"Quickly choose the mystic arts," the goddess urged, tapping her foot with growing impatience.
"How am I supposed to choose something I don't understand?" I shot back. "I don't even know how mystic arts work."
"I already told you—like magic," she said, waving her hand lazily, as if even explaining that much was tiresome.
"I've only read about magic in stories! I don't know how it actually works," I said, resisting the urge to grab her shoulders and shake her.
'Is she really this lazy…?'
She let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Why are you so annoying? Just choose."
I glared at her but lowered my eyes to the list on the paper.
Mastery of Fire Arts.
Mastery of Wind Arts.
Mastery of Water Arts.
Mastery of… basically every element imaginable.
Fair enough. Just like I expected.
The list expanded further, revealing dozens more options. After a long moment, I exhaled and pointed at one.
"I choose this—Affinity of All Elemental Arts."
Her lips curled into a smug smirk. "Alright."
There was a huge difference between mastery and affinity.
Mastery meant you already possessed all existing arts of that element—and could even create new ones.
Affinity meant you could learn every existing art of that element… but creating new ones was impossible.
The explanation sat clearly on the paper, as though it expected me to question it.
"I thought you'd pick the easy way," the goddess said, smirk deepening.
"I want to be versatile," I replied. "Even if affinity isn't as strong as mastery, choosing affinity for all elements is better in the long run."
She didn't comment—just watched me quietly.
After a few seconds, she spoke again.
"Finally, your mission."
The goddess's soft pink lips curved upward into a deceptively gentle smile.
"It's very simple. All you have to do is collect twelve fragments scattered across the world you're going to."
'Fragments? What is this, a treasure hunt?'
"Let me explain," she continued. With a flick of her wrist, a soft glow pulsed in the air. Threads of light twisted together, forming a floating hologram.
"As you can see," she said elegantly, "these are the fragments you must collect."
The hologram sharpened, revealing twelve glowing pieces—shards of something once whole. Each fragment looked like part of a delicate chain, carved from crystal that shimmered in golden hues.
Each one pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.
"So I'm collecting… jewelry?" I muttered under my breath.
The goddess's eyelid twitched—she definitely heard that. "Do you understand? And before you start asking—let me answer."
She lifted a hand, stopping me like an annoyed teacher.
"As for the location of the fragments, the book will guide you."
I glanced down at the item in my hand.
'Book? I thought it was a diary…'
"Anyway," she continued, "any further questions?"
"Yes—how am I supposed to hide my identity?" I asked quickly.
If the world had no humans, I couldn't just walk around like some rare hairless creature.
She smirked, voice dripping with teasing.
"Just wear a tail or something… like monkeys."
I opened my mouth and closed it again.
A tail. She actually wanted me to wear a tail.
I wanted to say something.
But—I kept my expression calm and asked, "Then where can I find that tail?"
"Tch…" She clicked her tongue and bit her lower lip, clearly irritated.
That's when I realized—She wasn't annoyed by the question. She was annoyed because I didn't react to the joke.
…Was that even supposed to be a joke?
Her eye twitched, the first visible crack in her divine composure. For some reason, I felt a strange sense of victory.
She exhaled sharply, giving up on humor entirely.
"…Fine. I do have a method to conceal your identity."
She raised her hand, a soft glow forming in her palm. When the light faded, a simple silver bracelet appeared resting on her fingers.
It was plain without any features to mention.
She handed it to me.
"A bracelet?" I raised an eyebrow. "How does this hide that I'm human?"
"It casts an illusion," she explained. "Anyone who looks at you will see whatever form you choose."
I blinked. "So it changes my appearance?"
"No." Her tone hardened. "It will not alter your body—only the minds of others. A psychological illusion, not physical transformation."
I studied the bracelet again.
"Is there a downside?"
"No." The goddess lifted her hand again.
" Alright…then."
A swirl of light gathered around her fingers, then twisted violently—tearing open a hole in the air.
A pitch-black vortex appeared before us, spinning like a miniature black hole.
Wind surged across the table, the sea below rippling in response.
My eyes widened. "Is… is that the portal to the beast world?"
"Yes," she said in her usual calm tone. "Once you enter, you will receive your abilities."
She pointed at the darkness.
"You are already dead. You have no physical body. When you pass through the portal, your new form will be reconstructed—cell by cell—based on the ability you chose."
I swallowed hard.
A new body. A new world.
I didn't say anything as I stepped toward the portal, each footstep light and silent on the floating table.
I took a slow breath, feeling the cold air of the endless sea fill my lungs—maybe for the last time.
Just before entering, I stopped.
Turned. And looked at her.
The goddess stood motionless, robes swaying gently in the wind, her expression as unreadable as ever.
"I have one thing to say before I go," I said.
Her golden eyes settled on me.
"…What?"
I met her gaze.
"I've never seen anyone as beautiful as you."
For a moment, she blinked—just once.
"But," I added softly, "if you ever smiled with your whole heart… you'd be even more beautiful."
I gave her a small, genuine smile—not teasing. Not flirting. Just the truth.
Her elegant eyebrow twitched. Something flickered in her eyes—too fast to name. Surprise? Embarrassment? Annoyance?
Maybe all three.
Before she could respond, I turned and stepped into the swirling darkness.
The black hole swallowed me whole.