03)

··· Rustle Rustle ···

Manan moved forward, his footsteps slow but steady, the soft rustling of grass filling the silence around him. From a distance, the structure had looked like nothing more than a stack of toy blocks—simple, unimpressive. But now, standing before it, he realized how wrong he had been.

It was amazing.

The structure was as tall as a three-story house and jutted upward toward the sky. Intricate designs twisted and coiled along the surface of seven tall white pillars that stood in a perfect circle. Every element was so exact and well-considered that it almost seemed alive, demonstrating the amazing craftsmanship.

Manan felt a peculiar sense of reverence as he gazed at it more and more, as if he were standing in front of something sacred and old.

The pillars were connected by a huge white slab that lay upon them. Mirroring the pillars below, a second tier of shorter pillars emerged above it. The entire building possessed an almost unearthly symmetry, as though it had been created with something more in mind than simply human hands.

A pond with motionless waters at its center reflected the sky with uncanny accuracy. It appeared more like a mirror to another world than water as the golden sunlight glistened on its surface.

A spherical platform of gray stone stood in the very center of the pond. And there's a monument on that platform.

It was a woman with a lovely and poised figure, made from pure white stone. However, something about her made Manan uneasy.

She had no face.

Where her features should have been, there was only smooth, empty stone. No eyes to see, no lips to speak, no expression to give her meaning. She was frozen in an eternal, unreadable state—neither welcoming nor hostile, just… watching.

A shiver ran down Manan's spine.

Nearby, on the stone floor beside the statue, sat something even stranger—a small wooden end table, its polished brown surface gleaming. It looked oddly modern compared to everything else, as if someone had placed it there recently.

There was a black landline phone on top of it.

Manan glared. It showed no signs of wear or dust. It had a brand-new appearance. However, something wasn't quite right.

There was no cord.

No connection.

It just sat there, waiting.

Waiting for what?

The air was heavy with quiet. The wind has ceased. There was no disturbance to the pond. Above it all loomed the faceless statue, its expressionless face revealing nothing.

Manan took a deep breath. This felt unreal, and he wasn't sure what he had anticipated finding here. It was as though he had entered a dream or a realm beyond time.

Even though he felt uneasy, he had no choice but to go forward at this moment. He had gone too far.

"What?"

His voice barely broke the silence as he murmured, "What is this place?"He raised his head.

The image felt even more bizarre because the sun was perfectly framed within the ring of pillars, bathing everything in golden light.

He inhaled deeply and moved forward. His mind racing, his body tight, his feet carrying him toward the water. Below him lay a cool, smooth stone ground with each block set down precisely.

His heart throbbed a little more intensely in his chest as he walked slowly and deliberately.

···Click···

Manan paused. There was a change beneath his foot. His weight had caused the stone block to slowly sink, as if a secret switch had been flipped. His throat tightened each breath. Around him, the quiet grew more intense.

The pond rippled as a low, rumbling sound reverberated across the atmosphere.

Just as he turned to face the water, he saw something remarkable: hexagonal stairs emerging from the depths, one after the other. As though inviting him forward, they came out in perfect order, creating a path that extended toward the stone stage at the center of the pond.

The moment he saw the steps emerge in the pond, he quickly lifted his foot off the clicked block. But despite his haste, the sinking block remained stuck, refusing to return to its original position.

"What the hell is going on? Is this some kind of trap? Where even am I?"

Frustration boiled inside him as the silence stretched on. No answers, no clues—just the same unsettling mystery. He clenched his fists, his mind racing for an explanation that refused to come.

I was just heading to work… and now I'm here? This doesn't make any sense.

His mind wavered as his gaze locked onto the black phone. It sat there in eerie stillness, almost as if it held the answer to his turmoil—waiting, watching, daring him to pick it up.

He gazed out from the structure, searching desperately for any clue about his situation. But as far as his eyes could see, the horizon stretched endlessly, revealing nothing but an endless sea of grassland—silent, untouched, and offering no answers.

He turned back to the black landline phone, his breath unsteady. Staring at it for a moment, he whispered, barely audible, With a deep sigh.

"Okay… here goes nothing."

He stepped onto the first hexagon-shaped stone, carefully shifting his weight. As he looked down, the crystal-clear water revealed a school of goldfish gliding effortlessly beneath the surface. Their gentle, unhurried movements carried a strange sense of calm.

Faced with such breathtaking scenery, anyone would be at a loss for words. "W-What… a beautiful sight," Manan murmured, his voice tinged with awe as he took it all in.

He wanted to do nothing—just stand there, still and silent, letting the calming atmosphere consume him. It reminded him of summer days long ago, when he would sit beneath the shade of a towering tree, listening to the gentle flow of the river. The cool breeze would brush against his skin, carrying the soothing melody of rustling leaves and flowing water—a perfect symphony of nature.

But in reality, that feeling had been lost long ago. Ever since he left his hometown for the relentless pace of city life, chasing a livelihood, relaxation had become a distant memory—something he had almost forgotten how to do.

He stepped forward, carefully crossing the hexagon-shaped stones. After taking eight, maybe ten steps, he finally arrived at the stone stage—where the statue stood tall, and the black landline phone waited in eerie silence.

Now, Manan stood before the black landline phone, placed on a brownish table right in front of the statue. The statue itself stood tall, its face tilted diagonally upward, as if gazing at something unseen in the distance.

Manan reached for the receiver, but halfway there, his hand faltered—hovering in hesitation, as if unsure whether to go through with it.

But eventually, he pushed past his hesitation, picked up the receiver, and slowly placed it against his ear.

···Beep!! Beep!!···

After a few beeps, the line clicked—someone had picked up on the other end.

"Hello! Who is it?" said a soft, girlish voice—clear, soothing, yet laced with an eerie calm.

Manan's breath hitched in shock. He swallowed hard before managing to speak, his voice unsteady.

"H-Hello… I-I'm Manan. Can you… can you tell me where I am?"

"Manan??? O-Oh!"the voice stuttered.

"I totally forgot about you. Sorry, my bad! I was watching the K-dra—" She suddenly cut herself off. "Hey, don't change the topic!"

"I… I didn't even ask."Manan muttered, still trying to process the strange conversation.

"Anyway, how can I explain this to you? Let's see… hmmm…"She paused, thinking for a moment. Then, with a playful tone, she continued, "I guess you could say… you hit the jackpot!"

"Wh-What do you mean by a jackpot?"Manan stammered, confusion tightening in his voice.

"But why the hell am I here? Are you some kind of magician?"Manan demanded, gripping the receiver tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white.

"Can you believe it? Out of a billion people, YOU were chosen! You're incredibly lucky—no, beyond lucky—because from this moment on… you're going to be a GOD!"

She's not listening to a single thing I'm saying…! Manan grumbled in his mind.

But then—Huh?!! The last part burst out of him, louder than he intended. "W-What… A GOD?!!"

"I know, right? Isn't it just incredible?!"

Her voice brimmed with excitement, practically sparkling with joy. She was completely swept up in the moment, oblivious to anything Manan was saying. It was as if his words didn't matter—only the sheer thrill of her revelation did. Her enthusiasm was infectious, almost overwhelming, like a tide that refused to be stopped.

"M-Miss! Miss! Sorry to interrupt, but… could you repeat that last sentence?" Manan's voice trembled as he gripped the receiver tighter.

How can this be? Is it possible?

His mind was in chaos, unable to wrap itself around what she had just said. "Did you just say… I'm a GOD?!"

"You have indeed been selected to assume the role of a god."

Her tone was serene, as though she were merely speaking the truth. There was no dramatic pause or big announcement, just a serene assurance as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Does… does that mean I'm dead?Manan's inner voice came out, as if saying it would make it real.

His gaze drifted toward the statue before him. Its stone hands were outstretched, holding a pot as if offering something unseen.

"No, you're not dead. It's just transmigration." The goddess's voice came through the receiver, answering the very question Manan had only dared to think.

"I see…"Manan muttered, but then his eyes widened.

W-Wait… did she just read my thoughts?!

His mind raced, trying to make sense of it. It had to be a coincidence… right? There was no way—no logical way—she could actually hear what was in his head.

Still, doubt gnawed at him. He swallowed hard and took a shaky breath before speaking.

"H-Hey… can you prove it? I mean, are you really reading my thoughts, or is this just my imagination messing with me?"

The line went silent for a moment. Then, in a smooth, almost amused voice, she replied—

"You mean like how you're gripping the receiver so tight right now, your knuckles are turning white? Or how your heartbeat just spiked because deep down… you already know the answer?"

"I mean, come on, dude, how else would I know what's going on in that head of yours? If I am not reading your mind."

It was a response that was too slick. However, Manan was unable to deny it. It all made sense. It had felt like a dream ever since he got here, as if reality had been altered to fit his own desires. His hand on the receiver relaxed as he let out a slow exhale.

"Okay.... It makes sense. I'm not dreaming this." He chuckled dryly and shook his head. "I know I'm not going insane now, even though none of this makes sense."

The girl quietly laughed on the other end of the telephone.

"You took a while to come to terms with it. Even when the truth is in front of you, you humans actually do not want to accept it."

•••- After 2 hours

···Gurgle Gurgle···

Under the sun, the river's surface glistened like diamonds as it flowed smoothly. A captivating glow was produced as the light moved across the waves. However, a big tree on the edge cast a chilly, dark shade over the water, creating a striking contrast with the glittering current. The environment felt serene and tranquil because of the way the light and shade blended together.

A unknown figure lay on the grass beneath that tree, asleep. On the opposite side, behind the trunk, was a small flower plant with three blossoms.