Chapter 202

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 202: Instead, Promotion (4)

The Elder God pointed his finger at my chest.

“Perhaps due to your rapid growth? You still haven’t let go of your humanity.”

Not letting go of my humanity...?

Is that what it looks like—that I want to keep living as Kim Jiho?

“Is it necessary to let go of being human?”

“Not necessarily. With eternity ahead, a mortal’s mindset will eventually fade away. If these were peaceful times, it wouldn’t matter. But there’s an enemy—that’s the issue.”

“Is there no solution?”

“If you accept the SP I gave you, that should do.”

The Elder God spoke matter-of-factly.

“2.4 Quintillion SP. An astronomical amount. If you absorb it all at once, your mind will erode, and only the complete Soul God will remain.”

“...Is there no other way?”

Even if I’m a Soul God, 2.4 Quintillion is an overwhelming figure.

If I try to control that immense amount of SP, Kim Jiho might be swept away.

And if I disappear, what’s the point of everything I’ve done so far?

Yeah.

It would all be meaningless.

I’ve only lived as myself for just over 20 years.

I want to live more.

With this mind.

For a long time.

Until I’m old and decrepit.

I will survive like a cockroach.

Maybe sensing my resolve, the Elder God continued speaking.

“Hmm, from your expression, you seem to want to preserve your human mind. Then… alright. I’ll deposit the SP into your SP exchange account—withdraw and use it as needed. That should be fine.”

“Ah, that could work.”

“But if you can’t use your full power, fighting the Creators won’t be easy. Each one has exceptional abilities. Do what you can—but if it’s not enough, withdraw all the SP. That should bring everything to an end.”

With that, the Elder God refrained from saying more about how to fight the Creators.

It was clear he wouldn’t speak further on the topic.

“Well then. The deal is done, let’s proceed with the equity transfer.”

The numbers above Hades’ hand had disappeared before I knew it.

Then a golden pig appeared to oversee the transaction.

“Alright. Let's begin the equity transfer with the winning bidder.”

The transaction proceeded.

My account in the SP Exchange was created.

Into it, the Elder God began transferring the 2.4 Quintillion SP he had granted me.

Perhaps because of the sheer volume, the transfer did not finish quickly.

[Lord, you must urgently check the state of Earth.]

A sudden message came in.

It was Odysseus, who was spreading my teachings on Earth.

[What’s going on?]

[A plague… is spreading across Earth.]

A plague?

Odysseus isn’t one to panic over just any disease.

[How severe is it?]

[It only started recently, but it’s happening simultaneously all over the world.]

Hmm.

Looks like I need to switch focus to my avatar on Earth.

Like flipping a TV channel, I shifted my consciousness to my Earth-bound avatar.

My home on Earth.

I instinctively turned on the TV, then paused.

Why bother?

I can just look at people’s souls.

The news was full of emergency broadcasts.

“This just in: People are suddenly collapsing for unknown reasons...”

Listening to the reporter’s frantic voice, I examined the souls.

The souls of those in comas—

were being sucked away somewhere.

The speed was alarming, and many already had no soul presence left.

All this happened while I was focused on the auction?

“Let me hold them in place.”

I tried to bind the fleeing souls to their bodies.

But people were collapsing faster than I could stop the souls from leaving.

As soon as they collapsed, their souls tried to depart—

It was difficult to block.

[Lord, though we’re unsure of the exact cause, the disease seems to spread mainly among those who’ve consumed alcohol. It doesn’t matter what kind of alcohol. Even those near someone who drank are collapsing.]

…Alcohol?

Odysseus’s report continued.

[Hunters haven’t fallen into comas yet, but they’re reporting extreme fatigue. One even claimed their status window shows a drop in rank.]

This happened not long ago, yet Odysseus already gathered and delivered all this information.

At least hunters don’t collapse right away?

A small relief amid the chaos.

[When did this start?]

[According to my surveillance system—about two hours ago.]

Two hours ago…

[That overlaps precisely with the time Hermes turned into Black Thunder.]

[Hermes… became Black Thunder?]

I briefly explained the situation to Odysseus.

[Then it seems the enemy has finally made their move. Given the connection to alcohol, the authority of Dionysus—the god of wine and pleasure—must be involved.]

[Hmm. Dionysus’s authority, huh? Was he powerful enough to change all the alcohol on Earth in such a short time?]

[Not by himself, I’d guess. But perhaps Zeus is involved.]

While talking with Odysseus, the news began reporting that alcohol was indeed the problem.

The Hunter Association rushed out an official statement, and governments around the world were rapidly responding with caution.

Even my phone, quiet for so long, buzzed with an emergency alert.

[Emergency: Numerous cases of comas following alcohol consumption are being reported. Please refrain from drinking and avoid approaching collapsed individuals. The condition is contagious.]

Despite it being nighttime, the response seemed swift.

Still, this is only a temporary measure—ultimately, I need to examine the alcohol myself.

I take a can of beer out of the fridge.

Click.

I open the can, and from my perspective, there doesn't seem to be anything unusual.

But...

It looks... delicious.

I felt a pure urge to have just a sip.

Why am I suddenly feeling like this?

"That's strange."

The feeling faded quickly, but the initial attraction was strong.

If I hadn't known something was wrong with the alcohol—and if I were just an average S-rank...

I probably would’ve drunk it without a second thought.

I delved into people's memories about alcohol through their souls.

—You die if you drink?

—It was on TV. People kept collapsing.

—Still... why does it seem so tempting?

—I... want to drink it.

—...

They were holding back, knowing it would send them into a coma.

But I could feel the bizarre craving for alcohol growing stronger.

To better understand this power, I observed someone nearby.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Kim Younghee (21), working the night shift at a convenience store.

She once had a sip of alcohol and got violently ill, and since then believed she wasn't built to handle it—she never touched the stuff again.

But now she was pacing, not staying at the counter.

Pacing around the alcohol section.

"Ugh..."

Her eyes were already bloodshot.

At first, she glanced around cautiously, but soon she stopped caring and just opened the door and grabbed a bottle of soju.

Gulp. Gulp...

She started drinking right then and there—and collapsed with a thud.

I tried to suppress the impulse through her soul, but it was no use.

Was the temptation really that strong?

As soon as she collapsed, her soul began to leave her body.

I managed to keep it in place for now, but this...

If we leave this unchecked, there’ll be too many victims.

Thankfully, awakened ones seem less susceptible to the compulsion, but most humans are unawakened.

This is bad...

Are we all just meant to die like this?

"All transmissions complete. Oink oink."

The golden pig awakened another of my avatars at the auction hall.

It’s time to call them in—I shifted my focus to that body.

"You have quite the impressive share. Thank you, Soul God."

The Elder God smiles broadly and greets me.

Then, upon seeing my face, he continues,

"You don’t look too pleased. Something must’ve happened?"

"It seems my enemy has begun to act."

"That would make sense—to attack before you could wield your SP. If I were them, I’d go all in too. After all, you just gained 2.4 quintillion SP."

2.4 quintillion SP.

An incomprehensibly massive amount.

I open my account in the SP Exchange...

[Current Balance: 24,000,000,000,000,000 SP]

The full 2.4 quintillion is there.

Not even a transaction fee was deducted.

"Soul God, before you go, this old man has one small piece of advice."

"Please, go ahead."

"Spend that SP like you're ready to blow it all."

What?

Spend all of it?

"You have the SP Exchange—an infinite treasure vault. Even if 2.4 quintillion sounds huge, you’ll refill it in no time through the exchange’s profits. Don’t worry about the future—just spend it all."

"Spend it all..."

"There are plenty of ways. Make unawakened humans into gods. Make every low-ranked god into a mid-tiergod. While you can’t create EX-rank just with SP, this much can get you close. And even then, your balance won’t drop that much."

The Elder God’s figure began to fade like a mirage.

As only his face remained, he spoke one last time:

"Use it all. Every bit of it."

Then he disappeared.

As he vanished, Hades finally relaxed his posture.

"Man... why do they always make me do this? So uncomfortable. Kekeke..."

"Hades. You’re back."

"Can’t exactly laugh like that in front of the Creator, can I?"

He loosend his tie, visibly exhausted.

"Well, looks like Zeus is trying to put up a final struggle. Soul God, are you really going to sit still like this? Kekeke..."

"You're right. I should go."

"As that old man said, why not go wild with that SP? If the price is right, we’ll gladly join as mercenaries. Kekeke..."

With that, Hades vanished too.

There's no reason for me to remain here, so I returned to Earth.

"Let’s try a withdrawal."

I decided to test how much SP I can use.

To start small, I withdrew 100 billion.

"This much seems fine."

As an SSS-rank god, this is nothing.

Then, I multiply it by ten.

My soul energy scaled with my available SP, and now that it's over a trillion...

The difference is palpable.

It’s like I’ve become an absolute being—once again.

With this much SP charged up, even the tasks I had assigned to my clones are being handled better, and the speed at which I can control human souls on Earth has increased more than tenfold.

“Then let’s draw more.”

As I kept withdrawing 1 trillion at a time, by the time I hit 10 trillion, I truly realized something.

Ah.

If I withdraw any more, I’ll be crushed by the SP.

Around this level, plus 10 or 20 percent, is my current limit.

If I want to keep living as Kim Jiho, I need to stop here.

“So it ends up at 10 trillion.”

Once I get used to handling 10 trillion, I’ll slowly expand my limits.

While I was holding onto the souls of the Earthlings, I received messages from various gods, including Odysseus.

[Great Lord, the situation is worsening.]

[Humans are showing an obsessive attitude toward alcohol.]

[A strange light has appeared in the sky over Greece.]

Most of the reports were about humans going mad with drink, but there was also a mention of the Greek sky.

I asked the god who submitted that report for more details, and he sent me a video feed.

“That’s…”

The Parthenon in Greece.

Above it, a vortex of pure white lightning was raging.

And within it, souls were being drawn in.

These were the souls of those who, having fallen into a coma from drinking, I hadn’t managed to catch in time — they were ascending.

Just by looking, I could tell — they were being sucked into Zeus.

If I leave it alone, things will definitely get worse.

I need to stop it.

But how…

—Use it all. Every last bit.

Suddenly, I recalled the words of the Elder God.

—So far, no hunters have fallen into comas…

Odysseus’ report also came to mind.

Right.

He said hunters could endure that alcohol.

Then, let’s turn every human into a hunter.

I’ll forcefully awaken all humans by injecting them with unlimited SP.

7 billion people?

It used to seem like a lot…

Now, it’s only 7 billion.

[Apostle Gods, awaken the humans by force.]

I was about to allocate 1 billion SP to each Apostle God when I hesitated.

Ah.

Only 1 billion?

How small-scale.

Is this what the Elder God meant?

When he said I should spend until I burned through all 240 quintillion.

Yeah.

What’s with just giving 1 billion to each Apostle God?

SS-rank should get 10 billion, and SSS-rank, 100 billion.

If it weren’t for the limit, I would’ve given them all 100 billion.

But there is a limit.

[Um… Kim Jiho? I think I got the wrong amount of SP.]

After sending 100 billion to Artemis, a message came.

And with that, messages started pouring in from other gods too.

[No, it’s correct. Just take it and use it however you want. If you run out, ask for more. I’ll keep giving you as much as you need.]

I start making clones like crazy.

Burning through SP recklessly, thinking about how I can blow it all.

I raised Earth’s dominion level, upgraded everything in my divine realm — not even checking what it is — I just maxed everything out.

And then, gradually, the SP began to deplete.

Even 10 trillion disappears quickly when you actually start spending it.

But so what.

“Withdraw 10 trillion.”

I can just withdraw more.

I spent another 10 trillion, then withdrew more.

Even after repeating this three, four times, the account still remained solid.

Wow.

Is this what it feels like to blow absurd amounts of money?

My first time experiencing large-scale spending like this.

No worries about the aftermath.

With SP exchange revenue and interest from my deposits, this kind of spending is pocket change.

So I just keep going, and going.

Right now, Olympus is making serious moves, and the situation is critical.

But the more I spend, the more that sense of urgency fades, replaced by a strange emotion.

For the first time since becoming a deity, I feel a true sense of fulfillment.

“Haah… I’m happy.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]