🟠 chapter 01 :
I opened my eyes like I had just woken up from a long nap... or maybe a hit on the head.
What I saw in front of me was the literal definition of nothing.
Everything was white the walls, the ceiling, the floor... just an endless white void.
And yet, it wasn't cold like I expected.
Actually, I didn't feel anything. No heat, no chill... just me.
I looked at my body still there, thankfully. That was comforting, I guess.
I touched my head and yep, there it was… pain. The spot where the air conditioner hit me.
An air conditioner!
Is there a more embarrassing way to die? I don't think so.
But… am I really dead?
Everything says yes, but deep down something inside me whispered, You're still alive.
And that's when fear started to sink in.
This place… this void… it wasn't just a dream.
I looked down. No floor. Literally, nothing under me.
And yet I wasn't falling.
Was I in the Isekai Waiting Room?
Would a beautiful girl show up now and say
"Takero, you are the chosen one! Save our world!"
It would be great , but I really hope I don't have to save anything.
But I am curious to meet the girl.
Suddenly, a voice shattered the silence:
"You're awake, Takashi-kun."
I froze. My heart jumped, dropped, and jumped again.
She's here! She's
Wait.
That voice… was male?
I turned around.
Standing behind me was a sharp-looking man in a suit, tie perfectly in place, hair neatly styled.
I blurted out:
"Noel?!"
He blinked, slightly confused, then raised an eyebrow.
"How did you know my name?"
I pointed at his chest with the confidence of a man who's seen too many anime:
"It's on your name tag, genius."
He looked down, read it, then mumbled:
"Oh… right."
Great.
The one good cliché I was hoping for didn't even happen.
No magical girl, no glowing summoning circle, no desperate kingdom begging for a hero.
Just… a guy in a suit.
I sighed and decided it was time for the good old Q&A.
"Mr. Noel... I'm alive, right?"
He gave me a calm smile and replied:
"Yes, you're alive. That air conditioner didn't kill you.
In fact, it wasn't even the reason you got transferred.
It was just a random coincidence that it happened right before your shift."
I stared into the void.
Those were the most painful words I've ever heard.
It's like all the air conditioners of the world teamed up to slap me before I left Earth.
"You're not leaving without a farewell dent, Takero!"
I exhaled slowly.
"Okay, let me guess… You want me to save your world, right? Sorry, not interested."
Noel chuckled, as if I'd just told the joke of the year:
"Save the world? Oh no, no… It's not like that at all.
Actually, you're supposed to be executed."