The Strongest Onmyoji and the Shikigami With AI are Unparalleled in Another World ~ A Second Life Properly Enjoyed Using Artificial Intelligence ~ - Chapter 1

I died.

The cause of death is old age.

Dying at the age of 99, one could say I lived a long life.

Well, I had hoped to make it to 100 in another year, but there’s nothing to be done about it now.

However, it was said that upon death, one goes to either paradise or hell.

Which will it be for me, I wonder?

I am an onmyoji, having saved many people and made considerable donations to the town’s temple.

In that regard, I might be able to go to paradise.

But, I don’t even think I’ve led a decent life myself.

I have exorcised demons and spirits, but I have also killed enemies and those beyond saving.

And I’ve caused trouble for my family… Huh?

I can’t seem to remember my family…

I can remember my parents.

I can remember my siblings.

But, I can’t remember my wife or children.

Did I even get married?

Well, I suppose I must have.

I am the heir of the Kisaragi family, one of the most prestigious onmyoji families in the country… Huh?

Did I become the head of the family?

What’s going on here?

This is strange…

I can remember my youth, but everything after that is only fragments.

I died at the age of 99…

Until then, I had exorcised many demons as an onmyoji…

Huh?

Anything else?

What’s going on?

My memory is strange…

“Damn it… Wait, huh?”

I woke up abruptly, sitting up in bed, but I was bewildered.

Because despite having died in my bed, I found myself in some forest.

“Hey, where is this?”

I was so confused that I unintentionally muttered to myself.

“What’s happening… huh?”

As I tried to bring my hand to my head, I was once again taken aback.

It wasn’t the wrinkled hand of an old man, but a young and firm one.

“Wait a minute…”

I touched myself all over, but there were no wrinkles on my body.

Not only that, but the chronic headaches and back pain were gone, as if I had gone back decades.

“What’s going on? Could it be paradise?”

So paradise is a forest…

Is the river flowing with sake?

“Good morning, Master.”

As I was confused, suddenly a voice echoed in my mind.

“Who’s there!?”

I quickly jumped up and looked around.

But there was no one there.

“I will explain later. First, please deal with the approaching enemies.”

“Enemies?”

I remain confused, but following the voice in my head, I use my spiritual power to search the surroundings.

Then, I sense a faint aura of yokai in the nearby bushes.

“What’s this?”

I think it’s not much of a yokai presence, so I pick up a nearby stone and throw it towards the bushes.

“――Gyaa!?”

I hear a strange noise, and the bushes rustle as an ugly-faced little demon wielding a stick emerges.

“Gaki¹…?”

It looks similar, but somehow different.

“Gyaa!”

Hmm, it’s the first time I’ve seen a Gaki wielding a stick…

“Master? Master! Enemies are rapidly approaching! Deal with them! Master!? Please hurry!”

This mysterious voice is confusing too…

Is this really paradise?

Isn’t it hell if there are Gaki here?

“My deeds in life, after all… are annoying!”

“Gyaa!”

I kick the approaching Gaki imposter, sending it flying backward.

“I don’t really understand, but I’ll follow the voice… Foxfire!”

I point my finger at the Gaki imposter, and golden flames shoot out and attack it.

“Gyaa! Gyagyaa!”

The Gaki imposter, burnt by the fire, rolls on the ground, flailing to extinguish the flames, but the fire shows no sign of going out, and the Gaki imposter gradually stops moving.

And when it completely stops moving, the fire extinguishes, leaving behind a black object.

“Hmm, it’s as strong as a Gaki, might even be one.”

It’s probably a new type of Gaki.

“No, that’s not a Gaki, it’s a goblin.”

Huh?

A goblin?

“What’s that?”

“Goblins are creatures. They’re child-sized and not particularly strong, but they breed rapidly and their numbers are large.”

Hmm…

“Did those exist? Maybe this place is a foreign land?”

“To you, Master, it would seem so.”

“Have I come to a foreign paradise? Or perhaps hell?”

Why is that?

“Master, could you listen calmly to what I have to say?”

The voice in my head speaks more formally.

“I’m listening, aren’t I? I always try to listen to people.”

“Master, you did used to be flexible when you were young… But in your old age, you became a stubborn old man.”

Hey!

“Who’s a stubborn old man! I’m different from my father or deceased grandpa!”

Though I don’t remember at all, I never thought I’d turn out like that.

“Blood is thicker than water… No, sorry for getting off track. Let me explain. First, Master, you have died. At the age of 99, of old age.”

I know.

“I understand. I do, but I can’t recall anything else. Wait, am I really 99 years old?”

By all appearances, I’m young. Moreover, the kick I just delivered is not something a 99-year-old could do, and even the foxfire seemed more powerful.

“Let me explain that in detail. Master, you have died and been reincarnated into another world.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

What are you talking about?