Chapter 1

When I realized it, I was lying down in a completely white space.

With everything around me being so white, my eyes felt like they were going to start blinking uncontrollably.

"Where am I?"

"It seems you've woken up."

As I sat up with a start, I turned around at the voice from behind.

There was a woman with beautiful green hair. She had fair skin like someone of Nordic descent and deep-set eyes.

Her well-shaped, plump lips and emerald eyes. She must be in her mid-twenties.

She had a very beautiful figure and was wearing a white dress like a kiton.

It was strange that branches and leaves were growing in some places, but she was so beautiful that such things didn't matter. Her beauty was so extraordinary that it was hard to believe she was human.

"Who are you?"

"I am the plant goddess, Elphira."

"My name is Tree Pillar."

There were things that caught my attention, like her being a plant goddess and her unusual name, but since she had introduced herself, I should do the same. It's only proper etiquette as a social person.

"Um, where am I?"

"I'll explain that in a moment. Please sit down first."

As I thought about sitting on the ground, a tree sprouted from the floor and instantly became a small chair.

And before I knew it, the white ground had turned into fluffy grass.

"Hey, don't just alter someone's domain like that."

Just as I was surprised by the transformation from a white space to a natural landscape, a black-haired man appeared from nowhere.

He, too, exuded a beauty that was beyond human, like Elphira.

A beauty that made the actors and superstars I had seen on TV seem dull in comparison.

"It's fine to do a little. Please sit down, Mr. Pillar, so I can explain."

"...Troublesome."

When Elphira said that, the black-haired man also sat on the wooden chair.

"This man is Ars, the god who manages the Earth."

You might think it's ridiculous, but since she said it after causing those supernatural phenomena, it must be true.

Still, he has black hair and black eyes, but his name is in katakana.

"This time, I asked him to bring you temporarily to the divine realm, where the gods reside."

"...Why am I here?"

"It's because you died."

When I asked, Elphira told me with a sad expression.

"I died? How did that happen?"

"Don't you remember? You overworked yourself to support your family, and on your way home, you had a dizzy spell on the stairs of a pedestrian bridge—"

As I listened to Elphira's gentle voice, a memory suddenly came back to me.

That's right. I had a dizzy spell on the stairs of a pedestrian bridge, and then—

"I died, didn't I?"

I remembered how I died.

"Yes, you died. Normally, a soul would disappear and be transformed into something new, but Elphira intervened."

I don't have the kind of brilliant mind that could make a great invention, nor do I have any special skills.

I'm just an ordinary company employee. I'm not a special person who would be called to the realm of the gods.

"Why for me?"

"It's because I like you."

"Like me? I just met Elphira, and I don't remember doing anything to make her like me."

"Don't you remember? When you were a child, you fixed a small shrine in the countryside."

"A small shrine in the countryside... Could it be the dilapidated one near my grandparents' house?"

"Yes! That was my dwelling. I used to be worshipped, but as time passed, fewer and fewer people remembered me."

Elphira's eyes looked a bit sad.

My late grandmother used to say that there was a god of abundance near our house.

It seems that god was Elphira.

"So, you fixed the dilapidated shrine and made it beautiful. I've been watching over you ever since."

"Is that so?"

I had just found the dilapidated shrine and fixed it because it looked pitiful, but Elphira seemed to have taken a liking to me because of that.

But if a god was watching over me, why wasn't my life happier?

When my parents died in an accident, when I had to earn money for my sisters' living expenses, when I struggled to make ends meet, and when I was on the verge of death.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't do anything while you were alive. I wasn't a very powerful god on Earth."

Perhaps sensing my expression, Elphira looked apologetic.

"No, it's not that... I didn't think that, but it would be strange to rely on a god only when it's convenient."

"Exactly. Especially the Japanese, who don't really believe in gods, cling to them only in times of need. How selfish."

"...I'm sorry."

I apologized on behalf of the Japanese to Ars, who seemed angry. My apology wouldn't make a difference, but I had a lot of things to reflect on.

"I couldn't do anything while you were alive. But now that you're dead, I can help you."

"Can I come back to life?"

"Unfortunately, that's not possible. A dead person is not allowed to come back to life in the same world."

Ars bluntly cut off my hope.

That's right. If I could come back to life after dying, it would be a big problem.

"But you can be reborn in a different world."

"Eh?"

"Would you like to start a new life in a completely different world from Earth? It would be a transfer, not a reincarnation."

I was surprised by Elphira's proposal.

A transfer to another world. I knew it was famous from web novels.

I had read a lot of them as a form of free entertainment, even though I was poor.

"By the way, if you refuse, your soul will disappear, and you will lose your self, forming a completely different soul."

"How do you want to proceed, Mr. Pillar? If you want to rest peacefully, I won't force you to transfer. But I want you to live freely in your next life, considering how hard you worked in this one. It's just my selfish wish, though."

After my parents passed away, as the eldest son, I got a job instead of going to university and worked to support my sisters. I didn't have a typical youth, and I had little free time.

While it was fulfilling to work hard for my sisters, I was always plagued by anxiety and the pressure of supporting my family.

Before I knew it, my vision was blurry, and tears were streaming down my cheeks.

"Huh? Why are there tears..."

"It must have been tough. You did a great job as the eldest son."

Elphira's kind words and embrace made my emotions overflow.

The sadness of dying, the sadness of leaving my sisters behind, and the joy of being praised for my hard work. Various emotions mixed together, and I couldn't stop crying.

After crying for a while, my turbulent emotions calmed down.

When I calmed down, I felt embarrassed about being embraced by Elphira.

Her softness and pleasant scent made me feel uncomfortable in a different way, so I pulled away.

"Sorry, my emotions got the better of me."

"Don't worry about it."

"So, what will you do?"

Ars cut through the awkward atmosphere and asked. He's very consistent.

Since I've been given such a valuable proposal by a god, I have no reason to refuse.

I have a lot of regrets, but since I can't come back to life in this world, I want to live a new life in a different world.

"Please transfer me."

"Understood."

"Is there anything you want to do in the other world? We can help you with anything within our power."

When Elphira said that, I was at a loss.

However, it's hard to decide without knowing what kind of world it is.

"Can I ask what kind of world it is?"

"Of course."

When I asked, Elphira told me about the world I would be transferred to.

It has a civilization similar to the Middle Ages on Earth, and magic exists.

There are not only humans but also various races such as demons, beastmen, and elves, and dangerous creatures called monsters.

It seems to be a typical fantasy world like in anime.

What would I want to do in such a world? I can't really picture it.

"It's hard to find something you want to do right away. Let me change the question. What kind of life do you want to live?"

The happy life I imagine. It's when I was a child, and my parents and grandparents were still alive.

I helped with the farm in the countryside and spent time with my family without any worries.

I was definitely happy back then.

"I want to live a slow, farming life in a place rich in nature, like when I was at home."

Although, at that time, I was just a child who didn't understand much and mostly played outside.

"That's right up Elphira's alley."

"Yes, after all, I am the goddess of abundance. I will bestow my blessing upon you, Mr. Pillar."

Elphira smiled and placed her hand on me.

Then, my body was enveloped in a green light.

"Elphira's blessing is perfect for farming and growing crops. With this blessing, you won't have to worry about hunger."

"Is that so?"

I can tell I've received some kind of power, but I don't really feel it yet.

"You'll get used to it as your body forms. And here, take this staff."

"What is this?"

"It's a divine tool to help you control the power of the blessing. It will assist you when you're not used to it. You can also use it as a tool by focusing your will, so it's very convenient."

When I imagined a hoe, the staff-shaped divine tool transformed into a wooden hoe.

Then, when I imagined the staff again, it returned to its original form.

It seems I can transform it into certain objects, as Elphira said.

Being thrown into another world with nothing but my clothes would be tough, so this kind of tool is very helpful.

"Thank you so much for doing this for me."

"No, it's a thank you for fixing the shrine."

Elphira smiled softly as I bowed.

She feels like a warm, motherly goddess, even though it might be disrespectful to say so.

"I've given you the blessing. It's time to transfer you. A place rich in nature and where you can live a slow life, right?"

"Yes, I'm a bit tired of cities and crowded places."

When I answered, my body began to be enveloped in particles of light.

My body was turning into light, but I didn't feel any fear.

"Then, I'll transfer you. Try to do well in your next life."

"Mr. Pillar, enjoy your new life."

"Yes, thank you. Lord Ars, Lady Elphira."

After expressing my gratitude, my body was enveloped in an intense light.

◆

When I opened my eyes, I saw trees stretching out before me.

I was curious about where I was, but first, I needed to check my body.

I was wearing a simple shirt, vest, and long pants, which was different from the suit I was wearing when I died.

This must be the attire of a farmer in this world. It looks like a typical villager A outfit.

A modern suit would definitely stand out in another world, and it's not suitable for farming, so I'm glad.

I can't see my face without a mirror, but my height hasn't changed.

I'm probably around the same age as I was before, around twenty-four.

In my right hand, I was firmly holding the staff Elphira gave me.

I have all my limbs. It seems I was successfully transferred to another world, thanks to Ars.

After checking my body, I needed to check my surroundings.

Looking around, I saw tall, large trees standing everywhere. The dense undergrowth made it hard to see.

Examining the roots of a nearby tree, I saw a bright, unfamiliar plant growing.

I could hear the sounds of some kind of creature in the distance.

"...This place is more of a forest than a place rich in nature, isn't it?"

It's clearly different from the countryside or forest I had in mind.

Lady Elphira, my new life seems to have started off in a completely unexpected way.

Thank you for reading.

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