On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 242: #Starting an Otherworldly God Life as an Ant (2)

[No. 404]

It wasn’t the computer’s infamous error—Not Found 404—that writers feared the most, but the boss-like ant I’d encountered when I first played God-Maker. Back then, it just seemed like a slightly bigger red ant, but now that I was an ant, the threat felt so much more intense.

Sss!

The space around him was slightly distorted because of his aura. By mainstream fantasy standards, he was akin to a Knight-type character, capable of manipulating mana. As expected of someone capable of resisting my crushing finger. What a strong opponent!

“Kekeke, looking delicious!”

“Keep the Saintess alive! She’s going to be a sacrifice for His Majesty!”

No. 404 and the other imperial soldiers surrounded us, gradually closing in.

“You wretched creatures! This is our tribe’s sacred ground of worship! Don’t you fear divine retribution?!”

No. 404 glanced around the surroundings and spotted the collapsed cave. “Are you talking about that worthless cave belonging to God-what’s-his-name?”

Then, he smirked. “Hahaha! Ridiculous! We’re the brave imperial soldiers! As if we’d fear some worthless god worshipped by a lowly tribe! Go ahead, summon your god! We’ll crush them in the name of the mighty empire!”

The imperial ants also sneered.

Meanwhile, I stared blankly at the chief who had saved me.

[No.2]

Unlike earlier, I could see something flashing above his head. How strange. My Blind Eyes of God shouldn’t be active now. Did seeing No. 404 activate the skill? Judging from the situation, it seemed likely that No. 2 was the second ant I’d killed in my previous life.

Ah, it’s a relief that I didn’t kill Anty’s father.

“Uh, Chief?”

“Huh?! Yes! Did you ask for me, Nameless God’s Apostle?!” shouting even louder, the chief reverently knelt down before me.

Was he trying to keep the imperial ants in check?

“You call that dying oaf the god’s apostle?”

“Kikiki! He must be crazy!”

Contrary to the chief’s expectations, the imperial ants only ridiculed us even more. Not that it mattered.

“Chief, did you see a tree branch when you saved me earlier?”

“Oh, do you mean your staff? I’ve kept it aside safely!”

The chief hurriedly pulled out the tree branch from his possessions and handed it to me.

I humbly bit the branch.

-Keke! I want to kill! I want to kill!

Woooong!

Demon Lord glowed madly.

Geez, the old man is the same as always.

After all, Demon Lord hadn’t gained his senses yet. Perhaps due to my long training in my previous life, I was no longer overcome by Demon Lord’s madness. Even though I was merely a dying ant without any divine powers or skills, my mind was clearer than ever.

I had, after all, inherited the Demon Lord’s martial arts in my past life.

Roooooar!

The life force that filled the forest gathered around me and the branch. Was it called Divine Art of Northern Darkness? However, compared to divine power, it was still a few levels lower, so I hadn’t used it much in battles.

“W-w-what’s that!” No. 404 looked at me in disbelief.

I whispered to Anty, “Anty, my name is Yu Il-Shin.”

Then, I screamed to all the black ants I’d crushed to death in my previous life. “I’m Yu Il-Shin, god of the black—no, Gayami Tribe! I swear upon my name and life that I won’t let you die again!”

The black ants—from No. 3 to No. 101—and the chief stared at me in shock.

Tzzz!

The branch in my mouth glowed a beautiful blue.

“Lie flat on the ground if you don’t want to die!”

Haaaaa!

The black ants fell to the ground at my cry, which carried my internal energy.

“He’s trying to do something! Kill him before it happens!”

“Waaaah!”

The imperial ants ferociously charged at me. My internal energy was like a speck of dust, but I was facing mere ants. Moreover, I was holding the greatest master since ancient times, Demon Lord!

“Demon Lord’s First Stance, Demon Lord’s Descent!”

The razor-sharp, blue sword aura swept ruthlessly across a meter’s radius. Crack appeared on the hundreds of imperial ants that surrounded us.

Swish swish swish!

Thud!

They collapsed lifelessly, their upper and lower bodies separated.

Ding! Ding!

[You have slain No. 103!]

[You have slain No. 104!]

[You have slain No. 105!]

...

[You have slain No. 403!]

Psss—Swoosh!

The bodies of the imperial ants disintegrated, turning into black Godcoins, and then sucked into me.

“H-Huh?”

Ding!

[You have been rewarded with 301 Dark Gcoins.]

[The massacre has increased Yu Il-Shin's karma by 301.]

[Congratulations. You are now a step closer to becoming a great malevolent god in pursuit of tyranny and power.]

...More familiar messages.

That’s strange. I don’t have access to God-Maker, so why are they being turned into Godcoins and absorbed into me?

“Eeek!”

Meanwhile, the black ants were shivering with heads bowed to the ground. They seemed to be stricken with fear after my massacre. I felt bad—I didn’t mean to scare them. What should I do to calm them down?

“Aaargh!”

Suddenly, an ear-splitting scream rang through the air.

“M-Monster! A hideous, monstrous god!”

It came from the last surviving imperial ant.

Did he heed my warning?

“Save meeee!”

Even No. 404, who was on all fours, were scared to his wits as he scrambled to escape.

Shaaaa!

Wow, he's fast.

As expected of the one who survived my fingers even in the previous life. I’d thought of chasing him to not leave any survivors, but dizziness pervaded me.

Right... I’m heavily injured...

Despite my grievous wounds, I’d forced myself to use internal energy. I felt like I was going to die.

“Koff, koff! Bleeergh!”

Ugh, blood was even trickling down the corner of my mouth. Please save this ant!

“Aaah, you’re indeed our god, Lord Yu Il-Shin!” Anty was on her feet, clasping her hands together while facing me. Tears were streaming down her face. “Hic, hic. Alas! Even though you’re badly injured, you still pushed yourself! O’ great and merciful Lord Yu Il-Shin, please accept my humble faith!”

Ding!

[The Saintess has engraved the Nameless God’s true name in her soul.]

[The Saintess now serves Yu Il-Shin.]

Ding!

[The Nameless God has been renamed to Yu Il-Shin.]

[The Saintess’ servitude has established faith in ‘Yu Il-Shin.’.]

[The faith of the pure and noble has been converted into higher-valued faith.]

[Yu Il-Shin has gained 1,000 faith.]

[Congratulations. You now qualify as a true god.]

[Current faith accumulated: 1,000]

[You have obtained the benevolent title: Benevolent Savior (F)]

[You now have both malevolent and benevolent titles.]

[The newly obtained title has changed Yu Il-Shin’s alignment from malevolent to neutral.]

Ding!

[You have been rewarded 100,000 Gcoins for obtaining your first benevolent title.]

Swooooosh!

Dazzling white coins poured out like a huge waterfall, before being absorbed into me. The coins, tied to healing and regeneration, seemed to have stabilized my wrecked state.

[Current accrued Godcoins(Gcoin): 100,301 Gcoin]

Like a typical game's status window, I could see the number of Godcoins I had in possession.

W-what is this... Ah!

Looking back, the same thing happened when I saved Anty in my past life, though the circumstances were vastly different. But that wasn’t what caught me off guard

Ding!

[Congratulations, Yu Il-Shin. You have met the conditions to unlock the God's Shop.]

[Would you like to unlock the God's Shop? (Yes/No)]

[100 Gcoins are required to unlock the God's Shop. Would you like to proceed? (Yes/No)]

I don't know why, but I can now access skills on God-Maker!

Excitement ran all over me. Although I regressed as a dying ant, there was hope as long as I could access God-Maker—to return to my beloved and my followers!

Let's jog my memory. What happens after this?

I took some time and calmly recalled the past events. The army I killed earlier was only the search party. No. 404, who’d fled, would return with the druid ant who could manipulate mana. Afterward, a hundred thousand imperial ants would be coming after my life.

I had to make preparations and protect them. I stared at the Gayami Tribe surrounding me with fear and hope.

Then, I said with utmost seriousness,“Guys, let's head back to your village first.”

***

Chew, chew. Nom, nom. Glug—

I rested in the carriage made of leaves and branches, munching on fruits.

The black ants muttered among themselves as they looked at me.

“Ah, our precious treasure...”

“Ssh! Watch your mouth! He killed hundreds of the terrifying imperial ants in one strike!”

“T-That’s the best thing I’ve heard all day! But what is he doing there?”

“The chief is recruiting someone to help pull the carriage for the inconvenient god.”

“I get that we need someone strong to carry the boulders, but do they really have to shout that incantation?”

The aforementioned treasure I was eating was, in fact, the Berry from the World Tree.

Ugh, it's tasteless.

Though it looked like Seong-Yeon’s favorite candy, MyChew, it tasted spicy, bitter, and sour. A flavor that could only exist in one’s imagination. Even so, in my past life, it healed me when I was wrapped like a mummy from severe burns. Plus, I needed this to help my powers blossom in the future. I licked every drop of juice that stained my hands.

Rooooar!

Its effectiveness was evident. Although my lower half was still a mess, an incredible energy surged through me.

Phew, I feel better now.

Now that my death was no longer imminent, I could observe my surroundings with ease.

“Next!”

“Yes!”

Hearing the chief’s order, another group of young ants stepped forward and began lifting the pebbles in the village center. From their perspective, those were boulders.

“Repeat Lord Yu Il-Shin’s words and lift those boulders!”

“Uugh! Muscles!”

“Uuugh! Muscles!”

The chief sneaked a glance at me, but I only shook my head, sighing.

“Next!”

“Muscles! Muscles!”

Right as the two hundredth ant finished the test...

“Haaap Muuuuscles!”

My heart sank at the familiar masculine cry.

“C-Come closer...”

As I gestured with my trembling hand, a ragged warrior ant cautiously approached me with a frightened look.

“O-O’ great god, did you call for me? B-But I couldn’t even lift the boulder...”

“Hic, Il-Hoooo!”

I embraced the ant tightly as tears fell down my face.

“G-God?”

Although he looked like an ordinary ant, I was absolutely sure that he was Il-Ho. He endured countless years of hardship to become the Eternal Seeker, all to save me, only to die horribly in my place. I steered my resolve—I must definitely protect him!

Thud thud thud!

The forest shook all of a sudden, as if hit by an earthquake. A droplet of rain could be weak, but when countless drops gathered, they became a disaster.

“Destroy the traitors and the evil god!”

“The iron-blood empire led by the great emperor is invincible!”

Ruuuumble!

A hundred-thousand-strong army of imperial ants charged toward Gayami’s village, turning the forest blood-red.