Chapter 2: Tega Bridges II
"Who are you, and why am I here?" Tega asked in a flat tone, showing neither surprise nor awe.
Although he had asked the same clichéd questions all soon-to-be-reincarnated protagonists ask, he wore a straight face that showed traces of slight irritation.
He knew about these things—not from experience, but from what he had read and watched. Honestly, he never expected it to be real or to find himself in the middle of it.
The figure before him was breathtaking, with an otherworldly beauty that defied description. She was her creator's masterpiece and the embodiment of perfection.
Her white hair cascaded like a waterfall down to her lower back, catching the light as if spun from pure starlight. Her vibrant green eyes seemed almost alive, reenergizing anyone who stared into their depths. Her skin glowed with a flawless, soft radiance. Her ample bosom stood proudly akin to two mountains atop her chest. She had a slender waist that looked divine when coupled with her magnificent, long legs.
Every movement of hers was graceful, her form perfect in every way. She looked like what any man would call a goddess—the sort that would have a lot of devoted male believers.
But Tega's expression barely shifted. If anything, he looked mildly unimpressed, as if her beauty was simply another detail to register and disregard.
Unaccustomed to indifference, she stared at him with confused eyes.
"I am Eirlys," she replied, her voice almost doll-like, yet it held the pride of someone befitting her status, "and I've brought you here to help the hero save a world."
Although she wasn't the type to judge based on looks alone, no matter how she viewed the man before her, he didn't seem like the person she was looking for.
Tega raised an eyebrow, his doubt more visible than awe. "Why me?" he asked simply. "Of all the millions of people you could've picked, why choose me?"
Hesitant or rather surprised by his bluntness, she answered after a short pause. "My subordinate said you would be… ideal for the role."
"So, your subordinate decided I'm perfect for this?" Tega muttered, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he looked at the goddess before him.
After a few seconds, Tega shrugged—unbothered by the world she mentioned nor the hero he would help. "Well, send me back. Although my life wasn't the best, I've got no interest in starting all over in some random world."
Tega wasn't pleased by her response since he wasn't some otaku who would willingly abandon it all and dive headfirst into this "new life."
He might have read some books about things like rebirth, and they did sound pretty cool, but the world he could end up in might be ten times crueler than the one he was used to. It was like a gamble—pull the short end of the stick, and your life would be far worse than your most terrifying nightmare.
For a moment, she wavered, not used to being dismissed so easily. "You're already dead," she said, lying smoothly but flawlessly. Her eyes didn't flinch, her face calm as ever.
Easily accepting his death, Tega had an almost detached look on his face. "Guess I finally kicked it," he muttered.
No regret. No bargaining. Just acceptance, a mild resignation lingering in his tone, as though he had known his life was nearing its end long before this moment.
"So, what is this place? Heaven? Hell? Limbo?" he asked, his voice casual yet almost bordering iindifference.
The goddess's curiosity grew. His lack of attachment was intriguing, if not somewhat unsettling. There was no pleading, no bargaining.
She suspected he was either a man who had lost everything or one who had simply stopped caring. Either way, he was unlike anyone she had summoned before.
"You're in neither," she said. With a slight trace of pride in her voice, she added, "This is my domain."
Tega barely reacted, his attention driftin and eyes darting. "Fine, so you want me to help this hero. Just do me a favor—reincarnate me somewhere quiet, far away from everyone."
"That's not possible. You'll need to assist the hero." She sighed, barely masking her annoyance.
Tega rubbed his temples, frustration slowly etching itself on his face. "Then at least give me something concrete. What exactly am I supposed to do there?"
The goddess's calm mask slipped slightly, but she recovered quickly. "You'll support the hero however you can. Whether as a guide, a companion, or even a… lover." She spoke casually, yet her words were deliberate, as if challenging him.
Unbothered by her obvious challenge, Tega only frowned. "I didn't ask for vague instructions. If you want me involved, then tell me what I'm up against."
Annoyed by Tega's attitude, her beautiful smile thinned as disappointment became evident in her eyes. "You were supposed to be perfect for this. How disappointing." With a wave of her hand, she said coldly, "Enjoy your stay in the spirit realm."
Feeling an icy dread spread through his soul, Tega tried his best to hide the slight fear he felt. "Wait—spirit realm?"
He let out a resigned sigh. "Fine, I'll help the hero. If that's the price to keep my soul intact, fine."
His tone lacked conviction, but he knew when he was cornered. If refusing meant his spirit was cast out, he'd rather accept and deal with whatever came next. Sometimes it was best to bend rather than end up broken.
"Good boy," she murmured, a trace of satisfaction in her tone as her beautiful smil resurfaced.
She closed her eyes, drawing a deep breath. A light brighter than before radiated off her, and a small fraction of that light settled on Tega's forehead.
'That's it?' he thought, his disappointment visible on his face.
Her eyes opened slowly, meeting his she asked. "How do you feel?"
"The same as always," he replied bluntly, examining his hands before muttering, "Just a bit more glowy that's all."
Ignoring his remark, she went on, "You should feel honored. You've been crowned my champion. I've given you access to limited, demigod-like attributes, but unlocking them will take time."
"Thanks," he said bluntly, though his expression suggested that he felt a little gratitude after hearing her last statement.
"Keep in mind that even when you awaken these abilities, you won't match a true demigod. So don't go looking for trouble," she warned, her gaze sharp.
"Don't worry," Tega replied with a smirk. "Given the choice, I'd live out my days on some isolated mountain."
Her eyes softened slightly, almost amused by his response. "Some entities will know you're not of that world. Avoid the five black zones if you can. I'm only saying this to ensure you can assist the hero—not for your sake."
"Right, got it—" he began, but before he could finish, everything went dark around him.
Letting out another sigh, he felt frustration gnawing at him. The goddess had hardly given him the answers he wanted, but he'd figure it out. He always did.
——
Staring at the spot where Tega had previously stood, a smile crept up her lips as she muttered, "That'll teach him to respect those above him."
"If he's lucky, he might get better things than he bargained for," she added, manifesting a crystal ball while humming a pleasant tune.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone