“Let’s see, which one are good candidates for Osborne?”

In the streets of a city, a young woman with bright pink hair pulled out the teal lollipop that was stuck in her lips. She gave it one last long lick before she set her eyes on her targets.

“First, we’ll need the default one.”

A young man with plain features walked across the street, his hand clutching his backpack and as mundane as the backdrop setting he was in.

There were other people crossing the street, but her eyes were set on him.

Without waiting for anything else, a truck suddenly sped down the streets.

Everyone else had their heads in the right place and simply reached the other end of the street before they were run over. The unfortunate duo was Miss Pretty and Mister Plain.

As the earth spun for approximately twenty-four hours, so did the inevitable Mister Plain pushed the pretty woman into safety’s way and forgot to save himself in the process.

The process of being run over by a truck was not a pretty sight–many people screamed etc.

Typical, same old drill for humans.

Strawberry Girl simply watched without batting an eye at the inevitable and gruesome death.

Her gaze landed on the man’s “Soul” leaving his body and without further ado, she swung her lollipop and captured him.

“Target One captured, next up is Candidate Two.”

—-

“I’m breaking up with you!”

“...Well screw you!”

“Don’t worry, I’m screwing other people!”

A long deep sigh escaped Strawberry’s lips as she eyed the scenario in front of her.

A man broke up with his girlfriend and left the twenty-something young woman in her apartment. As expected, the girl had an angry expression as the man disappeared.

However, when the man left for good and slammed the door behind him, the young woman started to cry. Hot angry tears welled up in her eyes to which she wiped furiously.

“How dare he break up with me over my inability to cook.” The girl sniffled aloud and padded over to her fridge.

She took out a container of ice cream and started to eat and then went over to her laptop.

“I’m going to watch a movie,” the girl spoke to no one in particular.

Strawberry really didn’t care as she swung her lollipop once more.

Alive or dead, it didn’t really matter.

“Next one then.”

—-

“You’re looking at the next lawyer of our family!” a father proudly gestured to their son.

The young man smiled but it didn’t quite reach his eyes as he looked all around the room filled with his family’s relatives and other people who attended the gathering.

Strawberry eyed the young man with a dull expression.

For the first time in centuries, she felt a stir within her heart to which she immediately closed off. Instead, she looked down at her lollipop and threw it directly towards the young man and watched it stab him right in the chest.

The entire gathering erupted into chaos as blood spurted out of the soon-to-be-lawyer's chest.

A smile formed on Strawberry’s face.

“Finally.”

Who said that they needed to wait for them to be alone?

After this one, she had much more to round up on her list.

—

After the Collection finally ended, Strawberry Girl now met with all of her chosen participants and while she was not in any obligation to speak with them—the old ones usually chucked otherworlders without any heads up… this time, she wanted to exchange a few words.

“Welcome, roles will be given to all of you… and before you ask me why? It’s simply to my whims.” She explained with the first hint of a glint in her eyes.

Several individuals stood in the bridge between worlds, in a white eerie void.

“The old world has rendered your lives null, boring and tedious but if you try your best, you’ll be able to have a far more interesting and more importantly entertaining life to which will satisfy all of us. Do any of you have more questions?”

“Roles?”

“Villains, heroes–those things are available here. Just know that all roles must be fulfilled.”

Nobody wanted to be the villain.

“I want to have demon ancestry–”

Or perhaps there were.

“The most reviled, hated and ludicrous role is available–will you take it?” Strawberry Girl smiled.

And yet someone suddenly spoke up.

"Why would we even play along to it? I… I'm tired. I don't want to go to this world or be a pawn to someone else for their entertainment. Can't we just… end up in the void or something? Why go through all of these lengths to live again?"

Those words made her blink.

"Huh. Most are actually happy with this opportunity. Don't you think it's a fair chance? While you get to enjoy your new life, you can't expect to receive it for free—this is a minor price to pay for it."

"No. I'm done, I didn't choose to be here—so I want out please."

"Is there anyone else who agrees with his feelings?" Strawberry Girl looked around the Souls and then turned back at the lone one. "Guess we need your memory wiped out."

"What?"

"You're wiping out memories?!"

"Hold on! How will we be able to utilize our former knowledge on Earth and bring it back to the new world if we forget—"

"Just him. Although that seems a bit unfair. Well, let's just randomize it and do a couple of tweaks. But I suppose if there's anyone who's actually quite antagonistic to the Operation—surely that makes for a great Villain, right?"

"What? I don't want—"

"Your fault for speaking up. Maybe I'll see you around if there's any actual power to your will, boy." Strawberry Girl took out her lollipop and pointed in a direction. "But best carry along now, even someone such as myself still has duties."

"Wait, is there an ending to this world or a storyline—also it's possible for us to get back here? Do we become like you when we die for the second time?"

"Wait. You're dead? I'm still alive!"

"Can we go back home as a reward?"

"Since you said Heroes and Villains, does that mean we're forced to fight each other? A Battle Royale? I always thought my new next life would be spent in raising a garden or something."

"Wow! Nice observation. Do you want to make an alliance or truce? What's your name?"

"Is there no Underworld? Afterlife? Or did we get forced out of the natural cycle of the world to entertain you? Can I get a Sponsor?"

When one person started to talk, the others soon came to follow up. It was rather annoying for her.

"...I've already spoiled too much. But try not to pry into too many questions and follow along. Or you might just regret it."

She took one inhale and before the rest could germinate new ideas, she exhaled and let out a breath. A strong wild gust blew them into Osborne.

And now she was finally alone in the white void. Task finally accomplished.

However, for a moment, her gaze flickered and turned slightly dour.

"Osborne. Bearer of gods, my ass."