Rian Kaelon stared at the twilight sky through the window of his cramped apartment. At thirty-five, his only companions were the hum of the air conditioner and a shelf lined with fantasy comics. The silence came not only from the empty room but also from his heart—a heart once whole, but shattered ten years ago.
Back then, his wife and only child had left him for another man—her manager. Before that, his parents had already passed away. One loss after another drowned him in frustration, leaving him betrayed and utterly alone.
To numb the pain, Rian threw himself into comics. After long hours at his job arranging marketing content for a company, he returned home exhausted, yet clinging to a fragile hope. Flipping page after page of fantasy adventures made him feel alive again, even if only through ink and sketches.
The alarm blasted at 6 AM. Rian cracked open one eye, slapped the snooze, and reached for the steaming cup he'd set on the nightstand. Sip by bitter sip, he coaxed himself out of bed.
"Another monotonous day. Does God really not want me to have fun?" he muttered, rubbing his face.
Routine demanded he get up. After a sip of bitter coffee, he sighed deeply and trudged down the narrow apartment stairs. The sidewalks were still quiet, kiosks unopened, the city still half-asleep. By the time he reached the office lobby, Rian had already plastered on a half-hearted smile. Soon he was at his desk, staring at the glow of spreadsheets and deadlines.
The desk was messy—scattered sticky notes, marketing drafts, and, of course, comics tucked between folders. When boredom struck, he stole a glance at a comic. For a brief moment, his heart raced. In those panels, he imagined himself as the hero with a blazing sword, cheered by thousands.
But reality always pulled him back. The laptop screen blinked, demanding his attention. When the sun climbed high, Rian finally slipped out, hoping fresh air would spark inspiration.
He skidded to a stop, vision tunnel-narrowed. His ribs rattled as if someone were banging a drum in his chest—yet his first thought was.
"This is it! The epic moment of my life!" he thought.
In his mind, the girl would cry in gratitude, hug him tight, and the world would cheer. Media cameras would flash, and headlines would roar: "Mysterious Man Saves Beautiful Girl from Death!" Reporters would fight to interview him. He could already hear the applause.
Straightening his chest, he declared to himself, "The first step toward a hero's destiny!"
He sprinted forward.
His foot found a rogue pebble—crack—and in one motion, his skull slammed into the pavement.Comics spilled from his bag, scattering across the street. The smell of the sewer filled his nose. Horns blared. The world spun. Darkness closed in.
"Huh? Am I… dying just like this? What about that girl?" he whispered hoarsely.
Through blurred vision, he saw the car screech to a halt just in time. The girl smiled in relief. A wave of comfort washed over him, but then everything went black. His final thought echoed in panic: "Oh no… my adult manga collection…"
When his eyes opened again, the asphalt was gone. Everything was white—endless white. No ground, no sky, no shadow.
He rubbed his head, more embarrassed than hurt. "Did I really just die by tripping on a rock?"
His voice echoed as if bouncing off invisible walls. His chest tightened.
"Wh-where am I?" he muttered.
A soft laugh broke the silence, sending chills down his spine. A figure floated into view—a being draped in silk-white robes embroidered with patterns that shimmered like snow. Her face was flawless: porcelain skin, luminous eyes, hair flowing like clouds. But her smirk, barely hiding amusement, made Rian's blood boil.
"What a foolish way to die, Rian Kaelon," she said, her melodious voice tinged with mockery. Her shoulders shook as she stifled laughter.
Rian clenched his fists. "Is this heaven?"
She chuckled. "Heaven? For someone who never prayed and died from slipping on a rock? That's far too noble for you."
"Then who are you? What's the meaning of all this?" Rian demanded.
The figure lifted her robe gracefully. "I am the Fifth Goddess, Bodas. My duty is to guide souls like you into their second cycle of life."
She waved her sleeve, and light spilled from her eyes. "Humans have two cycles—first and second life. After that, eternity in either heaven or hell awaits."
With a gesture, she conjured a hologram: heaven glowing bright, hell burning dark.
"Your next choice determines your eternal fate. Choose wisely."
Before Rian appeared three worlds:
Mecha World — a city of steel and giant combat robots.
Fantasy World — forests lit by magic, dragons soaring, castles rising.
Ancient World — tribes in misty forests, stone spears, survival of the fittest.
Rian's heart pounded. He stared at the visions, then at the Goddess, whose smirk remained teasing.
"So… after the third cycle, I'll live forever? And what do I do once I choose?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied. "Eternity will be yours. Heaven or hell will be your final home. Until then, live this new life as best you can. You know right from wrong… don't you? Now choose."
Rian's finger trembled, hovering over the holograms. His heart leapt when he saw the castles and dragons. It was the world he had always dreamed of.
"Fantasy World," he whispered.
"Are you really sure?" Goddess Bodas asked, mischief glittering in her eyes.
"Yes. I'm sure."
Her smile softened, though her tone remained playful. "Very well. For making me laugh earlier, I'll grant you a gift."
A silvery light enveloped Rian's body, warm and surprising. Bodas raised her hand, her hair swaying gently.
"Good luck," she said.
Darkness swept over him. In the last moment, a whisper echoed, chilling him to the bone:
"Your new world… is not as beautiful as your comics."