Chapter 226

Chapter 226

Subordinate God Expansion Project!

***

Although the Gag God had glossed over it with humor, Lian did not regret becoming the god of the Dark Fantasy World.

He loved the world that had shown him the only affection and love he had ever known. While his human memories remained, making him less than a true god, at least his love was as vast as a god’s infinite mercy.

As soon as Lian arrived in heaven, he looked down at the world to grasp how things were unfolding on the ground.

When Lian took his seat as the god, all Outsiders were either forcibly banished beyond dimensions or became the Gag God’s snacks. Occasionally, she would turn an Outsider into a piece of chocolate or candy and offer it to Lian as a snack.

Lian was bewildered by his inexplicable growth in divinity, but the Gag God offered no explanation.

With the disappearance of the (former) Dark Fantasy God, the inhabitants of the demon realm were freed from the madness that had been created. However, their sins did not disappear. Moreover, there were many true sinners who didn’t even feel guilt for their actions.

Lian reconstructed the realms of life and death and cast all sinners into a place he named ‘Hell.’

Those who at least repented for their sins were sent to the ‘Demon Realm’ and ordered to cultivate the barren lands where no living being could survive. Only those who had not sinned or had been forced into sin by the Outsiders remained in the Demon King’s castle.

Lian did not discriminate against races born with an inherently ‘evil’ alignment. Evil exists because there is good. Instead, those born with an ‘evil’ nature were appointed as the jailers of Hell. They found happiness in punishing sinners to their heart’s content.

Though there were some who were dissatisfied with Lian’s forceful actions, every single one of them was dragged to Hell without exception.

Unlike the (former) Dark Fantasy God, Lian possessed immense power, so there was no need to waste time or effort. If someone disobeyed, he could simply flick them into Hell with a finger.

The empire—… slowly emerged from chaos and entered a period of stability. Nations that had fallen to the Demon King’s army began to recover one by one, or new kingdoms were established.

It only took a moment for a new war to break out. Lian did not prevent wars, but he did his best to stop massacres.

Any nation that deliberately killed those who didn’t need to die, leaving the blood to flow endlessly, was struck by divine punishment. And that punishment came with the help of none other than the Gag God!

Those who received this punishment would experience ‘gag’ events until their death. All while fully conscious…

With the Gag God’s help, Lian gradually transformed the world into a better place.

Was it thanks to his efforts?

The Dark Fantasy World—… had turned into a Fantasy World! Realizing this instinctively, Lian shed tears of joy and shouted in triumph.

What about the rest of the world, aside from the continent?

“Partner, partner! Hurry, come water the crops!”

“Sigh…”

The cursed sword Lian had made a contract with remained in its sword form, even though he had become a god. However, its rank had risen, bringing it closer to divinity.

While Lian was busy working, the sword had taken on human form and gone off to play with the Gag God. At some point, it had become obsessed with healing games. Even now, it was completely absorbed in Star X Valley, playing all day long.

When Lian had tried to confiscate the computer, saying that it destroyed the fantasy genre, the sword had clung to his pants, whining pitifully.

Lian, running around as if his feet were on fire, couldn’t help but feel envious seeing the sword enjoy itself alone.

“What the…! Why are you all here?”

Seeing the cursed sword get slapped and dumped after pursuing one woman after another in the game, ending with a Casanova ending, Lian felt oddly at peace.

“…”

Thinking about the Casanova ending brought back memories of those he had tried hard not to think about.

Noah, Jess, Iris—… the members of the Nest.

After Lian took his seat as god, everyone on the ground had forgotten him.

Even before becoming a god, anyone who tried to retain a part of a god in their mind would inevitably go mad, so he had no choice but to erase their memories.

‘…It’s fine because I remember them.’

Lian thought with a faint smile.

‘When their lives come to an end, I can gather their souls and turn them into angels. At that time, I can return the memories I erased.’

Lian had no intention of letting go of any of his people. Of course, if they truly wished for it, he might consider it three times before letting them go. But as long as he was a god, they would eventually return to his embrace.

It was an obsessive attachment that didn’t suit his gentle face.

After barely soothing his aching heart, he returned to his piled-up work. The sun rose and set about ten times, but since heaven followed Lian’s will, turning from night to day as he pleased, he lost track of time while working.

After several more days had passed, Lian finally took a break, stretching his body.

“Now then… let’s see what everyone is up to.”

Lian looked down at the ground.

“Huh? What are they doing?”

Not only the members of the Nest, but Noah, Jess, Iris… even the Duchess were all gathered in a grand colosseum, where brave warriors were clashing swords in honorable combat.

As he was observing, wondering if there was some grand event taking place—…

“Now! Opportunities like this don’t come around often!”

“…?!”

The Gag God, dressed in a clown costume, was shouting loudly from the announcer’s seat.

‘What kind of trouble is she causing this time…!’

Like a pet owner discovering a cat or dog that had appeared out of nowhere, Lian urgently tried to speak to the Gag God.

Since Lian still lacked the skill to send down an avatar like the Gag God, he had no choice but to communicate verbally.

[What are you doing down there!]

“Oh! The Sun is watching the match! It must be that the god wishes to personally greet the victor of this sacred battle, right?!”

Her voice echoed so loudly it seemed like it could reach heaven, even if Lian wasn’t listening closely.

[What kind of trouble are you causing again..! Get back up here!]

“The Sun commands the match to begin! Now! The first match is—…!”

Lian, familiar with the Gag God’s habit of completely ignoring his words, felt a familiar sense of dizziness. As he sighed in frustration and tore his gaze away from the scene below, Elensia approached him with a calm expression.

“Are you tired?”

“No, I’m fine. This much is—”

“If you’re tired, I’ll give you a kiss—… if you’re not, never mind.”

“Suddenly, I feel exhausted.”

Lian found himself torn between whether to thank or be angry at Elensia for learning strange things from the Gag God, but today, he decided to be grateful.

‘I’ll let it slide just for today.’

Lian humbly resolved to let her do whatever she wanted, just for today.

…He shouldn’t have.

***

“Now, let’s give a round of applause for the new goddesses!”

Beeeep—!

The Gag God blew a party horn while wearing ridiculous spinning glasses. She even had a party hat on and set off small fireworks, the kind that come with cakes.

As small bits of confetti fluttered through the air, Lian was left speechless.

“What in the world is this…?”

“Haha, you’re so moved you can’t even speak, right?”

The Gag God smirked, placing her hands on her hips. What was this crazy god going on about?

Lian was so dumbfounded that he couldn’t even form words. He might just become the first god to collapse from high blood pressure.

That’s how big of a mess she had made.

“Why, of all things…”

Noah, with her violent figure on full display, her brown hair tied in a ponytail, was looking around. Jess was sniffing the air, her ears twitching. Next to them, Iris stood with her arms crossed, her white hair swaying gracefully.

The three people Lian had tried so hard to forget had returned, now even more mature women, and they were standing in heaven. All thanks to the Gag God!

“Turn them back, right now!”

“Eh—… Their souls have already ascended to heaven, so they can’t return. At the very least, you’ll have to make them angels… Ow, ow, ow!”

As Lian grabbed her soft cheeks and pulled hard, the Gag God teared up. When he glared at her menacingly, she let out a pitiful “Hiiing!” and jumped back.

“I didn’t force them to come! They volunteered to become gods!”

“…What kind of nonsense is that?”

“Hmph, they were the victorious heroes in the sacred competition for the glorious position of god! They entered the competition because they wanted to become gods in the first place—… Ow, ow, ow!”

“Stop spouting nonsense and turn them back!”

Lian scolded the Gag God like a parent reprimanding a child who had brought home a stray cat.

“I told you, it’s impossible! Besides… you knew this couldn’t go on like this, didn’t you? Hmm?”

Lian raised his chin slightly, as if to say, ‘Let’s hear your excuse.’ The Gag God eagerly continued her explanation.

“Normally, a supreme god has at least a hundred subordinate gods, right? And thousands of angels! I don’t manage the world much, so it’s fine for me. But you’re different! If you keep going like this, you might die of overwork!”

She wagged her finger, speaking in a lecturing tone as if addressing a younger sibling.

“You can’t bring in Outsiders, and you don’t want to, right? There’s no one you can trust! If you can’t bring in help from the outside, you have no choice but to find it from within!”

“Even if those three become gods, it won’t make much of a difference. You know that, yet you’re still spouting absurdities?”

It was true that Lian needed subordinate gods. It was impossible for him to oversee the entire continent alone. Of course, he could do it if he wanted to, but it would mean working like a machine without a moment’s rest.

He needed subordinate gods, but adding just one or two wouldn’t make the work any easier. At best, it would reduce a single sheet of paperwork. Three subordinate gods wouldn’t be of much help.

‘…Besides, I’m not ready to face them yet…’

He was afraid to meet their eyes, which would no longer hold love or memories of him, but only reverence for a god.

End of Chapter