I Have a God Simulator

But as a commander, he also felt proud of this great city, proud of the young men here, and honored by the endless stream of creations and inventions.

When he first arrived, the 24-year-old Boutu was full of ambition.

He infiltrated the City Guard Army to figure out the city's entire defense system.

In his third year, he was promoted to captain and had almost completely figured out the City Guard Army's routines, equipment, and combat capabilities.

But it was from this point on that Boutu began to struggle internally.

In his fifth year, he was promoted to Vice Commander for solving a major Split Worm smuggling case and apprehending a gang of criminal Fish People.

In his seventh year, the old commander retired, and he officially took over the City Guard Army. He captured the infamous Red Demon Corps, a bandit group comprised of Cannibal Crabs and Blazing Chickens, and successfully solved the kidnapping of the grandson of Yan Dai, the city's renowned philanthropist.

Boutu's fame soared, and he was hailed as the "Divine Detective of Yan City." The famous storyteller, Pawa, even sought him out to ask about his past for future stories.

It was now his tenth year in Yan City.

It was also the tenth year since he had left his homeland, the Empire.

The 34-year-old Boutu found it increasingly difficult to distinguish which one was his true self.

...

A galley slowly pulled up to the shore. Sailors tied it to the stone pillars on the dock and began to drink and chat.

Boutu covered his face with his hood and followed the path from memory to an old cabin in the forest.

He waited from high noon until the dead of night.

Only two people came to meet him.

One was the merchant Bo Jiuqian, and the other was the scholar Bo Zhan.

'The others probably aren't coming,' he thought.

Boutu said slowly, "Share your intelligence."

Bo Jiuqian spoke first. "In the south, Elf Lake has started selling treasure chests. You can open them on the spot, but before you do, no one knows if there's just a single pearl inside or a pile of Gold. The business is booming. They say it was the idea of the Elves' current leader, Tree Demon Jodi."

"Even though the merchants all think it's a scam, plenty of people are still trying their luck. Only a few strike it rich, but the Elves have made a fortune..."

Bo Jiuqian's voice trailed off, then he said abruptly, "Let's just stop, Captain... We're all tired."

Boutu looked at Bo Jiuqian. "Is that what you think? Or is that what everyone thinks?"

Bo Jiuqian avoided the question. "Captain, it's been ten years. If the Empire truly hadn't forgotten us, they would have found this world by now. But the fact is, in these ten years, besides the fourteen of us, not a single other Bo Person has appeared."

"To the Empire, we're just insignificant cannon fodder. Captain, you know this better than any of us. Our Scout Corps isn't even an official part of the military."

After a moment's hesitation, Bo Jiuqian continued, "Captain, back in the Scout Corps, we were always risking our necks for a meager salary with no security. We got by on sheer willpower alone. The Empire conscripts soldiers, and refusal means death."

"It wasn't for anything else. We believed in you."

"If we followed you, we could survive."

"Every one of us remembers your kindness and how many times you saved our lives. The brothers have no complaints. If you need anything, everyone will come and help you."

"It's just... the Empire... it's too far away from us now."

Bo Jiuqian gave a bitter smile. "According to Imperial law, losing contact with the corps for half a year means we're already considered deserters. Going back is impossible. The corps gave us the wrong map, but the commander will never admit it. You know that better than we do. In the end, the blame will just fall on us grunts."

"In this world, for the first time, we aren't being forced onto the battlefield. We can support ourselves through hard work and don't have to worry about monsters breaking into our homes and eating us."

Boutu's lips tightened.

"Captain, you should know that the Yao Race today isn't a race bound by blood. It's a community formed from many tribes who have united through their Faith in Yao God, with that Faith as their core. Everyone shares their knowledge and skills and uses all sorts of methods to gain wealth. That's how this unique people was formed."

"We haven't betrayed the Empire. We will never forget that we come from the Empire, with its excellent military training system, its glassmaking techniques accumulated over many years, its teachings on how to build Altars, and its widespread folk songs."

Bo Jiuqian said with a solemn expression, "Captain, let me just ask you one thing. Do you really think the secrets of the Bo People are actually secrets to the Gods and Apostles?"

"Yao God has Insight into all things. He is just being tolerant and benevolent toward us, just like he was with the Believers of the other Old Gods before."

The wrinkles on Boutu's brow deepened.

"It's time for a change, Captain."

"We aren't soldiers anymore; we're abandoned soldiers. To the Empire, we're nothing more than a trivial mistake, just a string of numbers on a battle report."

"And the war here was over before it even began. The Empire lost."

"We are still citizens of the Empire. So let us, here, allow the Empire to live on in another form."

"Captain."

Bo Jiuqian paused. "It's enough. You've already given it your all. The war is over. There's no need to keep fighting."

After hearing him out, Boutu looked up and said coldly, "If you want to abandon your Imperial identity, I can't stop you. But I am still the Captain of the Empire's First Scout Corps, Fifteenth Squad."

He drew the iron sword from his waist and, with a single strike, sundered the grill rack over the campfire. "If you leak any of the Empire's secrets, you will be dealt with by military law!"

Bo Jiuqian and Bo Zhan said nothing.

They picked up their bags and glanced back at the man still sitting by the campfire. Then, they walked off into the night.

Only Boutu remained, staring blankly into the flames.

...

Luh Yao looked down upon the lonely Boutu.

'Your loyalty and persistence are admirable to a God.'

'But the life of a double agent is a bitter one.'

Before long, a message appeared on the simulator.

[Bo Jiuqian has taught the art of glassmaking to Yan City]

[Yao City has built its first Altar, used to Sacrifice to Yao God]

[Due to the establishment of the Altar, Faith in Yao City has increased slightly.]

The Faith in the top right corner kept increasing.

+50

+12

+72

...

Luh Yao did a quick calculation. The establishment of the Altar had brought in a total of about 17,000 Faith, roughly half the population of Yan City.

In the time that followed, Yan City, Saniluo, and even Canopy City all built Altars one after another.

The Bo People built Altars in various cities, bringing Luh Yao a total of 40,000 Faith.

This round of growth pushed his Faith Reserve past the 230,000 mark.

Luh Yao was very pleased.

The wait had been worth it.

Just then, a prompt appeared on the game interface.

—O great God, one of your Believers has performed a feat far exceeding his peers. Would you like to transform him into a Hero?

[Yes] [No]

A faint light emanated from Boutu.

Luh Yao thought to himself.

'This God has already decided. You will be the Hero.'