On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons

Chapter 39: Healing Ring Finger of God

I looked down at Il-Ho with turmoil. Crushed by the boulder, Il-Ho could only lie helplessly on the ground. For some reason, it reminded me of Ant No.1, which I encountered the first time I played God-Maker.

At that time, I still couldn’t read the message. But that ant was probably asking for salvation, just like Il-Ho was right now. Yet, I crushed it with my finger. With or without intention, I had killed it. Hooked on generating more Godcoins, I killed even more of them without the slightest guilt.

Only now did I feel remorseful.

What was the difference between those ants and Il-Ho? A pixelated ant and a humanlike ant? Or a stray cat and a pet cat?

[10 seconds until Il-Ho’s death.]

[9 seconds, 8 seconds, 7 seconds, 6 seconds...]

I stared at the message that kindly gave a countdown until Il-Ho drew his last. It resembled a warning I used to get after losing a fighting game at the arcade.

I want to save him—I want to! But how?!

Hua Tuo’s pill might be able to save him. But to obtain it, I’d have to complete a quest. There wasn’t enough time to find an alternative in God-Maker.

That’s right!

I rushed to grab a pack of sugar from the cupboard and sprinkled it on him. I was grasping at straws, hoping that it’d do something. However, it didn’t show the same effects as before. Was it because he had evolved and was no longer just an ant?

“Almighty God Yu Il-Shin... Please protect the Saintess and my tribe in my stead...” Il-Ho struggled to speak.

“Don’t give up! Il-Ho!”

In that moment of desperation, I recalled the time when I was dying in the hospital. Didn’t I hear a message back then?

[Congratulations! You have completed the quest: Save others if you want to live!]

[You have been rewarded Yuanhua’s Pill from the quest.]

[The owner of the Classic Green Satchel is pleased with your good deeds.]

[His divine power has been imbued in you as an additional reward.]

Looking back, I had been tricked by God-Maker over and over again. Yet, I dared to hope. Of my five fingers, I looked at the one that wasn’t tied to any innate power yet. My fourth finger.

In olden days, it was also known as the ring finger because it was often doused in liquid drugs.

[The divine power of the Classic Green Satchel owner will activate at Yu Il-Shin’s will.]

Ssss.

The fourth finger of my right hand let out a faint glow. At the same time, God-Maker responded.

Ding!

[You have an “acquirable” innate power in the God's Shop.]

-----

[Healing Ring Finger of the God (Growth-type)]

A medical technique and divine power gained from saving more than thousands.

Category: Innate Power

Price: 100 Gcoins

-----

I instantly came to my senses and didn’t waste any time purchasing the innate power.

Ssss!

My white 100-unit Gcoin disappeared, and my ring finger glowed even brighter than before.

[The innate power Healing Ring Finger of God has been activated.]

-Who dares meet their end under my watch? Step forth now! I shall ne'er permit thy demise!

Immediately, a cringey line appeared in my mind. I ignored it and aimed my ring finger at the dying Il-Ho. In the meantime, the countdown was still going...

[3 seconds, 2 seconds, 1 second...]

Please let it work!

“Healing Ring Finger of God!”

Flash!

A blinding white light swallowed Il-Ho.

[Calculating the causality rate of the healing target: Il-Ho...]

[A follower of Lowest-tier God Yu Il-Shin. Also a member of a lower race from The 10th Realm. An insignificant existence that wouldn’t affect the rules between gods and the world.]

Ding!

[You paid 1 Gcoin for the healing.]

Crack! Craaack!

The light faded, revealing Il-Ho’s body, unscathed as if everything had been a lie.

“H-how is this...”

Il-Ho looked at himself in disbelief.

Phew, I wasn’t sure about it at first, but thank goodness it worked! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t do this to feel better about myself after killing ant No. 1. It did take off some of the guilt, at least.

“Waaaah! My lord! T.T”

Il-Ho wailed, tears and snot running down his face, as he slammed his head against the ground.

“Huh? Why would you cry? Are you still hurt somewhere? Should I heal you again?”

“Wahhh! This weak and foolish one didn’t expect that Lord Yu Il-Shin would descend upon him and use his precious divine power, on top of that! How am I supposed to repay your immense grace! T.T”

Okay, that’s weird.

Since the Statue Wi-Fi appeared, I did begin hearing their voices, but why did I start seeing emoticons as well?

Why? Why? WHY!

This darn game. And here I thought I had it figured out.

“Waaaah! Waaaah! T.T”

Il-Ho’s square face and slightly muscular body struck a chord with me. Why did I feel like I had seen this appearance quite often?

I see, he looked like a Lego. I used to play with Legos when I was younger. Well, that wasn’t important right now. I cleared my throat and lowered my voice slightly.

“Ahem, my follower, Il-Ho. Enough crying, rise to your feet. This place is still far too perilous for you to venture. You can always return when you’re much stronger in the future. Let this be your lesson. Now, return to your family and tribe.”

Of course, that was a bald-faced lie. As if I’d send any of my ants into a tower with such a ridiculously low clear rate. After this, I’d create tons of walls so that none of them could get in.

“I shall obey your orders, Lord Yu Il-Shin. T.T”

Wiping away his snot and tears with his forearm, Il-Ho ran toward the entrance with his stubby legs.

I let out a sigh as I watched him leave. But he never did. Instead, he turned around with a bewildered look on his face.

“M-My Lord.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

“T-the door won’t open,” Il-Ho grunted, trying to open the door with all his might, but it didn’t even budge an inch.

“Whew, move. I’ll open it for you.”

I tried to push the door open with my finger. Huh? Why wouldn’t it open? It didn’t move at all!

I decided to use my innate power.

-----

[Entrance of Tower of Warriors]

A replica of the Eternal Seeker. Around for 39,131,321 years.

Special note: “You can enter as you may, but not leave as you wish.”

Clear at least 50 floors to leave.

-----

I was shocked at how old this tower was, but nothing could prepare me for that special note.

You have to clear a predetermined amount of stages to leave?! Fuck!

“My Lord? T.T” Tears streamed down Il-Ho’s square face.

A brat who almost didn’t survive the first floor was expected to clear all 50 floors of this shitty tower?!

Ding!

[Eternal Seeker, who is still training to be the Ultimate Neutral God and Top-tier God, is staring quietly at Yu Il-Shin.]

Eternal Seeker? Wasn’t that the god who created the Bacchus-F potion I regularly bought? He had something to do with this rotten tower too?

[Eternal Seeker is asking Yu Il-Shin if he’d like to try out the newly-added items in God’s Shop. They might help in clearing the stages.]

Was that another sales pitch I heard? But since we were basically in a standstill, I might as well take a look. I opened the God’s Shop and was greeted by the two items at the top of the catalog.

-----

New! [Strong Blessing of the Growth God Ver. 2 (Low-tier God)]

Category: Common Consumable Item

Price: 3,000 Gcoins

-----

New! [Special Blessing of the Growth God Ver. 3 (Low-tier God)]

Category: Common Consumable item

Price: 5,000 Gcoins

-----

Just like Bacchus-F, the new arrivals were also of the Low-tier God grade sold for a steal. As I stared at them with a frown, new messages began popping up.

[Eternal Seeker recommends you to try it out. He has put a lot of effort into making them.]

[He pounds heavily on his majestic chest, claiming to be an expert on conquering towers.]

Sure, let’s buy one of each.

8,000 Gcoins disappeared without a trace as I clicked on purchase, and two bottles popped out from my phone. Unlike the original Bacchus-F, Ver. 2 contained a white fluid, while Ver. 3 contained a red fluid.

I appraised them with my eyes.

-----

[Strong Blessing of the Growth God Ver. 2]

Grade: Low-tier God

Description: Contains the bodily fluids of the Eternal Seeker, shed during his training to attain the highest level of divinity.

Special note: Men is strength! By consuming this, mortals will be able to exert every single muscle in their body. The more they drink, the better.

-----

It’s those weird bodily fluids again...

-----

[Special Blessing of the Growth God Ver. 3]

Grade: Low-tier God

Description: Contains the blood, sweat, and tears of the Eternal Seeker, shed during his training to attain the highest level of divinity.

Special note: Blood, sweat, and tears! A man’s blood, sweat, and tears absolutely have to be rewarded! And, of course, the more they drink, the better. Only effective in the Tower of Warriors, which was connected to the power of the Eternal Seeker.

-----

Huh? Now even blood, sweat, and tears are thrown into the mix? This god is suspicious—very suspicious! Would these items really help Il-Ho survive and clear the stages?

“Whatever!”

What else was there to contemplate? I should just drink it and find out.

Popping open the Strong Blessing of the Growth God Ver. 2, I downed the bottle in one go. The white fluid did make me gag somewhat, but I held it in for the sake of Il-Ho.

Glug! Glug!

“Huh?”

This thick, distasteful flavor tasted familiar. It reminded me of the time when I’d hit the gym every day for a week or so just to get some exercise in. It was the same flavor as the drink my trainer gave me at the gym! It was protein.

Pop!

I then tried out the red liquid, Ver. 3, the so-called blood, sweat, and tears.

Glug glug!

I recognized that slight tanginess, coupled with a dose of taurine right away. It was the last resort of writers for rushing their deadlines!

“Holy shit! It’s Red Bull!”

What the hell is this god’s body made of?!

Regardless, there was no change in me after drinking them. There were no side effects either. I purchased a few more bottles and gave them to Il-Ho.

“Your grace is immeasurable, My Lord! Waaaaah!” the boy sobbed again.

Glug! Waaah! Glug! Waaah!

Either you drink or cry, choose one.

After Il-Ho drank all the liquid, I asked him, “How is it? Do you feel any difference in your body?”

“Ooh, My Lord! I can definitely feel tremendous energy surging through my muscles! If I keep training in this state, I think I’ll get stronger!” Il-Ho blinked his squarish eyes.

“Oh, really? Then do it quickly.”

“Yes, My Lord!”

Opening his eyes wide, Il-Ho grabbed a large boulder that was rolling nearby, raising it like dumbbells.

“Muscles! Muscles!”

Despite the weird color and taste, the effect from the Growth God’s Ver. 2 protein and Ver. 3 Red Bull was indeed incredible. Il-Ho had moved on from lifting boulders the size of his body to the one that was way bigger. He was currently pushing the massive boulder that had crushed him earlier.

Grunt! Grunt! Rolling—

He might be slow, but thinking that all these happened in a span of five hours, it could only be considered a miracle.

I never stopped watching him. His training was all that I could think about, I even forgot to eat. I hadn’t realized how nervous I was until I realized that my hands were clammy with sweat. This was the only way for me to help him. When I tried to open the door for him the first time...

[Warning!]

[Only the challenger can clear the warrior’s solemn trial!]

[Moving to the challenger’s waiting room!]

It was considered invalid, and Il-Ho was teleported back to the waiting room on the first floor. Only Il-Ho could clear this stage.

“Arrrrgh! Muuuscles!”

Cluck! Thud!

The boulder, which had been rolling at the speed of an ant, finally reached the top. A feat that took ten hours to accomplish.

Sizzle!

As it arrived at the second floor, the huge boulder melted away and was absorbed into Il-Ho’s body.

“T-this...?”

[Congratulations! The First Floor of the Tower of Warriors: Trial of Rock has been cleared.]

[The challenger has been rewarded with Blessing of Rock from Eternal Seeker.]

[Blessing of Rock: Challenger, you will be blessed with muscles hard as rock!]

Il-Ho’s muscles turned into the color of rocks.

“I did it!” Drenched in sweat, Il-Ho turned to look at me. “My Lord! Please rejoice for me! I’ve finally made it! T.T”

“Great job! Il-Ho!”

Was this how a coach felt when their athlete won a gold medal in a competition? I was overwhelmed with pride and accomplishment!

“Il-Ho!”

“Waaaah! My Lord! T.T”

Just as Il-Ho was about to high-five with my finger...

Ding!

[The Second Floor of the Tower of Warrior: Trial of Wind]

[Clear conditions: Survive in the wind trial and reach the third floor.]

[The trial begins.]

Gush!

Something sharp cut through the air and...

Puk!

An arrow struck Il-Ho on the forehead.

Hic! Plop!

I screamed as I watched Il-Ho collapse.

“Il-Hoooooo!”