Reincarnation
"God, is there any way we can work something out within two hundred points?"
Figuring it was at least worth a try, Hanjun put the request to God. Contrary to his expectation of an immediate refusal, God folded his arms and began to think it over. Hanjun waited for the answer with his heart in his throat.
After a moment, God spoke.
"If you want, I can half-convert your Specialization into a psychic power."
Specialization was the privilege granted when one chose the highest grade of Ability—Magic. It raised affinity for a single element—fire, water, and so on—to an extreme, letting the caster weave spells of that element more powerfully and more simply than any other. Similar privileges existed for the other Abilities: for psychic powers, a Trait that bestowed a unique property upon the power itself; for Aura, a Constitution that granted the body a special physical nature.
"There's a catch, though, right?"
"There is. Exactly two."
God held up two fingers in front of Hanjun's face, then immediately folded one of them as he continued.
"The first is that we hang a demerit on your reincarnation. Something like, 'You will be born as an ordinary orphan with nothing.' Hmm. Now that I say it out loud, that example's pretty good. Want to take the one I just gave you? You didn't want a new family anyway."
Hanjun nodded without hesitation. For someone who had no desire for a new family, it was a perfectly suitable demerit. Honestly, it barely even counted as one. If you left the Household category blank, your family was assigned at random—so even if Hanjun didn't want one, there was a high chance he would end up with relatives. Taking this demerit reduced that possibility to zero.
"How many more demerits would I still need after that?"
"Let's see. Two more of about the same severity, or one that's harsher."
"Hmm… then I'll add 'Affinity for all other elements fixed at the absolute lowest.' That should count as the harsher one, right?"
"It does—but are you sure? With that demerit, everything except spatial magic and non-elemental magic will be stuck at the basics."
"It's fine. My goal is to be a merchant, not a mage."
Hurling fireballs, raising tidal waves, making the earth heave—Hanjun would have been lying if he said he didn't want to try magic like that. But if he could use those spells, he would inevitably be dragged onto the battlefield, whether he wanted it or not. He had no intention of letting that happen. One absurd death was more than enough.
"What's the second condition?"
"You changed your mind and decided to spend a hundred points on a luck-related Ability or item, right? It's about that."
So he's not even bothering to hide that he can read my mind anymore?
Hanjun nodded, half exasperated. The word luck had kept circling through his head until he finally decided to go along with God's suggestion and pick something fortune-related. That was why he had been so determined to keep a hundred points free.
"I'll attach the Angel of Fortune to you. Live out your life in that world together with her."
"…That's a lot of pressure."
"Don't worry. She's not a particularly difficult child, and I'll put a few restrictions in place as well."
With that, God snapped his fingers again. Universal remote control, or what?
"Gyaaah!"
The empty air nearby suddenly split open, and a figure came tumbling out of it. The figure—no, the woman—let out an undignified shriek as she face-planted into the ground. She twitched for a moment, then jerked her head up.
In that instant, Hanjun's time stopped.
Lustrous white hair like God's own, and golden eyes that looked as if pure gold had been set into them. Skin like white jade, an explosive rear, and breasts so enormous he genuinely wondered whether everyday life was even possible. She was, without exaggeration, the ideal woman Hanjun had always dreamed of.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"
"What do you mean, 'suddenly'? Your father clearly told you a moment ago to get ready to come out."
"And I clearly told you I refused!"
"And your father clearly told you that a refusal is a refusal."
"Urgh!"
The woman puffed out her cheeks in indignation. The pure white wings on her back fluttered as if announcing her mood, and feathers shaken free from them danced around her. Hanjun watched, forgetting even to breathe.
"Fortuna. My third daughter. End this long seclusion of yours and go down to the surface with this boy."
"No! I said no!"
Ignoring the woman screaming her refusal, God turned his head toward Hanjun.
"Hanjun. Will you accept the conditions?"
"Yes! Yes! I'll acce—mmph!"
Snap!
God clamped a hand over the mouth of Jinseong, who had been drooling openly from the moment he laid eyes on the woman, then locked eyes with Hanjun again. Under that gaze demanding an answer, Hanjun hesitated.
Is it really okay to go with that woman—no, that angel?
He wanted to be with her. He even wanted a deep, heated relationship. But looking into the eyes of the angel glaring daggers at him, he couldn't bring himself to nod. No matter how he looked at it, she had zero interest in accompanying him. He didn't want to choose someone like that as a life partner—no matter how perfectly her appearance matched his ideal type.
Reading those thoughts, God decided that even if it meant sweetening the deal a little further, he would persuade him. If he let this chance slip, there was no telling when another would come. He no longer wanted to leave her shut away in seclusion—for her sake, and for the world's.
"Hanjun. Before we get into the real discussion, I told you that if you kept your emotions in check and stayed quiet, something good would come of it."
"Yeah, well."
"Normally, for people who get absurdly swept up in things the way you did, I grant a Blessing of Health so they can live free of chronic illness for the rest of their lives. If you accept the conditions, I'll grant you an additional blessing on top of that."
"…What kind of blessing?"
Suspicious as he was, Hanjun's ears pricked up. God grinned.
"A merchant is a profession that inevitably involves dealing with people. And when you're dealing with people, nothing beats a likable face, a pleasant voice, and a sculpted body—well, that last one can get lazy, so we'll leave it out—and a scent people want to keep smelling."
"?! You don't mean—"
"Exactly! A blessing that makes everyone take a liking to your face, feel good hearing your voice, and keep wanting to catch your scent. Call it the Blessing of the Social Butterfly, if you like."
"Whoa! …But is that okay? It sounds a lot like hypnosis."
"It doesn't touch the mind directly, so it's closer to charm than hypnosis. And as long as you don't abuse charm-related power, it's permitted. You're fine."
At the word fine, Hanjun's eyes began to sparkle. Sensing the situation tipping against her, the angel Fortuna cried out in a panic.
"I have a lot of enemies!"
"…Come again?"
Hanjun's smile cracked in an instant. Fortuna flashed a triumphant grin.
"I went wild on the front lines during the First Defensive War, so even now there are plenty of invaders who want me dead. Stick with me and you'll become a target too."
"Don't worry, Hanjun. Every invader who still remembers her is sealed inside the passages that lead to my world. And if they ever do break out into the world, everyone will be in danger equally."
God casually undercut her plan to scare Hanjun into refusing. Fortuna whipped her head toward him, eyes murderous.
"Why are you so determined to send me to the surface?!"
"Daughter, as you well know, your existence power is currently scraping the bottom. If it hits zero, you will simply cease to exist. So go down to the surface with this boy and build it back up."
"…I still have time."
"Don't be like that. Go with him. When do you think another child will come along who's this thoughtfully cautious, this good at looking after himself, and this likely to survive?"
God pressed the case as if a better opportunity would be nearly impossible to find again. At first Fortuna kept her face turned away, determined not to listen—but the longer his persuasion went on, the more she began to nod, almost despite herself, stealing glances at Hanjun.
"Fine! Fine, just shut up already!"
Under God's relentless persuasion, Fortuna finally raised the white flag. God nodded in satisfaction, wearing a deeper smile than he had shown at any point so far, then turned to Hanjun.
"What will it be?"
"You already know."
"Say it out loud anyway. It only counts as acceptance if you state it verbally yourself."
He had already thought it through thoroughly, so Hanjun accepted without hesitation. The tablet in his hand flashed, then vanished without a trace.
"…Is that it, then?"
"Yes. It's time for you to reincarnate."
"Then, I'm sorry, but could I have just a moment?"
He didn't say what for. God already knew. God sighed, put on a look of resignation, and nodded.
Hanjun turned—reluctantly—and faced the bastard. The bastard was glaring at him as if looking at a mortal enemy, ready to kill.
"You think you've got any right to look at me like that?"
Seethe. Seethe.
"What's got you so angry? Because God seems to favor me? Or because I get to go with a beautiful angel?"
Jinseong, his mouth still sealed by God, couldn't say a word. But the envy and rage glittering in his eyes made listening unnecessary.
"Jinseong. Listen carefully. Before I cut ties with you for good, I'll give you one last piece of advice as a friend."
With that, Hanjun shoved his face right up against Jinseong's. Jinseong recoiled like a terrified rat, but Hanjun leaned in just as far. Looking straight into those trembling eyes, Hanjun said:
"For once in your life, take a hard look at your own damn behavior, you sociopathic piece of shit!"
With that, Hanjun turned calmly toward God, as if he had nothing left to hold onto.
And then—
Snap!
A crisp finger-snap, and an irresistible wave of drowsiness crashed over him. Hanjun's eyes closed of their own accord.
"May your new life be better than the one before."
Like a lullaby, the blessing carried him under. When he opened his eyes again, a new life was waiting.