Originally, the flower of any game is the customization items.
Items for attack, defense, and enhancement are important, but once you become a veteran, such things lose their meaning.
Of course, as a god, I was far from being a veteran.
I was closer to a newbie who had started the game without knowing anything, but I was still interested in decorating Earth.
Just as I was about to examine the items with curiosity, I paused.
Something about them felt too... childish.
The item names, like "Pong-Pong" and "Kkong-Kkong" were one thing, but the descriptions sounded like they were written for a fairy tale book...
It was supposed to be a trading post used by the gods of the universe, but it didn’t seem normal.
’Could it be because of the analysis I did before entering?’
It has been mentioned that the interface is configured according to the user.
If it was set to "child mode" because I was a young god, that would make sense.
Since the item descriptions lacked intuitiveness, I looked for the settings.
The system window popped up quickly.
[Would you like to disable the Child Filter?]
I disabled it immediately. Instantly, the item names and descriptions changed completely.
I clicked through the items one by one.
[Primordial Oxygen Capsule: Immediately decomposes toxic gases and fine dust, forming a clean atmospheric layer with the most perfect ratio for living organisms to breathe.]
’Wow, I really need this.’
The item description left me in pure admiration.
[Root Purification Spore Net: A microbial colony that extends a mycelium network deep into the earth to absorb heavy metals and pollutants from the soil and convert them into fertilizer.]
’I’ll definitely need this too. It’s an essential item.’
As if possessed, I checked the next item.
[Permafrost Refrigerant Core: A micro-subzero curtain generator to be embedded in the surface of polar regions. It immediately stops the melting of glaciers within thousands of kilometers and rapidly recrystallizes lost sea ice into high-density ice.
(*10% set discount when purchased with ’Deep Sea Diatom Colony’! Set use is recommended.)]
[Deep Sea Diatom Colony: A special microalgae colony that breeds in the deep sea. It absorbs and releases salinity and minerals from seawater to normalize the ocean current circulation of the entire planet and balance thermal equilibrium.
(*10% set discount when purchased with ’Permafrost Refrigerant Core! Set use is recommended.)]
’Crazy.’
It’s been so hot lately that I absolutely wanted to buy the Refrigerant Core and the Deep Sea Diatoms.
And they even gave a set discount.
l added them to my shopping cart first and diligently scrolled down to look at other items.
Everything I clicked on looked desirable.
’I want to buy everything!’
Besides items that improved the polluted environment, there were items for literally decorating the planet, such as auroras or crystal rings.
I was slightly tempted by the crystal rings because they seemed like they would look pretty from space, but the review ratings were low, so I decided against it.
As I examined them seriously, I belatedly realized one thing.
I hadn’t looked at the prices of the items at all until now.
I checked the price of the Refrigerant Core and Deep Sea Diatom set, which I wanted most.
I quietly checked my balance.
Possessed Star Shards: 0
A clean zero.
In contrast, the prices of the environmental items were... astronomical.
Based on the currency unit of Star Shards, the basics required tens of billions.
As expected, decorative items seemed to be the most expensive everywhere.
Still, I had something to rely on.
Dark Star Remnant: Currency crafted by carving the core of a star whose light has gone out. Usable throughout the universe. In His glorified name!
It was the universal currency I possessed.
Feeling infinite gratitude toward the cat butler and rabbit butler, I triumphantly pulled the coins out of my inventory.
Everything was fine up to that point, but there was one critical problem.
Dark Star Remnants were cash.
I had to deposit them into an account and exchange them for Star Shards, but I didn’t know how.
I stood there awkwardly holding the coins before putting them back into my inventory.
’Do I need to find out how to open a universal account first?’
I felt completely deflated.
I wanted to create a magnificent Earth, but my pockets were desperately empty.
With a sad heart, I continued to browse the purchase page of the Galactic Trading Post.
In the attack and defense categories, they sold items that could attack other planets or defend one’s own.
It seemed the gods engaged in cosmic wars, but as a newcomer to Akasha, these were items I hoped I would never have to buy.
Enhancements were items applied to the god-simply put, buff-type items.
Items that gave temporary enhancement effects were relatively cheap, while permanent enhancement items were priced far beyond planet decoration.
And finally.
I entered the category I hadn’t dared to click on until now.
The Vassal category...
It was incredible. All sorts of items for a god’s vassals were being sold. I couldn’t take my eyes off the dazzling weapons, armor, and accessories.
’This would be perfect for Lt. Col. Je. Gasp, this one for Capt. Mo! Wow, this is totally for Capt. Kwak... Oh! Can I give one to Samra?’
As I browsed frantically, I became even more depressed.
Vassal items were the most expensive.
’Other gods probably buy all sorts of things for their vassals...’
"..."
I was a beggar.
Suddenly, a wave of sorrow over my poverty washed over me.
I wanted to give presents to my vassals.
I needed Star Shards.
Just as I was obsessed with the thought that I had to earn Star Shards or whatever quickly...
There are benefits available only for child users.
Would you like to set the Child Filter?
At the word "benefits," I immediately switched back to being a child.
Setting Child Filter.
[A special gift just for children!]
[Celebrating your first use of the Galactic Trading Post.]
A special gift for children...?
With a pounding heart, I claimed the gift.
Then, with a small pop of fireworks, a system window appeared.
[Yay! You received 10 Star Shards!]
[(Note: Event Star Shards must be used within 24 hours.)]
’Children are the best.!’
I decided that I would live as a child from now on.
Perhaps because it was a special gift, there was a condition to use it within 24 hours.
I had to use it before leaving this place.
When I sorted by lowest price, there were far too many items, fitting for a place called a trading post.
It was even more daunting because I had no information on what the planet or the god needed most.
As I scrolled down, feeling like my eyes were about to fall out, a system window appeared.
[Child-exclusive feature! We’ll suggest items that fit your budget.]
I was deeply touched as a child by such consideration.
I received the list of recommended items from the Galactic Trading Post system.
"Hmm..."
A sound of deep contemplation escaped me.
Because I had already seen such amazing items, the things I could buy with 10 Star Shards were hardly satisfying.
’I wonder if Star Shards drop from anywhere.’
Since I had 24 hours, I put the purchase on hold and closed the Galactic Trading Post.
Then, I opened the Interstellar Communication.
’Interstellar Communication.’
The basic structure was similar to a regular phone, so it was easy to understand.
However, there was nothing I could do right now.
To use the communication, I had to pay Star Shards and sign up for something like a service provider.
10,000 Star Shards are required.
A basic fee was needed to open an interstellar communication channel on Earth.
Of course, the fee per communication was separate.
’The ruthlessness of cosmic capitalism was felt in real-time.
’Is there no such thing as a child’s plan?’
Since I had no one to communicate with immediately anyway, I was about to seal it away when...
Communication channel opened!]
[Restricted Caller ID Communication]
Suddenly, the channel opened, and a call from an unknown sender came through.
After some hesitation, I answered.
I was nervous that it might be some kind of receiver-pays advertisement call, but a familiar voice reached me.
- Hello, Little Lamb! It’s Black Block!
It was Mr. Black Block.
I was glad to hear from an alien I knew, but my vigilance was far greater.
It was because of the things that happened after I took his call at The Cell X.
At that time, the residues disappeared when I answered the phone, and that night, I dreamed of past events.
Mr. Black Block was a being who could exert influence over me in some way.
It was only natural to be wary.
However, since I couldn’t just be hostile without reason, I greeted him politely first.
"Hello, Mr. Black Block. Have you been doing well?"
- Very well indeed! I communicated because I wanted to congratulate the Little Lamb. The channel opening is a gift!
Mr. Black Block had paid the channel fee on my behalf.
It seemed he had been waiting for me to get interstellar communication more than anyone.
Perhaps because I was using the official communication service, the sound quality was crystal clear.
For the first time, I could hear Mr. Black Block’s voice without noise.
Though his manner of speaking was flippant, his voice was pleasant, and his pronunciation was precise, like an announcer.
- I am extremely happy whenever I see the Little Lamb’s activities!
It was a statement that didn’t hide the fact that he had been watching me.
"Thank you. I’ll prepare the cooking soon and contact you. Now that I have interstellar communication..."
As I spoke, I remembered my pocket situation of 0 Star Shards.
Even though the channel was open, I had no money to pay for the communication fees.
"..but I’m currently in a difficult financial situation. I think it will be hard for me to initiate communication first."
Since he’d probably be watching me every day anyway, I was contemplating how to politely tell him to just eat the food whenever I left it somewhere.
- This cannot be, Little Lamb! As a fan, this is sadness, shock, and tears!
Mr. Black Block went wild.
He started making sobbing sounds "huhu huhu huhu"-with his mouth again, and this time, it lasted a very long time.
After waiting patiently, Mr. Black Block brought up an interesting topic.
- Little Lamb. Do you know that there is a sponsorship system!
"A sponsorship system?"
- A young god can take the gods of Akasha as sponsors.
Is it like a sponsor?
The first person I thought of was Dominic.
Up until now, he had acted most fittingly for the title of ’Sponsor.’ Mr. Black Block continued excitedly.
- I! Shall become the Little Lamb’s sponsor! Let us sign a sponsorship contract immediately!
When I gave a lukewarm reaction, Mr. Black Block’s voice lowered subtly.
- Little Lamb. There are many things you want to buy, right?
A cunning whisper gently wrapped around and shook me.
- You want to decorate your planet, and you want to give presents to your vassals, don’t you? I will make it so you can do it all!
He shouted as if this were a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
- Your Mr. Black Block will be a magnificent sponsor!
"I’m sorry, but I refuse."
I stated my refusal decisively.
The offer to buy all the items I wanted was certainly attractive.
But I hadn’t even properly grasped what Akasha was yet.
I couldn’t just blindly trust Mr. Black Block and sign a sponsorship contract in a situation where I knew nothing.
Especially since he had a history of exerting influence over me arbitrarily.
And also... how should I put it...
Between the constant watching and everything, Mr. Black Block lacked trustworthiness...
He’s like a pervert.
- Little Lamb...
Mr. Black Block called me, pretending to be pitiful.
I made a gesture of soothing him.
"It would be very reassuring if you sponsored me, but for now, I want to try doing it with my own strength."
- With your own strength! But the Little Lamb is already with that person!
That person?
Before I could ask, Mr. Black Block continued smoothly.
- You can have multiple sponsors. Contact me whenever your heart changes! Via receiver pays communication.
Then, he abruptly gave his final greeting.
- As your fan, I will continue to keep a close eye on you, Little Lamb. Well then...
The communication ended.
Communications with Mr. Black Block always ended this way, but I felt exceptionally uneasy.
’That person... must be Dominic!’
Since Mr. Black Block didn’t seem to have a low divinity, it wasn’t strange that he knew Dominic’s identity.
It certainly felt like Dominic was a being of high status.
Come to think of it, I didn’t even get to ask the question I wanted to. I had intended to ask how to create a universal account.
I also wanted to subtly probe what he had done to me at The Cell X, but I couldn’t even open my mouth.
It seemed he was doing it on purpose.
Concluding once again that Mr. Black Block was suspicious, so I checked the remaining time.
Looking at the time that still had a long way to go, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
’Should I try sending a message?’
I didn’t know if they would be sent from here, but there was no harm in trying.
[Capt. Mo, is your body okay? I’m contacting you in case you’ve woken up.]
[Capt. Kwak, can you see this message? If you’re still trapped in the sphere, I’m truly sorry. I am told it takes 72 hours until I can go outside. I’ll do whatever I can as soon as I get out.]
[Lt. Col. Je. I can leave in 72 hours. Even if you’re in a bad mood, please wait just a bit, and I’ll be out soon.]
After sending messages to Je Hyun-oh and the captains, I truly had nothing left to do.
I opened the Galactic Trading Post again.
And I wasted the remaining time by adding items I wanted to buy to my shopping cart.
72 hours was a very long time.
I didn’t feel hunger or anything like that, but I writhed in boredom.
Being trapped alone, bad thoughts kept popping up, which made it a bit difficult.
I made a conscious effort to think about other things.
’But why am I trapped for 72 hours?’
I thought it might be related to the child’s nutritional supplement. rubbed my eyes for no reason.
I didn’t feel any distinct changes yet, but I could perceive more things than before.
I was aware that Infernum and ■■■ were mixing and being digested within me.
When I had only taken Infernum, I suffered because of the heat, but now it wasn’t like that.
Thanks to ■■■, I would be able to digest Infernum even faster.
I wanted to grow quickly.
’I should be careful about this too...’
The thoughts that popped up arbitrarily were distant from my human self.
It felt a bit eerie to realize that I was thinking as a god, unlike before.
I felt the need to be careful so that my way of thinking didn’t lean too far toward the divine.
Along with various thoughts, I spent my time drifting in and out of the Galactic Trading Post.
And finally, the 72 hours ended.
[Connecting to physical body after 72 hours. (Remaining time 00:00)]
[Connecting to physical body.]
I couldn’t have been more welcomed by the system window announcing the end.
The black space was suddenly dyed in golden light.
And when the light vanished.
I opened my eyes inside a liquid.
Startled, I opened my mouth, and bubbles popped with a gurgling sound.
Wondering what this was, I flailed around and felt something hard against my hand.
The moment I realized I was trapped inside a glass cylinder.
A black line was drawn in a circle.
Exactly the glass cylinder alone split in half, and the top part collapsed to the side.
As the liquid inside poured out, I was swept away with it.
The prayer beads immediately wrapped around my body and slowly lowered me to the floor.
My vassals looked at me.
Unable to hide my joy, I beamed a wide smile.
"Lt. Col. Je! Captains!"
I tried to greet Je Hyun-oh and the captains, but the atmosphere was strange.
I realized that my vassals weren’t the only ones here.
’Samra!’
I was glad to see the striking holographic color, but he wasn’t the usual android.
He looked at me with a blank face, as if he had suffered an error.
Then, others came into view.
’Lt. Won? Oh, Director Pa and the others too...?’
People from a completely mismatched combination were together.
Even Ham Ji-wol.
For some reason, everyone looked at me with faces of astonishment.
It was as if they were staring at someone who had come back from the dead.
Especially Won Tae-beom...
He had eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t understand, beyond mere shock.
’Come to think of it, why was I in the water?’
Since the whole situation was strange, I was just blinking awkwardly when...
><
Je Hyun-oh suddenly displayed a strange emoticon on his goggles.
At the same time, Mo Hae-in gently grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind her.
"Goodness, what are we going to do about this?"
Kwak Han-mook spoke as he stood in front of me, shielding me.
"Our Head of Department Ham and the Directors... I guess it’s time for you to get lost now?"
He grinned and drove the nail in.
"Empty-handed."
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