Jiro found himself grappling with a mix of emotions as he faced the creature that stood before him. The sight of the non-angelic being contrasted starkly with his recent encounter with the angelic voice. It was clear that this was not the scenario he had envisioned.
His mind raced as he tried to reconcile his actions in life with his current situation. Panic and confusion surged within him.
"I thought that I was good, the voice said that I was honorable... Or maybe it was just my imagination?" Doubt gnawed at him, and he grappled with the notion that he might be condemned to eternal suffering.
His confusion deepened as he sought to piece together the puzzle of his situation.
"I don't understand, what did I do... Wait, how did I die anyway? I don't remember how I died," he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
"Interesting, usually people get scared when they see me," the devilish creature remarked, seemingly unfazed by Jiro's distress.
Despite his inner confusion, Jiro's frustration bubbled to the surface.
"You look scary, sure, but I need answers. Did I kill myself? That must be it, huh? Just because I'm brokenhearted, I killed myself. How dumb can I be!?" His words carried a heavy weight of self-blame and despair.
The creature's response, however, provided a surprising revelation.
"Ah no, it says here that you saved a child from a fast-moving object which is called a car," it answered nonchalantly, reading from a paper.
Ah, that must be it... Wait, isn't that a good thing?" His sense of confusion deepened as he tried to reconcile his understanding of his actions with the concept of hell.
With a cryptic smile, the creature affirmed, "Yup, that's a good thing."
"So, why am I here in Hell? What's going on? Can I talk to your manager?" His inquiry took on a more assertive tone.
"Manager, what's that?" The creature's confusion matched his own.
"You know, someone higher, like maybe the boss of this place who can get me answers?" Jiro's patience waned, but he tried to explain.
Ah, I'm Typhon, the father of all the monsters and the ruler of this place, which is called Cillian," it answered, seemingly oblivious to Jiro's predicament as it engaged in a casual activity.
"Like the typhoon storm?" Jiro tried to make a connection between the information.
"Named after me, because people also called me the God of Calamity or something like that but they misspelled my name" Typhon clarified.
"My apologies, great God, I didn't know that..." The weight of the creature's importance sent shivers down Jiro's spine.
"Ah, stop with the formality. I'm just like you, just another soul in this world," it chuckled, offering a sense of levity to the conversation.
"If you don't mind me asking, great Typhon, why am I here?" Jiro pressed forward, eager to unravel the mystery.
"Because you have been good, you will meet your father. That door over there is where his office is," Typhon pointed out a massive door made of gray marbles.
"My father? Is he being punished in hell?" Jiro's curiosity grew as he inquired further.
"I guess that's the true term, but the big bosses prefer to call it being assigned here," Typhon explained, unperturbed by the weight of the revelation.
A mix of emotions swirled within Jiro. "I don't understand."
"Well, he will answer your questions. Off you go, young man. We have schedules to follow. Nice meeting you!" With a gentle push, Typhon propelled Jiro toward the giant door.
Jiro offered a farewell wave to Typhon before embarking on the next phase of his journey. The door beckoned him, and as he pushed through, he was once again enveloped by blinding light, a stark contrast to the darkness that had engulfed him moments earlier.
In the midst of his transition, a deep voice resonated. "I'm proud of you," it declared, its sound akin to the rumble of thunder within a well.
Jiro's gaze settled upon a figure towering before him. This massive being, around twelve feet tall, possessed an aura of both majesty and power. Despite his imposing presence, the giant man's warm smile contradicted his otherwise cold appearance.
"Excuse me?" Jiro's confusion was evident as he addressed the imposing figure.
The giant man's words were warm and heartfelt. "I said that I'm proud of you, my son."
Jiro's skepticism lingered as he grappled with the reality before him. "Son? You are my father?" His mother, who stood about five feet tall, didn't seem to align with this giant figure.
"I am, I met your mom years back when I took a human form. I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you; a God like me can only stay in the human realm for only a year," the giant man answered, his expression tinged with sadness.
"Wait, a God?" Jiro admitted, his confusion palpable.
"I am Hades, the ruler of the underworld. I can't explain too much, but due to an iron rule, we can only stay in the human realm once every 100 years," Hades explained.
"That's because we can only have one direct child alive per century; an agreement was made thousands of years ago, and we have to leave before the child turns three months old," Hades continued, shedding light on the complex dynamics at play.
"I see." Jiro responded, showing a mature perspective on the matter.
"My son, for over two thousand years, you are the only direct child of mine who lived with good morals," Hades smiled, a hint of pride in his words.
"Unfortunately, all children of Gods need to have a challenging childhood, which humans refer to as a trial," Hades elaborated, sharing the difficult reality.
"Why must we have a trial? We only live once, so why must our lives be filled with pain?" Jiro questioned, grappling with the purpose behind such a concept.
"Not that I'm complaining, but it's just unfair for the incoming children. I don't want them to go through what I had to endure," he added, revealing a compassionate side.
"I appreciate your kindness, my young one. Unfortunately, as direct offspring of Gods, we had to expose you to the pain of the world to determine if you are worthy of living a blessed life," Hades explained.
But I'm dead now," Jiro interjected, grappling with his new reality.
"Yes, and you shall be reborn once again," Hades assured him, hinting at the cyclical nature of existence.
Wait a minute, I've watched a similar concept in an anime before," he remarked, touching his chin thoughtfully.
Hades clarified the idea further. "That has always been the concept of life; Buddhism refers to it as reincarnation."
"So, will I be reincarnated to Earth again?" Jiro pressed further with his inquiries.
"To any world of your choosing. There are millions of worlds, and you can select where to be reborn," Hades responded, revealing the vast possibilities of existence.
"There are millions of worlds? I thought there might be a few, but I didn't expect it to exceed a thousand." Jiro's astonishment was evident as he tried to grasp the magnitude of this revelation.
"Is there a world like... One Piece?" Curiosity led Jiro to a specific question.
"One Piece?" Hades questioned, unfamiliar with the reference.
"A world with pirates, pirate kings, other creatures, and powers!" Jiro's enthusiasm was contagious.
"Ah, there is one. However, I believe that world is beyond repair. I pity the souls who inhabit it." Hades confirmed the existence of such a realm, though with a somber tone.
Determined, Jiro declared his aspiration. "That's where I want to live." His passion for the world of adventure and exploration was evident.
"If you insist, my son, I will bless your decision and take you to that world," Hades agreed, his tone granting a sense of approval.
"As my son, you will once again belong to the Scorpio zodiac, but this time, you will be born into a complete family." Hades outlined the details of Jiro's new life.
"Since I have your blessings, does this mean I'll have special abilities?" Jiro's curiosity extended to potential special abilities.
"Cheeky child, you have greediness in your heart, you got that from me." Hades chuckled, noting a trait they shared.
"You will notice these abilities as you experience the world. However, my child, be cautious; hardship will always follow you as a son of a God." While he couldn't provide specifics, Hades hinted at something more.
As Jiro started to voice another question, a wave of dizziness overcame him.
"Time is up. Thank you, my son, for bringing honor to my name. As your father, I am very proud." Hades interjected, sensing the need to conclude their conversation.
Jiro's heart overflowed with emotion, the validation he had yearned for when he was alive had been achieved.
The world around him began to fade to black. Sight and sound dissolved, leaving only a sense of profound happiness that enveloped him completely.