My life was filled with torment and pain.
Had I taken a different path, maybe things would have gone differently.
But here I was, lying on my deathbed in a hospital, my family nowhere to be found.
The empty chairs beside my bed, gathering dust, served as a painful reminder of their absence.
"Damn it..."
This feeling... that I had.
This regret for being too kind.
It was my only demise that sabotaged my entire life, I had selflessly helped others, expecting nothing in return.
Whether it was assisting an old lady across the street or aiding a colleague in meeting a deadline, I believed those acts of kindness would lead to a good life.
But the world is cruel.
My wife left me for another man, my children never visited after the divorce, and now, with nothing left, all I had was this novel series I'd been reading.
Beep...
I had just reached the final volume though, but... cough
Beep...
...I didn't have much time left to get to the after-story...
Beep...
In fact, I didn't think I could...
Beep...
Finish it—
Beeeeeeeeeeeeeep...
As I passed away, my soul rose from my body, and I found myself looking down at myself.
"Being dead is better than paying bills... do I just roam around the world now, or what—?"
SWOOP!
Suddenly, I was transported to another world, my soul facing a beautiful and tall goddess.
"Wh-what?! Where am I?!"
I twisted and turned, taking in the breathtaking landscape, so different from Earth.
"Be at ease, Lilian!"
The goddess spoke, her voice soft and divine, attempting to calm my fidgeting.
"Lilian?!" I froze, hearing my name.
"H-how do you know my name?"
The goddess, surprised by my reaction, smiled.
"As the Goddess and overseer of Earth, it is my job to watch over the deeds people do around the world, both good and bad."
I thought for a moment. If this person was 'God,' did that mean all my suffering and pain had come full circle?
Was this even real?
But what I saw was undeniably real, and this being before me was unlike any depiction of God I'd ever seen.
"Is God a woman?" I asked, genuinely curious.
"Technically, I am a God, but there are many in other worlds,"
she replied with a gentle, cheerful voice, as if basking in the warm sun.
She continued, "You have always given, and now it is your turn to receive. I offer you a new life, in a world where your kindness will be truly valued."
She gestured to a shimmering portal behind her.
"You may choose to be reborn on Earth, or, if you have a request within my power, I shall grant it, given your life's karma. What do you desire?"
Overwhelmed, I pondered.
I had never thought about what I wanted, always putting others first.
But now, a spark of hope ignited within me.
I wanted a second chance, a chance to be strong, appreciated, and maybe even...loved.
"I...I want to be strong," I declared.
"Strong enough to protect myself, and strong enough to never be taken advantage of again. I'd like to have a system."
The novel I'd read towards the end of my life had inspired me with a story arc where the main character received a system.
The goddess listened intently. "A system, you say?"
She paused, a knowing smile gracing her lips.
"I can grant you that, but such power comes at a price. There must be balance. To wield such a system, you cannot return to Earth... however, I would have to send you to another world."
My eyebrows furrowed. "Another world?"
"Yes... but luckily for you, I can send you to the world of the novel you were reading."
The goddess smiled gently, showing me holographic images from the novel.
"You can do that?"
"Of course I can. So, what is your answer?"
I paused, considering everything I had heard.
If I were reborn in another world, I could be strong and have a system.
"Okay... I agree." I nodded, looking at the goddess.
She smiled once more.
"Very well, Lilian. The world you will be reborn into is none other than the one from the novel you were reading: 'The Hero Who Stops The World From Ruin'."
I stood still, awaiting her next words.
"But there is a cost. As I said, there must be balance. You will be born by chance into a random family, perhaps fallen nobility or commoners lacking grace. You will face everything firsthand, regardless of your power. Your name, your past... all will be forgotten. But you shall retain the memories of your past life. Do you wish to continue?"
"Yes," I immediately answered without listening to another word.
"Oh? Um... okay then."
"WAIT... WAIT! I DON'T WANT TO BE A—"
Snap!
With a snap of her fingers, the goddess sent my soul hurtling towards the familiar world of the novel.
My soul traversed dimensions at incredible speed, passing through worlds of Earth.
I saw a character using a black aura, clashing with a massive human resembling a dragon...
Then, after passing through the final dimension, my world turned black, and I heard a soft voice echoing in my ears...
***
[Location: ???]
The world faded into a warm, comforting darkness.
A gentle rocking motion lulled Lilian into a peaceful slumber.
He drifted in and out of consciousness, aware of muffled voices and a soft touch.
Then, a voice, warm and soothing, penetrated the haze.
"Oh, my precious little one. Welcome to the world."
Lilian's eyes fluttered open, blinking against the bright light.
A blurry figure loomed above him, a gentle smile gracing her face.
His vision slowly sharpened, revealing a woman with flowing golden hair and kind, emerald eyes.
Mother, he thought, the word echoing in his mind like a distant memory.
He tried to speak, to greet his mother, but no words came out.
Instead, he could only stare up at her with his wide, sky-blue eyes.
"...!"
The woman gasped, her hands trembling slightly as she held her newborn child. She had expected cries, fussing, the usual chaos of a newborn's arrival.
But this baby, with his shock of white hair and glowing blue eyes, was eerily silent.
It was as if she was seeing a ghost, a specter from a past she thought long buried.
Their eyes met, and a wave of fear washed over the woman.
She recognized the unmistakable traits, the very lineage she had been forced to abandon. Was this a blessing or a curse?
"Doctor..." she called out, her voice barely a whisper, urgency lacing her tone.
"Yes, Ms. Uzziel?" a gruff voice responded from the doorway.
"Could you...could you leave us for a moment?"
The doctor hesitated but eventually nodded, murmuring something about paperwork as he retreated from the room.
A Mother's Tears and a Hidden Truth: Alone with her child, Ms. Uzziel's fear gave way to a flood of tears.
The joy of motherhood intertwined with a deep-seated terror of discovery.
She reached out a shaking hand to touch his soft cheek, feeling the warmth of his skin against her own.
"You alone are blessed, my beloved child. Julian," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of emotions.
The words were a prayer, a plea, and a prophecy all at once.
"Born as a Godford."
***
[Lilian's POV]
My eyes flickered open, not to the sterile white of a hospital ceiling, but to a translucent blue screen hovering in my vision.
It was... a status screen?
A rush of memories flooded back—my death, the goddess, the promise of a new life with a system.
So this is it, I thought, a thrill of excitement coursing through me, even as I bobbed gently in someone's arms.
The screen flickered, lines of text appearing before my newborn eyes.
[Welcome, User of the System!]
I couldn't help the silent gasp that escaped my lips, a breathy sigh that was probably mistaken for a gurgle.
The screen continued, its words etched into my eyes as if guided by magic.
[The System is your guide in this new world. It will track your progress, offer quests, and reward you with SP (System Points) that can be used to unlock new skills, abilities, and enhancements.]
SP, huh?
Like a video game, I mused, a wave of nostalgia washing over me.
The screen shifted, displaying a new set of information.
[Analyzing User...Assessing Innate Gifts and Abilities...]
Innate Gifts? Abilities? Is this like a character creation screen?
I wondered, my excitement growing.
Moments later, the results appeared, and my breath caught in my throat.
____________
User Profile:
Name: Julian Ryker Uzziel Godford
Race: Human (Godford Bloodline) (Extinctic RARE: 0.0001%)
Age: Newborn
SP: 0
Stats: Strength: 100, Agility: 55, Endurance: 85, Dexterity: 78, Intelligence: 100, Wisdom: 70, Charisma: 100
Bloodline Technique: ??? (100,000 SP)
Innate Techniques: None
Skills: None
Gifts:
(All LOCKED)
Divine Eyes of Convergence (LV0), Essence of Magic (LV0), Essence of God's Gift (LV0), Voice Of The Sovereign (LV0), Brain Of An Empyrean (LV0)
[Note: All Innate Gifts are dormant and will awaken as you grow.]
____________
My tiny heart pounded in my chest.
The Godford Bloodline? Five locked abilities? Could this be real?
The goddess hadn't lied.
I had been reborn into the world of this novel, carrying the blood of a demon clan. \
It didn't make sense.
In the novel, the Godfords were demons from the demon realm, more evil than the Demon King himself.
They'd nearly won a war against the entire world.
But then, why was I a human? My stats were clear—I was undeniably human, not a demon.
Haah... There was too much to worry about right now.
More importantly, these gifts!
They looked incredibly powerful, just by their names.
I was so thankful to the goddess for granting me this family.
Even if I had been born with good base stats, there was no telling if my gifts were a blessing or a curse.
SWOP
Suddenly, the system vanished, and I found myself gazing up at a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and green eyes.
So this is my mother?
As I took in her face, I saw tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Everything I feared, all my doubts... they were for nothing," she whispered, her voice filled with love and trepidation.
"You are a miracle, my beloved child. Julian."