#1 Living in another world 4

Grim had long grown weary of life in the world. Even if he were to reincarnate, his new life might not be too different from the one he had left behind. This place was perhaps better than the human world, and knowing that he might never reincarnate again only strengthened his resolve to remain here until his soul eventually faded into nothingness. 

"I'm sorry. I cannot do that." 

Pandora looked at Grim with sadness in her eyes. Perhaps she wanted to help him as much as she could. Back when Grim was still alive in the world, Pandora had once considered aiding him by destroying the allied forces. However, even with all the power she possessed, such an act was beyond her reach. 

The gods did not care much for humans, but they were also forbidden from interfering too greatly in the fate of many. If Pandora merely wished to grant Grim a peaceful life by sending him to a remote corner of the world, she might have been able to do so. But if she wanted to ensure his victory in war, then it was impossible. 

Likewise, even though she wished to let Grim stay in this place, that, too, was beyond her power. The souls of the dead had to depart for the underworld and make a choice from the paths laid before them. 

"I see." 

"I'm sorry. I truly wish I could grant your request, but I cannot. The only one who can fulfill your wish is the goddess of the underworld." 

Dealing with human souls was not Pandora's duty. That responsibility belonged to the goddess of the underworld. In truth, no human soul should have ever been allowed to enter this boundary between the three realms. By bringing Grim here, Pandora had broken the rules. 

Yet, her actions were not simply for the sake of meeting him. Pandora wanted to tell Grim how he might achieve his desire. 

"It seems the time has come. You must leave this place now." 

Pandora raised a finger, tracing a circular pattern in the air. Moments later, a black portal, about a meter in diameter, appeared nearby. 

"Go through there. I hope you find what you seek." 

Pandora gently caressed Grim's cheek. He did not fully understand what was happening, but he had no reason to doubt Pandora's words. He knew he could not remain here any longer. Rising to his feet, he followed Pandora's instructions and approached the dark portal. 

As he stood before it, Grim turned back to look at Pandora. From where he stood, he could see her smiling sweetly at him. 

It was a truly beautiful smile. 

Grim had never been affected by even the most dazzling smiles of the fairest women, yet, for some reason, this one made him feel a fleeting moment of happiness. In response, he smiled back—a rare, pure, and sincere smile, perhaps the most genuine he had ever shown. 

And then, he stepped into the portal. 

As his body vanished into the darkness, the portal slowly shrank until it disappeared completely. 

"May the blessings of the gods be with you," Pandora whispered before turning away. 

She walked toward the misty, cloud-like expanse in the distance. She kept walking, further and further, until she was no longer visible. 

*** 

Grim emerged from the dark portal, finding himself in an unfamiliar place. 

What lay before him was unlike anything he had ever seen—a vast hall of extraordinary proportions. 

The chamber stretched approximately 110 meters in length and 90 meters in width, with a towering ceiling nearly 20 meters high. Even the grandest halls of the royal palace he once knew could not compare to this. 

While the sheer size of the room was awe-inspiring, there was also an unsettling atmosphere about it. 

Every pillar in the hall was adorned with a skull, each one ablaze with a blue flame. Though the flames were not particularly large, they cast a bright, eerie glow throughout the chamber. However, the corners of the room remained shrouded in deep darkness—darkness so profound it seemed capable of swallowing even the bravest of souls whole. 

"How long do you intend to stand there?" 

A woman's voice echoed through the hall. 

The voice was soft yet carried an undeniable strength. Grim immediately turned toward its source. 

Roughly 59 meters away, he saw her—a woman reclining on a luxurious sofa. She possessed an allure that could easily captivate any man. 

"Come closer, human child." 

Her voice rang out again. Though the hall was vast, there was no echo. She had not raised her voice, yet Grim heard her words as clearly as if she had spoken right beside him. 

Without hesitation, he walked toward her. 

Even if there was a chance this woman might kill him, Grim felt no fear. If anything, it would be a blessing. 

Death was what he longed for. 

However, he had no intention of taking his own life. 

According to the rules he had set for himself, he would only accept death if it was at the hands of another—whether by executioner's blade, beast's fangs, a child's hand, or even a dying man's last strike. The means did not matter, so long as he did not bring about his own end. 

As he approached, the distance between them shrank to just ten meters. 

Grim could have moved even closer, but a short flight of stairs lay before him, prompting him to stop where he stood. 

From here, he could see her more clearly than before. 

Her hair was a mesmerizing shade, a blend between chestnut brown and golden blonde. 

Her attire was simple, little more than loosely sewn fabric, revealing much of her skin and accentuating the graceful curves of her body. 

Had she appeared before an ordinary human man—one untainted by imperfection—he would surely have been instantly bewitched by her beauty. 

But Grim was different. 

He was an incomplete being, a flawed existence. 

He felt nothing. 

The woman, however, took notice. 

She realized that Grim was entirely unmoved by her beauty. 

A faint smile graced her lips as she turned her gaze toward him. 

It was a truly mesmerizing look. 

Pandora had possessed a voice that was both soothing and enchanting, yet even she had not carried the same captivating presence as this woman. 

If one were to compare, it was undeniable—this woman was far more striking than Pandora. 

Eight out of ten men would undoubtedly agree. 

But Grim was not among them. 

He was one of the two who remained.