"I'm terribly sorry!"
Those were the first words I heard after dying.
One moment, I was walking home from my part-time job at a convenience store, minding my own business.
The next, I was floating in a sea of white light while a young woman with flowing silver hair and crystalline eyes bowed deeply before me, her hands pressed together in apology.
"You... you're the one who killed me, aren't you?" I asked, though somehow I couldn't muster any anger. There was something inherently kind about her presence.
She looked up, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Yes! I'm so, so sorry! I was supposed to redirect a falling tree branch, but I miscalculated and... and..." She burst into tears, her shoulders shaking. "I hit you instead! I'm the Goddess of Wind, and I've never made such a terrible mistake!"
I sighed, running a hand through my hair—or rather, where my hair should be. My body felt translucent, ethereal.
"So what happens now? Can I be sent back?"
The goddess shook her head miserably. "Your body... it can't be repaired. I'm so sorry. But!"
She brightened slightly, wiping her eyes.
"I can offer you a new life in another world! A beautiful world with magic and adventure! And I'll give you blessings to make up for my mistake!"
I stared at her. "Another world? Like... an isekai?"
"Exactly!" She beamed, her tears instantly vanishing. "You'll have powerful abilities, a strong body, and—oh! I'll even give you my personal protection! You'll be able to communicate with any living creature and understand any language!"
I considered this.
To be honest, my life on Earth hadn't been particularly fulfilling. I was twenty-five, working dead-end jobs, with no family left and few friends. The idea of starting fresh in a new world... it wasn't unappealing.
"Alright," I said. "I'll do it."
The goddess clapped her hands together in delight. "Wonderful! Your name is...?"
"Haru. Haru Mizuki."
"Haru-san, then!"
She raised her hands, and golden light enveloped me.
"I, Sylvie, Goddess of Wind, grant you my blessings! May gentle breezes always guide your path!"
The light intensified, and I felt warmth spreading through my being. Information flooded my mind—status screens, skill lists, knowledge of this new world.
"Wait," I said as the world began to fade. "Where exactly are you sending me?"
Sylvie's smile turned sheepish. "Ah... about that..."
And then everything went black.