My name is Takuta. I'm what you call an average guy: the same nine-to-five, single, and no life. The most exciting part of my day is coming home and playing fantasy adventure games online—
Yeah, I'm what most would call an otaku, someone who would never get anywhere in life whatsoever… though life had other plans for me. The sun is my number one enemy. So is socializing. Not that I haven't tried, of course. If I had died today, no one would notice until my rent was due.
Not like it matters to me…
I stayed under my umbrella, shielding myself from the rain as I walked the roadside after a late-night food run. I wore nothing but bare sandals against the damp concrete sidewalks and a vest and track shorts to protect me from the biting cold of the storm. The rain hammered down, heavy enough to drown my thoughts.
"That marathon probably wasn't a good idea…" I murmured, rubbing the crust of sleep from my eyes. Everything blurred into bright traffic lights and dark blues. My unsteady steps came to a halt once I reached the crosswalk. The traffic was never-ending, a constant blur of yellow and red lights that streaked by like comets.
It had me in a daze. I just stood there, watching as the granite road turned to rippling colors beneath the rain. The roar of engines echoed in my ears as they passed. Strands of black hair whipped against my face, the wind growing colder, sharper, almost angry.
Though I wish… my life could've been just a bit better.
One foot stepped onto the crosswalk as I disappeared into the sea of light. Still, I kept walking, hair thrashing wildly—not just from the rain, but from each car that shot past me.
I wish…
I took one final step, inches from the other side, before the light swallowed me whole. I was completely dissolved in it, as if the world itself had chosen to erase me.
I was dealt a better hand…
"Are you alright?!" someone cried out, his car dented in the front. He shouted, trying to keep me awake long enough to call for help—but his words couldn't reach me.
I was already gone.
Blood trickled from my skull as the rain kept falling, washing everything away. The heavens beat down on me as though mocking the sight. Even they didn't want me in this world.
***
Am I… still conscious?
No, I died in a car crash, right? At least, that's what I remember…
"Come on, stay with me! Please!"
A voice echoed faintly in the distance, panicked yet strangely soft. It wasn't one I recognized. My head throbbed as though it were being split open, but somehow, I could feel again.
"Light!" the voice called again, closer this time—too close.
Warmth spread across my body, light flooding my eyes. I tried to move, but my limbs refused to obey. My chest felt heavy, like something was pressing down on it.
Wait… where am I?
Slowly, my vision began to focus. A dim orange glow flickered across rough stone walls. Drops of water echoed in the distance, each one striking the ground like a heartbeat. The air was humid, thick with the smell of earth and smoke.
"Are you alright?" A face that I could only describe as one from a goddess leaned over me, my head laying against something soft. Her hair draped past her back like spun silver silk, the strands tickling my face softly.
"You took quite the stumble and hit your head… I thought I should rest you on my thighs to help somehow but…"
She wore armor, a greatsword on her back like an Amazonian warrior.
"Excuse me, but… who are you?" She looked taken aback by my question, eyes wide with horror.
"H-huh?! How can you really forget about your wife?!"
"Wife…"
No way! You're telling me that she's my wife!? Did I die and go to heaven?! Wait, is this heaven? I 100% died back there…
"You must be suffering from amnesia from that fall! That must be it—" Her long elf ears twitched, becoming more visible past her long hair, which made it all click suddenly.
Have I been sent to another world?!
"Darling?! You're dazed; are you okay?!" Her words snapped me out of my realization. I shook my head rapidly as if to snap myself back to this new heavenly reality.
"N-no, I'm fine, really."
Carefully, I stood up, taking a good look at the clothes that adorned me. At first glance—I was really short…wearing classic leather for adventurers—really low-level adventurers… My boots and gloves were comically big for my size; they were still moveable, but who picked these—
Kind of an underwhelming start, but it's fine! No one starts from the top!
"Anyway, I should lead the way! I shouldn't let you wander this place all by yourself!"
The elf blinked at me, dazed, her head slightly tilted to the side as if trying to decipher what I just said… Did I say something wrong?
"Oh, alright, dear!" she cheered, her voice laced with nothing but pity!
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed throughout the entire cave we dwelled in. The dew drops that lingered on the stalactites lost their steady rhythm as the footsteps grew closer.
The sound was deep and uneven.
This is my chance! Swiftly, I turned toward the direction they were coming from, the sword at my hip drawn quickly and pointed at the dark area of the cave.
"Who's there?! Show yourself!" I declared, putting on a brave voice as the footsteps stopped.
Nothing but silence lingered, causing me to lower my blade in confusion. Before I could even question it, the sound of a sharp whistle cut through the air—I raised my head to see an arrow darting between my eyes.
THUNK!
I was tugged backward. Without wasting a second, my wife drew her blade. It arced through the darkness, flashing once in the crystal light before splitting the arrow in two right before my eyes.
Before I could even nod, more shadows moved and more arrows took to the skies. Goblins spilled from the darkness like a tsunami, stumbling on each other with clubs and leather armor on their backs.
"There's no way you can do this all by yourself!" I tried to reason, but she didn't even respond, dashing forward. The sea of goblins crashed upon her, the collision causing the earth itself to rumble under the weight of it.
She cleaved through the rushing tide of goblins; the more they tried to overwhelm her, the more she chopped down. Goblins flew out of the crowd, but the wave seemed endless—the more she cut down, the more would appear. The smell of goblin blood and iron was thick in the air.
The clash raged on, echoing through the cave like thunder. Each swing of her blade carved arcs of silver through the darkness, every strike shaking the ground beneath my feet. I could only watch, frozen in awe—and terror—as she tore through the goblin horde like a storm.
Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the noise faded.
The last goblin's shriek died out, swallowed by the endless drip of water from above.
The air reeked of iron and smoke. My so-called "wife" stood among the bodies, her sword dripping with green blood. Her chest rose and fell, calm—almost casual—as if this massacre was nothing new.
Me? I was still shaking. Guess even this world had forsaken me. This was supposed to be my fresh start, my turn to be the one graced with skills beyond comprehension!
She stood there panting, her eyes hooded, until she turned to me.
"There, all done, darling!" she cheered, her body bathed in goblin blood. Her sword had long had its thirst quenched from the onslaught alone.
Though truthfully—I don't ever want to be on her bad side.
Eventually, we reached a cliff—a wide overlook revealing a breathtaking sight below.
A sea of crystals spread out beneath us, glowing in shades of violet, pink, and blue. The light shimmered across the cavern ceiling like stars caught in stone.
Even after everything, I couldn't help but stare in awe.
Without a second thought, she suddenly tucked me under her arm.
"W-what are you doing?!" I stammered, looking up at her. She was even more beautiful up close—though that's not the point! Don't tell me she's planning to go down there!?
"Hold on tight, darling!" She smiled, not a thought beyond those eyes, I'm sure…
"Wait, wait, wait! Hold on!" I tried to reason with her, but it was no use; she already leaped off with me in her arms. The crystals shattered underneath, cleared by the sheer weight of her fall.
"See? That wasn't so bad!"
"Yeah—maybe we should take a break…"
***
We stopped to rest by an open flame I created with magic—though it took me hours of messing around to even manage it. But at least I have that. I turned to my wife, who lay right beside me.
"What's even going on—" I groaned, my head hung between my legs as I felt the warmth from the fire.
Suddenly, just as I asked that question, a glowing blue screen appeared before my eyes. Some kind of system or something.
[Status Menu]
[Alchemist]
[Lvl]: 10
HP: 5 + (5 armor)
Mana: 200
IQ: 300
Stamina: 10 (-0 armor)
Figures… My stats are horrible. So much for the cool fantasy life I always wanted! My dreams were crushed before they even began.
Another screen appeared into view.
[Quest: Rescue the lost souls trapped deep within the labyrinth.]
[Reward: 3000 gold coins]
"Labyrinth?"