Vol. 1 Chapter 4.1 – Great Underworld

“Well then. Let’s get this tidied up for today too.”

Chitose said this in front of the young master’s room.

A maid’s duties were vast and varied.

Cleaning the massive mansion, laundry, meal preparation, attending to guests, answering phone calls, managing the young master’s schedule. And also cleaning up after Nanako’s constant blunders (every single day she causes a loud crashing sound, a kyaa, or something or other).

And in Chitose’s case recently, even managing the problems of the restaurant chain acquired through an M&A deal had been added to her list.

After handling all of that at top speed, Chitose looked forward every day to a moment called her『hobby time──』

“Really now. Young Master… How does he manage to make such a mess in just one day…? …Fufu.”

That『hobby time』 was cleaning Issei’s room.

Honestly, no matter how much she tidied it up daily, how could he mess it up so thoroughly──?

It was one of the weaknesses of the genius Issei. Only Chitose was in a position to know that.

Cleaning Issei’s room was the one thing she never let any other maid handle.

A half-finished cup of tea sat on the table. It was the young master’s favorite teacup.

Just as she reached out to clean it up and placed her fingers on the handle──

“Huh?”

Paki, the cup cracked.

Chitose stared for a moment at the handle left in her hand.

Then she gasped, raised her head, and looked out the window.

She hoped nothing bad had happened to the young master…

◇

“Fufufu… You don’t know where this is, nor why you’re here. Before that, you probably don’t even remember who you are.”

The woman in front of him said this.

Issei gently closed his eyes, searching through the memories within himself.

There was slight resistance, but with just a little focus, he broke through it easily.

He remembered everything about who he was.

And he remembered one more thing—his most recent memory──

The crosswalk. A red ball rolling out. A young girl dashing after it.

A truck rushing in.

The young girl was a fair distance away.

Even though Issei was a genius with Olympic-level physical ability, the distance was too great. He wouldn’t make it in time.

But that was only within the choice of saving the girl and getting out unharmed himself──

It was just Newton’s law of inertia.

If he transferred his kinetic energy to the girl, pushing her away while staying behind himself, then in exchange for her receiving some scrapes, he could save her life.

And so, Issei did just that.

The genius Issei took only 0.001 seconds to make that judgment.

The last image he saw was the face of the truck driver, gripping the steering wheel with a look of sheer shock.

Issei opened his eyes and spoke to the woman in front of him.

“Oh. I’ve remembered.”

“…Huh?”

The black-haired woman widened her eyes, looking stunned.

So even『gods』can be surprised. That meant she wasn’t omniscient.

In this strange space devoid of sky or sun, Issei had encountered a woman who called herself Anubis.

She had introduced herself as a 『god』.

Because Issei was a genius, he wasn’t bound by fixed ideas. He held no prejudice, no assumptions. Nor did he over-skepticize.

If someone claimed to be a 『god』 then unless proven otherwise, he would operate on that premise.

“You… You say you’ve recalled your memories from when you were alive?”

“Yes. There was some resistance, but I’ve remembered everything about who I am.”

“Unbelievable… Most of the dead don’t even remember who they are and panic in confusion.”

“Hmm. That may be true for common folk.”

“They always go through the classic trio: 『Where am I?』, 『Who am I?』 ,『Why am I here?』 —raising a ruckus like a broken record.”

“There’s no problem. You said this is the underworld. I’ve remembered who I am. And as for why I’m here──”

“Oh? You even remember that you died?”

The god—Anubis—narrowed her eyes and asked Issei.

“Yeah. I confirmed the reason for my death too. A direct collision with a truck isn’t something one walks away from.”

“You’re taking it rather well.”

“I simply acknowledged the facts and assessed the situation.”

This strangely worldly god seemed to have expected Issei to freak out in confusion.

But honestly, he didn’t think he could meet those expectations. After all, he was a genius.

“Hmm. How boring. Teasing dead people who can’t accept their own deaths and going playful, mocking at them is one of my favorite pastimes.──What do you intend to do about it?”

“Bad taste. Putting that aside──Anubis. I wish to see your panties.”

“That’s abrupt. Come to think of it, you muttered something like that earlier too. What’s with that? Some lingering regret from before death?”

“No lingering regrets. Just show me your panties.”

“You… are ordering a god?”

“Hmm…?”

Issei had never made many『requests』in his life.

However, when it came to asking,『Please show me your panties』he had done that a few times.

“Please show me your panties.”

“That’s the same. You’re still making a demand.”

“This is me compromising. I even tried asking politely.”

“And why should I show my panties to the likes of you?”

At that question, Issei paused to think.

“Because… they’re there. That’s why.”

“I don’t get it. The dead are my playthings. You too—come now, entertain me.”

Anubis pulled out a golden instrument from somewhere.

Hanging from each end of the rod were small dishes. It was a scale used for measuring weight.

“With this scale, I shall weigh your sins.”

She placed a single feather—pulled from thin air—onto one side of the scale──

And then, once again from the air, she drew out a pink, pulsating lump of flesh.

“This is your heart. The sins you committed in life are now represented by the weight of this heart. If it’s heavier than the feather, you’re bound for hell.”

“Hmm.”

“Your soul will be devoured by Ammit, the beast of the underworld, unable even to board the cycle of reincarnation.”

“I see.”

“Fuhahahaha! It will be agony! For the suffering shall be eternal!”

“I see.”

“Hahahahaha! Be more afraid! Tremble in terror! For a mere human like you, who is no god, all you can do is cower in fear—!!”

“Are you done?”

Issei asked.

He thought he’d been fairly patient in waiting.

“Why aren’t you afraid!?”

“You’re going to weigh my heart, aren’t you? Then you should just hurry up and do it.”

“Y-y-yes…”

Reluctantly, Anubis placed the heart onto the scale.

And the scale──

Tilted toward the side with the feather.

“I-impossible…!? You mean to tell me the sins you committed in life… are lighter than a feather…!?”

Anubis’s eyes were wide open.

“A-a human like you…!? There’s no such thing as a person who has committed no sins…!?”

What a strange thing to say.

Then why weigh it at all?

If everyone is destined to be guilty, then the act of weighing in itself is meaningless.

Still, this god was frequently surprised.

Clearly, this so-called god was far from omniscient and omnipotent.

“It seems your business is done. Now then, show me your panties.”

“Back to that again…”

Anubis said with a thoroughly drained expression.

Hmm. This reaction was a refreshing change of pace.

Up to now, most people whom Issei had asked to show their panties would burst out in anger.

“You… You’re strange…”

What nonsense. There’s nothing strange about wanting to see panties.

Issei began formulating his next plan.

Most likely, his current『affection level』was at rock bottom.

First things first: time to start earning affection.