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0. Prologue

” Sigh… How did it end up like this…. ”

I looked out at the view while chewing on some dried beef jerky on the terrace.

The sun has set and the sunset is gradually turning orange.

Now, the sky is turning black, as if representing the world.

And the view in front of it is that of a city full of ruins that are so badly damaged that they can hardly be called pleasant to look at.

” When I said I was going back, I never thought it would be like this. ”

My plan to come back and spend a peaceful time playing games, reading novels, or reading comics has already disappeared like dust.

The only goal that emerged was to survive in this collapsing world.

*****

I was spending my time playing games and reading novels normally, when at some point I was transported to another world called ‘Maderona’.

I’ve never written a 5,700-character article on a famous novel or game review.

At first, I was so happy that I had been transported to another world like in a game or novel that I thought, ‘Is this finally my chance?’

That makes sense. Isn’t ‘transfer to another world’ one of the situations that those who enjoy subculture look forward to?

We’ve all fantasized at least once about going on an adventure in a fantasy world and creating our own story while making new memories with party mates and people!

But what I saw around me was a forest full of large trees with lush green foliage, and as time passed by,

Rather than the joy of being transferred to another world, the fear of survival was overflowing within me.

I wandered around the forest in despair at the system window not appearing no matter how much I shouted ‘status window’ or ‘status’, but the darkened forest approached me with great fear.

My mind, gripped by fear, soon began to think of the word ‘death’.

As I was wandering aimlessly through the forest, I heard a sound and was chased by wolf-like monsters that jumped out from where I looked, and in a cave I found a crumbling statue of a goddess.

That meeting was the one that gave me the strength to live in this other world.

And that’s what caused me to end up rolling around in this damned other world again.

*****

Inside a building surrounded by stained glass that gave off a sacred atmosphere, a woman with a sense of sacredness and a man covered in numerous wounds were conversing with each other.

” Are you really thinking of going back? ”

The name of the woman in front of me, with her clear voice and red hair like the sun that approaches me with a warm glow, is ‘Patruna’.

She is a goddess revered as the goddess of love and purification in the other world, ‘Maderona’.

” Yes, that’s the contract between me and the goddess. After I complete all the trials the goddess has given me, you will send me back to my original world. ”

” That’s true, but… ”

Patruna looked at me with an expression full of anxiety.

The cave they were chased into by the monsters was the temple of Patruna.

There, through the crumbling statue of the goddess, I made a contract with Patruna and gained the power to live in another world.

While receiving and resolving trials from her, he simultaneously fought to spread her faith and restore her authority as a deity, or what is called the ‘Divine Seat’.

Because she said that only then could she get the throne back and send me back to my original world.

‘It’s been a really tough time. How long has it been?’

I calculated in my mind how much time I had spent in this world so far and realized that it had been over 20 years.

‘What the hell is this other world transfer? When I go back, I won’t look at anything related to other world transfer again.’

While I was lost in thought, she called me, took my mind off of it, and began talking again.

” Is there really a need to go back? You have already met many people here, and your future will be filled with comfort. ”

Of course, considering what I’ve done, as she said, that would certainly be the case.

But for me, this world is already a bit boring, and I miss my family and the things I used to enjoy, even though my memories are now vague.

” I’ve been telling you this all along, but I’m tired now. Of course, there are colleagues I’ve worked with and people I owe a debt to, but I want to go back to Earth, where I came from, as per the contract I made with the goddess. ”

She sighed and opened her mouth as if she could no longer convince me after the question-and-answer session we had already had several times.

” Okay. Then I will return you to your original world as per the contract. ”

I knelt down and thanked the goddess.

” Thank you. It is thanks to the goddess that I have been able to survive until now. ”

” Don’t say that. Rather, it’s not just me, but the world that has been saved by you. ”

The goddess caresses my cheek

” I will give you three additional blessings if you pass the twelve trials I have given you and save the world. ”

Her words made my eyes widen and I raised my head.

” Gaho… is that what you mean? ”

” Yes. May you be blessed with courage for resisting all fears and terrors. May you be blessed with protection for protecting many from countless dangers. And finally… ”

At that moment, I could not hear what the goddess said for the last time.

At some point, a path back to Earth opened up beneath me, and I fell down that path with a ‘thud’.

At the same time, my consciousness was cut off.

*****

” Haa… I couldn’t tell you because of the providence of the world, so I kept trying to persuade you… ”

Goddess Patruna sighed deeply and thought of the apostle who had now left her.

Why did you try to prevent his return?

Unfortunately, the world he returned to was already heading towards destruction, unlike his own world which had been saved.

– End of Prologue –