It looks like my first impression of this god is very bad. She sounded furious at me. But wait—if she could take immediate action when I used her authority, doesn't that mean she's been watching the boy this whole time? She knows that boy is suffering from her power? This damned god.

"I'm just correcting a god's mistake. Isn't that okay to do?" I asked her, feeling vexed.

"YOU DARE TO SPEAK INSOLENTLY TO ME!" she screamed, refusing to answer my question. I felt my ears might bleed.

"Is there any written rule that mortals can't use your authority? You just made it up, right? You're abusing your power, aren't you?" I asked again, not knowing why I kept provoking her. Was it because I felt annoyed?

"YOU MORTALS DON'T KNOW GODS' WISDOM!"

"What wisdom? Is watching someone cry wisdom?" I taunted her again.

Her aura grew stronger. I now couldn't open my mouth anymore.

"I change your punishment! You will be tortured by having your tongue pulled out for one thousand years!" She used her commanding voice. Suddenly, a giant red door appeared and opened. I felt my body being pulled into it. I couldn't resist at all.

How can this short-tempered person be the god of souls?

"What did you do with my things, Anima?"

Chronos?

"How can you enter this place?!"

I suddenly snap back to the prison. In front of me lies the boy's lifeless body. The prisoners stay silent. I immediately threaten them to remain silent.

"Listen, you've seen what I can do. If this somehow gets leaked, I'll curse you all."

I then walk towards the sky. My head hurts so much—too much information today. My vision blurs. I'm probably going to fa—

I don't know how much time has passed when I regain consciousness. My body feels comfortable, the warmth reminds me of sleeping under my favorite blanket back in my modern life.

"You can sleep longer if you want to."

I immediately wake up when I hear Chronos's voice. Have I been sleeping in this white room the whole time? I see Chronos sitting on his couch as usual.

"Ask anything, I'll answer it all, depending on your question. We don't really have time," he says seriously.

"What is authority?"

"It's the power of gods. Each god has their own authority."

"Why can I use them?"

"I can't answer that."

"Are you playing me like Anima?"

"No, you have a purpose for your reincarnation."

"Is there any consequence for using authority?"

"Depends on the god. The god of fate is a chill guy, so he doesn't mind you using his authority on Alex. However, the god of souls is such a self-centered bitch. Thanks to you, I finally have a reason for her downfall. Any more questions?"

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"No, you probably won't answer them." I've learned what kind of questions he's willing to answer.

"All right, let's go," he says, standing up and walking.

"To where?"

"To the god of Afterlife."

"What? Am I dead?" I freak out. If I'm dead, why won't he answer my questions?

"No, there are some people who want to meet you."

Oh...

He opened the door, and I saw a vast desert. The night sky was filled with stars and galaxies. A bald man with dark skin stood holding a staff.

"ANUBIS!! GUIDE HER FROM HERE!! OSIRIS WILL KILL ME AGAIN IF I STEP IN!" he screamed loudly. I covered my ears.

The bald man noticed Chronos's screaming and started walking toward us.

"Step in, Ruby," he said.

I stepped into the desert, and the door disappeared.

"Follow me," said Anubis.

I silently followed him. He didn't have the dog-like head.

"That form is a way for me to approach humans on Earth. Humans tend to pray to beings that seem unique to them. You may understand what I mean."

Did he read my mind?

"I... understand it very well."

"You may feel bored or perhaps astonished by the colorful sky. You may hear nothing except the surreal wind in this non-existent place. This is supposed to be a one-way trip for souls like you. You're one of the few people who will have the opportunity to walk this place for a second time."

"You're correct. I feel bored walking this desert, but the sky is beautiful. I've always admired how there are such colors in the deep darkness of the sky," I said as I watched the heavens.

"If you come here for the second time, I'll show you an even better view."

"Thanks."

I then saw some people standing still, watching the route I had taken.

"They are people who decided to wait for their loved ones, to walk this desert together," he said, pointing his finger. I looked in that direction.

"That place used to have a girl standing there. Her name was Nagisa, and she waited for her love for four thousand years. A few months ago, her lover finally came to this desert."

"Wait, a few months?" How long had I been sleeping?

"Don't worry, time moves differently here."

"........"

"Thanks to you, the girl's waiting is over."

"I... I did it just to confirm my identity."

Good for her, I guess. I hope her man didn't go crazy again.

"How long does this desert go?"

"It all depends on your karma in life. We're probably the most lenient gods in terms of afterlife punishment. Death shouldn't be something to fear—it's your friend, a companion that teaches you to be careful. Death is a new beginning for your next life."

"Then how long do I need to walk for my current karma?"

"That's... 7 years."

"Huh, why so long?"

"You... oh, we've arrived."

I saw a man sitting on a flying chair. His skin was greenish-dark, with unnaturally long limbs and neck. His eyes were pitch black.

"Greetings, Sir Osiris," Anubis said.

"You can wait anywhere you want, Anubis."

"Thank you."

His aura was even more menacing than Anima's. No wonder Chronos was scared of him.

"Seria," Osiris addressed me, "if not for Chronos, you'd already be in Anima's Hell. So far, he's been begging me to help him negotiate with Anima."

I guess I had nothing to hide in front of these gods. He was calling me by my name instead of Ruby.

"I'm vexed by how that old man suddenly woke up and decided to choose you," Osiris continued. "I don't know what's going on in his mind. He's perfectly capable of doing this himself, yet he's coming to this sacred land to help him talk to Shani and Amaterasu. Anima is now gone, her responsibility shifted to Ame-no-Minakuchi and me. A mere mortal caused this much trouble for the cosmic realm."

"I'm sorry," I said quietly.

Am I asked to come here to be scolded? Damn it, I accidentally thought that.

"I am kind enough to just scold you. A god should have endless patience," Osiris said.

"Can I worship you instead of Chronos?" I asked.

"Sure, you're welcome. Also, they should have arrived by now."

"They?"

I looked behind me and gasped. There was no way this was happening. I felt more sad than happy.

"Sister Seria!!"

"Seria, how have you been?"

"Why... Mama, Papa, Vivy, Hiro, how... why... why are you all here?"