My name is Nakao Ryuu. I was working at a certain company in Tokyo. While the salary was good, mostly i work overtime. It's because some of my juniors who's new at work can't finish their work.
It's now 7pm. I was busy looking through some documents that's in my desk. My juniors almost went home, except for one.
"Mr. Nakao! Let me help you!" A girl in her twenties said. Her name is Ichijou Arisa, and she just joined the department last month. She was assigned at my group, and so she was helping me.
"Thank you, Ichijou. It's a big help." I said.
"Don't worry about it, Mr. Nakao. It's just those guys just don't really do their works properly that you are suffering from this." Ichijou said. I gave her a warm smile.
Mostly of the juniors from my group head home early, making different excuses like 'My mom just visited my home' or 'My friends asked me to go' and so, i catched all of their work just like that.
"You know, Mr. Nakao, sometimes you need to say no, or else they will abuse you, you know."
"Well, i guess you're right." I can't afford to get their heads big. As their senior, i need to act properly. But when those guys just ask something, it's hard to say no.
"I'm fine right here, so you can go home now, Ichijou." I said to her.
"Eh? Why?" Ichijou cried. "I can't afford you work here while i'm in my house just chilling."
"No, it's really fine. I was going to wrap this up after this two." I said, waving the papers in my hand.
"Are you really okay with it?" Ichijou said. Really now...
"Yeah i'm fine. Besides, you have a date with your boyfriend later, right?" I said teasingly. From that, Ichijou's face went bright red: "Eh? How did you know?"
Well, you did announced it earlier at work. She was bragging during lunch that 'I have a date with my boyfriend later' with a loud voice that anyone can hear it.
"Don't worry about it and get ready." I said, giving a smile. She hesitated at first but then gave up.
"Okay, okay. I'm going home." Ichijou prepared to leave.
"Thanks for your hard work." I walked her until outside. A guy also in his twenties was waiting. I said goodbye to them, then goes back inside.
I continuously worked at those papers, and suddenly, i got sleepy. I still have more things to do, so i decided to nap a little.
I set the alarm to ring after 30 minutes, then took a nap on my desk.
....
....
"...ster!"
....
"Mister.....!!!"
I suddenly opened my eyes, and a bright light greeted me. I covered my eyes with my arm. Did someone called me?
I tried to get up, noticing i was sleeping in a grass. What the hell happened?
The sky is bright blue, together with the sunlight coming from the sun. Wait it's morning?
I looked around at my surroundings. A single plant that looks like a tree was in the middle of the plains, and the grass are suprisingly tiny. Where am i? I'm pretty sure i was sleeping in the office room earlier. Oh wait, is this a dream?
"Misteeeerrrr!!!" Suddenly, a girl's voice echoed on my ears. I was taken aback. I looked at the surroundings for the sound's direction, but no one was in there.
"Misteeeerrr!!" That voice again. It seems really near, but i can't determine the exact location. Until i saw a figure of a human flying around me.
"Huh?" I focused on the flying entity, and when i looked, a little girl with a pointy ears and a slight transparent wings flew back and forth.
"W-who are you?" I spoke to the flying girl, and it stopped moving.
"Finally, you're awake! I tried to woke you several times, but you didn't budged." The little girl said. Wait it spoke!
Oh well, this was probably a dream so i guess i might hear what she was going to say.
"So, what do you want from me, Little Miss?" I said.
"Don't call me little!" She punched my forehead, which felt a weak flick.
"Ow, wait what are you doing?" I complained.
"Don't call me little! It may not look like it, but i'm 206 years old!" She said it proudly, with her chest high. Wait she was that old?!
"Whoa?? You're size doesn't really reflect on your true age tho-" Once again, she punched me. But it was double the pain, so it kinda hurts.
"Don't say that when looking at my chest! I'm still growing!" She pouted. Why is this little thing so cute?
For a 206 years old, she's full of energy. I envy her, me as a turning 30 years old guy with no girlfriend.
"Wait, that's not it! I want to ask your help! Please save the Spirit Realm!"
...
What's happening?? Suddenly, i was sitting on a chair together with 10 more people. I was in the same size as them, although they're so small earlier. And that plant was apparently their base.
"We need your help, Mister!" A woman looked like in her thirties said.
"Umm, could you explain what's happening?" I asked. "I don't really grasp what's happening right now."
"Then let me explain!" The girl from earlier stood up. Really, she's full of energy despite her age.
"Sorry but, i don't think you said your name is?" I said.
"Oh yeah, i haven't said my name." She stood up. "My name is Chloe. Then, i'm going to explain to you what's happening."
And then, she started explaining. The explanation was super long, so i'll just make it short:
Apparently, this world was called the "Spirit Realm", and these guys i'm meeting right now was called Spirits. The Dark Devil from the "Outside Realm" are now attacking this realm, swearing revenge on the elders of this land.
The Dark Devils are also spirits, but they are the ones who got exiled from this land. Basically, they are criminals.
As for why i was here, apparently they casted a ritual, and my soul was caught up into it. The ritual was not completed yet, so i was here in my original size.
And so, they want me from the "Living Realm", to help them.
"Wait, when you said "Living Realm", what do you mean by it?" I asked.
The leader of the spirits, who's name is Leona, stood up. "When people die, they go to the afterlife. From there, they will be judged based on their sins on the Living Realm, and decided wherever they will go to the Spirit Realm or also known as "Heaven", or will go to the Dark Realm or also known as "Hell". Regardless, the memories of the past from when you are living will be erased. Here, if a spirit from the Spirit Realm caused a sin, they will be judged by the Heavenly Court, and will be thrown into the "Outside Realm"."
"In the spirit realm, we can see the activities the living humans do. And because of the influence of it, whatever they are good or bad, they got adopted by the spirits. Recently, we held our own festival based on the festivals on Earth."
So the Living Realm are the Earth, the Spirit Realm are the Heaven, and the Dark Realm are the Hell. Wait, what's with this world system?
"So the Dark Devils are once Spirits from here, then what's the thing that goes to hell called?" I asked.
"Well, they just called "Demons."" Leona said. So there's no change in here, huh?
I get the situation. Those Dark Devils wanted to take revenge to the spirits because they were thrown away, and their lives turned into a miserable one. In that case, the Dark Devils are the wrong ones. Wait a minute, i've just realized something.
"You pulled my soul on my body. right? Then what am i now?"
Leona, as well as the other ones looked at each other. Then, Chloe said: "I think that will make you a half human and half spirit? Basically, you are dead, but you are also alive."
Huh.... HUUUUHHHHH?!!!!
"What?!!! What did you mean by that?" I shouted. Did i die when i was alive? Or was i living when i'm dead? Wait, this is getting more confusing and confusing.
"The fact that you are standing here are the proof that you are dead. But your body is still alive in the living realm. So you're half alive and half dead, maybe?"
I was speechless. I mean, that made sense but..
"Wait, is still possible to get back to my own body?" I asked. Then, Leona answered: "It is possible. However, the only way to get back is the way you used to get here."
The way i used to get here.... Ah! i was sleeping!
"Now," Leona cleared her throat. "That we explained what's happening, would you help us to defend ourselves?"
I looked at Leona. She had a desperate look, which reminds me of someone.
"Well then, i'll help you defeat those things." I said. The spirits cheered up when i said it, and it gave me a warm feeling.
"But, how am i going to fight those guys? I'm still a human, you know?" I said.
"You are a half spirit, right? Then, you can use magic." Chloe said.
Magic? Really? Can i really use those powers like shooting fire balls and stuffs?
"Humans have ten times more magic power than spirits, but humans can't use magic. Meanwhile, you are a half human, which makes you five times more magic power than us. And as a half spirit, that gives you the power to use magic." Chloe explained.
So i'm five times stronger than spirits, huh? That's why they wanted a guy like me. I'm just an ordinary salaryman, though.
"Your training starts tomorrow. Please have a good sleep." Chloe gave me a thumbs up.
"Oh wait, i haven't told you my name yet." I said. "My name is Nakao Ryuu. Nice to meet you all!"
The spirits started greeting me one by one. Then i was led by Leona into a room. The room looks like a tree house room (Well, it basically is), and it gives me a refreshing look.
"We'll wake you up tomorrow, so please sleep." Leona said, then left.
I lay down on the bed. I looked up on the green ceiling. Man... what a tiring day.......
....
....
*beep beep*
Hmmm.. what's that?... I opened my eyes, and a bright light greeted me. I looked at my surroundings. This isn't the tree house room, right? Wait... this is....
"Ah, Mr. Nakao!" Suddenly, i found Ichijou looking at my side.
When i woke up, i was in the hospital.
-Chapter 1 Ended-
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