Chapter 3

The night news program was showing the business hotel burning fiercely.

The scene of a corner of the night city burning, captured from above by a helicopter, had a kind of beauty, despite its insensitivity.

The anchor was talking about the cause. According to information from sources, the fire safety equipment of this business hotel had been an issue in fire department inspections for several years.

Well, I guess that's a problem, but there's an even bigger issue.

"Do you understand the situation?"

The thing in front of me spoke again.

Next to it, several news images floated as if cut out from space. Unfortunately, they didn't look like a row of LCD or plasma TVs.

The 16:9 images floated in the air, displaying the main channels.

There's something strange here. Where am I, anyway?

It's pitch black, dark as night.

Even if I concede that the images are floating, it's strange that there are no objects reflecting the light from the news screens. There's no floor or walls.

Furthermore, I can't tell if I'm standing, sitting, or lying down. My senses seem to be numb.

When I regained consciousness in this pitch-black darkness, the only thing floating was that thing.

God.

Yeah. I wanted to punch myself.

A self-proclaimed god from elementary school. The worst. I should have just buried it as a black history. Is this a punishment for continuing it, thinking no one else knew?

"Not at all! This is not a punishment! How much I am grateful to Akira-sama!"

...This is it.

The self-proclaimed god, who doesn't read the room, is desperately asserting itself. Doesn't it realize that the more it talks, the more I suffer?

It doesn't, does it...

"Alright... I understand that I'm dead. I didn't expect a man-made god to appear after death, not Yama, an angel, or Buddha. So, what happens to me? Hell? Reincarnation? Honestly, I don't understand religion."

I answered dismissively.

"Indeed, Akira-sama died in a gas explosion accident."

Is that a tongue-twister? I would have been fine if I had been on a bus.

"But! Please rest assured! I will bring Akira-sama back to life!"

"...What?"

Bring me back to life? What, like a resurrection spell? I'd rather not become a zombie.

Besides, it doesn't seem like there would be any ashes left.

The footage showed the fire spreading to the upper floors of the hotel, which was about 13 stories tall.

I was on the 4th floor (which has some implications, General Affairs Department...), so I was caught in the fire for 10 full floors. My condolences.

But more importantly, what do you mean by bringing me back to life? Don't tell me I have to live on as a saint's ashes?

"No! To be precise, you're not dead! Your body was frozen in time just a few moments before the explosion and stored..."

What now...

"T-Time! We don't have time to chat like this!"

Wait a minute...

"Anyway, I'll give you a brief overview, so please listen!"

There are plenty of things to point out, but in this situation, I have no choice but to listen. Go on.

"Thank you! Well, first of all, thanks to Akira-sama's long-term faith, I have attained divinity. So I can now interfere with the world's principles, but the top three deities in this world are so powerful that I can hardly perform miracles."

I won't ask what the top three are.

"So I searched for a world where I could interfere. A world with a high materialization interference rate and where Akira-sama can live without much inconvenience! I will revive Akira-sama in that world!"

What? What do you mean? You're sending me to another world? You must be joking.

"But that's the only way... Or should I send you to a world with a low materialization interference rate, where only plants exist?"

That's even worse!

"Then please bear with it! Otherwise, you'll really die!"

The worst choice.

"Anyway, we don't have time, so I'll continue! There is one problem when sending Akira-sama to that world."

No choice and now a problem. My life is really a bad game...

"Ugh... You need to dedicate my symbol to the temples of the three powerful deities in that world: Heorius, Talmias, and Iagus."

Huh? The top three deities are in the destination world?

"This world is quite different, but it's polytheistic, so they recognize each other. Therefore, a new deity like me can be accepted. However, I will be treated as a provisional deity for a while, so dedicating my symbol to the temples will get me recognized as a deity in that world."

Hmm? Well, it's better than dying.

I don't find much meaning in living, but I'm not enlightened enough to choose death.

"Thank you. You don't need to rush, but please complete it before your lifespan ends."

That's a pretty relaxed deadline.

"While provisional, my power to interfere with the world's principles is very weak. If Akira-sama can raise my divinity, my interference power will gradually increase."

Divinity? I don't understand, but how do I raise it?

"Do you remember what kind of god I said I was?"

...

"At that time, Akira-sama said..."

"I said you were the god of business. Yeah, that's right."

I interrupted the god.

"Yes... You said I was the god of business. So, if Akira-sama engages in business-related activities in that world, my divinity will increase."

It sounds like a business-themed RPG.

"Right... That might be good."

Huh? What do you mean?

"Sorry... It seems time is up. This is the limit."

Oh, is that so.

"Yes... I know you have many things you want to say and think about... But please make a decision now. Do you accept the fate shown in the footage, or do you want to live a new life in an unknown world?"

The symbol, flickering, asked.

The answer is obvious.

"Alright. I'll send you to that world. ...Do you have any questions in the last minute?"

I'm not prepared for that. There are too many.

"Nothing in particular... No..."

"Yes?"

"It's not a question or anything, but..."

"Yes?"

"You're a woman, right?"

The symbol glowed brightly.