On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 26: Importance of a Happy Family’s Yu Il-Shin

Importance of a Happy Family.

A Chinese saying that meant everything was good so long as the home was harmonious.

But in my neighborhood, it specifically referred to a certain Chinese restaurant.

“Huff! Huff!”

The victims of my frenzy piled high before me. Vegetables were sliced so thinly, they were almost see through. Bloodless cubes of meat, diced to perfection. Moreover, I had also deboned the pile of fish over there.

“No way! In less than an hour, he has finished preparing four days’ worth of ingredients for our establishment!” the generous boss exclaimed.

Earlier, I had approached him with a face as pale as a sheet and bloodshot eyes. On top of that, I was also holding a knife. Had I not been their regular, I’d have been reported as a suspicious guy.

-I’m... satisfied now...

The knife in hand mumbled quietly, like a lion that had eaten its fill.

“That's so? You're finally satisfied?”

I barely held myself from cursing out loud. Because of this knife, I had to do so much work early in the morning! Its desire was simply too overwhelming! I was afraid that if I let my guard down, I’d accidentally hurt someone or, in the worst-case scenario, became a murderer.

“Sonny! Do you want to work at my restaurant? I'll pay you handsomely!”

“Uhm, Boss, your pants!”

The restaurant owner grabbed his stretched pants like a cool city man and hurried home.

“Alright, for starter!!”

Drag— Bang! Sizzle! Riiip!

I quickly put the knife away in a drawer, then took a roll of tape, sealing it off.

Huff puff!

See if I ever touch that damn knife again.

After sealing the so-called sword, I slipped under my covers once more.

Damn it, I've worked so hard since morning, and now I’m feeling sore all over.

“Argh! Those fucking scammer gods! Just you wait...”

I’ll never forget what happened today!

It was still before 7 AM. Since there was still some time before my training session with Sung Mi-Ri, I thought of catching up on some sleep.

Ding! Ding!

But then, notifications came from God-Maker.

[The Saintess and her 101 subjects earnestly plead for salvation from God Yu Il-Shin!]

Wow, it’s been a while.

“Okay, what’s wrong this time?” with heavy eyes, I peered at my phone screen. “Huh? What’s wrong with them?”

My followers, the Saintess and the black ants, were pleading as they died one by one.

***

When I looked for ant remedies on the internet, most of the search results were about how to get rid of them. Nothing remotely relevant to my search showed up. Average humans seemed to treat ants like pests. Well, not like I was any different.

“Hmm.”

The red ants were infuriating, yes. But the black ants? They were kind of like my pets. I did feel guilty now for killing them without much thought at the start.

[The Saintess and her 101 subjects earnestly plead for salvation from God Yu Il-Shin!!]

The way they shook as they bowed at me made my heart ache for them. I’d like to save them if possible. So, I tried sprinkling some sugar, remembering how happy it made them.

However, none of the excitement from last time could be seen.

What exactly happened?

Did they come into contact with insecticide somewhere? Damn it. If only we could understand each other’s language. But not all hope was lost—I had these special eyes! I focused on the pleading group.

[The innate power Blind Eyes of God has been activated.]

Ding!

-----

[Appraisal complete.]

-----

[Saintess and 101 followers]

Black tribe that serves Yu Il-Shin.

Special note: Poisoned by the Killerbee clan.

-----

Poisoned? But weren't killer bees the venomous bees native to Africa?

“H-how did you guys come across a bee venom?”

Did they rob a beehive for honey while I wasn’t looking?

-Cough!

One of the begging ants coughed out black fluid and collapsed, its body laid motionless.

[One of your followers has died of poison.]

Sizzle.

The remains of the ant turned gray, before turning into dust, disintegrating into the air.

“I-it’s dead?”

Despite that, there were no coins. A vain death, leaving nothing behind. They might be lowly creatures, but they still followed and relied on me. I might be a pathetic third-rate writer, but I was still a merciful and great god.

“I want to save them...” I muttered sorrowfully.

Ding!

[Yu Il-Shin’s earnestness toward his followers activated the Miracle menu.]

God-Maker responded out of the blue.

“What? A miracle?”

-----

[Miracle]

To followers, miracles are one of the most important aspects of a god’s existence. Depending on the alignment of the miracles you bestow upon them, your followers will either revere you or fear you as they put their faith in you.

-----

[You may perform miracles on your followers, who are dying of poison.]

[Would you like to use your divine power? (Yes/No)]

[It will cost you 100,000 Gcoins to do so.]

-----

I didn’t even need to think about it. I could afford it, and although I didn’t know what divine power was referring to, I was more than willing to use it.

“Yes.”

Ding!

[You paid 100,000 Gcoins.]

[Yu Il-Shin currently has 4,886,342 Gcoins.]

[Performing miracles on the followers according to Yu Il-Shin’s will.]

[Part of the Fruit of the World Tree consumed by Yu Il-Shin is used as a catalyst for the miracle.]

Swaaaah!

Dazzling golden rain suddenly began pouring in the God-Maker app. As soon as it hit the ants, it seemed to detoxify them, relieving them from their pain. The dying ants looked up at me tearfully, amazed at the miracle bestowed upon them.

[The Saintess and 100 followers shed tears of joy while praising Yu Il-Shin.]

That message made me feel both embarrassed and proud at the same time. I might have grown attached to them. Still, something was off...

“Ugh, why do I... feel so sleepy... all of a sudden...?”

I felt as if a huge chunk of energy had been depleted from my body. Soon, heavy drowsiness threatened to take over me. I succumbed, collapsing into bed.

Thud!

I heard the subsequent notifications from God-Maker, but I couldn’t read the messages as I had fallen unconscious.

Ding!

[The title Benevolent Savior has risen from Rank E to D.]

[The newly leveled-up benevolent god title has changed Yu Il-Shin's alignment from malevolent to neutral.]

[Several high-ranking malevolent gods explicitly expressed their bitterness.]

[Especially Silently Crawling Nightmare, who thinks that you have become less charming.]

[Several Benevolent Gods begin to look at you in a different light.]

[Infinite Abundance, in particular, took notice of you.]

***

The black tribe had been attacked by Killerbee, one of the empire's Ten Swords, and his clan. Despite their attempt to intercept the invaders, they were no match for the flying, venomous creatures.

“You’ll see. Once I’ve laid the malevolent god to waste, I shall offer all of you as sacrifices to His Majesty.”

“One wrong move, and you’re done for. Our clan possesses a millennia-old arcane poison. Worry not, we have lowered the concentration so that you won’t die right away. There’s no antidote for it!”

The Saintess and her tribe cowered in fear. How could they not? To this date, Killerbee and his assassin clan had slain over ten gods, earning them their notorious reputation. Despite their small numbers, they were once the terror of the continent. Their poison was feared by gods, and their wings gave them free rein over the sky. At least, until the emperor ascended the throne.

After attacking the black tribe, Killerbee and his clan went to hunt the Malevolent God.

The black ants lay poisoned on the ground, tormented by fear and despair as they teetered between life and death. Their attackers might spare them after the god had been slain. Even then, all that awaited them in the empire was either being eaten or enslaved for the rest of their lives. All they could do now was pray for the victory of their god, Yu Il-Shin.

Rumble!

Suddenly, the skies parted and their god appeared.

When she saw that their god was unscathed, the Saintess was in disbelief. No, it was only a given. Those lowly assassins couldn’t even hope to harm their god!

Rumble!

Yu Il-Shin looked down at the ants as they lay on the ground, dying. His eyes burned like inferno. Was it her imagination, or was there a glimmer of compassion in those fiery eyes?

-Tiny creatures, I’ll grant you a miracle.

Their god, Yu Il-Shin, spoke.

Swaaaa!

The sky darkened and dazzling golden rain began pouring down.

Sizzle!

As soon as the rain touched them, black vapor rose from the dying ants, washing away their ailments and toxins.

“Aah, Almighty God Yu Il-Shin...”

The tribe cried as they looked up at their god. Yu Il-Shin looked terrifying, but that was only on the surface. How could their god be this merciful? How could they turn their back on such a god? How could they leave him in such a filthy cave for hundreds of years? They grew ashamed of themselves and their ancestors.

Just then, Yu Il-Shin stumbled.

Thud! Claaaang!

After performing a wonderful miracle on them, their god seemed to have exhausted all his energy and collapsed.

“O’ Almighty God Yu Il-Shin!”

“N-no!”

“Our god has fallen!”

The ants cried wistfully like lambs that had lost their mother.

“Saintess! Please offer my body to god!” said an ant.

The best thing they could offer to a god—especially a malevolent one—was a life sacrifice. The black tribe was prepared to lay down their lives for Yu Il-Shin.

However, the Saintess turned to her tribesmen and said firmly.

“Everyone, you just witnessed how far God Yu Il-Shin was willing to go for our sake! Would someone like him ask for a life sacrifice?!”

The tribesmen became silent.

Indeed. Despite looking like a hideous(?) demon, their god had the heart of an angel. He’d never ask for them to surrender their lives!

“The faith and belief you have in your god is the best tribute you can offer! Let’s put our faith in God Yu Il-Shin’s recovery!”

The black ants cheered in agreement with the Saintess until their eyes turned red.

“The Saintess is right!”

“Let’s show our faith to the god!”

“For God Yu Il-Shin!”

“Waaaaah!”

***

Ding!

[The Saintess and 100 followers had fallen into a state of fanaticism.]

Ding!

[The result of fanaticism is being created.]

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