Chapter 2: The dog that hears the sound

I checked the simple system through the computer.

First, I need coins to send items or give abilities to the person I chose.

In other words, the more coins I have, the faster I can raise my chosen one.

“I understand the system.”

How to earn coins.

First, the person I chose… or rather, the person called an ‘Incarnation.’

If the Incarnation completes dungeons or achieves various accomplishments, I can receive coins as a reward.

Also, I receive basic coins once a month, like a salary.

Or I can receive them from other Constellations.

“Hmm… should I just beat up other Constellations and take their coins?”

I glanced at the names displayed next to the screen.

[1st Place: Master of the Lightning Eagle]

[2nd Place: One-Eyed Schemer]

[3rd Place: Half-Goddess of Hell]

“I know these guys, right?”

They’re definitely the gods I killed once before….

To be more precise, the gods I killed in my dimension.

First place seems like Zeus, and second place, the One-Eyed Schemer….

“F*cking Odin. That bastard.”

I’ll talk about Odin later.

Anyway, it’s possible to give or receive coins from other Constellations.

So, I earn coins, strengthen my Incarnation, and become number one.

It’s a very simple game.

Having grasped the rules, I looked at the screen.

The young woman, Kang Arin, struggling as she looked through books in the library.

“Yeah, it’s understandable to worry.”

The young woman, worried because of my strange title.

I muttered as I watched Kang Arin.

****

A long time ago, in my childhood, my father disappeared.

I heard he went out to buy a lottery ticket and, I guess he won, because he never came back.

I was only six years old then.

I cried and cried, wanting to see my dad, but now I don’t even remember his face.

My mom worked her bones off at a restaurant to raise me.

She literally worked her bones off and died of a cerebral hemorrhage when I was a senior in high school.

I grew up in an ordinary, if somewhat common, family.

I didn’t have any particular talents.

Just an ordinary girl whose only special skill was persistent effort.

And now, I was left alone in this world.

“Look, look, isn’t Yoo Jimin amazing?! She cleared a dungeon by herself! She’s our age….”

The Dungeon Break incident happened before I was even born.

Because of that, the world fell into chaos, but god-like beings called Constellations descended upon the world.

Great beings who take pity on humans, sponsor them, and help them grow.

And being chosen by such Constellations is no different from a sacred event.

My friend, Lee Yujin, a Constellation otaku, chattered excitedly next to me.

“Heehee, so how does it feel to get a message from a Constellation? Is your body tingling and stuff?”

“Be quiet…! It just feels like chatting with my eyes.”

“Aw~ I want to get a message from a Constellation too!”

Yujin’s loud voice.

Embarrassed, I covered my face with my hands and asked:

“Really… so do you know who he is?”

The big event that happened last night.

An opportunity came to me, someone with no talent and only the ability to work hard.

I was chosen by a Constellation!

But the title was one I had never heard of before.

Yujin, the Constellation otaku, also seemed unfamiliar with it, squirming as she spoke.

“Nope, nope. The name itself is so cheesy, isn’t it? ‘Atheist Human’….”

“Hey, it’s a Constellation!”

“But as the title suggests, it’s a human, right?”

“…….”

I glared at Yujin with half-open eyes.

But maybe because she’s an otaku?

She gave me advice with a serious face.

“It’s rare for a title to include the word ‘human.’ If it does, it’s probably a historical figure who became a Constellation.”

“A historical figure….”

“But since he’s a Constellation, he can’t be that bad.”

Yujin had a negative perception.

At first glance, it might seem like she was raining on my parade, but Yujin was serious.

Because….

“Arin… no, Kang Arin. You know, right? There are great Constellations, but there are also Constellations who just play around and then abandon their Incarnations.”

It was a big social problem.

There was a case where a man contracted with a Constellation and became stronger, but….

He was devoured and killed by the person his Constellation was raising.

Malicious Constellations who treat their Incarnations like alternate characters to raise their main one.

Or Constellations who are obsessed with women, contracting with someone and then leaving them ruined.

There are hidden atrocities, so caution is necessary.

Furthermore….

“And you know, right? People with mediocre talent suffer the most.”

“…Yeah.”

What if the Constellation is a good person but you lack ability?

As an Incarnation, you have to go through all sorts of hardships, participating in dungeons and various events.

After all, if the Constellation is weak, the growth limit is set.

Many end up chasing an unattainable dream and get abandoned.

“Thanks for the advice.”

Unable to reach a conclusion, I left the library with Yujin and went home.

****

I eavesdropped on the conversation with the young woman named Lee Yujin.

I learned information about this world, and I understood why Kang Arin was hesitating.

If she chooses the wrong Constellation, her life could be ruined.

As I sighed and lamented my unfortunate title, Kang Arin, who was returning home on the monitor, asked me:

“Constellation.”

I immediately moved my fingers on the keyboard and replied:

“Why? Are you feeling troubled?”

[Atheist Human shows curiosity.]

It’s automatically filtered like this.

Kang Arin, visible on the screen, opened her mouth to speak….

And then closed it again, hesitating.

Is she afraid?

“Are you… a bad person, Constellation?”

I stopped typing at Kang Arin’s question.

I’m definitely not someone who can be called good.

Hesitating for a moment, I typed a reply.

[Atheist Human affirms.]

“…I see.”

Kang Arin walked home without saying anything.

I also felt troubled, leaning back in my chair and sighing.

“I killed all the gods! I’m f*cking strong!!! Damn it….”

It was so frustrating.

How nice would it be if the chat was conveyed honestly?

Of course, even if it was, I would never be completely honest.

For me, killing the gods wasn’t an achievement but something closer to a dark past.

But….

Yes, but.

If she would just trust me once.

I sent a chat message.

[Atheist Human says to trust him.]

The best message I could send.

At least I liked this woman, Kang Arin.

“…Are you a god, Constellation? Or a human?”

[Atheist Human affirms.]

[Atheist Human affirms.]

“If you said it twice, does that mean you’re both….”

Kang Arin hesitated for a moment.

She grabbed the doorknob of her house and hesitated.

“I’m… just pretty, I have no talent. Whether it’s arts, sports, or studying…. If you choose me, I’ll probably be useless except for being ridiculed.”

Kang Arin smiled self-deprecatingly.

And she turned her face towards me, who was looking at her from outside the monitor… or rather, the sky.

A beautiful woman, about 170 cm tall, considered tall for a woman, with a toned and attractive figure.

An oriental beauty with black eyes and hair.

She said to me:

“Will you use me, someone who has no talent other than persistent effort?”

Why did she suddenly change her mind?

No, she had never spoken negatively until now.

Did she think that other Constellations wouldn’t even look at her, and even if they did, she would be abandoned?

So she clung to me.

“I’ll work hard!!”

She bowed her head to me.

I was also human, and I have experience being chewed out by my younger sister for not having talent.

Perhaps that’s why I was fixated on the hardworking Kang Arin.

I sent a chat message again, mixing in a bit of my power.

[I will make you the strongest.]

“Uh… the chat….”

Kang Arin’s eyes widened.

It was natural, since I had only been able to send simple signals before.

And as expected, the chat message I sent crackled and then….

[Correcting error.]

[Atheist Human cheers you on.]

It changed back to its original abstract form.

“Hmm… it does get through.”

I gained one piece of information.

If I wanted to, I could intervene in the system.

But since my ‘wish’ is being held hostage, I should stay quiet for now.

Kang Arin, seeing my chat, smiled as if she understood something and said to me:

“…I look forward to working with you!”

I went into the computer menu.

A console window appeared.

[Atheist Human: /Contract Incarnation]

A message popped up when I entered the command.

[Do you want to contract with Kang Arin?]

I pressed accept without hesitation.

I finally gained my first Incarnation.

And for the first time since becoming a god, I used my power for something positive, not for anger or destruction.