First Task

"Syst-"

However, before Micah could even finish speaking, the holographic screen in front of his eyes flickered, and the congratulatory message disappeared. It was replaced by another message.

Micah sighed in relief since it seemed like he didn't have to talk out loud in order to communicate with and maneuver the Hell Restoration Project System. It was unclear if he only had to formulate his thoughts clearly enough or if it had been a coincidence that the system reacted just then.

After trying it a couple of more times, Micah confirmed that it was indeed a coincidence. Micah couldn't figure out how the system worked or what it was good for, so he decided to shelve that matter while he read the message. Just then, the same slightly mechanic voice started reading the message as well, which made Micah wonder if the system was just slow and lagging.

[Project manager, in order to restore the balance to Hell, you must complete a series of tasks that will serve to recover the power of Hell and its servants upon completion. Naturally, ordinary demons aren't powerful enough to help Hell restore its balance, which is why your First Task is to help one of the Seven Deadly Sins, Pride, regain his power.]

After reading the message, Micah looked toward the mansion on the hill, a short walk away. If he had to guess, that was where Pride was. It felt a little daunting having to deal with one of the Seven Deadly Sins as his first task, but at the same time, it made some sense. Ordinary office workers and low-level employees couldn't bring a business on the verge of bankruptcy back to its prime. Well, that was usually the case, at least.

After the mechanical voice finished reading the message, the screen changed again and shrank down.

[First Task: Help Pride, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, get back on his feet!]

Micah moved the holographic screen to the corner of his eyes. And he began walking toward the hill with the mansion and the village below it.

Micah was curious and doubtful about a lot of the things that had happened to him in the last several minutes. But he wouldn't get any answers by sitting around and pondering like a philosopher. He had always been a man of action, and for now, he would play along with this whole Hell Restoration Project business.

His first task was to help the Pride, one of the Seven Deadly Sins, to recover his strength. But Micah was severely lacking in information, especially regarding the powers of Pride, which he would undoubtedly need in order to complete his task. He also didn't know anything about Hell, how it worked or what was possible. Considering there were things like systems, teleportations, and winged eyeballs, Micah probably couldn't expect things to work the same way as they did on Earth.

So, before he did anything or made any hasty choices, Micah's first order of business was to gather as much information as possible. And if he could, he also wanted to find out something about the innate gift that the eyeball had promised him.

Micah eventually arrived at a crossroads between the hill and the small town.

He looked at the sign where the words 'Pride's Mansion' were crossed out and the words 'Idiot's Doghouse' were scribbled in place. That sign pointed toward the hill with the mansion. And Micah felt as if he was beginning to understand what was going on just from that.

Micha turned around and followed the road leading to the town where the sign with the words 'Vanitapolis' pointed. He found the name of the town a little interesting and wondered why the inhabitants hadn't changed it as they had with Pride's mansion. But he didn't put too much thought into it as he was busy inspecting the town.

It hadn't been very noticeable from afar, but the town's buildings all seemed to come from different eras and cultures, which made for an interesting sight, especially since they were made from the same reddish stone and red-black wood. Micah was already getting tired of the red color that filled Hell. Unfortunately, he would probably be stuck with it for quite a while.

The buildings also made Micah wonder about something else. Was there a need for food and sleep now that he had died? Could he die again?

"Hey there!"

Micah's thoughts were interrupted by a man in a bomber jacket with short dark brown hair. Micah looked around him to make sure that the man was talking to him.

"Yes, I'm talking to you. There's no one else, is there?"

Micah looked at the man, a glint of suspicion flashing through his eyes.

"Hi. I'm just making sure. It's happened one too many times that I think someone's talking or waving to me when it's actually someone else behind me."

Micah reached out and shook the other man's hand with a smile.

"Micah, by the way."

"I'm Rego. It's nice to meet you."

Rego also smiled as he shook Micha's hand.

"I take it you're new here?"

"That obvious?"

"Well, we don't have many unfamiliar faces around here. And you did have that 'Am I really in Hell? Why's everything so red?!' kind of look on your face."

Rego chuckled a little as he explained his deduction.

"Yeah. I just arrived today. Do you say today? Like, are there days and nights in Hell?"

"Haha, yeah. Don't worry. There are days and nights. Kind of. But man, how unlucky to end up here as soon as you die."

"Why, what's so bad about this place?"

Rego sighed and put a hand on Micah's shoulder.

"Hell is obviously supposed to be a place where you repent and suffer for your sins until you're reborn. But it's also a place where sinners, who know how to have fun, end up. Trust me when I say there are greater places to be than this dump. It's in the middle of nowhere, and there's nothing fun to do around here."

Rego stopped sighing and put on a cheerful smile as he looked up from the ground and at Micha again.

"But don't worry, new faces always bring a little excitement. I'm sure we'll have a lot of fun."