Kazuki Shirogane died on a Tuesday.
He wasn't doing anything heroic. He wasn't saving a cat from a tree or pushing someone out of the way of a truck. He was just walking home from the convenience store with a bag of snacks when—bam. Light. Darkness. Then... nothing.
When he opened his eyes again, he was floating in a white void.
"...Okay. So either I died, or this is a really weird lucid dream," he muttered, still holding a half-crushed melon bread. He blinked. "Oh. I really did die."
A soft voice cleared its throat behind him.
Kazuki turned—and froze.
Before him stood a woman with flowing silver hair, glowing eyes, and a celestial robe that sparkled like starlight. Six ethereal wings fluttered behind her as if carried by a breeze that didn't exist. Her presence screamed "divinity," and Kazuki instinctively stepped back.
"Greetings, mortal," she said, looking sheepish despite her godly appearance. "I am Celestia, goddess of reincarnation, fate, and—uh—clerical errors."
"Clerical errors?" Kazuki raised a brow.
Celestia winced. "You were... not supposed to die. Ahem. There was a mix-up. I accidentally smited the wrong soul. Yours, to be specific."
Kazuki blinked at her. "So, you... offed me... by accident?"
"Yes," she said, visibly sweating. "But! All the gods voted, and we agreed you deserve compensation. As an apology, we'll reincarnate you into a fantasy world of your choosing, and grant you one wish. Anything you want."
Kazuki scratched the back of his head, frowning. "So I get isekai'd because some divine pencil-pusher fat-fingered my soul file?"
"...Yes. Again, deeply sorry about that."
He sighed. "Okay, okay. I guess it could be worse. I'll play along."
Celestia perked up. "Wonderful! So, what is your wish?"
He thought for a moment. "I want a skill called [Create]—a power that lets me create anything: powers, weapons, objects. The only limit is the amount of MP required or the strain it puts on my body. If I can imagine it, I want to be able to make it."
Celestia's eyes widened, then she laughed. "That's bold! But… very well. Granted."
A faint chime echoed in the void.
> [Create] Skill Acquired
Description: Allows user to manifest objects, weapons, and abilities from imagination. Limitations: MP cost and physical strain.
"Enjoy your new life, Kazuki Shirogane. And… again, sorry about the whole smiting-you-by-accident thing."
Before he could respond, the world began to dissolve around him. The void twisted, the stars shimmered, and then—
He was falling.