Chapter 100: God’s Game: Practicing Medicine Without a License: One Psychic Soothing per Iso

Some people still look alive, but they've actually been gone for quite a while already.

An Ruo sat blankly in the seat arranged for him, staring vacantly ahead with hollow eyes.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I supposed to be doing?

He wasn't wearing a mask.

Today was the grand military parade. A mask wasn't appropriate.

He was also appearing under the identity of the Psychic Soother "Annor." Plenty of Zerg had already seen this face, so there was neither any need nor any reason to hide it.

The downside was that there was nothing covering his face.

Every Zerg could see him.

Especially from such a conspicuous seat...

The pressure on An Ruo was immense.

He could only keep a straight face, expressionless, putting on an invisible "mask" inside his mind.

Just as the military had promised, this truly was the best seat for viewing the performances. The entire parade ground stretched out before him with an unobstructed view.

The military female Zergs performing toward the main platform gave it everything they had.

The group performance showcasing military strength had become fiercely competitive.

Every leap looked as though they intended to spread their wings and remain suspended in midair. Their high kicks were fast, perfectly straight, powerful yet astonishingly flexible.

Even their immaculate military uniforms couldn't hide their sculpted muscles or those perfectly proportioned long legs.

The cameras were especially fond of sweeping toward his side.

[So beautiful...]

StarNet's barrage had been silent for quite some time.

Ever since that Lord had appeared on camera, all the arguments, questioning, skepticism... all the heated discussions... had vanished.

Every Zerg held their breath as they stared at the Male Zerg on the screen, afraid that even blinking would make them miss a single moment.

The barrage instantly became nearly empty.

No one wanted the comments to interfere with admiring His Lordship's beauty.

Nor did anyone have the spare attention to type.

The nine Generals from the military regions, each usually dazzling in their own way, had all become nothing more than background scenery.

Only the Marshal retained a slight sense of presence.

But at this moment, not even the Marshal's most die-hard followers or ultimate admirers had the spare attention to look at him.

Every gaze was fixed upon that brilliantly illuminated figure.

Only after the camera finally moved away from the main platform did the audience watching across the Federation suddenly regain their senses, as though waking from a dream.

[I think I just saw my dream...]

[I started crying without realizing it. If I could receive even a single glance from His Lordship, I'd die without regrets.]

[People were saying before that His Lordship was being imprisoned by powerful nobles, but that seating arrangement doesn't make sense. That's the main platform—right beside the Marshal—with the Generals from every military region surrounding him.]

[Could he be a family member of one of the Generals?]

[That doesn't make sense either. Family members don't sit there. After the parade ends, only the Federation Military's highest-ranking officers remain on the main platform. Family members aren't allowed over there.]

[That seat... you'd have to be at least a Lieutenant General. Or someone who has made extraordinary contributions to the Federation.]

[A Male Zerg Lieutenant General? Nice joke.]

[Then what's with the inhibitor...? I enlarged my screenshot several times. Even though it's crafted so exquisitely it looks like a work of art... it's definitely an inhibitor.]

[How could a Male Zerg Lord be wearing an inhibitor? Especially at an occasion like this?]

[I've typed Lord Annor's name dozens of times already. If it weren't for protecting His Lordship's reputation, I wouldn't even bother arguing with you people. If you have eyes, compare him with the invitation list.]

[Don't talk nonsense. We all know what that Lord looks like... Wait... something's wrong... Male Zerg, inhibitor, Psychic Soother from the Military Region Prison... it all matches.]

[The higher the rank, the more beautiful they become. Every breakthrough is practically a complete transformation. That Lord really did advance to A-rank after entering prison...]

[All those military female Zergs who received Psychic Soothing praised his beauty endlessly. I honestly thought they'd all gone crazy. I assumed the soothing made their affection for Male Zergs skyrocket and they were seeing him through the thickest filter imaginable.]

[They actually received Psychic Soothing from a Lord like this? I'm so jealous I could faint.]

[I checked everything. It all matches. Several of the small accessories that Lord is wearing were gifts from military female Zergs who received his Psychic Soothing—there are purchase records. The inhibitor collar around his neck came from the Military Region Prison. It's a modified version; you can still find the original model online. The strangest thing is his clothes...]

[What's strange about the clothes?]

[It's probably a mistake... They're somewhat similar to one of the Marshal's orders... Though the Marshal ordered quite a few sets at once, so maybe it's just a coincidence...]

A coincidence they told themselves to believe.

It wasn't a subject suitable for further discussion.

Fortunately, the barrage was moving too quickly for many Zergs to notice.

[So the military female Zergs have been living this well? If I could receive Psychic Soothing from a Lord like that, I'd gladly drive myself into an Extremely Dangerous psychic condition immediately.]

[Don't. The waiting list already stretches three years into the future. You won't get in anyway, so don't make things worse. Leave those opportunities to the Zergs who genuinely need them. People's lives are at stake here. This isn't something to joke about.]

[The inhibitor finally makes sense. But why is he sitting there?]

[The number of military female Zergs that Lord treats every day is beyond your imagination. Judging by military merit alone, he'd deserve an official rank. He belongs wherever he's sitting.]

[No, that's not what I meant. I mean... he's sitting right in front of the Marshal.]

[...Now that you mention it, that is a little awkward. They only just got divorced.]

[Someone really had the lack of common sense to seat a Male Zerg in front of his ex-spouse, the Marshal? Better learn from your mistakes in your next life.]

[I wonder what the Marshal is thinking.]

[I was about to say he must feel awful, but then I remembered His Lordship's face and suddenly couldn't bring myself to say it.]

[His feelings are probably complicated. Hatred has to be there. No matter what, the harm that's already been done can't simply disappear. But maybe there's something else mixed in as well... like seeing how dazzling his former spouse became after leaving him... Though maybe I'm just projecting ordinary Zerg emotions onto the Marshal. Perhaps the Marshal doesn't care at all. Maybe his eyes only hold the sea of stars.]

[The way you all talk, it's like he's not even a female Zerg.]

[The Marshal isn't one of those shallow female Zergs obsessed only with Male Zergs!]

[He has a Male Zerg too. You can tell from the state of his psychic condition. We just don't know who that Male Zerg is.]

[I've been replaying the recording over and over. I know I shouldn't, but seeing His Lordship wearing an inhibitor still makes my heart ache.]

[So you're saying you're heartbroken while replaying the footage on loop? (Question mark face)]

[How could anyone possibly resist! The fact that I still have one free hand to type is already impressive enough.]

[I'm dying over here! Hurry up and switch back to His Lordship! Did we come here to watch these military female Zergs showing off?]

[Now that you mention it, I didn't even notice. They're basically performing a courtship dance—the ancient kind from thousands of years ago. Showing off their strength to attract Male Zergs.]

[I can't see His Lordship anymore... I'm going to die. This is the greatest regret of my life for not attending in person. I originally planned to see Lord Xi'an at the Ninth Legion today and come to Capital Star on the third day to meet An-shen. Who knew Capital Star was hiding an even bigger surprise!]

...

An Ruo watched the performances.

Every military female Zerg possessed perfect nine-head body proportions, outstanding physiques, flawless precision, and incredible control over both strength and movement.

The performances were exceptionally entertaining.

Once he got over the initial discomfort, it actually became rather enjoyable.

After all, he wasn't the one performing on stage.

There weren't that many spectators in the world.

No one could possibly keep watching him forever.

Following the Male Zerg's gaze, Ulysses looked toward the military female Zergs onstage, all eagerly displaying themselves and treating the performance as a massive courtship display.

He frowned slightly.

They were trying too hard.

Showing off like this couldn't truly distinguish anyone.

Even if they briefly caught the Male Zerg's attention, once the performance ended, nothing lasting would remain.

If they imagined they could earn a place in his bed through this...

They were dreaming.

The Male Zerg had spent so long performing Psychic Soothing in the Military Region Prison without ever accepting a single female Zerg.

There were no female Zergs in his romantic preferences.

In fact, there weren't even any Zergs.

Their attempts at seduction were destined to fail.

Ulysses suppressed the inexplicable irritation stirring inside him.

General Cyril, who had been quietly watching the Marshal, looked at the Marshal, then at the Male Zerg seated ahead.

Something felt strange.

The Marshal's attention had remained fixed on that Male Zerg the entire time.

Then again, considering the Male Zerg's identity...

It was understandable.

After all, he was the Marshal's "former spouse."

After everything that had happened, how could anyone simply move on?

Especially when the other party had become so dazzling after the divorce.

That would only make it harder to let go.

If it were him...

Cyril admitted he wouldn't be able to get over it.

If something like that happened in his own family...

If the pink-haired Male Zerg at home abused him, divorced him, and then reappeared...

He'd hang him up and fuck him every single time they met.

His gaze returned to the Male Zerg as he quietly observed him.

This Lord's reputation throughout the military could hardly have been greater.

Even the Seventh Legion had benefited enormously from him.

Especially after returning from expeditions, the military female Zergs all scrambled to line up for his Psychic Soothing.

Even if other Soothers had much shorter waiting times, they'd still rather join the queue that already stretched years into the future.

"Actually... that's not how the waiting time works for this Lord."

His adjutant had explained it to him.

"Other Male Zergs soothe at most ten military female Zergs per day. This Lord's actual daily treatment capacity is many times higher. While the female Zergs scheduled for the first half of the month are receiving treatment, those originally scheduled for the second half can already start traveling to Capital Star, because there's a good chance tomorrow will be their turn."

The reason his appointment list extended only three years into the future was because Military Headquarters deliberately released only three years' worth of appointments.

Otherwise, no one could imagine how long that queue would become.

Every day, Military Headquarters issued new appointment slots based on however many military female Zergs His Lordship had finished treating that day.

Previously registered patients would automatically move forward according to the urgency of their conditions.

Seventy percent of the appointments went to critically ill patients in Extremely Dangerous psychic states.

The remaining thirty percent were allocated among the other military female Zergs requiring Psychic Soothing.

This was already the furthest Military Headquarters could possibly go.

Male Zergs generally disliked treating patients in Extremely Dangerous condition.

This Lord...

was the exception.

Even Cyril had once considered poaching this Lord into his own military region.

Every General from every military region had entertained the same thought.

But the First Military Region relied on the Marshal's authority to guard him like a fortress, refusing to let anyone take him away.

After all this time, forget poaching him.

None of the Generals had even managed to meet him once.

They couldn't even get gifts delivered to him.

Well...

Except for one shameless exception.

General Enzo of the Seventh Military Region.

Using the excuse that he had a Male Zerg egg, he had gone directly to visit.

And he'd actually succeeded.

Utterly devious.

Cyril rested a hand on his stomach.

He was carrying a female egg.

Even if it had been a male egg, that trick wouldn't have worked.

There was already a Male Zerg in his household.

Thinking of the pink-haired Male Zerg waiting at home, along with the pink-haired female hatchling growing inside him, Cyril's mood immediately brightened.

The Generals from the various military regions quietly exchanged glances.

The Male Zerg Psychic Soother they had all dreamed of kidnapping—no, inviting—to their own Legions was sitting right before them.

And he was even more remarkable than they had imagined.

How could they not be tempted?

If this weren't a public event being broadcast live, they would have already started fighting over him, putting on a real demonstration of "whoever moves slow loses."

...

An Ruo quietly watched the performances, but gradually sensed something strange about the atmosphere around him.

None of the important figures said a word.

Even when the performances reached their most exciting moments, no one applauded.

He awkwardly lifted his hands halfway.

Looking around, he couldn't decide whether he should clap.

In the end, he only dared give two tiny, silent claps.

The next performance finally prompted the Marshal to begin applauding first.

An Ruo immediately blended in with the crowd and joined the applause, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.

For some reason, however, the pressure only became even greater.

When the intermission finally arrived, An Ruo immediately wanted to escape.

But all the important figures were still seated.

So...

Could he leave or not?

He cautiously stretched one foot out before slowly pulling it back.

Not daring to stand, he looked helplessly toward Uriel for assistance.

A shadow suddenly fell across him.

Ulysses bent forward slightly and performed the proper social greeting reserved for a Male Zerg before politely inviting him.

"Would Your Lordship like to take a walk? The First Military Region has prepared many activities today. May I have the honor of serving as your guide?"

An Ruo's eyes flew wide open.

Panicking, he glanced around.

Quite a few Zergs had already noticed them.

He hurriedly tried to convey his meaning through eye contact.

Don't talk to me!

We can't walk together!

It'll affect your image!!!

He desperately raised his eyebrows and made exaggerated expressions for quite a while.

The female Zerg opposite him looked completely confused, as though he hadn't understood a thing.

Left with no other choice, An Ruo stood up and fled.

Taking Uriel with him.

The gathered Generals exchanged helpless looks.

None of them dared utter a word.

...

The Marshal had invited his former spouse.

He had been rejected.

The other party hadn't even spoken.

He had simply stood up and walked away.

When he passed the Marshal, his face remained expressionless and his steps were quick, making his unwillingness to be near the Marshal painfully obvious.

The Generals who had still hoped to compete for the Male Zerg now didn't dare provoke the Marshal at all.

Each hurried off with whatever excuse they could think of, terrified the Marshal might suddenly remember them.

Ulysses remained standing where he was for a while.

He had expected rejection.

He simply hadn't expected it to be so absolute.

The other party hadn't spoken a single word to him.

Instead, he had communicated through an astonishing variety of expressions and eye movements.

As though he were worried about something.

Ulysses became slightly puzzled.

Just then, the terminal on his wrist lit up.

He opened the message.

An Ruo: I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to reject you.

An Ruo: Our relationship isn't suitable for being seen as too close in public.

An Ruo: Please don't speak to me while I'm using this identity anymore. It wouldn't be good. It would affect you. We... we're already divorced.

An Ruo: I'm truly sorry.

Ulysses lowered his eyes to the messages.

A thoughtful look flickered through his silver eyes.

It wasn't that the Male Zerg rejected him.

He rejected interacting with him publicly while using this identity.

Ulysses found the point the Male Zerg cared about rather unexpected.

This was a god...

or perhaps a creator...

who placed extraordinary importance on "identity."

Because he was a "Psychic Soother," he diligently continued treating military female Zergs.

Because he was a "prison inmate," he remained inside the prison, even wearing an inhibitor whenever the military invited him outside.

And because he was an "ex-spouse," he refused to appear close to Ulysses in public.

To a creator, these identities resembled character settings.

One could not act contrary to the assigned role.

The moment one did...

the character setting would collapse.

Ulysses instantly grasped the Male Zerg's way of thinking.

Or perhaps...

this was simply how a god played his game.

He raised a hand and replied.

Ulysses: So as long as there are no other Zergs present, it's acceptable?

Ulysses: Or if I address one of your other identities instead?

Seeing that final pen name appear on the screen, An Ruo could almost hear Ulysses speaking in front of him.

The slight upward lilt at the end of his words seemed to resonate directly in his ears.

It left a tingling sensation.

An Ruo: When the time comes, I'll apologize to you in person.

There was no need for an apology.

He could make up for it another way.

Looking at the words on the screen, Ulysses typed another reply.

Ulysses: I've accepted your apology.

Ulysses: I'll cooperate with your way of playing the game.

Ulysses: Also, you're clearly not accustomed to using honorifics. You don't need to use them with me. We're speaking privately, so it doesn't count as breaking character.

After all, your identity as a "Male Zerg" was never supposed to use honorifics with anyone.

An Ruo: Huh?

What game?

What breaking character?

Hearing the phrase "breaking character" come out of someone inside the novel...

That was the real breaking character!

An Ruo rubbed his face, reminding himself that he couldn't keep viewing everyone in this world through the perspective of fictional characters.

They were all living, breathing people.

Especially Ulysses.

This was the terrifying Zerg who had even uncovered his author identity.

"So where are we going next?"

Putting away his terminal, An Ruo asked Uriel.

"Entirely according to Your Lordship's wishes."

Uriel introduced the options.

"From here we can visit the Military Headquarters dining hall. There's a restaurant reserved specifically for honored guests. Or would you prefer to explore first? The military female Zergs have prepared many activities. There's even a marketplace. If you'd like to shop, you'll need to exchange some currency."

"Currency?"

An Ruo looked puzzled.

Wasn't Star Credit accepted throughout the entire Federation?

Did military regions use different rules?

"It's 'Iso.'"

Uriel explained, his own expression becoming slightly strange as he said the word.

An Ruo froze for a moment before realizing that this "Iso" wasn't that Iso.

His eyes widened in astonishment, nearly biting his tongue.

"You're using 'Iso' as the event currency? Major General Iso... he... he agreed to this?"

"He did."

Uriel nodded.

"As compensation for using his naming rights, Military Headquarters will transfer ten percent of this marketplace's profits to Major General Iso."

The Iso from the novel had been a poor kid.

Twenty years later, Major General Iso was anything but poor.

It was obvious that Major General Iso had willingly offered the use of his own name so Military Headquarters could make the Legion Festival more lively and enjoyable for everyone.

An Ruo struggled with the idea for barely half a second before asking Uriel to take him to exchange currency.

Many Zergs watched them along the way.

An Ruo raised a hand and touched the inhibitor collar around his neck.

A Male Zerg.

Dressed in white.

Wearing an inhibitor.

Surrounded by an escort of military female Zergs.

Of course he attracted attention wherever he went.

Fortunately, the intimidating presence of Uriel and the military female Zerg escort behind him discouraged anyone from approaching.

Most only followed from a distance.

Still...

It was rather embarrassing.

Fortunately, An Ruo's desire to obtain "Iso" currency outweighed his fear of being watched.

Following Uriel, he arrived at the exchange booth.

"Each Zerg may exchange up to 100 Star Credits, which equals 100 Iso."

Only when An Ruo was about to exchange money did he remember...

His account was completely empty.

He had given every last Star Credit to Ulysses.

Not a single coin remained in his own wallet.

There were still royalties from his new novel waiting to be settled by the publishing platform.

But withdrawing them would take time.

Uriel paid directly.

"One hundred Iso for me, and one hundred for this Lord."

A female Zerg paying while shopping with a Male Zerg was perfectly normal.

A Male Zerg paying personally would have been the unusual sight.

The attendant immediately handed them both their event currency.

The tokens came in a small red box.

Each coin resembled an arcade token.

The front bore a large "1," with the word "Iso" printed in the lower right corner.

The reverse displayed the Federation military emblem alongside the inscription commemorating the 500th anniversary of the armed forces.

They were incredibly meaningful commemorative coins.

An Ruo almost couldn't bear to spend them.

Uriel took a little extra time to exchange a full set of Iso coins for every military female Zerg in the escort team.

He collected them all himself.

They would serve as His Lordship's wallet.

"Your Lordship, would you like to visit your..."

Uriel paused briefly before smoothly correcting himself.

"...your favorite author's booth?"

"My favorite author?"

An Ruo blinked before realizing Uriel meant his identity as "An."

Uriel had mentioned before that his books would be sold during the Legion Festival.

An Ruo's eyes lit up.

Printed books were extremely rare among the Zergs.

Physical editions were practically collector's items.

No one had thought to simply give the author himself a complete set.

He had never even seen what his own books looked like in print.

"Great! Let's hurry over! Where is it?"

An Ruo looked around but couldn't spot it.

"This way, Your Lordship."

Uriel led the way.

As An Ruo moved, the surrounding female Zergs followed behind him.

Soon he noticed an incredibly long queue stretching into the distance.

At first he wondered curiously what everyone was lining up for.

Stretching his neck to look ahead, he finally saw the display.

Instructor

School Heartthrob

Deluxe Limited Edition

Now Available!

Another Masterpiece by An-shen!

The Second Installment of the An-shen Trilogy!

The dream of countless female Zergs...

...A must-read.

An Ruo was completely stunned.

Was this really that exaggerated?

Were all these Zergs lining up just to buy his books?

At a glance, the bookstore was so packed that he couldn't even see the entrance.

How many months... or years... would that line take to clear?

Just as he was thinking that, the female Zerg nearest the front spotted him and immediately stepped aside, opening a path for him toward the head of the queue.

One after another, the female Zergs moved to either side.

Those farther ahead heard the commotion, turned around, saw him, froze briefly, then immediately stepped aside as well, giving up their places.

Very quickly, a perfectly straight path opened through the crowd.

"Your Lordship, this way."

A nearby female Zerg respectfully gestured toward the front.

An Ruo had never experienced anything like this before.

He panicked and waved both hands frantically.

"N-No, no, no! There's no need! Please keep buying your books. I... I don't need one."

The moment he finished speaking, he hurriedly fled.

Uriel hesitated for only an instant before immediately following him.

His own priority—and that of every military female Zerg accompanying him—was protecting His Lordship.

The books could be handled by someone else.

As long as it was something His Lordship wanted, they would make sure it reached him.

Only after walking far enough that the bookstore and its endless line disappeared from sight did An Ruo finally stop.

Turning back toward Uriel, who was still following him, he asked,

"Are there any empty booths available?"

"You wish to sell something, Your Lordship?"

Uriel immediately thought of the mountain of gifts piled inside His Lordship's spatial button.

Presents from the military female Zergs who had received Psychic Soothing.

There were always countless female Zergs giving gifts to Male Zergs.

Male Zergs selling, throwing away, or regifting things they didn't need was perfectly normal.

An Ruo hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Yes."

He was about to practice medicine...

without a license.

He felt a little guilty.

Uriel immediately began contacting people through his terminal.

Within moments, a booth had been arranged for His Lordship.

The best location.

The largest space.

It was spacious enough to rival the bookstore next door that was selling An-shen's novels.

Looking at the bookstore overflowing with customers beside him, An Ruo felt rather embarrassed.

For some inexplicable reason, he had ended up right back here.

And now he was opening a booth right next to it.

It looked as though he were deliberately competing with the bookstore.

Still, he didn't want to trouble everyone by asking them to move the booth somewhere else.

They had already done enough for him.

"Your Lordship, would you like us to arrange your merchandise for display?"

Uriel asked for instructions.

He had even brought over a group of Zergs specifically to help His Lordship display and sell his goods.

"No need."

An Ruo found a suitable spot and sat down.

What he was selling...

was himself.

More precisely—

his Psychic Power.

From his spatial button, An Ruo took out a large white cloth and neatly spread it across the table, making the whole setup feel wonderfully ceremonial.

Then he pulled out a writing board and quickly wrote a sign across it.

【Psychic Soothing, 1 Star Credit (×), 1 Iso per session!!!】