s already full…”

I protest to the party leader’s proposal.

“You just have to carry your luggage silently. Isn’t there still an empty rucksack? I can only see two or three rucksacks on your back. Well, if you’re going to be my woman, we can go back.”This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

The man who’s the leader looks at me with a grinning face. Every time there is something to discuss, I feel nauseous because he wants me to be his woman.

From the beginning, I didn’t like the leader, I even thought of refusing to carry their luggage but I thought that it might be okay since there is a woman in the group, it was my mistake accepting the contract.

The mage woman doesn’t mind me whatever I do, while the other two men shows no interest in me and flirting with each other.

Ah, un… it’s a thing between men. (TLYN: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )

Anyway, I ignore the leader who’s showing his liking to me.  I’m fed up with the fact that the leader is urging me to become his woman. I prefer grown-up and calm person than this greedy man, so I’m not interested in him. I refuse!

So I reply to the leader as usual.

“We have to get to know each other a little more, I can’t date you… I’m sorry”

“Kuh… well, it’s okay. You’ll soon be in love with my coolness.”

I’m sure the leader is a non-popular person. I guessed it with woman’s instinct.

“Hey! Don’t argue about the luggage, hold your sword! An enemy’s coming!”

As the mage woman holds her cane, a giant appears slowly from the corner of the passage. Sloppy flabby belly with brown skin… Sharp canines are protruding from the mouth to the nose resembling a pig’s snout. The supposed to be white part of the eye is yellowish, and the gaze that looks at us feel likes a starving beast.

It’s an orc! I trembled all over.

“This is bad! Why is there an orc in such a place?”

“Rather than that, attack! Buy time for me, I’ll be shooting magic!”

I hid myself in the corner, away from the four. Orcs are feared from their gigantic figure. The fat is thick and it is difficult to attack, and once you’re taken its hit, the strength is so strong that you cannot win. The scariest part is that it likes to eat human women.

Sometimes woman are committed to give birth to its children, it is one of the magical beasts that women hates the most. Though I am truly scared in my heart, but I am still supporting the four people.

I don’t want to die yet and I can’t go to heaven as a virgin!

I’m planning to marry a nice man, build a warm family and have two cute children. So I want the four of them to win.

“Kyahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”

When I heard the scream, I peek through the wall, the orc gripped the leader and rip him apart. The allies wield their swords hard, but they couldn’t even cut the orc’s body.

“Eat this! Rock Bullet!”

The middle-class earth magic released by the mage flies a rock about 1 m. When the rock hit the orc directly, it’s blown off a few meters. With the impact of the magical attack, the leader is freed from the orcs grasp but his blood just spreads on the floor.

He is already dead.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

“Gugaaaaahhhh!”

When the orc stood up, it scream madly. It start running, grab another male adventurer and tear him off. The mage stands by the rain of blood and the organs.

“R-Run away now! Run away quickly!”

When I call on the Mage, she finally begins to escape. But it is already too late. Hitting and killing another male adventurer, the orc quickly catch the Mage who start to move. The orc begin laughing when the Mage is in his hand.

I’m so scared that I leave the luggage behind and run away. I could judge that it’s dangerous being in here, but there is no way for me to live wherever I may go.

This is the 19th floor of the Mohed’s Great Dungeon. The possibility of returning to the ground on my own is near zero.

“I-I’m too tired……”This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

I sat on the floor and leaned my back against the wall. Mother and father appeared in the back of my mind and my tears spill out.

Please forgive me for the misfortune I give you. Gradually, I fell asleep and closed my eyelids.Translated by Yume Neiji

If possible, I want to be killed while sleeping. After that last wish come to mind, my consciousness went into darkness.Please read at my site.

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After I arrived at the disposal site, I start collecting some of the most notable things from the corpses.

I feel that weapons and armor will be money later on. And of course, these mysterious jewels. What’s interesting is that most people carry this red gem. I think it is used as a tool for setting fire, but I’m not sure how to use it.

Hmm, can it be used without a magic circle?

I climb up on the corpses, my eyes fixed to the ceiling. As I thought, that circular hole in the ceiling had metal thorns in them, and a black cloth is caught there. Guessing from the shape, I think it’s a kind of clothes but I can’t judge what it really looks like from this distance.

Un, I’m curious after all.

I can’t truly judge as it’s too far from here, it might be better to drop it and see it up close. I climb to the top of the mountain of corpses and took out the bow on my back. When I pull the string, a wind arrow appears and hits the black cloth exactly as I intended.

―But the arrow disappeared.

“Ah?… I hit it right?”

I shoot the arrow again, but when it hits the black cloth, the arrow disappears. I ponder at the mysterious event.

“Is the magic disabled….?”

I can’t believe the answer I came up with. To drop the cloth, I start throwing empty bottles on it.

“Fall! Fall!”

Is the black cloth that thick?, the bottle bounces off and it would not fall. This time I decided to throw a small shield. I threw it about three times and finally hit it. The black cloth slips off slightly from the thorns.

A little more.

“Mu…I’ll attack with all my might. Take thiiiiss!”

After spinning and throwing the shield like a Frisbee, the black cloth finally fell into my hands.^{This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site}

“What the… robe, huh. I know it will be like this.”

The cloth turns out to be a robe. It is made of jet black cloth and feels very comfortable to touch. At a glance, it’s a high-grade material, but I didn’t think it would be useful in fighting the variant –I thought so, but my intuition whispers that this is a good thing.

For the time being, I decided to try Appraisal on it.

【Appraisal Failure: ****: ********】

I was a little surprised.

Like the cane in the hideout, this robe doesn’t seem to be identifiable at this time. I think I should put the robe on first.

【The former owner is already dead. Do you want to own this robe? YES / NO】

Words popped inside my head and I’m urged to choose YES or NO. This was my first time experiencing this. Obviously, it’s not a normal robe.

Nervously, I choose YES.

Curiosity outweighed my fear. At that moment, a wave of light runs through the robe. I may have obtained something outrageous!

“Well anyway, let’s end today’s garbage looting here…”

I pack the collected items in my backpack and return to the hideout.

　◆◇◆

“I should also use magic.”

I nodded at the gems placed on the table.

The gems are in red, blue, yellow, green and orange, there are five colors and considering the gems on the stove, they should be used as tools.

However, although I have obtained rings and necklaces, I can see that they are a little different from those gems. At first glance, the red gem looks just like ruby, but when I look inside, the particles of light are shining. Such a thing cannot be a jewel.

No evidence of light particles was found on precious metal gem. If so, these can be judged as special stones that are very similar to gems.

I use a pen to copy the magic circle drawn on the stove onto paper. The pen, ink, and paper are in this hideout, so I use them. The former resident may have liked writing.

Next, I placed a yellow stone in the center of the magic circle and held my palm up.

Come on, my magical power. Mhmmmm.

…………

There is no reaction. I thought that if the stone is placed on the magic circle, it would activate but… Am I missing something?

As I think about it and touched the magic circle, the yellow stone emitted electricity.

“Is it activated by touching the magic circle? Is my finger used as the activation key?”

I touch it again, electricity is really emitting from the stone. Recalling how the stove works, I did press something like a button to light the fire. If so, it’s better to assume that some power is flowing from the button that activates the magic circle. I decided to call the mysterious power “magical power”.

By the way, the next question is that no magic-like thing has been found in the collected items in the backpack. I think a magic circle is needed to activate the stones, but that assumption is still doubtful.

Just because I cannot use it as such didn’t mean it’s the case. It would make more sense to think that the power of stone could be used in this world even without using magic circles. This may be related to the fact that my attribute is “No Attribute”.

Going back to the topic, I wonder if these stones could be useful in fighting the variant. Fire and electricity are quite effective in attacking. My chance of winning increases if I can attack before it uses magic.

From there, I decided to embed a yellow stone in the handle of the sword. The handle of the Mithril sword has a round hole, which could be a powerful weapon if fitted with the stone. When I hit the stone with a hard object, it suddenly breaks.

When the size is set to a suitable size, I fit it into the handle of the sword and draw a magic circle around it. It’s a wooden handle, so all I have to do is engrave it with a knife. Five hours had passed by the time the handmade magic sword is finally completed.

“Will it work? Should I try if it works?”

I hold the sword and touch the magic circle with my fingers.

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzt, electricity is emitting from the blade, and a unique sound is created in the room. As long as I keep touching the magic circle, the electricity seems to last, so it should be usable for continuous attacks.

“With this, it looks like I can have my revenge, Kukuku.”

I grasp the sword and grin.

　◆◇◆

“Now then, it’s about time to eat some balm fruits.”

Arriving at the first miniature garden, I take out the fruits that look just like oranges from the backpack.

I think I can win even if I’m not the current me but pride is dangerous –that has led to the lack of caution in the last battle. While chewing on the balm fruit, I obtain super-sense.

“Hmm… My senses seem to be sharper than yesterday… I can even hear the sound of the adjacent garden.”

It seems that the changes on my body were not only on the muscles side but the five senses have been raised too. This should increase my winning rate.

Upon arriving at the second miniature garden, I immediately pulled out my sword. There is only one but something different is aiming for me.

“Grrrrrrr…”

What emerged from the forest is the tiger that I had defeated previously. It’s the perfect partner to see how much I grew up.

Immediately after activating Pressure Point skill, four red dots were displayed on the tiger. Last time it was around the abdomen and buttocks, but in addition to that, dots appeared at the base of the back and front legs.

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

My Pressure Points skill has risen to the intermediate level. I regret it, I should have checked my status properly. However, if the intermediate level has four red dots, I wonder what will happen to the advanced level.

Likewise, will there be six red dots?

“Gauuun!”^{This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site}

The frightening tiger jumps in. The movement is slow –like it’s in a slow motion, it seems that I can defeat it without aiming for the red dot. I dodge the attack and slice the sword to the tiger’s neck.

“-uuuun!?”

After the slow motion was over, the beheaded tiger rotated once then fall to the ground. The frightening tiger was dealt in one blow.

I get closer and deal one final blow, I decided to return to the first garden. I want to defeat the variant quickly, but that is not a reason to miss the tiger’s flesh. When I arrive at the garden where the vegetable garden is located, I begin to dismantle it. Since it is second time, I am able to remove the fur neatly with good workmanship.

The blue and black stripes are of a nice shade. I cut the meat into pieces and wrap each in a large leaf. By the way, the tiger on earth doesn’t look so good but this blue tiger is different. It’s close to beef and it’s super delicious.

So unlike with the Kobold yesterday, I didn’t feel like leaving it. The rest will not rot. The fact that it does not spoil means that raw meat can be stored. Then it is possible to make preserved meat. I’m really looking forward to it.

After dismembering, I pack the meat in the backpack and set off once more. When I returned to the second miniature garden, I rush forward without being nervous in the forest.

For some reason, the beasts in the miniature garden go away from me like that of a spider’s offspring scattering.

The Kobold’s case yesterday may have changed the sort of hierarchy in this miniature garden. Upon arriving at the center of the miniature garden, with the same appearance as yesterday, the balm stood towering.

I climb immediately and harvest few balm fruits. I can’t let go of such a good fruit. I’m now addicted to this balm fruit.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr!”

When I looked for the sound, the variant is walking from the forest. It’s time for revenge. Immediately after jumping off the branch, I pull out my sword, I will provoke him.

“Oi Doggy, I’m a different person today! If you’re going to run away, now is your chance, what would you do?”

The variant growls loudly, it fires a fireball from its right hand.

I’ve been waiting for it so I easily avoided the fireball, the explosion digs down the ground and create a small crater. It kept shooting fireballs in a row. Perhaps it learned that I’m vulnerable to magic so the variant persistently shoots at a long distance.

If it still hits, it doesn’t make sense.

While avoiding it with quick movements, I also calculate the trajectory and the impact point of the next fireball, then gradually, I approach the variant. Once it gets within the attack range of my  sword, it’s my win.

However, I completely fall into his scheme. The number of fireballs that had been released one by one has increased to two. Although I barely avoided two, three fireballs are now fired. Avoiding it at the last minute, the next fireball had already aimed at the direction of my escape route.

Apparently, it was also reading a few steps ahead, taking into account the things I avoided. It’s checkmate! A fireball directly hits me who could not escape.

“Guaaaaa!”This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

I cried out. I thought it would explode and I’ll take damage as I did last time.

…….There is no pain.

“I-It didn’t explode?”

When I look at my body, I can’t see any marks of magical attacks. The variant also wonder on what had happened.

“Gauurrr!”

The next fireball was released when I was careless. I decided to see what would happen this time. The fireball disappeared a few cm before me.

“Ah? It disappeared?”

When I tilt my head, the variant also tilted its neck. Then I remember that I was so eager to get a black robe. It is probably because of this black robe that the fireball didn’t hit at that time. Perhaps it is a special robe with the ability to extinguish or spread magic.

Now that I know the reason, I won’t hesitate anymore. I start running with a deep smile.

The variant fires fireball many times, but it disappears just before it hits me.

Closing in on the variant, its sharp claws swing down, but I can completely see its movement. The next time it try to grab me, I touch the magic circle on the sword handle with my finger.

(Bzzzzzzzzzzzt)

The electricity burst out, the function is working without problems.

“This is my thanks for yesterday!”

I cut off the variant from its shoulder, the blade stops around its chest. However, the electric shock that emanates from the blade makes the variant convulse and paralyzes it.

Seeing an opportunity, I pull out the sword and drop a sharp slash into its neck. The head fly in the air and tumble on the ground. The body also makes a heavy thud and falls to the ground.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

“I woooooonnnn!”

I raise my hands and immerse myself in the afterglow of victory. Then I hug the balm tree.

“With this the balm tree is mine. Kufufufu, I can now harvest with peace of mind.”

The reason why I am so particular about the variant is because of this balm tree. Partly, it is also because I hate losing but ultimately, the main reason is to get this balm fruit.

As I expected, those Kobolds must have monopolized the balm tree. That’s why it got an overreaction when I came here. The Kobolds are not here either since I annihilated them.

“Well then, what should I have for lunch?”

After switching my mood, I draw a magic circle on the ground with tree branches. I placed a red stone in the center and surrounded it with ordinary stones. I put the frying pan on the stone while touching the magic circle with my finger, and the fire emitted from the red stone.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

Since the firepower is weak, adding a few red stones increased the firepower. Putting a tiger meat in a frying pan gives off a fragrant scent. When it is cooked, it is sandwiched between the bread and I chew on it.

Since my young body has a high amount of exercise, it is easy to get hungry. I eat while putting the variant’s carcass aside, probably because I have a good appetite.

“…Hnn?”This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

When I look at the mutated corpse, it is swallowed like it sinks into the mud. I finally witnessed a decisive moment. The questions I have been thinking about since I saw the dump site can be finally solved.

The dungeon itself collects the corpses and moves them to the dump site. When it has weathered and turned into powder, it will be carried somewhere else. Even a little bit, I was able to clarify how the mechanism of the dungeon works.

“It’s as if it’s a living creature… I want to quickly meet other people, I want to hear more about this dungeon.” After finishing the meal, I pack up my backpack and left for a new miniature garden.

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After I practiced using the bow for about an hour, I suddenly start hitting the target. I’d like to say it is natural since I had practiced, but I felt awkward because of the sudden changes.

“Speaking of that, I didn’t look at my status yet. Maybe there are some changes.”

When I thought so and opened my status, new skills were certainly added.

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

Swordsmanship and Archery have been added.

It seems that the result of the training I made is reflected in the skill. If so, it can be speculated that the arrow suddenly started to hit because the correction from the archery skill activated.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

“Skills are convenient. Does it mean that I can acquire skills just by training it? It’s kind of like a game, isn’t this exciting?”

When I slashed the sword for a test, my movement is definitely going up. If I didn’t pay attention to it, I wouldn’t even notice that my body is undergoing skill correction. My curiosity grows as I try my skills.

No, it’s not good. I have decided to take the safest road possible. If I lose to my curiosity and die, I’ll be losing everything.

……….But I need to find new ingredients.

That’s right, I have to take an adventure to secure food. I’ve decided. I’ll go on an adventure.

When I think about it, I always have a lucky day as I went out carrying a backpack and holding the sword. I head to the second miniature garden where the tiger came out. Beyond that, there would surely be some unknown ingredients hidden.

When I look like this, I’m a genuine gourmet.

When I arrived at the miniature garden, there were still traces of blood left in the place where I fought the tiger. As I hear the sounds of many beasts inside the forest, my skin is slightly tingling.

I don’t feel as scared as yesterday though, probably because my body became stronger. Perhaps even my spirit is getting stronger. I hold my sword and sharpen my nerves. I feel something is approaching.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr”

A figure appeared from the grass. The silhouette is human. However, it is abnormally hairy and has sharp claws on its limbs. Its head had a dog-like face, and its tusks were wet with saliva.

My impression is a human like brown dog. I use Appraisal immediately.

【Appraisal Result: Kobold: A demon beast with a dog-like head. It has the shape of a person but does not understand human language, and its character is said to be extremely ferocious. You need to be vigilant around you as they act as a group】

I pay attention to Kobold in front of me while I look around. Certainly, I feel that something is going to happen. I didn’t expect it to be a battle with a large group, but mysteriously, I could afford it.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr!”

The kobold in front of me launched an attack. It swings its arm down to pierce me with its sharp claws, but I feel that its movement is slow. When I avoided the first strike, another arm is swinging down as if to chase. Watching the timing, I waved my sword.

“Kyaun!!”This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

The Kobold’s left arm flies in the air and fresh blood splatters. Seeing an opportunity, I kicked the Kobold’s belly, it flew a few meters and hit a tree. I only kicked it lightly but it’s amazing how powerful it is.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr!”

Another Kobold jumps out from behind the grass. Perhaps it was a signal, several Kobolds jumped out of the woods.

“I knew you guys were there!”

Turning around, I sweep my sword sideways, cutting the Kobolds in the rear, while doing that I make sure to avoid the claws of the Kobolds’ jumping around. After I killed the last one with my sword, I confirmed the enemy I had defeated.

“A total of six? I can’t believe that I beat them.”

Kobold corpses scattered on the ground. There are six of them, including the Kobold who died when it crashed into the tree. I might just be lucky, it would have been impossible.

This is my current ability.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

“I don’t feel any guilt. My swordsmanship skill may have corrected my spirit too.”

As I wipe the blood on the sword with a cloth, I stay alert to my surrounding. It seems safe for the time being. As I observe the Kobold’s corpse, I shake my head.

“Dog’s meat is useless. It’s human-like, on top of that it’s a dog so of course I can’t eat it.”

I left the Kobold’s corpses alone, I proceed to enter the woods ahead. Since I understand how to fight, I can see what’s ahead. It feels good to turn back a little later.

There are also some notes on the map, this miniature garden may also have a legacy of the former resident. I’m really wondering on what kind of fellow he is.

As I went through the forest, there were many plants that were different from the one in the previous garden. It’s scary because some of them are poisonous and some attack. I’m terrified on what would have happened without the Appraisal skill.

When I reach the center of the miniature garden, I discovered a large tree. The leaves are red and the thick trunk conveys strong life force. The roots were stretched up as the height rose from the ground, and the moss growing on the ground seemed to enhance its dignity.

I watch the majestic appearance for a while.

“It’s quite a big tree. Is this tree about 1000 years old?”

When I approach the tree, I find something like a fruit between the branches. Fruits the size of apples are everywhere.

【Appraisal Result: Balm fruit: The fruit of the balm tree. It is excellent in nourishment and tonic, has an effect of sharpening the five senses. Duration is about half a day. 】

I smiled. I am surprised to find such good food. I jump at a tree and climb up like a cockroach. I have always been good at climbing trees.

Seated on a suitable branch, I tear off a balm fruit. It looks completely like an orange. Peeling the thin orange peel, an orange flesh reveals from inside.

As expected, the contents are also that of an orange. I divide it in half and eat one bite. The sweetness and sourness spread, the unique flavor of orange spreads. It’s light, and the fruit juice overflows every time I chew. If I enter a Kotatsu and eat while watching TV, it will be the most delicious fruit.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

It is orange after all!

I retorted in my mind yet my hands and mouth didn’t stop. I finish eating it in no time, a strange feeling then rise in me.

The sound and smell rushed like flood, and I feel that my field of vision suddenly expanded. I feel that my skin become sensitive and I could even notice my pores. My sense of taste…. the aftertaste of the balm fruit is delicious.

More importantly, my senses of hearing, smell, sight, and touch increased. I can feel the breathing of every living creature, as if my consciousness is spread in the miniature garden.

Should it be called super-sense? Anyway, I can see that this new world can only be said to be amazing.

“It might be okay to go to the next miniature garden. It’s better to proceed with the exploration while this is in effect.”

I hesitated jumping off from the tree branch.

“Should I get two more?”

I tear off two balm fruits, this time I jump off the branch. It’s time to resume my adventure.

―However, Kobolds appeared from the surrounding forest the moment I landed. Moreover, the number is as large as twenty.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr!”

The Kobolds roared. It looks like they are already ready for war. I hold my sword and cut off the jumping one.

Was it the signal?This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

The remaining Kobolds start attacking me at once. While avoiding the Kobolds flooding like an ant who found their prey, I do a sword attack while barely avoiding each attack.

The scenery slowed down like slow motion and time was lengthened. The heightened sensation captures even the enemies behind me, sign of the moment of attack is clearly transmitted. But there are too many. It is troublesome because when I cut off its arm, it will stand up and attack again.

“This is endless!”

I activated the Pressure Point skill. Red dots displayed around the Kobold’s abdomen and thighs. I thrust my sword to the red dot without hesitation, the Kobold agonizes in pain and rolls to the ground.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

This may be good.

I also pulled out the knife, while passing each other, I pierced the red dots of the Kobolds. This skill is not for slicing, it does not work unless I hit the red dot. I just pierced the red dot. When all Kobolds were immobilized, I finished them with the sword.

“Fu―, it’s finally over…”

I killed everything and sat down at the root of the balm tree. When I checked the surrounding area, there were twenty Kobold bodies lying on the ground.

My confidence begin to boil. I became stronger. I also have plenty of physical strength left. Any enemy now―

“Grrrrrrrrrrrrr”

A beast emerged from the forest.

Its appearance is just like Kobold, but its physique is about 1.5 times larger, and the fur color is different, it’s that of reddish-brown. I recognize it as a creature that is Kobold but not really a Kobold.

【Appraisal Result: Kobold Variant: A special individual in which Kobold has mutated for some reason.】

I tried the appraisal, and it seems that it was a Kobold born by mutation. The face feels more like a wolf than a dog. I stand up and grasp the sword. The other side seems to be angry that its friends were killed.

It feels like it won’t let me go. Then I can only fight.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr!”

The variant started running little by little, it opens its big mouth and approaches me. It must be to bite my neck all at once. To keep it in check, I swing my sword, the variant quickly jumped back.

Apparently, it is wary of weapons. It’s not just a Kobold, its intelligence is different.

After that, it moves around me in circle. While looking for a chance to attack, only the menacing growl is incessant. It feels like I’m on the hunted side and I don’t like it.

 “That’s enough. I’m coming!”

I was able to get rid of my numbness and rushed out at once. The movement isn’t much different from a Kobold so I’ll cut it off and finish this. With that thought in mind, I raised my sword yet the variant stood still with his right palm facing me.

“Gauuuuuurrrrrr!”

A fireball about 30 cm in diameter appeared from the palm of its hand and was released at high speed.

“Aggee!?”

I feel something heavy and hot hit my belly, an explosion sound echoed out and I’m blown backwards. With such momentum, I hit my back against a tree. Severe pain strikes my abdomen and back.

“Uggghhh”

I tried to stand up with my sword as a cane, and the variant had already raised its arm in front of me. I avoided it at once, the tree behind me was quickly smashed.

It’s bad, really damn bad! If I did not escape, I could have died!

I squeezed all my strength and ran away.

From behind, the variant is chasing at a tremendous speed, but the distance does not shrink as I have more leg power.

I desperately run at the exit of the garden, when I arrive, I sprinted through the passage and escape to the garden where the vegetable garden is located.

At this time there was no one else here. After all, monsters can’t come in here. However, I could not feel relieved and decided to return to the hideout.

　◆◇◆This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com). Please read at my site.

When I returned to the hideout, I fell asleep – it was because of the fatigue and damage acquired in the battle.

“Uh…”

When I wake up, I notice a feeling of strangeness. There is no pain. The severe pain that was supposed to be present since I suffered from the mysterious attack and hit my back was gone. On the contrary, my body is full of strength and can be said to be in good shape.

I take off my clothes and stand in front of the mirror, I can see that my body has changed. The muscles were getting firmer and stronger. It is as hard as iron and at the same time it hasn’t lost flexibility. Not only that, my body was compressed so as to give a rather slim impression.

I can even see the notion that my body is evolving so that it can make powerful attacks quickly. Even the burns on my abdomen disappeared neatly, as if nothing had happened.

When I remember the variant, I felt regret. That must have been magic. The cause of my defeat was because I have forgotten the existence of magic.

Really, I jumped into the bosom of the enemy and retreated. Naturally, it’s my lose. Though after that, I escaped and survived.

“I’ll have my revenge. I’ll let that know how much I hate to lose.”

However, I wonder how to confront the opponent who uses magic. If I attack head on, I will be shot with magic. However, it’s a good idea to go for it. I have to manage the magic somehow. Of course, I can keep avoiding it but no matter how many lives I have, it won’t be enough.

 “For the time being, should I go to the disposal site? I might find something good there…”

I carry my backpack and leave the hidden room.

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I was shocked by the fact that this is a different world, I look like this but I’m a former President. I do have a good reputation for my quick recovery. Well, there are times when I want to die especially when I reached my limit, but, recalling the time when I got divorced and got robbed of my child is not that of a big deal for me.

By the way, I don’t really understand why I got divorced. It happened a short time after my wife suddenly changed her attitude and expressed that she wanted a divorce. My son was about five years old at that time while I was in my early thirties.

I detained my wife, but she ultimately took our child away. At that time, I felt more anger than sadness and I tried to take legal actions but I couldn’t find my wife and son. Even when I contacted my wife’s parent’s house, they told me that there was no such daughter in their house, and it come to a point where I don’t know what I was doing.

I filed a search request for my wife and son, I even hired a detective but I could not find any information. Even the traces of being in the same university had disappeared, I had no choice but to be at a loss.

Who was my wife? Where and what is our son doing now?

I don’t know. I just don’t understand.

“I couldn’t go home at that time, I wonder if I was hated because of that…”

I muttered as I changed my mood. Even if I recalled the past, I can’t do anything about it. Besides, I’m reborn now. I should live a new life.

I then packed the items I collected in my rucksack and carried it on my back at once. Since I could not fit them all in my rucksack, I borrowed a usable rucksack but I guess it’s a bit overkill to carry all three.

In addition to that, there’s also the tiger meat. I wrapped the meat in the leaves of a banana like tree (quite larger than that) which grew in the miniature garden.

“Ughh… Heavy…”

There’s a considerable weight on my back. Still, I walked without throwing away anything. Then a problem emerged, I don’t know where the exit is. I have confirmed that the entrance is closed and will not open anymore.

“What should I do…?”

Looking at the wall of the room, I found that there’s a large triangle engraved on it. Below that, I can see something like a rectangular hidden door. The surrounding wall and the hidden door are subtly different in color.

When I pushed it, the hidden door opens with a loud noise. What a mechanism! The thick wall opens up with just a little force. I passed through quickly and I can now see the water canal. I immediately understood that I’m now outside the room. When I let go of the door I was pushing, it closed with that same loud noise.

It’s fascinating because it doesn’t look like there is a hidden door when it is viewed from the outside. I tried pushing the closed door but I couldn’t open it from the outside. It seems like I can only enter from the other hidden door.

I reached for the wall where the large room is, I hope the dead can sleep peacefully. Carrying the heavy luggage on my back, I finally arrived at the hideout, I then slumped to the floor.

“I’m dead tired.”

While saying so, I get up and start preparing my meal. I’m the only one here, so I have no time to rest.

“Today as well, orc’s meat is fine.”

I removed the meat from the box next to the stove. This wooden box was originally in this room, I decided to use it as food storage. It’s convenient because it comes with a lid to block odor.

“Ah right, I found a frying pan at the disposal site.”

I took out the frying pan from the rucksack and placed it on the stove. I then added some water to boil in the pot next to it. It’s great that this stove has two burners.

When the meat was placed on the hot frying pan, a fragrant aroma filled the area. I also made soup while putting up with my hunger. Well, I only added some chopped vegetables and seasoned it with salt and pepper. When the food was cooked, I put it on the table and start eating.

“Mmm! Delicious!”

I agree that hunger is the best seasoning, whatever you eat is delicious. After I finished eating the steak and soup, I gulped some water and then I lay down on the sofa.

“Oops, I haven’t done my sword practice yet.”

I grabbed the sword and just like an after meal exercise, I start practicing some swings and foot-handling for about an hour. When I was a student, I had a kendo lesson so I based it on that. Recalling today’s battle with the tiger, I can see that it cannot cope with my kendo movements. So I decided to aim for Shinichi Tanaka’s swordsmanship, which is a mixture of kendo.

The higher the goal, the better.

After the training, I bathe in the water canal. I was once again assaulted with strong sleepiness so I decided to sleep on the sofa.

　◆◇◆

When I wake up, my body feels light. I immediately took off my clothes and went in front of the mirror, once again, I turned to a different person from before I slept.

Blood vessels stand out in the firm muscles from my shoulder to the arms. My chest has enlarged and my abdominal muscles were in perfect proportion. Ultimately, my physique has change, but it is hard to say that it is normal.

My strength is getting better and better, I could now easily hold the three rucksacks I had left alone. Holding the sword is now as light as holding a knife. That’s not all. Perhaps my eyesight has improved too, the room has become even brighter, and my mind is now clearer than ever before.

I sat down on the sofa and held my stomach as I laughed heartily.

“Ahahahahahahahaha! What is this! Isn’t this amazing!”

I can’t stop laughing. I am not good at exercising after all, if anything, I am the type that does not have muscle easily. I was never born to have this much muscle, and I have never achieved physical remodeling in such a short period of time.

This growth rate is absurd. I wonder who won’t be dumbfounded by this.

“Ah- I laughed so hard. My stomach still hurts.”

I get up from the sofa and start exercising. The muscle training that was so painful when I was a student can be done easily now. It’s such a pleasant feeling. This way, I could trust my muscles.

“Now then, this should be enough for muscle training, should I sort out the luggage?”

As I separate the harvest from each rucksack, I noticed something.

Where did the resident of this hideout store their food and daily necessities by the way?

That is not all. There are no toilet or bed in this room.

“Did they do their business in the water canal below? Uh-, no, that’s really dirty…”

Then, the bookshelf came into my eyes.

“Perhaps…”

When I slide the bookshelf to the side, it slides like a sliding door. As I look closely, there are rails under the bookshelf. I want to tell myself that I should have investigated more a while ago.

From the back of the bookshelf, a thing that looks like an entrance appears. And I can’t see anything behind it as it’s too dark. I stepped forward for the time being, then the two lighting stands in the room turned on in response to me.

I think that the stand is made of magic circles and mysterious stones, not some sort of mechanism.

Eventually, I want to check it so I directly went inside. There was a bed in the center of the room. There are doors on the right and left walls, as expected, it should be the toilet and storage place. I tried opening from the right door first.

“Is this the toilet?”

When I opened the door, there was a Western style toilet inside the small room. There are small buttons on the wall. I then tried pushing the button. Water flowed into the toilet bowl with a loud flush. It’s convenient, but I was a little curious where this water is flowing to.

It doesn’t mean it’s flowing down the water canal, right?

Next, I opened the door on the left, I can see that there are many shelves with a large space. I looked into the shelves and found that what used to be food has weathered into powder.

So was the corpse at the disposal site, it has weathered rather than being corrupted. And from the ingredients here, I can’t see any small insect. Seeing that, I am now convinced. For some reason, bacteria cannot reproduce in this dungeon. Otherwise, there is no explanation for it.

I could deduce that creatures below a certain size cannot live in this dungeon. I can only think of that as the reason. However, I got caught up with one thing.

How did the plants in the miniature garden breed in the absence of microbes? Microbes are natural cleaners. It decomposes many things and returns everything naturally. The plants should be absorbing those nutrients and grow thanks to it, but if I think in that way, my previous reasoning might be wrong.

“Hmm, I could only make a conclusion by observing the dungeon.”

I resumed on checking the storage room. The shelves can be used as food items, but I planned to collect many weapons and armor in the future. I want to secure a space for that. Therefore I shifted the shelves slightly to create a larger space.

“Something like this should do. Well then, I should put the garbage together.”

I brought a white cloth and then I placed the weathered and powdered ones in it. I carried it on my back and then I head to the disposal site.

“It’s definitely around here…”

I walked around while kicking the area that seems to be the entrance with my foot, only one place opens slightly. I barged in there and slide down the slope, I then sprint through the passage. The formidable leg power carried me to the disposal site like a wind.

No matter how many times I look at the place where the corpses are piled up, my heart still hurts. As a parent, this scene is quite sad, there would have been a different life for them if they didn’t die.

I wanted to bury them in the ground but the floor of this room is inorganic and hard, like it was made of concrete. I apologized to them that I could not do anything. I then scattered the powder in the cloth near the mountain.

“Now then, it’s time to get back to it………Hn, what is that?”

Looking at the hole in the ceiling, I found that there was something like a thorn attached at the inner part. Good. There is something I’m interested in. Something like a black cloth is caught on one of the thorns. I felt that the black cloth was slightly rippling, but the light was moderate.

 “Hmm…..must be my imagination. Let’s head back for now.”

I then left the disposal site.

　◆◇◆

I wake up on the bed, and feeling refreshed, I start stretching. I finally came to sleep in a comfortable place. Considering the experience of sleeping in a blanket wrapped in cardboard, it’s natural that it feels great.

The current me is now invincible.

I get up from the bed and start the sword training after doing some light muscle exercise. Someone said that if the muscles awaken, the head will also wake up. It’s really strange, but I do feel like that when I tried it.

Now my muscles, wake up!

After the training, I start eating. To be honest, I don’t even know what time it is. So I’m not sure if this is should be the time for breakfast.

Nonetheless, I could say it’s morning because my body clock somehow informs me that it is morning. After finishing the meal, the next step is to prepare for departure. I put on a leather chest pad, shin pad and rucksack, then lastly, I equipped the sword and knife.

“Oops, I have to bring the bow and hoe.”

I had a bow with me yesterday but I missed the timing to use it. It’s also necessary to train on it. Well, the hoe is for the field.

“Alright, let’s go!”

I rushed out of the hideout and run to the miniature garden. I found the shortest route yesterday, so I will not take more than three hours getting there today.

As expected, I arrived at the stairs in about 30 minutes, I descend on the stairs without hesitation. What I can see is the same miniature garden as yesterday. With the scene of the overgrown trees, I feel assured that growing herbs here won’t be a problem.

“First, I should make a road.”

I grabbed the hoe and dig the ground from the entrance to the field. I don’t know whether it was the Mithril hoe’s efficiency, but I can cut even the roots of the grass, I can even easily dig the soil with weeds. This feels good.

I arrived at the field after digging around, I dig up the place that was once a vegetable garden. Mixing soil while harvesting vegetables creates ridges. Normally, I should be mixing it with fertilizers, but it is difficult for now, so I ignore it.

“It now resembles a field. Then, I’ll replant now.”

I replant the still-growing Hasai and then bury the Jagaimu in another ridge. In addition to this, I also planted Tamanne (onions) and Jinin (carrots) and decided to see the progress.

If the flower blooms, I will have to pollinate them, so it will be a long time before it can be harvested.This is translated by Yume Neiji (yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com).

“Next is bow practice.”

I grab the bow and pull the string. I could now easily pull the string that I could not pull before. After all, the benefits of muscles are endless. When I pulled out the string, the wind blew and a transparent arrow appeared on the bow.

Apparently, this bow does not need to carry an arrow. I was skeptical that there were no arrows in the storage area for the bows, now, it makes sense.

When I look closely at the bow, I can see that it is inscribed with small spell-like thing. These letters seem to have made it possible to create an arrow of air.

I aimed at the bird on the tree with the bow in place. A bird that looks just like a chicken eats nut in a carefree manner.

I’m craving to eat roasted chicken. I want that delicious thing. After I shot the arrow, it sticks near the bird and the arrow disappears. The surprised bird threw away the nut and fled. It’s a failure.

“The bow is pretty difficult. It will take time before I get the hang of it.”

I decided to practice bow shooting for a while.

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I start the exploration. While I am looking at the map I notice something, only the center of this floor is filled with a square. It feels like a big space for a pillar. I am interested in it so I decided to go to that place.

In about two hours, I arrived in the area then I tried to inspect the walls and surroundings, but I could not confirm anything. I examine it carefully like it’s a secret hideout, but it seemed to have been a misunderstanding. However, I am still concerned about it because of the little writing seen in the central part.

I start walking again, I reached the stairs in about three hours. Considering the time, it is quite wide, but since I’m only walking, the time can still be shortened. In addition, the detour may also be the cause.

The purpose is exploration so there is no need to hurry. The stairs continue down, and the end is pitch black. Just in case, I decided to pull out my sword before heading down the stairs.

“………”

When I went down the long stairs, I got surprised and fell silent. From the high ceiling, light is falling down. A wall can be seen in the distance. There were overgrown lush trees and waist high grass growing in the area. I could hear a bird-like cry, creating the illusion of coming to another world.

I immediately check the map to find out where the jungle in my field of view extends.

“So that’s it, this floor is like a miniature garden.”

This jungle spreading in front of me is one of the miniature gardens written in the map. For the time being, I decided to explore inside the jungle without removing the sword.

【Appraisal Result: Eve tree】

【Appraisal Result: Moyafu tree】

【Appraisal Result: Rubber tree】

I appraised the plants one after another, all of them are things I don’t know. I see some trees that are bearing fruits, but I can’t decide whether they are edible or not. I searched for something that insects were eating, but insect itself couldn’t be found. This is so unnatural, there are no insects here.

“There are no insects? Then what do the flying birds eat sometimes?”

I tilted my head. I hide and observe the birds on the tree, I think the birds that looked like red parrots are munching on some yellow-green fruit. I found the fruit as soon as I searched for it. I observe one piece of fruit. It looks completely peachy.

“The smell is sweet. It feels like peach to the touch, is it only the color that differ?”

When peeled thinly, a yellow-green pulp appears from below. I was a little lost, but I dared to bite.

“What is this sweet fruit!”

The aroma and sweetness penetrated in my mouth. It has a fresh and ripe peach taste. However, its sugary content is beyond imagination. The sweetness far exceeds that of high-class white peaches. It is so delicious that I had eaten everything before I knew it.

Another one, I tear off one more mysterious peach to be appraised.

【Appraisal Result: Momon fruit: very sweet and is called phantom fruit. Edible】

“It’s the fruit of a phantom tree huh, it should really be delicious….. Hn?”

I immediately noticed that the appraisal results had explanations. There should have been no commentary until now. I quickly opened my status.

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

I levelled up! The appraisal skill has become intermediate.

Dear me!, this appraisal skill is a convenient power. Not only the name but even the explanation is written, makes me feel really indebted to this skill.

Thanks! I’m grateful.

As I examined the fruits I saw previously, I found that most of them were edible. Moreover, many seemed to be varieties called phantom fruit, some of which may have been already lost. That was my intuition kicking in.

It’s edible because it may have been planted by the people who built the hideout. Humans cannot live on water alone. So maybe they were planting food on this floor. As evidence of this, many inscriptions were seen on the map.

When I move around the room relying on the map, I find something like vegetables this time. The grass were overgrown, but there are traces of farming underneath, such as embankments.

I don’t know how many years have passed, but the forgotten vegetables are still growing vigorously among the grass. When I pulled out something like a radish leaf, a thick white root appeared.

While I’m at it, I appraise it.

【Appraisal Result: Daikon: Has light taste but it has a lot of water. It is often used for pickles and has a wide variety of cooking methods. Edible】

I wanted to see radish, but it turned to be something similar. Rather, I should be glad that it is a vegetable I knew. In addition, many vegetables such as “Hasai” which is similar to Chinese cabbage and “Jagaimu” similar to potato were harvested.

This vegetables seems to be self-sufficient.

I took several hours to weed out and restore the former garden. I regretted it, I should have brought the hoe, but I decided to go ahead by packing the harvested vegetables in my backpack.

I reached the exit of the room by following a trackless path, the passage leading to the next room extends to the back.

There are many miniature gardens on the map, so I’d like to check if that is true. After walking in the dimly lit passage, I stepped into the next room. It’s a dense forest. The jungle was spreading likewise.

“The atmosphere has changed a little…”

The room I saw previously was an artificial miniature garden, but this feels like a real jungle for beasts. My instinct is telling me not to go any further.

“It might be better to turn back.”

When I looked back, a creature was blocking the entrance. It has a total length of 2 meters, and its entire body is intimidating with its blue and black stripes. The fangs sharply claim that it’s a natural predator.

The big tiger-like creature roars.

“Uh……”

I retreated from fear. No matter who, being stared by such tiger would not remain calm. That tiger is an object of fear. Still, I held my sword with my shaking hands. At the back of the place where I fled to is a jungle. It’s the tiger’s domain.

“Grrrrrrrr…”

The tiger lowered its posture while growling. It seems that it’s going to hunt me. I won’t let that happen, I activate the Pressure Point skill. Two red dots appeared on the tiger’s body. One is on the belly, the other is around the hips.

“Bring it on! Hey! What happened! Come on!”

I spread my hands and desperately provoke the tiger. Carnivorous animals have an instinct that makes them want to chase after their prey escapes. On the other hand, I’ll be wary if this creature that is larger than me, has a will to fight.

I believe in the knowledge I received somewhere, I continued the threat of provocation.

 “Grraaaawrrr!”

The tiger jumped in with a momentary opening. I used my sword as a shield and prevented its forefoot and fangs, but I was pushed down with its force and was taken as a mount.

“Graawr! Graawr!”

The tiger’s face biting the blade get’s closer. It’s forefoot presses me to the ground with tremendous force, escape from here is a difficult task.

“Kuh… I died once! I’m not scared!”

I managed to pull out the knife I had on my waist and pierced the red dot on the tiger’s abdomen.

“Gugaaaaa !?”

The tiger flies off and rolls in pain on the ground. It’s probably in agony. As soon as I stand up, I grasp the sword and approach the tiger.

“It’s my victory!”

I swing down my sword around the tiger’s neck. The head rolls gently and bright red blood spreads on the ground. My hips gave out and I sit down on the ground.

“Hahaha……… I won against a tiger.”

Strangely, I was more satisfied than frightened. It made me more confident to win against the tiger than to win against the orc. I got up and carried the body of the tiger. I decided to take the corpse and return to the previous garden.

　◆◇◆

“This doesn’t work well…”

I started dismantling the tiger in the miniature garden without monsters, but it is quite difficult. Five hours had passed by the time I managed to mobilize all the knowledge I had learned. While thinking it’s acceptable as this was my first time, still, I want to do better next time.

There’s one thing I noticed in this miniature garden, stream is flowing through. Water flowed through a small hole in the wall, creating a flow across the room. The final point is the opposite wall, where water again flows into the small hole. When I scooped up the water from the stream, I could see glitter and light particles.

There may be no monsters because of this stream. However, it is strange that birds live here. I wonder if the tiger is a monster and the bird in this room is not.

Doubtful points linger in my head.

I, who procured the meat, decided to return to the hideout for the time being. In today’s exploration, map confirmation is the first priority. Coincidentally, I also got vegetables and meat, so it’s better to end it here today. I also want to explore a little more on the 20th floor where I live.

After going up the stairs and returning to the 20th floor, I was still concerned about the central part so I turned my feet around. I checked again but there was no place that would most likely be an entrance.

“I’m concerned about this… I can’t help but be concerned of it! If only I can read the letters, I’ll know what this filled part is! Damn!”

While grinding my teeth, I decided to return to the hideout. I can’t just spend all my time exploring. Sword training is also waiting today.

However I felt quite tired, probably because of the mental burden of fighting the tiger. I decided to take a break on the road not far from the hideout.

“Heigh-hoh ―Agyaaa!?”

As soon as I sit down on the floor and leaned my back against the wall, I fell back.

“O-Ouch!….. what the heck is this?”

I struck my butt strongly, so I checked the surroundings while rubbing it, a dark passage continued straight to somewhere. Looking at the wall that I have rolled in, there was a slope like a slide.

However, the place that seems to be the entrance is completely closed. Apparently, when I leaned on the wall, the door’s mechanism opened and I fall down here.

“The ceiling is low. Is it a feeling between the 20th and 21st floors?”

In order to get out of here, I have to go ahead. I decided to go through the frightening passage. However, the location of this place was not written on the map.

I wonder if I found a mechanism that the previous residents didn’t know about. I feel a little excited when I think so. If this hidden room turns to be a big discovery, I’ll live here. I won’t let anyone call me homeless anymore.

And then the passage ended and I arrived at a large room.

On each side of the square room, things like candle holders are installed, and on top of that, small crystals are placed. The crystals were shining and vaguely illuminating the room. Something is piled up at the center of the room that forms a mountain.

I approach the mountain and realized what it was. It’s a huge pile of corpses. Corpses of people and other creatures are piled forming a huge mountain.

I open the map quickly, the size and shape of the room coincide with the filled area. This is the center of the 20th floor and the mysterious place.

I’m lucky enough to find the entrance.

“But here is…”

I come closer to the mountain of corpses, none of them were rotted and dried. The upper one is still in its original form, but when it went to the lower one, it has weathered and became powdery. Furthermore, the powder seems to be sucked little by little into the holes in the floor of the room.

I realize that this is a disposal site. It’s a place to collect and destroy people and beasts killed from somewhere. I can only think so.

At this time, something is falling from the ceiling. I immediately shifted my eyes, I think there is a hole in the ceiling. At the top of the mountain, I saw a bloody, broken white man.

This is surely a dump site, like a garbage dump.

“Does this mean that the creatures that died in the dungeon will be brought here? Really, what’s with this place? I got more and more confused.”

I accidentally see a corpse carrying a backpack amidst the mountain of corpses. I don’t want to loot the corpses, but in order to live, I don’t have a choice.

I collect the backpack and confirm the things inside.

“Dried meat and bread. This is …”

I found a bottle filled with black powder and smelled it. Apparently it’s pepper. I got a good one. Then I found another small jewel, I tilted my head.

A red gem about the size of a marble. It feels like I’ve seen it somewhere…

Right, it’s the stove!

“Hmm, maybe this gem is a common tool. Seems like it’s worth it to retrieve it.”

After that, I loot few more corpses and collected food and tools.

Appraisal is a big success here as well. For those I don’t recognize, I used my Appraisal skill, I unexpectedly find some rare items.

【Appraisal Result: Necklace of the Medil family: A necklace made by processing a rare crystal called Saint Crystal. In the Medil family, it is passed down to the eldest son for generations. 】

I was relieved. I realized a fact and I couldn’t fool myself anymore. There is definitely a human town somewhere, where people live for a long time.

That rich living area I just secured…

Monsters I have never seen….

A dungeon that I don’t even know how far it goes…

Equipped with clothes that are impossible in modern time…

Presence of magic and skills….

All of them were asserting that this is another world.

I’m in another world… I am reincarnated in a different world.

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At first glance it looks like a warehouse.

White dust-proof cloths are everywhere, making me understand that people were here long ago. The walls and ceiling are made of concrete giving off artificial cold feel.

The floor is made with wooden flooring and it is a little old and full of scratches but it does not look rotten. There were four lighting stands in the room, warm reddish light were shining brightly, like the color of a light bulb.

Looking at the back, I can see something like a fireplace. I immediately look inside, but it seems that it is difficult to go outside because some iron grids were firmly set in the chimney part. However in the worst case, I may go outside from here. It may not be connected outside though as I cannot feel the wind.

Looking at the wall just to the left of the fireplace, there was a large mirror on it. Immediately after rushing over, I saw my own appearance. I really did become a young person.

My face looks younger and my body grown into a teenager. The slightly long black hair and the shallowly carved face invite nostalgia.

“I really did rejuvenate… exactly the same as before…”

As I confirmed myself, I am overflowed with joy, sadness and a little fear. I don’t know the reason, but I became younger. I might be able to start my life again. At the same time, the suspicion as to “why?” rises.

 “……..There may be a hint here.”

Randomly stripping off some white cloths, furniture and bookshelves appeared from underneath. Seeing the bookshelf, I pick up a book.

The book’s spine had letters that I can’t understand, and the title also had letters that I didn’t know of. A magic circle was drawn under the title, and it had a strangely smooth feel as if it was made of leather. Somehow, it’s an old book in which the word spellbook fits nicely.

When I flipped through the pages inside, I couldn’t read what was written with all of the unknown letters. Moreover, every page is closely spelled from top to bottom. It was even handwritten, which means that it was written by a considerable intellectual.

 “I can’t read it at all…. how about the other books…”

I put the book back on the shelf, then I picked up another book and I started reading in the same manner. As expected, I couldn’t read it, I can’t understand even a fragment. However, since magic circles appear like illustrations, I can barely judge that it is a book about magic.

Having stopped reading the book, I sit down on the sofa, making a creaking sound.

I give up. I have no idea if this is the world after death or not. Besides, I don’t even know what to do from now on…

I feel hungry when I think about such things.

“Is it about time to prepare my meal?”

As I check inside the room, I discovered something that look like a stove. A magic circle is engraved in the rectangular metal box. It looks like a stove, so I checked it out and found a button like thing in the corner of the box. When I pushed it, a fire came out of the magic circle. Undoubtedly, it’s a stove.

“Un, it looks like the fire is coming out of the magic circle, but is it really gas that’s coming from somewhere?”

For the time being, I tried to smell it. Of course it is odorless. Gases such as propane are known to be odorless because they have an artificial odor. Either way, I decided to turn off the fire and open the stove.

“………W-What is this?”

Inside the box, a stone that look like a red gem was installed. A metal claw firmly holds the fist-sized gem and there is nothing else around it.

There is only a stone.

When I turn over the cover on which the magic circle is drawn, something like a small mechanism is attached to it. I don’t understand the meaning of it.

“This thing doesn’t produce fire because of machines or gas. It might be better to think that it’s working magically.”

It’s unbelievable, but when I actually experience it like this, I can understand that magic exists. Or there may be another word for it in this world. It’s really interesting.

I put the stove back together then I immediately take out the saucepan and meat from the backpack. Unfortunately, I only have rock salt as seasoning, so I decided to put up with salt alone.

I cut the oak legs into slices with the knife and toss them into the saucepan. It would be nice to have a frying pan, but unfortunately I don’t have one. And I don’t feel like rummaging in this room.

My rejuvenated stomach rumbles actively and urges me to eat quickly.

 “Something like this is all right.”

I cooked it quite a bit just in case, but it looks like pork no matter how I look at it. I found few plates near the stove so I put the meat on it. I placed it on the table in front of the sofa, took out the fork from the backpack and put my hands together.

“Thanks for the food.”

Nervously, I put the meat in my mouth. After biting a bit, I confirmed that there was no poison while tasting the meat. It takes courage to eat something you don’t know.

I have eaten something close to garbage, but I can do that because of my trust in Japanese food. It’s the first time I’ve ever eaten one’s feet and I don’t even know what the creature is exactly.

“Un… this is delicious.”

As expected, it similar to pork. It’s very juicy with tender meat. Every time I chew, the juice overflows and the sweetness of the fat spreads in my mouth. Moreover, it is not greasy.

I know because I ate so much high class food until I get tired of it. This is high quality pork. I became so hungry that I devoured the meat. I was excited about the high-quality meat for the first time in several years.

 “Fu, I’m getting sleepy.”

I lay down on the sofa and decided to take a rest.

　◆◇◆

“Hmmmmm, is this the 20th floor?”

When I woke up, I immediately looked up another book. There are more than 200 books on the shelf. It’s a great source of information for anyone who doesn’t know anything. However, since the characters are unreadable, there is no choice but to judge from the illustrations.

And there is a book that caught my eye. Something like a map is drawn in detail inside, and letters are written in places.

Something popped in my mind –this should be the map of this dungeon.

The map is counted from the first page in order, and it is just twenty when counting to the current location. I was very grateful because this place was also written on the map.

However, the problem is not solved. Rather, I feel that the mystery has deepened. In the first place, I don’t even know if this is underground or if I’m inside a building like structure.

“I still need to check the other floors after all. But I can’t compete with monsters at the moment.”

I think things thru while walking around the room. I think frantically, but the answer is already out. All I have to do is to strengthen myself. Well, enough of that, the problem is how to get stronger.

“…Is there something in this room?”

When I explored the room, I noticed that there’s still something covered with white cloth. I immediately checked it out, many weapons appeared underneath.

A wide variety of weapons such as swords and spears are organized, leaning against each other. I swallowed raw saliva –that is because the weapons reflected a silver light, as if they were waiting to be used. It’s exactly a man’s romance.

When I pick up the sword, it is a little heavy. Training will be necessary to master it. I tried to touch the spear and axe, but I feel that it is unsuitable to me.

The most striking one is the cane. The cane is made of old wood, and it has a very distinctive style and I could feel pressure from it. It has an antique design that a hermit has.

I tried to pick it up in my hand, but I suddenly had a bad feeling and stopped. The cane itself wears something like heavy air, I was worried I would somehow be rejected.

“If anything, it might have been the personal belongings of the resident of this room.”

I mutter so and a good idea flashed.

“…Wait a minute. I have an appraisal skill. I may find the perfect one by examining these weapons.”

I immediately appraise the weapons.

【Appraisal Result: Mithril Sword】

【Appraisal Result: Mithril Spear】

【Appraisal Result: Mithril Axe】

【Appraisal Result: Mithril Hammer】

【Appraisal Result: Mithril Thin Sword】

【Appraisal Result: Old Wood bow】

【Appraisal Result: Mithril Hoe】

I stopped the appraisal.

They all have different designs, but they seem to be made of Mithril. It seems to be different when it comes to the bow, but the strings are strong, probably because it is known to be of good quality, I cannot pull it out. I can’t do this without training.

…I can’t say anything about the hoe.

Incidentally, I see the cane I saw previously then I used the appraisal.

【Appraisal Failure: ***】

“It’s no good. Maybe I can’t see it unless I raise the level of my appraisal skill.”

Holding the Mithril Sword, I start swinging it. After gaining my young body, I have a lot of physical strength. I have to do something or else I’ll become restless.

I shook the sword for about an hour, I was sweating and I fell to the floor.

“Hah… hah… this is awful… it looks like I still have a long way to go…”

When I stood up to bathe, I noticed that there was a lion-like statue near the entrance that was still open. Even if there is someone right in front of me, I can still be overlooked, it seems that they would just completely pass by the stone statue as usual.

As I approached it, there is a hole in the left eye side of the statue. I put my finger in and something like a button touched my finger. When I pushed it, a chain appeared at the entrance, after I pulled it up, the entrance closed completely.

“The resident who built this didn’t really want to be found.”

I smiled at the device. When I activated the device again, the entrance opened and I could see the water canal outside.

Probably because the former residents had been bathing too, I was able to borrow something like a tub and towel inside the room. I take off my clothes then I sit down in a shallow water canal and wash my body. There seems to be no soap here, so I have to rub my body with the towel.

But young body is really good. It feels good to soak in water. When I picked up the water with my hands, I noticed that it was slightly sparkling. Particles of light shine and spill out of my hands fantastically. I was moved and scooped up the water many times.

“The reason I don’t see monsters on this floor is may be in the water. I found a good place.”

I felt as if I had found a garbage dump in a hidden area. It’s my own secret place now. After all, it is wise to secure a living quarter here. It’s also great if I can talk to others.

I remembered Shige-san, and then I felt angry at the monster that killed him. I want to be strong enough to beat such monster. After I finished my bathe, I return to my room and take a rest because I suddenly felt a strong drowsiness.

When I woke up, I felt strange. That is because I felt a light vigor overflowing in my body. It was like I became a totally different person from before I fell asleep. My muscles are tight, and the difference was clear from my appearance. My muscles have increased overall.

That said, my physique remained the same, medium build and average height. Yet it looked like it’s been a month since I started training.

I was so surprised at the sudden change. I wondered what caused it, but at the moment I don’t know because there are too many unclear points. Nevertheless, I am dancing for joy as this is too amazing.

It would be wonderful if a body that was a result of months or years workout would grow in only a few days. It is better to continue training here and verify whether it is true.

“Well then, should I get ready?”

As I was surprised to see my muscles, I decided to prepare my luggage. I’m going to look at the lower floors. At the same time, exploration of this floor will also proceed.

After the preparations were completed, I go outside through the hidden room’s entrance. When I pressed the left eye of the lion near the water source, I pulled up the chain at the entrance and the room closed. I also need to find out if there is device like this in the dungeon.

I’m looking forward to it. I opened the map and I start walking towards the place with the stairs.

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【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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