Chapter 1: Chapter 01: A Divine Encounter
"So, you're dead."
"Really? Well, I guess there was nothing I could do."
I looked at the beautiful woman before me. Even though not a breeze was blowing, her long white hair was gently swaying. All around us there were only white clouds in every direction, so fluffy that you could surely sink into them if you jumped. We were even sitting on a cloud!
Separating us was a round wooden table, and on it was a steaming teapot and another glass of green tea ready for me.
"Drink some tea. It will help you assimilate what happened."
"Sure..."
The woman enjoying her cup of tea, she was a goddess, or at least, that's how she introduced herself when I suddenly opened my eyes to this place. For her to welcome me with a warm smile and tell me that I have died... I was not prepared for that when I arrived in the afterlife.
If I remember correctly, I was suffering from a rather serious illness. I was in the hospital as usual. By the time I looked at my relatives who came to visit me, suddenly the world had gone black, and then, found myself in this place.
The goddess gave me another of her warm smiles. "Sorry, I forgot to mention something."
"You're going to hell."
"Pffft-." I spat out the tea I was drinking, splashing it all over the goddess' face.
What the fuck?! I don't remember doing anything wrong! I was a poor soul who hasn't even killed a fly! I spent most of my time in bed, in the hospital! I didn't even get a chance to bother other humans! I can't just go to hell just like that!
"Hehee~... If only I had a camera with me, I could have captured the expression on your face right now." She didn't seem to be bothered at all. She summoned a snow-white handkerchief and wiped her face with an amused smile, as if she enjoyed this mundane exchange.
"You haven't done anything wrong, though... Ummm, how should I put it? You were always jerking off to your 'motivational videos' from the 'Bible' folder on your smartphone. Tarnishing the sacred image in such a heretic way... you really were quite a daring mortal."
"... Makes sense."
Her tone was light but her words made me feel as if I had been caught red-handed. Still, I nodded sympathetically.
What?! You can't judge me! Almost every man in my world keeps content of that nature on their devices. If going to hell is due to something so mundane, I'm sure most will join me. Who doesn't have a secret folder called "Bible" these days?! And whoever doesn't, must be some heretic.
"Anyway, that was just a little joke to lighten the mood," the goddess said with a smile. She waved her hand as if downplaying it and continued, "After your death in the hospital, I brought your soul to this place."
"I died in the hospital and you kidnapped me here? I see, that's the way it is, so this is paradise?"
I wanted to continue tasting the delicious tea, but I realized that my cup was already empty. Then, with a wave of her hand, the teapot floated gently to me and poured itself. I barely uttered a few words of thanks when the goddess puffed out her chest with pride...
Well, not that there was much to inflate in the first place... She was the flattest woman I've ever seen. Although if I'm being honest, small breasts deserve to get love too.
"Fueh, you're thinking of rude things again, aren't you?" Blue eyes sparkled behind her snow-white hair.
That's scary!
"Uhum!" She pretended to cough and continued to explain with her index finger pointing upwards. Where did she get those new round glasses that give her a more intellectual air?:
"Actually, this is not paradise. It is a different astral plane, located even beyond. To be precise, it is the Divine Realm, the home where gods like me reside. Although I said it is the home of the gods, this particular domain belongs to me alone. No one can access it without my permission."
As she finished enlightening me, her smug know-it-all expression turned into a proud smile. I could almost read her thoughts which seemed to say, "Consider yourself lucky, mortal! You are the first to set foot in my personal sanctuary!"
"You were personally invited by this humble goddess. Em... Ku... Kuroneko?"
"For the umpteenth time, my name is Kurogane. Kurogane Kaito."
Is this really a goddess? She's basically pretty much like a useless goddess.
"Yes, yes, Kurogane Kaito. I'm sorry I suck at remembering names."
I wanted to reply that there was no need to apologize for being clueless, but out of respect I bit my tongue.
Then, she delicately grabbed the teapot and poured some tea into her cup. She placed a tea stem upright.
She gently blew out the hot wisps of steam and gave me a curious look, "I thought you'd be more upset or surprised. I mean, for mortals death is a scary thing, but you seem to be taking it too lightly. You just died, you know?!"
"... Although you say that I have died, I don't feel that it is true. It's as if this is just a dream in which I am disoriented. After all, isn't this conversation we are having proof that I still exist? My soul may have left my body, but my essence somehow subsists. I do not consider myself deceased when I am aware of myself."
I said this calmly. Although my situation was strange, in a broader view, there was nothing I could do.
"I see, I see. A deep insight into life."
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