I Have a God Simulator

Two days later, it was the New Year.

Luh Yao returned to the hometown he hadn’t seen in a long time.

It was still the same slow and peaceful little county town, only cleaner, with more elderly people on the streets.

In the high school group chat on WeChat, everyone started talking. They were scattered all over the country, all envious of the old classmates who could go home for the New Year. So, the few who had returned home started taking pictures, letting everyone else experience the New Year vicariously.

Luh Yao lurked, watching the conversation unfold.

As they talked about their lives, the conversation turned to hobbies.

Some were addicted to running and marathons, some were obsessed with fishing, some were making videos, some were studying cooking, and others just liked to drink tea, take walks, and watch trains.

Outsiders might think these things were meaningless, but to the people themselves, they were very important.

Luh Yao’s hobby was the God Simulator.

He couldn’t help but seriously consider what the simulator meant to him.

’The identity of a Divine Player seems to make me different from everyone else.’

’But when I really think about it, I’m not all that different.’

’It’s just a qualification granted by the simulator, not a truly omnipotent God. It’s more like an entry pass, a special profession that allows one to probe some of this world’s secrets.’

After getting the simulator, Luh Yao spent all his spare time on it, terrified that if he wasn’t paying attention, his little people would die off at the speed of light for all sorts of reasons.

Fortunately, just watching the little pixel people start from nothing, build tribes and cities, and diligently develop was enough to bring Luh Yao joy and comfort.

’If I treat the simulator as a special kind of realistic game and maintain a relaxed attitude, I can enjoy the unique fun it brings.’

’But if I follow the simulator’s rhythm and procedures, recklessly chasing the limits of a Divine Player, trying to achieve Ascension into the ranks of the Gods, pursuing titles or even becoming a Main God... then it’s like being fitted with an invisible harness. I’d have no choice but to charge forward, desperately scrambling to the top like a whipped warhorse.’

’It would just be another round of ranked mode, a mad scramble across a narrow bridge, the same old rat race all over again.’

Luh Yao had already been playing the ranked mode of life for over twenty years; in the simulator, he just wanted to be an amateur God.

’On a normal day, I can just chill in the Pixel World, watch the little people farm and build, fight a few monsters when I’m bored, and have friendly sparring matches with other Divine Players who enter... I’ll witness the change of Eras, unmoved, and enjoy the leisurely life of a God.’

’When the time is right, I’ll find a way to take my little pixel people to visit other worlds.’

Luh Yao did some quick math. He now had 26 Faith Artifacts, which earned him 1,776 Faith points every day. This fixed income was quite substantial.

Not to mention, the top-right corner of the screen displayed:

Faith: 104,419.

His Faith Reserve had broken 100,000 for the first time. His firepower was stronger than ever, and with an Apostle guarding the Divine Hall, he didn’t have to worry about his base being raided.

’In the Pixel World, I guess I have a slight advantage.’

’In that case, it’s time to start trying to reshape this world!’

Luh Yao set two preliminary goals for himself, one big and one small.

The long-term, major goal was to conquer the Golden Field and break through the Abyss.

The short-term, minor goal was to use the Eastern Continent as a testing ground to try terraforming and introducing new species, to see if he could whip up a new environment and ecosystem.

Luh Yao turned on his old computer at home and plugged in the USB drive.

As expected, the simulator worked.

With a burst of melodious music, the Pixel World once again spread across the computer screen.

Luh Yao took out a small metal box he had prepared.

Inside were earthworms he had gotten from his fishing-enthusiast dad. This was to be his next Blessing.

He placed the first earthworm on the mouse, and the wriggling, soft-bodied creature quickly vanished without a trace.

Luh Yao looked at the screen.

[Unidentified Earthworm undergoing dimensional reduction...]

Beneath the brown earthworm icon, a progress bar gradually filled.

Luh Yao clicked to place the earthworm on a small island west of the Western Continent, then released the mouse button.

A new notification popped up on the screen.

[An Unidentified Earthworm has entered this world.]

...

[Unidentified Earthworm LV1]

Life Value: 51/51

Mana Value: 1/1

Damage: 1

Defense: 2

Speed: 3

[Drilling]

Can move nimbly by drilling holes underground with no reduction in speed.

...

Luh Yao looked down from his bird’s-eye view.

A large, brown earthworm appeared on the island, slowly inching its way across the ground.

Before the earthworm could move more than a few steps, a group of Cannibal Crabs suddenly rushed out. After a pincer-filled assault, the earthworm perished. Smiley faces appeared above the Cannibal Crabs’ heads as they carried their prize and scuttled sideways toward the sea.

[Unidentified Earthworm failed to integrate into the world.]

Luh Yao picked up a second earthworm with a pair of tweezers and placed it again.

He used up almost the entire box of earthworms before he finally found a dimensionally-reduced species that could adapt to the Pixel World.

[Unidentified Earthworm successfully integrated into the world.]

You have named it ___.

Luh Yao decided to name it based on its Traits, as usual.

...

[Split Worm LV1]

Life Value: 35/35

Mana Value: 1/1

Damage: 1

Defense: 1

Speed: 3

[Drilling]

Can move nimbly by drilling holes underground with no reduction in speed.

[Split]

When it detects danger, it will split itself into two sections to escape. Each section will gradually grow into a complete individual.

...

Just as Luh Yao was about to see what changes this new species would bring to its surroundings, he heard his mom calling him for dinner from outside.

He let go of the mouse and stretched his fingers.

’Even a God has to celebrate the New Year. I’ll take a break tonight.’

...

In the confinement cell.

Jia Xiaokai ran a hand through his hair. "...That’s all I know about the [Whistleblower]. The ability of that title is the [Whistle]. The Whistles made by a Whistleblower will continuously grow, and the more Believers they control, the stronger the Whistle’s ability becomes. The requirement to use it is [Gods]."

"It’s not as good as the [Skinner] in that regard. They have a special Divine Statue reforging ability that lets them split a Divine Statue, and it seems they can even split it several times. But the cost is that the Faith harvested from each Divine Statue is halved or reduced to just a fraction, right?"

He rubbed his hands together. "Today is the New Year. I’d like to make a phone call. According to the relevant laws and regulations, this is a reasonable request."

"After I turned myself in, I’ve been actively reforming these past two years..."

Songx Shiyi cut him off. "You turned yourself in because you were Cursed by the [Whistleblower] and couldn’t use your Faith Artifacts. You were seeking the protection of the Committee’s [Nandou]."

Jia Xiaokai was unfazed. "Prosecutor Songx, don’t be so cold."

"Who are you calling?"

"My cousin, Huang Liaoxin."

Songx Shiyi took out a brand-new phone and placed it on the table. "Please keep it on speakerphone the entire time. The Committee will also be synchronizing and recording all relevant data."

"I don’t care, record whatever you want. It’s just a normal phone call."

Jia Xiaokai picked up the phone, dialed a number, and after a few beeps, the call connected.

"It’s me."

"...Ran into some trouble. Laying low for a bit. I’ll be back when it’s over."

Jia Xiaokai said nonchalantly, "It’s just, it’s the New Year. I wanted to give you a call."

"If you have time, go visit the grave for me. If not, don’t worry about it."

He hung up the phone and said, "Thanks."

"Prosecutor Songx, are you going home for the New Year?"

Songx Shiyi simply picked up the phone and left.

...

In a spacious but empty apartment, a large plate of stir-fried pork intestines sat on the coffee table.

Songx Shiyi slowly ate, pairing it with a bowl of rice.

Mingzai stood on the edge of the plate, using its beak to pick out all the Sichuan peppercorns and chili segments, piling them up in a small bowl on the side until it was more than half full.

On the 70-inch television screen, a host announced the New Year’s countdown. Everyone on screen was beaming with joy.

The phone on the coffee table suddenly started to vibrate.

Her parents were video calling.

Songx Shiyi wiped her mouth, straightened her hair, and then answered the call.

"Are you still busy?"

"A little."

"Take care of yourself, okay? Even if work is busy, you still have to eat properly and sleep on time... Will you be able to come home next year?"

"I’ll try my best."

"Well... Happy New Year!"

"You too. Love you."

Songx Shiyi smiled at the phone’s camera and expertly made a heart shape with her fingers.

She put down her phone.

She looked at her companion on the table.

"It’s the New Year. Happy New Year, Mingzai."

The little sparrow ruffled its wings. "Happy New Year, Happy New Year."

Songx Shiyi gazed out the window. Beyond the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, most of the buildings were brightly lit, and in the distance, fireworks bloomed in the sky.

It was only at times like this that Songx Shiyi wished her memory were a little better.

She habitually opened her phone and began reviewing her recent work logs and memos.

When she saw the name Mary, there was a small, simple hand-drawn sketch next to the memo, showing a girl in sunglasses, bundled up tightly.

Songx Shiyi clicked on the note next to it, and her own voice played back.

"I can’t help but feel that Miss Mary and I are very similar in many ways."

"If I get the chance, I’ll invite her to be a volunteer again next time. That way, I’ll be able to chat with her."

’Who is Mary?’

Songx Shiyi began to examine the entry, searching through the text and voice notes for any connection between herself and this person.

On the coffee table, Mingzai flapped its wings and chirped, "CHIRP CHIRP."

"Master, Master, it’s time to go hunt some Gods."

Without looking up from her phone, Songx Shiyi said, "The alarm hasn’t gone off. It’s not time yet."

"Let’s go early! We might be able to catch a rare and powerful one."

Songx Shiyi covered her mouth and yawned. "Mingzai, what kind of person is Miss Mary?"

Mingzai immediately grew wary. "She’s probably a bad woman! Master, you’d better stay far away from her."

"Why do you have such a strong opinion of her?"

"A gut feeling!"

"In that case, I’ll have to get to know her properly. Identifying bad people and bringing them to justice is one of a prosecutor’s duties."

"No, Master! You have to believe me!"

Songx Shiyi stretched lazily and looked at her phone. "There are still twelve minutes. I think I’ll buy a new outfit! You’re supposed to wear new clothes for the New Year!"

Her fingers swiped across the screen as she softly hummed, "Wear my, wear my new clothes~"