Chapter 5: Invitation

Artemis, with a sly grin, began her story.

She told me to ask anything I wanted, promising to answer anything I was curious about.

She’s a kinder god than I expected.

First, why did I become a Constellation here?

“Simply put, you’re a substitute.”

“A substitute?”

“Oh my? Is that a word that doesn’t exist in your world?”

I shook my head in response.

It was strange for a god who lived at least 3,000 years ago to use modern slang.

The gods in my world were each stuck in their own regions, living amongst themselves.

“Then the explanation is easy. Sometimes, when Constellations die, we call in gods from other dimensions as substitutes.”

“Die?”

“Of course! Gods can die, you know?”

I know that better than you do.

Hundreds of gods died horribly at my hands.

I kept my mouth shut and waited for Artemis to continue.

“Of course, they don’t die of old age or sudden illness. Sometimes they lose bets with other gods.”

“Hmm…”

“Simply put, they get wiped out in a yacha-style showdown.”

This goddess sure has some crass slang.

But I roughly understood why I was invited to this world, so I let it slide.

The number of Constellations is fixed, so if one dies or there’s a vacancy, they pull in someone from another dimension.

That explains why I was suddenly invited and offered a wish.

Oh, speaking of which.

“Do you know about the wish?”

The question that has remained unanswered until now.

In my case, the afterlife requires multiple gods and an administrator to function.

So, I came here to create a heaven or hell without gods.

But that’s not the case for the gods of this world, is it?

If they have similar power to the gods I know, they wouldn’t need anything.

Furthermore, they mentioned ‘specific conditions,’ not becoming number one.

Artemis responded to my question with a mischievous smile.

“Should I tell you? Or not?”

This woman…

I could rip her head off with a single slap right now….

But I need to extract information, and she’s offering coins, so I’ll hold back.

Besides, Artemis was one of the few gods in my original world who apologized to us siblings.

I forced a smile and asked:

“Please tell me.”

“Ah~ this is high-level information.”

Artemis was stalling.

Having this kind of banter with a god quickly drained my patience.

She smiled brightly and said:

“I’ll tell you if you fulfill one condition.”

“A condition?”

I frowned and asked again.

Odin had acted all friendly like this before backstabbing me.

“Oh my, your expression is so scary!”

“…….”

“Make your eyes look nice. This is a good offer for you too.”

Be patient.

If I rip Artemis’s head off here?

The gods will immediately become wary of me, and a second Ragnarok will occur.

While I was practicing patience, Artemis presented her condition.

“The condition is to attend the Gods’ Exchange Meeting. I’ll tell you if you come.”

“…Exchange Meeting?”

“Yes. You can network, earn coins, and even raise your rank.”

I pondered her words.

It didn’t sound bad.

Kang Arin earning coins will happen a year later, after the academy.

It wouldn’t hurt to go to the Exchange Meeting and earn coins quickly.

Besides, information is a valuable resource.

My power is close to omnipotence, but I’m not omniscient, and that’s the problem.

“But why me?”

“A new face needs to come to the Exchange Meeting and provide some entertainment.”

“Boomer.”

“I understand everything you’re saying, you know?”

This old woman born 3,000 years ago sure knows a lot.

It was quite a tempting offer, but I was about to refuse.

It’s foolish to jump at an appealing offer without thinking.

It would be best to go after some time has passed and I understand things better.

“I think I’ll pass…”

“Did we agree on 100,000 coins? My memory is a bit fuzzy.”

“No, it’s just…”

“It was 1,000,000 coins, right!”

I kept silent and looked at her.

1,000,000 coins is not a bad amount.

Contracting with a new Incarnation costs 500,000 coins.

Even if not that, it’s enough to send Arin 100 coins 10,000 times.

But who am I?

I am a human who pursues rationality, even before being a god.

So, of course…!

“I look forward to working with you!”

“Oh my? Yes, I look forward to working with you, newbie.”

I shook hands with the goddess Artemis and sealed the deal.

Yes, rationally speaking, the gods of other dimensions might be different from those who made my world a living hell, so it’s necessary to be cautious.

Mhm!

With an extremely human mindset, I shook hands and confirmed the contract.

“Here, I’ll send it right away.”

She manipulated a status window in the air, invisible to others.

Then, a game-like status window appeared in my vision with a ‘ding’ sound.

[Coins – 1,200,000]

“The rest is pocket money ♡”

Maybe I’ve been too much of a f*cking racist until now?

I should buy Arin something delicious with this, heehee….

****

My conversation with the new recruit was over.

As I left his room, which strangely resembled the rooms of Incarnations, I saw my own space.

A vast grassland and a white marble temple.

A paradise filled with beautiful prey.

“Lady Artemis! Welcome back!”

And my Incarnations, who unfortunately perished, greeted me.

After a brief greeting, I entered the temple, where a woman was waiting.

A crazy b*tch with blonde hair, turquoise eyes, and vulgarly large breasts.

Aphrodite looked at me with a lascivious smile.

“So? Was it a man? Was he handsome? Did he look big?”

“You crazy woman.”

I flipped her off and sat across the table from her.

But perhaps because we’ve known each other for so long, Aphrodite smirked slyly and deduced:

“Hmm~ Judging by the simple curse, he must be handsome.”

“Shut up.”

“Ehehe.”

She laughed lewdly.

Such a pretty face, but she’s a slut.

Disappointed, I clicked my tongue and put my head on the table.

I’m tired.

“By the way, how is the newbie? He’s from another dimension, right?”

“I don’t know.”

“How does he compare to Ares?”

“He’s probably stronger than that muscle-brained idiot.”

Aphrodite looked surprised at my words.

Then she asked with an amused smile, as if asking if I was serious.

“He always loses to Athena, but he’s big, and second to none in terms of brute force, right? You’re saying he’s stronger than him?”

“Yeah, when he looked at me seriously, he was f*cking scary.”

“You, Artemis?”

Aphrodite asked again in surprise.

Of course she would be.

I’m strong enough to be among the Twelve Olympians.

Furthermore, I have powerful combat abilities, ranking high among the mythical class.

She must have been surprised to hear the word “scary” from me.

“Does he have a fierce look?”

“No. He’s a handsome man with a gentle and round face. But his expression was sharp when he got serious.”

“Sigh…♡ Describing him like that…”

Aphrodite shuddered and was about to reach down below.

I subtly touched the bow on my back, and she stopped.

The slutty goddess pouted and grumbled.

Then she asked:

“How strong is he?”

“I don’t know, you crazy b*tch.”

“Huh?”

Seeing Aphrodite’s confused expression, I explained.

A sense that ordinary gods would never understand.

The hunter’s instinct to assess prey.

I gave her an analogy.

“If I were a human hunter… it felt like aiming a bow at an elephant.”

“…No way. You felt that way?”

“He seemed at least on par with that womanizer Zeus.”

Aphrodite slightly opened her cherry-like lips at my words.

I sighed and said:

“His personality seems a bit goofy, but he seemed intelligent. Anyway, don’t touch him.”

“You’re not planning on taking him for yourself, are you?”

“Shut up.”

Artemis, who judged him to be intelligent as well.

Meanwhile, Cain was pacing back and forth in his room.

“Argh -!! I could have gotten more coins!! I couldn’t think straight because I had to hold back my anger as a god -!!!”

Berating himself for being a fool.

****

I woke up from a refreshing sleep to find messages from my Constellation piled up….

[Atheist Human is annoyed!]

[Atheist Human paces back and forth!]

[Atheist Human blames himself.]

Did something happen?

I heard that Constellations can meet each other.

Did other Constellations bully our kind, innocent, and cute Constellation?

[Atheist Human affirms!]

Maybe he’s a bit goofy, unlike his abilities.

Of course, that’s what makes him cute and lovable.

Anyway, after comforting him a bit, I did what I had to do.

“Yes, I look forward to working with you!”

I reported that I had signed a contract with a Constellation and become an Incarnation.

I was told that a bus would come to pick me up in a week.

After reporting, I went to the real estate agent and sold my house.

“Congratulations.”

Suddenly selling a house you’ve been living in comfortably?

Such cases were all because they had become Incarnations, so the employee congratulated me.

I lightly bowed my head in response.

And I ate delicious food with the money I had saved….

[Atheist Human sponsors 1000 coins!]

“Constellation?!”

Our poor, insignificant, and precious Constellation even gave me a large sum of coins.

Of course, judging by his messages, he seems quite proud of himself….

[Atheist Human shrugs!]

I’m grateful, but I wonder if he got scammed somewhere?

That was my first concern.

Well, he’s not a child, so he wouldn’t do that, right?

Anyway, a week passed by quickly.

I boarded the bus transporting Incarnations and headed to the Incarnation Academy.

To the academy of my dreams, a place I never thought I’d set foot in.