"The afterlife?"

"Indeed."

"Then...you must be..."

The kid in front of me nodded and gave a smug smile.

"Yes... I am a Go-"

"You're not Jes*s aren't you?!" I blurted out in excitement and fear. Excitement of seeing a real God in front of me and fear of being disrespectful to the God.

"I'M NOT!!!" The kid let out a roar and scratched his head vigorously as he seemed dissappointed about something.

This is unreal, I can't be dead, right? Like, this is too sudden. I mean, dying like that... wait, how did I even die again?!

"H-hey Jes- I mean! God!"

"What?" The kid or God, I believe, looked at me tirelessly.

"How did I die?"

Wow, never in my life did I even think of saying those words.

"Hmm, let's just say... Yours fate was sealed by the extraordinary luck of his friend; her jest about him being struck, laced with the power of her fortune, manifested into a grim reality."

The God said in a poetic way that I have no clue what it meant.

"Uh okay...then what now?"

"Before that, let's call your friends." With an unsettlingly serene expression, snapped his fingers. In an instant, his friend plummeted from the vast white sky, their screams piercing the silence. They landed with a thud, breathless and trembling. Yet, even after hitting the ground, their cries of terror continued, echoing across the empty expanse.

"AHHHHHHHHH" Well, in reality. Tetso's the only one screaming flat faced into the ground. The other one, Kota, was staring at the white ceiling in shock.

"Shut Up!" The God said in an irritated voice and using his godly powers, Tetso's scream went silent. He looks just like a dead person now.

"Ehem. Care to explain where we are Kotama?" Satoma stood up and said while tidying himself up.

"We died."

"What?"

"I said it, we are dead and that kid is actually God himself."

"I see."

"I know rig-?! Huh?! Wait. What do you mean by 'I see.' Don't tell me you're just accepting what I've said?!"

"I'm not just accepting this. First of all, I just fell from the sky and landed without even getting hurt. Second, I can't remember anything that happened before this, except hearing a loud honking sound before blacking out. Though, it surprised me to hear that he's a God."

"Wow."

Was he always this smart?

"Okay, listen up, you three," the child-God said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "As you guessed, you guys are dead. But here's the exciting part—you’re not really, really dead. You’re now beings without a physical body. Just Souls. So, you see, we do have what you people call 'Heaven.' But! Hear me out—I will give you guys a second chance to live in another world!"

Another world? Just like those novels?!

"Does it have magic in it?" I quickly asked.

"Yes," the child God replied with a smile.

"Monsters?"

"Yep."

"Women adventurers who'll accompany you on your journeys, like a busty priestess, a gorgeous elf, a strong knight, and beautiful staff members from the adventurers' guild right?!"

"Uh... I guess?"

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"I'm in. Send me there!" I said eagerly.

"Calm down, Kotaro," one of my friends interjected, a note of caution in his voice. "I know it's tempting, but something about this feels suspicious."

My friend, Satoma, approached the God, towering over him before kneeling on one knee. He looked up with a glint on his glasses and asked, "Dear God, may I ask what our mission is for being sent into that world?"

The God showed an amused smile. "A mission? There is one. Just defeat the Demon Lord of that land and I'll grant your wish."

Satoma bowed his head slightly. "I apologize in advance, oh benevolent God, but you don't mean to send us into that land without any form of advantages, do you?"

The God surprised with the question giggled. "I like you. Very much. But don't worry, I'll be giving you 'advantages.'"

"Thank you, dear God," Satoma said, bowing his head.

"I'm going to show you now, just wait a minute!" The God turned around and ran towards a stash of boxes, rummaging through them. Disregarding his divine status, he looked like a cute kid wanting to show off his toys.

After a minute or two, the God raised a box of cards triumphantly. "I found it!" He then ran back towards us in excitement, stopping midway.

"Take a seat first."

With a wave of his hand, we suddenly found ourselves sitting on chairs. Except for Tetso, who had passed out in his seat.

The God masterfully shuffled the deck of cards, each one adorned with mysterious, intricate patterns that seemed to shift and glow with a life of their own. The designs were an enigmatic blend of celestial symbols and arcane runes, mesmerizing and otherworldly.

"These cards will grant you your 'advantages,'" the God said with a twinkle in his eye.

"That's so cool! Can I go first?" I said eagerly really wanting to see what'll I get. Maybe if my luck is good I'll found myself becoming a hero of the other world! Or maybe great magical powers? I can't keep my excitement!

"Sure, pick three cards."

I picked three cards as he said from his deck and looked at it. The first card depicts a knight in gleaming, intricately detailed armor, standing tall and resolute. The knight holds a large, ornate shield emblazoned with a lion's head and a sword with runes etched into its blade. Behind the knight, a sunrise casts a golden glow, symbolizing hope and protection. This is great! Maybe my class is a knight! The second card features a grand, stately manor house, set against the backdrop of lush, sprawling gardens. The manor is an architectural masterpiece, with tall windows, elegant balconies, and intricate stonework. Lanterns light up the entrance, and a cobblestone path leads up to the impressive double doors, flanked by statues of rearing lions. Cool, just awesome! I'm starting with a manor! Now for the final card! This card portrays a dark, ominous aura swirling around a shattered mirror. In the mirror's reflection, objects appear distorted or broken.

"Ah... this look uh."

Well, this is fine, my future seemed great except for that last part which I don't have any clue about. Let's ask what Satoma got.

I approached Satoma, who was carefully analyzing his three cards and nodding thoughtfully.

"Hey, what did you get?" I asked, curious about his selection.

"I'm not sure yet. Here, take a look." He showed me the three cards. The first card featured a swirling silver mirror adorned with intricate runes. The second card had an ethereal blue aura and depicted a hand reaching out to touch another person's forehead. The third card portrayed a shadowy veil.

"Those look mysterious," I mused, pondering the implications of his draw. "Did you get an assassin, perhaps?"

"That seems unlikely," Satoma replied. "A dagger would be more fitting. Well, I'll figure it out later. More importantly, how's Tetso?"

Oh yeah, I had almost forgotten about him.

I glanced to my left and saw Tetso still lying on the ground, with three cards placed on top of him. I approached and took a look at his cards. The first card showed an intricate design of skeletal arms wielding a sword, surrounded by a shimmering aura. The second card depicted a cryptic entrance with several glowing runes embedded in it. The third card was enveloped in a dark, smoky mist, with an image of a knight standing amidst a field of withered flowers. The knight's eyes glowed with an eerie blue light.

"Wow, his cards look promising! A knight, maybe?" I speculated, touching my chin thoughtfully.

Suddenly, a loud clap echoed through the room, grabbing everyone's attention...except for Tetso, who was still unconscious.

"It looks like you guys are done checking your cards... except for one," the God announced. "If you have any questions, feel free to ask!"

"Uh, then I ha—"

"Nothing? Okay, then good luck on your journey!" the God interrupted, cutting off any potential inquiries before we could speak.

"Wait!"

I tried to reach out, but suddenly, the floor beneath me vanished! Just like that scene from Demo— Oops... As we plummeted, I glanced below and saw nothing but pitch-black darkness. I looked around and noticed Tetso, still unconscious, free-falling alongside us. Meanwhile, Satoma, ever the cool-headed one, stood upright as we descended, somehow managing to maintain his calm and composed demeanour even in midair. Why does he always have to look so effortlessly cool?

I let the darkness devour me as I could see the light slowly getting smaller and smaller.

***5 minutes has passed***

"Wooh, that was tiring," the God said, recalling how exhausting the last three had been. He waved his hand, conjuring a comfortable couch, and settled down. With a flick of his fingers, a stack of manga appeared—his earlier reading before the group arrived.

“Let’s see, where was I?” He mused, using magic to flip through the manga pages. Then, something fell: the set of cards he had given to the three humans.

“Hmm.” the God muttered, using his magic to retrieve the cards. The box’s exterior was ethereal, adorned with intricate golden designs. but something felt off about it. He cast a dispel magic spell, but nothing happened. Intrigued, he studied the magical patterns carefully and noticed an anomaly.

“Jeez, that good-for-nothing God tricked me…” he grumbled, correcting the pattern. Suddenly, the card box shook and glowed molten red. Startled, the God quickly threw the card and erected a magical barrier. The card exploded violently, enveloping the space in dark, swirling miasma. Fireworks of flashing lights erupted, and a loud, eerie laughter filled the air.

“Dolus…” the God said, grinning.

The laughter ceased, replaced by a cool, taunting voice. “Bet you didn’t see that coming, did you, Janes? WUHAHAHA!”

As the smoke cleared, Dolus, the god of trickery and mischief, stood amidst the chaos. His skin had a subtle sheen, and his deep violet eyes glinted with mischief. His long, silver-black hair flowed like a cascade, blending with shadows. He wore a midnight-blue cloak with silver embroidery over a fitted vest and shirt, dark pants, and stylish boots. Dolus was accessorized with a silver crescent moon pendant and gemstone rings, each reflecting his craft. A faint, melodic chime accompanied his every move.

“I’m hurt it took you so long to consider using one of my gifts!” Dolus said with a smirk.

“Enough of your pranks, Dolus. Do you think this is funny?” Janes said, his smile masking his irritation. His aura flared and aimed at Dolus, but it passed through him.

“Hey, it’s just a harmless prank! Besides, I’m not even really here—what you see is just a spectral form of my magnificent self! But enough about that. I’m more interested in what you’ve done with the cards. Let’s see… Oh! It looks like it's missing a few.” Dolus said playfully. “Wow, I can’t believe you actually gave them these cards!”

Laughter burst from Dolus as he threw the now demonic-looking deck of cards at Janes. The once ethereal box was now blackened, adorned with sinister red runes, and etched with tormenting, chaotic designs. Each card exuded a malevolent aura, the radiant symbols replaced by haunting, writhing figures.

“What did you do?” Janes asked, eyeing the transformed cards.

“Nothing, really! The question you should be asking is, ‘What have I done?’” Dolus pointed at the box, explaining, “Those cards, as you said, show what you'll become in your next life. But… the twist is!”

Dolus raised his hands, and a loud drumroll echoed through the space.

“You’ll become a demonic spawn, despised by all living things—a monster hunted by humans, heroes, and the world! But don’t worry, it’s all thanks to yours truly! The God of Travel and Chance, Janes!”

Furiously, Janes crushed the cards underfoot, creating a crater of rubble.

“Are you done yapping?” Janes said, his anger unmasked.

“Yes, yes, I’m done. But just so you know, I didn’t come up with this idea, Janes.”

“I know.”

“Oh really?” Dolus raised an eyebrow.

“Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re still part of this.”

“Hmmm, I suppose so!” Dolus grinned and pulled something from his pocket. “But you’re in luck, my dear friend.”

He revealed a golden dagger, gleaming with an otherworldly light. Its intricate engravings and radiant glow exuded heroism and divinity.

“T-that…”

“Yes, Aurora’s Edge. A weapon that can transform an ordinary person into a legendary hero.”

“What are you planning, Dolus?” Janes eyed him warily.

“Let’s just say I’m helping an old friend with his newly created problem.”

The two locked eyes in silence, tension thick in the air until it was broken by a new voice.

“Uhm… excuse me!”

Both gods turned to see a confused teenage girl.

“I, uh… just want to ask, where am I exactly?”