Overgeared

“H-How are you...?”

Soft flesh and fluffy fur. Grid was in turmoil as he was held in the arms of a large hamster. The rat queen—the first time Grid saw her, she was wearing a crude crown, a ragged cloak, and had died. It was also by the hands of Grid. That person was now showing herself in front of him.

The rat queen released the flustered Grid and smiled. The face that used to be full of venom was now looking at Grid with a round, gentle gaze.

“I was resurrected due to the resurrection of the red phoenix. It is because there is a myth that the Twelve Zodiacs serve God Red Phoenix.”

Mythical beings couldn’t be killed in ordinary ways. Just like the hydra, they were immortal unless a unique attack strategy was discovered or the people’s belief in them was destroyed. Grid was reminded of this fact and felt a flash. Yet no matter how he looked, he didn’t see ‘him.’ Only ordinary (?) hamsters could be seen.

“Ah...” Grid was constantly searching everywhere only to make eye contact with the rat queen. Then he avoided her eyes.

The rat queen smiled bitterly. “My husband is in my heart.”

“...”

“My husband was an ordinary spirit, unlike me. He can’t be resurrected because he isn’t a sacred creature.”

“...”

The first time Grid discovered the rat queen, she wasn’t alone. She had been with her husband, a strong male rat. Then her peace was broken. Grid murdered her husband. Of course, the rats at that time had fallen to mere monsters. They were monsters who harmed people. Grid killing them was a worthy achievement and actually benefited the people. Still, he was sorry. Grid felt guilty.

‘This doesn’t mean I will ask for forgiveness.’ The rat queen’s heart would only become more uncomfortable. In any case, she wasn’t in a position to blame Grid. Apologizing to her would be nothing more than a selfish act to relieve Grid’s own guilt.

‘At that time, I had to fight them and it was the right thing to do. It is just to that causality that occurred from that act that I managed to resurrect the red phoenix.’

The rat queen reached out to Grid, who was thinking deeply in a silent manner. “Don’t mind it. I, no, we don’t blame you. If you hadn’t beaten us, we would’ve killed more people and that would’ve been a great sorrow for us. So let go of that expression. Please take care of us in the future, Benefactor.”

“I would like to ask you as well, Kyeongja.” (Name means year of the rat)

The resurrected rat queen had a name added to her. He didn’t know why the rat’s name was Kyeongja. However, it was true that there was a sense of friendliness. It was similar to the name of a grandmother.

“Myong! Myong! Myong! Hooray, Her Majesty!”

“Myong! Myong! Myong! Hooray, human friend!”

The rats stared at Grid and Kyeongja’s figures emotionally and struck the ground with the trident in their hand, cheering. They were so short that their feet covered with fur were adorable. The image of the monsters who poisoned and attacked him disappeared from his memories. In the midst of the turmoil...

“......”

Braham was silent. The person who killed the strong male rat was Braham, not Grid. Braham had used Assimilation to dominate Grid’s body and demonstrated the power of Alarm magic against the strong male rat and that rat had died because of him. However, Kyeongja didn’t know that. Grid was taking responsibility for Braham. There was no reason for Braham to go out and reveal it.

“Was the black cow resurrected?”

Grid questioned as the hamsters started dancing and Kyeongja nodded. “Yes, he is part of the Twelve Zodiacs as well. The moment he was resurrected, he transformed into a human and left for the village. He wants to play as soon as possible.”

“...?”

was twice as big as Grid but her feet were small, so it

because you’re curious about the blue

have met the blue tiger and Tosun after her resurrection. Grid nodded. “Right. However, based on your condition,

should stop by. The kids are looking forward to their

moment that the voices of the blue tiger

“Grid!! Kuheong!”

“God! God!!”

in the distance and dozens of tigers rushed over. At the forefront was the blue tiger and Tosun was sitting on the blue

“Everyone...!”

themselves to help him escape were still alive. He thought they died because of Hangyeol so he was very happy

Human,

it is a useless worry. We

for resurrecting God Red Phoenix! I believed

“Eek.”

tigers scrambled out of the way while the blue tiger

have suffered

queen, the

“Uhuh! Too imprudent!”

Grid who was trembling in pain, she spoke, “I will never forget that

“...”

was safe and welcoming him but why call him the God of Virtue? Grid denied it. “Don’t call me

your virtues will continue to build up and you will eventually

God of Rice

eat rice cakes.

“...Please shut up.”

they became mythical beings by serving the gods. They were the sacred creatures. They were very nice, as they had been taking care of humans for the good gods, but they were tactless. There were limitations to beasts, such as being unable

the heart

queen and Tosun also observed Grid belatedly and marveled. “Amazing! You really have the

natural. The God of Virtue resurrected God Red

a god. The reason why the Red Phoenix Heart had the ability to change the nature of the hidden item, the ‘rune,’ was because it had such

Phoenix

it must’ve shared its

heart. A triple digit heart is a power that God Red Phoenix has held for a very

that’s right. It is too much of a sacrifice for God Red Phoenix. I still remember crying when the Five Seniors snatched

red phoenix builds up over time. Every year, a new heart was created and the heart contained the life and strength of the red phoenix. The older the heart, the greater its vitality and strength. The age of the removed

the blue tiger guaranteed it. “Grid is our benefactor. He would’ve surely been given the 999th

Grid. He thought it would take a really long time for Grid to resurrect the red phoenix or that he would fail to resurrect it. The blue tiger had realistically faced the situation. It was impossible for one human to fight against the Five Seniors and the yangbans who had sealed the power of the Four Auspicious Beasts. However, the result wasn’t what he expected. Grid revived the red phoenix in just a few days. He believed it wouldn’t be unusual if the red phoenix gave its 999th heart

Grid when Grid finally opened his mouth, “I got the 9th

“...?!”

“...?!”

and spirits widened with