On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons-Chapter 231: #Special Blockbuster Space God II (+Part 3 Trailer)

My editor said there was good news, but I didn’t expect much. I’d become a high-tier god with over a trillion followers, my influence stretching from Earth to the Great Cosmic Empire. Worldly affairs didn’t faze me.

“Right, Crucian Carp?” I asked the fish in my hand, and its snout twitched as if in agreement. “So, what is it?”

“Okay, hold your breath. The paperback edition of your novel is set to release on the 21st of next month! Hahaha!”

Flap flap! Splash!

“Oooh!” Caught by surprise, I flung the crucian carp away.

Paperback edition?! How many years had it been since I last heard such news?! Trivial as it might sound, ever since the market shifted to web novels, paperback books had long become obsolete. I couldn’t even recall the last time I bought a paperback book!

I asked him in excitement, “Was my work such a huge hit?! S-should I start practicing my autograph in preparation for a book signing event?!”

My editor’s gaze turned serious as he drew a line.

“No. We’re just making a few copies for assortment purposes. After all, we need to match the minimum order quantity when publishing the novel for murim author Woo Gak. You should’ve known better, it’s not even your first rodeo~” He winked at me.

“Also, do you honestly think you can make it big after going on such a long hiatus? You should be grateful that we’re even printing your novel.”

What a condescending uncle! A break was necessary from now and then! I tried to argue, but my editor just raised his phone and showed me my novel’s page.

“Look at the comments. The readers are outraged by your sudden hiatus! ‘Another hiatus? Is the writer crazy?’, ‘Just quit if you’re going to do this!’ Aigoo, look at this, ‘Everyone knows that it’s an autobiography, so just finish it already!’ Are they shamans? Gosh, they’re so accurate. Anyway, you should have a look at this and reflect on yourself, Mr. Yu.”

“Haha, how time flies...”

“What?”

“No, I just miss it, the 20th-century. Ah, those were the times.”

“You aren’t even that old...”

“So what?! Retro is booming recently!”

I looked away as he insulted and forced me to read the comments. But then, his tone suddenly became serious as he asked, “Mr. Yu, are you really going to keep writing in the future?”

“Huh? Haven’t we spoken about that already?”

He scratched his dandruff-covered head. “Frankly, I thought you had no reason to pursue your writing career anymore. I mean... it’s still difficult for me to accept, but you’re a god, aren’t you?”

“I’m going to keep writing.” I shrugged. “There’s no particular reason. It’s extremely annoying when a novel stops halfway during serialization. Besides, the inevitable hiatus would weigh on our consciences for the rest of our lives as writers. It feels as if we’ve abandoned our child...”

My editor-in-charge shook his head. “Spoken like a professional writer. How many novels have you published so far? Two? Three? Or was there more?”

His words struck my heart like an arrow.

Well, I AM a professional serialization writer! I must see this one through to completion!

“Your determination has reached me, Mr. Yu! I hope you’ll keep this up, because I’m actually curious how your story will end!”

His eyes gleamed with eagerness, unlike his plump physique.

“The paperback edition will be released soon, so let’s seize the moment!” My editor-in-charge reached out, wanting to do a handshake with me, but I coldly rebuked him.

“No, it’ll be difficult for me to get back into action right away.”

“Whaaat?”

“For starters, I need to save a person...”

Hmm, no, not “person.” ƒrēenovelkiss.com

“No, more accurately, I need to save an indecent stalker.”

“An indecent stalker? What are you talking about?”

“I happened to know a slutty, slightly dumb noona...”

She’d risked her life for me, so I couldn’t leave her alone even if it meant fighting a losing battle.

I assumed a stance.

“Whoa! L-look at that man!”

“H-he’s flying!”

The passersby exclaimed in astonishment and hurriedly whipped out their phones.

Meanwhile, my editor watched me with his mouth agape. I flashed him a wide smile and waved my hand.

“See you again, Editor-in-Charge! I’m off to find my happiness, free from all the deadlines and pressuring serialization of this world! May you find happiness as well!”

He glared at me like a rotten tomato. “...Where are you off to? What crazy nonsense did you just spew?!”

"You know, I’ve always wanted to say this. It’s even on my bucket list."

Yes, last-minute writers were always dying to run off somewhere! Otherwise, they weren’t writers! Or even humans!

That’s right, you! You no-life writers who’ve given up on being human! Touch some grass!

“Anyway, Editor-in-Charge, please take care of the hiatus announcement for me~” I winked at him.

“What?! Hey! Stop right there, you lazyass writer! You finally have a book published, yet you’re going on a hiatus?! You crazy puuunk!”

Like a dog chasing after chickens, I left my furious editor and disappeared into the sky.

Just wait for me a little more, Nightmare! I’m coming!

Swoosh!

Finally, it’s time for the final blooper video and trailer to Space God III!

<Note: The following video is CGI.>

War God’s Temple.

Sss—

Rose petals scattered as blood splattered all over, along with shredded, thorny vines. Amid the temple, a beautiful, elegant woman reminiscent of a rose lay unconscious in a pool of blood. Vicious spikes covered her like armor.

-Ha! So, this is the infamous Nightmare? What a letdown.

War of Carnage and Madness approached, about to devour her.

“Stop, you evil War God!”

“Hyaaa! Muscles shall vanquish evil!”

God Yu Il-Shin and Warrior Il-Ho had arrived!

The movie ended with the trailer for the next installment, Space God III: Temple of War God...

***

There was something called a successful grand finale.

Dictators, rockers, athletes, writers—and Yu Il-Shin—once rose to glory, drawing envious gazes from everyone. But instead of stepping aside, they clung to the spotlight like leeches, ultimately causing their own downfall.

-There’s beauty in knowing when to leave. Shame so many missed that memo and stayed just long enough to become cautionary tales.

Even now, that shitty alien director’s sarcasm rang in my ears.

“C’mon, that’s enough...”

He flipped open the electronic newspaper clutched in his six arms.

-A masterpiece that surpassed its predecessor, Space God II! An action-documentary film that entertains, inspires, and educates! A box office that took the universe by storm! Reservations for Space God III: Temple of War God has hit two trillion! Avid fans are even planning to sleep in the theater while waiting for the third movie to be released! Care to share with me your thoughts, Lord Yu Il-Shin? The entire Great Cosmic Empire—no, the whole universe is eagerly awaiting the next installment!

“Hey, I’m not doing this because I want to...”

Director Fil’s three eyelids fluttered at me.

-I pour my soul into every frame, every angle—and to have the final shot of my most important film defiled by CGI? It’s a disgrace.

Apparently, that was what he’d originally envisioned in the trailer.

***

After saying something nice(?) to my editor-in-charge, I took to the skies to save Nightmare. I looked down at Earth from the outer atmosphere, admiring my beautiful home planet. I could feel the satellites silently orbiting around me, cautiously observing me. I left them alone and stretched my hands out toward Earth.

There were four types of gods: Lowest-tier gods, who ruled tribes or small nations; Low-tier gods, who governed entire countries; Mid-tier gods, who presided over planets; and High-tier gods, who ruled over multiple worlds.

Was it because I was a High-tier God? Even though I’d never done it before, I instinctively knew what to do. Perhaps it was like a fish needing no lesson to swim, or a newborn to breathe.

“Yu Il-Shin says, Protect Earth.”

Tzzzz!

Though invisible to the naked eye, a barrier enveloped Earth like a quilt wrapped around a newborn. This was part of the reason why I wanted to become a High-tier god.

This way, God of Destroyer or any other evil gods wouldn’t be able to touch Earth!

-Waaah! That’s amazing! As expected of a god! Now, let’s move on to the trailer and climax of Space God III: Temple of War God! Action!

With Director Fil’s excited instructions, I departed for the gods’ realm. Of course, this was new for me too, but I just knew how to do it. After all, migratory birds flew without a compass and never lost their way.

Closing my eyes, I gathered all my focus. “Let’s go—to the War God’s Temple!”

Nothing happened.

“Huh?”

-Lord Yu Il-Shin? What are you doing? Quick, action!

“W-wait a minute!”

Was it because this was my first time? I concentrated even more, to the point that my veins bulged on my forehead, and yelled,”Let’s go! To War God’s Temple! To Nightmare! Hyaaaaa! Go, go, gooo!”

Only silence ensued. I squatted down, shivering from all the exertions. Even the nearby satellite felt like it was pressuring me.

“Dammit! Why am I still here?!”

Just then, God-Maker responded.

Ding!

[You can't leave Earth.]

“What?”

I could dispatch avatars to other worlds—so why the hell not this one?!

***

Back in a certain ordinary house in Seoul...

-Dammit! Why am I still here?!

On TV, the scene of a man in a pink training suit tearing his hair out in space was being broadcasted.

Ddiririri! Click!

Hearing the front door being unlocked, the person turned off the television and struggled to get up from the sofa.

“Honey, welcome back.”

“Aigoo, you should sit down when your belly is so big! Why did you come out!” The salaryman with slicked-back hair exclaimed in a hurry as he eased his pregnant wife back onto the sofa.

“What have you been doing while I was out?”

“Just watching a movie.” The wife chuckled.

“Oh, was it interesting?”

"Probably a 2.5 out of 5. I wanted to give it a 3, but the ending was pretty sloppy. Still, it was a decent way to kill time. Want to watch it?"

"No, I don’t have time for that. I need to make dinner for you and Bangbang. Just hold on a sec—tonight’s menu is your favorite: beef short ribs!"

“Wooow! I can’t wait!”

The full-term wife laughed merrily as her husband rolled up his sleeves to prepare dinner.

It was a beautiful evening, perfect for a happy newlywed couple—if not for the wrecked ant doll and a bloodied clown mask lying in the kitchen bin.

And so, Yu Il-Shin's story continues...

***

<Space God II Advertisement! On Hiatus: God's Personal Reasons published by Rock Media will be releasing paperback editions of Volumes 1 & 2 on 21 October 2020!>