I set conditions for being summoned to another world, but the Goddess still called me. - Chapter 1

Episode 1: Something’s wrong. Something’s definitely wrong.

　My name is Ryuji Kamioka.

　I am a humble office worker working for a small company in Tokyo.

　I am a system engineer. Although that sounds good, it’s still not the kind of job that would allow me to aim to become the top ace of the company. More than anything, I think it’s a pretty brutal workplace.

　But, once I got used to it, I realised that I get more free time, and because it’s a job that grew out of a hobby, I like it quite a bit.

One day, when I had some free time at hand, I decided to come up with something called an 【Emergency Evacuation Bag for Another World Summoning】. I decided to play around with it while I was working on an 【Emergency Evacuation Bag】 for natural disasters.

　It’s supposed to be something one could take along to another world. It sounds kind of interesting, doesn’t it?

　After I actually tried working on it, I realised there wasn’t much that one could take along to another world. I was a bit disappointed.

　To begin with, weapons that would be useful for adventuring are unavailable in Japan.

　Taking along a smartphone or tablet was my first idea, but since the internet and phone services could be unavailable in another world, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to use them in case I go there.

　Well, even if one couldn’t use the internet or phone, it might still be useful to pack as much information as possible into it and all take it along. Saving some videos might be a good way to kill time when the internet is unavailable.

　You’ll also need an app that works offline and a solar-powered charger.

　It might be a good idea to have some paper books as well. I tossed in a science chronology that caught my eye.

　I don’t think it would let you cheat, but it’s better to have something than nothing.

　I wanted to pack some clothes and underwear, but they turned out to be bulkier than I expected, so I just packed in a T-shirt and shorts. I figured that if I ended up in another world, then the inhabitants of that place should be able to help me with clothes.

　Well, that’s about it.

“Okay, now it’s finished…”

　I thought, but then suddenly I realised something and stopped.

　It can’t be helped that the contents of 【the ‘Evacuation Bag】 were shabby, but it would be troubling if people saw it and thought that I was hoping to be summoned.

　It’s fun to fantasise about it, but if I were actually summoned, it would be terrible. If I were summoned with this kind of preparation, it would be awful.

　But no, I’m not really worried. I’m not serious about being summoned to another world. It’s just for fun.

　However, in this vast universe, there could be some crazy people out there. And sometimes, they could be wrong.

　So, just to be on the safer side, I thought I’d write down some conditions that would discourage summoning.

　In short, it can be called a charm. No, it’s not a spell.

　【Conditions for Refusing Summons】 I wrote it down.

　Should I be as condescending as possible here? For example, what if the conditions I make turn out to actually be incredibly impressive?

　I feel like I could write a lot of things, but if I didn’t know about the world I’m going to, it might turn out to be a silly condition. Powerful abilities and things like that only have meaning if there’s an opponent. In the first place, if one can be granted with such cheat skills, then there’s no point in summoning someone.

　When one thinks about it that way, it’s impossible to decide the conditions until we know what kind of world we are going to.

　That would mean that we have no choice but to determine the conditions based on the standards of our current world.

　So, after giving it some thought, I came up with the following conditions.

【Conditions for Accepting the Summoning to Another World : I want a daughter.】

　No matter what, I don’t want to go to a world where my conditions aren’t met. If you still want to go, feel free to. I don’t want to.

　Of course, in the real world, I’m not so sure about it. I’m picky.

　In other words, if my conditions are met, agreeing to a summoning shouldn’t be possible.

　Feeling somewhat at ease, I printed out my conditions and attached them to my ‘evacuation bag’.

　Yeah, no matter how you look at it, it’s just a talisman. Oh well.

　Okay, that’s it! Or so I thought.

-【“Well then, come in.”】

　I heard a voice from somewhere far, and then everything suddenly went dark.

　WHHHAAAT?!! WHY?!

　　* * *

　When I woke up, I found myself standing in a strangely bright place.

　Everything around me was pure white. Above, below, and all around me, it looked like white clouds, with no sense of distance.

　In this world filled with clouds, a woman was standing in front of me.

“I never thought there would be anyone with an 【Emergency Evacuation Bag For Being Summoned】 prepared. So I called for you without any hesitation,” the woman said.

　I wondered what she was talking about, but then I remembered that I used to play a game similar to this. It should have been just a moment ago, but it felt like a long time ago.　

“W-Who are you?”

　When I asked out loud, it felt a little strange.

“This is God’s realm. I am the Goddess #@&£#.”

　The realm of the gods? Even the text is garbled.

　No, that’s too much of a promise! Is it really okay to summon someone so easily?

　And the realm of the gods? It’s true that there are clouds all around, but it’s hard to believe.

　There’s also a chance that I have been abducted by a shady organisation.

“What Goddess?”

“Maybe you can’t pronounce it.”

　Ah, you have a name that can’t be pronounced easily. That’s pointless!

“Okay, let’s just call you Alice.”

　I was a bit annoyed, so I randomly gave out a name.

“Eh? Am I Alice?” There’s no one else?

“For now, let’s call it that.”

“Got it.”

　The Goddess readily agreed. Is that okay?

“A goddess? Maybe I’m dead?”

　I asked, wondering if it might be ‘reincarnation’ rather than ‘summoning’.

“No, I was looking for someone suitable for summoning, and I found that you had even completed your preparations for being summoned to another world, so I simply summoned you.”

　Ah, so I was summoned after all! Indeed, it seems that the limbs are mine.

“No, I was just playing.”

“Ahem. The world I am in charge of is currently on the verge of destruction. I want you to save this world.”

Goddess or not, but are you ignoring what I say?

“Since you are incharge, shouldn’t you take care of it by yourself?”

“I only manage the world.”

　Goddess Alice said with a straight face. No, isn’t that the place to beg on the ground? Are all goddesses like this?

“What does the management do?”

“Basically, I can’t lay my hands on them.”

“You can’t do anything,” I pointed out just to be safe.

“And so I have summoned you from the faraway Earth. I want you to save my world as my apostle.”

　Is it far, far away? And I don’t even know what an apostle is.

“But I refuse.”

“Please.”

　Alice requested with a subtle look on her face.

“Well, it’s bothersome when you make a face like you’re trying to be seductive but failing miserably.”

“I’ll tell you what…”

“It’s beautiful, but not sexy.”

　Alice looked a little frustrated, but still managed to pull herself together and continued.

“I see. If you agree to save the world, I will give you great powers.”

What?

“My goal for you is to develop the world just a little bit, so that it can slowly recover from a world that is dying.”

So I only have to develop it a bit?

“As long as the world develops, the means are irrelevant. You can do as you like.”

　Alice said with a pleading look in her eyes. But, this is a different world we are speaking about.

“But you’re going to make me fight the Demon King with the attitude of ‘I’m so strong’, right?”

“Eh? No, you won’t have to fight. And, there is no such thing as a Demon King.”

　The Goddess said in surprise. Is that true?

“But I’m fighting monsters, right?”

“No, you won’t be fighting monsters either. There are no monsters.”

　Alice looked as if she had no idea what was going on.

“So what will I be fighting against?”

“You won’t be fighting against anything.”

　Apparently it’s not what they call a summoning to another world.

“So, what happened to your promise?”

“I make no promises.”

　Apparently I’m not going to be a hero. Well, that’s fine. It’s not my style, after all.

“Is that so? Then why is your world dying?”

“Yes, it would be helpful if you could investigate that as well. The world is losing its vitality and the population is plummeting. I want to bring the vitality back to that world.”

　Hmm? I guess I just don’t understand the situation at all? Is it really just about developing it a little? Things are starting to get a little suspicious.

“Is it enough if the population just increases?”

“Yes, that’s fine. You can say lofty things after that. If they become extinct, it will all be for nothing. That is absolute justice.”

　Goddess Alice said firmly, “Absolute justice?”

　It seems like a pretty flexible request.

　It would be a hassle if there were too many conditions attached, but in that sense I feel at ease.

“Free and easy life in another world.”

　Those words crossed my mind.

　That’s the kind of world I aspire to go to, but maybe it’s actually possible to make it a reality?

　I thought that such good conditions might not appear often.

　However, as is the rule in these situations, when one actually goes to the world, they find that their power is not enough. But, still, let’s take this opportunity to get as much as we can.

“Since you are asking me to save the world, then give me all the cheat abilities that you can.”

“As many as possible? That’s dangerous. I can’t give it to you that easily.” It’s dangerous.

“Then I won’t go.”

“Is it okay if I give to my maximum?”

“I see, so ‘I’m so strong’ is possible. And maybe the Goddess will come along?”

　As expected, the Goddess looked troubled.

“That’s not true. Even if I go there, there’s nothing I can do.”

　What a pity. He could have brought along some amazing beauty and done things like “Konosuba” and “I’m so strong!”

“Something?”

“You’re a goddess, so don’t you have healing powers or anything like that? Sacred or something.”

“No, I basically have no contact with the surface world. That kind of ability should be bestowed on an apostle like you.”

　By ‘surface world,’ she meant the earthly world, right? I see. So the Goddess doesn’t need abilities because she has no involvement with the surface world. That makes sense.

“That’s right. Then, I’ll do it.”

　I think it would be a lot of fun. If I could experience another world safely, it would be more fun than a normal trip. What’s more, I might even be able to create a harem! That’s also freedom, right?

“Okay then… are you ready?”

“Oh come on, right now? What kind of abilities will I have? Isn’t there any training in the Gods’ Realm?”

“Don’t worry, I’ll write it directly into your brain,” Alice stated nonchalantly.

“I’m scared though.”

“It’s okay. Here we go.”

　When Goddess Alice held up her hand, a dazzling light like a halo illuminated me.

　I instinctively closed my eyes, and suddenly I felt myself floating up, eventually, I lost consciousness.

T/N :

~Yours Truly
K. Ruel