Morning came far too quickly.
Warm sunlight crept through my curtains, birds chirped outside… and I was still snoring like a dying walrus.
Then
*SPLASH!*
"WAKE UPPP!!" Nina shouted as she dumped a bucket of freezing water on my face.
I flopped up like a fish out of the ocean. "COLD!? AM I BEING WATER TORTURED!?"
Nina was laughing so hard she nearly dropped the bucket. Mother stood behind her, arms crossed.
"Hikaru," she sighed, "you overslept… on *your* big day. Again."
"What time is it!? Did I miss it!? Did the gods leave already!?" I panicked.
Father's voice echoed from the hallway. "Is he awake? Good! Come eat before the carriage arrives!"
I jumped up
Slipped on the wet floor
And nearly died for the sixth time in six years.
---
*Breakfast of Doom*
We sat around the table eating warm soup and rice.
"You're nervous," Father teased.
"N-Nooooo… I-I'm n-not nervouuuss… b-beside you're w-with me…" I mumbled, trembling like jelly.
Father smirked. "This is your first time stepping inside the kingdom. Try not to wander off, Hikaru. We know you."
Mother added, "We really do. Hikaru is… Hikaru."
"WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!?" I protested.
They both laughed. I was confused.
Then
*Knock! Knock!*
The carriage was here.
I waved goodbye to our maids, Sakari and Nina, who waved back like I was going to war.
---
**Arrival at Lapryth Kingdom**
The gates opened. Guards in armor, stalls full of magical food, enchanted items, glowing scrolls the kingdom was alive with energy.
When we got off the carriage, a wave of people passed by, and I lost my parents' hands instantly.
"Huh? Mother?? Father???"
No response.
Instead, I saw something stranger:
A floating stall.
Books glowing like stars.
Magical symbols swirling around them.
An old man with a beard longer than my future stared at me.
"Young one," he whispered, "the book chooses its wielder"
I wasn't listening.
I was staring at a book with **angel wings and a sword on the cover**.
The old man sighed. "You're not listening."
"You're creepy," I answered.
He shoved the book into my hands. "Take it. You will need it."
And the entire stall vanished.
Just
*POOF.*
Then
"HIKARU!" my parents yelled.
I hid the book behind my back. "I swear I didn't do anything this time!"
They scolded me (again) and dragged me toward the Church of the gods.
---
*The Blessing Ceremony*
Priest Jienji bowed. "Welcome. What brings you here today?"
Father proudly declared, "Our son turns six today. He is here to receive the blessings."
"Very well."
He raised his staff.
A magic circle formed beneath my feet.
Light burst from the statues.
Everything turned white
And suddenly
I saw **my fat old self** again.
And a familiar voice said:
"Yo."
Yakashi floated near my face.
"I'm back," he said. "Yakashi. god of Magic. Your old guy."
I glared. "YOU. Explain. Slowly. WITHOUT disappearing."
The other gods appeared behind him, all smiling like troublemakers.
Otamu waved. Hakari nodded. Kamaki tilted his head.
Then Yakashi sighed dramatically.
---
Yakashi rubbed his forehead. "Fine, fine. Let's talk properly. What do you want to know first?"
I raised one finger.
"THE SLIPPER. Why did I get hit by a slipper when I died?"
All the gods stared at Yakashi.
Kamaki burst out laughing. "Wait HE DIED FROM SLIPPER IMPACT!?"
Otamu facepalmed. "That… is a warrior's most dishonorable death."
Yakashi defended himself. "It wasn't the slipper that killed him! It was the truck! The slipper was a distraction!"
I yelled, "THAT MAKES IT EVEN WORSE!"
Hakari added gently, "At least… it was a clean slipper?"
"NO IT WASN'T!" I shouted.
The gods laughed so hard the space started shaking.
I took a deep breath. "Fine. NEXT QUESTION."
I pointed at Yakashi again.
"WHY didn't you explain ANYTHING when I reincarnated!? I had NO idea what was happening!"
Yakashi shrugged. "It's funnier that way."
"I HATE YOU."
Then Otamu stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Let's talk about the Water Blast."
All the gods turned silent.
I swallowed.
Otamu continued, "You nearly destroyed half the sky with a spell you didn't understand."
Yakashi added, "You also nearly evaporated yourself."
Kamaki leaned down. "And you blacked out like a stunned goose."
I turned red. "I WAS TWO YEARS OLD!!"
Hakari chuckled. "Still reckless though."
Otamu poked my forehead. "Learn to control your mana before you blow up the continent next time."
Yakashi added, "And don't cast spells while reading upside down."
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!!"
Then Kamaki spoke.
"And then… the battle. When Abrythm attacked. When you saved your mother."
A warm but heavy silence filled the space.
Kamaki placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You fought with your heart… even if your body couldn't handle it. You risked everything for someone precious."
Otamu nodded. "Warriors with resolve like that… are rare."
Hakari smiled softly. "You were terrified… but you still fought."
Yakashi added quietly, "We… were proud."
I blinked.
Suddenly feeling warm in the chest.
"O-Oh… well… thanks."
The gods smiled gently
Then immediately went back to teasing me.
Yakashi: "BUT that blast was so big even we flinched."
Otamu: "Truly a child with zero limits."
Kamaki: "Or zero brain cells."
Hakari: "Or both."
I screamed, "STOP BULLYING ME!!"
They laughed again.
---
Yakashi clapped his hands. "NOW time for the blessings!"
I groaned. "Finally!"
One by one the gods stepped forward:
Hakari: "I bless you with an Item Box. May it serve your journeys."
Otamu: "Your swordsmanship will grow don't die stupidly."
Kamaki: "Your summoning is tied to your heart. Summon wisely."
Yakashi: "Magic is yours to command. Try not to explode."
The moment their powers hit me
I started fading.
"WAIT NO WE'RE NOT FINISHED!!"
"Visit us anytime!" Yakashi waved.
Otamu shouted, "TRAIN PROPERLY!"
Hakari called, "Use your blessings well!"
Kamaki added, "And summon a backbone next time someone teases you!"
Their laughter echoed
And I returned to the church.
---
*Overpowered Revelation*
Light flashed from my shoulder, then vanished.
Jienji stepped back. "T-This is unprecedented…"
My parents stared at me, shaking.
"That… looked like the blessing of multiple gods…"
I shrugged. "Nothing special. Let's go home. I'm hungry."
---
*Meanwhile, in the Realm of the gods (again)*
All gods glared at Yakashi.
"You gave him TOO MUCH!"
Yakashi pointed at them. "YOU DID TOO!!"
Kamaki shrugged. "We like the kid."
Otamu added, "He's entertaining."
Hakari giggled. "He is adorable."
Yakashi sighed. "He's going to scream when he checks his status…"
They all laughed loudly and sent a divine beam down.
---
*Return to Peace*
Priest Jienji asked quietly, "Hikaru… are you truly okay?"
I smiled innocently. "Yep! Let's go home."
My parents nodded and guided me out.
Little did they know…
My life had just officially entered chaos mode.