Three Boons from the Overworked Angel
Chief Angel Michael slowly pulled his hands away from his head. As he gazed once more at the off-the-charts entity before him, cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Common sense-wise, does it make any sense for a being that's only been in this otherworld for a mere 100 days to hold such absurdly massive mana?
Yeah, I was the idiot for expecting any proper application or experience.
But as rationality returned, an even bigger question flooded in. How the hell did it get this strong? Its control is worse than a magic beast's, yet the power it wields ranks at the top even among divine beasts.
Michael was about to let out a despairing sigh when he spotted the crow puffing up its wings warily. He forced his expression to harden.
If reason won't work... mana resonance it is.
Michael took a deep, steadying breath. Then, infusing only the most harmless aura possible, he sent a thought directly into the crow's mind.
[There is no hostility. I have not come to harm you... or, uh, steal your food.]
"Caw?" (Huh?)
The other party's intent and emotions translated directly into my head via mana. I flinched in surprise, and Michael hurriedly raised both hands to show he had no weapons, bowing his head.
[Great soul, please calm yourself. I only wish to converse. In the Divine Realm, we know you are a soul from a place called the 'modern world.']
"Caw. Caw caw?" (He's really not here to steal my meat. But he knows where I'm from?)
[First, my apologies. The gods did not intend for you to come here. A dimensional rift opened accidentally, pulling in you and two other souls.]
I quietly lowered the wing that had been blocking my beef slab. There wasn't a shred of sly intent or murderous vibe in his telepathic waves. Instead, it reeked of the desperate exhaustion of an overworked salaryman trying to calm me down.
"Caw." (Well, getting sucked in mid-skydive was an accident, sure. But there were two others besides me?)
[Yes, the other two have already settled as hero candidates in human kingdoms and received their rewards. We intended the same for you, but... frankly, we're quite flustered. In just over 100 days of earthly time, you've far exceeded the strength level we anticipated.]
Michael wiped his cold sweat and continued.
[I deeply apologize for landing you in a crow's body instead of a human one. Your flesh and soul have already fused, so there's no other way, but if you name your desired compensation, we'll accommodate as much as possible.]
"Caw? Caw caw!" (Huh? Apologize? For what? This crow body's awesome! The feathers are so fluffy, and best of all, I can fly wherever I want. I'm totally happy!)
I spread my wings wide and flapped them, sincerely expressing my satisfaction with crow life. But Michael's face drained to paper-white upon receiving my pure telepathy.
Ahhh... he's so pissed he's being sarcastic!
Losing a normal human life and getting shoved into a beast's body, and he says he's happy? Michael interpreted it as high-level snark.
Michael bent at a 90-degree bow and cried out desperately.
[Please, please forgive us! We in the Divine Realm deeply reflect on forcing you to suffer the humiliation of losing noble legs and flying on beastly wings! Any demand, no matter how unreasonable... please!]
"Caw." (What the heck is he on about. I said it's really great. Dude lives such a tiring life.)
I glanced down at the beef under my feet and fired off telepathy.
"Caw." (Alright, just grant me three things!)
Michael was flustered by "three things" but kept his composure and replied telepathically.
[Three things? Not difficult at all. Name them, and I'll grant them.]
"Caw! Caw caw!" (First! That otherworld language you were yapping about—it's unfair only I can't understand it, so patch me with an all-language skill!)
Michael inwardly sighed in relief at the first demand, feeling ten years younger. Granting language comprehension was as easy as breathing for the chief angel.
[Ah, yes! I can do that right away. What's next?]
"Caw caw!" (Second! Flying with crow wings is fun, but since I'm in a fantasy world, I wanna soar through the skies in human form too. Make it so I can switch between crow and human!)
[......Pardon? In a human... form?]
Michael's eyes wavered.
He said the crow body was good... but he really wants human form after all. So that earlier comment was sarcasm.
[O-Of course! I'll grant you the Polymorph authority. You can freely transform into human form whenever you wish. Now, your final demand...?]
"Caw!" (Last, third! A Subspace storage authority to stash this meat! Oh, and fill that subspace to the brim with salt, pepper, and other seasonings!)
Michael stared at me blankly.
[......Pardon? That's... all?]
"Caw!" (All? Polymorph, giant fridge, and full spice set—how are those not huge?! Don't want to give 'em? Fine!)
I pecked the ground irritably with my beak, and Michael waved his hands frantically.
[N-No! These are simple requests at all. However... if it's not too rude, could you lower your head just a bit?]
"Caw?" (Head? Why? Gonna hit me?)
I eyed him suspiciously, and Michael floundered with an explanation.
[Of course not! But your stature is so immense that to engrave the authorities, I need direct contact with your body and your permission.]
"Caw." (Ah, like some ID verification process. Whatever, it's free.)
I obediently lowered my massive head right to Michael's nose. With trembling hands, he gently placed his palm on my forehead feathers.
Shiiiine—!
Warm golden mana seeped in. A flash exploded in my mind, and unfamiliar knowledge deeply engraved itself into my brain.
The dizzying otherworld language suddenly became crystal clear. How to change forms and open subspace felt as instinctive as breathing.
[I've granted all your requested authorities. Think of subspace, and it will open. As for the seasonings you mentioned, I don't have any on me, so I'll have my subordinates deliver them from the Divine Realm once I return.]
"Caw." (Ah, delivery? Cool, I'll wait.)
But during the engraving, I felt Michael sneak in one extra thing.
...One flap of those wings could char the World Tree, so I can't send him off without a safety lock.
It was like forcing a safety pin onto a nuclear bomb held by a three-year-old—a tearful workaround.
My mind cleared refreshingly once more, and the unruliness of my mana, wind, and lightning control became crystal clear, like viewing my palm.
[...And this is a bonus. Lightning control will be much easier from now on. Now, shall we test one of those authorities? The human form transformation.]
Following Michael's words, I awakened the engraved sensation in my mind. Mana rippled around my gigantic black crow body.
Black feathers scattered like soft mist, enveloping me. As the mist cleared, my viewpoint dropped sharply.
The hand I held up was small, pale, and slender. Long black hair cascaded over my shoulders into view.
I approached a puddle and peered in. A kid with thick lashes and clear eyes gazed back up—maybe twelve or thirteen. Boy or girl? Impossible to tell, with that ambiguous face.
Michael's eyes widened in admiration as he stared.
[As expected... Even with a divine beast's power, your true form is such a pure child.]
I had no idea why he was acting like that, but I quickly lost interest in my appearance.
"Whoa! Real hands! Fingers moving! Haha! Toes are all there too! Human body is the best!"
The returning sensation of ten fingers and two feet was pure ecstasy.
I immediately recalled the bonus Mana Control knowledge Michael slipped in. A delicate, precise weaving of mana threads at my fingertips.
Zzzzt—zzzt.
A cute little spark of blue static danced from my fingers.
Without hesitation, I pointed at the massive beef slab.
Chiiiizk—!
Perfectly controlled brain lightning mana swept over the surface in an instant. Crispy exterior, juices locked in—perfect sear.
The savory aroma filled the nest. I couldn't hold back anymore and buried my face in the perfectly grilled meat.
"Wooow! This is the taste!"
I was nose-deep in beef, tearing into it mindlessly, when Michael muttered with a complicated expression.
[...Yeah, eat up. As long as you don't torch the World Tree.]
"Munch munch, kya! Eating with hands is the way!"
Amazed by my fingers' sensation, I devoured the meat. Hot juices dripped down my chin, but who cared? Just tasting this with human taste buds again made me feel like I owned the world.
But Michael's face, watching from behind, grew increasingly bizarre. Unsure where to look, he averted his gaze awkwardly and spoke up.
[...Um, great soul. Terribly sorry to interrupt your meal, but...]
"Huh? Why? Want a bite?"
I turned with meat in my mouth. Michael looked away and cleared his throat.
[No, the meat is fine. But... since it's your first time using Polymorph, you might have overlooked it. You're currently... um, completely naked.]
"Ah."
Only then did I feel the chill air on my skin. Duh—the feathers vanished with the transformation, and I'd been a bird moments ago. No clothes.
But maybe because I was used to bird life, annoyance beat embarrassment.
"Eh, whatever. It's just you and me here."
[S-Still, as a transcendent being, decorum...! Recall the authority I gave you. Visualize the 'concept' of your original feathers, and you can fix mana into clothing form.]
Caving to Michael's insistence, I set the meat down.
Feathers into clothes, huh...
I probed the engraved authority as instructed. I recalled the tough, sleek jet-black feathers that had covered my crow body. They weren't mere plumage—they were my armor and pride.
Reconstructing that image for a human frame, black mana particles rose like heat haze around me.
Swoooosh— Mana wove intricately like silk in midair, embracing my body. The chill air cut off, replaced by the soft yet tough feel of fabric on skin.
As the mist cleared, a robe of pitch-black darkness draped me. Minimalist, but with a subtle sheen like premium crow feathers—elegant.
"Ooh, comfy. Light and soft."
I rolled up the sleeves, grinning in satisfaction. Michael finally sighed in relief, gazing at me with strange admiration.
[Impressive as always. Perfectly manifesting the authority right away...]
"Whatever, can I eat now? I'm starving."
Clothes secured, I snatched more meat. Michael's reverent stare? Ignored. Pure bliss.
[...Yes. Eat well. I'll head back to the Divine Realm to prepare the spices and subordinates.]
"Bye, glowy pigeon. Don't forget the seasonings!"
I waved, lips greasy. Michael gave me one last complicated look before vanishing in a pillar of blinding light.
Alone again atop the World Tree. I plopped my butt down in the warm sunlight, savoring beef torn by human hands.
"Kuhh, this is life... nah, bird life."
Full belly brought pleasant drowsiness. The satiety in human form felt deeper, richer than as a crow.
I carefully stashed the leftovers in my subspace locker, then flopped onto the fluffy nest.
The 'back-lying' sensation differed from crow days. Stretching contentedly, I slowly closed my eyes.
Anticipating the incoming spice delivery and tomorrow's full human life.
Meanwhile, back in the Divine Realm, Michael wrote "Subject Intelligence: Unassessable" on the first line of his report before face-planting on his desk and passing out cold—a fact the snoring crow in the nest never dreamed of.