Chapter 4: A New Home
"Hold up now! Don't be in such a hurry. First, let's get you to your new home now" said Zerem while dragging Ogden along with him.
After they came next to a wooden house that seemed to pop out from the middle ages they finally stopped. There was nothing else around it. Just plains that seemed endless.
"This is my house?" Ogden asked but the disappointment was almost dripping from his tone.
"Don't be absurd. This is my house and what's with that pitying gaze!? What's wrong with my house!!! Just so you know you are going to be living alone in this place so it's better to choose something simple and ergonomic"
"Oh, that seems to make sense... anyway then where am I going to be living? Your shack doesn't seem like it can house two people" asked Ogden trying to change the subject. He didn't have the courage to tell possibly the strongest person in the Underworld, a place where immortal monsters gathered, that his house was too shabby.
Also, there really wasn't anything around aside from this shabby shack. He couldn't even see the end of the grass plains so where were the other reincarnators?
"Just close your eyes and imagine the house you want to live in. I will be handling the rest" said Zerem as he patted Ogden's shoulder.
He did as he was told and imagined a simple two-storeyed house he had lived in all his life. Truth be told even if he was asked to imagine something grand like a palace he probably wouldn't be able to considering he never been to such a place. So imagining something else other than his childhood home would feel awkward to him.
"Kay, you can open your eyes now"
Once Ogden opened his eyes a familiar building appeared right next to the shabby shack.
"Oh my god! This is exactly the same including the cracks..." said Ogden in surprise. He was expecting a general imitation not an exact copy. Granted he shouldn't have been so surprised after everything that Zerem told him but still, it was different seeing it with his own eyes rather than just hearing about it.
"How did you do that?" Ogden couldn't stop himself from asking. He felt like he was just a child seeing the world for the first time.
"I just reconstructed it according to your imagination. What? Is it not to your taste?"
"No, no, that's not what I mean. This is 'exactly' as I imagined it"
"So what's the problem then?"
"*Sigh* Nothing," said Ogden. From Zerem's reaction, it was obvious to see that what he did was something pretty simple so he was having a hard time understanding why Ogden was reacting like that.
"Anyway, aren't you going to invite me inside now neighbour?" said Zerem while laughing boisterously. Now that Ogden's house was right next to his they were neighbours in the truest sense of the word so he seemed to be happy about that.
For a second Ogden could associate this scar-ridden orc with the mysterious reincarnator who created a house from nothing down to the littlest detail from his imagination. Shouldn't such strong beings mighty and imposing so what was with this silly orc?
While thinking as such Ogden led Zerem into the house who quickly made his way to the living room. It wasn't surprising that he knew where the living room was considering he created this place but it was quite funny to see a 3-meter tall hulking orc warrior trying to squeeze into the armchair.
"You got anything to drink?" Zerem asked noticing Ogden holding back his laughter.
"Right, right, let me make some tea or would you rather instant coffee... wait, is there even any food in the kitchen? Actually, since we are souls by your definition do we even need to eat or drink anything?" Ogden said as he was about to leave for the kitchen.
"Good question neighbour. Technically, you don't need to eat anything but we still choose to eat because it's delicious or for some people, it's just a habit. As for the ingredients you just need to open their container and they will be there, so you will not have to knock on my door to ask for some sugar hahahahaha!!!"
Feeling uncomfortable with Zerem's cringe-inducing dad joke Ogden quickly made his way to the kitchen. He decided to make some Earl Grey tea which in his own opinion the most delicious tea in the world and he was ready to go to war with people who claimed Yorkshire tea was superior.
While he was waiting for the kettle to boil he organized what happened today. Honestly, it was all pretty surreal to him. Almost like it was a dream and he would wake the next second. Even though there was an Orc Warrior sitting in his living room Ogden couldn't come to terms with him. Actually, who would?
Accepting everything Zerem said to him would mean that he was dead. DEAD! Who can accept such a thing calmly? So what if he kept his memories? He was still dead! He wouldn't be able to see his friends or family again. Granted he didn't have any family left but that didn't mean he didn't have any friends he was going to miss.
He wasn't even a religious person if anything he was an atheist. He was in the belief that once he was dead everything would be over but what was this? Did this mean he was right or wrong?
Also who was to say that he wasn't in an actual hell right now? He wasn't an evil person but he couldn't be called a good person either. He was just a person in the middle. He didn't know where he heard it but there was a certain quote. Goodness is not the absence of evil but the presence of good.
Thinking along those lines what actually happens to people like him who lived their lives in the middle? They weren't bad but they weren't good either. Did they go to a middle place? Also, was there even a heaven and hell? If so had he already been there and after that came to this place or did he just skip that process immediately?
Just thinking all those questions hurt Ogden's head.
*Whistle*
Thankfully, kettle boiling saved Ogden from experiencing an existential crisis. Actually couldn't he just ask Zerem about it?
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone