It was an ordinary, peaceful day like any other. I was working at a convenience store because I needed to earn my living expenses. Although my parents gave me enough money to get by, I didn't want them to worry about me all the time. So, I had been working full-time.
My name is Geto Saturo, a 27-year-old university dropout. I live in a small apartment, and my hobby is watching anime.
Today, a junior at work asked me to attend a team dinner that all my coworkers were planning. I didn't really want to go, but that's how the real world works—you sometimes have to do things you don't like.
After finishing my shift, I headed to the restaurant where the dinner was being held. On my way, I ran into the junior who had invited me.
"Hello, Geto-senpai!" he greeted me with energy. A girl about his age stood beside him.
"Yeah, hello there, Tamura. Who's the lady next to you?" I asked, though I had a hunch. Still, I asked to start a conversation.
"Senpai, this is my fiancée, Miho," he said proudly, a smug expression on his face.
"Hello, I'm Takabuchi Miho. Nice to meet you," she said nervously.
"I'm Geto Saturo. Likewise, nice to meet you too." I introduced myself, wondering why Tamura had brought his fiancée to the dinner.
"Senpai, why did you come alone?" Tamura asked, and I instantly understood what he meant.
So that's why he brought his fiancée here. No one told me it would be a dinner date. I felt even more reluctant to go now. I could already imagine the judgmental stares, and just thinking about it sent a chill down my spine.
"I thought it was a normal dinner; that's why I came alone," I replied, hoping my excuse would fool them.
But when I saw Tamura and Miho's reactions, I knew they'd come to the same conclusion. They exchanged glances and then nodded.
"We're very sorry, Senpai. We didn't realize and said something insensitive," Tamura and Miho apologized, bowing. But their apology only made me angrier. I thought I had fooled them, but why were they so quick to catch on? Are all young people this sharp these days?
"Yeah, nothing to apologize for. Anyway, we're getting late. Let's hurry," I said hastily, trying to change the subject. But I regretted it instantly—now it sounded like I had admitted to being single.
"Yeah, let's hurry, Miho," Tamura said to his fiancée as they followed me. They didn't mention the topic again and acted as if they'd forgotten about it, which somehow made me even angrier. They were treating me like they felt sorry for me.
Suddenly, an angry voice called out, "I've found you, bastard! I'm not letting you go this time!"
A masked man wearing a long, knee-length coat and holding a knife appeared. He was running toward Tamura and Miho, jealousy and rage burning in his eyes.
Tamura hid behind me, grabbing my coat tightly and trembling. "I'm… not giving Miho to some stalker!" he shouted, his voice shaking.
The man's anger grew. He charged at Tamura, who was still hiding behind me.
I tried to move out of the way, but Tamura held me in place. I didn't have the strength of the tough, buff bodybuilders I'd seen on TV.
Before I could react further, the stalker's knife plunged into my chest, piercing my heart. My body went numb as warmth spread through me, and blood covered the pavement.
The pain wasn't as intense as I had imagined, but it was still unbearable. My mind clouded, and the fear of death rooted itself deep in my soul. I had never felt anything like it.
The stalker panicked and ran away, no one daring to stop him. I didn't blame them, but Tamura was a fool. I couldn't bring myself to hate him, but I felt furious at him for putting me in this situation.
Tamura caught me before I hit the ground. He grabbed my hand, tears streaming down his face.
"I'm… very so…rry, Sen…pai…" he stammered through his sobs. Miho, equally shocked, was tearing up as well.
A crowd began to gather, someone calling an ambulance and the police.
What now? Is this it? I thought desperately. I had never truly understood how fragile life was, how fleeting. Now, as death's cold grip tightened, I realized what I truly wanted: to live.
I wanted more time. To laugh. To feel the warmth of sunlight on my face. To savor a good meal. All the small, everyday joys I had taken for granted. But here I was, helpless, time slipping away like a fading memory.
My breath became shallow. My heart slowed. Pain consumed me, growing with every passing second. The world spun, my consciousness slipping, yet fear—unrelenting fear of death—remained.
In that crushing silence, regret washed over me. Regret for the risks I never took. For the life I never truly lived.
But even as the darkness closed in, one thought burned within me: I want to live.
With that desperate desire, I lost consciousness—or perhaps I died.
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"Ugh… Where the hell am I?"
I woke up, feeling like I'd escaped a nightmare. Opening my eyes, I was met with an impossible sight: the world rushing past me.
I'm falling.
Panic gripped me as I tumbled through the air, the wind roaring in my ears. Far below, jagged peaks and a winding river loomed.
I twisted helplessly, the ground rushing toward me. My scream was lost in the wind. The jagged rocks came closer—
And then everything went black.
When I came to, I sat up, stunned. The pain was gone. My body, unbroken.
I looked down at my hands, expecting blood and broken bones, but instead, they were smooth and pale.
"What kind of joke is this?" I muttered.
Memories of my death flooded back, but they felt distant. Still, I was alive—that much was clear.
"Where… am I?"
I stood shakily, dizziness hitting me. My hands brushed against a nearby rock, and suddenly, knowledge filled my mind—a power called Authority of Greed.
Ability: [Authority of Greed]
Description: The user transcends life and death, gaining immunity to mental attacks.