Creation Talent - Chapter 28
Chae Seong-ah had been feeling deeply unsettled lately.
"I must've seen things that weren't there."
A few days ago, she'd secretly visited Kim Jihun's house. Peering through the window into his room, she'd caught sight of bizarre scenes: flashes of golden light, floating letters, objects materializing out of thin air.
She chalked it up to hallucination. "Yeah, I've been tired lately. Must've been seeing things. No way something like that could happen. Creating objects out of nowhere? What is this, a movie?"
With that, she habitually logged into CapriTV, her go-to gaming stream site.
Enemy Eliminated!
Have a pleasant trip to the afterlife.
The screen showed Kim Jihun dominating the game. His lightning-fast aim, sharp situational awareness, and fluid movement kept his kill streak going endlessly.
But Chae Seong-ah wasn't watching the gameplay. Her eyes were glued to the small inset in the bottom right corner—Jihun's face.
He's so handsome.
That refined face in the corner prompted the same thought she always had. No matter how many times she looked, his sleek features never lost their appeal.
As she stared, her ears perked up, drinking in the soothing timbre of his voice.
"Around now, the enemy T-Racer should be coming. Ah, there he is. Predict where he'll blink in and pre-aim—makes it way easier to nail him."
There, got him. See? Easy, right?
Jihun was clearly having fun, headset on, laser-focused as he clicked away at his mouse. It was undeniably attractive.
Chae Seong-ah stared blankly at the screen.
Huh? What's that?
Then her eyes caught something in the corner of the frame: a book on Jihun's desk, oddly designed.
That book from back then.
The memory flashed—the golden text emerging from it. It was definitely the same book from when she'd spied through his window.
Chae Seong-ah agonized again. So it wasn't a hallucination? Then what the hell is he...?
What had she really seen? Golden letters, radiant glows, objects forming from his fingertips.
I need to check it out again.
She resolved to sneak over to his house once more.
...
"Not used to it yet."
Kim Jihun stood awkwardly in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection.
"Golden flames burning in my eyes."
Divine power blazed in his eyes, emitting a golden glow. This was the awakening of his divine eyes, a mark of reaching low-level god status. Every glance in the mirror startled him with the fire flickering inside.
"Others can't see it, but it still freaks me out every time."
The golden flames in his eyes were a change from opening his divine eyes. Made of divine power, they were invisible to ordinary people—only Jihun could spot them in reflections. If anyone else saw them, it'd cause a huge uproar. But since they were just divine flames, he wasn't worried.
"Hmm."
A few days had passed since he'd finally attained low-level god divinity. He'd diligently completed quests and claimed his reward from Asrie.
Jihun gripped the small orb in his left hand.
◈ Calculation Performance: Low-rank Creation God
◈ Usage: Impart Creation Force
A small orb, fitting snugly in his palm. But Jihun knew its true value.
"An item that lets me harness low-rank Creation God calculation power."
This orb enabled calculations on par with a Creation God. At first, he hadn't noticed much change—he didn't know how to use it properly. But after experimenting with several creations, he was stunned.
I can perform creations beyond my current level with ease!
His own calculation ability was modest at best—refining advanced objects. With this, he could match an entry-level Creation God, despite only having novice-level Creation Force.
"Alright, time to put that Creation Force to work today."
Jihun entered his subspace.
...
His subspace—a colossal realm spanning 1010 cubic kilometers—greeted him.
He gazed contentedly at the building ahead.
"Almost done now."
It was a castle occupying part of his subspace. Not just any castle, but a fairy-tale dreamscape, ethereal and enchanting.
When he first got the subspace, he'd only used it for storage, like an inventory in fantasy novels. But stepping inside shocked him.
I could just build a house here?
10 billion cubic kilometers—enough space for half the Moon. Wasting it on junk storage? Unthinkable.
So he had an idea: Build my own secret hideout.
As a kid, he'd loved making hideouts with friends—boxes and newspapers in empty lots. He'd forgotten those innocent days as he grew up. But the subspace reignited that spark.
He dove in, constructing a castle in one corner. Sturdy stone walls, towers, ornate decorations—straight out of a storybook.
His old Creation Force couldn't handle it; even a smartphone was a struggle back then. But now, as a low-level god with the calculation aid, his power was leagues beyond.
"All things exist."
Jihun recited his oft-repeated divine incantation. The aid orb in his left hand glowed gold alongside his right, expanding the castle before him. Walls toughened, interiors grew more lavish and functional.
For a week, he'd shuttled between reality and subspace, refining it endlessly.
"Yes! Finally complete!"
Jihun shouted in delight, beaming proudly at his creation.
The finished castle was a massive, breathtaking marvel—ethereal beauty wrapped in sturdy defenses. Towering walls encircled it, four spires at the corners. Inside stood a pristine white 12-story keep, evoking European fairy tales.
Jihun smiled in satisfaction. "My own castle. Guess I've made it."
Even if it was in subspace, he owned a castle now. Grinning, he stepped inside.
The interior was cozy, contrasting the grand exterior with modern comforts: dozens of rooms, plumbing, appliances, spacious layouts, lavish decor.
Thoroughly pleased, Jihun exited the subspace.
...
"Ugh..."
Back in his room—the same one he'd lived in for 20 years. Peeling, discolored wallpaper; cramped and stuffy; outdated cheap furniture.
He glanced around and muttered, "Talk about a stark contrast to the subspace castle. Gotta fix this up with creation later."
His painstaking castle made this place look pathetic. He'd used his new powers for the castle but still lived here on Earth.
I'll visit now and then.
Subspace was always accessible. He'd drop by whenever he had time.
...
Boundary
Rumble...
At the universe's edge, where expansion never ceased. Between existence and the void lay a dark realm where the two mingled.
The gods called it the Boundary.
From one void patch, a figure slowly emerged.
"A Creation God."
The shadow sharpened into a stunning woman: black wings, deep navy hair, pitch-black eyes, porcelain skin.
Alquinoa of the Ma-shin Clan had arrived.
"An intelligent Creation God. Capturing and studying him could let our Ma-shin produce our own divinities."
"We must seize him."
Dozens more Ma-shin filled the space—beautiful men and women, but marked by black wings contrasting the gods' white ones.
They assembled in the void.
"Capture that arrogant fool with Creation Talent despite being intelligent."
"His body holds the secrets of creation."
Fallen gods, corrupted by the void's dread of inevitable doom. The divine called them the Ma-shin Clan.
"Alquinoa! That's Asrie's domain!"
A deep voice boomed across the Boundary. Alquinoa turned, bowing tensely.
"I know Asrie better than anyone. Send me."
"Very well! Corrupt Asrie! Raze his realm! Bring me the intelligent one with Creation Talent!"
The voice thundered. Alquinoa rose, eyes fixed on Asrie's power source as she opened her divine eyes toward existence.
"Mission accepted."
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Author's Note