Too bright.

The almost blinding light going into my eyes makes me cover them with my arms.

“What the hell is this?”

Voicing out my complaints, a particular voice resounds in the space I am in,

“Oh? Is that how one should speak in front of someone like me?”

Hearing it, I think of that one shopkeeper from before. The one who would always give free sweets to the little kids but when faced with a rowdy bunch, would immediately turn strict and scary.

“Hoh~ so who are you?”

I still haven’t adjusted to the bright lights, so I couldn’t see either him or the place I’m currently in.

“Before you ask questions, is it not better to face me……human?”

…..

What did he just call me?

From the tone of his voice, it sounds like he isn’t one himself.

Slowly lowering my arm, my eyes have finally adjusted.

Taking a quick glance of my surroundings, it looks like I’ve been brought to a medieval palace-like room. The kind where a king would welcome guests and so on.

In front of me, sitting in a luxurious throne decorated with various gems and jewels situated an appropriate distance away from the blood red carpet laid out on the floor, is a man around his 20s with black hair combed back across his head, black eyes that looked down on me and a moderate build.

As expected, he’s even wearing clothes that would belong to a king.

But what is this? Cosplay? No one would wear something like that these days.

Now that I think about it. The last thing I remember was riding the bus home. Was I kidnapped during that time? I do remember losing consciousness, but is it normal for me to be this calm?

“Of course not. In fact, it’s my first time seeing someone so calm…”

He’s starting to spout out words again.

“Even after that someone had died a horrible death.”

My eyes widen at his words.

Death? No way. I’ve been kidnapped, right? Yeah, kidnapped. This guy’s just stalling for time. Probably waiting for the ransom.

“Don’t kid yourself human. You know it yourself. You died horribly, that is all. Your fragile existence in that world is over, just like that.”

With a smirk, he throws those words at me.

“Now then, according to those light novels you love so much, this is the part where I give you a few words of parting and send you over to the world that needs a hero in their time of peril, or something.”

I remember. I remember now.

Memories start to flood in from before I had arrived here.

On the way home, riding the usual bus, the driver tried to avoid the teenagers who suddenly crossed the street.

They must have been drunk, at that time of the night, it most certainly was a possibility.

Needless to say, the brakes weren’t functioning. He avoided them but ended up heading for a construction site.

“Ugh!”

My head hurts, but I’m sure now that that’s when I had died.

But why is it that two unfamiliar faces are entering my mind when I try to remember what happened after that?

“Do you remember now human? Well, now that that’s over, prepare to be sent over to the other world. Oh, do not worry, I shall send you over with peerless strength and magic power just like all those other light novels you have read.”

Without saying a word, he stands up. Raising his arms like he’s about to recite a chant.

“Now, be---”

“Wait!”

Before he can continue, I interrupt him.

“Hmn?”

He looks at me as if my interruption was unprecedented and worthless.

But that thinking of his is wrong. First of all, just peerless strength and magic power won’t help me survive in that world. Without the necessary skills and abilities, all those would just go to waste.

Indeed, I may have sufficient training in archery and martial arts but it’s all useless in a world that is most definitely in a state of distress that they’d need to summon a hero.

Now, what can I say to have him give me more than enough abilities?

“Hey, human. Why so silent? If you wish to speak, then speak.”

That’s it, if he truly is what I think he is, then this might work.

“Tell me old man.”

“Hey! I’m not that old!!! Only a few thousand years---”

“I don’t care about that. Are you really………..a god?”

“…”

“…”

“You noticed?!”

“…”

Okay. I’ve come to a conclusion!

He’s one of those prideful idiotic gods! Just like A*ua from Kono**ba! Yes, this method will work!

While trying to hide my disappointment, he continues talking,

“And so, what if you’ve noticed? Not like anything will change, now be transport---”

“Heh~ If you’re really a god, then isn’t something like peerless strength and the like too low level? Wait, maybe you’re not even a major god!”

“Wha?!”

“And so, why not prove you’re a REAL god?”

“Fine! I accept your challenge!”

He took the bait easier than I expected.

“So human, how do I prove to you that I am a true god?”

My face smirks a little from this god’s simple-mindedness.

“Well, first. Peerless strength and magic power is good and all, but what would happen if I were unable to use these to their maximum potential all due to me not being able to learn, remember and understand the techniques for them? Also, even if I were to be able to draw out some of its potential, what about those I cannot use? Considering I’m being transported, it will be a cliché swords and magic fantasy world, right? With different attributes for the magic there.”

The god put his hand on his chin, as if pondering on the problems I just said.

“Then---then! How about I also give you [Instant Memorization], [Unlimited Potential] and [Universal Language Comprehension]? I’ll even make you compatible with all types of magic, so you’ll have no problems in that aspect!”

“Not bad.”

“Not……..bad?!”

“But, because I’ll be able to learn and use all types of magic, even considering my peerless magic power, what of the possibility that I run out of said magic power?”

“Guh……how about [Immediate MP Recovery]? Of course, it’ll only activate when you have 5% of your original magic power. I can’t give you a limitless amount of it or else it will affect the nature of the world.”

Hmn? Maybe this god isn’t so idiotic like I first thought.

“Alright. Now, about my last problem. Well, it isn’t a problem per say, but more of a request.”

I let a smile show on my face for the first time after arriving here.

He looks at me, waiting for me to continue.

Voicing out my request, the god widens his eyes and before long,

“Bahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!”

Laughing after saying my request, I wait for him to calm down.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard that kind of ability be requested. Even amongst all the people I’ve sent over.”

“Heh…..so there are other people like me in the world you’re sending me to?”

“Why of course! It’s not like there’s just one country there. Moreover, not just one race either!”

“So I assume that my request will be granted then?”

“Hmmm….sure, sure! I don’t mind it! It’s very interesting, after all!”

He laughs one more time, before continuing.

“Well then, are you prepared to be transported now?”

“No problems. But before that…”

He raises one eye at my words.

“Why bother acting like an idiot? That lost its effectiveness to me though.”

“Oh, that? Concerning what you said earlier, you were somewhat correct. I may not be a major god, but I’m also not minor either.”

“Then what’s your position?”

“I’m the one who the other higher gods pushed all the responsibilities of dealing with humans and the likes. They do have more power than me, so I put up with it. Then I got the idea to act like an idiot for whenever people like you appear. That way, they have no solid reason to punish me for giving an overpowered ability or skill.”

“Heeeeh! You’re actually pretty intelligent then!”

“Of course I am! I’m not like those prideful major gods that do nothing but send problems whenever they’re bored!”

I think I just heard something pretty troublesome but I decide to ignore it.

“I’ll start the transportation now. This time, you’re being summoned by a major country. The reason, you’ll find out from them.”

“Got it. Sorry, and thanks for everything……..errrr……..”

“Oh, that’s right! I never introduced myself, huh. Though I mostly never do, after all!”

He laughs a bit again.

“The name’s Librerial.”

“Got it! Thanks Librerial, I’ll be sure to give an offering to you when I find the time.”

“I’ll be expecting it! Until next time, Shiro---no, Kinji Shirokawa!”

I pause for a moment after hearing my name, especially since I have no memory of ever telling this to him.

Hah, he got me. Knowing everything about me, even my thoughts since the beginning. As expected from a god, guess you can’t outsmart them. At least this one.

The light around starts brightening at an incredible pace. Waving me farewell from the wall of light, I raise my arm to wave back.

Thus, my life in the old world had ended. And the new life I would live in the new world began.