A Blessing or a Con?

"A chance to go back...?" Huvel abruptly stopped thinking about the past and forcefully calmed himself. He focused on what the goddess had said.

"We…," continued the goddess, "are the Goddess of the Underworld. We can bestow you the favour of sending your soul back to your body in the human world so that you can live again."

Huvel's head hurt like hell after he regained his memories but he had no time to care about that. He instantly organized his thoughts.

"Then, what can I do for you to return this favour, My Goddess?" He bluntly voiced out his concern.

"Simple," the goddess replied without reacting to Huvel's directness. "You just have to do something in the human world for Us. A few years ago, We allowed some of Our soulmates to visit the human world and they promised to come back before they were tainted in the human world. However, when they got into the human world, they lost their memories of this place and thus, did not remember the promise as well. What you have to do is to kill them before they lost their virginity."

"Kill virgin boys?!!" Huvel cried inwardly, and looked down at the floor to hide his sour face. "That means they are children? Is she a psychopath? Wait! What is this 'psychopath' thing? Hmm... anyway, is this about 'good people die young'? Human lives don't seem to be any serious matter for a goddess like her but can I actually kill some kids? No, I have already decided to revenge my mother and myself. I must make up my mind and develop the boldness to kill. Although they are not my enemies, this is a quest from the goddess that can revive me. Hmm..., what is this 'quest' thing again?"

He thought the goddess's offer was good for him but there were still things he wanted to make sure before accepting the offer.

"My Goddess, you might already know but we humans usually get married after we turn 16 years old. Dare I ask how many years are there before your loved ones become 16 and where can I find them?"

"The little ones are now 12, already quite tainted by the humans. Currently, We are unable to get in touch with the human world so We cannot pinpoint their places for you. Instead, We will bestow you Our blessings so that you can sense them when they are near you."

"So, there is only 4 years for me to act! But Revered Goddess, in human world, I'm just an insignificant someone without any power. I wonder if you will bestow me some OP skills as well?" Huvel tried to bargain. He had to make sure to survive from his enemies before he could do the goddess's task.

But he also thought inwardly, "what is that 'OP' thing I just said? I messed up!"

"We do not know what is this 'OP skill' you speak off. But regarding for your power, naturally, the blessing We bestow will make you strong in no time. You need not worry." The goddess replied him in a serious tone but her nails were pinching the man on her laps. "And, of course, We will not force you to accept the task. You can refuse the task. But if do, I can guarantee that your short stay in the Underworld before you reincarnate will not be an easy one!"

"What do you mean you won't force me?!! You are clearly threatening me!" Huvel shouted inwardly.

He was still concerned about failure but his bargain was already allowed and a threat was posed so he had no more reason to refuse the goddess's offer.

"Thank you very much for your consideration, My Goddess. I'll accept the task you gave me!"

"Very well. We bestow you Our blessing!"

As soon as the goddess said the words, Huvel felt something changed in him but he could not tell clearly what it was.

"Our blessing was inscribed on your soul. If you succeed in the task We give you, the blessing will be with you till the end of your life. Well, if you fail, it will break your soul into pieces and make you suffer things worse than death. So, work hard."

"Huh, wait! I think I just heard something very important! Why did she tell me that only now as if it is a trivial matter?!" Huvel felt wronged. He took a stance to state his complaint.

But the goddess continued without noticing his change. "Now go back to your body."

Huvel disappeared from the Underworld!

-----

Huvel slowly regained his consciousness. He abruptly sat up from where he was lying. He placed his hand on his chest. He could feel his heart beating normally. There was not even a scar on his chest!

"Thank you, Great Goddess, for giving me another chance!" He whispered.

The penalty of failure was gravely but he could only move forward since his complaint could not be mailed to the goddess.

He looked around himself and found out that he was in a coffin! He felt creepy and wanted to leave as fast as he could. However, he lied in the coffin again as he wanted some time to organize his thoughts before anyone knew he was alive.

"I must think of a future plan!" He thought as he closed his eyes.

"First of, my death this time was very bizarre. Why that maid was so daring enough to... Wait! What do I mean death this time? Have I died before?"

He was puzzled by his own thought and thus, he ran through his own memories.

"This...?"

Images that were familiar to him appeared in series in his mind. He looked through them carefully and came to learn that those happened in his past life! He remembered that he used to live in a place called Earth before he died when he was 27 years old there.

"I used words I don't recognise when I met the goddess and I was surprised at that time. Now I know that those words come from my past life. The goddess used something on me to make me remember my life as Huvel but it could even make me recall memories from my past life! This is marvellous! The place I lived before have knowledges and technologies foreign to this place. Those knowledges will become very useful for this life!" Huvel was thrilled seeing many things that were new for the present him.

"I'm curious of how I lived in my past life. Let's see. I was ... hmm ... WHAT?!!"

Seeing some scenes from his past life, he was at a loss for words. His face turned red. And something under his pants awakened!