Chapter 14: Jealousy and comparison

What is a god?

I used to ponder this question every day when I was human.

The moments I prayed to god, doing my best to survive in the zombie world.

Every time I prayed for help, I had a question.

If an omniscient and omnipotent god exists, why is the world in such a mess?

The answer to that question was simple.

I saw it with my own eyes and learned the reason.

It was a very easy answer.

Because the omniscient and omnipotent god we imagine doesn’t exist.

What would an ant think when looking at a human?

A giant monster capable of destroying their entire empire with a single finger.

A being no different from a disaster, even if it’s a person without limbs or a preschooler.

Yes.

That’s what gods are.

Just powerful brats.

Beings whose ‘god’ status isn’t a job title but a ‘species.’

Their main job is exaggerating their myths and boasting to humans.

Why am I talking about this?

Because I’m looking at the ultimate example of such self-centered beings right now.

“Come to big sis. Your butt is so firm ♡”

Aphrodite, a crazy woman with blonde hair and blue eyes.

She’s incredibly beautiful, but she sexually harasses me every ten minutes.

Unlike Artemis, she keeps crossing the line….

“You crazy woman!”

“Aack! Stop the violence!!”

The goddess of maidens subdued her with a flick to the forehead.

Such humane gods.

And that made me even more uncomfortable.

Because humans are beings who are swayed by their slightest whims.

Even if they treat humans with kindness, it’s no different from showing consideration for livestock.

Not only my resentment, but this human-like aspect of them was even more repulsive.

But I already killed all the gods.

I experienced many regrettable things in the process.

And I’m not stupid enough to repeat the same mistakes.

I slightly unclenched my fists, which I had been gripping tightly, and took a sip of tea.

Aphrodite, being scolded and flicked on the forehead by Artemis as if they were close friends.

Watching that, I muttered quietly:

“I wonder if Arin and Chaerin are doing okay?”

Something couldn’t possibly happen just because I took my eyes off them for a moment, right?

I had that complacent thought.

****

Kang Arin and Cheok Chaerin.

There was a brief argument, but nothing major happened.

From Kang Arin’s perspective….

‘It must be because I’m not good enough….’

It’s natural for a Constellation to have multiple Incarnations.

But, like a viewer who’s more invested in a streamer with fewer viewers…

Or perhaps the excessive intimacy that developed between them as fellow newbies during their growth was the cause of her obsession.

Kang Arin looked at Cheok Chaerin’s back as she walked ahead.

‘She’s strong. Unlike me….’

A voluptuous figure that looked alluring even from behind.

Beauty that rivaled Kang Arin’s only advantage, her looks.

Skillfully wielding a sword and emitting a strong, red lightning.

The way she transformed her body into lightning and massacred goblins and kobolds was truly impressive.

The ability to transform into natural elements was a cheat ability she had never heard of or seen before.

While she felt proud of her lovely Constellation who possessed such an ability, she envied Cheok Chaerin for having it.

No, she was jealous.

And she felt pathetic.

The wall of talent, an insurmountable barrier for a mediocre person like herself.

“I was just a prototype….”

Kang Arin was dejected.

However, they were currently inside a dungeon, a dangerous place even for low-ranked Incarnations.

Naturally, she pushed down her gloomy feelings and focused on the battle.

“…….”

And Cheok Chaerin, watching Kang Arin.

She also had those thoughts.

The hellish three years she was tormented by Zeus, contemplating suicide.

The sudden appearance of a Constellation who bestowed upon her an overwhelming ability, awakening her talent.

He even declared war on the mighty King of Olympus, all alone.

For her sake.

A reckless act by a newbie Constellation.

She fell for his princely actions and handsome appearance.

She had expected her Constellation to have other Incarnations, but she had never imagined someone as beautiful as Kang Arin.

She slowed her pace to manage her stamina and looked at Kang Arin.

A toned and firm physique, unlike her own soft body.

A beautiful face.

‘…A total cheat ability, seriously.’

And a noticeably rapid growth rate.

Kang Arin, who had been unskilled when they first entered the dungeon.

But as time passed, she continued to grow stronger at an alarming rate.

Cheok Chaerin was certain that this was also an ability of her prince, her Constellation.

She’s stronger now, but if time passes….

“Am I just a side character?”

The thought of winning never crossed her mind.

Those who are strong because of outstanding abilities always have weaknesses.

But an opponent whose basic physical abilities are simply strong is very tricky.

Kang Arin is that case.

The two women, having assessed each other, muttered simultaneously in low voices:

“”I don’t like her.””

And they proceeded towards the center of the dungeon.

Mister Oh-ho-ho, standing firm in the center as the tank, recalled what happened last night.

The two women who suddenly started fighting after dinner.

“Oh ho ho, women fighting over a Constellation. This is a first.”

The reason was utterly absurd.

There are many women who seduce their Constellations like prostitutes to gain favor.

But the veteran had never seen a case where they developed genuine romantic feelings.

Mister Oh-ho-ho found the naive Incarnations cute.

But even so, variables in a dungeon are unacceptable.

“I’m changing our positions!”

Mister Oh-ho-ho clapped his hands to gather their attention.

Unlike usual, he changed their positions without even a hint of his Santa-like laughter.

Their original formation was a standard one, with the tank holding the front line and the agile sub-dealer and main damage dealer flanking him.

But he couldn’t leave them as they were, growling at each other.

He decided on a horizontal formation.

A 2-1-2 formation.

A strategy with sub-dealer and main damage dealer combos on the left and right.

It sacrifices stability for maximized firepower… the best choice, considering Kang Arin and Cheok Chaerin’s conflict.

A veteran’s skillful decision.

On the left were Baek Taeyang, the main damage dealer, and Cheok Chaerin, the sub-dealer.

On the right were Kang Arin, the main damage dealer, and Ham Yui, the sub-dealer.

It was a clear attempt to separate them, but the two women accepted without complaint.

They couldn’t focus on the battle because they were too busy assessing each other while fighting.

“Oh ho ho! I’ll be two steps ahead of you. Keep that in mind!”

The dungeon exploration team started moving again.

Despite the sudden change and their unfamiliarity with the new positions, they adapted easily.

The dungeon was easy, and they were highly talented individuals.

The dungeon exploration team advanced relentlessly.

Mister Oh-ho-ho was truly impressed and evaluated the rookies.

“Amazing! We might even finish within two days!”

“Yeah, well….”

They were truly talented.

Kang Arin scratched her head, embarrassed by the praise, when…

–Rumble!!!

The dungeon shook.

Mister Oh-ho-ho hurriedly raised his large shield and took a defensive stance.

An earthquake in this unexpected situation.

But it subsided in less than a minute.

“…Huh, what was that? Just an earthquake?”

“Yui, what if the cave collapses?”

“Are you stupid? It’s a dungeon; it won’t collapse.”

The Incarnations, except for Cheok Chaerin, commented.

Meanwhile, Mister Oh-ho-ho, sweating, looked around.

“….”

“Hey, Santa Mister?”

Baek Taeyang, seemingly sensing something was wrong, asked.

But Mister Oh-ho-ho gestured for them to be quiet.

“”””…….””””

The Incarnations fell silent, sensing the sudden change in atmosphere.

About five minutes passed.

[King of the Monkeys warns you.]

“Yikes!”

A sudden message from a Constellation.

It appeared before everyone, startling them in the silence.

However, Baek Taeyang, the Incarnation of that Constellation, waved his hand dismissively and chuckled.

“Just ignore it. Our Constellation is a prankster; he does this often.”

“…Annoying.”

Cheok Chaerin, also startled, gave a short assessment.

But Mister Oh-ho-ho, standing at the front with his shield raised, slowly lowered it and asked the Incarnations:

“Did anyone else see that?”

“Huh?”

Mister Oh-ho-ho, with his Santa Claus-like beard and benevolent face, now had a distorted expression of fear.

His eyes darted around nervously, as if searching for something.

“You seem very different from usual…”

“Mister?”

“This is… no, you… that can’t be….”

Mister Oh-ho-ho’s voice became distorted, like a glitching radio.

Then, a part of the stone cave wall crumbled.

A small, dark hole, barely big enough for a fist, appeared where the stone fragments fell.

Mister Oh-ho-ho stared at the hole with a grave expression.

Baek Taeyang raised his staff in this tense atmosphere.

“Mister, what’s wrong… why are you suddenly acting so serious? Come on, laugh like you usually do, ‘Oh ho ho~’?”

“…You all wait here for a moment.”

But Mister Oh-ho-ho ignored Baek Taeyang’s words.

As if he had to confirm something, he walked forward.

He even dropped his shield on the floor as if it was too heavy. He had broken his own rule, drilled into them since entering the dungeon, to cherish their weapons more than their lives.

Everyone sensed the strange atmosphere.

Kang Arin, Ham Yui, Baek Taeyang, and Cheok Chaerin all held their weapons and watched the veteran.

Cheok Chaerin’s voice echoed in the cave, like a final ultimatum.

“Mister.”

“…There’s something I need to check.”

“Mister.”

“It’s a very important matter.”

“…….”

Cheok Chaerin finally plunged her sword into the ground.

Although it was just a mass-produced weapon, it was sharp enough to pierce the stone floor. She activated the technique she had used to fry countless goblins without hesitation.

“Current Flow “

Red electricity flowed through the floor.

Kang Arin, startled by the extreme reaction, tried to stop her, but Ham Yui blocked her.

“Yui?! This is too much!”

“…Look at him.”

Kang Arin was shocked by Ham Yui’s words.

Even though a strong, visible red current flowed through Mister Oh-ho-ho’s body, he didn’t stop moving.

However, the damage was clearly accumulating, as the acrid smell of burning flesh filled the cave.

He trembled all over, like he was doing a spastic dance, but he continued moving forward.

Cheok Chaerin, witnessing the bizarre sight, pulled out her sword without hesitation and then sheathed it again. Then, in a cold voice, she made a quick decision.

“We’re running.”

“What? Are you a coward?!”

Had Baek Taeyang grown attached to Mister Oh-ho-ho? He was furious and refuted Cheok Chaerin, but….

“Let’s run.”

“Even you, shorty?”

Ham Yui agreed.

Kang Arin also seemed unconvinced and was about to question Ham Yui, but….

“I laid down water when the electricity flowed through the floor. Normally, even the toughest tank would flinch.”

Baek Taeyang and Kang Arin froze at her words.

Cheok Chaerin said:

“I have no intention of dying for anything other than my Constellation. Don’t you feel the same?”

“…….”

Kang Arin was persuaded.

Just as they were about to turn and run, Kang Arin saw it.

“Ah… aah… I see.”

Mister Oh-ho-ho, muttering like a madman while staring into the hole.

Then, as if his body had reached its limit, he foamed at the mouth and collapsed on the floor, his form transforming.

As the veteran fell, inside the deep, dark hole….

Purple eyes.

“…Beautiful.”

And the moment she saw it, a strong temptation washed over her.

A curiosity to know what it was filled her mind.

The incomprehensible purple eyes began to make sense.

Even now, her mind was slowly understanding it.

As an endless curiosity welled up, and the purple eyes in the hole were about to look at Kang Arin…

[Atheist Human growls.]

Her Constellation’s message.

The strange feeling that had dominated her mind vanished like melting snow.

And the purple eyes disappeared into the darkness, as if closing.

“We have to run faster.”

Kang Arin finally realized the gravity of the situation.

No, she understood it even better than the others.

The eyes in the hole were something different from a monster.

The party was in mortal danger.

“Faster!!”

Mister Oh-ho-ho, who had collapsed, stood up again, now far behind them.

Baek Taeyang, who seemed to have formed a bond with him, glanced back and said:

“Santa Mister is up again.”

Normally, they would have gone back to rescue him immediately, but they had no choice but to run from this incomprehensible situation.

Because Mister Oh-ho-ho was standing there, looking like… something no longer human.