Draco's eyes widened in shock and disbelief after hearing the words of the woman on the throne.
"A goddess? I had no idea they were real," Draco muttered under his breath.
"Who do you think helps the human race during the awakening rituals to awaken an ability? Who do you think bestows the abilities upon the human race for them to awaken?" the woman replied, her voice calm yet filled with authority.
"I see." Draco nodded his head slowly, his mind reeling with the implications of what she was saying. "So, what now? I mean, I'm dead. Are you here to judge me or something?" Draco inquired, his voice tinged with both curiosity and a sense of resignation.
"Actually, I am here to strike a deal with you," the woman responded, her voice growing more serious.
"A deal? What could a goddess like you possibly want from me?" Draco blurted out in surprise, his eyes narrowing as he tried to comprehend the situation.
"Well, I wouldn't have brought you here or even spoken a word to you if I weren't capable of doing that which I desire. Most humans who die face judgment immediately, while those with potential are reincarnated into another world to fulfill a certain task. Right now, you are one of those with potential," the woman on the throne explained, her tone bellowing, and Draco listened intently.
"Reincarnated into another world?" Draco pondered aloud. He had only heard of such things in the stories the elders told back in his village. It was a state where a person dies and is reborn into a fantasy world.
"Can you give me more details, please?" Draco spoke up, his voice filled with urgency. He was ready to learn more.
"Now that you are dead, you will be reborn in another world. You will also awaken your talent at the age of five, and at the same time, you will awaken the title that will be given to you," the woman articulated, her voice ringing with a sense of finality.
"Do I get to pick the title I want, or is it something only fate can decide?" Draco asked, his curiosity piqued.
"No. Once you agree to be reincarnated, I myself will choose which title you will bear. But you will only learn about it when you reach the right age," the goddess informed him in a calm yet unwavering tone.
"I see. I just hope you don't give me a useless ability and a title that's considered worthless," Draco said with a slight sigh.
Draco's parents had both been mages, though they had awakened the wrong wind ability. Despite their magical prowess, Draco had failed to awaken any ability during the ritual. He had never been bullied because of his parents' status—his mother and father were well-known and respected throughout the village. But even though the villagers tried to act kind, Draco could sense the way they looked at him. His little sister, Anita, had awakened the same ability as their parents, and the way the villagers treated her was far different than how they treated him. It was subtle, but Draco could clearly see the disdain in their eyes when they looked at him. He felt like an outcast in his own family's shadow.
That's why Draco decided to ask the goddess for a powerful ability and a meaningful title, so that he wouldn't have to live as an outcast in the new world.
"The task I have for you is a very tough and dangerous one. Do you really think I'd send you into another world with a weak ability?" the goddess asked, her voice tinged with amusement.
Draco's expression shifted to a grin at the thought of the power he might soon possess, but his excitement quickly faltered, and he replaced it with a concerned look.
"What do you mean dangerous?" Draco asked, his voice laced with worry. "Please, give me more details about the task." He demanded, his urgency growing with every passing second.
"There is a particular Devil who rules the underworld. He possesses my magical staff, and I want you to kill him and retrieve the staff from him," the goddess announced, her words ringing with an unsettling finality.
Draco blinked in confusion, processing the gravity of what he had just heard. He stood there, silent for several moments, his mind struggling to comprehend the full weight of the task ahead of him.
"You want me to kill the king of the devils?" Draco finally blurted out, his voice a mixture of disbelief and confusion.
"You don't have to worry. You won't be fighting him alone. As I said earlier, I will bestow a powerful ability and title upon you. All you need to do is train hard and hone your skills. If you can reach the peak of your ability, you'll be unstoppable. Taking down the Devil King will be easy after that," the goddess articulated, her tone reassuring yet firm.
"Why don't you just use the ability you want to give me to defeat him yourself?" Draco questioned, unable to suppress his curiosity.
"Without my staff, I am unable to enter into another world. I am merely a gatekeeper. But once I have my staff back, I will be able to travel between worlds. That is why I need your help. It's not compulsory, though. You can choose to decline if you wish," the goddess remarked, her gaze steady and unwavering.
Draco stood there in silence, his gaze fixed on the floor, his mind whirling with thoughts of the dangerous journey that lay ahead. His fists clenched tightly as he contemplated the goddess's offer. The danger was clear—the Devil King was a formidable opponent, and regular devils were already terrifying enough. But the goddess promised him power, a chance to become strong enough to defeat this threat.
He hadn't expected to die so soon—he was only nineteen years old. But now, he had been granted a second chance at life. He wasn't ready to let it slip away, even if it meant facing such a perilous fate.
"Uhm… I have a little sister back home. It was my duty to protect her, but now that I'm dead, she's all alone," Draco muttered, his voice filled with sorrow and regret.
"I'll keep an eye on her and make sure she's safe. Don't worry," the goddess assured him, her tone softening with empathy.
"Alright then. I'm in," Draco said, his voice filled with determination. He had made his decision.
"Good. Please step forward and place both of your hands on the crystal beside me," the goddess ordered, waving her right hand. As she did, a massive crystal appeared beside her throne, glowing with an ethereal light.
Draco swallowed hard as he stepped forward, the gravity of the moment weighing on him. He placed both of his hands on the crystal. The instant his hands made contact, the crystal lit up with a brilliant red glow, and a red portal appeared beside him.
"Go through the portal and begin your journey. Good luck!" the goddess said, her voice both solemn and encouraging.
Draco nodded, taking a deep breath, before stepping into the portal. In an instant, he vanished, his figure disappearing into the swirling red vortex. His journey had just begun.