Volume 1, Chapter 4: The Legacy of the Goddess Daphne

Ken and Lily stood before the monument - a massive stone structure rising from the forest like a silent witness to ancient times. It was imposing and cold, shaped like a stone door - simple, yet awe-inspiring, standing about three meters tall and two meters wide. Ken couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder. Even though he had no idea what this stone artifact was, he could tell it was something important. Lily, too, was staring at it with a hint of wariness, as if trying to recall something long forgotten.

On their way here, Ken had told Lily everything he remembered about his strange transportation to this world. He recalled, with some unease, how he had fought against that unexplainable, pulling light - his desperate attempt to cling to the lamppost - and the moment the portal finally swallowed him whole. Lily had listened intently, her brows furrowed, as if every detail of Ken’s story forced her to rethink everything she knew.

“That’s… strange,” she said when he finished. “In our world, magic is a gift from the gods, and summoning is a rare art. But something like this - how you arrived, what you described… I’ve never heard of anything like it.”

“Well, at least it’s not all bad, right?” Ken joked. “Maybe it’s just a magic glitch.”

Lily gave him a puzzled look, not understanding the joke at first. Then her eyes lit up with realization.

“A magic… glitch?” she repeated, squinting. “You use strange words. Do people in your world always joke like this?”

Ken chuckled, remembering how many times he’d seen this exact scene in anime or read about it in light novels. He wouldn’t have believed he’d find himself in such a situation -especially not with a lamppost along for the ride. But here it was, unfolding seriously, as if fate itself was playing a prank on him.

“Well, you see,” he said, trying to put it simply, “in my world, there are stories where someone accidentally ends up in another world. We call it ‘isekai.’ Usually, they die and are reborn in a new world or… they get summoned.”

“Isekai,” Lily repeated, as if tasting the word. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Sounds like… an ancient legend. And you think your story is like those stories from your world?”

Ken laughed, realizing how absurd it all sounded. But somehow, talking about it made him feel lighter. Maybe that was the magic of isekai - not how someone arrived in a new world, but the idea of starting over, turning a new page. He raised his hand, pointing to the monument.

“Still, you have to admit - this place is perfect for starting one of those adventures. A mysterious door in the middle of the forest… It looks like it’s just waiting for someone to walk through.”

Lily seemed fully absorbed by the monument now, studying its ancient, weathered surface and the faint patterns barely visible in the shadows of the trees. She remained silent, and Ken noticed how her expression had turned pensive - almost troubled.

“Lily? You seem to know something about this place,” he asked gently, trying to understand what was bothering her.

She flinched slightly, as if snapping out of her thoughts, then turned to him.

“Sorry, it’s just… I think I know what this place is, but I can’t believe you ended up here of all places,” she said, her eyes drifting back to the monument. “This is the legacy of the Goddess Daphne. Locals believe she’s one of the most powerful deities - connected to life, nature, and the force that sustains our world.”

Ken was surprised. The name Daphne - it sounded like something out of the mythology he’d studied in school. He nodded thoughtfully, trying to process it.

“Daphne… So religion plays a big role here, huh?”

Lily nodded slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“You could say that. We call our faith Daphnianism. People honor her, pray for protection and fertile lands. She’s generous, but she holds the power to both create life and destroy it.”

“Sounds like Christianity…” Ken muttered, but when he saw the confusion on Lily’s face, he added, “In my world, we have a similar religion. We believe in a powerful being that created everything, watches over us, but can also punish us.”

Lily frowned, clearly deep in thought.

“That’s not quite the same. Daphne doesn’t punish people for their mistakes. She responds to our actions - she supports those who believe in her but doesn’t interfere directly. Still… this monument…” She paused, as if unsure whether to continue.

“You think this monument has something to do with how I got here?” Ken asked, watching her closely, sensing her hesitation.

She lowered her head, sighing.

“Maybe. But I’m not sure. No one really knows what these monuments are for. We call them ‘Gates of Daphne.’ Legends say that through them, one can find answers - or see what’s hidden from the world. But those are just stories, and now…” Lily looked at him with caution. “It seems like you somehow broke the seal and entered here.”

Ken felt his heart quicken. The idea that his arrival was tied to some ancient ritual or power he didn’t understand filled him with a strange sense of responsibility.

“So what now?” he asked, trying to stay calm.

Lily looked at the monument one more time, then pressed her lips together and said,

“I need to think.”