The Acclaimed Series K

Kim Jihun glanced at the text on his monitor and broke into a proud smile.

He was currently browsing an internet community site, checking out reactions to P.B's new watch—the Series K—which he had designed and engineered himself.

The results blew away any lingering worries he had: overwhelming praise! Watch enthusiasts across every related community were raving about his timepiece.

He was thrilled.

"I was a bit worried, but it's turning out great."

The watch Jihun had designed was the pinnacle of precision engineering. Its exterior appeared deceptively simple at first glance, but it was built on intricate designs where even the slightest error would ruin the entire concept.

The fact that P.B's master watchmakers had replicated his design perfectly spoke volumes about their skill.

And it wasn't just the exterior. The movement he had personally designed and sent them mocked every automatic watch before it, employing a uniquely effective mechanism.

Even with the same winding from motion, it lasted longer, boasted superior durability, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠airtight sealing, and automatically compensated for gravity and daily errors—versatile to the core.

It was the dream movement: packed with features yet rock-solid. That was the heart of Jihun's ambitious Series K.

Satisfied, Jihun eyed the massive blueprint on his desk, which perfectly captured his watch design.

He smiled faintly at it.

"Designing stuff like this... it's pretty fun."

Through training his Creation Talent, Jihun had realized one thing: he genuinely loved making things.

He had created countless objects so far—from simple tools to massive castles and buildings, even artifacts infused with emotion.

He had conceptualized and realized so many things, and every step of the process brought him joy.

Of course, it came with pain and effort. He'd overtaxed his brain to force creations beyond his limits and cast abilities until his Creation Force was depleted.

But the sense of accomplishment when he overcame those hurdles and achieved his vision? It was exhilarating.

I'm the type who finds joy in creation.

Designing watches felt much like creation itself. Visualizing in his mind and refining it with his hands gave him that same rush.

A thought crossed his mind.

Maybe I didn't get the Creation Talent because I had it—maybe I was born with a knack for making things, and that's why I got it.

Jihun chuckled at his silly speculation.

...

P.B's new release, Series K, skyrocketed to massive fame overnight.

With P.B's announcement, columns and news outlets flooded the scene, covering Series K.

Fortunately, most were positive. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Even to experts, the new Series K boasted impressive completion.

P.B employees finally cracked smiles again.

"Look at this! The reactions are amazing!"

"Man, it's been forever since we got this kind of praise."

The staff were overjoyed at Series K's smash hit. Unlike recent flops ignored by the market despite multiple launches, this one drew massive attention.

A complete 180 from consumer sentiment.

Camiel smiled.

"My eye for talent hasn't failed me."

When recruiting Kim Jihun, Camiel had been certain: he could not only save the company but craft watches for the history books.

And with his first design, Jihun proved it.

He murmured quietly.

"Gonna have to pay a lot more contract fees next year. Heh."

He planned higher payments and salary starting next year.

From the company's view, it meant higher costs—something to hesitate over.

But Camiel didn't mind. Jihun would bring back far more in revenue.

He intended to treat him right.

Talent flees if you don't match their worth with treatment.

Talent deserved pay fitting their skill; otherwise, you couldn't harness it fully. That was Camiel's philosophy.

And he'd never strayed from it.

Camiel began pondering various supports for Jihun.

...

Back in his room, Jihun pondered.

How do I grow my divine power?

He was racking his brain over increasing his divine power.

Jihun's mastery of divine power and Creation Force was top-tier among low-level gods. Few could match him.

But one issue plagued him.

My divine power is too low.

Yes, it was insufficient.

Born and raised human, Jihun had only recently—months ago—gained low-level god status via the Creator God Manual, pooling Creation Force and divine power.

If I'd been born a god, divine power wouldn't be an issue.

A human achieving low-level god rank was astonishing, but he was still half-baked.

True gods were born with low-level god status and ample inherited divine power—like trust fund kids loaded with inheritance.

Jihun was different. Starting from scratch as a human, he'd seized everything through his own efforts.

Thus, he lagged far behind other gods.

His biggest shortfall: divine power—the innate force all gods possessed at birth. He lacked it.

Jihun thought.

"To gather divine power, I need training."

Indeed, dedicated training slowly increased total divine power, however slightly.

With enough focused effort, he'd see meaningful gains.

But time was short.

"Promotion battle's in a week. Too tight."

Allei Low-level School's promotion match was next week. Hundreds of low-level gods with Creation Talent would compete; only the final three survived.

Jihun's skills were strong. Conserving divine power and focusing on survival, victory wouldn't be hard.

If I had no enemies.

"Argh! What a mess because of Leila."

He had plenty of foes. First, Leila. She burned with rivalry against him, always itching to win.

She'd likely target him once battle began.

Leila alone, I could beat.

His divine power control outshone hers. With full effort short-term, he'd overpower her after some struggle.

But she wasn't the only problem.

Those male low-level gods. They'll all come for me.

Jihun's face darkened.

He'd stuck close to Leila—classes, meals, breaks—practically monopolizing her.

That alone he'd welcome; better than wandering alone. Friends were useful, Leila's friendship aside.

But Leila was stunningly beautiful, standing out even among gorgeous low-level gods.

Thus, many males liked her.

And Jihun was always with her, nearly exclusive.

In other words...

"Guys crushing on her will attack me."

Obvious. Plenty would strike out of jealousy.

Some might call it oversensitive—just hanging with a popular girl shouldn't draw attacks.

But Jihun faced their hostility daily: jealous glares from male low-level gods, especially when promotion matches came up.

He was certain.

They'll target me in the promotion battle.

Maybe even gang up pre-battle to crush him first.

Suddenly, he imagined: battle starts, Leila and hordes of low-level gods swarm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠him at once.

"Ugh!"

A chill ran up his spine; he shuddered.

Since getting the Creator God Manual, he'd never fought.

Yet a week away loomed a battle stacked against him.

"...I need to train my combat skills."

Slim odds, but Jihun would fight hard.

He needed early graduation; training was key.

With resolve, he opened his subspace.

"Won't come out till I find a real answer."

Muttering his firm vow, he stepped into the subspace.

He wouldn't emerge until he devised a way to win the promotion battle a week hence.

Reference: Each school's promotion rules differ.

Low-level School - Deathmatch (protagonist's current stage).

Mid-level School - Material Creation (god who creates more perfectly via material creation promotes).

High-level School - Advanced Creation (competes in higher creation post-material, e.g., organisms, space, time).

Currently, Jihun has less divine power than average low-level gods but Creation Force rivaling mid-level standards.