CHAPTER 2: The Truck, the Spell, and One Very Confused Married Couple
Raiko always said he'd die for metal. He didn't think it'd involve actual traffic.
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It was a rainy Tuesday.
Raiko was on his way to pick up secondhand guitar strings from a guy on Craigslist who insisted on meeting behind a convenience store. At night. In the rain.
> "It's totally not cursed," the seller had texted. "Just a bit of blood on the packet. Adds tone."
Raiko, naturally, said yes.
He left his wife asleep on their worn mattress, blanket pulled to her nose, one leg out like a confused spring roll.
> "Back in 30," he whispered at the door. "Or reincarnated."
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Meanwhile, halfway across the world—or possibly reality—inside a secret section of royal library that hadn't opened in years… A robed man stepped inside, clutching an ancient scroll.
> "Target acquired," he whispered. "We summon the most divine being from the other world."
A name appeared in glowing runes: Noona.
> "Wait, isn't she a—?"
"Summon her. The gods demanded grace."
"But what if she—"
Too late.
The summoning circle lit up with holy fire.
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Back on Earth, Raiko had just secured the cursed strings. They were sticky. Definitely cursed.
He was crossing the road, headphones in.
Blasting Slayer.
Because of course he was.
> "TRUCK!" someone screamed.
Raiko turned.
A delivery truck thundered toward him.
It had anime decals.
The driver looked like he hadn't slept in three days.
A divine light shone down.
Raiko squinted.
> "Figures," he muttered.
BOOM.
Fade to white.
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When Raiko woke up, everything hurt.
Mostly because someone had revived him with what felt like dollar-store healing magic.
He was lying in a field. Surrounded by confused peasants holding pitchforks.
A little girl was crying. A cow was judging him.
> "What the hell," Raiko croaked. "Where's my wife?"
No answer.
No phone.
Just his cursed guitar, still strapped to his back.
Untouched.
Glowing faintly with the power of bad decisions.
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Elsewhere—inside a glowing royal chamber humming with divine magic...
Noona floated to the ground like a feather in a shampoo commercial.
The summoners gasped.
> "She's perfect."
"A true goddess."
"So radiant…"
"Wait… why is she looking at us like that—"
> "Where is my husband?" she asked calmly.
The walls began to shake.
The candles blew out.
Somewhere, a marble statue wept.
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[TO BE CONTINUED]
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> — Author's Note —
Yes, the truck had anime decals. Yes, that was necessary.
Also, I regret nothing about the Craigslist cursed strings lore.
Noona descending like a shampoo ad is canon. Fight me.
– H. Behevras
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© 2025 H. Behevras | First published on Royal Road
Do not repost without permission.