I Have a God Simulator

After leading the City Guard Army through their morning training, Boutu wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel.

The soldiers were all gasping for breath. Each of them sat on the ground, leaning back and gulping down water from their waterskins.

"Don’t gulp your water! Sip it!"

Boutu brandished the Wooden Sword in his hand, swatting at the young men. "How many times do I have to tell you! Drinking too much water too quickly after intense training will cause stomach cramps and dizziness. All of you, rest for a while before you touch that water again!"

"The next person I catch will run twenty laps around the city."

With long faces, the soldiers quickly put down their waterskins.

They muttered in low voices, "The Commander is so strict... He trains us like donkeys."

"Seriously, he should get a wife. Maybe his temper would improve."

"It’s true. A man without a woman is just irritable."

Boutu scowled. "What are you all muttering about? This is training, and training is the battlefield! Now shut the hell up!"

The soldiers instantly fell deathly silent.

"Okay, next up is archery practice."

Boutu clasped his hands behind his back. "In a real battle, the enemy won’t give you a chance to catch your breath and adjust. You have to learn to draw your bow and shoot when you’re exhausted and weak."

"With the help of Magic Potions, you can paralyze an enemy the moment an arrowhead pierces their skin. That already makes your job immensely easier. You should be grateful for the inventions and research of those who came before you. It’s what will help you shed less blood."

"Simulating real battlefield conditions is the only way to practice effectively."

Grumbling aside, the young men still quickly picked up their bows, aimed at the targets, and began their archery practice.

The Commander might be strict and sharp-tongued, but his lessons were effective. He also participated in the training himself, never asking for special treatment. On several occasions, during skirmishes on patrol, it was his command and their regular training that allowed them to swiftly subdue thugs and Extraordinary Beings.

Moreover, the Commander had started as a common soldier, rising through the ranks to Captain, then Deputy Commander, before taking over from the old Commander. He had been commended by the Yan City Citizens’ Council for ten consecutive years.

Saniluo had also made generous offers several times, wanting to poach him to serve as a Commander and lighten the workload of their current Commander, Alex. The pay over there was higher, the equipment was superior, and he would even be able to mobilize the Fishman Corps—a temptation that any military man would find hard to resist.

Yet he had always remained in Yan City.

This loyalty and dedication greatly inspired the young men, earning him their heartfelt respect and admiration.

...

Just as Boutu was about to have them start foot combat drills, a tall man rode up on horseback.

"Boutu."

Upon seeing him, Boutu immediately stood at attention. "Mr. Mayor."

It was Mayor Tonghai.

Tonghai was now over sixty, but he was still robust, and his thick beard gave him a dignified air. However, those who knew the mayor were aware that he put on no airs and was actually very friendly.

"I’ve brought you something good."

Smiling, Tonghai lifted two large chests off his horse and set them on the ground.

"Take a look."

Just then, the Scholar Scribe finally caught up on his own horse, panting as he spoke. "Mr. Mayor, please don’t go off on your own! Please wait for me! The harbor lighthouse renovation needs an on-site inspection, you have a meeting with Prophet Shi Bao this afternoon, and the council has two other resolutions to..."

"Yes, yes, we’ll get to that later."

Tonghai waved a dismissive hand and looked at Boutu. "Go on, open it."

Boutu opened the lid, revealing a disassembled suit of Full Body Armor. It was cast from solid brass and shimmered with the subtle luster unique to the metal.

"Ghost Armor," Boutu said, startled.

"That’s right." Tonghai picked up the breastplate and handed it to him. "Try it on."

"This is far too expensive."

Boutu knew full well that this suit of Armor was worth as much as a house in Yan City’s old district. Furthermore, because Ghost Armor was so time-consuming to produce, it could only be forged by Dwarf masters, and was always custom-commissioned.

"The Commander of our Yan City Guard Army deserves a suit of fine armor worthy of his station. This isn’t just about you; it’s a matter of Yan City’s honor."

Tonghai stroked his beard, a proud look on his face.

Boutu stroked the Brass Armor, unable to contain his excitement.

No soldier could resist a masterfully crafted suit of Armor. Ghost Armor might slow the wearer down, but once put on, it granted even an ordinary person Defense comparable to that of an Extraordinary Being.

"My friend, you’ve worked hard."

Tonghai clapped Boutu on the arm, smiling. "I’ll find you for a drink when I’m free."

He swung himself onto his horse. "Scribe, where did you say we needed to go?"

The scribe snapped out of his daze. "The harbor lighthouse."

"Let’s go, to the lighthouse."

As quickly as he had arrived, he was gone, galloping toward the harbor.

The scribe scrambled to follow.

Seeing this, the soldiers swarmed over, gathering around the armor in the chest and touching it nonstop.

"So this is Ghost Armor... I can’t believe it’s actually lighter than regular iron armor."

"The craftsmanship of the Dwarves is incredible! It even has Master Chui Wujing’s mark on it, meaning he forged it himself. Look, the Commander’s name is engraved on the back! Wow, it’s a custom-signed piece!"

"The Commander really has some pull. If I had a suit of this armor... I’d wear it to bed every night."

"Let me see, let me see."

...

The soldiers excitedly gathered around the armor, pointing and commenting, but Boutu did not share their excitement.

He looked at the priceless suit of Armor, his heart a tangle of conflicting emotions.

Sometimes, Boutu felt confused.

’Am I the Commander of the Yan City Guard Army, or the Captain of the Empire’s First Scout Corps?’

The two identities were constantly at odds with each other.

As the Scout Captain, he had gained a deep understanding of the city’s terrifying hidden power. He was coming to realize the horrifying might of this world’s Gods, and he worried for the future of the Empire.