Prologue

How did I get myself in this situation? It’s cold. It’s as cold as the winter nights back in my hometown. No, it is even colder than that. The problem is, it’s my body that is cold, not my surroundings. Huh? What is this? Now I feel something warm. No, actually, it feels like a burning sensation. Blood? Why do I have blood on my hands? Ah, right… I remember now. The truck… I’ve been hit by a truck while trying to cross the street. I knew I shouldn’t have crossed where you’re not supposed to. Oh well… I guess this is it for me then. Did my life matter to anyone? I guess what one of my old friends said became reality. “If you slack like this you might die a virgin.” I think it was something around that. And I wasn’t even a monk or anything like that. Achievement unlocked… huh? It’s not like I did anything meaningful during my lifetime. Supposedly, I had friends, but none of them actually cared about me. And I’ve just started my career as well. Huh, I hope my parents won’t be mad because they wasted so much money with my university and my studies. Being a seaman wasn’t even my dream to begin with, but I didn’t completely dislike it. In the end, I really believe my life was worthless. Twenty-five years of this life and I did nothing good. It’s better like this. Better for everyone. They should act as if I never existed. Yeah… it’s better. I guess it’s time. The light around me is fading. World, please, forget my existence.

As the world blurred to nothing… a voice cut through the dark. Great, now I’m hearing things too…

“Now, now, son,” the old man said gently, raising a hand as if to hush my spiraling thoughts. “Let’s stop with these meaningless regrets. Everyone has a purpose in life, so you should be proud of what you managed in your short time.”

“Huh… So this is what being dead feels like,” I whispered, still dazed. “I was expecting total darkness, honestly. But… who are you, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Oh, please forgive me for not introducing myself earlier,” he chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head like an embarrassed grandpa.

The figure before me resembled an old retired man - long white beard and hair, round glasses perched on his nose. Something about him felt oddly weird… yet strangely calming.

“I am the God of Creation and Life,” he explained, his voice soft but carrying an undeniable weight. “I was the one who created the world you were living in.”

I blinked. Then, instinctively, I bowed my head. “Sorry, Father, for I have sinned so much during my life.”

The old man waved a hand dismissively, a fond smile tugging at his lips. “You can drop the formalities, my son. The God you are referring to is something humanity created.”

“Huh? Oh… Is that so?” I straightened up slowly, still processing. “Then why did you allow it? Weren’t we supposed to worship God?”

“Well, that would’ve been nice,” he admitted with a light shrug, “but I like to leave stuff like this to everyone’s choice. So if humans want to create their own religion, so be it.”

“Huh…” I paused, “Can I ask you something… God?”

“Of course, my son,” he said kindly. Then he paused and added with a playful glint in his eye, “But please, drop the ‘God’. It sounds too formal.”

I hesitated for only a second. “Then… is it alright if I call you Grandpa?”

“Ohoo!” His face lit up, eyes crinkling with genuine delight. “Yes, I haven’t heard somebody call me that in a while. Please, do.”

“Ok… Grandpa,” I said, testing the word. It felt strangely right. “My question was: Does everybody who dies get to meet you here like this?”

“Ah, a fair question.” He stroked his beard thoughtfully. “Well, frankly, no. This is a one-off. You see… your death was my mistake.”

“Ehh??” I blurted, eyes widening. “How so?”

“Well, uhm…” He looked genuinely embarrassed now, rubbing the back of his neck. “You see, I kinda dropped the temperature a bit too much in your world, so the truck failed to brake in time because of the ice on the road.”

“Ah, so that’s what it was.” I said, letting out a small, incredulous laugh despite myself.

“I am really sorry for what happened,” he continued earnestly, bowing his head slightly. “By my notes, you should’ve lived around eighty-nine years or so.”

“Eeeh? Don’t worry about it,” I replied quickly, waving it off. “Either way, eighty-nine years was way too long, seeing how I was living my life.”

He studied me for a moment, searching my face, then nodded slowly. “Now, to the problem at hand. I have decided to reincarnate you in a different world.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I stared at him. “Reincarnate? Is that even possible? I was expecting something like a judgment of my good and bad deeds.”

“Of course it is possible,” he said with a calm smile. “I am the God of Creation and Life, after all.”

“I…I guess so.” I mumbled, still trying to wrap my head around it.

“Hmm?” He tilted his head. “You don’t sound so convinced.”

“No, it’s just…” I looked down at my nonexistent hands. “Remembering my past life, I feel like I don’t deserve a second chance. Even if I get reincarnated, what would I do differently? I’m the same person, after all. My experience is minimal… Most of my life I stayed as a shut-in.”

“Son,” he said softly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder—or at least where it would’ve been if I still had a body. “I want you not to worry. The world I plan to send you is nothing like your past one. Although it is not as advanced as your previous world, this is a world of magic.”

“Eeeh? Magic?” My voice rose despite myself. “You mean like spells and dungeons and monsters?”

“Yes, something like that,” he confirmed with a nod. “To be fair, the only thing I know about it is that it is not as advanced. Unfortunately, I have neglected that world a little in terms of attention.”

“So, basically, you plan to send me to an unknown world even for yourself?” I asked, half-laughing in disbelief.

“Don’t worry!” he said brightly, brushing off my concern like it was nothing. “You will be fine! I will give you a parting gift before sending you there.”

“Really? What gift?” I leaned forward instinctively.

“That is for you to discover after you arrive,” he answered with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. “Oh, the time is up. We have to hurry, otherwise I will no longer be able to send you there.”

“Wait... You are leaving me hanging?” I protested.

“Farewell, my son,” he said warmly, already beginning to fade. “I wish you all the happiness this new world of yours can give.”

And just like that, everything was engulfed by light. I was not able to see God or anything for that matter. I felt like my body was floating, but when I tried to touch my head, I didn’t feel anything. I panicked a bit… Ah, yeah… I think it makes sense. I’m just a soul right now. And somewhere in that endless light… something was waiting for me.