Kazuki's problems often began with innocent intentions.
"Hey, Tala," he said that morning, broom in hand, "what if I did something useful for once?"
She blinked. "Define useful."
"Like cleaning! Sweeping a shrine! Helping the community."
Tala narrowed her eyes. "Why that shrine?" she asked, pointing to the moss-covered, half-collapsed temple hidden at the edge of the forest.
"It looked lonely," Kazuki replied. "Besides, Smile kept pointing at it and giggling."
Smile, currently shaped like a shimmering jelly donut, bounced twice. "Gloop."
Getsuryu rumbled, "That shrine predates mortal calendars. It was once dedicated to a forgotten mana deity."
Kazuki blinked. "Wait, really?"
"Most likely sealed due to instability."
He hesitated.
Then nodded. "Yep. Still sweeping it."
✦
The old shrine was a crumbling wooden structure with crooked stone lanterns and overgrown weeds.
Kazuki stepped onto the mossy path and instantly tripped, landing face-first into a pile of leaves.
"Alright," he muttered, spitting out moss. "Off to a great start."
He swung the broom.
Dust flew.
Birds scattered.
A faint magical hum began to resonate in the air—but Kazuki, oblivious, kept humming to himself.
"♪ Sweep, sweep, I'm a cleaning god… ♪"
The shrine's main offering stone glowed faintly.
Kazuki gave it a quick wipe with his sleeve. "Wow. Pretty. Probably cursed, though."
A chime echoed from deep underground.
The shrine trembled.
The sky shimmered slightly.
From the bushes, dozens of squirrels stared at him.
Kazuki froze.
"…Hi?"
The squirrels bowed in unison.
Then began to chant.
"Chik-chik! Chik-chik! Kami! Kami!"
Kazuki looked at Smile.
Smile nodded solemnly.
"You're their god now," Tala whispered, arriving breathless. "You activated the spirit circuit."
"By sweeping?!"
"The seal was passive," Getsuryu added from overhead. "It only needed a sincere act of devotion."
Kazuki looked around.
Squirrels built a shrine replica out of twigs.
One brought him a tiny acorn crown.
Another dragged a cracked nut offering to his feet.
"Uh-oh."
[System Notification]
Kazuki has awakened the Forgotten Forest Shrine.
You have been designated as: Temporary Forest Deity (Tier ???)
Local Wildlife Worship: 132 squirrels, 4 raccoons, 1 confused goat.
Warning: You are now bound to Divine Forest Law until nightfall. No littering. No lying. No eating within 3 steps of holy moss.
"W-wait. I don't want this!" Kazuki yelped as the acorn crown was set on his head.
The shrine shuddered.
A floating sigil appeared above him—golden, glowing, and unmistakably divine.
A nearby merchant gasped. "A god walks among us!"
Aurelis, passing by on horseback, froze mid-sip of tea.
"…No. No, I refuse to believe this."
✦
Deity Duties, Hour 1
Kazuki was given a ceremonial twig staff.
He was made to sit on a throne of moss.
Forest creatures lined up to offer tribute: shiny rocks, berries, a weird bug collection.
One badger tried to sacrifice a frog. Kazuki vetoed that immediately.
"No animal sacrifices!" he shouted. "Or else I'll… uh… ban your nuts for a month!"
The badger whimpered and ran.
Getsuryu shook with laughter.
"Do you realize how absurd this is?" Tala said, arms crossed.
"I was just trying to clean!"
"And now you're a minor god."
Smile, now floating upside down, munched a glowing leaf. "Bloop."
[System Update]
Passive Ability Gained: Divine Aura of Clumsiness
Effect: Plants bloom randomly. Followers gain morale from your confusion.
Deity Duties, Hour 3
A flock of mana birds arrived.
They bowed. One began a divine hymn.
Kazuki accidentally sneezed mid-ceremony and knocked over the offering tray.
The wind stilled.
The birds gasped.
Then they clapped.
"Divine wind!" they cheered. "A sign from the moss kami!"
Kazuki stood still, eyes wide. "…This is too much responsibility."
Getsuryu tilted his head. "You have no responsibilities. They just like your vibe."
Aurelis stormed onto the shrine grounds. "I demand to speak to the priest in charge!"
The raccoons growled.
Tala blocked him with a hand. "Kazuki is the priest."
"And the god," one squirrel added proudly.
Aurelis looked up at the floating divine sigil, then at Kazuki.
Kazuki shrugged. "Want a berry? The goat says they're blessed."
Aurelis screamed internally.
✦
Sundown – Divine Downgrade
As the sun dipped, the sigil above Kazuki's head faded.
The squirrels held a farewell ceremony.
"Chik-chik… chik-chik…" they chanted softly, tears in their eyes.
One placed a nut necklace around Kazuki's neck.
"I—I'll visit," Kazuki promised, sniffling. "I mean, if I'm not accidentally crowned king next week or something."
Getsuryu chuckled. "That is… possible."
Smile was now covered in feathers and vines from too much divine mana. "Hee."
[System Notification]
Divine Status: Expired.
Shrine Faith: 97% loyalty. You may be re-deified with future acts of kindness.
Warning: You are still legally responsible for holy goat.
Goat has chosen the name: Pickles.
That night, back at the inn, Kazuki lay on his back staring at the ceiling.
"I was a god for eight hours," he said.
"Yes," Tala replied.
"And I never even got to eat those berries."
"You were technically forbidden from eating on holy moss."
He sighed. "Do you think… being the wrong person in the right place is my thing now?"
Tala looked over, thoughtful.
"Maybe it's not about wrong or right. Maybe you just… fit the chaos this world needs."
Kazuki grinned.
"Still. That goat is never sleeping in my bed."