I Have a God Simulator

Luh Yao looked down upon Yan City.

The streets of the simple little city were clearly more crowded than before, and its houses were constantly expanding. The low walls, which had once seemed spacious, were now pressed tightly against the residences.

Luh Yao clicked on the population tab in the upper right corner.

Population: 23,215

In the details, Yan City’s population was listed as 3,005, an increase of nearly 700 people from a few days ago.

Given the small base population, it was impossible for the birth rate alone to account for such a rapid increase.

There could only be one explanation: immigration.

The streets were filled with shirtless islanders, Wild People with hair trailing to their waists, and other foreigners with feathers in their hair and faces painted with mud and pigment.

They seemed to have just moved to Yan City, and everything was new and fascinating to them. Many were looking left and right, gesturing animatedly as they tried to communicate with the local citizens.

Yan City was a young city and relatively tolerant of outsiders. This was especially true because many of these newcomers brought special goods with them.

For example, colorful Pottery Jars, clothes and hats woven from feathers, rare animal bones, grotesque wooden carvings, and gemstones.

These foreign goods were highly sought after in Yan City and were snapped up by merchants. As a result, some of the immigrants who came here became quite wealthy and well-off.

Luh Yao noticed one little person draped in colorful feathers. This person had bought many things and was leading a camel on a shopping spree through the stores and streets.

Above the little person’s head, the text read: [Chieftain] Doron Nunu.

Doron Nunu didn’t speak the language of Yao City, but that didn’t hinder the chieftain’s life abroad in the slightest.

Besides his two feather-headed attendants, he was accompanied by a local merchant. The merchant was gesturing to Doron Nunu, helping him understand.

This merchant-slash-translator was none other than Shang Li.

Facing this foreign nouveau riche, Shang Li was extremely attentive.

"Chieftain, the houses in Yan City are so sturdy and beautiful. Buying just an ordinary house simply wouldn’t befit your noble status."

Chieftain Doron Nunu stood with his hands behind his back, a string of garbled text appearing above his head.

But Shang Li acted as if he understood it perfectly.

He continued his pitch, "Look ahead, that is the mayor’s house—the finest residence in all of Yan City."

An exclamation mark popped up over Doron Nunu’s head.

It seemed he understood.

Seeing this, Shang Li quickly guided him to a tall stone house next to the library.

"Chieftain, this is the mayor’s mansion."

Doron Nunu looked it up and down, and another string of garbled text appeared over his head.

Luh Yao took a glance.

Yulian’s residence was much larger than the surrounding houses. Two stone buildings were connected, resembling a small townhouse. To the left of the buildings was a small garden, and to the right was a place that looked like a stable.

A large black dog was lying at the entrance of the mayor’s mansion. It wasn’t barking or making a fuss, just lazing on the ground.

After sizing up the mayor’s lavish home, a smiley face appeared over the chieftain’s head, and he chattered away in his own language.

A lightbulb lit up over Shang Li’s head.

"Chieftain, the mayor’s mansion is not for sale."

"This is where the most distinguished person in the city lives! How could we possibly sell it to you, even if you are just as distinguished..."

"Really? You’re absolutely sure you want to buy it?"

"Eh, well, it’s not entirely impossible."

"Please wait a moment, I’ll go discuss it with the mayor!"

Shang Li hopped on a horse, dashed through the streets and alleys, and soon found Mayor Yulian by the lighthouse.

He and Yulian spoke privately for a moment, and an exclamation mark appeared over Yulian’s head.

Then, the two of them galloped back together.

"Chieftain, I pulled every string I could and finally convinced the mayor to part with this most luxurious and prestigious residence in Yan City for you."

Shang Li said, "Anyone else would have found it impossible to buy this one-of-a-kind house. It was only because the mayor heard it was for you that he reluctantly agreed to part with it."

The smiley face symbol over Doron Nunu’s head grew even larger, and he spoke for a while in his dialect.

"You want it now? Yes, of course," Shang Li said.

Soon, the chieftain’s attendants led over a camel that was carrying two chests on its back.

The attendants took the chests down, opened the lids, and revealed the sparkling gemstones inside.

After paying, Doron Nunu puffed out his chest and strode into Yan City’s number-one mansion.

The big black dog at the door, clearly not understanding the situation, barked furiously at the intruder.

Flames of anger appeared over the chieftain’s head.

His two attendants grabbed the dog and tossed it out the entrance.

The black dog was instantly unemployed. It lay down at Mayor Yulian’s feet, a question mark appearing over its head.

A moment later, the attendants returned from the street with the black dog’s replacements: two pheasants with brilliant plumage. They strutted about slowly, elegant and restrained.

Yulian and Shang Li left from the side of the mansion, taking the chests of jewels and the dog with them.

They wound through the streets and arrived at a hidden corner.

"The third one has been sold successfully."

A smiley face symbol appeared over Shang Li’s head. "The ’mayor’s mansion’ name is really useful."

"..."

A sighing emoji appeared over Mayor Yulian’s head. "You’ve already scammed three chieftains this way. The last one was in the east, and the one before that was in the north. They must know they’ve been tricked by now."

"How can you call this a scam, Mayor?"

Shang Li argued, "It really *is* the mayor’s mansion. And you really did live in it for a few days, didn’t you?"

"The Sanatorium needs money, the library needs money, road repairs need money, the Wall needs money, and that school of architecture you’re so set on also needs money, Mayor. This money is for all of that."

Yulian said, "Fine. You certainly know how to make money."

"It’s a merchant’s duty, Mayor," Shang Li said.

Luh Yao watched this and could only think, ’Well, I’ll be damned.’

’The mayor himself is shilling real estate, huh?’

At this point, Luh Yao understood what was happening.

The massive influx of people into Yan City was basically all immigrants.

A considerable portion of these immigrants came from the neighboring Yao City.

Yao City, with its offensive of food and supplies, had engaged in a large-scale cultural export of its Faith, attracting many islanders, Wild People, and mountain folk. Among them were leaders like Doron Nunu.

Once you’ve tasted fine meat and wine, it’s hard to go back to eating bran and wild vegetables.

This was especially true for the wealthy among these natives. They immigrated to the great city of Yao City and began to enjoy life, living off the wealth they brought with them.

Soon, these people discovered that Yao City wasn’t actually the best place to be.

Yan City, to the west, was a rich man’s Heaven.

Over there, praying and reciting the Gospel weren’t mandatory, nor were beast fighting and heavy drinking prohibited. Yan City had clean, beautiful streets and houses, an abundance of goods, and very few restrictions on its people.

And so, a portion of the wealthy immigrants eventually made their way to Yan City.

As a result, Yan City was reaping the benefits, indirectly poaching the wealthy foreign population that Yao City’s missionary work had attracted.

However, because Yao City had the only school, the [Divinity School], the foreign natives would usually study there for a while to learn the local language and basic knowledge, indirectly expanding Yao City’s influence.

Luh Yao’s gaze shifted back and forth between the two cities.

He discovered something interesting.

Whether they intended to or not, the two cities were cooperating in a de facto partnership.

Yao City, through its powerful cultural exports, continuously spread its Divine Faith and theological concepts. Their tireless promotion greatly influenced the perception of natives everywhere, making them unable to resist coming to the city to see it for themselves.

Yan City, on the other hand, with its open and tolerant Traits, firmly attracted this group of outsiders, compelling them to immigrate and settle down to enjoy a better environment and a more relaxed life.

Meanwhile, Yan City couldn’t absorb the vast amount of foreign goods on its own, so it increased its Trade and interactions with Yao City, which in turn stimulated the economy of the Twin Cities.

Luh Yao muttered to himself.

’What do you call this?’

’A beggar’s version of a Twin Cities metropolitan area?’

Luh Yao recalled a forgotten place.

He switched his perspective, moving it to the south, which he hadn’t paid attention to for a long time.

Seeing the situation in Saniluo, Luh Yao was a bit bewildered.

’What is going on here?’

Inside Saniluo City, [Sand Worms] were now appearing, swaggering back and forth along the streets.

’Is the city being sieged by monsters?’

Luh Yao took a look. The city walls weren’t damaged.

He observed more closely.

’Why are these Sand Worms digging canals?’

Luh Yao watched for a long while before confirming that he wasn’t mistaken.

The people of Saniluo had learned to control Sand Worms, a type of Extraordinary Monster.

They had quietly pulled off something incredible.