Re:Goddess

1

A bright light enveloped everything around him. Alex squinted, covering his eyes with his hands. The last thing he remembered was a bus speeding straight toward him and the scream of the crowd. Now he floated in a white void, filled with soft light and an extraordinary sense of weightlessness.

— You’re finally here, — a melodic voice pierced the silence.

Alex turned around and saw her: a goddess of incredible beauty with golden symbols adorning her face and flowing blonde curls that seemed to sway in an invisible breeze. Her blue eyes gazed straight into his soul.

— Uh… Where am I? — he mumbled, struggling to grasp what was happening.

— You’re dead, — the goddess replied, raising an elegant hand. — But don’t worry. I have a chance for you to start a new life.

Alex felt his heart skip a beat.

— Seriously? So all those isekai stories… — he muttered under his breath, thinking of practically every other anime out there. — Wait… this is actually real?! You—you’re a goddess, and now you’re going to send me to another world with magic and all that?

— Exactly, that’s me, — she said with a nod. — the goddess nodded, her smile glowing with enchanting confidence. — But I’m offering you something unique. You won’t just have a chance to survive in this new world. You’ll possess an incredible power that will place you above any hero from your anime.

Alex swallowed hard, trying to contain his childlike excitement. His dreams of a fresh start, where he could become someone great, were finally coming true.

— So, what do I need to do? Pick a class? A hero? Attributes? Or something else?

The goddess chuckled, covering her mouth with slender fingers.

— Ah, you mortals are always so predictable. Heroes, classes, attributes… As if that’s all that matters in life. — Her blue eyes sparkled, and her voice turned softer, with a barely perceptible hint of mockery. — No, it’s much simpler. I’ll just give you… everything.

Alex gasped, his thoughts spinning in a whirlwind. Everything? Did that mean he wouldn’t just be a hero but something unimaginably greater? Maybe even more than a regular god?

— So, you’re saying I’ll become… stronger than everyone?

The goddess nodded, her smile growing even wider, as if she were anticipating something.

— Yes, stronger than anyone you could possibly imagine. But, as in any great story, you’ll have to go through… a little transformation. It’s not painful, I promise. If anything, it’s rather pleasant.

Her gaze sparkled, filled with a sense of expectation, though he didn’t notice it, lost in his thoughts.

Alex frowned slightly but quickly brushed off his doubts. A transformation? That was standard for all isekai stories, right? Getting a cool body, powers, or even turning half-demon—it was all par for the course in anime.

— Alright, do your… divine sorcery or whatever you call it, — he said with a slight smirk, crossing his arms over his chest. — I’m ready to become the coolest in this new world.

— Excellent, — the goddess clapped her hands. Her movements were graceful, yet strangely forceful. — Then… brace yourself.

The light around her flared brilliantly. Alex felt an invisible force lift him, as if he were being swept away by a gust of wind. His body began to burn with a strange sensation—not pain, but something like tickling that ran from the top of his head to the tips of his fingers.

— Hey, what’s this?! — he exclaimed, but his voice… it sounded higher. Alex coughed, trying to restore his usual tone, but it only became softer and lighter. Panic started to grip him as he realized his body was changing right before his eyes.

His arms grew thinner, his skin turned smooth and soft, and his hair cascaded down in golden waves. His chest ached painfully, as though something inside was struggling to burst out, and in the next moment, he realized he now had a feminine figure. He clasped his neck, but his fingers met something cold and metallic—symbols, just like the ones on the goddess.

— WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?! — he screamed, looking at himself. But the voice that echoed in the silence was feminine, melodic, just like the goddess’s. A mirror appeared in front of him, and his heart sank into his stomach. He glanced down and saw a slender, curvaceous female body that looked disturbingly familiar. He raised his hands to his chest and touched what could never have belonged to him.

In the mirror, shining against the snowy-white background, he saw her. The same face. The same body.

Alex took a step back, but instead of the familiar thud of boots on the floor, there was the echo of bare feet. His golden hair fell onto his shoulders in soft waves, tickling his skin. He raised a hand to brush it away and froze: a golden bracelet glinted on his wrist, engraved with intricate symbols and an inscription he couldn’t quite make out.

— Oh no... No, no, no! This isn’t me! This is impossible! — He grabbed his throat, unable to believe that he now sounded exactly like her.

2

— You look stunning! — Her voice echoed faintly, as though from far away.

Alex spun around, but she was nowhere to be seen. The voice seemed to come from inside his own head.

— Where are you?! — Alex shouted, turning in panic, but all around him was the same endless white void. Her voice, ringing in his head, answered with a teasing lilt:

— Relax, I’m not gone… not yet. I’m just a little more… inside you now. Don’t be surprised; it’s perfectly natural. For a goddess. And now, for you too.

Alex clenched his fists, his new delicate fingers trembling.

— What do you mean “inside me”?! What did you do?! — he yelled, his voice ringing melodiously, entirely out of place for his panic.

The goddess’s voice responded, as if stretching lazily:

— You’re me now, darling. Well, not entirely me, of course, but close enough. Don’t worry, you’ll figure it all out soon.

Her tone was so casual, like she was explaining how to tie shoelaces.

Alex swallowed hard, glancing down at his new body. How could he possibly look like her? Why had this happened? But his questions froze mid-thought as glowing golden letters appeared before his eyes, as if someone had turned on a screen in mid-air.

Welcome to your new role!
Instructions for the Temporary Goddess Position:

• Guide souls to their new worlds.

• Assign attributes, classes, and abilities to each soul.

• Ensure that world balance remains intact.

• Avoid upsetting other divine beings.

The glowing letters burned brightly, followed by what looked like some kind of interface. It resembled… a bizarre simulator or video game. There were countless buttons, lists, and tabs. Alex reached out, and to his surprise, the interface responded like a touchscreen. His finger brushed over a tab, and another list popped up in front of him.

New Requests:

• Truck-kun. Age: 19. Personality: cowardly but kind.

• Failed Alchemical Explosion. Age: 45. Personality: ambitious but foolish.

• Fell into a Pit by Accident. Age: 31. Personality: sarcastic, lazy.

Alex blinked several times, staring dumbly at the entries.

— What the hell is this?

— See? Simple! — the goddess’s voice rang out again, now even more pleased. — This is all I’ve been doing for the past few millennia. See? You just have to decide where to send them, assign their powers, their class… Sometimes tweak the balance a little. The rest is their problem.

Alex ran a hand over the interface, grimacing.

— And this is the whole job? So now I’m just some kind of celestial dispatcher?

— Don’t sell yourself short—you’re a goddess! — she laughed. — But yes, in a way, you’re not wrong. Still, isn’t this better than being dead?

Her voice carried a giggle, light and carefree.

— Don’t worry; it’s only temporary. I just need a little break. By the way, I left you a few tips, but I’m sure you’ll figure it out. And now…

Her voice grew softer, as if she were retreating into the distance.

— Hey, wait! Where are you going?! — Alex shouted into the void.

— To rest, of course. You have no idea how exhausting this routine is. Have fun! A thousand years will fly by in no time!

— WHAT?! A THOUSAND YEARS?! — Alex lunged forward, his golden locks flying, his bare feet echoing dully against the unseen floor.

But her voice didn’t respond. Everything around him fell into perfect silence. Alex, breathing heavily, turned back toward the interface, still floating motionless in the air.

3

He wanted to scream, but nothing came out. Instead, he let out a helpless wave of his hand and sat down on the floor. The strange white light surrounding him still hovered, its brightness irritating his eyes. Everything seemed absurd, yet undeniably real.

After thinking for a moment, he tried to do something magical. Waving his hands and muttering nonsense, he looked utterly ridiculous—thankfully, no one but him was around to see it. Frustrated, he stopped the strange gestures and sighed deeply.

— Alright… — he muttered, trying to figure out any way out of this mess.

He touched the “Truck-kun” entry, and suddenly, a detailed profile of a young man appeared before him. There was even a photo!

— What the hell is this… — Alex mumbled as he scrolled through the stats. There were attributes like “Strength,” “Intelligence,” and “Charm.” Below the stats was a list of world options: “Fantasy,” “Mecha,” “Post-apocalypse.” And under that, a section titled: “Difficulty Level.”

Alex was about to hit “Back” when the screen flickered, and a new message appeared at the top:

Warning! Time to process each soul is limited. Skip the request, and you’ll incur a penalty!

— A penalty? Seriously?! — Alex exhaled, glaring at the “Truck-kun” profile again.

He had no desire to deal with any of this, but he sat there for what felt like hours, aimlessly pressing random buttons. Eventually, the endless silence and that persistent warning drove him to the edge. Annoyed, he jabbed at the “Accept” button.

A young man began materializing before him, looking as though he’d just stepped out of a rainstorm. His clothes were soaked, and he seemed utterly confused about where he was. His wide eyes darted around the space, panic radiating off him like a palpable aura.

— Wh-what is this place? Where am I? Who are you? — the man stammered, backing away.

Alex—or rather, Alex the Goddess—nervously adjusted the golden hair that fell in soft waves over his shoulders.

— Damn it, what am I supposed to do with you? — he muttered. His melodious, pleasant voice rang through the space, making the man flinch and stare at Alex with wide, awestruck eyes.

The man swallowed nervously, slowly raising his hands as though surrendering.

— U-uh… G-goddess? — he stammered, looking at Alex with the reverence of someone who’d just had their dream come true.

Alex let out a heavy sigh, the absurdity of the situation only amplified by his new, harmonious voice. Frustrated, he ruffled his long golden locks but quickly stopped, realizing how overly feminine the gesture looked.

In front of him stood “Truck-kun,” gawking at him like he was some kind of divine relic.

— Alright, listen up! — Alex raised his hands, attempting to appear commanding, but the motion came off as an elegant flourish, like a ballet instructor demonstrating a pose. — I’m here temporarily! I have no idea how to manage this! And I’m definitely not sorting out your “attributes” or figuring out where to send you!

4

The young man blinked, clearly struggling to comprehend what was happening. He glanced around—the void, the light, the nothingness surrounding him—except for the goddess standing before him, who looked outrageously beautiful but just as outrageously out of her element.

— U-uh… excuse me? — he stammered, nervously rubbing his hands together. — But… isn’t it your job to, I don’t know… guide me on my new path? You’re the goddess! You’re in charge here!

— I’m not a goddess! — Alex threw up his hands, his voice echoing through the emptiness and sending the man into another round of reverent awe. — I’m just some regular guy who got roped into this by the real goddess! She dumped this job on me while she’s off taking a break! This is all one big mistake!

— You’re… just a regular guy? — The man’s eyes sparkled even more, and a smile crept across his face. — Is this some kind of test? Or a trial? Like, are you waiting for me to find the hidden meaning?!

— Oh, for the love of… — Alex rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath, — This is going to be a long thousand years.

The man, now convinced of his “brilliant” insight, straightened up, energized by his revelation.

— Got it! I’ll prove I’m worthy, goddess! Just show me the way! Give me a sword, magic, and I’ll become a hero!

Alex let out an exasperated sigh and glanced back at the interface, skimming through the endless options. The mechanics seemed simple enough: world, role, abilities, difficulty level. But every selection opened up more detailed menus, each more complex than the last.

— Fantasy… Post-apocalypse… Space opera… Oh, come on, how much is there?

He glanced briefly at the man, who was standing before him like a loyal dog, ready to carry out the “goddess’s” every whim.

— Alright, Alex, keep it together. Let’s get this over with… If I’m stuck in this ridiculous role, might as well make it entertaining. — A sly grin tugged at the corners of his lips.

Refocusing on the interface, Alex randomly tapped the first world that caught his eye: Fantasy.

— Well then, boy… You wanted a sword, magic, and heroism? You’ll get it… just a little differentlyю.

The “Role” tab expanded into a long list of options: “King,” “Dragon,” “Demon Lord,” and more. Alex was about to pick something straightforward when his eyes landed on a tiny entry at the bottom of the list:

“Peasant Girl: Mother of the Future Hero”

Alex froze for a moment before bursting into laughter.

— Oh, this… this is too good! Sorry, buddy, but if I’ve got to play this part, I might as well have a little fun.

The man looked at him, utterly confused by the outburst.

— U-uh… Goddess? — he asked hesitantly.

Alex smiled, tilting his head slightly in a gesture so graceful it could only belong to a true goddess. His golden curls shimmered as they tumbled over his shoulder, and his voice, soft and melodious, practically sang:

— I’ve decided. You won’t just enter a new world. You’ll become… a key figure.

— A key figure? — The young man puffed out his chest, convinced he was destined for greatness.

Alex turned back to the interface, adjusting the settings with a wicked gleam in his eye.

Age: 27 years.
Difficulty Level: Easy.
Lifestyle: Poor but respectable.
Abilities: No magic, exceptional cooking skills, pure heart.

5

He pressed "Confirm" and felt a burst of golden light flash in the air. The young man froze as his body began to change—at first, he was stunned, but then, with a wild scream, he realized his voice had become higher, and his muscular shoulders had shrunk.

— What… What are you doing?! — he screeched, staring at his now slender arms. Then he noticed a soft roundness beginning to form on his chest.

Alex smiled wider.

— Congratulations, you’re now… the mother of a hero!

The young man—or rather, the young woman—stared at her new hands in horror and touched her face. Golden hair fell onto her shoulders, and the reflection in the mirror showed a delicate, albeit frightened, face of a young woman.

— WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!

Alex pursed his lips, pretending to think deeply.

— Well… technically, it wasn’t me. It’s… just how the world’s rules work. You wanted to be important, didn’t you?

The new woman, still in shock, clutched her head in disbelief.

— But I… I… was supposed to be a hero! Fighting dragons! Collecting artifacts! Not… giving birth to someone!

— Hey, stop whining! The role of a hero’s mother is no less important! — Alex wagged his finger like a teacher. — Your task is to raise the true savior of the world. That’s the first step to greatness!

The woman threw her hands up, her golden hair flying wildly.

— This… This is a nightmare! Turn me back!

Alex, trying to stifle his laughter, put on a mock-serious expression.

— Sorry, requests can’t be undone. Welcome to your new life! Good luck! And don’t forget: everything depends on your decisions!

The golden light around her flared, and she vanished in a flash, leaving Alex alone in the radiant void.

Alex laughed, a bright, ringing sound that echoed through the emptiness. But as the sound faded, scattering into crystalline chimes, Alex froze. His own laughter had been unnervingly soft and feminine, a sound that sent a strange discomfort rippling through him.

He stood still, thunderstruck, as the realization set in. He had just sent the guy into a completely different life, transformed into the mother of a hero. Sure, it had been a joke… but now that it was done, a strange sense of guilt began to creep in.

— What the hell did I just do? — Alex muttered, staring at his slender fingers, which hovered over the interface. He felt uneasy but couldn’t figure out why. I was just having fun, right? He wanted to be important. I made him important… Didn’t I? Or did I go too far?

His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar melodic laugh. The goddess. That sound rang out in his head again, making Alex flinch. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the situation.

— Oh, sweetheart, you’re an absolute wonder, — her voice purred, brimming with genuine delight. — You’re learning so quickly! I’m impressed.

Alex flinched again, glancing around. The goddess’s voice sounded as though she was standing right behind him, but no matter where he looked, she was nowhere to be seen.

6

— You… you’re still here? — he asked, his voice trembling, betraying his nervousness.

— Let’s just say I dropped by for a moment, — her voice flowed like honey. — I forgot something important… but now, watching you, I simply can’t leave without offering some praise! That was stunningly creative. Though, perhaps a touch too crude. You need to work on refinement.

— Praise? — Alex clenched his fists, his new slender fingers trembling. — Are you serious? I just turned a guy into… into a woman! And not just any woman—a hero’s mother! That’s wrong! He… he…

— Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself, darling. It was brilliant, — the goddess replied, her tone brimming with playful warmth. — You don’t even realize how well you’re doing. Everything you did was absolutely correct. You even followed my instructions.

— Instructions? — Alex frowned, his golden locks sliding softly over his shoulders. — What instructions? I was just… just acting on instinct.

— Exactly, — she laughed, the sound melodic, like the chiming of bells. — Those instructions are already in your head. They’ll make you the perfect goddess. You may not consciously understand it yet, but what can one expect from mere mortals?

— What the hell? — Alex clenched his fists, his face twisting in outrage, but the goddess’s melodic laughter cut through his anger.

— Ah-ha-ha! Oh, sweetie, there’s no need to be so vulgar, especially with that face. It ruins your new charm! Gods shouldn’t curse—it disrupts the harmony of the universe, don’t you see?

— What nonsense are you spouting?! — Alex snapped, but as he said the last words, his tongue felt like it was burned, and he froze. He tried again to swear, but instead of profanity, the words that escaped his lips were, —  What in… chaotic confusion?!

— What? — He paused, stunned. He tried once more, but instead of familiar curses, all that came out were absurd phrases like delightful disaster or caramel absurdity.

— What did you do?! — he growled—or at least tried to—but the sound came out melodic, almost kind.

— Oh, nothing too serious! — her voice carried hints of amusement. — Just a small adjustment. Think of it as a filter for unseemly words. Gods are meant to inspire, not repel.

— You can’t just… stop me from swearing! — Alex tried again to voice his frustration, but what came out was, — You can’t take away my sweet freedom of expression!

The goddess didn’t respond. Alex threw his hands up and shouted.

— Hey! Wait! You can’t just… — He tried to yell after her, but her presence faded, leaving him alone once more.

— Fine then! Your airy absence fills me with overwhelming joy… Ugh! — His eyes flared with fury, but once again, he couldn’t muster even a simple curse.

He collapsed onto the invisible floor, clutching his head in his hands. The void around him fell silent once more. No escape, no hope. Just him, the glowing interface in front of his eyes, and the long, soft hair that maddeningly tickled his face.