Chapter 2 – Single Aristocrat Meets A God

“……God, you say?”

“Yes, I am a God.”

　Without shrinking back at my suspicious tone, the man who claimed to be the God of the earth said with his chest puffed out.

　What he’s saying by itself is already nonsensical and stinks of something dubious, but on the surface, I can’t see any signs of him trying to lie or deceive me. 

“You’re horrible. How can you think I stink?”

“You can read my mind?”

“That’s because this is a space I created. It won’t be an exaggeration to say that’s nothing I can’t do, so.”

　The man who claimed to be God snapped his fingers as he said this.

　With that, this blank, white space repeatedly changes.

　A lush green forest, to desolate land, to the deep ocean, and finally to a cityscape. After this dizzying change of scenery, it returned to the original white space.

“See?”

“……So it seems to be the case.”

“Aha, you’ve suddenly become very formal, huh.”

　Leaving aside whether this man is really a God or not, he certainly has the initiative. I suppose it would be better for me to not be too rude.

“If you are a God, how is it that I ended up here?”

“Because a few moments ago you collapsed and ended up dying like that at home.” 

　God reminded me once again of the situation I had just been in.

　I’d thought I’d been somehow lucky, but it looks like I’m dead after all. 

“If you at least had a partner, you wouldn’t have died alone at home without anyone discovering you though.”

“That’s none of your business.”

　God was being strangely sarcastic, so I couldn’t help but speak my mind.

　I came to my senses with a start, but God laughed wryly and told me, “it’s okay to speak informally”.

　It feels uncomfortable talking to God casually, but it will take more time to speak formally, so I decide to take advantage of the situation. 

“Certainly you were in a dangerous spot, but if anyone had been nearby and gotten you to a hospital, there was a chance you could have survived, you know? If only you had married, this sort of thing wouldn’t have happened.” 

“I stayed single even though I knew those risks. Even if I died an empty and lonely death, I have no regrets.”

　The big risk in staying single. One’s health.

　No matter how prepared and capable you are of living alone, you can’t oppose the thing known as health. 

　If you become immobile due to illness or injury, a single person will be dead in the water.

　Going to the hospital is also a challenge, and if you end up collapsing as I did this time, no one will notice you.

　However, I was well aware of this. It would be foolish to live with someone you don’t like just because you are anxious about the future.

　For the sake of having only an insurance policy, I can’t stand the idea of ruining the other parts of my life.

　I’d rather have a short life and have a good time than spend it with someone while stressed.

　In fact, I have no regrets about being told I’m dead by this God or whoever.

　Dying at the age of thirty five is far earlier than the average life expectancy, but I was able to live a stress-free life the way I wanted.

　I’m happy with that result.

“You’re staunch about it, huh. Even though people who reach their end like that more or less tend to have regrets.”

　For those that did regret, it meant that somewhere in their heart, they think that they still want to live longer even if they had to get married. It’s those guys’ faults for not being able to calmly analyse themselves.

“Speaking of which, why was I called here?”

“A certain God has taken much interest in you. I was requested to call you here” 

“By ‘a certain God’, you mean?”

“The God over there. The Solitary God.” 

　When I looked in the direction that this God pointed, in the white space, I saw a man with black hair and eyes standing alone. His fringe was very long and his eyes were slightly hidden.

　Is that the Solitary God who is interested in me? He’s wearing a hood and has a kind of gloomy aura.

“……Isn’t he far away?’

“You’re right. Come on over.”

　The Earth God calls out to him, but the Solitary God shakes his head.

　Even though he requested to have me called here because he was interested in me, why does he mean by not getting invovled?

“He’s really going to be like that. As usual, it’s because he prefers being isolated.”

“Could it be that the Solitary God is some kind of God that enjoys being alone or something?

“Exactly. He’s a God who loves solitude. He’s interested in you because you have a strong will for solitude.”

　When the Earth God said this, the Solitary God nodded his head.

“………….”

　But he only nodded and didn’t look like he would speak.

　No, isn’t this the part where the Solitary God is supposed to explain why I was brought here?

“……So, what does the Solitary God want to do with Dokuraba?”

　When asked, the Solitary God beckons for the Earth God and whispers in his ear.

　At this distance, why doesn’t he just speak normally?

“I see……. Apparently, the Solitary God wants to invite you to another world.”

“Another world, you mean a fantasy world like the ones in manga and anime?”

“That’s right. The Solitary God manages a world different to modern Japan, where skills and magic exist, and fantastical creatures like demons inhabit….. right?”

　The Solitary God nodded his head in agreement.

　Looks like the Earth God will continue to be the messenger.

“Normally, when people are reincarnated, their personalities and memories are reset, but in your case, they will not be reset and you will be reborn in the Solitary God’s world.”

　So it’s that thing they call reincarnation into another world, huh? Because the anime I was watching right before I died was conveniently in the genre of otherworldly reincarnation, I can roughly understand it. 

“I see……. If, assuming I refuse to be reincarnated, what would happen?” 

“In that case, your soul will turn to dust, yeah. Since you’ve already left the wheel of reincarnation, the existence known as ‘you’ will never be reborn and you will become nothing.”

　The Earth God says something frightening without hesitation.

　The fact that I’m dead remains unchanged, and no matter how hard I struggle, I will never be revived in modern Japan.

　If that’s so, is the right choice to accept reincarnation into the world of the Solitary God?” 

“He’s apologetic for playing around with a human child at the whims and fancies of a God, so it sounds like he’ll be giving you preferential powers for your life in a different world.” 

“Is that power, the skills and magic stuff you said earlier?”

“Yes, that would be it.”

“Can any kind of power be okay?”

“The Solitary God says there’s a limit to the power he can give you, but he will grant you whatever is within his power.”

“I’d like to ask a few questions before I receive any power. Can I have a bit of your time?”

“No problem.”

　The Earth God and the Solitary God firmly nodded to my question.