“Good beginning of your regularly scheduled leisure period, all you denizens of the Multiverse! This is MNN and I’m your host, He Who Proclaims! Welcome back to Beautiful Butterflies, where we analyze the smallest possible decision that could change your life forever!”

“And for our lucky contestant this time…it’s Bob! The…Faceless Minion? You know what, that’s great, Bob. Good on you. You know, there wouldn’t even be any supervillains out there if it weren’t for the hardworking men and women who went out there and did the work of distributing hate each and every day. You’re a supervillain in my book, Bob, and don’t let anyone tell you different!”

“Now let’s review, what was the most fateful minor decision Bob ever made in your universe…uh oh Bob. Looks like someone took an unsanctioned break! Don’t you know that was against your contract, Bob? Someone was about to get written up! If…you know…the HR department hadn’t exploded shortly thereafter. But what would have happened if Bob had stuck to policy? Let’s take a look and find out!”

Bob heaved a sigh, the only sound other than the rhythmic clank of his boots on the metal floor. Gray metallic floors with gray metallic walls and, you guessed it, a gray metallic ceiling, lit by occasional incandescent bulbs. Bob swore those might be gray too, but he didn't know if that was the lights themselves or the tinted goggles of his helmet. Why he had to wear a helmet at all times was beyond his comprehension. What he did comprehend is that his nose itched something fierce.

Bob didn't know what he expected from this job, but this definitely wasn't it.

Bob winced as pain stabbed through his right foot. There was definitely a blister there.

He sighed and grit his teeth. One foot in front of another, wincing with each step. This was his first job and he wasn’t going to let a little pain stop him!

And that would be the last mistake he ever made.

He vaguely remembered the wall exploding. Everything went black. There was floating, there was pain. When he came to himself, every inch of his body was in pain. He tried to sit up.

And cried out as pain shot through his stomach.

He slowly reached to his stomach with trembling hands.

He felt something wet.

And a large metal rod.

His heart pounded. He had trouble breathing.

A red flash of light lit the world.

A world growing dimmer.

And colder.

He felt as if he was drifting away.

The shouts and gunshots grew quieter. The red lights grew dimmer. The pain felt more and more distant. Was that Jenkins in the air?

Quieter.

Quieter.

Soon all was silent.

And then all was black.

A world of white and gold. Fluffy clouds, as far as the eye could see, as plump and fluffy as a pillow. A bright, golden sun that never faded or strayed, illuminating the entire area with warm light.

And at the center of this world was a girl. Pure white hair that shimmered as she moved, like polished silver. A face and body like works of art, perfect proportions that seemed impossible to truly achieve. A voice that would move grown men to tears with even the most casual of greetings. Eyes that beheld the world, and pierced straight to your very soul, yet invited you in like an old friend.

Behold, Most Holy Ione, Supreme Goddess and Creator of the World of Eirorun.

She was…laying…on a sea of pillows…in sweatpants and a hoodie…stuffing her mouth with candied nuts…and softly chuckling as she scrolled on a transparent screen hanging in the air.

There was a flash of light and an angel burst through the clouds below. She saluted and knelt before Ione.

“Most Holy Ione, I beg that you grant your humble servant some time.”

“Ugh, what do you want, Miniel? Can’t you see it’s my break time?”

“I’m sorry, Most Holy One, but there is a problem you must address.”

“Ugh, fine, what is it?”

“The hero has perished.”

“What?! Again?! That’s the fifth one this year!”

“Yes, it is most concerning.”

“What on Eirorun happened? Is the Demon King truly that strong?”

“No, Most Holy One, it was not the Demon King nor his forces…”

“What? Then who could’ve done this?!”

“Um…well…”

“Yes?”

“He…got honey-trapped.”

“...Eh?”

“The hero…was invited by an elf assassin to her chambers…who was a member of the famous bandit group he was hunting. Um…later that night…she murdered him in his sleep and stole the Holy Sword.”

“...”

Most Holy Ione hit her face with her palm.

“His party members advised against it but he insisted it would be fine as she had clearly fallen in love with him…”

“Strange…this is strange…why does this keep happening?”

“Most Holy One, may I speak?”

“What is it, Miniel?”

“Um…perhaps we should stop relying on these otherworlders…if you could bless some of your followers I believe we could organize a suitable defense. I have prepared a list of candidates for your perusal…”

“That’s not possible, Miniel.”

“Most Holy One?”

“Look!”

Ione thrust a transparent screen in front of the angel.

“See, it is clearly stated in the sacred texts! I am supposed to bring an unremarkable, lonely, and slightly gloomy teenage boy from the nation of Japan on the world called Earth and imbue him with great power and glorious purpose, and then he will fix everything!”

“M-Mostly Holy One…i-is this truly the sacred texts? It looks like…”

“He’ll defeat the Demon King, seduce all the powerful and troublesome beings in the world, and then revolutionize technology, cooking, and culture! Then I can laze around all day receiving some real snacks from my followers and stop shelling out for interdimensional cable! This is already happening in every other world! So why isn’t it working here?!”

“...Most Holy One…is this not…a site for web novels?”

“I don’t get it…is the summoning bugged…was that guy too popular? Do I need to give them more power?”

“...Most Holy One…if I could make a suggestion?”

“What is it, Miniel? Can’t you see I’m working right now?”

“What if…we use a hero…not from Japan?”

“Huh?”

“Like, could we not find someone from somewhere else? Perhaps the committed and experienced Knight Commander of our Holy Knights…”

“That’s it!”

“Yes?”

“I’ll try summoning someone from somewhere else! It must be that the other worlds took all the good candidates from Japan already! But it looks like this Earth has a lot of different nations we can choose from…ooo some took from ‘Korea’ so yea looks like it doesn’t need to be Japan.”

“M-Most Holy One, could we not use someone from our own…”

“How about America? Not too many worlds picking from that one yet…oh here’s a guy! Just started a job, seems kinda gloomy. Let’s do it!”

“Most Holy One…”

“And summoned!”

There was a flash of light and Bob found himself standing amidst the clouds.

Was this heaven?

Light shone behind him and he turned around.

It might be heaven.

Before him stood the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, dressed in robes so bright they seemed forged from light itself. She was too beautiful in fact, a beauty that should not exist. It made him feel unworthy, as if it was a crime for one such as him to even stand in her presence. But the smile on her face and the light in her eyes filled his heart with peace, assuring him that all would be well.

He closed his eyes and shook his head.

What in blazes was going on?

“Greetings, oh noble hero.”

“Um, what?”

“I am the Goddess Ione. I have summoned you here to save my world from great peril.”

Bob narrowed his eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

The Goddess Ione frowned.

“That’s strange, most of them were already pretty excited at this point. You’ve heard of Isekai haven’t you?”

“Ise…what?”

“Isekai? Summoned to another world? Become a hero, slay the demon king, make a harem? No?”

Bob just stared at her.

Um, was this some kind of scam?

“You know, you’re being summoned to an RPG world?”

“RPG?”

“Role playing game? Haven’t you played them before?”

“Role playing game? You mean like dungeons and dragons? Is that what this is?”

There was a flash of light and an angel appeared beside Ione.

“Most Holy One, may I make an observation?”

“What is it, Miniel?! Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?”

“The timeline on this one…is from a branch of Earth during the 80s.”

“80s? So what?”

“Video games and Isekai were just starting back then. I do not believe he has the requisite cultural knowledge for your normal introduction.”

“What? How can that be? Has he not read the sacred texts?”

“I believe he was summoned from a time before most of the 'sacred texts' were written.”

“How is that possible?”

The angel sighed. Bob rubbed his temples as his head began to pound.

“Like, how can he not have read the sacred texts? Hah, I’m tired. Miniel, handle it.”

“As you will, Most Holy One.”

The angel bowed and turned to Bob.

“I am Miniel, Archangel and servant of the Most Holy Ione, Creator of the world of Eirorun and everything in it.”

“Yes?”

“Allow me to explain the situation.”

“...Please.”

“You were about to die on the planet Earth.”

Bob opened his mouth to refute that when he thought back to his most recent memories. After a moment he gasped, his body dripping sweat all over and his heart pounding. He moved a hand to his stomach, but the wound had vanished.

“Then…what…”

“We have summoned you here moments before your death, and will revive you on our world of Eirorun. You will receive a second chance at life.”

“...what’s the catch?”

“...let me see, have you read The Lord of the Rings?”

“Yes?”

“Eirorun is much like Middle Earth. There are different races such as elves and dwarves, as well as monsters such as orcs and trolls. Unfortunately, there is also a Dark Lord. We are requesting that you put a stop to their reign of terror.”

Bob’s eyes narrowed.

“How?”

Miniel nodded.

“You will be granted a boon, a great skill or weapon beyond what normal individuals possess in our world. Let me see, oh! You can think of it like the supers in your world.”

“...you’re going to make me a super? Ask me to become a hero?”

Miniel nodded once more.

“The Demon King must be defeated, but the method by which you do so and what you do beyond that are up to you. We do have some recommendations, but before that I think we should explain more about how this world works, since you are not familiar with such systems…”

There was a flash of light and Bob vanished.

Miniel turned to Ione.

“Most Holy One…what happened?”

“Oh, there’s a timer on the summoning, you know? Can’t just keep a mortal soul in my realm for too long.”

“...”

Miniel held her face in her hands.

“All right Bob! Go go! Go be a hero and save the world! Now go away, Miniel, it’s time for my shows!”