God's Abode (2)
The color changed. That was the first thing.
The wallpaper vanished like it was being licked clean by flames, replaced by finely hewn stone walls. Then it expanded. The walls rumbled back, rising and falling and rising again. The door spun sideways before pushing forward, dancing along the wall. The women's startled screams rang out. Yet the walls, ceiling, and floor kept stretching, splitting, merging, and expanding the space without a care.
A vast chamber emerged, carved with the meticulous care of a master stonemason. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling. The kitchen had a fridge and microwave. Plush modern sofas. The things I'd enjoyed before now seemed to drag down the room's aesthetic perfection. It was like a flawless painting had been completed—a beautiful stone chamber.
Fuck, wow. The words slipped out on their own.
I'd been standing in what used to be my bedroom. But now, in the exact same spot, I was in the living room. Check out those pillars. Statues adorned the points where they supported the ceiling, curving smoothly in fluid lines, thickening toward the base before ending in more statues on the floor. These pillars dotted the house everywhere, but they didn't feel obstructive at all. If anything, they lent an air of antique grandeur, like arches had been added inside.
"...Fucking awesome."
It was insanely bigger. No joke. What had been a long, narrow place—like two train cars stuck together, connected to the neighbor's—had become a perfect square. It had to have punched through the front and back of our apartment building. I was sure of it. I'd guessed maybe 50 pyeong, but no. Way bigger. Almost 70? 80 pyeong? I'd thought four bedrooms, but there were more. At a glance, six rooms. The sand hologram in my cramped bedroom had made it look small, but built for real, it was massive.
Of course damn and whoa kept spilling out.
You could really feel it with the Fountain of Life. It used to take up most of the neighbor's living room. Now it sat modestly in one corner by the balcony, where sunlight poured in, like a beautiful fountain—and it fit the space perfectly. Especially with those four thin stone pillars around the spring; sheer, translucent curtains there would be ideal. Add some grass or potted plants along the walls, and it'd be a paradise for lounging.
The rice farm had changed too. Opposite the fountain, out on the balcony that had broken through the apartment wall, the farm now hung from the net-like ceiling. Rice ears swayed in a gentle breeze, and the women soaking in the fountain faced it right up close. Man-made living space blending with nature, a warm hot spring in between, and them immersed in it—that summed it up.
The women were all dumbfounded, eyes wide as they gawked around. The Ushabti? Just diligently sweeping and scrubbing, no thoughts at all.
Sechem Yaret slithered over with a smile.
"Now it finally feels like the akhet I'm familiar with. Your old home was refined, but it didn't suit a god."
"Akhet?"
"The boundary between this world and the next, gods and mortals. It means the living quarters of a shrine."
"Oh..."
I looked around again.
"A shrine, huh...?"
"Yes. Though without an altar, it's more a residence. Very familiar to me—I spent my life in the royal shrine quarters of the god."
"Hmm."
I loved it. For real. Calling this place I was seeing a "residence" felt too mundane; I wanted to show it off. It was like the insanely expensive stone-and-wood mansion a high-ranking ancient noble would build, lording over masses of people and slaves. So goddamn luxurious. Modern concrete apartments with tiles and wallpaper looked shabby by comparison.
If I hung paintings or decorations on the walls, it'd be even more stunning. But the windows. Whoa, the windows. Everything perfect except those windows. Just big holes with covers? No blocking the wind. Otherwise, flawless.
But... why windows in the bedrooms too? Facing the living room, no less. Did ancient folks not care about privacy? Whatever. This was my house, my followers, no real need for privacy.
Bathroom? Oh. No living room-facing windows there. Good, obviously. But electric lights dangling from the ceiling in a place like this? So out of place. I burst out laughing.
"Pfft-haha!"
The women—who'd been dazed, confused, shocked, screaming, staring around blankly—all turned to me at once.
I waved, still chuckling. "Sorry, don't mind me. Go wash up."
Jeong-eun and Iseo, the coughing auntie and her daughter, were in the bubbly Fountain of Life—smelling faintly nice for once—with just their faces peeking above the foam. They tried covering up anyway, but... they knew what coming here meant, right? Eh, they'd get used to it.
Anyway. I released the possession and shot up from the stone coffin. Time to see it in the flesh! But as I stood—ugh. I headed out, waving. "Sechem."
"Yes, my god."
"Food."
"Of course, my god."
I'm starving, damn it! I'd scarfed tons of eggs—real talk?
"My god. Next time, perhaps bring seasonings?"
Soy sauce egg rice, mixed in a wide bowl, shoveled down. Side dish: rolled omelet. I chomped away, then looked up.
"Smack smack. Seasonings?"
"Yes. The Ushabti say they're running low. Miso and gochujang are unfamiliar to me, but familiar to you, my god?"
"Oh, yeah. Running low, huh. I'll bring a ton tomorrow."
Huh?
"You understand Ushabti?"
"Of course. I was the chief steward. While you eat, may I ask about the new women's status? How should I treat them?"
"Mm. They're my followers. Not quite God's Wives, more like... priestesses? Ladies-in-waiting? Something like that."
"Ah, I see. Your women, then? I'll take good care of them."
"Yeah, thanks."
"My pleasure."
Sechem clucked her tongue and slithered to the fountain. Looked dainty, but her actions? Worth every coin. I ate, scanning around. My board games? Oh. Positions shifted, but still by the TV table. Bookshelf bigger now. Tons of space. All 50 boxes fit in the bottom and next shelves.
But... TV? Phones, computers—useless now. Just toss 'em. No carriers, no stations—what? All zombies. But eat first. Ugh. Bathroom.
"Ugh, damn it."
Chewing as I headed straight there. Oh... bathroom's insane too. Way bigger. Tub changed shape—from ceramic to stone, ancient vibe. Huge window right above. ...Everyone outside sees me shitting. But do I need a tub? Got the fountain. Bath there, pillar spring for drinking—solves everything. Oh, for big laundry that won't fit the washer.
Ugh... gut rumbling again. Nice, but damn. Hold out one day and it resets? Day's too long, fuck. Blorp, wipe wipe.
Saw something weird. Sechem. In that flowing dress tied at the waist—like ancient Egyptian women wore. Pulled something from a pocket, clutched it in both hands, and gave one each to Jeong-eun and Iseo. They talked; I was wolfing egg rice, couldn't leave. Had to eat. Eat fast, more!
Jeong-eun and Iseo sipped it, heads tilted back. Huh? Like a drink? Yeonsu and Hyeyoon said something nearby; she gave them too. They drank. What is it? The women seemed more at ease with Sechem. Not "at ease"—more "less terrifying." Chatting and laughing; Sechem's so polite, they'll warm up quick. I had too.
Oh. Eye contact with Sechem. Beckoned her. She slithered over, winding.
"Yes, my god."
"What was that?" I asked, mouth full.
"Ah, a nutrient tonic good for women."
"...Tonic? Ingredients?"
"This."
Sechem held out her hands. A bizarre energy swirled between—flashy, sparkling, multicolored. Like clouds invading a club?
"...What the hell? Fucking cool."
"Alchemy magic."
"...What? Wha—huh?"
Magic? She just said magic?
Sechem clucked and shook.
"My god, I exist for your flesh's well-being. I can make anything health-related. That's me, Sechem."
"...Ooh. Potions and such..."
"Even for sick children. Nurturing your offspring to grow healthy—that's my role too."
"Oh...!"
Worth every one of those 500 coins. No, a steal.
"Got it. Need it myself?"
"No need for you, my god. And you can't consume it."
"Eh? I can't?"
"Yes. It makes women more womanly, thus healthier."
"...Ah. Then never give me any."
"Of course, my god."
"Just checking—no 'manly man' tonic?"
"Don't you already have it?" She pointed to my shoulder. Oh, the tattoos. Bull and lion. Long-sleeve hiding them from the women—for now.
"Right. Sechem. That tonic."
"Yes, my god."
"How long till they're healthy?"
"Gradual improvement. Faster than natural recovery. By tonight, daily life should be possible."
"...Yeah...?"
"Yes. You'll have adjusted by then too, my god."
"...Hmm..."
...Tonight, huh?
To my right—the old rice field from our balcony. Walls, but wooden net ceiling letting sunlight dapple through.
...Tonight...
Makes me antsy. But first, egg rice. Chomp chomp.