Chapter 1
Reincarnation
is About a White Room, Right?
Translator : PolterGlast
It was the end of
April, the beginning of Golden Week, and Shouko was exhausted. Leaning against
the train door, unable to find a seat, she sighed.
She had entered her
fifth year as a working adult. Having spent a year as a jobless graduate and
being born in April, she would turn 28. When Shouko had just joined the company
at 24, her mother had said,
"Oh, Shouko,
you'll be 25 next year? Round it up and you'll be in your late twenties, you
know."
Shouko was taken
aback, but four years later, she was still "in her late twenties,"
and she would be for another five years. Remembering this, she chuckled to
herself as she leaned against the door.
This year, Shouko had
been promoted to floor manager. Her company was a furniture company, and those
who could endure transfers every six months to a year were promoted to manager
early. It was a rewarding but also burdensome middle management position.
Customer complaints, pressure from senior colleagues, and a boyfriend she had
been neglecting due to her busy schedule...
"Ah~, I just want
to go home and rest..."
Shouko's wish was
granted, in a way. The train she was on derailed due to excessive speed on a
curve, and all passengers died.
The last thing she
remembered was seeing people flying towards her as she fell. So why was she
here now?
In the empty white
room, a businessman in his 30s and a quiet-looking woman around her age were
sitting. The three of them gathered, trying to figure out what was happening
when a woman's voice echoed.
"You have all
died in an accident. If you wish, you can be reincarnated in my world."
A beautiful woman
dressed in white stood before them.
"An alternate
world reincarnation... Could you be a goddess?"
The man blurted out,
"That's
right."
The goddess smiled.
The other woman pleaded,
"Can't we go
back!? My family..."
"You can't go
back. You're dead."
"Why do you say
we can be reincarnated then!?"
The man shouted.
"Because you're
neither poison nor medicine."
"Huh...?"
"Because you're
neither poison nor medicine, any of you."
The goddess sighed and
began to explain.
"The world called
Earth is, in a way, the focus of the gods' attention. No other world has developed
so rapidly in such a short period of tens of thousands of years. But perhaps it
has developed too much. The Earth's god has abandoned you."
"God? Abandoned
us?"
"If things
continue as they are, humans will destroy the Earth, engulfing everything, in
less than 20 years. Perhaps the god has grown tired of it."
"Even if we're
abandoned, how does that relate to us?"
"Earth, without
someone managing it, has become a hunting ground for souls. Gods from various
worlds are coming to hunt souls. Your surviving family and friends will
eventually be hunted by other gods. I am one of those gods."
The woman smiled.
"I have received
twelve train cars' worth of souls."
"But there are
only three of us here."
The quiet woman said,
looking around.
"The rest have
become raw material for the souls of my world."
"What about
us...?"
"As I said,
you're neither poison nor medicine. The souls of Earthlings have an enormous
amount of energy. Whether they lean towards justice or desire, they create
extreme currents. But, you three have no such inclination. Whether you stayed
on Earth or not, you would have had no significant impact, for better or worse.
So..."
The woman smiled.
"I will allow you
to live in my world."
They should be angry.
Why should Earthlings bear the responsibility for something that hasn't even
happened yet? Besides, this goddess had killed them. And to say they were
neither poison nor medicine. But Shouko was tired. If even her beloved family
would disappear, what was the point of returning to Earth? Besides, she was
dead. As if sensing her thoughts, the goddess said,
"My world is one
of swords and magic. When your souls adapt, you will start around the age of
10. And as you reincarnate, I will grant you three wishes."
Why were there always
three wishes? Shouko thought to herself. Swords? She didn't want to fight.
Magic? She didn't want to fight. Then Shoko had a sudden idea.
"Is there healing
magic there?"
"Yes, there
is."
"Then, I wish to
be able to use healing magic. And a healthy, strong body. And..."
"And one
more?"
"Someone to help
me until I can be independent."
"... You can wish
for anything, you know."
The goddess said this
with a slight frown. To be able to live independently. That was important as a
person. As long as you can survive, you are free to choose how you want to
live. Thinking of this, Shoko mocked herself a little. She had been so busy
that she had never had any freedom.
"I was upset when
you said I was neither medicine nor poison. So, at least, I want to heal people
and live independently and leisurely."
"I see. Very
well."
The woman turned to
the other two.
"I, or rather, I
always wanted to do farming. So I wish for abilities suited for production. And
a healthy, strong body. And someone to help me until I can be
independent."
"Very well."
"I! I've always
been protected! So I wish for magic powers! And a healthy, strong body, and
someone to help me until I can be independent!"
"... Very well.
Then I will reincarnate each of you near someone who will help you. I hope you
live long lives this time."
Was that sarcasm? The
three of them exchanged glances and quietly said their farewells. Then,
eventually, their consciousness faded.
"Are they
gone?"
"Yes. How was
yours?"
The goddess asked a
man who had suddenly appeared, without showing any surprise.
"How was mine? I
was supposed to choose souls that were neither poison nor medicine. But one had
skills to steal people's abilities, all magic attributes, a harem, experience
point boosts, and wished to be a beautiful girl. Earth is a world full of
desires."
"That's why it
has developed so much. Mine were rather modest wishes."
"Indeed."
Shouko. The girl who
didn't want to fight. But you know, those who need healing are the injured. That
choice will inevitably lead to fighting, and she probably doesn't realize it.
How precious it is to
be neither poison nor medicine. What will the brilliant souls of Earth bring to
my world? I look forward to it.
The goddess smiled
softly.
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