Chapter 134: Paradise (1)

"What is beyond death?"

One day, the hero asked me.

"Beyond death?"

"Yes. When life comes to an end, death is inevitable, so wouldn't that death also have an end? What is beyond that death?"

"The end of death... If you're talking about the very bottom of the Afterlife, there are the three gods of the Afterlife."

At my words, the hero shook his head slightly.

"Didn't you tell me about the Afterlife before? About how the souls are judged by the gods of the Afterlife, cleansed of their sins, and then reborn into a new life having their memories erased."

"That's right. I did tell you that."

It seems he still remembered the story I had told him when we were traveling together.

I picked up an apple that was placed on the table next to the bed where the hero was lying. I carefully peeled the skin off with a magic knife, then cut it into bite-sized pieces and brought them to the hero's mouth.

However, the hero couldn't put the sliced apple in his mouth.

"Can't you eat it?"

"No, I don't have an appetite."

"And you haven't even had breakfast."

I clicked my tongue softly. If I wanted to, I could easily extend his lifespan. But the hero was refusing.

"Isn't it the natural order of things for life to be born, live, grow old, and die? Just because I have been with the Goddess of Life, it is not right to deviate from that principle."

"Even if I don't want that?"

"Yes, it's my small stubbornness."

The weary-looking hero lay back down on the bed.

"Let's return to the original topic. What is beyond death?"

"The soul is cleansed and reborn, carrying an untainted spirit."

"Then what happens to the souls that pass the judgment of the three gods of the Afterlife?"

At the hero's words, I was silent for a moment.

"There haven't been any souls that have passed that judgment yet."

"The criteria for the judgment must be very strict."

And it was indeed the case.

How many things do humans do in their lives? Are there no malicious acts at all in all those things? Is goodness present in everything?

Or have they accomplished such great deeds that even those malicious acts become meaningless?

To the point of being called a hero? To the point of being praised by the world?

At least so far, there have been no such souls.

It's to the point where even the three gods who pass the judgment are said to need a little leniency.

"The truth is... there haven't been any souls that have passed the judgment, so the place beyond it hasn't been created yet."

If that place... I'll temporarily call it Paradise for now.

Before creating Paradise, I had the idea of gathering the souls that passed the judgment separately, but... hmm.

"Is that really okay?"

"Since there haven't been any souls that have passed the criteria, it's fine to make it in advance, but..."

Traveling the world with you has been more enjoyable than I thought. I had put it off for later.

"It was just temporarily postponed. And... you seem like you'll be the first soul to pass that judgment. I should start preparing it soon."

I have some methods in mind for creating a new world.

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"Me? What great deeds have I done?"

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"Try to think of it comfortably. Comfortably."

"How can I think of it comfortably?"

It's a place where souls worthy of respect will come, so I can't create it carelessly.

"Couldn't you create a place according to what the souls desire?"

"Desire?"

"Yes. In my case... it would be a landscape like this village. I quite enjoyed the simple life here."

Hmm... If I do that, it might be problematic. If the number of people destined for that paradise increases, I don't know how vast a place would be needed.

And if those who enter there wish to live together with their loved ones... it would become even more complicated.

It's not easy. There's nothing easy about it.

"Well, I don't really want to go there."

"What?!"

What do you mean you don't want to go there?! If you don't go, then who will?!

"You said only those who pass the judgment can enter, right?"

"Yes, that's right. Only the select few who pass the judgment will be allowed to enter."

"Then, my wife won't be there, will she?"

I couldn't say anything in response to the hero's words.

"I didn't know you cherished your wife so dearly."

"Well, after living together, I've grown quite attached. Now I just want to see her face again."

The hero let out a small laugh.

"But if her soul is cleansed through the Afterlife's judgment, her memories of you will also be completely erased. Even so, do you still consider her your wife?"

"Well, what does memory matter? Her memory was already lost once before. But we still lived happily together."

I couldn't say anything more.

"If the soul that passes the Afterlife's judgment enters the place that my sister creates... will I not be able to meet that person again?"

"The possibility of that is high. Even if your wife passes the Afterlife's judgment in her next life, the soul at that time will have accumulated different memories."

"Hmm... In that case, I also wish to be reincarnated."

"Are you saying you want to meet her again in your next life?"

The hero nodded his head slightly.

Oh dear... this foolish man...

"The soul that does not pass the Afterlife's judgment will have its memories completely erased and live a new life. Even though it would be difficult to call her your wife, are you saying you will be reborn to meet that person?"

"Yes. It is a foolish choice, isn't it?"

I couldn't say anything more.

Could there be an even more foolish choice than this?

But...

"Alright. I will respect your choice."

"Really?"

"However, you must go to the paradise that I will create."

"What? Didn't you say you would respect my choice?"

Yes, I will respect it.

But the fact that you will be the first resident of the paradise remains unchanged.