Just as a sense of quiet acceptance was beginning to settle in me, the old man tilted his head slightly and said something that drove a sharp, invisible blade through my chest.
"Actually… that girl would've survived even without your help."
My breath caught.
For a moment, I couldn't move. I just sat there, silent, as the weight of those words dropped over me like cold, heavy stone.
All that fear.
The pain.
The scream in my chest as I lunged forward.
My final moment of so-called bravery.
…meant nothing?
My heart sank, and I looked down at my hands, those same hands that had pushed a man through a pane of glass, not knowing if I'd live through it.
So I did throw my life away.
For nothing.
A bitter laugh almost escaped me, but it crumbled into a sigh.
I was a fool. A scared office drone who played hero for five seconds, and now I was just another name lost in a death file somewhere.
But the old man didn't stop there.
He spoke again, his voice calm, firm, and not unkind.
"It was never about her survival. It was about you, about the fact that, even when fear gripped you, even when everything inside you wanted to run… you chose to help. You chose to face death. That decision, your courage, is rare."
I looked up, eyes stinging. He wasn't mocking me. There was no condescension in his tone. Only truth.
"And… we were moved," he continued. "Moved by your life. By how hollow and joyless it had become. You lived like a machine. A soul barely breathing."
He paused. Then his words landed like thunder:
"So we've decided to give you a chance. A real one. You will reincarnate, but not into the same world."
My breath caught.
"What?" I whispered, leaning forward. "You mean… a different world?"
He nodded once, slowly.
I couldn't help it, my heart skipped.
"A world with… like, magic? Swords? The kind from fantasy stories?"
A faint smile played on his lips. "Yes. A world where magic is real. And danger is, too. But also freedom. Purpose. And you… deserve it."
I swallowed, stunned. My death hadn't been meaningless.
It had become a door.
Then he added, "But there's one condition."
Of course there was.
"In that world, you will be responsible for uplifting a race. A species. Helping them prosper."
That… was a lot to take in.
I blinked. "Wait—'a race'? What does that mean?"
"It means you will be born among a group that needs you. A people on the verge of extinction, or stagnation. You must help them grow… survive… thrive."
It sounded… monumental. Terrifying. But also strangely exciting.
I hesitated, then asked carefully, "Will I remember everything? From this life?"
"Yes," he said without pause. "Your memories will remain intact. And not just that, you will be granted several skills and items to aid you in this new life. To help you survive. And succeed."
My hands gripped the sides of the chair as I nodded, slow and steady.
"I'm ready," I said. "I don't want to waste this chance. Not this time."
"Good," he said. "Then it's time to choose. Your skills. Your items.
Is there something specific you desire?"
My thoughts raced.
Something peaceful. Something practical.
If I was going to live a slower life this time…
"Hm… I'd like a farming skill, maybe," I said, half-laughing. "To live quietly. Grow my own food. Build something from the earth."
But then I remembered, he said I'd be responsible for an entire race.
So maybe… peace wouldn't come easily.
"Wait," I added, "I should probably pick a combat skill too, right? Something to protect the others… to survive."
The old man nodded patiently.
"You may request multiple skills and items," he said. "But choose wisely. Each one shapes your path."
I bit my lip, heart beginning to beat faster.
"What's the limit?" I asked. "How many can I ask for? What kind of skills? What kind of items?"
And again, the question echoed in my mind.
'What did he mean by "a race"?
Were they human? Were they something else entirely?'
"Very well," the old man said, his voice soft and echoing gently through the cosmic space that surrounded us. "You may choose two skills and one item to carry with you."
I nodded slowly, my mind swirling in a mix of nervousness and disbelief. This was real. I was really going to be reincarnated into another world. A chance like this, after the life I lived, after the way I died… it felt like an impossible kindness.
I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment to think.
"For my first skill," I said, "I want regeneration. Not just ordinary healing. I want to be able to regenerate from a single cell, no matter what happens to my body."
The old man's expression remained calm, but I thought I saw the faintest hint of a smile in his eyes, like he was quietly impressed.
"And the second skill…" I hesitated. I didn't want to be weak in this new world. "I want to have a natural talent for strength, physical strength, magical strength, all of it. I want to grow fast and reach my full potential in everything related to power."
The old man nodded once. "A wise balance."
Now came the item. My one and only item.
"I want an item that can become anything I need. A tool, a weapon, armor, shelter, even food if necessary. Something that can adapt to my will."
He seemed to ponder for a moment, then gave me a slow nod. "That will be granted."
Relief flooded my chest. A warm breath I didn't realize I'd been holding escaped through my lips. This… this could work.
The old man looked at me with quiet gentleness, his cosmic-white beard glowing faintly in the starlight. "I hope you'll make the most of this new life. Use it well."
I didn't say anything at first. My throat tightened. I stood, my hands trembling, and then, without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around him.
"Thank you," I whispered, voice thick with emotion. "Thank you for giving me a second chance… for not letting my life end as just another forgotten office worker."
He returned the embrace with warmth. "Live fully. And maybe, we'll meet again someday."
I stepped back and looked at him one last time, trying to memorize every detail of his face, his kind eyes, the way he looked at me not with pity, but with belief.
I gave a small bow and said softly, "Goodbye."
And then, light.
A brilliant, blinding light enveloped my body, warm and infinite, and before I could take another breath, my consciousness was pulled away to a new world.