Volume 1 Blurb: Or how my life turned into an isekai story. Boss? Why do the local yokai call me that? I only wanted to finish high school, what the hell is going on with my slice-of-life story? Well at least no truck-kun.


ORIGIN ARC


Frank had to rub his eyes.

One moment Death was this winged, perfect-looking, muscular dark-skinned god and the next he's this ivory-skinned youth with black-as-night hair.

Then again, he's only recently interacted with gods, so maybe this was something normal. Venus was widely known as a goddess who changed appearance often.

"I've come to save you."


Death has come. Freedom! But this place. It was different. The air was different. Life felt different.

Also, his powers felt strange. It was still the same, but also different. Like looking at two pictures at the same time, and both of it blurring into the same image.

There was Hades, his master. His loyalty was still there. He thanked the Heroes who helped him, promised to be more careful from now on but–But…

But… he had friends. Comrades he cared about. Classmates he treasured. A homeroom teacher that was like his favorite aunt.

His best friend – nooo, his… his…

Minato.


Drew Tanaka left the airport. In Japan, a place with a different set of beauty standards, she looked different. Her dark hair was straightened and more focus was placed on her lines and silhouette rather than her breasts and ass. She wore skirts that emphasized her legs and slim figure, and baggy clothes that made her look small or waify. Her make-up wasn't full-coverage because the goal of make-up in this side of the world was to hide the fact that one was wearing make-up. Looking natural was in, opting to focus on hiding skin imperfections, creating the illusion of more opened eyes and making her lips hydrated and healthy-looking.

It was why going home from America to Japan made her unrecognizable. That did not mean that she was unnoticed. On-lookers were more often to snap pictures of her as she walked by. She was modelesque in Japan. Not glamorous, not attention-seeking. She was an unreachable flower that bloomed proudly atop a hill, a show-stopper that made everything go still with her mere presence.

By presence…

Something was brewing from afar. It wasn't clouds she was seeing. That was probably Mist but…

What is that?


It was definitely something, as if the Universe decided to welcome a guest. A butterfly pollinating another flower.

Juno… Juno felt a sudden urge of self-assuredness. Scenes of trying hard and improving her terrible cooking. What followed was a sense of longing. To… to… To live life to its fullest.

Isis felt embittered. Like the world was against her. That something about the world was unfair, and she had to do something. Sadie felt it too, that things were naturally against her. Because a sacrifice– a sacrifice? What in hell's name was she thinking about?

Hermes, who was enjoying himself in some high society club felt nauseous when he looked at the alcoholic drink in his hand. Zeus was no drunkard. Right? Why did it feel like he now hated liquor? Comrades? What is this feeling?

In Hades, the three-headed dog whimpered. His master was still there. His purpose was still there. But… But… why was he so sad. Two losses? No, his master was still here. He was alive, an immortal–a god even! Is someone important no longer with him?

Nemesis… Kala-Nemi? Two forces of the supernatural saw and felt the same thing: retribution, balance, order. A mother's death? No, she was the mother. She had sons and daughters. Order needed to be maintained. A… a new champion? Quick! The Champion needed companions!

Athena… Athena felt an indescribable feeling of loss. It was different. More on a personal and spiritual level. Like this feeling was a new feeling, like emotions were new to her.

They were the most notable, but others too felt it. Odin, Kohryu, the angels. Demons, asuras, diwatas, fae, spirits, yokai, whatever it may be, the Universe has spoken.

"Exalt! For ▃▂▄▅▂▃▄ is here."


The local yokai were piqued. There was someone here, someone who smelled different. Dissimilar. Unalike. Nonidentical. But. But, but! But not unpleasant. Not uninteresting. Not menacing.

The smarter yokai called the local aid, the priestess at the local temple, to check it out.

In the rural countryside, in a sleepy town where nothing truly interesting happened, that's where he appeared.

Unconscious, surrounded by the local yokai, all of their eyes wondering who was this wondrous person? Why did he smell like familiarity and comfort? Why did it feel like looking at him was like looking at yourself? Why is his hair black? Why is his skin fair? Why did he look so normal?

Why? Why? Why?

The boy stirred.

The yokai stepped back to give him space.

The local priestess found him seated on the ground, eyes blank yet so full of life. The yokai surrounded him. One would expect that he would be scared but it was quite the opposite. It was like a festival. Malevolent or not, the yokai were rejoicing. A few danced and made noises that were like music. A kappa offered the boy a cucumber, a bakeneko looked at the boy with shiny eyes, a tengu offered a jug of fermented wine.

Needless to say, the priestess was very confused.