The First Customer
"What the hell is this?!"
The constellation [Overcoming Conqueror] exploded in frustration.
"What do you mean? I'm just giving gifts to an apostle I like."
"I'm in the middle of a conversation here!"
"So what? Is she your apostle or something?"
"Come on, let's play nice."
'These bastards...!'
His body trembled with rage at the other apostles' reactions. Everyone had been too intimidated to speak up, and he'd finally broken the ice, inching toward a way to reach Earth. But the moment he spotted the opportunity, they'd all pounced like vultures with their gift barrage.
It was utterly unbecoming of these lofty constellations, who at least pretended to care about face in other matters. But it also meant just how desperately they craved freedom from the Tower to visit Earth.
The player drawing the largest crowd of constellations in Tower history was understandably flustered.
'What kind of gifts are these...?'
As far as Kim Min-su knew, receiving a gift from a constellation wasn't easy. They only bestowed them on players they truly favored and wanted as apostles. Even one such gift marked a player as exceptionally talented.
For example, the first dragon summoner to challenge the Tower had gotten love calls from five constellations.
'This is way beyond five...'
He scrolled and scrolled, but the list never ended. He couldn't count them all, but it was easily over fifty.
More than fifty constellations had showered gifts on Min-su at once.
'And the letters—why are there so many?'
There were too many to read fully, but skimming them revealed a common theme: promises to grant any wish if he let them visit Earth.
They all wanted the same thing.
'...Does that mean all these constellations are watching right now?'
Only then did Min-su notice the sky packed dense with twinkling starlight.
"Uh... are you all watching right now?"
As Min-su looked up and asked, countless stars flickered in response.
He'd thought he was having a private chat with [Overcoming Conqueror]. Who knew every single one of those lights was a constellation?
This had spiraled way out of control. What to do?
He wanted to tell Rijette or Silvia first, but summoning them would burn today's summon slot. Backing out would waste it too.
'Screw it. I'm not a kid—I don't need permission for this.'
Min-su shook his head. Thanks to the powers of two goddesses in the mental world—Rijette and then Silvia—he'd won, but there was no guarantee it'd go smoothly next time.
With so much uncertainty, he needed more allies.
'And in that sense, these guys are perfect.'
Bound to the Tower and unable to roam freely, they were still gods of terrifying power. If they cooperated when summoned, they'd be more reliable than anyone.
'Plus, if I can snag honorary apostle status, I'll get even stronger!'
Just two divine powers had made him this strong. What if he gained more? The thought alone was exhilarating.
"Hello. I'm Player Kim Min-su."
Min-su swallowed hard and addressed the sky.
Even presenting to dozens of people was nerve-wracking; speaking to dozens of gods? Had anyone ever done this?
"I can let you visit Earth for about six hours a day."
His voice echoed, and the starlight erupted in excited flashes.
"But there's a problem... I can only bring one at a time. So today, just one of you can go."
Who knew if his ability would grow later? For now, it was one constellation per day. As he explained the limit, the lights dimmed.
'What, disappointed?'
Did they think they could all go together? Dozens of constellations descending on Earth would be a catastrophe, not a picnic.
That was when it happened.
The stars blazed brighter than before, twinkling furiously.
Innumerable messages flooded in from the constellations.
He couldn't hear their voices directly, but their desperate pleas made their longing crystal clear.
Still, he couldn't grant every wish.
'I was planning to haggle for rewards, but...'
Their over-the-top offers were too much—haggling felt impossible. Why did everything have to be so extreme? He'd just wanted some nice items, not mythical golden apples or whatever.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
Gifts kept pouring in—probably bribes to catch his eye.
'I said only one!'
Were they that desperate? With only one slot, this flood of advance payments was overwhelming.
"Stop! No more gifts or messages! Any constellation sending more now won't go to Earth at all!"
The messages had piled up so much he could barely make them out. Min-su shouted, and the starlight finally stilled.
'...Phew.'
Now he could think straight.
"I don't want huge rewards. Just something reasonable, like what you give other players."
Conquering continents? Enslaving women? Earth wouldn't survive that.
Min-su glanced at his gift box.
"What you've given already is more than enough."
Can I return these? Even a quick peek showed treasures dwarfing national Tower stockpiles in quality and quantity.
"Things got too heated today, so let's decide tomorrow who goes to Earth. For now, I'll send the first one I talked to."
The constellations grumbled in disappointment but didn't spiral into madness like before. Better to wait a day than risk weird stunts that might get them blacklisted.
For beings who'd endured decades, centuries, even millennia in the Tower, one day was a mere blink.
"I said I'd send you, but there are a few conditions."
"First condition: no starting fights or conflicts. Nothing like what we just talked about."
The constellations held their breath, watching intently as Min-su laid out rules for the chosen one—to see exactly how he'd send a constellation to Earth.
A virtual space created by supernatural ability.
"Kuh!"
Shin Yu-bin was flung back by a drake's attack in the simulated world.
The drake charged at the fallen Yu-bin.
It was virtual, so no real death or injury, but the pain was real enough. Yu-bin squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for it.
Just as the drake's fangs closed in—
"Disappointing."
Hummm!
The simulation ended, the drake vanishing.
A middle-aged man appeared before her.
"You think that level of skill will catch His interest?"
"..."
Yu-bin bit her lip under her father's piercing gaze.
"Just a mistake. Restart."
He stared at her a moment longer, then snapped his fingers and vanished.
A new monster spawned.
"Raaagh!"
Yu-bin gritted her teeth and leaped at it.
Outside the simulation, he watched her fight and pondered.
Would she satisfy Him? His constellation, [Overcoming Conqueror]?