God's Blessings On This Grade 9 Fixer (KonoSuba x Library of Ruina)

Chapter 1

Before me was an office desk and chair in a pure white room. On that chair was an elderly man in a suit almost identical to mine. His hair was as white as my surroundings. A short beard rested on his chin and hung a few inches lower.

He pierced me with pure golden eyes. I stared back. I can't even count how long we had this still and silent battle for. It was clear he wouldn't speak until I did. My body felt too numb and pained to keep it up, and I spoke.

"So. You don't look like an Arbiter, maybe a Claw? You don't have the mask or vials, though. Wait, are you the Head itself?"

There was a short pause before he shook his head and replied, his eyes fixed on mine. "I am no Head nor do I originate from your City. You are dead, Roland. I sit here merely as your guide post-mortem."

I had my suspicions, but it was nice, no, comforting... No word fits what I wanted to convey. At least he confirmed it. That's all.

"Like a ferryman, huh? Are you Charon? Odd, I always imagined him with a boat and a paddle rather than a businessman in... in this weirdly-bright-but-not-blinding place. I didn't think gods and whatever were real."

He smiled at my statement. Or, at least I think it was because of my statement.

"That is not my name, no, for I am one of those 'gods' you speak of. You may call me as such if you so wish."

I always imagined that if I ever met God or whatever it was watching over the City, I'd be a lot more, terrified? Concerned. Pleading not to descend into Inferno. Yet here I am, strangely calm.

"Right. Well, you already know my name, so I guess you're here to recount my sins and send me off to hell? I would say I'm not mentally prepared for that, but I guess that's on me for doing what I did."

He shook his head and stood, his arms behind his back as he crossed the ten feet between us. "I am not here to condemn you, Roland. I am not here to judge. You have lamented enough in life. To have you bask in the lakes of fire in the afterlife would be crueler than anything I can imagine."

A sigh escaped my lips. Of relief, I'm not even sure. It was breath leaving me. That's all it is.

"Then why are you and I here? I don't exactly have anything to do since I'm dead, and you're a god so time probably doesn't matter to you, but whatever it is, I just want it over with."

"I understand," he nodded. "I am here to offer you a choice."

A choice. I can't remember the last time I made any with a clear head. I gestured for him... them? It? I gestured for Charon to continue.

"The City is horrible, Roland. You have seen the depths of its cruelty. I can give you the choice of being reborn in it again, a new life. I will guarantee you a life of lavish in Nests and—"

"Yeah, just send me to those lakes of fire you were talking about," I replied instantly. Again, he nodded.

"I had suspected you wouldn't choose that." I wonder why. "Then, two choices are left before you. First, I can end all of your sufferings and let you ascend to heaven. All of your sorrows will end here, but so will your happiness. You will be an empty husk under the Sun for eternity, but you will be able to rest."

"Happiness, huh?" I laughed. "Right, like I had any of that left."

"I get it, Roland. I do. I have been watching over the City since its first second. But your time in the Library, you—"

"The Library is gone. Its purpose was nothing but to fuel my revenge. It's done now." I spat back. My karma was bad enough as is. Yelling at some divine being won't do anything more. Speaking of happiness like he understood that concept. Like he understood our collective suffering. At least Angela...