"KUK KURU—EEEK!"
"Phew! Why do you always have to croak in my window?!" Calen groaned, holding the feathery intruder by the neck like a criminal caught red-handed.
"Should I cook yo—"
"CALEN!!!"
The voice cracked through the dawn like thunder. Calen jumped so hard he nearly head-butted the ceiling.
An elderly woman's wrinkled face slowly peeked through the window, as if she had evolved from the shadows themselves.
"Have you gotten my chicken again?!" Granny Lily barked.
"O-of course not, Granny!"
"I was just… praising it! Yes! For waking me up early!" Calen said with a forced grin as he gently set the chicken down.
The chicken hopped proudly onto Lily's shoulder, grumbling a tantrum of "kukukurus" like it had rehearsed the entire scene.
"Brat," Lily huffed. "Why don't you find a girl instead of kissing a damn watermeloin?" she scolded.
Calen's soul suddenly deflated. "Sigh… Not you too, Granny…" he murmured, avoiding her gaze.
"Tsk, Do you know what today is?" Granny asked.
Calen straightened slightly, trying to regain some composure. "Yes, Granny. It's the Day of Blessings."
Lily reached out to pat the chicken perched on her shoulder. Her fingers ruffled its feathers absentmindedly as she fixed him with a sharp look.
"Hm... Good." she said, then turned and glanced briefly at the suns, her expression softened, only to darken slightly as her eyes filled with a quiet solemnity.
"…Your sister didn't have a choice back then, Calen," she whispered.
Calen was surprised by the sudden gloom.
"I know, Granny," he said. "One day, I'll find her. When I do… let's all sit and have a meal together."
Lily exhaled a faint, weary sigh before returning. The chicken perched proudly on her shoulder like a decorated lieutenant marching home.
Hays... If I don't find this body's sister, I feel like his lingering soul will come back and haunt me! Calen thought.
Though deep inside he felt pity for the siblings and the life they had. He resolved himself to help fulfill its wishes while uncovering the truth of his transmigration.
"Welp… time to gather herbs before I starve tomorrow," Calen muttered, grabbing his basket bag before heading out.
→→→
Thump. Thump.
The quiet morning rhythm of his footsteps filled the forest path.
"Hm… Should I drink beer after the blessing?" Calen murmured as he made his way to the mountains.
Then he remembered the price.
"Sigh… That's a whole day's worth of food. PTOO!" He spat a twig out of his mouth in frustration.
Thump thump thump—
"Calen!" a voice called.
He turned. A girl with chestnut hair sprinted toward him, panting like she'd outrun a stampede of boars.
Leah… Lily's granddaughter. Eighteen. Grew up beside the original owner. He greeted her with a small nod.
"G-good morning, Ca… len," she huffed.
"Morning, Leah. Do you need something?"
"Y-yeah… huff… Could you. get me some. cinderwood?" she asked between breaths.
"Alright." Calen replied, immediately turning around to resume his way.
Hmp. So cold… Leah pouted. Then she spoke anyway,
"G-good luck on the b-blessings!"
"Yeah yeah, you too Leah," Calen said, lazily waving his hand.
Leah's cheeks warmed a soft pink before running back.
Thump Thump Thump—
"A-and also! Stop m-making love with w-watermeloins!!" she shouted, embarrassed.
Calen staggered calmly for a moment before continuing on.
Huff... Nice day for picking herbs ain't it?
In truth, he nearly lost it…
→→→
A mountain near Zonia Village, 41 kilometers outside Selvara Kingdom.
"Phew! How did this body even end up kissing a damn watermeloin at the exact moment I transmigrated?!" Calen murmured in frustration as he searched for herbs.
This lasted for hours until the basket was half-filled.
"Hm… enough for three sets of chicken-feet soya," he said proudly.
Then he ventured deeper in search of Cinderwood. When he finally found the towering tree, he stared at it with silent betrayal.
"Why is it always the tall ones… PTOO!" He murmured, spitting, but climbed it anyway.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
Thump!
"This should be enough," Calen said, jumping down.
Now there's only one last thing to do… he stared into the distance.
He walked toward the top of the mountain until he found a small clearing.
Huff… Huff…
"Found ya…" he said, catching his breath.
In the center was a small shrine—white and simple—its surface delicately etched with patterns of small clouds. There was no idol and no figure to pray to, only a humble little shrine.
Back when the original owner was thirteen, he found an abandoned shrine at the mountaintop. He cleaned it and visited weekly to pray, hoping that one day, when he turned eighteen, the deity would bless him.
Wipe. Wipe. Wipe.
"There, there… be clean and shiny… may you notice this poor boy… and give him your blessing… lala—ACHOO!" Calen sang with a voice full of dramatic devotion while cleaning it.
Little more to the left… a bit to the right… Lean back… aaand done! he straightened the shrine carefully.
"Whoo… time to get serious." With a deep exhale, Calen knelt down. He clasped his hands firmly, closed his eyes, and prayed.
O beloved deity… your humble devotee is here again to praise you… You are the most beautiful and handsome, the most powerful, and the most majestic of all deities known to man… It's true… Today, I finally have the chance to be blessed… If the other deities ever abandon me, I hope you'll be there to bless my poor soul instead… PLEASE!!
Ahem… By the way, it's been years since this boy started praising you, yet, he still doesn't know what to call you… hm... since your shrine is etched with clouds, from now on, I'll just name you… Cloud...
Cloud…?
Yeah, you like it?
Y-yes! Tehee…
....
....
"What the fu—" Calen's eyes snapped open
A tiny figure twirled happily in front of the shrine.
It was white.
Fluffy.
Soft.
The edges of its body drifted like mist.
A literal cloud… with limbs.
"I'm Mr. Cloud, yey! Call me Mr. Cloud yey!" it sang, dancing in circles.
Calen's heart skipped several beats.
"H-h-holy sh— Is this… is this my cheat?!" he blurted, his eyes filled with "FINALLY!" type of depth.
"Tehee… Mister, why do you look so average?" Mr. Cloud asked innocently.
E-excuse me? Calen's eyebrow twitched. "A-ahem… Are you a deity, Mr. Cloud?" he asked.
Mr. Cloud circled the shrine three dramatic times before saying,
"Yes!"
Boing.
"The most beautiful and handsome deity!"
Boing.
"The most powerful deity!"
Boing.
"And the most majestic of all the deities known to man!"
Boing.
"It's true!"
Boing!
Mr. Cloud spoke as he bounced.
Meanwhile, Calen forced a polite smile.
That… sounds suspiciously familiar...
"A-ahem… So are you here to bless me, Mr. Cloud?" he asked
"Yes!"
"Great! Let's start then!"
"Okay!"
…
…
Cricket. Cricket.
…
Ten minutes passed.
Mr. Cloud continued running in joyous circles.
Calen's eye suddenly twitched. "So… when exactly will you bless me, Mr. Cloud?" he asked, his voice still calm.
"Silly average mister! You're already blessed!" it shouted in joy.
"R-really? When? H-how?" Calen staggered in excitement.
"Obviously—"
Boing.
"by having the most beautiful and handsome deity!"
Boing.
"The most powerful deity!"
Boing.
"And the most majestic deity known to man!"
Boing.
"It's true!"
Boing!
A vein suddenly pulsed on Calen's forehead.
PHEW! I'M SCAMMED! he nearly burst in frustration.
"Scammed? What's that?" Mr. Cloud tilted its head.
Calen froze.
S-sh*t. It can read my thoughts?!
"Of course, mister! You're my blessed! Tehee…" Mr. Cloud chimed, floating around him happily.
"I-I see, hahaha… So you're actually a deity..." Calen whispered, forcing a smile.
"Obviously! I'm the mo—"
"O-okay okay! Can I ask you question?" Calen cut him off before another boing could manifest.
"Anything!" Mr. Cloud shouted, spinning in joy.
"Great! Besides having you, is there an ability you've given me?" he asked, excitement flickering in his eyes like a starving man spotting a roasted chicken.
Mr. Cloud suddenly stopped mid-spin.
Actually stopped.
In the air.
Like a confused dumpling.
"Ability?" it echoed, blinking—its little cloud-puffs expanding and shrinking with each blink.
"Y-yes," Calen said carefully. "You know… blessing… gift… cheat… golden finger… divine perk… anything remotely useful?"
Mr. Cloud gasped dramatically.
"OHHH! That ability!"
Finally! Calen's heart leapt.
Mr. Cloud floated closer, eyes sparkling like two tiny dew drops catching the sun.
"I gave you the power of—"
Calen leaned in.
"The legendary—"
Calen gulped.
"The incredible—"
Calen inhaled deeply.
"The majestic—"
"JUST SAY IT!!" Calen shouted. His face flushed with excitement and tension.
Mr. Cloud raised two tiny cloudy arms and announced proudly, puffing its chest out like a tiny warrior:
"Mr. Cloud's Lifetime Premium Praise Package!"
Calen froze.
"...The hell is that?"
"It means," Mr. Cloud puffed its chest even more before continuing, "you can praise me anytime, anywhere, and I will always—ALWAYS—hear you. For FREE!" It bounced lightly in the air, looking extremely satisfied with itself.
"FOR FREE?!" Calen's voice cracked. "Isn't that something YOU should be doing anyway?! That's not an ability!" his face etched with exasperation.
Mr. Cloud pouted, little mists puffing from the sides of his cheeks.
"Hey! Premium praise is VERY valuable! Do you know how many devotees would DIE—well, metaphorically—just for the chance to praise me directly?!"
"Yes," Calen said flatly. "Zero. Absolutely zero." his face straight.
Mr. Cloud gasped so loudly a small swirl of wind formed beneath him.
Whooooo... Calen rubbed his temples, exhaling deeply, very deeply. "Mr. Cloud... Do you... have ANY other ability? Preferably one that keeps me alive? Something… practical?" he asked, forcing a veryyy calm voice.
Mr. Cloud stared at him.
A long stare.
A stare so blank it was almost impressive—like watching a cloud attempt to form a thought and only managing drizzle.
"Well… yeah..." it whispered, tilting sideways.
Calen perked up instantly. "YES. Please. Anything. Please don't say 'praise package' again." he leaned forward, pleading slightly.
Mr. Cloud cleared his throat in a very uncloudlike, important-sounding way.
"Ahem! In addition to your Premium Praise Package, you also have—"
Calen's heart thumped loudly in his chest. He hunched slightly, eyes wide with expectation.
"The Cloud Favor Meter!"
"...The what."
"Tehee... It shows you how much I like you!" Mr. Cloud said proudly, floating in tight little circles, smoke-puffs bouncing with every word.
Calen closed his eyes.
Then took a long breath.
Then a longer one.
He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling slowly.
Then briefly contemplated jumping off the mountain.
Mr. Cloud spun around him excitedly, leaving soft little trails of mist.
"And! And! The more I like you, the stronger your blessing becomes!"
Hm? Calen suddenly froze.