Yujin's Dilemma
Aigoo... Getting all worked up over something I did just once. Such a whiner.
Hmm, but yeah, that last one was a bit much on my part. Nearly killed the poor thing.
Maybe as an apology, I should leave them alone for a while and do nothing. They can't escape on their own anyway.
"Great one, please release us. Or just kill us outright..."
This massive arthropod, like a beetle and king crab mashed together, is bawling its eyes out, and instead of pity, it just disgusts me—but on the other hand, I do feel a twinge of sympathy.
Truth be told, these guys have probably spent their lives dodging the Galactic Union, so they haven't caused much harm anywhere. Tormenting them this much feels a bit excessive.
Eh, this is exactly why bugs shouldn't talk. Once communication kicks in, emotional exchange happens, and suddenly these grotesque things start looking a little pitiful... even cute.
Am I finally losing it? Did the outer god's mental breakdown affect me too? Or maybe by outer god standards, that's cute.
For now, I'll think about what to do with them later. Releasing them outright might be too much, but I could bind them to me and use them as minions.
It's not so much procrastinating in anxiety—more like, whatever I choose won't matter anyway, so I'll take my time. This leisure and omnipotence is what being a god is all about.
[Hello there. Are you Yujin?]
[Ah, yes. Hello.]
Whoa, an event popped up with Yujin in the meantime.
A messenger from the Terra race has arrived on the planet where Yujin is staying with the Meias tribe. I quickly switch channels and zoom in.
James Cobalt, elder of the Terra race and chief military commander. One of his high-ranking officers has come to see Yujin.
The officer's name is Rigel Dorchi—translating to Earth's military ranks, he'd be about a colonel. A burly guy in his forties, giving off that unmistakable "tough soldier" vibe just from looking at him.
"To meet the man who flattened the noses of those Meias tribe wizards despite being Terra-born—it's an honor."
"Yeah, uh..."
Yujin's reaction was lukewarm compared to the praise.
And understandably so. He'd scheduled a magic training session, but this visit had eaten into that time.
'I need to learn magic as fast as possible.'
He didn't have any grand ambitions, but Yujin had a strong interest in magic and the drive to master it. Anything interrupting his studies pissed him off.
Especially since this Rigel guy from the Terra race had shown up and shortened his session.
One might say, just skip the meeting or don't schedule it—but this was someone sent directly by a Terra elder, so politics were involved. Refusing could put Yupiter in a tough spot.
The Meias tribe was already split down the middle over Yujin, clashing in debates. If his own race, the Terras, started picking fights with Yupiter and the other Meias elders now, it'd be pouring fuel on the fire.
Given the situation, Yujin had no choice but to meet Rigel to avoid complicating things for Yupiter.
"Anyway, I don't like beating around the bush. Let's get to the point."
"... ..."
Yujin could guess exactly what that point was, making his expression even more bored.
"Join the Terra race. No—join the Terra military. I promise the best treatment."
Classic scouting offer.
Predictable. They wanted to recruit the hot-topic genius wizard born from Terra stock, rally public opinion, and bolster their sorely lacking wizard forces to boost military power.
Bonus: If they could uncover the secrets of his strength, maybe they could train their own wizards. Wishful thinking, sure.
Magic didn't require fancy gear—just pure accumulated energy and skill for immense power—which made it coveted by militaries across races.
The Terras were no exception. Their magical aptitude was rock-bottom, so Yujin shining like a beacon was tempting enough.
Of course, Yujin's answer was set in stone, whatever they thought.
"Nah, I'm not joining the military."
The military? Hell, even Earth's military?
Ugh, sibal. Nothing but bad memories.
Naturally, Yujin—who shared some of my memories—instinctively wanted to avoid that mess.
Sure, it was the Korean army I knew, with conscription, so it'd feel different here. And with his skills, he'd get top treatment, probably as a high officer... but still, military is military.
Even without bad memories, he wouldn't join any organization. Yujin's goal was to roam the universe as a space adventurer, soaking in the full sci-fi experience.
Affiliating with any group meant getting tied down. Best to avoid that.
Sci-fi space military dramas could be fun, though... Eh, ultimately, it's Yujin's call. He's a splinter body in name only—fully independent now. Let him do his thing.
"Haha, think it over. The Meias are in chaos over you right now. Even those defending you aren't doing it because they like you—it's just about accepting diversity. They're more hostile than friendly toward you."
Rigel didn't give up on Yujin's refusal and started trying to persuade him with various arguments.
"No matter your magical talent, you won't get proper treatment in a place riddled with racial discrimination. Yupiter might look out for you now, but when push comes to shove, he'll side with his own kind—obvious as day."
In short: Stick around here, and racism will screw you over, so come with me to Terra and be a racial hero.
But Yujin couldn't care less about heroes or racism.
"I'm not really interested. Terra this, Meias that... I'll just go my own way, and you go yours. Like always."
Yujin was born on a Terra base, but he wasn't truly Terra. Strictly speaking, he was an outer god creation—a whole new species. A Terra-Meias hybrid vibe.
Appealing to racial bonds did zilch.
"Hahaha, quite rude speech."
"Pfft, who started with casual talk right off the bat and acted all rude?"
They started bickering, and auras began to rise subtly. A battle of intimidation.
Ooh... dick-measuring contest~ They say fights are all about dick size, but here it's mega-dick vs. small-dick, so the outcome's obvious—no fun.
"...Urk."
The intimidation standoff ended predictably in Yujin's overwhelming victory. Duh—who's stronger, the guy packed with insane mana or the one slinging vague, unscientific killing intent from battlefield scraps?
"I'll head out for now. Think on the offer and reply. Here's my comm frequency."
"Tch."
Rigel bolted. Face beet-red—humiliated and furious at being crushed by a massive wizard who looked way younger.
'This punk thinks he can look down on me just 'cause he knows magic? Me, direct line to Elder James?'
Oho, plotting revenge? Classic fantasy trope.
Butthurt nobles or knights snitching to higher-ups to screw the protagonist... Won't work on Yujin, though.
"Haa... What a hassle. Gotta learn magic quick and get outta here."
Yujin sighed deeply, then suddenly shifted his gaze, staring into empty space.
...??
What’s he doing? Like he's peering at something beyond invisible space...
"Main body, you're watching, right? Even if not, you'd know anyway. You sense everything happening across the universe."
Wait, he's trying to talk to me all of a sudden? That beyond-space stare was aimed at me?
Hey! If a character breaks the fourth wall like this, what am I supposed to do? No buildup, no hints before.
Fourth-wall breaks aren't rare these days, but springing it out of nowhere bugs viewers. Oh, wait—my only viewer is me.
But why talk to me now? Need something?
"I plan to become a space adventurer, roaming the universe's wonders. But... is that really my will? Or am I just a puppet dancing to the unconscious you implanted?"
...Hmm. Seems his chat with Rigel made him realize he belongs to neither Terra nor Meias—just exists alone.
Hit with an existential reality check, questioning his very being.
Fair. He's my created splinter, with a personality copied straight from me. Can't say all his choices are purely his own.
...But there's nothing I can do. I've decided to treat Yujin as fully independent. From here on, everything's his call.
He might reflect some of my traits, but it's like watching a kid I've raised with my values—yet forging his own path. Yujin, born of me, will advance under my influence but by his choices.
Yeah, that's how it has to be. That's what'll keep Yujin's life entertaining for me to watch!