- The Way Things Are -

The young man found himself waking up upright like before. The white room he saw when he first died is the same as it ever was. The golden patterns along the wall still looks as regal as ever.

“Back so soon?” The angel glibly asks.

“You know dying is a very traumatic event!” Taro protests feebly.

“Ah relax, I know you didn’t actually feel anything both times.” She dryly jabs at Taro,

“Ack!” Taro reacts,

“In any case, some apologies are in order.”
The angel reluctantly states, “I sent you into a dungeon without proper warning, so some leeway is in order.”

“In that case, you can rebirth me as a member of royalty, I’ve had my fill of hard work.”
Taro makes dismissive hand waving gestures towards the Angel.

“Don’t push it. Umeboshi.” The angel continues to work on her paperwork.
”To move your physical body would be untenable from here, and it’d show a bit more favoritism than I’d like... Try to make do.”

“Aha…” was the only meek concession that Taro could make.

“How about this? I can afford a power to you,” The angel peers up from her paper work.

“A power?!” Taro’s heart flutters in anticipation. ”Like an ultimate sword?! The ability to read minds? Cheat powers?! Or a bag of holding?!“

“Haha… Some of those ar-” She starts before being interrupted in an all too familiar outburst,

“Hey can’t I just bring you with me like that one isekai with the useless goddess?”

“...”

“Alright.” She suddenly says in a stern tone,

“?!”

“You get to take things from your room from when you were alive. Sound good?”

“Huh well that’s doesn't sound all that goo-”

“Sounds good to me.” The angel concludes with a cheery smile.

“Ah but-”

“I’ve kept you long enough. Good luck Taro, I hope to not see you too often.”

“Wai-”

A familiar flash fills the room.


“AH! AT LEAST LET ME SEE MY LEVEL!” Taro screams into consciousness.

Taro was sits up in a room at the dungeon. Shion was standing nearby with a mildly worried face and Akari was crying.

“AUUGHHH!! KAPPA BOYY!!” Akari jumps onto Taro.

“I’M NOT A KAPPA!” Taro snaps,

......

It took some time before Akari could calm down. In the blubbering, Taro discerned that it took some time before he could wake up. Akari thought she had brought Shion too late and assumed he could no longer be resuscitated.

“Fear not my friends!” proclaims Taro, ”The reason I took so long is that I have been beckoned by the god of this world. Behold!”

Taro took a grand pose and outstretches his hands in some attempt to activate his power.(Come to think of it, the guardian hadn’t exactly explained the mechanics of his new gift.)

“I summon!..” Taro chants, “A pillow!”

Nothing happens.

“A bed! Gaming console?! A book!”

Still nothing.

“Hmmm. Maybe the resurrection spell didn’t turn out well?” Shion worries out loud.

“Ahh… a soda?” Taro sighs

Suddenly his hand feel a weight.

“Oh!” Taro exclaims, the requested a soda had in fact been transported to his possession.

Though Taro couldn't help but think that the goddess was in fact snickering in the afterlife at the delayed display.

“Oh amazing! What is that?!” Akari asks wide eyed.

“It’s a soda, a carbonated drink.” He explains dismissively, “Not very good if I’m honest. It’s diet.”

He hands it to Shion. Taro looks around to see if there’s anything else he could apply his newfound powers on. Looking at Akari, he scans her.

“W-What?” Akari exclaims,

The thought had crossed Taro's mind; that Akari was in fact really strong, as seen in her stamina - to be able to dig all those holes in such a short time. Not to mention that grand attack at the dim couple. With the right tool her power could be used to great effect.

Shion was meekly sipping the soda with both hands during this great rumination.

Taro thinks for a short bit longer, then outstretches his hand again.

“Baseball bat!” in an instant, a baseball bat appeared in his hand!

“This should work” He hands the bat to Akari. His thinking that a bat was the closest thing to a balanced swing implement he had. It certainly wasn't finding any use in his old life after all.

“Oh! For me?!” She graciously accepts her new weapon.

“And this…” Taro timidly hands over his old school track jersey, while she was swinging around the bat. 

“Clothes?” Akari inquires curiously,

“Yeah, you know… Your clothes are quite tattered, from what I've seen,”

“Ah! Thanks Taro!” She smiles happily, as she dons her new attire,” Hehe! Cute right?!”

Akari does a little twirl. ”It’s so soft and easy to move in!”

“Mmph! Scho cyu! ” Shion said mid drink,

Taro upon coming to a certain realization, fidgets and squirms nervously.

“Huh? What’s wrong Taro?” Shion asked after she gulped down the drink.

“Ah.. well…” Taro continues to fidget. His cheeks still a bit red.

“Ehh?! What’s wrong, Taro?!” Akai added.

“I… er…irl..ore” Taro mumbles and pushes up his thick glasses...

“Hmm?” they both lean in.

“AAHh! I never had a girl wear my clothes before! OKAY?!!!” he yells out,

“Eeek! Gross!” Akari covers her chest reflexively

“Why’re you covering yourself! It’s not like that! That’s why I didn’t want to say anything!” Taro attempts to defend himself,

“I.. didn’t think you were this kind of person.” Shion looks away with a pained expression,

"It- It kinda smells weird too" Akari adds,

“I’m not!!!... IF YOU'RE GOING TO COMPLAIN! GIVE IT B-!!” just then, Taro's outburst had been suddenly interrupted by another one,

“Huh? What was that?” Taro asks frightened,

The group made their way to the source of the sudden outburst. The origins took place where Taro had set up his "False Hope" trap. The wooden platform was triggered. The trio looks on in silence.

“I’ll take a look,” volunteers Akari, breaking the silence.

With great dexterity she hops from platform to platform and down the open hatch. Sliding down the walls of the trap, she safely descends down the hole.

“We got one!” She shouts from the chasm!

Taro and Shion look to each other with excited eyes!

Akari then leaps out from the hole. She brought with her a large backpack and various armor pieces. A pauldron was held in her teeth.

She gets to solid ground, and the group celebrates,

“Tchro! You did it, Taro! It works!” Akari cheers as she spat the pauldron out.

“Haha… Well!... It’s still not fool proof but-”

*Grooowl…

All of them grew quiet. It was Taro’s stomach. At this moment the pack that Akari was carrying spills over and its contents splays onto the floor. It was filled with cooking implements.

Shion gave a soft smile.
“Let’s get some food then.”

…...

“So… What is this?” Taro sit in disbelief. A large dead boar was laid before him.

“A boar.” Shion proudly announces. "I caught it this morning!"

“What’re you complaining about Taro?” Akari asks as she took a bite out of your boar’s leg.

“It’s raw! And also that’s mine!” Taro swats her away as though he wanted to keep that raw boar’s leg like a rabid dog.

“I don’t understand.” Shion replies calmly. ”This is more than enough for a whole year for us serpents.”

“Ahh, you wouldn’t understand,” Taro gives up explaining, ”Akari, hand me that sack.”

Within the pack has various utensils, a pot and some tinder and a flint. Using the flint, tinder and some wood Taro starts a fire. Then he asks Akari and Shion to skin, wash and cut the boar into pieces.

“Haahh… So wasteful but I suppose I can do so.” Akari complains.
“Mh,” Shion acknowledges, with that, the pair set off.

Setting up the work station, Taro calls upon a ramen packet from his room. ‘Thank god for his tendency to not clean up’ - he thinks to himself. The sauces packets he intends to use for seasoning.

The location had been set up, at that moment Akari and Shion also appears with the meat prepared. Taro then rub some seasoning on the meat before grilling it on the pan. It made such a mouth watering sizzle as it cooked. During which, Akari asked:

“H-Hey… Can I have one?”

“What? Never had cooked food before?” Taro responds,

“In all honesty, yes.”

“Sure.” Taro tossed a piece that looks cooked enough and she caught it midair with her mouth.

“MMMmm!~”Akari made noises as she put her hand to her cheek “This is heavenly!”

“Want some Shion?” Taro offers. Shion jolts but quickly upturns her nose.

“No! I mean… no. Like I’ve said - I already ate for the year.”

She’d walk away yet remained in close proximity. As time passes Taro chucked some more chunks Akari’s way and she’d react in utter bliss. Some were shared amongst the little slimes as well.

Shion grew more and more agitated as freshly cooked meat flies through the air.

Akari elbows Taro and motioned towards Shion. Shion had been pacing around the room. Taro, known for his kind heart, calls out to her:

“My lord!~” beamed Akari. She scoots over and invites Shion to sit beside her. 

Thus the trio ate together happily. 

During which Taro felt a flash of lucidity. Feeling the here and now he thinks to himself;

As far as things goes - they way things are - This... it's not too shabby.