All of the sudden a female voice rang within the darkness.
"Who are you?" Ether kept glancing around, not until a bright light suddenly emerged from nowhere. Ether couldn't help but cover her eyes with the sudden assault of the light.
"Am I getting purged now, for wanting to be the strongest that will reach even the heavens?!"
"Hah! So this is it! You gods can't accept that a mere human will become stronger than you! That is why you killed me!"
{Chuckles.}
{You seem to be misunderstanding something. The potion you drank contains poison you fail to neutralize. You should have purified it with magic.}
"Ack!" Ether realized something. 'Hmm. Now that she mentioned that, one of the ingredients has this lime gooey substance. And I simply wash it with warm water.'
Ether kneeled down once again dramatically. "Ah, to die foolishly like this! What a lame death for the greatest archmage living!"
{That is why I'm here to make a proposal for you. I am the Goddess of Misfortune} The light started to turn into a humanoid figure of a woman who was wearing only a seductive black one piece bikini. There was a black and white laced apron partnered with it. And she has cat ears that twitch every moment. She was beautiful with long silver hair and eyes. And have this clumsy feeling.
"Ah! Why are you doing a live show now?!" Ether screamed once again as she covered her eyes.
{I don't have any choice. You see I recently lost my job in the heavenly realm and this is my part time job right now.}
"You mean that kind of job?" This time Ether removed her hands and looked at the woman with pity. "Life is surely tough even for a goddess. Ah that's what you meant, you are the goddess of misfortune. Now, I pretty understand that."
{No! I'm serving as a waitress! This is the required uniform needed there! I'm a waitress! And I'm really the goddess of misfortune!!!}
"Alright, alright!" Ether covered her ears from the scream of the mysterious woman. "I understand!
{Enough about me. I told you that I can give you a third chance to live.}
"Ah, about that." Ether looked away from the goddess. "You don't need to do that."
{What do you mean, you don't need to do that?}
"I don't really need to live." Ether sat in a crossed leg position. "I have been living for three thousand years plus you probably know that the last life is my second reincarnation already. In the first place being reincarnated from a scientific world to a magic world is awesome and all. But time has made me dull already. The reason why I want to become the strongest is because I thought, I can meet people like me, who live a longer life in the heavenly realm you speak of. Since you are a goddess, you must know how lonely it feels to live longer than anyone."
{Nope.} The goddess blatantly disagreed. {The heavenly realm is quite a fun place to live. If I didn't lose all my money in that scam, I would be happier.}
'Argh.' The more Ether hears about this heavenly realm where gods and goddesses live, the more disappointed she gets.
{But I really need your help right now. If you don't want to live again, then I can give you other rewards.}
Ether sighed. "What can a broken goddess like you do to reward me?"
{Ah! Even if I'm like this right now. I still have the power as a goddess to grant you anything you desire.}
'Anything I desire huh?' A rueful smile escaped Ether's lips. "Then goddess, will you become my friend?"
{That is right so you want gold and riches, stronger abilities and cheat and... What did you say- a friend?} The Goddess was startled when she heard Ether's desire.
"A goddess can live a long life. If I have someone like you as a friend, I do not need to be afraid of when you will die, because of age. And I'm dead anyways. Having a goddess as her friend for the greatest archmage such as myself, is only befitting." Ether let out a proud laugh.
The goddess still couldn't believe what Ether stated. {Is that all you desire? Being your friend will be fine with me?}
Ether let out a chuckle. "Why are you not certain about that? Then tell me, what do you need to help me with? It is only natural about friends to help each other."
{Ah-Erm.} Ether could see the building confusion in the goddess' eyes. However she waited patiently for her to speak.
{Then, the thing is, I want you to reincarnate in the world where the story I wrote exists. And save a certain side character.}
"Reincarnated to your story? And save someone?"
The goddess nodded her head. {Your soul, being reincarnated two times now, are stronger than anyone else and comparable to minor gods.}
"Hmm. Then alright. If that is what you want. Tell me what else I need to do?" Ether stood up this time.
The goddess once again startled at how Ether easily agreed. {You will not ask, why will I ask you to do such things?}
"If you want me to play a certain role and save someone, that someone must be important to you, to ask even a stranger like me to help."
The goddess' eyes started to watered. She ran towards Ether to give her a hug but she tripped miserably.
"Are you alright?"
However the goddess stood up fast and clasped both her hands.
{"Ether, thank you so much!"}
'How funny, this is my third time reincarnation and my first time meeting a goddess. And a clumsy one at that.'
A bowl containing clear water floated in front of Ether. {You just need to drink this, and you will be reincarnated in that world. As you go on in the process of the reincarnation, I will put all necessary information about the person you need to save and the world you will live from now on.}
"Alright." Ether immediately drank the bowl without a moment of hesitation. Her body started to glow. 'I can take this as some sort of vacation as well and relax while exploring a new world.'
{Once you reach that world, I will contact you once again.} Before Ethel could completely disappear, {Ah, one more thing, my name is Ruth!}
"Ruth, huh." Ether smiled. "Then it's nice to meet you, Ruth."
"Nice to meet you as well, Ether. Please give him the happy ending he deserves."
"I will. By the way, is there a way for me to talk to you again?"
"Just find the church worshipping under me, and we will be able to communicate."
"I see, then until then, Ruth." The glow intensified until Ether disappeared completely.
{What a strange soul. But I hope I'm not wrong in choosing you. His life is within your hands now, Ether. Please save him.} Ruth also disappeared and only the darkness remained once again.