NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1
I won the lottery. Third place? Nah, not even second place.
Nope. First place. After taxes, about 2 billion.
Ignoring the employee who was recommending investment products, I pushed open the door to the lottery business team and walked out.
Huff, huff, gasp.
Looking at the newly opened bank book with my winnings made me dizzy.
Is this a dream or reality? When I pinched my cheek hard, the pain surged, making it sink in.
“Ah! It’s not a dream. It’s really real.”
They say even a mouse can find a sunny day.
Excitement coursed through my body, my heart pounding like it would fly away at any moment.
“Let’s go. I’ll think about it when I get home.”
Stepping out of the building and walking along the main road, I felt eyes on me.
I can’t believe it! No one around here knows I won. Act natural, walk casually.
The testimonials I read online said there’s no one waiting to pounce on you after claiming the winnings, but…
Still, I couldn’t shake off this feeling of anxiety.
I felt like I would lose my mind if I walked any further or took a subway teeming with people, so I quickly hailed a taxi.
“Thank you.”
I got out near my one-room apartment and dashed home.
As soon as I opened the door, it felt like dopamine exploded in my head, and I silently let out a scream while clenching my fists.
“──────!”
Unable to contain my excitement, I rolled around on the floor, and suddenly, I craved a beer.
“Right! On a day like this, I need to crack open a can of beer and sleep like a log! Let’s hit up the convenience store.”
I shoved my bank book deep into a drawer and headed to the nearby convenience store.
I thought as I walked.
‘What should I do with this money? How should I live going forward?’
First things first, quit my job. I’m throwing my resignation letter tomorrow.
I was tired of being treated badly just because I was an orphan. This crummy company can shove it.
A new home? Apartment or officetel, anything is better than this tiny one-room.
Cars? I’ll think about it later…
‘If I blow through 2 billion, I’m going to be broke in no time. I should visit the orphanage again and see that director I used to keep in touch with; maybe make some donations and really live well moving forward.’
Thud! Bang!
As I was lost in thoughts about my future, I turned a corner and bumped into a scruffy-looking man who was running towards me, and we both fell over.
“Ugh, sorry! What the hell is this game… I wasn’t looking while running. Are you okay?”
I couldn’t help but wonder what was going through his mind while he was running with his phone game. But since he was apologizing politely, my irritation faded, and I took his hand to get up.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just be careful next time…”
But then.
Vrrrr.
[Crack cleared!]
[Watch for transfer.]
From his smartphone, a vibration went off, and a hologram appeared between us.
Zing!
Strange letters and shapes that looked like something from a novel or webtoon, like a magic circle, began to glow at my feet.
“W-What’s happening? A transfer? Am I really being pulled into a game?!”
He raised his voice in panic and excitement while I was just trying to comprehend what was happening.
‘What the hell! Why won’t my hand let go? I don’t care about transfers; just let go!’
No matter how hard I tried, the hand that was helping me up wouldn’t release.
“Hey! Let go of my hand! What the hell is going on?!”
“Bwahaha, let’s head to the other world! Starting with beautiful, cute girl harem sex! —”
“Hey, you punk! I know it’s the other world or cute girls, so let go and scram!”
Oh no. It seemed like this guy was out of his mind and couldn’t hear me.
To make matters worse, particles were gradually starting to disappear from his body, beginning from his toes.
Am I really being transferred? Then what about me?
‘If my body’s stuck like this, then I’m definitely going to be dragged along too! I need to break free!’
Have to leave 2 billion behind and head to some other world?
With my house, my car, my future, all of it turned to scrap paper without spending a single cent?
“AAAH! Ugh, nooo! Grrr!”
As tears filled my eyes, and blood vessels burst from the strain, feelings returned to my fingertips.
Snap!
Bang!
Just as his arm faded, sparks flew, and I was finally able to wrench my hand away.
I had shook him off so violently that I stumbled backward, but I didn’t care about my safety.
‘Let me just hit my head a little bit—what do I care? My money! I’m so relieved, so relieved!’
I should be hitting the ground and feeling pain right about now…?
“Were you called here by your own free will? Just a mere human?”
A slick, creepy voice chilled my spine.
“It’s been ages since I’ve seen a human with such a strong will. I’m curious to see what role you’ll play in their fates.”
‘What?’
As the voice abruptly cut off, the feeling of hitting the ground faded, replaced with a suffocating pressure—as if I had fallen into the deep sea.
‘What’s going on…?’
Everything turned dark. My body felt heavy. I needed to wake up…
My laughter died as I succumbed to the crushing weight and lost consciousness.
*
“GAAH!”
At some point, my eyes shot open.
‘What the hell happened? Did I lose consciousness? Where am I?’
Gripping my fuzzy head, I began retracing my memories, recalling the guy yelling about the other world and the weird voice I heard.
And soon, the Five Stages of Grief began.
Denial.
“No. This can’t be happening. I wasn’t really transferred to another world, right? This is a dream. Please, someone, tell me it’s a dream!”
Anger.
“What? A strong will? What the hell! Would anyone be able to let go with 2 billion flying away? Why me? Why is it happening to me!”
Bargaining.
“I don’t know who you are, but please take me back! I’ve struggled as an orphan, only to finally start living well, why are you doing this to me? I promise I’ll be a better person!”
Depression.
“Is there a being powerful enough to casually take someone to a different world going to listen to one mere human like me and send me back…? Hah.”
Acceptance.
“Fine. I’ll just accept it and figure things out here. Who knows? Since it’s another world, I might find some mystical powers to get back, or I can just enjoy the fantasy vibe.”
This level of emotional whiplash in such a short time was utterly insane.
I felt like a madman.
Steeling myself and looking around, a dark arrow appeared before me.
[Chaos asks if you’re done.]
!
“Is that you? The being who pulled me here from the magic circle?”
[Chaos says it’s similar but different.]
[Chaos thinks your mind has returned, so it will attempt a connection with its master.]
“Master? Understood.”
After a moment, the voice I heard just before losing consciousness spoke to me.
「Can you hear me? You came to your senses quickly?」
Even amid being dragged, my body reacted oddly to the sultry voice. What the hell.
“Uh, could you dial back the closeness a bit? If I offended you, I’m sorry.”
「…Puhuh, what was that? You’re quite bold? How interesting. Generally, humans hearing a god’s voice suddenly tremble in fear or awe.」
I could faintly hear giggles.
「Or they deny the existence of gods, dismissing it as a prank. But you…」
The voice sounded delighted and intrigued.
「You think of me as if I’m merely a seductive woman? How refreshing. How adorable. Shall I appear before you in human form?」
As soon as she finished speaking, black smoke gathered and quickly took shape.
A stunning woman with a mix of black and white hair appeared before me.
“Wow.”
I couldn’t help but utter a gasp, momentarily forgetting the situation I was in.
Watching her grin silently made my heart race, snapping me back to reality.
Damn it. Seeing the one who sent me here, I felt a crushing sense of shame.
‘Am I seriously dazed in front of her? Get it together! One wave of her hand could end my life here.’
「Good. I like that you’re not shaken. Now, I’ll explain the situation.」
She began to speak slowly in a cheerful tone.
「For some reason, this world, once a battleground for the gods, became irreparably damaged. Eventually, most of the gods paused their conflicts, joined forces to restore it, and either faded into obscurity or fell into slumber.」
Boom!
The goddess spoke with dramatic flair.
…A battleground for the gods, huh?
「With that power gathered, the continent was restored, but maybe due to the twisting of dimensions, a rift leading to unfathomable depths formed in the continent’s center.」
I thought this was just a simple transfer to another world, but the scale is off the charts!
「Humans call that place the Great Labyrinth and banded together to create fortresses made up of several cities that surround it. The Labyrinth City or something like that.」
She shrugged.
「The Great Labyrinth is both a huge threat and a land of opportunity that poses a danger to their existence. Even the remaining gods have changed their fighting style to bring humans from a world that suits them better.」
I started to wonder.
“Why were these powerful gods fighting in the first place?”
She replied with a smile.
「Ah, it’s because of the divisions between the good and evil gods… uh, they probably had various disagreements. Gods have emotions too.」
Anyway, she moved on, emphasizing that the next part was critical.
「Anyway, in a game that resembles this world, if a human clears a specific rift…」
She pointed above with her index finger.
「They can bring a human with lower costs to obtain fragments of time and space located at the depths of the Great Labyrinth. The god who achieves this will surpass all other gods.」
“Wait a minute. What about me? I didn’t even play the game; I just got caught up in all of this! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have even been in this mess!”
Frustrated, I yelled, and the atmosphere grew heavy. Regretting it almost immediately, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Damn it, what did I just say to a god? Am I going to die now?
「Haha, I like your spirit. You’ll earn my favor this way, so I’ll let it slide.」
I felt a gentle hand stroke my head, and when I opened my eyes, there she was again.
「The reason I summoned you? Even though you were tossed into the calling of the good gods, you resisted fiercely, which caught my interest. Don’t be too angry; I was also very surprised when I summoned you and paid the cost!」
“Cost?”
「Yes! Simply put, when clearing a game, bringing a wealthy person, someone with power, or someone famous would cost too much to summon.」
So, it’s not just that all gods summon someone randomly, but there’s also a secondary filter on top of it?
「The cost consumed when summoning you will be returned to you as characteristics or skills once you grow. So, the efficiency isn’t terrible.」
So, summoning someone assigns them rankings based on costs, transferring abilities as if it were a game?
「That guy just now? He just lived his life while playing phone games, so he had a low cost to bring over. Just look at him!」
‘Damn. Now everything makes sense. He was delighted about getting transported…’
「You might look rather stunning, but your appearance is shabby, and it seems your life has been bottom-of-the-barrel, making you an efficient summon… but look at you! You’ve been offered a life that will make your past merely a joke!」
Wasn’t I on the verge of living well with my 2 billion? Maybe I’d use that to build an even better future?
As I thought, her figure began to fade.
「Hmm, I’ve almost exhausted my energy, so for the meantime, I won’t be able to do anything except relay short messages.」
Wait!
「I can’t guarantee it’ll last until you reach the 2 billion, but the future you will achieve thanks to that will help you grow!」
‘When you say “leave it for a while,” just how long are you talking about?’
I hurriedly asked the most important question.
“Can I return to my original world if I hand back all the costs?!”
Giggling, she replied softly.
「It’s not that simple. You’d be better off letting go of the idea of returning to your world.」
Once I heard that, all strength drained out of me.
「However, I’ll make sure not to force you to do anything, since I also liked you.」
She raised her finger as she continued.
「Of course, if you grow on your own and break through the Great Labyrinth, you’ll receive rewards. Remember, this world has cruel gods who hold lives hostage and use their summoners as slaves. A kind and gentle goddess like me is incredibly rare.」
What is this, some sick game of give and take?
You pull in a person who could have enjoyed their life with 2 billion and make them suffer in this world instead, only to offer them growth?
That it’s all because she’s a god, and I can’t rebel against her?
I sighed deeply.
‘Hah… I need to stop whining like a child. If I can’t go back, I better take what I can and get stronger. Get strong enough to live well here.’
Ocean view apartments, foreign cars? I’ll just buy a mansion and a carriage here.
Then again, it’s possible they have some kind of magical transportation instead of a carriage.
At least here, as long as I’m no longer weak, I won’t be made fun of just because I’m an orphan.
「Looks like you’re ready! Good. It’s going to hurt quite a bit, so brace yourself. I hope when we meet again, you’ve transformed into something even more splendid. I’ve unintentionally risked it all, so I want you to survive.」
Well then, goodbye, my adorable apostle.
Smooch.
In the blink of an eye, she drew near, kissed my cheek, and smiled before disappearing.
As I caressed my cheek, my moment of daze was brief; an overwhelming pain began to surge through my body.
“GAAAH─!”
[Applying cost…]
It all started with my eyes.