Third Death

I'm surrounded by darkness. But this time they feel familiar. The third time around one is bound to grow accustomed even to death…even if this is probably the time in which I really didn't understand what happened.

Why am I dead?

You're not

Yes I am, this is exactly like the first time. And your voice…I know you! You're…how were you called…Metta-chan…?

Never use that name again if you don't want to waste the goodwill Arthesya gave you by reincarnating you into her world.

Sorry…still, what's happening?

I'm just here as a stand-in. She will arrive any second, and I'll leave explanations to her.

You mean Arthesya?

As I thought that, a woman materialized right in front of me, making peace signs with both her hands.

Yay, I'm back!

Did you…went anywhere?

Yep, didn't you see my body trapped in the ocean? Maybe the reincarnation messed up your eyes…sorry! I really was out of power, so after reincarnating you I had no way to control anything outside the seal!

Noticed it! Do you know how hard it was to accomplish my mission without any power?!

But you did! Great job out there Kaede!

Still, any help would have been nice you know? Really, what was the plan here!? I only got lucky by…dying of all things? Was I reincarnated simply because I'm good at dying? That's not very nice of you…

Nah,it wasn't for that…

Arthesya, be honest with the girl, I'm lending this space for you to tell her…

Tell me what?

Nothing…

Arthesya!

Fine…you see…it's kind of possible…maybe…that I've sent you in the world to die.

What?

You see, it's been a while since I was imprisoned and my powers were basically completely depleted. So the only way to move something was to send someone with the potential to destroy the world and see if destiny could start back up by shaking the world bad enough!

So…I wasn't send to save the world? But to destroy it!

Kinda!

Wait…am I here because the world was destroyed? Did I overdo it and managed to burn the atmosphere like the scientist tought was possible during the first atomic bomb test? Is this why I died again? Damn, I fucked up real bad…

No, no, you did good…actually, you kind of did too good.

What does it mean?

Basically…

How long are you going to take Arthesya! I'll tell you child. Basically, she did give you the mission to destroy one chain, but actually she was sure that your awakening as a Fateless, however long that would have taken, would have been enough to shake the world by causing an unprecedented level of destruction.

So you did send me to destroy the world!

Destroy the world is a bit of an exaggeration come on…

I just wanted you to do a little boom.

And then see what happened

That's such a shitty plan! Are you sure you're a Goddess Arthesya?

Technically, she's not

Metta-chan don't complicate matters further!

Wait, that's interesting actually.

No, we're not getting into that, especially given that you could go back and that information is not something that a normal human being should have.

Wait, what do you mean go back?

Told you that you're taking too long Arthesya, she's confused.

After all, this is the place dead souls end up going to.

I'm getting there Metta-chan

Please, it's not a pleasure to be kept waiting in what could basically be a life or death scenario.

Kaede.

That's your name, right?

It is now.

You accomplished your mission.

That means that you are entitled to a reward. When we first met here, the reward you were promised was clear, and I can give you that…issue is.

Now for the bombshell

Don't ruin it!

I'm simply enjoying every moment of this speech

Please, don't bully me

You're bullying yourself by putting yourself in these situations.

Sigh…

Please…hello? I'm here. What about my reward?

If you recall, it was the salvation of your soul.

Yes, it would be appreciated.

You know…thing is.

Your soul was never damned.

Metta-chan!

Huh? Wasn't I damned by the fact that I…

You suffered greatly in life child and couldn't stand your weight…but no soul is damned. Everyone can earn heaven with the right time of penance.

Wait…so it means.

Arthesya promised something you actually would have gotten anyway.

Sorry! I really needed your help back then!

I…really don't know how to respond…what does it mean for me now… do I get nothing?

No, actually, I want to offer you something else.

Hope that's not a scam this time.

Not this time!

You know that you just basically confirmed you scammed me back then, right?

Time ticking, cut it out.

Ok, ok, let's get back to the main point then.

Kaede, you did well. You completed your mission…so now, I want to give you a choice.

You can embrace your place is heaven.

Or

You can continue living in my world

Is…that the choice?

Yes.

Then I…