The Laziest God Mortal Reincarnation

"Now," Valerian said, his calm, steady tone carrying across the empty space, "we begin your barrier training."

I blinked, rubbing my eyes with the hand that wasn’t clutching my pillow. "Barrier training?"

He nodded and stepped forward, extending one palm. There was no chant, no warning. A pale blue light blossomed in the air like a shard of frozen sky. Mana rippled outward, humming against my skin like a whisper of wind, and then condensed into a solid wall before him, a barrier so clear and sharp it could have been carved from crystal.

It stood firm, humming faintly with restrained power.

"This is a basic barrier," he said. "It can block physical and magical attacks. The strongest of these can turn the tide of a battlefield."

I stepped closer, eyes wide. The way the moonlight shimmered across its surface made it look almost alive. I reached out tentatively, but Valerian shot me a look that froze me in place.

"Do not touch it," he said. "Focus on learning first."

I pulled back my hand and nodded obediently.

Valerian lowered his hand, and the barrier dissolved into thin air. "Now, it’s your turn. Form a barrier and hold it steady."

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. Mana pulsed in my chest like a faint heartbeat, and I coaxed it to the surface. I thought of my barrier attribute and the idea of a shield, unmoving, protective, strong.

A faint warmth gathered in front of me. I opened my eyes to see golden mana swirling and condensing, shimmering like sunlight caught in glass. Slowly, a small, round shield appeared, barely large enough to cover my head.

I tilted my head. "...It’s small."

Valerian nodded. "Size comes with control and mana. For now, focus on stability."

I stared at the golden shield. It seemed... light. Too light. Almost instinctively, I willed it to move.

The shield floated sideways, following my intention as if tethered to my thoughts.

Valerian’s sharp intake of breath cut through the night. "Impossible," he muttered, stepping forward. "You... you moved it?"

I blinked at him. "Is that... bad?"

He shook his head slowly, brown eyes wide with disbelief. "No one moves a barrier. They are fixed once formed. To protect a new position, you must dismiss the old one and create another. You... you can move yours freely?"

I smirked faintly, sweat beading on my forehead as I pulled the shield back in front of me. "I guess mine doesn’t like the rules."

I continued experimenting, sliding the golden shield to hover by my side, then spinning it in a slow circle around me. The maneuver cost me a sudden, sharp tug in my chest, and I winced.

"Ugh... it’s... draining my mana faster than I thought..."

Valerian approached, his eyes never leaving the small shield. "I guess moving it consumes far more energy. But the potential... Alash, do you realize what this means? A mobile barrier can protect in ways that a fixed wall never could. You’ve just stepped into territory no one else has explored."

I glanced at the shield, which was now wobbling faintly in the air as my mana faltered. "That sounds... like a lot of work."

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You truly are a contradiction. Lazy as ever, yet capable of feats that defy common sense."

The shield suddenly flickered and vanished. I collapsed backward into the soft grass, my pillow cushioning my head.

"I think," I said, panting softly, "that’s enough for tonight."

Valerian crouched beside me, still grinning in quiet amazement. "Rest, Alash. You’ve done what others would call impossible, on your first try."

I closed my eyes, letting the cool night air wash over me, and muttered, "Maybe I’ll invent the world’s first napping barrier... one that protects me while I sleep."

Valerian laughed quietly, the sound mingling with the rustle of grass under the silver moonlight. "Knowing you, I wouldn’t doubt it."

Before I could relax, I felt the bracelets cling to my wrists and ankles like silent chains, their weight a constant reminder that freedom was now a distant dream.

My shoulders sagged as I muttered, "So... I have to wear these forever?"

Valerian’s calm brown eyes met mine, a hint of amusement glinting within them. "Until I say otherwise. Your body needs to grow accustomed to real strain. Only then will your stamina and strength reach their true potential."

I groaned, my small voice carrying all the misery of a boy whose life of comfort had been stolen. "But... my bed..."

He chuckled softly, the sound warm but unyielding. "Your bed will still exist. But you’ll sleep with the bracelets on. If I find out you’ve removed them, I will double the weight the next day."

I froze, clutching my pillow tighter, the soft fabric suddenly my only ally in this cruel world. "Double the weight?! You’re a monster!"

Valerian smiled faintly, entirely unbothered by my declaration. "A monster who will make you stronger than anyone else."

I pouted, letting my cheek press against the pillow’s familiar softness. A moment later, I felt the comforting lightness return to it as the oppressive gravity enchantment faded.

My eyes lit up immediately. "Ahhh... my pillow is free again!"

Valerian raised a brow. "Enjoy it while you can. I wish I could keep the weight on it permanently, but maintaining the gravity spell drains my mana. I’d rather save my energy for training you in other ways."

I hugged the pillow close, triumphant. "See? Even you can’t defeat my almighty pillow. It’s untouchable!"

He shook his head, half‑smiling, half‑resigned. "Enjoy your victory, Alash. That pillow might be your only comfort for the next several months."

I stared up at the star‑studded sky, my pillow cradled against my chest, and sighed dramatically. "At least I have one ally in this cruel, training‑filled world..."

Valerian’s quiet laughter drifted over me as he turned and walked toward the edge of the field. "Rest for now. We continue at dawn. And remember, the bracelets stay on."

I groaned, letting my body sink into the cool grass, the weight of the bracelets pressing down on my limbs like the embrace of an unforgiving reality.

But the pillow in my arms was soft, warm, and familiar, and for the moment, that was enough to lull me into a fleeting, blissful nap.

But just as I was in front of the gate of dreams, an idea suddenly popped into my head.

"System, are you thinking what I’m thinking?" I asked, my voice barely more than a whisper as my eyelids drooped with exhaustion.

[Since I can read your mind, yes.]

A spark of excitement flickered in my chest, and I immediately summoned a barrier. This time, it was much smaller than the one I had conjured before, barely larger than a plate, because my mana reserves were running dangerously low.

The golden shield shimmered in the dim light, hovering just in front of me.

Then, to my awe, it began to move.

I wasn’t moving it.

The barrier glided smoothly in the air, rotating slowly in front of me, slipping to the left, then the right, like a curious bird testing its wings.

[As you thought,] the system said calmly. [I can move it on my own.]

I watched, my tired eyes tracking the slow dance of the tiny golden barrier.

"I didn’t think that would actually work..."

[However, take note,] the system continued. [I can only move it. I cannot change its size or shape.]

I let out a slow breath, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite the weight of fatigue pressing down on me.

"Still... this is perfect," I murmured. "If I can’t stay awake to move it myself, at least you can keep me safe while I nap..."