This Chapter is purely for the introduction of the character, Bayard, Himself, and is not absolutely vital to the story. As such, If you wish to skip part of reincarnation and his previous life just move onto 'Chapter 1'

They never tell you what it feel's like to die a true death.

Mortal humans, as we see ourselves, cannot fathom the idea of death, ad mortem, because our minds cannot comprehend the idea of not existing.

We cannot comprehend our mortality, and the shattering realization that we are just creatures of flesh and bone; that once we die, that's it. Our strings cut, the brain stops sending signals to the rest of the body, we die.

So why is it that when I experienced death, I find myself in a checkered room, standing in front of a sitting goddess?

Context, as always, finds itself in my writings so let me explain to my more uninformed readers as to how this came about.

My name is Bayard Norton, and I was 17 at the time of my death. Born American, I was raised in the South Western states. Of course none of this is terribly important, but my writing just wouldn't be complete without context. I had just completed my Junior year of school, and my summer wish to visit Japan was coming ever closer. By the time we stepped off our flight I was practically aching to get out and explore the country that had fascinated me since a child. It was on the 3rd day of our month long trip that we were visiting the cultural city of Osaka.

Quite the beautiful city, mind you.

In all my relatively short life I have never considered myself a resoundingly brave man.

I have also never considered myself a relatively stupid one either.

I was walking down one of the many crowded streets of Osaka, awkwardly conversing in small talk with a man I had met just minutes before in cafe. I sat down at the same table as him because he was a westerner as well. Through brief conversation, I learned that his name was "Matt", shortened for a fuller name he didn't tell me. I also learned that he was heading to the same place I was, one of the many attractions geared towards the younger tourists of Japan.

Jet black hair, slicked back. The Tracksuit. And the aura of awe to everything about the city we were in. I did not have the pleasure of knowing him well, but from my guessing of his age and his constant distraction at everything around him I could only guess that he was like me. A young, graduating tourist visiting from the west, in a country he only dreamed of. I was shocked to find that I was a mirror perfect copy of his attitude, albeit without the worryingly look of naivety to him.
I could only guess that it was that worryingly look naivety and wonder that made me act the way I did.

Truthfully, the reporters and news casters will play up my bravery.

"Brave tourist from the West saves young man in Osaka, at the cost of his own life.."

A salaryman, aging in his late 30's, was simply doing his morning commute across his birth city. A commute he had done hundreds of times before and will likely do thousands of times more as he lived his life. This simply commute was just routine to the man, and on that spectacular tuesday morning he simply drifted away in his thoughts while driving.

I do not blame the man. But I do blame his horrible reaction timing.

He was going down the street that the and I were walking, obviously not paying attention to the road, but I digress. I was the first to notice the barraling car, damn him, and I acted out of pure instinct.

I pushed "Matt" out of the way.

The car hit me, of course. The impact shattered most of my rib cage and lower body, but what truly ensured my death was the flight and impact on the ground as I flew down the street; gory and bloodied. Mercifully I was practically dead before I hit the pavement.

So that leads me here, sitting in a room I never thought to exist, in front of some beautiful goddess.

"Bayard Norton, Welcome to the afterlife. Unfortunately, you've passed in your world. Terrible that someone so young should pass so violently.. Ah! Forgive me. My name is Eris, and I will be the one to deal out your fate."

Eris, this supposed goddess of the afterlife, was wearing a purple and yellow dress, along with silver hair to match. She also had piercing, purple eyes; eyes that could make any man swell up with pride or be reduced to sobbing with but a change of attitude.

"I don't suppose you could answer a question for me?" I inquired.

She nodded.

"What… happened to the boy after I died? In fact what's happening to me right now?"

She paused for a moment, and answered, "The Boy you pushed out of the way is fine, he survived with minimal injuries and was the first one to your body."

she stopped.

"Your body is currently at a hospital in Osaka. The story of how you sacrificed yourself for a random stranger is making headlines around the world, mostly in your home country.. Your family is, and I apologize, devastated." She looked at me with sympathetic eyes, an almost expectant look of how I was going to take the news.

"My family and I were distant, to say the least." I said, facing the ground. "By the time I was in Japan, most of my activities were done alone. My accompanying family simply strayed away to the more obvious attractions, knowing I would be fine without them."

I returned her look with a mask of stoicism, in truth I was indeed saddened. Saddened by the prospect of my family having to deal with such a tragedy, not the tragedy itself.

"But, regardless, where does that put me now? Will I be raptured into heaven? Damned in hell?"

"I understand that you are of Western birth, and therefor used to their customs. But due to the matter and state of your death, your fate lies in the jurisdiction of us."

I turn back to her, indicating her to continue, "We can offer reincarnation, as far as the rules allow. Or.. We can offer starting life in a new world. A world different from the one you previously lived in."

I hadn't realized, but she had captured my fullest attention. A new world?

Noticing my interest, she continued. "This world plays host to reincarnates like you, people from your world brought there to help the fight against the Demon King. Normally, most of these devils and demons are ignored by us gods. But.. This Dark Lord is jealous of us and wishes to have what he cannot, and so we enlist the help of Heroes brought there in the attempt to stop him. You could become just like one of these Heroes. Of course, there will be hardsh-" I stop her. "I'm in. What are the conditions?"

She seemed shocked. Taking a moment to regain her train of thought, she continued, explaining how and where I'd be sent. More interestingly, she explained the system of cheat items that reincarnates can bring into the world to help in the fight. "I can offer from a wide selection of items: Weapons that can sunder mountains, Armor that can block even the deadliest of blows, and other more exotic types of gifts." She winced saying the last part, almost as if it brought back troubling memories.

"Did something happen before I came here? You seemed like you were surprised that I accepted the offer and even winced bringing up a part of these cheat items."

Sighing, she answered in a sing-songless tune, "Yes, the man before you requested the goddess who once previously held this job. My bosses accepted."

I was stunned. "How long ago did this happen?" I asked.

"About 2 weeks ago now, and surprisingly Aqua and Kazuma are even still alive!"

Ignoring the dark connotation at the end, she continued on explaining more of these cheat items. It turns out that the reincarnate just chooses one from a selection of items and is sent to the world, no questions asked. Staring at the options out in front of me I couldn't help but wonder what sort of world needs these things?!

I turned back to Eris, happily watching as I decided what to bring. 'Is this the first time she's done this?' I wondered, observing how she was giving me her fullest, undivided attention.

Standing, I turned and said to her, "I've decided that I will not decide here; not now. I would much rather have the option later once I get a feel of this world."

She once again almost yelped in surprise, clearly not used to the fact that I could just refuse her offer. 'She was pretty cute, in a why im finding hard to describe,' I mused. Trying to ignore the light dusting of red on my face proved harder than I thought.

"W-well, I guess this can be accepted, Just when you are ready to receive your item you must simply contact me and I will provide."

Nodding my understanding, I sat up, turning to her, "I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Let's do this."

Eris turned. Suddenly, a wide open portal began above me. Around my feet a massive rune was formed, its edges terminated into a massive circle.

'Well Hero,' Eris began, 'May you be victorious among your fellow champions and become the one to fell the Demon King! Farewell!'

I slowly began to rise. The feeling was akin to falling upward. I turned, as best as I could, and faced Eris. Shouting, "Will I see you in the world?"

The Goddess of Reincarnation looked to me and simply said, scratching her cheek as almost something was there, "You'll know when you find me out!"

And with that, I was brought to this new world.

Standing from where I could only assume was the rune that brought me down, I Instinctively turned around to get an idea of where I was.

The first thing that hit me was the smell. The second was the sober-looking man who crashed into me, stumbled, and continued on walking as if my obstruction didn't exist for him.

This all pervading smell had the stench of shit, unwashed bodies, and smoke.

'Well,' I thought to myself, 'Best be off to the Adventures Guild.'