My name was Hiraku Machio.
After graduating from college, I joined a black company and spent my twenties overworked. In my thirties, I began living in a hospital. Male. Age at death: thirty-nine.
And now, I was face-to-face with a god.
"Reincarnation in another world?"
"No, a transfer."
"A transfer? But I thought I was dead?"
"That's right. So this means bringing you back to life in another world."
"But my body..."
"I'll remove the illness and regenerate your decayed body. Otherwise, you'd die right away. While I'm at it, I'll make you a little younger, too."
"Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Sending you to another world benefits me as well. In other words, you're going to another world and coming back to life for my sake."
"I see. But I... is there anything I must do there?" (Translator's note: he switches from the casual ore to the more formal watashi here. Both mean "I," but differ in tone.)
"You can keep speaking casually. And simply living there will be enough. Enjoy your second life."
"Is that so?"
"Any objections?"
"No."
"You're quite agreeable. But... are you really all right with this?"
"Yes. After all, I spent nearly ten years lying in a hospital bed, unable to move. Getting a healthy body and even becoming a little younger leaves me with nothing else to complain about."
"I see... ah, but, well, how should I put this? I feel a little bad about forcing this on you for reasons on my end, so I'll grant you a small wish."
"A wish of mine?"
"Mm-hmm. For example... wanting a special skill, or a destiny that brings you wonderful encounters. Things like that."
"Then I'd like a body that won't get sick."
"...A body that won't get sick?"
"Yes. Illness tormented me all that time. So, if possible, I'd rather not go through that again."
"M-mm-hmm. Understood. Then I shall grant you a body that won't get sick... a 'healthy body.'"
After the god said that, my body shone. That was all that happened, yet somehow I could feel that I had received a "healthy body." Thank you.
"Thank you."
"Hmm... you can make another wish, too."
"Huh? But..."
"Come on, let's hear it."
"Th-then, if possible, I'd like to live somewhere without many people."
"Somewhere without many people?"
"Yes. Um, when my parents died, people claiming to be relatives did all sorts of things to me... and the company I joined was... so, um, I have a little trouble trusting people... no, that's not right. I think I'm probably just not good at communicating with others. It's something I need to fix, but doing it right away would be a bit..."
"So that's why you want somewhere without many people. Understood. I'll take that into account when choosing your destination."
The god made a strange gesture toward empty space. He was probably adjusting my destination. I needed to thank him.
"Thank you."
"You can make one more wish."
"Huh?"
"Come on, now. Tell me."
"In that case... oh, right! Please let me speak the language wherever I'm going."
"You needn't worry about that. Basic conversations with other people won't be a problem. It's what you might call a beginner's package."
"O-oh, okay."
"Now, go on and make your wish."
"Even if you say that... I spent all that time lying in a hospital bed, so just being able to move is enough to make me happy. Most of my wishes have already been granted..."
"Then how about this? Is there anything you want to do? Your destination is a world of swords and magic, similar to the games you know. You could wish to become the world's greatest adventurer, an extraordinarily rare magician, or simply the king of some country."
"Ahaha. Any of those would be too much for me. But let's see... something I'd want to do once I could move again... oh! I've got it!"
"Have you? Let's hear it."
"Farming."
"..."
"You know those shows where idols do farmwork? Watching one made me want to try farming... that show reminded me so many times of holding a hoe during a hands-on learning activity when I was little..."
"I-is that so? Farming..."
"Yes. I'd like to farm."
"..."
"Is that not allowed?"
"It's not that it isn't allowed. It isn't, but that wish falls outside my jurisdiction. Wait a moment."
"All right."
While I waited, the god before me took out something rather like an old mobile phone and began a call.
I could hear the words, but I couldn't understand them at all. Was it because they were speaking a different language?
Still, the excitement on the other end of the call came through clearly.
"Sorry for the wait. Here, take this."
With those words, he handed me a hoe.
The handle was wooden, and only the blade was iron.
"This is the 'Almighty Farming Tool.'"
"Almighty? Hoes certainly are useful, but I think calling one an almighty farming tool is going a bit far."
"It's only a hoe right now because that's what you're imagining. It changes shape according to its purpose."
"Changes shape?"
"Mm-hmm. You see, if you imagine a sickle, for example, it becomes a sickle. It can also become a saw, a hammer, a pickaxe, or a shovel. You can change it however you like."
"Ooh!"
"What's more, it's exclusively yours. It will always be at your side, and even if you throw it, it will return automatically."
"High performance!"
"Also, for convenient storage, it will reside within your body. You can make it appear whenever you wish. Try it."
Following his instructions, I tried storing the Almighty Farming Tool inside my body and taking it out again.
"Amazing."
"Make good use of it."
"Yes, I will."
"...Well, it's almost time for your transfer. Prepare yourself."
"I'm ready. Thank you for everything."
"Mm-hmm. Take care, then."
With those words, I felt as though my body were melting.
When I became aware of my surroundings, I was standing in a forest.
I checked my body. My body... could move freely. Nothing hurt, either. It was healthy. I didn't have a mirror, but judging by my hands and legs, I could tell I was younger. Early twenties? No, maybe late teens? In any case, there were no problems.
My clothes... were unfamiliar. I wore trousers and a rough shirt, the sort of outfit a villager would wear in a fantasy story. Below that... the trouser legs were tied snugly with cords. Whatever the case, I was glad I wasn't wearing what I'd died in. I didn't know where to direct my prayers, but what mattered was the feeling of gratitude. I thanked the god once again. Thank you.
I stood straight and looked around.
Forest. Whether I looked ahead or behind, there was forest. To my left and right, too.
I'd asked to be sent somewhere without many people, but wasn't this somewhere with no people at all?