After Joining the Game, She Came Out as Gay [Infinite] - Chapter 18.2

Now they both understood why the God of Beauty appeared in the image of a high-ranking angel.

In the fantasy worldview, the hierarchy of angels, dragons, and demons is much higher than that of other demi-human races.

This is because these three races are superior to others in both ability and intelligence.

Although the elves are favored for their natural beauty and strong magical abilities, the status of the elven race has clearly declined in various custom worldviews in recent years.

In many works, elves are slaves to humans and demi-humans.

It seemed this place was no exception.

As for humans, it depended on how the worldview here defined them.

Qi Cheng asked, “I want to know if these demi-humans will suddenly use violence against us.”

“They won’t. …Do you know about the Yugas?”

Qi Cheng tilted her neck. What was that?

Xia Lin said, “It refers to the four cycles of the world in Hindu mythology, right? Uh… sorry, I should say, in your definition?”

The God of Beauty smiled slightly. “The Hindu gods you humans recognize are our brothers. The deities of the Divine Realm have no national borders; there are only differences in duties and regions. But to conform to the concepts of humans in different countries below, we transform into forms you can understand.”

Just as Guanyin Bodhisattva was originally a male form in India, but after spreading to China, under the influence of Central Plains culture, a female image appeared.

But Guanyin’s duties remain unchanged.

Moreover, gods are inherently genderless. They simply borrow male or female forms to manifest.

The God of Beauty said, “It’s enough to understand the Yugas. The Excavation Game belongs to the Treta Yuga.”

Qi Cheng: “Wh… what kind of thing is that?”

The God of Beauty ignored her and stared at Xia Lin.

Xia Lin realized and explained to Qi Cheng: “The Treta Yuga is the period when class differentiation appeared in humanity. It is also the Second Yuga. During this period, lower-status people have a deeply rooted concept of obedience toward those of higher status, and those of the same status get along relatively amicably; generally, conflicts do not occur. This is because, having just transitioned from the Yuga of Happiness, the lower-status people do not yet have a widespread or profound understanding of the concepts of ‘violence’ and ‘rebellion’.”

The upper-status people became elite precisely because they understood these two concepts and used their own abilities.

Qi Cheng understood. “So as long as we don’t actively provoke these demi-human miners, they won’t attack us? Then do they have a prejudice against the human race?”

“None,” said the God of Beauty. “You are all bottom-level miners; regardless of race, everyone here receives the same treatment. It’s just that the various abilities of demi-humans are superior to those of average humans, so take note of that. Of course, the Divine Realm has helped you participants restore your abilities to their peak states from when you were in the world below. Some participants underwent special training below, so perhaps their ability values can rival those of the demi-humans here.”

He stared at Qi Cheng while saying that last sentence.

“Also, once the lives of these demi-humans are threatened, they will still take measures for self-preservation. Please take absolute note of this.”

Xia Lin frowned. This point seemed to be a specific reminder from the God of Beauty. Was he reminding them not to use violence against the demi-humans?

Qi Cheng rubbed her chin and murmured, “In that case, there’s no need to take the Mimicry Potion.”

“Whether you take it is up to you,” said the God of Beauty. “But I believe you will soon regret it.”

Qi Cheng: …

Xia Lin asked, “If Qi Cheng doesn’t take it, will the potion be taken back?”

The God of Beauty said, “No. As I said, she will absolutely regret it. After all, there have been arrogant people like her before who ended up crying and begging us to grant them the Mimicry Potion. The hardship of mining labor is beyond your imagination; if you work yourselves to death quickly, it will greatly reduce the enjoyment of the game. This is something we, the operators, do not wish to see. I also don’t want to run errands and deliver the potion a second time. Therefore, this bottle will not be reclaimed.”

Qi Cheng rubbed her chin and smiled. “Heh, you’re different from that panda; you’re actually quite nice.”

The God of Beauty: “…”

Xia Lin asked, “Then how do we become miners?”

The God of Beauty said, “I will help you handle the onboarding procedures in my capacity as a high-level executive of ‘Hallelujah Mining Co., Ltd.’ You need to confirm your races now, and I will help you complete the company’s identity registration. I must emphasize one point: I will only help you register your identities once. If you wish to change to another race later, it will be a new identity, and you will need to grease the wheels of management yourselves to perform a new employee registration. After all, the Mimicry Potion is a prohibited substance, and its existence cannot be casually publicized.”

On the table, the God of Beauty had prepared blood from three races for them: Elves, Beastmen, and Lizardmen.

After all, everyone has different aesthetic tastes.

Qi Cheng suddenly said, “The rules say the Mimicry Potion can achieve permanent transformation, right?”

The God of Beauty replied, “Correct. Of course, after you pass through the displacement teleportation array, the effect of the Mimicry Potion will vanish, and you will return to your original forms.”

Qi Cheng said, “And what if I want to restore my original form while inside the mine? Would I have to add my own blood?”

The God of Beauty looked at Qi Cheng, his eyes flickering. He seemed to want to see through what she was thinking.

“…Exactly. But one thing: if you want to restore your human form, you need to set aside blood in advance. Once you transform into another race, your genes will also become those of that race. Do you understand?”

“Understood. And if I drink the potion too many times, there won’t be side effects?”

“…No. Any more questions?”

“I have none. Xia Lin?”

Xia Lin shook her head. “I have no more questions for now.”

The God of Beauty said, “Mhm. Actually, the main points have been told to you. As for small problems that might arise later, as long as you familiarize yourselves with the game, you will naturally find the answers during the process. Past participants all came through this way…”

He suddenly looked at Qi Cheng again. “However, I must remind you of one thing. When you do not have the ability to bribe the upper management, do not change races casually. Even if it’s just a bottom-level miner, it’s not a position you can just join whenever you like.”

“Qi Cheng, you are very smart, and you already know that right now, you are living people. If you lose your miner qualification, you will starve to death here. Do not dream of stealing employee meals; I know your abilities in the world below were excellent, but it is impossible to do that here.”

“—Attack magic, right?” Qi Cheng’s eyes lit up.

“You really are smart. The canteen supervisor is of the Demon race, and as for the blood of Angels, Dragons, and Demons, it is impossible for those with only demi-human abilities to harm them in the slightest. Therefore, you cannot master attack magic abilities.”

In other words, it was impossible to use magic to kill the Manager.

Such a game-breaking skill would naturally not be given to participants to master.

The elves here clearly could not use offensive magic. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have fallen to the status of bottom-level miners.

Qi Cheng and Xia Lin consulted and finally decided that Xia Lin would mimic the Elven race first.

It wasn’t because of the elves’ beautiful appearance; what Qi Cheng needed was the elves’ recovery magic.

As for Qi Cheng, she would act while maintaining her human form.

The God of Beauty watched Xia Lin drink the Elven Mimicry Potion, looking as if he wanted to say something but stopped.

Many participants had also chosen the Elven race for the same reason as Qi Cheng, thinking that recovery magic would play a major role.

But this was merely falling into a trap set by the God of Calamity.

However, the God of Beauty could no longer offer reminders; the constraints of the Divine Realm were absolute.

—God is benevolent; one must not show excessive favoritism toward one side.

An hour later, they joined the ranks of the miners.

As they were leaving the mine site, the God of Beauty suddenly called out to them as they prepared to work.

“Qi Cheng, Xia Lin.”

“?”

“As of February 13, 2***, at 23:**:59, a total of 1,207 people have died.”

Qi Cheng: “…!”

The God of Beauty smiled and waved his wings, flying into the sky.

“Well then, Qi Cheng and Xia Lin of Group C, I wish you both good luck.”

◇

“Brother, didn’t you say too much to them?”

Atop the precipice, the God of Love suddenly appeared beside the God of Beauty.

“A sudden fit of kindness?”

The God of Beauty said calmly, “Brother, I am the deity who presides over ‘Beauty.’ Beautiful things always attract me.”

“Xia Lin can indeed attract you. But what about Qi Cheng? Is it auxiliary help because she is Xia Lin’s lover?”

“Beauty is not just skin deep. Strength is also a form of beauty. Do you remember 100 years ago, a man attacked by a brown bear? Before he died, he commented on the bear: ‘What a beautiful creature.'”

I don’t remember, and I don’t want to hear it.

The panda shrugged. “It’s fine if you want to carry out your aesthetics. But if you interfere too much, be careful that Calamity doesn’t come looking for trouble.”

God of Beauty: “…”

The designer of the Excavation Game was the God of Calamity.

The personality of the God of Calamity was exactly like his divine title.

Initially, the rules of the Excavation Game were not so detailed.

It was the God of Beauty who took a portion of the rules—those that participants would only obtain slowly by delving deep into the game—and listed them, selecting those that wouldn’t violate the Divine Realm’s constraints.

This was equivalent to significantly lowering the difficulty of the quest for Qi Cheng and the others.

The God of Beauty said slowly, “Calamity is in charge of the Fourth Yuga game venue, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Then he won’t have the energy to pay attention to me.”

“True. Human suffering, slaughter, despair… these are his favorites. He’s in high spirits over there, so he really doesn’t have time to mind your little moves here.”

After all, no matter how much Calamity designed the game according to his own preferences, he couldn’t deviate from the concept of the Second Yuga.

So there wasn’t much to see on this side.

“However…” The God of Love gazed at Qi Cheng as she walked into the mine tunnel at the bottom of the valley. “Even though it’s the Second Yuga, no participant has yet been able to pass the game Calamity designed.”