CHAPTER 1 I Refuse When I open the hinged double doors, I find myself in a room that’s completely white as far as the eye can see. The Summoning Chamber is what you would call a pocket dimension and boasts a vast radius of a few kilometers, despite being contained within the sanctuary. I take a few dozen steps into the room, then stop short to retrieve a golden stick of chalk from the bust of my dress. Thereupon, I draw a magic circle on the ground and begin reading the Hero’s name aloud. Seeing that this is my sixth time, I’m getting pretty good at this if I do say so myself. Before long, the magic circle illuminates, and a man is summoned from the earthly realm. Oh… Oh no…! H-he’s…! He’s so dreamy! He’s over 180 centimeters tall with youthful-looking black locks hanging over his masculine face. He’s wearing a T-shirt and jeans, common attire for the average person in his world, but there doesn’t seem to be anything average about him. Even the aura radiating from his body is as awe-inspiring as the gods of the spirit world. Oh, how I wish just once I could fall deeply in love with a man like this and— Ack! Wh-what’s wrong with me?! Love between goddesses and humans is prohibited! I mentally shake my head. At any rate, this human is so attractive that I almost lost all sense of discipline as a goddess. But I notice something. The man is staring at me in silence and understandably so. After all, who wouldn’t be startled after suddenly being whisked away from the life they once knew and summoned to a completely white room? I speak to the man with an air of authority in my voice. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am Ristarte, a goddess of this unified spirit world. I have summoned you to this dimension for a certain mission. Seiya Ryuuguuin, you shall become the Hero who saves the parallel world Gaeabrande from the evil clutches of the Demon Lord.” I confidently chuckle. As expected, Seiya continues silently staring at me. He seems more enchanted by me than surprised. It’s understandable, though. I don’t mean to brag, but I am a goddess. And to put it bluntly, I’m very attractive: gorgeous, glossy blond hair; a pure-white dress with ample breasts, a bit of cleavage showing; and a slim waist accompanied by slender legs. My beauty must have left him speechless. I doubt this Seiya person has ever seen such a perfect woman in his life. I inwardly chuckle to myself…until Seiya finally speaks in a lowered tone. “To think you’d drop a bomb like this on a complete stranger… You’re a weird one, aren’t you?” “‘Weird’?! Are you talking about me?!” Uh-oh… The real me slipped out for a moment there. Th-this isn’t good! Dignity! I must maintain my dignity as a goddess! After clearing my throat, I try to speak calmly to him. “I am not weird. Allow me to repeat myself. I am a goddess—a goddess of the heavens who summoned you, Hero.” “A goddess, huh? If you’re really a goddess, then why don’t you just save that parallel world yourself?” “Th-there are rules. The gods created countless worlds to flourish at the hands of humans. That’s why only humans themselves can save human worlds.” Seiya heaves a deep sigh. “Do I even have a choice?” “No.” Upon hearing this, Seiya casts a disgusted glare at me. “You’re asking too much of me.”
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The he’s wonderful! feeling I had earlier steadily withers away with that brazen attitude of his. Wh-what a peculiar man. Most people are ecstatic when I tell them they were chosen to be a Hero… O-oh, well. He’s probably just confused after being summoned so suddenly. Good thing I have the perfect remedy for situations like this! I’ll just sidle up to Seiya like so, aaand… “Hey, Seiya! I want you to yell ‘status,’ okay?” Heh-heh-heh! This! This is it! This is perfect! Japanese people love stuff like this! “Why?” “Huh? Wait. You don’t know? Were you not that into video games? Ah, it doesn’t matter. Whenever you yell ‘status,’ you’ll be able to see your capabilities expressed in numerical form! Anyway, just give it a go! Seeing is believing!” However, after a brief moment of silence… “…Properties.” “‘Properties’?!” I’m pretty sure I told him to say “status,” so why did he say that?! What is that even supposed to mean?! Seiya appraises the information on the screen that appears before him and nods. “I see. There actually is information here that only I would know. I guess that makes your bullshit story a little more credible.” …Does he not realize how disrespectful he’s being to a goddess?! “A-anyway, forget about ‘properties.’ Just say ‘status,’ okay? Come on. Please? I’m begging you!” Seiya reluctantly mutters “status” in response to my heartfelt appeal. Thereupon, a three-dimensional screen pops up just like before. I look over his shoulder to read his status with him. “Well? What do you think? I don’t know if you can tell, but your stats are amazing! They’re way higher than your average Hero’s! Listen, your talent is one in a billion! You, Seiya Ryuuguuin, are the only one who can defeat the powerful Demon Lord of Gaeabrande!” I say everything I can to fire him up, but he doesn’t seem all that happy. In fact, he looks pensive, as if his mind was elsewhere. “By the way, what happens if I die in that world?” “W-well, that’s a pessimistic way to look at it…but there’s no need to worry! You’ll simply return to the world from whence you came! However, you will never be able to return to this world after that…” Seiya gives a dismissive snort as if to suggest that anything I say or do is of no concern to him. I’ve had a sneaking suspicion ever since we started talking: He’s the kind of person who has to see something to believe it. That’s it! “Seiya! I’ll explain later! But for now, let’s go to Gaeabrande!” I immediately cast a spell, opening a gate before us to Gaeabrande. With the gate open, I call out to him. “Seiya Ryuuguuin! Join me! The fate of Gaeabrande is in your hands!” “I refuse.” “Now then, I bet you’re so excited to see what kind of world Gaeabrande is, right? …Wait, huh? W-wait! Wait, wait, wait! What did you just say?” “I said I refuse. Do you seriously think I would go to such a dangerous world on a whim without even preparing?” “B-but your stats are considerably higher than most people’s. Besides, I’ll take the form of a human while in Gaeabrande, and I’ll always be with you to help. So don’t worry abo—” “Didn’t you say the human world had to be saved by humans? I doubt you’d be very useful.” “H-how rude! I’m a goddess, you know! I won’t die, and I can even heal you with magic when you get hurt!” “See, what did I tell you? You’d have a back-seat role, making you essentially useless when it comes to saving the world.” Ugh! H-how dare he talk to a goddess like that! I—I would love to beat his face in right about now! However, Seiya delivers another cold, piercing glare. “If I don’t have a choice in the matter, at least let me prepare.” “P-prepare? By doing what exactly…?”