On the Paths of a New World

Prologue (Volume 1)

01

Vitor opened his eyes to total darkness in a void that seemed immense and claustrophobic.

The only light came from a figure floating in front of him. The light grew in intensity and revealed the form of a woman. Her hair, as brilliant as the full moon, fell in soft waves around her face. Her eyes were like two distant stars shining with an intense and inscrutable light, she was, in a word, celestial.

"Welcome, Vitor Venante," she said. Her voice was soft, like a spring breeze.
"My name is Althea, the Goddess of the Threshold. I am here to guide you on your journey beyond life.

"Beyond life?" Vitor repeated, a chill running down his spine. "Did I-... I died?"

"Yes," confirmed Althea, her eyes full of empathy and understanding. "I'm sorry to say that your life on Earth has come to an end."

Vitor felt as if the ground had disappeared beneath his feet. Dead? Was he... really dead?

Althea continued, "I wish I could tell you how you met your end, but... that's something you must discover for yourself, if you wish."

Her words were a mystery, an enigma Vitor knew he would need to unravel.

"Usually, you would have the option to pass on to paradise or be reborn on Earth as a human again. But, given the unique circumstances of your death and your age, a third option has been made available to you..."

Althea extended her hand, and a portal of light opened before them: Through it, Vitor could see a strange and wonderful world. Medieval cities, enchanted forests, and creatures that seemed straight out of a fairy tale.

"This is the world of Konosuba," said Althea. "It is a world where magic is real. But it is also a world in trouble. The Demon King and his armies threaten the peace and stability of this place.
"We are short of people willing to be reborn there, you maybe already figured out why," She continued. "And that's why I'm giving you the option to choose this world for your new life."

Althea's expression was serious, but a gleam in her eyes made Vitor think there was more than met the gaze.

"You will receive an item or a skill to help you on this journey, it's up to you. It can be anything - a magical artifact, a special gift...perhaps a goddess..."

 She gave herself a provocative look, a soft smile forming on her lips.

"So, Vitor Venante, "what will you choose for your new life?"

The information about his own death seemed to numb Vitor to the bones, but despite the shock and confusion, he still managed to form questions in his mind.
"Hey, wait a minute..." he began, his voice shaky but determined. "Is this some kind of joke? You're telling me I died, just like that, out of nowhere?"

He paused, his eyes scanning Althea's serene face, looking for some sign of a joke.
But the goddess just looked at him with a sympathetic expression, a hint of sadness in her eyes."

Why can't you tell me how I died?" A tone of accusation in his voice. "I just died, and you want to send me to a world with demons?  What kind of shit is this?!"

Vitor took a deep breath, the adrenaline from his confusion fueling his words.
"And how are you a goddess? There's no such thing as divinity. This is pure foolishness to trick idiots," he said with a twinge of disbelief.
He knew, somewhere deep in his heart, that what was happening was true. But accepting it was another story.

Althea didn't move. She simply floated in front of him, the light enveloping her slightly fluctuating with Vitor's words. She seemed no stranger to the disbelief of mortals, looking at Vitor with patience...

"It can be hard to accept, Vitor." Althea's voice was as gentle as before, unshaken by the accusations. "But it's the truth. You're dead. And yes, I'm a goddess who guides those who have died on the American continent. I can't tell you how you died. That's something you will have to find out for yourself, if and when you're ready, as I've already said."

She paused, silence filling the space between them, allowing her words to settle.
"As for the world of Konosuba, it's a choice. You don't have to choose it. But the option is there if you want."

Althea's expression was calm, unshaken by Vitor's outburst. She kept her eyes fixed on him, emanating an aura of patience and understanding as if she had been through this many times before.

Vitor looked more confused and incredulous with each word Althea pronounced. He ran a hand through his face, trying to process the goddess's words. "You're joking with this name too, right?" he mumbled, his words half panting, half laughing. "Have you been reading my fanfics I wrote about the Light Novel Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o!?"

He shook his head, disbelief stamped on his face. "How can there be a world with that name? This is just the invention of a Japanese writer, who was probably a virgin and recluse, who wanted to mix RPG with anime. You're trying to trick me or make fun of me, aren't you?"

He looked at Althea, disbelief still evident in his eyes. They stared at each other, Vitor waiting for an explanation and Althea patiently waiting for him to assimilate the information. There was a sense of expectation in the air as if the world was awaiting Vitor's reaction. Althea remained calm, her eyes full of understanding and patience.

"Vitor," she began, her voice always calm and gentle. "I understand, this is hard to believe. And I know it seems like a huge coincidence. But I assure you, this is the world of Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku o!. It's real. And it's an option for your next life."

She paused, allowing Vitor to absorb her words.

"This is not a mistake, Vitor. This is not a trick. It's an opportunity. A choice you can make."

"This doesn't make any sense!" Vitor exclaimed, his voice echoing in the empty room. He seemed to be struggling to understand what was going on. "How can a fantasy be real? And how am I dead talking to a woman and I'm not stuttering or sweating cold?" His face was full of bewilderment. "I could barely get close to a woman when I was alive."

He paused, a thought crossing his mind.

"This is just a dream, right?" He asked, looking at Althea. "I want to wake up now." With that, he pinched himself, his expression of confusion giving way to determination.
But nothing changed. The room remained the same, Althea was still there, and he was still dead.

"Vitor," Althea said, understanding and softening her voice. "I know this is confusing. It's a lot to process at once. But this is not a dream. You really died. And you're here because you need to make a decision about your next life."

She looked at Vitor, waiting for her words to take effect. "I understand that this is hard to believe, but it's the reality. And you need to face it."

Vitor let out a long sigh, his breathing visibly disordered. The reality of the situation began to sink in, and he could feel anxiety growing in his chest.
Leaning back in his chair, his hands covering his face, he tried to calm down.

He could feel Althea's presence nearing, the goddess trying to offer some kind of consolation...

"Get away, woman!! Do you want me to have a heart attack right here?" Vitor exploded, looking at Althea with an expression of panic. He was clearly disturbed, tension visible in every line of his body.
Althea backed away, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. She expressed concern on her face but kept a respectful distance, allowing Vitor to have some space to breathe and process the information.

The room fell silent for several minutes, only the sound of Vitor's agitated breathing echoing in the empty space. Gradually, he began to calm down, the reality of his situation beginning to truly sink in.

Vitor took a deep breath, the air filling his lungs as he struggled to control his runaway heartbeat. He shook his head as if trying to clear the confusion, before forcing himself to focus on Althea again.

He closed his eyes briefly, using the silence to gather his thoughts. There were so many questions swirling in his mind, an endless series of 'what ifs' and 'whys' that he hardly knew where to start. He knew he needed answers, some way to make sense of all this, but the reality of what was happening still seemed far beyond comprehension.

02

Eventually, Vitor came back to reality, finding Althea's gaze.