The sound of rain fell softly against Takumi Kaito's umbrella…
ding…
The bell of a small convenience store on the outskirts of town rang.
"Huh… the price went up again… I brought just enough money," Takumi muttered while holding a pack of instant noodles he usually bought.
pip… pip…
The sound of the cashier's scanner rang out as it scanned the groceries of a pregnant woman.
ding…
The store's bell rang once more.
A man wearing a black jacket entered, his hand hidden inside his pocket.
"DON'T MOVE!! GIVE ME ALL THE MONEY IN THE REGISTER RIGHT NOW!! OR I'LL PUT A HOLE IN THIS WOMAN'S HEAD!!"
The man suddenly threatened the cashier, pointing a gun at the pregnant woman's head.
"HIAAAH!!"
The woman screamed in hysteria.
The situation erupted into chaos.
Seeing an opening, Takumi rushed forward, attacked the man, successfully snatched the gun, and knocked him to the floor.
"AKH—KHH, DAMN IT!!"
The man glared at Takumi with murderous intent.
Believing the man was no longer able to fight back, Takumi shouted for the store clerk to call the police.
However…
In a moment of carelessness, Takumi was stabbed from behind by the man, who had been hiding a knife behind his waist.
"DIE!!"
The man screamed as he stabbed Takumi in the stomach before fleeing the scene.
People screamed and panicked as chaos filled the store.
"Ah… damn it… I promised I'd come back home… I'm sorry, Mom…"
Takumi whispered as his body collapsed, his life slipping away.
"it's cold… is it because I'm lying on this store's floor… or… because I'm about to die?"
"Well… at least I managed to save that woman—"
Those were Takumi's last words before losing consciousness.
The distant sound of ambulance and police sirens echoed faintly before everything went dark.
"Hah!! Eh—? Wh—what? Where am I?"
Takumi opened his eyes in a place completely unfamiliar to him—yet strangely peaceful.
"Oh… you're awake?"
A voice he had never heard before spoke, yet it filled him with calm.
"W-who are you?" Takumi asked, confused by the presence before him.
"Oh, my apologies. I haven't introduced myself yet.
My name is Asha, the Goddess of Protection."
"G-GODDESS!? …Wait… does that mean I really died?"
Takumi asked, still half in shock.
"Yes. You died while protecting a pregnant woman from a hostage situation.
You were fatally stabbed by a criminal… I'm sorry that I couldn't save someone who acted with such pure intent."
The goddess lowered her head deeply in apology.
"Eh—! Goddess Asha, you don't need to bow like that!
It was my own fault for letting my guard down… so please, raise your head."
Takumi panicked at her behavior.
"You can just call me Asha, Takumi-kun," she said with a gentle smile.
"O-okay… Asha."
Takumi and Asha talked for quite a while about many things, until Asha finally spoke again.
"Takumi… you will be reincarnated into another world.
What kind of skill do you desire?"
"Skill? What's that?" Takumi asked curiously.
"Simply put, skills are abilities individuals are born with.
There are many types—offensive, defensive, even skills that make daily life easier."
"Heh… that sounds awesome… I want one."
Asha smiled.
"Very well. What kind of skill do you want, Takumi-kun?"
"Hmmm… maybe a skill that can protect me and the people close to me.
And maybe one that lets me use magic and adapt easily…
Oh, and maybe a skill that lets me learn other skills too… just kidding, haha…"
However, Asha took it as a genuine request.
Since skills were blessings a goddess could grant, she ended up giving Takumi several skills.
One of them was Vengeance, a skill that reduces all types of damage and grows stronger the more attacks it receives.
Another was Replica, a skill that allows the user to learn other skills—though weaker than the originals.
"Alright! You're all set!"
Asha said proudly.
"Wait. May I grant him my blessing as well?"
A voice suddenly echoed from nowhere.
"Wahhh! Aethera, nee-sama!
It's so rare for you to visit! Did you miss me?"
Asha said cheerfully, acting completely different from before—at least in Takumi's eyes.
"Forgive me. Allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Aethera, Goddess of the Elements."
She appeared far more mature than Asha.
"N-nice to meet you. I'm Takumi Kaito," Takumi introduced himself politely.
"By the way… what is a blessing? Is it different from a skill?" Takumi asked.
"Yes. Skills are innate abilities every individual possesses—humans and even monsters.
Blessings, however, are fragments of divine power granted by gods or goddesses.
For example, if you receive a blessing from a ruler deity, you may inherit a fragment of their charisma."
"I see…"
"Then I shall grant you my blessing, Takumi," Aethera said softly.
"May you become the protector of that world against destruction and injustice."
"Don't worry! I'll always help you, Takumi!" Asha added energetically.
"Thank you… truly," Takumi said as his form slowly faded away.
Unbeknownst to him, Asha made a mistake while sending his soul to its new body.
She accidentally sealed both his memories and his powers.
"Ehh… ehehe…"
"Huh? Asha!? What did you do?"
Aethera asked, sensing something wrong.
"U-um… I think I accidentally sealed his memories and abilities…"
Asha replied nervously.
"…As expected," Aethera sighed.
"There's nothing we can do now. He has already been reborn.
One day, his memories and powers will surely return. I believe that."
"Waaah… waaah… waaah…"
The cries of a newborn baby echoed through a small village in the far south.
"Amelia… you did it… look at our child.
He has the same eyes as you," said a man, his voice filled with joy.
"You're right, Shin… his eyes look like mine.
But if you look closely… his face resembles yours,"
the woman replied, forcing her words through pain—yet smiling.
That night passed with happiness for the couple and gratitude from the villagers.
"Elio… Elio Ashmere… that is your name now, my child.
May you become a light and hope for us all."
That was the first memory Takumi gained in this world—
or rather, the first memory of the greatest defender of this world,
Elio Ashmere.
A/N
Hello everyone! Thank you so much for reading Chapter 1 of this story.
I will do my best to continue this story and turn it into a fantasy tale worthy of being read.
I sincerely apologize for any shortcomings—I'm still a beginner.
I hope for your support!