I Thought I Was Dead After Getting Stabbed While Protecting a Girl From a Random Attacker, but a Goddess Gave Me a Special Reward and Brought Me Back to Life in My Original Body—Now, All These Girls Are Coming on to Me!?

Chapter 1.2: The Story of How Getting Stabbed by a Random Attacker Changed My Life

The moment I realized, I felt strength rapidly drain from my body.

“Oh…”

My legs gave out, and I collapsed like a puppet with cut strings.

“Are… are you okay!?”

“Stay with us!”

The girls I saved rushed over and called out to me.

I could tell they desperately pressed my wound, not caring about getting blood on themselves.

But the bleeding probably didn’t stop. It felt like… my life was flowing out. As blood left the wound, sleepiness hit me hard. This was probably the kind of sleepiness I shouldn’t give in to. But I couldn’t fight it.

I heard sirens in the distance.

Two different tones rang out, so maybe they called an ambulance in case this turned into a violent incident.

That was a relief.

When I glanced at the girls, their eyes glistened with tears as they desperately called out to me. Strangely, I couldn’t hear their voices clearly anymore.

This was bad. If I went like this, I’d leave them with unnecessary trauma.

If I was going to die anyway, I had to say something to reassure them at least.

“I’m glad… you two weren’t hurt… that alone made… shielding you… worth it…”

And so, I lost consciousness.

When I came to, I stood frozen in an unfamiliar space.

Was this the so-called underworld? Did I really die?

It was just a feeling, but I figured that wound was probably fatal.

Still, experiencing the afterlife like this made me regret things from my life. I wished I played more of the baseball I loved. I wished I fell in love with a cute girl.

Come to think of it, I never made up with my little sister.

We got along pretty well at first, I think, but as we both hit puberty, we naturally drifted apart.

I caused my parents nothing but trouble, too. Maybe I should’ve been a better son…

As I thought about these random things, a dazzling light suddenly flashed, and a woman appeared before me.

She was a beauty so stunning the word “peerless” felt inadequate.

Her silky blonde hair and sparkling blue-green eyes were so beautiful they seemed unreal.

“Hello! I am a goddess!”

“…Huh?”

She seemed like a delusional girl.

Maybe it was best not to get involved.

“Hey! Don’t think such rude things! I’m a genuine, authentic goddess!”

Wait, did I say that out loud?

“As a goddess, I can hear your inner thoughts loud and clear!”

Whether she was a goddess or not, it seemed true she could read my mind.

“So, what does a goddess want with a dead guy?”

“You’re blatantly wary, huh… Well, given the situation, I suppose it’s understandable. This time, I came to give you a special privilege!”

“A privilege?”

“Yes! You performed a wonderful good deed earlier! You protected those girls from a violent thug, right?”

“…Well, yeah, I guess.”

“I originally planned to thank you by granting you various cheats and sending you to another world!”

“You thought… meaning I’m not going to another world?”

“You catch on quick, that helps! I looked into your life so far, and it seems you’re loved by an incredible number of people!”

Loved…? I wasn’t aware of that.

Sure, I had friends like anyone else, but I didn’t think I was some grand person so loved… Maybe my parents?

“That’s probably it! You’re the type who charms people without realizing it!”

“What a thing to say.”

“If I let you die like this, it would affect too many other people’s lives! So, you’ll return to your original body as is!”

That was simply great news.

I just listed all my regrets from this life moments ago.

If I got time to make up for those regrets, that was more than I could ask for.

“Everyone else jumped at the chance for isekai reincarnation, but… your core humanity is rooted in goodness. That’s wonderful!”

“Uh, thanks…”

She was praising me a lot.

I’m a guy, after all. It’s not like I didn’t dream of other worlds or magic.

As a certain manga line goes, “Admiration is the furthest thing from understanding.” I could fantasize, but imagining it actually happening to me was hard.

More than that, if I could return to the real world, I couldn’t ask for more.

“Of course, I won’t send you back empty-handed! As I mentioned, I’ll give you a privilege! However, in your world, things like superhuman strength or abundant magic would go to waste, so I’ll make it something more useful for you!”

“Oh… and what’s this privilege exactly…?”

I couldn’t help but gulp.

For the goddess (tentatively) to build it up this much, what incredible power would she grant me…?

“It’s a secret!”

“A secret!?”

I practically fell over like in an old-school comedy sketch!

If I didn’t know the privilege, how could I use it?

“It’s fine! It’s definitely something that will help your life!”

“Is that so…?”

Well, if I was supposed to be dead, just getting to return was already incredible, so maybe complaining wasn’t fair.

“I’m glad you understand! Now, it’s time to return your consciousness to your original body. Are you ready?”

“I’m ready. Please do it.”