I Have a God Simulator

Tonghai had been swamped with work lately.

The complexities of Yan City's affairs far exceeded his expectations. Even though the Citizen Council rejected most proposals, the sheer number of suggestions that remained was still immense.

Sitting in the mayor's office within the council hall, Tonghai stared at the scrolls of parchment piled on his desk, his head spinning.

'How did a coppersmith like me end up as mayor?'

'Life is just so unpredictable.'

...

Not long ago, Tonghai had returned to Yan City to visit the elderly Shang Li.

The old mayor leaned on his cane, fixing his remaining right eye on him, and said earnestly, "I've already proposed to the council that you become the next mayor. They've approved it."

Tonghai was completely bewildered.

Mayor?

'Putting that word and my name together is like trying to polish pottery with a sledgehammer.'

Tonghai didn't understand.

If he had to name any personal strengths, aside from the coppersmithing skills he hadn't used in years, the only place he really felt he belonged was the City Guard Army.

"Don't be hasty. Hear me out."

The old man slowly explained, "In this world, different people have different talents."

"Some are overflowing with talent, born with brilliant and fantastical ideas, like the late Mayor Yulian. Some are resilient and sharp, like the Yaoshao Prophet of Yao City. And some can ignite passion and fervor in everyone, like Prophet Doron Nunu."

"But you, my friend, you have an ability that no one else possesses."

"You symbolize fairness."

Shang Li smiled, the wrinkles on his face deepening.

"Not just anyone could have led the Northern Divine Hall Army to complete such a great counterattack and reclamation."

"Tonghai, they admire you, trust you, and are willing to follow you."

"It's not because you're tall and immensely strong."

"It's because you always Lead by Example, because you're always the first to charge the enemy when you shout the order. You face the might of a God without flinching, you treat everyone equally, you free every slave, and you treat every soldier like a brother."

"The fairness and charisma you embody give everyone confidence in you, making them certain that following you is the right choice."

"The Citizen Council exists so that many people can participate in the city's decisions and offer suggestions. A leader needs to bring out the abilities of more people and earn the support and trust of all citizens. You are the most suitable, and you will be the best mayor."

Tonghai said, "But I don't know how to do any of that."

"No one knows how to do everything."

The old man shook his head. "You've been wandering for a long time; your experience is far greater than it was before. Now, let me ask you: have you eliminated all the Slave Traders?"

Tonghai was silent for a moment. "They've gone into hiding... I only managed to kill twenty-seven of them. After that, I couldn't find any trace of them."

"Do you see now, my friend?"

Shang Li said softly, "That vileness and Madness, that conceit and arrogance, that malice and darkness—they will quietly hide themselves. We can never know in whom they will appear, or when."

"So what we must do is light a fire, to bathe most of the world in light, leaving no place for the gloomy darkness to take root."

"It's a shame about Shang Ji."

A trace of sorrow flickered in the old man's single eye. "If I had been more patient with him back then, offered more guidance and affirmation, perhaps he wouldn't have become so radical step by step, ultimately causing a disaster. He might have instead become a talent who would have made Yan City even more glorious."

Tonghai didn't think so.

'An asshole is an asshole!'

'He'd always wanted to smash a hammer into Shang Ji's head, but that bastard had fled so fast he was nowhere to be found when the city fell.'

"So, stay."

Shang Li's withered hand grasped Tonghai's strong arm. "Yan City needs you, and its people need you."

"If you want to eliminate slavery completely, then turn this city into a true beacon! Let the fire of fairness shine upon the whole world, and make the institution of slavery a symbol of scorn and contempt. This will be a whole new battle!"

Tonghai agreed.

But the main reason wasn't what Shang Li had said earlier.

It was because Shang Li was too old. His energy was fading, and his haggardness and fatigue were visible to the naked eye.

Tonghai didn't want the old man to work himself to death.

...

Tonghai's career as mayor was off to a stumbling start.

He missed his old days of adventuring alone. Though they were always fraught with danger and he often slept under the open sky, it was a simple and pure life, just like his time as a coppersmith.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Mr. Mayor, the Archaeologist Fabiani is here to see you. Do you have a moment?" the scholar-clerk outside asked.

"Send him in."

Fabiani, covered in dust from his journey, walked into the mayor's office. He told Tonghai about Pawa and conveyed Pawa's greetings.

"Excuse me, has the museum been built yet?" the Archaeologist asked.

Tonghai nodded. "It will be open to the public this month, and you will give the first tour. How is the situation at the Earthworm Ranch near the Dragon Nest?"

"There are still a great many of them. The Giant Monsters are loading the worms onto ships, crate by crate, mostly bound for Saniluo." Fabiani took off his hat and wiped the sweat from his brow with his hand.

Tonghai tugged at his beard, a little vexed. "Yan City is supposed to be the best at Trade, yet we're completely helpless when it comes to the Split Worms. Our production can't keep up; their growth rate is just too slow."

Fabiani smiled. "Mr. Mayor, in this world, only the Dragon Nest can achieve such a thing. Yan City's worm farming techniques are, at the very least, far superior to Yao City's."

"Besides, to this day, Yan City is the only place that has successfully bred Musk Ladybugs, which is quite remarkable."

Tonghai felt a little comforted by this.

'As far as Yan City is concerned, losing to Yao City is worse than losing to anyone else.'

This Twin Cities complex was something Tonghai had also inherited from Shang Li.

"It is the God's will," Tonghai said with a slight smile. "In this new Era, we shall lead the future of the Yao Race."

Fabiani verbally agreed.

He thought to himself, 'The people in Yao City think the same way.'

'It's still hard to say which side the God truly favors.'

'From the looks of it, the God seems to prefer the Dragon Nest most of all.'

...

After a day of rest, Luh Yao logged back into the simulator.

As soon as the game screen loaded, a series of notifications popped up on the interface.

[The Split Worm has caused a frenzy among Extraordinary Creatures.]

[The mass proliferation of the Split Worm has led to a slight increase in the number of Extraordinary Creatures.]

[Fabiani has invented a new profession: Archaeologist.]

Luh Yao scratched his head as he read.

'How did the Split Worm cause such a huge change?'

He switched his perspective, looking down from above Yao City, Yan City, and Saniluo.

Split Worms had appeared in all three cities, but they had now become a type of livestock, raised for animal husbandry and for sale.

The buyers were mostly Extraordinary Creatures, who were extremely fond of these worms.

Upon closer inspection, Luh Yao discovered something.

For Extraordinary Creatures, the Split Worm was like meat, eggs, and milk for the pixel people. The worms were gentle, not aggressive, had a high meat yield, and a relatively short growth cycle. They had become the first commercially viable livestock to emerge on the Extraordinary Side.

This was especially true at the port of the Ghost City Saniluo, which had the largest number of Split Worms and served as a transit hub.

All three cities were trying to raise the worms. Unfortunately, even though Split Worms could divide on their own, their production rate within the cities was low.

Luh Yao was suspicious.

'Judging by the ports of the three cities, the number of worms is huge. So where are they all coming from?'

He followed the merchant ships and finally found the source.

The Dragon Nest on the Northern New Continent.

The area outside the Dragon Nest was now bustling with activity, filled with parked carriages and wheelbarrows. Ice Giant Monsters were loading plump, robust Split Worms into crates and handing them over to all sorts of people, who then took their purchases away.

Luh Yao's head spun a little.

'This was supposed to be the terrifying Dragon Nest, an adventure dungeon, and you've turned it into a massive farmer's market?'

'The Dark Sun Dragon Pasha wouldn't have come up with this. It had to be the Snowman!'

Luh Yao found the Snowman.

Jimmy was inside the Dragon Nest, arranging treasure chests on display cases.

Luh Yao typed above his head.

—?

"Lord God!"

The Snowman was thrilled to be summoned by Luh Yao. "Jimmy has been following your instructions, raising Pasha properly! It's very obedient, eats and sleeps well..."

"This is a treasure that the Snowman and Pasha present to you! We traded worms for it with the Cannibal Crabs!"

He held up an Artifact with both hands.

Luh Yao clicked on it.

...

[Tyrant Whale Tailbone LV2]: Faith +1/hour. Slightly increases speed in water.

...

'To each their own specialty.'

'This is what they call loving what you do.'

The scolding and reprimand Luh Yao had been brewing were instantly forgotten. He typed above the Snowman's head.

—Keep up the good work. Well done.

A large smiley face symbol appeared over the Snowman's head. "It is Jimmy's honor to serve you, Lord God! Jimmy will definitely collect all the precious treasures in the world for you!"