My morning routine never varied. Wake up, make the bed, wash my face, brush my teeth, shower. Simple, efficient, predictable—just like everything else in my life as a business manager. I'd grab breakfast at the office cafeteria and dive straight into spreadsheets and quarterly reports.
The only escape from the corporate grind was my guilty pleasure: simulation games. Mall Simulator was my current obsession—a perfect blend of construction and business management that let me build virtual empires while my real-world ambitions stagnated.
That evening followed the same script. Five o'clock meant McDonald's for dinner, then the short walk home to my cramped apartment. I booted up the game, lost myself in digital commerce for a few hours, saved my progress, and—
Pain. Sharp, sudden, like lightning splitting my skull.
Then nothing.
"Hey! Hey! Wake up!"
The voice pulled me from an endless void. I opened my eyes to find seven towering figures seated around a massive table, their forms wreathed in clouds and divine light. The one who'd awakened me was impossibly handsome, with flowing hair that seemed to catch starlight.
"Where... where am I?" My voice cracked like a teenager's.
"Welcome, my child." The beautiful figure's expression turned somber. "I'm afraid we bear unfortunate news. You have died."
"What?" The word exploded from my chest. "How? Why?"
Another god—this one practically vibrating with manic energy—bounded forward. "We killed you! On purpose! Isn't that exciting?" He clapped his hands together. "I'm the God of Fun and Entertainment, and—wait, why did we do this again?"
A stern-faced deity smacked the energetic god upside the head. "Silence, you fool." He turned to me with apologetic eyes. "I am the God of Economics. Our world faces a crisis of stagnation. Our people know only monster hunting and seasonal festivals. We need innovation, progress, economic dynamism. Your expertise in business management, combined with your passion for simulation games, makes you uniquely qualified to help us."
"But I'm just a mid-level manager—"
"Not anymore." The God of Economics raised his hand, and warm energy flowed through me. "I grant you my highest blessing. Your understanding of commerce and trade now transcends mortal limitations."
One by one, the other gods stepped forward. The God of Craftsman and Technology bestowed knowledge of creation and innovation. The God of Magic opened the channels of mystical power within me. Each blessing felt like liquid fire in my veins, rewriting the very essence of who I was.
"Are you ready, John Guilbert?" asked the God of Creation, his voice echoing with fundamental power.
I took a shaky breath. "As ready as anyone can be for resurrection, I suppose."
The magic circle that formed beneath my feet pulsed with rainbow light. Reality blurred, twisted, and—
"Hello? Can you hear me?"
I awoke beside a crystal-clear river, staring up at the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. Her hair was an impossible shade of pink, catching the afternoon sunlight like spun rose gold.
"Thank the spirits," she breathed. "I thought you might not wake up. I found you floating downstream and managed to pull you out."
I sat up slowly, my head spinning. "Thank you. I'm John. Where exactly am I?"
"The Land of Aiso." Her voice carried a musical quality that made me want to keep listening. "I'm Lyra. I was gathering medicinal herbs when I spotted you." She tilted her head, studying me with curious green eyes. "You're not from around here, are you?"
The medieval architecture surrounding us confirmed what I already suspected. Timber-framed houses with thatched roofs, cobblestone streets, the distant clang of a blacksmith's hammer—I was definitely not in Kansas anymore.
"Who governs this land?" I asked.
"Duke Alice von Aiso," Lyra replied. "She earned her title through valor in the recent war against the demons. A true knight who protects our people."
"And that green light I saw earlier—when you healed me?"
Lyra's eyes lit up. "Magic! Everyone receives an elemental blessing at age twelve. Most people get one element from the basics: Water, Light, Earth, or Wind. The rare ones are Dark, Spectrum, and Acid. The legendary hero himself had three elements before he fell in battle with the Demon Lord."
My pulse quickened. "How can I check my own abilities?"
"I have a status orb at home. Come, I'll show you."
Her cottage was exactly what I'd expected from a fantasy healer—herbs hanging from the rafters, a crackling fireplace, shelves lined with mysterious bottles. The status orb sat on a simple wooden table, about the size of a bowling ball and pulsing with inner light.
"Just place your hand on the surface," Lyra instructed. "Your information will appear above it."
I touched the cool crystal. It hummed with energy, scanning me with threads of light. Then a translucent screen materialized:
Name: John Guilbert
Level: 500 (+600 from God of War's Blessing)
MP: ∞ (God of Magic's Gift)
Divine Blessings: All Seven Gods (Level 100 Each)
Notable Skills: Life Creation, Material Manipulation, Infinite Inventory, Memory Modification, Universal Skill Copy...
Lyra's face went white. She stumbled backward, nearly knocking over a shelf of potions.
"That's... that's impossible. No one has ever achieved stats like that. Are you perhaps..."
I couldn't let word of my abilities spread. Not yet. I activated my memory modification skill with a thought.
"What did you see?" I asked gently.
Lyra blinked, her expression clearing. "Oh, I was asking about your status results."
"Pretty basic, actually. Level 3, one earth blessing, one light blessing. Nothing special."
"Two elements?" Her face brightened. "That's actually quite rare! Maybe one in a thousand people receive dual blessings."
I smiled, relieved my deception worked. "Speaking of rare opportunities, would it be possible to start a business here? Maybe open a shop?"
"You'd need to register with the Merchant's Guild first. Would you like me to show you the way?"
"That would be incredibly helpful."
As we walked through the bustling streets of Aiso, I marveled at the medieval charm. Weapon shops displayed gleaming swords and shields. Armor smiths hammered out mail and plate. Street vendors hawked everything from fresh bread to mysterious potions. The people seemed genuinely happy—a stark contrast to the bored existence the gods had described.
The Merchant's Guild occupied a massive stone building at the town's center. Inside, robed figures conducted business while clerks scurried about with ledgers and documents.
"I'd like to register as a merchant," I told the receptionist.
She handed me a form and smiled professionally. "Name, intended products, and a registration fee of ten silver coins."
I filled out "John Guilbert" and "General Goods" while quietly panicking about the payment. I turned to Lyra with what I hoped was a charming smile.
"I don't suppose you could spot me the registration fee? I'll pay you back once my business takes off."
Lyra laughed. "Ten silver? That's nothing. Consider it an investment in Aiso's first mysterious merchant with dual blessings."
After a brief wait, I received my merchant's card—a simple piece of enchanted parchment that would serve as my business license.
"Thank you for everything, Lyra. I promise you won't regret helping me."
She waved goodbye as I stepped into the late afternoon sun, my mind already racing with possibilities. With infinite inventory space and the ability to create any material I could imagine, I could revolutionize this world's economy.
But first, I needed to find the perfect location for my shop. Something told me this was just the beginning of a very interesting second life.
To be continued...