Chapter 2: The Dynamics of Power.

“The game of power can be beautifully emotional and cruelly sensible.”

____

My consciousness has finally returned, however, I still can't think clearly; it's as if I'm in a sleepwalking state, only a little more conscious. It almost feels like my brain is in a thick fog.

Little by little, my brain began to clear, my memories returned, and my consciousness, once plunged into confusion, had now fully recovered its function.

Finally, I was able to reach a state where I could reflect on my situation.

Despite my attempts to look around, I couldn't move.

What's going on…? Where am I? Why can't I see anything?

Ah. So this is what happens after death. I'm just going to stay here, floating in the void forever?

That's unfortunate.

My thoughts were interrupted when I suddenly started to feel some pain. I realized that my body was forming.

A few seconds passed, and finally, I regained my vision. Although I didn't understand what exactly happened, I was in a good mood.

The place where I am also began to shape itself, and my body, which was previously floating in an infinite void, is now standing in a white hall.

Clothes appeared and covered my body. Although they were simple clothes, they were beautiful.

“Hmmm.”

Will I receive a reward in the afterlife because I was a good person in life?

"No."

I was startled when a female voice answered me.

“Who are you? Where am I?”

“I don’t even need to tell you that you’re dead, do I? You already know that, after all. Besides, I’m not sure what to do with you.”

What she said made me break out in a cold sweat.

“What… What do you mean?”

A glow coming from the middle of the room lit up the entire place. After that, it took shape, and was replaced by a woman with curly black hair and white skin. She was wearing a dress that looked like a mix between a kimono and clothes originating from ancient Greece. However, I couldn't pay attention to it.

Ruby was a true beauty, but this woman in front of me… she is the pinnacle of beauty.

"Hey?"

I gasped as the woman gave me a confused look.

“Anyway, who are you?”

The woman laughed at my question.

“To sum it up, I am the goddess Luisa. Anyway, if you think you’ll get some kind of reward here, you’re mistaken; even though you haven’t committed any serious crimes, you’ve still summoned a demon—”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“What is the punishment for those who invoke-”

I stopped talking when I abruptly felt a sharp pain in my chest.

“Don’t interrupt me when I’m talking. Anyway, the punishment for summoning demons is to spend a few good years in hell. Approximately, 1000 years of corporal torture.”

“...”

After she said that, only the sound of our breathing remained.

“1000… 1000 years of torture? Calm down, I… I don’t think I committed that serious of a crime… besides, Ruby isn’t a domain, it’s an artificial intelligence…”

Suddenly, I felt an invisible force tighten around my neck and lift me off the ground.

“Riley Yuki, summoning may seem like a light crime to you, however, it is a serious crime because it is heresy; an affront to my authority as a goddess. I created different worlds, each with specific rules, and I do not want magic in your world; I created it precisely to be a world without magic.”

I tried to fight her back, but I couldn't because the grip on my neck was too strong.

Will I die again? What if... what if this time is the end? What if there is no third chance?

Calm down... Calm down! If this were forbidden, obviously this goddess should have put some kind of mechanism in place to detect such rituals. If so, why didn't she stop me? Of course, she could have just not stopped me because of laziness or because of something involving free will, however, there are more plausible possibilities, at least, that make more sense to me.

She must be testing me. But why? Why would she test me? Would I be chosen as an apostle and go to another world to spread her religion or something? Or could it be because…

I understood.

How boring would life be for a being who has ultimate power over everything? Without any challenges, having things whenever he wants. Obviously, such a life is boring.

This goddess probably just wants to have some entertainment to get her out of her boredom, and she's suffocating me to see my reaction.

Many times, I didn't say anything, just thought, and still received a response. In other words, she can read my thoughts. And if she can do that, I can communicate properly with her without saying a single word.

Make me reincarnate in another world, Goddess Luisa! I know I am insignificant, but if you kill me now, you will miss a show!

"Cough!"

The invisible force on my neck disappeared, and I fell to the ground while coughing.

The fall hurt. I probably broke a few bones, but that's irrelevant; what matters is that I'm alive.

I looked at the goddess, who returned my gaze with an expression of disdain.

“Ha…hahahahah!”

She stopped laughing and looked at me.

“You think you can give me what I want? You arrogant brat. I watch thousands of stories on planets from different universes. I watched live as Alexander the Great expanded the Macedonian empire, and I was sitting in the VIP box when Genghis Khan built one of the greatest empires in human history, and you, a mere human from a planet with no magic whatsoever, think you can entertain me? Hahaha.”

I interrupted her, however, this time, she didn't try to choke me, she just watched me.

“Goddess Luisa, for you, I will be the actor and the voice actor; the composer and the singer; the actor and the sponsor; the cinema and the circus; I am not mere entertainment, I am the one who controls it! If you kill me now, you will miss an epic odyssey!”

When I said this, I looked directly into the eyes of the goddess, who this time, looked at me with interest.

“Hmmm… a good proposal.”

Of course; I've dedicated a good part of my life to the entertainment industry. In areas like this, you need to have a discerning eye to identify what the audience's interests are.

Goddess Luisa, at this moment, you are my audience, and I am the presenter and the show itself.

The Goddess began to laugh. Not a mocking laugh, but one of satisfaction.

“Looks like I had a good harvest this time.”

Of course you did. Even though I was a VTuber who pretended to be a woman in my past life, I was always among the most popular ones because I knew how to entertain my audience.

I wasn't a man with a vtuber channel who pretended to be a cute girl, I was the man with a vtuber channel who pretended to be a cute girl...

Furthermore, I am a cultured man who has always been aware of entertainment trends.

Besides, I've studied psychology. Someone who has studied human nature can entertain anyone.

“Riley Yuki, I know you know this, but I’ll reiterate: I won’t accept anything less than half a continent being conquered. If you happen to stop halfway because you’ve come to prefer a peaceful life, I will kill you. And if you die a third time, it’s game over.”

It looks like it will be a difficult game…

“Anyway, good luck in the new world!”

After saying that, she pointed her hand at my head, which exploded right after.

When I regained consciousness, I realized I was in a cave.