Awakening as a Low-level God
Kim Jihun focused, manipulating his Creation Force.
This time, it'll work.
He had endured countless failures while trying to upgrade his smartphone's AP. But each time, he'd grown a little, and now success was finally within reach.
"All things exist."
The noble declaration of the Creator God reverberated through space. At the same time, a brilliant golden radiance spread outward. Faint divine power infused the Creation Force, fluidly shaping it into existence in reality.
The golden glow gradually formed into a rectangular object—a smartphone.
That was when Kim Jihun tensed up.
This is the crucial part.
Upgrading and creating the smartphone's core, the AP. Kim Jihun pushed his brain to its absolute limits.
Improved architecture, finer process nodes, multi-core optimization, heat minimization, increased computational power...
His mind burned fiercely. A torrent of information swirled in his head. The enormous computational load spun his brain hot.
Urk!
A headache like his skull might shatter. Pain stabbed through his head like needles.
But Kim Jihun didn't stop.
I can't give up.
What came to mind was Asrie's radiant creation. The vast, noble, beautiful scene etched itself on his retinas once more. He clenched his fist.
He thought of his mother's pain. Her bitter expression from back pain. Unable to afford proper treatment.
He gritted his teeth.
This is the only path for me— the path of creation.
The path of creation. The alluring road permitted only to him. The one talent granted to a man who'd spent his life shivering in inferiority.
He poured every ounce of strength into focusing on creation.
Whoosh!
Golden flames ignited in Kim Jihun's eyes. The awakening of his divine eyes. He had now attained the rank of a low-level god.
Sudden divine power surged. Kim Jihun felt vitality course through his body.
What? The headache's gone all of a sudden.
The massive wave of information that had scorched his synapses and neurons began to calm. Divine power enveloped him.
Kim Jihun smiled.
For some reason, it's much easier now.
By manifesting power beyond a certain threshold, he had gained the stature of a low-level god. Though he himself didn't know it yet.
"Finally, success."
Kim Jihun peered at the smartphone in his hand. A crude design. An old model he'd bought nearly four years ago.
"I wonder how much it's improved."
With slightly trembling hands, he unlocked the screen pattern. He launched the browser and opened an internet page.
"Heck!"
Incredibly fast speed. Nearing the limits of internet transmission.
Kim Jihun gasped in surprise without realizing it.
"It's this fast?"
The smartphone he'd been using was over four years old. A relic from the early days of smartphones—one that took ages to even load the Naver PC version.
Yet now, it displayed tremendous speed.
With a hint of anticipation, Jihun began installing a game.
"Games should work great too, right?"
He had upgraded the smartphone to the limits of his ability. In the midst of it all, he hadn't had a chance to check overall performance, so he still lacked full confidence in his powers.
But at this speed, games should run much better. That was Kim Jihun's hopeful thought.
"Alright."
Finally installing and launching the game. He gazed at the screen expectantly.
And the game screen appeared.
"...Whoa."
Even a high-spec game meant for premium smartphones ran smoothly. On his old phone, it wouldn't have even launched, let alone run smoothly.
But now, it was buttery smooth.
He was satisfied.
"Good. Now I can freely upgrade high-grade objects too."
Kim Jihun smiled contentedly. Golden flames flickered briefly in his pupils.
Kim Jihun had attained the stature of a low-level god.
...
"Asrie. Did you feel that just now?"
Kanna, immersed in her book, reacted to the sudden low-level god stature.
Asrie had sensed the low-level god's divine power as well. She murmured with a satisfied expression.
"Looks like he's finally obtained low-level god stature."
A gentle smile crept onto Asrie's lips.
Kanna spoke to Asrie with a shocked look.
"No way?! Even a low-level god is a true member of the divine race. A mortal gaining divine stature? That's impossible!"
"Because he has the Creation Talent."
"Even so, it's just a talent. You think it's reasonable for a mortal to reach godhood on one talent alone?"
"Think back to when we were low-level gods, Kanna."
Kanna had no choice but to fall silent at Asrie's words. She too was born with the Creation Talent—a member of the divine race. From her early days as a newborn low-level god, she'd grown far faster than others. All thanks to the Creation Talent. So she knew the word "just" didn't suit it. Better than anyone.
Kanna was stunned by the emergence of a mortal-born god, while Asrie smiled.
"Then, shall we go welcome the newly born god?"
Asrie murmured with a deep smile.
...
Kim Jihun stared blankly at the scene before him. Then, in disbelief, he muttered.
"What the heck is this."
What he saw upon entering the living room were two beautiful women. One was the high-ranking Creator God he knew well: Asrie. The other was a fiery beauty with red hair.
Two beauties appearing uninvited in his home. That alone was pretty great. Men crave beauties, and having them visit felt good.
But what flustered him wasn't their stunning looks.
"It's too messy..."
It was the living room they'd trashed.
The scene was a disaster. Asrie had raided his snacks and drinks without permission, munching away. The red-haired woman was rolling on the sofa, eating snacks and reading a fantasy novel.
Cracker crumbs and fantasy books scattered everywhere. High-ranking Creator Gods snacking while tumbling around with novels—an avant-garde sight.
Kim Jihun stared dumbfounded, at a loss for words.
Sensing his gaze, Asrie spoke up.
"Oh, Kim Jihun. Congratulations on finally gaining divine stature."
Asrie said that, then reached for another potato chip.
Jihun just stared blankly at them.
"Let me introduce her. This redhead is Kanna. A high creation god overseeing the neighboring galaxy. She's my peer."
Asrie introduced Kanna after they'd demolished all his snacks. Seeing her flat stomach swallow so much, Kim Jihun seriously wondered if she had a subspace in there.
Anyway, Asrie had personally come to introduce him to another Creator God. A radiant beauty with red hair and passionate charm: Kanna.
Kim Jihun looked at Kanna and greeted her.
"Hello... I'm Kim Jihun."
"So you're the human who's about to become the 'mortal-born Creator God.'"
Kanna scanned him appraisingly. Refined features. Eyes burning gold. Sturdy build. She nodded, satisfied.
"Your divine body shows a pretty pure soul for a mortal. I was worried since you're human, but good."
A god's appearance reflects their soul's nature. Aggressive souls yield passionate forms; calculating ones, delicate. A god's body is a window to their inner self. Thus, wicked or greedy gods become hideous from their souls' influence.
But Kim Jihun had refined features and pure eyes. Meaning an untainted soul.
Kanna was pleased with his appearance and soul.
"Among all the mortals I've seen touring Earth, I haven't found one with such a pure soul. Good thing the Creation Talent manifested in someone decent."
Kanna peered deeply into Kim Jihun's eyes.
"But I have a mission from above. So I'll examine you more closely. That's fine, right? Asrie."
Kanna turned to Asrie, gesturing for permission.
Asrie nodded.
"Sure, but he's still just a low-level god, so go easy."
"Got it."
With Asrie's approval, Kanna turned back to Kim Jihun with a serious expression. Their eyes locked in the air.
Facing the passionate woman's intense gaze, Kim Jihun's face flushed red.
Why's she doing this?
Overwhelmed by sudden embarrassment, he tried to look away. Eye contact at such close range—less than an arm's length—was too awkward.
But he couldn't turn.
Crackle.
Kim Jihun felt an enormous shock. Her hot gaze pierced his form, scanning straight to his soul.
He felt utterly exposed, stripped bare.
Ugh!
His soul's depths were laid bare to Kanna. Everything constituting him—memories, life's traces, karma—all exposed.
An eternity seemed to pass in an instant.
Kanna finished her scan, released him, and sighed.
"Phew. Definitely no issues, no need for measures. Guess a simple scan can't reveal how the Creation Talent manifested."
As Kanna murmured, Kim Jihun escaped the unknown restraint. Gasping, he collapsed to the floor.
"Wh-what was that?!"
His body trembled at the unidentified gaze. Kanna gave a sheepish look and explained to the terrified Jihun.
"Sorry, I should've explained. I just examined your soul."
Examined his soul? Kim Jihun couldn't comprehend.
Kanna continued.
"We gods were curious about how you got the Creation Talent. That's why I came, and as part of the investigation, I checked your soul. But don't worry! The scan showed no problems. You've got a really clean soul."
With her explanation, Kim Jihun understood what happened. Everything had been seen—memories, past, nature, soul's essence.
He muttered discontentedly.
"Don't I get any privacy or secrets? That's a clear violation of personal information."
Even if they were curious about a human gaining Creation Talent, investigating without consent felt intrusive.
But at his protest, Kanna laughed heartily.
"Ahaha, if it bugs you that much, become a high Creator God yourself."
Her refreshing laugh left Kim Jihun grimacing helplessly.
During the Seollal period, uploads will be in the afternoon.