Light Gifts
“Does that mean you cleared Deity difficulty?”
“Yep. It's the highest one, after all.”
“You didn't go for something girly like science victory or cultural victory, did you?”
“Pfft, a real man goes for domination victory, obviously.”
“Clearing hard difficulties is great and all, but self-imposed challenges like naked rolling no-weapon clears just rub me the wrong way.”
“Same here. I don't wanna lower the difficulty, but holding back on purpose makes it no fun either.”
Min-su had thought conversation might be awkward when he first met him. But surprisingly, maybe because Arpa loved games too, Min-su realized they shared similar tastes.
“I don't hunt for cheese strats, but I wanna give it my all with what I've got.”
“Min-su, you get it.”
Arpa grinned and turned to Min-su.
“Wanna be my little bro?”
“Little... bro?”
“Hold out your hand.”
“My hand?”
Min-su extended his hand as Arpa instructed. When their fists bumped—Arpa's massive one against his—a sharp tingle flowed in.
“This is...”
“I've left my mark on you. Time's short now, so it won't be easy, but it'll be enough to inherit my power someday.”
Inherit?
“Honorary apostle?”
“Honorary apostle? Hahaha! So that's what you mean.”
Arpa tilted his head at Min-su's question, then burst out laughing.
“Sorry, can't do that. Wolves mate for life—just one partner.”
“...Huh?”
“Hm?”
The two men realized they'd misunderstood each other.
“No way, Min-su... You don't know what honorary apostle really means?”
“Well... Isn't it just an apostle without the restrictions?”
“Figured. ...You accepted it without knowing? Explains taking two goddesses' proposals at once.”
“P-Proposals?”
“Honorary apostle—probably a community nickname some constellations use. You get all an apostle's powers without the duties. The real name is [God's Mate].”
God's Mate.
Min-su realized the honorary apostle he'd imagined was a bit off from reality.
“Even regular apostles don't get a constellation's full powers—just a portion. But there's a relationship where you share a god's powers completely without being an apostle. A once-in-a-lifetime proposal to the one you love enough to spend forever with, granting all your powers. That's [God's Mate].”
So... I'm in a situation where both Rijet and Silvia proposed to me?
He'd found it odd. Honorary apostle was special, but he'd never heard of it before. No restrictions and full divine powers? He'd thought it was amazing, but...
...It's that.
Rijet hadn't mentioned any of this when explaining honorary apostle. She wouldn't be shy about it... She probably didn't know either. If Silvia was the same...
We got married without knowing?
“I figured one was your mate, the other a contractual constellation since you wield two gods' powers... But that reaction means both goddesses gave you their powers.”
“Well...”
He'd almost pitched becoming his honorary apostle in front of all those constellations to get summoned faster. Dodged a bullet.
“Conquering two goddesses as a mere human. You're a true conqueror.”
Arpa gave Min-su a thumbs-up.
No, when did I become a married man with two wives without knowing?
Min-su didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
“...They're here.”
Arpa, who hit the log-off button like a pro despite it being his first time at a PC bang, stood up.
“Let's go, Min-su.”
Here? Who'd he call?
Min-su pulled out his wallet to pay.
“No need for money.”
“Huh? No need?”
“Remember I run businesses through my apostles?”
“Oh, right... Don't tell me?”
“Yep. This place is mine.”
Arpa flung on a stylish coat with a flourish. Min-su thought he looked cooler than ever.
“A limo?”
Following him out, a long limo waited at the entrance. The door clicked open automatically. Min-su, dazed, climbed in after Arpa.
“I greet my master, great constellation.”
The spacious, luxurious interior held a sharp-looking woman kneeling in wait.
“You've carried out my orders faithfully.”
Arpa sat in the prime seat like a lord on his throne, leaning back casually.
Huh? That lady... I swear I've seen her before.
She was a stranger, but her face rang a bell.
“You've followed orders, so time for a reward.”
Flames of divine power flowed from his hand into her.
“Ahh, I am unworthy.”
She trembled in gratitude.
Got it!
Min-su finally placed her.
Why's she here? ...No way she's one of Arpa's apostles?
“New orders from now on.”
“Speak them.”
“This guy. Your new master from today.”
Arpa crossed one ankle over his knee and clapped a hand on Min-su's shoulder.
“...Huh?”
“I obey.”
Wait, hold up! Master?!
Min-su whipped around, startled. Arpa winked.
“A thank-you gift for my little bro.”
Ah, right. A gift.
Min-su grasped what he'd overlooked. Constellations came from other worlds—peak beings who'd ascended to godhood. Their mindset wouldn't match Earthlings'. Even if they knew and cared about Earth, differences remained. For a conqueror like Arpa, gifting a possession was probably no big deal.
“I'm Jeong-yeon.”
But this is too much.
The woman bowed to Min-su. He knew who she was. Any Korean would. One of fewer than twenty S-rank players in Korea, leader of one of the big three guilds. Jeong-yeon herself.
“She's competent—perfect as a secretary. Useful for a newbie climber like you.”
Who uses an S-rank as a secretary?
Arpa spoke like he was handing over a game character he'd raised. Min-su couldn't wrap his head around it.
What kinda 'conquest' has this guy been up to on Earth?
“Time's up.”
Arpa cracked his neck.
“Had fun today, Min-su. Thanks for choosing me. Call anytime you need my power. For my little bro, I'll crush anyone.”
With those final words and a burst of light, he vanished—back to the tower's heavens.
Satisfied? He spent his precious Earth time just gaming a few rounds.
Good no disasters happened, but Min-su felt like he'd shortchanged him somehow.
“An honor to serve you, Master.”
“Ah.”
Alone in the fancy limo with this beauty he'd just met. Awkwardness filled the air.
“...Could you drop the formal talk?”
* * *
“Call anytime you need help.”
“Sure. I'll hit you up later.”
Out of the limo, Min-su waved to the deeply bowing Jeong-yeon. Only after it drove off could he head home.
What the hell kinda 'gift' did that wolf-man leave me with?
Second S-rank he'd met after Idaine. Now Arpa's apostle was his secretary.
Running a huge guild, she'd be helpful, sure...
But it's too overwhelming.
Different from constellations. Gods felt abstract and distant; she was a real-world powerhouse. To Min-su, a normal guy just days ago, she was intimidating.
...Maybe ask her to handle Tower reward sales later.
Overwhelming or not, he couldn't ignore the gesture. Time to offload those goblin drops from today.
Wonder if Rijet and Silvia are okay. Hope they didn't fight while I was gone.
Min-su opened the front door.
““Welcome home, hubby.””
“...?”
Rijet and Silvia knelt half-naked. Behind them, blushing Lucia peeking out and Idaine desperately holding back laughter.
...What the hell is this?