"Come to think of it… yeah. I guess knowing that gods really exist means I should've prayed more seriously earlier."
"Yes, dear. Shall we offer our prayers again later?"
I wish they'd come back to reality already…
While I was thinking that, Yasaka-san quietly reached into the sleeve of her kimono and pulled out a ritual instrument about the size of a survival knife.
A sacred ritual bell cluster.
SHIIN
The moment she shook it, a crisp ringing sound echoed through the air.
Then—
The massive sacred boulder wrapped in shimenawa rope suddenly lit up like a screen.
Wait—THAT rock was a video call display?!
I froze at the revelation of what could only be described as ancient civilization-level technology.
And then, on the "screen," a beautiful blonde woman appeared.
She had the aura of a blonde version of Tamamo-no-Mae… minus the fox ears.
Come to think of it, Tamamo is basically a fragment of a sun deity, right? …Well, maybe just a coincidence.
[t has been a long time, Yasaka. I heard you were abducted during the autumn incident. I am relieved to see you unharmed.]
Phew… she didn't start with "Mikon~!"
Honestly, if she had, I think reality itself might've cracked a little.
After exchanging New Year greetings, the goddess introduced herself to us.
We bowed in return.
My parents were stiff as boards.
Kuroka only bowed after Shirone practically begged her to behave.
Well… at least she's trying. I think?
I couldn't fully trust that thought when it came to Kuroka.
[Now then, the New Year keeps us busy, so let us proceed to the main topic… before that, Arima Ikki. I must apologize to you.]
"…Huh?"
I tilted my head.
I had zero memory of interacting with any Japanese gods directly.
[You made a wish earlier to Okami.]
Okami—right, the deity of Fushimi Inari-tAsia, Uka-no-Mitama-no-Kami.
I did make a wish, but… if divine blessings are distributed among all worshippers, then it shouldn't feel like anything unusual, right?
[Okami said it was the first time she had received a request such as "status up." She intended to grant you a blessing to aid you in your battle against Khaos Brigade… but it appears it was repelled.]
"…Repelled?"
[Upon inspection, it is quite clear. Even a child born of gods and humans would be one thing—but your Divine Dividing is on the level of major deities across multiple mythologies. A blessing is something a god grants to a human they recognize as beneath them. You are human, yet not fully human in presence. Your Divine Dividing rejects it.]
OH SHIT.
Even the chief goddess is telling me I'm "not human enough." That feels like a weird compliment and insult at the same time.
[Thus, divine blessings will not reach you from this point onward.]
"…No, wait, I'm not panicking yet."
Azazel-sensei once tried measuring blessings at Ophis's shrine… and got beaten up for it.
He didn't say I was completely without blessings.
Which meant—
Maybe I just need higher-tier divine support? Like Ophis?
…Yeah.
At this point, I think I'm down to just one deity I can actually rely on.
"O-O-OI?! Ikki alone getting excluded from blessings? That's hilarious, nya! Maybe you should just give up on blessings altogether~"
"Don't laugh so hard! I'll sulk, damn it!"
"Please cheer up, Ikki-sama."
"Even without blessings, Ikki-senpai will be fine."
"To think possessing that level of Divine Dividing is what's truly remarkable."
Shirone and Ravel gently patted my head from both sides.
Kunou hugged me from the front.
…Yeah.
This is weirdly comforting.
Kuroka was behind me too, lightly tapping my back.
You were the one laughing earlier though!!
[As Yasaka's daughter said, this is not necessarily a disadvantage. If you sought blessings to strengthen yourself against Khaos Brigade, then simply granting blessings to others would suffice.]
"…Excuse me, did a goddess just say something outrageous?"
"Um, Amaterasu-sama… I'm not a god."
[Half-divine beings can still bestow blessings. You may not govern domains like true gods, but those you cherish and wish to protect are sufficient.]
…So basically, the four people around me right now.
My parents are included in that logic too, but they're not part of the combat situation.
Kunou… maybe in the future.
[t is decided then. A simple ritual here will establish the connection. This is the time of year where blessings are strongest, and Kyoto is more than suitable.]
That sounds like a system I absolutely do not want to think too hard about.
[Now then, onto the main matter.]
Wait—THAT was the "side topic"?
[Your engagement and future marriage shall be formally recognized in this country. While modern Japan does not officially allow polygamy, certain elite families are privately permitted multiple spouses. We will extend that exception to you. You may proudly take all of them as wives.]
"…Huh."
That escalated fast.
Why is a sun goddess handling my love life paperwork?
I started analyzing the reasoning.
Probably political. Maybe a way to tie me closer to Japan's divine system.
But still—
Kunou is eleven.
This timing is way too early.
Unless… this is about Trihexa.
The Isolation Barrier plan.
I remembered it.
A last-resort strategy where top gods of multiple mythologies would seal Trihexa in a separate dimension and slowly eliminate it over ten thousand years.
If that plan was approaching execution…
Then gods might be acting now, settling unfinished business.
"…I understand. I humbly accept."
I bowed politely.
Free benefits are free benefits.
[Hohoho… it seems your future is secure. Yasaka, I leave the rest to you.]
"Understood. We shall meet again during the peace talks with the Eastern youkai factions."
SHIIN
The transmission ended.
After a brief ritual led by Yasaka, a faint divine connection was established.
Four people received my blessing.
Kuroka, Shirone, Ravel… and Kunou.
They'll know how to use it.
========
That evening, when everyone regrouped—
"So Ikki… you just casually gave out blessings now? You really aren't human anymore, are you?"
"I AM human! I've been questioning that myself lately, but I AM HUMAN!!"
Everyone gave me that exact look again.
Please stop doing that.
Thus, the first day of the New Year began.
Unclear whether it was lucky… or not.
=========
That night, perhaps due to heightened emotions from receiving my blessing—
Kuroka and the others, dressed in formal kimono, wore unusually flushed expressions…
And I ended up fully enjoying our "first ritual of the year" in a very different sense.
The second day of the New Year became a battle against sleep deprivation.
=============
100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
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