I was a 25-year-old delivery guy, living the life most people would call ordinary. But let's get one thing straight, I was nothing like those neet losers in light novels. You know, the ones who spend all day in their rooms, never kiss anyone and cry over ramen. That was not me.
I had girlfriends. Several to be exact. And yes, I charmed them all. What can I say? Apparently, I have a face that works in my favour. Living alone has its perks, too. I don't waste money on furniture or fancy meals. Every penny goes toward fun, dates and making sure my love life is... well, eventful.
I'm disgusting, and I don't deserve a woman's love, you say? Maybe. But ask any of them, and they'll tell you I was the best they'd ever had. I didn't just charm them, I made them laugh, feel alive and honestly, I think a little of that rubbed off on me, too.
Why am I telling you all this? Honestly... I'm just killing time. This place is so boring and... empty. I have no idea how I ended up here, but one thing's for sure, I'm dead.
And what a death it was. Picture it like this, I was chasing a cat. Yes, a cat. Why? Because it had my wallet. Of course, like in every cliche light novel ever, things went horribly wrong.
Was I hit by a truck that came out of nowhere? Nope. I wish I were. That would've been cool. No, my grand exit? I slipped and fell. And the very last thing I saw before my vision went black was a banana peel. Lying there as if mocking me.
I mean... really? A banana peel? That has to be the most embarrassing way to die in the history of mankind.
Well, that's all in the past now, and I'm already dead, so who cares what anyone thinks? The real problem is... where am I? Maybe I'm not actually ded. Maybe I'm just unconscious. Or in a coma. Because let's be honest, there's no way anyone dies from slipping on a banana peel.
Time keeps passing as I talk... to no one. Literally, there's nobody here. Just me rambling and slowly losing my mind.
And it's starting to get on my nerves. Where the hell am I? If I'm dead, shouldn't I be in heaven? Or at least somewhere with clouds, angels playing harps and the faint smell of incense? Or is this... one of those weird coma visions people talk about?
Suddenly, a tiny spark of light appeared in the distance.
Wait... don't tell me the exit is...
The spark slowly grew larger and brighter, swelling like a star being born. A moment later, it burst and flooded the endless void with blinding light.
I had to shut my eyes.
When I finally opened them again, the world around me had completely changed.
I was standing in water. Only ankle deep, but it stretched endlessly in every direction, reaching all the way to the horizon. The surface was perfectly still, like a giant mirror.
Above me was a sky I couldn't quite describe. It wasn't blue. It wasn't cloudy either. It was... luminous. A soft white glow that blended seamlessly with the sea below, as if the world had been dipped in light.
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the endless reflection around me.
"...Okay. What the hell is this place?"
Then, the water in front of me rippled.
A figure slowly rose from the surface, as if the sea itself was giving birth to her.
It was a woman!
She wore strange, flowing garments that shimmered softly in the white light. Wings spread gently from her back, and smaller feathered wings crowned the sides of her head like a living halo.
For a moment, her eyes were closed.
When she opened them. They locked onto mine instantly, and I couldn't look away.
Not because I was scared or anything like that.
It was because she is ridiculously beautiful.
The kind of beauty that makes your brain forget how to function for a few seconds
...Wait.
Don't tell me. Is this the angel people always talk about?
Am I actually in heaven?
"Greetings, lost soul."
Whoa, she's talking.
Wait... was that English? I could understand every word she said, but I was pretty sure it didn't sound like English.
"I have come as an envoy of the gods. Your soul will soon be reincarnated into a new world. This is not something that normally happens. However, due to certain circumstances currently occurring in the realm you call Heaven, we have decided to reincarnate you instead of sending you to the afterlife."
Reincarnation?
So I really did die from that banana peel.
This is starting to sound exactly like those fantasy novels I used to read in high school.
"As compensation, you will be granted a blessing to begin your new life."
A faint ripple spread across the endless water as she continued.
"You may choose one of the following. Legendary powers, a divine weapon or a royal bloodline."
I scratch my head and look around to see that there's a whole lot of catalog to this.
"I'm gonna need a moment. You can't just drop a blessing catalogue like that and expect me to choose instantly."
Legendary powers. Divine weapons. Royal bloodline. Choosing between these three is already a headache, not to mention the catalogue for each of them.
Yeah... I might need some time to browse.
"Very well. Take all the time you need."
Her entire demeanour shifted the moment she finished speaking. It was like watching someone flip a switch.
Her straight posture slouched. The dignified, holy aura around her vanished almost instantly. Replace with something far more... lazy.
"This is such a hassle. Why does something have to go wrong right now? That drama was just getting to the good part when they called me."
She didn't realise I could hear her mumbling. Wait, what the hell?
Did she just summon a TV?? And—are those chips???
Just moments ago, she looked like a divine angel descending from heaven. Now she looked more like one of those shut-in neets... just with wings. Or should I say, neets cosplaying as an angel.