————"Demon King."
This was often a presence appearing in various myths and legends.
A symbol of evil.
A synonym for cruelty.
A figure that endangered the world, harmed humans, brought fear and disaster to many beings, and plunged the world into chaos.
Such a person was the Demon King.
And in many myths and legends, to defeat the Demon King, gods usually sought heroes, provided them with many forms of assistance, allowing them to save the world.
Furthermore, gods would summon heroes from the Otherworld, letting them come and defeat the Demon King, which was a kind of development that seemed almost customary.
Therefore...
"Am I the unlucky one who got chosen?"
"You could think of it that way."
The above conversation appeared because of such circumstances.
Here was the center of an unknown temple.
Within the temple, there were no lavish decorations, nor a sacred solemn atmosphere, just a plain white structure.
At this moment, inside the temple, there were two figures.
Among them, one was a figure that seemed like an eternal existence, always standing in the very center of the temple.
That was the Goddess.
Yes, the Goddess.
Because, apart from using this term to describe her, there was no other word to describe her.
She had long, silver hair that draped down a seductively curved back, all the way to the back of her knees, and swayed gently without any wind, emitting a faint glow.
Her eyes were purely blue, like a cerulean planet; she wore a holy white dress, her jade-like feet were unadorned, standing bare on the floor, complementing a simply flawless body curve and graceful figure, beautiful beyond earthly existence, making one feel as though observing a masterpiece of art of the top level, filled with a dreamlike and surreal sense.
Such beauty, such holiness, such a dreamlike and surreal quality could only be adequately described with the word "goddess."
At least, the other figure in the temple — drifting mid-air, like an incorporeal ghost of a "human" — believed so.
At first, even "he" couldn't help but be entranced.
Until the Goddess spoke to "him."
"Though abrupt, please allow me to get straight to the point."
What was the point?
To put it simply, it was...
"You have already died, but I hope you will come to my world and defeat the Demon King, so I plan to resurrect you, make you a Hero, and send you to the world of sword and magic — [Omni Potanssen]."
That's how it was.
Hence, the initial conversation emerged.
To be honest, "he" was not very willing to believe it.
Goddess?
Demon King?
Hero?
A world of sword and magic?
These terms, "he" wasn't unaware of.
However, when these terms turned into real events happening to him, then "he" was truly bewildered, with nothing else but bewilderment.
"He" didn't even know how long it took to accept such settings.
There was only one thing "he" knew clearly.
"I don't really have any other choice, do I?"
If, as the Goddess said, "he" was already dead, refusing the Goddess's proposal meant "he" could only disappear, right?
In that case, what could be chosen?
Incidentally, the reason for using the term "should" was entirely because "he" didn't remember if he truly died.
No, it should be said, "he" forgot everything regarding himself.
Why was that?
Very simply.
"No matter what you choose, that is unnecessary."
The Goddess expressed this.
There was no way.
If "he" refused the Goddess's request, the consequences had been mentioned before.
If "he" decided to accept, not retaining those memories would stop a former life's attachment from affecting the new life, and also prevent the former life's skills and knowledge from excessively influencing the Otherworld — it was a very neat approach.
Therefore, "he" no longer remembered anything about himself, or even where he originally lived, except for some common knowledge like knowing about the internet and its usefulness, but not understanding its existence principles or conditions, etc.
This wasn't the doing of the Goddess.
"Once a human dies, they quickly disappear with no trace left, including existence and memories. It was only because I needed you that I summoned 'you' as an existence and restored your common knowledge to the extent that you wouldn't be clueless about the present situation and upcoming events."
The Goddess explained this as she looked at "him" with eyes bright and beautiful like stars, smiling softly.
"You've already died, and your past life's memories are unrelated to you. Even if you choose to go to the Otherworld, I don't wish for past life's attachments to affect your second life, nor do I want the technology and knowledge from your previous life's world to excessively impact my world."
In other words, regardless of anything, past life memories couldn't return.
"He" had no complaints about that either.
For one, having forgotten those memories, naturally "he" wouldn't be attached.
For another, even if there were opposition, it would only be futile.
As was said, "he" was already dead, supposed to disappear. Someone intended to resurrect "him," giving "him" a second life and another chance. How could "he" ask for more?
Being able to live, to have a second life, was already a blessing.
"He" ought to be content.
"It seems you have made your decision."
The Goddess, as if she could see through "his" thoughts, nodded casually and stretched a flawless hand toward "him."
"Then, in the name of God, I hereby grant you, as an Otherworldly person, a life once more."
With a voice so solemn it resounded through the entire temple, from the translucent figure's body blossomed light.
That light was as dazzling as the sun, as magnificent as starlight.
In that situation, an equally magnificent and dazzling "sword" emerged from the translucent figure's body.
"From now on, you shall be called 'Shane.'"
"Do not disappoint me."
"My Hero whom I've waited for a thousand years."
As these words fell, the "person" and the "sword" that floated in mid-air simultaneously vanished from the temple.
Having done all this, the Goddess withdrew her hand.
However, the Goddess's eyes still gazed at the void as if she were still watching that figure, murmuring softly.
"Such a strong light is indeed a first, I hope he can achieve my long-cherished wish."
Leaving these murmuring words, the Goddess closed her eyes, letting the temple return to silence.
And the story also, with this as the starting point, proclaimed its beginning.