Chapter 0
When I came to, all I could see was white.
A space that was white in every direction.
My last memory was of a huge truck flying toward me.
That's right. The truck was flying.
Because I'd been on the roof of a 31-story building, planning to end my life.
[Are you awake, child?]
Just then, a beautiful, clear voice echoed in my mind.
"Who are you?"
[I am your mother]
"What does that mean?"
Honestly, I had a pretty good idea what she was going to say.
I usually liked novels and manga and had read a lot of them, so from my perspective, this whole development was painfully predictable.
[I am the being humans call God. The mother who created human souls. The goddess of life and birth]
"As I thought, you're a god…"
[…the very first sun to rise. The origin of the universe, and an existence akin to the world's laws. The one who governs divine revelations and prophecies. The world's…]
"P-please stop!"
[Ahem, forgive me, child. It's been a long time since I introduced myself]
How many titles does she need?
"So you're saying you're a god, right?"
[That is correct, child.]
"Then, dear God, why am I here?"
[Child, you may have forgotten the reason, but you tried to throw away your precious life.]
Come to think of it, I remembered wanting to die, but no matter how hard I thought about it, I couldn't remember why.
Did God erase my memories? Why?
[That is why I called you here: to give you a chance to be born again, a punishment, and one wish.]
But it seemed God had no intention of explaining things to me, since she immediately moved on to the next topic. And since I didn't particularly want to know why I'd tried to die, I didn't bother bringing it up.
Anyway, a wish, huh…
"Then…"
[For your information, you cannot wish for anything that would grant you combat strength. This is no game]
Tch, I thought maybe I'd get something like a cheat skill.
[Remember that this opportunity I am giving you is also a form of punishment]
As if she'd read my mind, God scolded me in a firm voice, but I didn't even have time to be surprised that she'd read my mind.
Because no sooner had she finished speaking than the guilt I felt toward God blossomed in my heart and swelled like a balloon.
W-what have I done?!!
"Waaah! I'm sorry!"
[If you understand, that's enough]
Thinking back on it later, perhaps I felt such an unreasonable amount of guilt because I'd heard a scolding imbued with God's power.
If that wasn't it…
[Then, one wish of yours…]
"No! I don't need a wish or anything!"
[Eh? But…]
"Hic, how dare I show such disrespect to God? I deserve to be punished!"
[But…]
"Please punish me!"
I wouldn't have thrown away a wish like this if I were in my right mind.
[Hmm, very well. Since that is what your heart desires, I shall give you a gift as I see fit.]
And with God's final words, I lost consciousness.
…
…
…
…And when I came to again,
"Kyuueeeng! (Why a fox?!)"
I had become a fox.
This is cheating!! How can God hypnotize me and steal my wish?!