Chapter 3: Yes, Yes I did…
It's one thing to talk about preferences, but that doesn't mean anything in a situation like this.
He might prefer horses, but there were countless people just like me, full of fear and doubt, facing the same challenges. There was no way all of them could be chosen.
His words reminded me of an employee at a vocational training center who once advised me not to worry because they had recruited two more people that year.
But even then, hundreds of applicants had gathered for the mere fact that two more positions were available. If a similar situation were to happen here, it would have been unbearable.
"What to do?" The question echoed again, louder this time. My anxiety was growing, becoming a roaring torrent of emotion that I couldn't control.
The civil servant girl looked at me with an expression of concern, as if she were witnessing something unimaginable. Her eyes were full of sympathy, but she seemed at a loss as to how to help.
"Then, just to be clear, you willingly chose this position yourself, didn't you?" The stern-faced official peered over her glasses, awaiting my confirmation.
Hesitating a little, I replied, "Yes? I mean, yes, I did..."
She pushed a thick parchment paper towards me. "In that case, please fill out this consent form."
As my pen danced over the paper, the document suddenly illuminated, emitting a soft, golden glow followed by a faint rumble that seemed to echo from the paper itself.
Startled, I blinked rapidly, trying to understand what had just occurred. The lady, however, appeared unfazed. With practiced ease, she tucked the still-glowing papers into a shimmering envelope and passed them to me.
"It's magic," she explained calmly, catching my bewildered expression. "Is this your first time witnessing such a thing?"
"Ah… magic," I muttered, collecting my thoughts. Truth be told, I'd heard tales of magic in the fantasy world, legends passed down from one generation to the next. But witnessing its real magic in front of my eyes with my own eyes? This was an entirely new experience.
A thousand questions darted through my mind: was this magical process a standard procedure for signing a contract? Was it some sort of security measure? But the overpowering need for employment pushed my curiosities aside. My priority was to secure a job and earn a stable income.
"Is that all then?" I finally asked, trying to conceal the awe in my voice.
She looked me up and down before replying, "That's all we require for now."
I gave her a grateful nod, rising from my seat. Just as I was about to leave, the lady's demeanor softened, and she whispered, "Do be careful out there."
I paused, meeting her eyes which held a mix of concern and pity. "I will. And you, take care as well."
Exiting the government building, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I'd just taken my first step into a much larger, enigmatic world. The civil servant's parting words echoed in my ears, and I left with mixed emotions: hope, excitement, and a touch of apprehension.
"Stay safe. Always stay vigilant."
It's an almost ironic sentiment in this strange new world I've found myself in. Making a living in this merged reality is a daily challenge. One could argue that vigilance and care are not merely advised but crucial for survival.
This wasn't the world I once knew.
Following the inexplicable convergence of multiple dimensions, we found ourselves thrown together with beings from worlds beyond our understanding.
And it wasn't just a metaphysical merging; the lands, atmospheres, and very elements of each dimension intertwined, making life all the more complicated.
Had it just been a dimensional overlap without physical merging, I probably would have been crushed to death by beings from another world I had no knowledge of.
What was once a planet with a population of, say, 50 million, had now skyrocketed to easily double that figure. Every corner, every nook and cranny of the world was populated. Different beings from different worlds were now our neighbors.
And each of these beings brought their own histories, cultures, beliefs, and worldviews. We were thrust together, co-inhabitants of a shared space, without a common understanding or shared history. It was like taking a myriad of puzzle pieces from different boxes and trying to fit them into a single, coherent picture.
Sure, things had begun to find some semblance of order, especially with the establishment of the "Super Government." A grand title, but most knew it was a facade.
Beneath the surface of this supposed unity, various interests, from power and resources to technologies and territories, clashed and intertwined. It was a delicate dance on a floor of thin ice. One misstep, and the fragile peace could shatter.
In this new reality, news of the bizarre and tragic became commonplace. Incidents which once would have been shocking headlines were now just mundane tidbits.
A man's head blown clean off by the saliva from a giant's sneeze? That's barely newsworthy now. It would take something far more dramatic, like an entire village being submerged by the careless urine of an inebriated titan, to capture the media's attention.
Living as an average human with no particular powers or special abilities in this world had its own set of challenges. It felt like being a tiny fish in a vast, unpredictable ocean filled with creatures that defied explanation.
The Super Government preached the ideal that all races, regardless of their origins or capabilities, were equal and shared the same rights.
Yet, much like in the world I used to know, those rights were best enjoyed by those who wielded power or influence. In some twisted ways, these rights could even dictate the very thread of life and death.
"Survival of the fittest, as always," I murmured, tightly holding the official documents I had just been handed.
Suddenly, a thunderous sound, reminiscent of a hurricane tearing through the skies, pulled me from my thoughts.
I looked up to witness the awe-inspiring and terrifying sight of a massive dragon, soaring majestically against the backdrop of a cerulean sky.