"However, Great Priest said that it is fine for you to become the Supreme Kai of the Tenth Universe, provided that during your years as Supreme Kai, you must properly develop the Tenth Universe." Gowasu added a supplementary condition, his tone turning serious. "If the development is not good, Great Priest has decided to personally punish you."
"Forget it then, I prefer a free and unrestrained life." Soya decisively refused, the pleasant surprise on his face instantly vanishing, replaced by an expression of ease.
Gowasu: "..."
"Negative emotional value from Gowasu +666!"
No way... I already submitted the application.
And you dismiss me with just a line about liking a free and unrestrained life?
Playing around like this is a bit excessive.
"This... Soya, listen to me, actually developing a universe is very simple, not as complicated as you think." Gowasu grew anxious, stepping forward, grabbing Soya's arm, his tone carrying a plea.
I've already gotten approval from the higher-ups, and then you don't want this job anymore.
Aren't you just messing with me?
"Tell me about it." Soya smiled slightly, his tone relaxed. "How does one need to develop a universe?"
"Currently, each universe has an evaluation called the comprehensive index level. Our Tenth Universe's comprehensive index level is 5, ranking eighth in the entire universe." Gowasu replied. "Great Priest said that as long as you can raise it to seventh place, it will be considered qualified."
"Eighth?" Soya covered his face, an expression of disbelief appearing on his face.
The Tenth Universe's comprehensive index level is only ranked eighth?
Might as well say you're fifth from the bottom!
How underdeveloped is your universe?
"By the way, it's worth mentioning that the comprehensive index level of your Seventh Universe is the lowest in the entire universe." Gowasu added another sentence.
Soya already knew the Seventh Universe's comprehensive index level was very low.
In the original storyline, the Seventh Universe's comprehensive index level was second to last.
But that was over 40 years later.
Right now, it's actually the absolute last.
After 40 years, it surpassed the Ninth Universe to become second to last?
Soya carefully thought about it, guessing that the reason the Seventh Universe could surpass the Ninth Universe might be due to some dubious operations by the Ninth Universe causing its comprehensive index level to drop, right?
Hmm... It's not that the Seventh Universe improved, but that the Ninth Universe declined.
"Actually, wanting to raise the comprehensive index level is not very difficult. The principle is simple. As long as the universe's balance degree can reach a certain height, the comprehensive index level can be raised." Gowasu explained patiently, his tone sincere. "For a universe to achieve better development, a necessary condition is to reach a certain balance."
"Mhm, you continue, I like listening to stories." Soya nodded.
Gowasu: "..."
"Negative emotional value from Gowasu +666!"
I'm not telling a story...
You actually treat such matters as stories.
"To give a simple example, it's like the planet you live on. If the population becomes too large, what situation will it ultimately lead to?" Gowasu asked.
"The planet I live on has a very small population. I'm actually thinking of vigorously developing the population." Soya replied.
Gowasu wiped sweat.
Chatting with you like this, it really can't continue.
"Alright... Then I'll change the question. With a very small population on the planet you live on, what kind of situation will occur?" Gowasu asked again.
"Sparse population, large amounts of land and resources are wasted." Soya responded.
"Good. Similarly, if the population is too large, the planet's resources will be overexploited." Gowasu smiled. "With a sparse population, the planet's development can only scratch the surface. So, how can this planet achieve better development? The best way is to have a population that is neither too large nor too small, with resources sufficient for use but not wasted. What I'm saying is balance."
"What you said is excellent. Mhm, continue, continue." Soya grinned, his eyes carrying encouragement, urging.
Gowasu: "..."
Although I really want to continue, after you say that, I don't know how to proceed.
"Replace the planet with the universe, and it's pretty much the same principle." Gowasu gave a supplementary explanation, his tone serious. "For a universe to achieve better development, its population and resources must also reach a balance. That is what I just called the comprehensive index level. Of course, besides requiring balance, this comprehensive index level also includes the overall quality of the universe. For example, your new universe currently doesn't have many people in total, only one planet, right? So, placed within the entire universe, it actually belongs to the bottom-tier existence."
Soya already had some understanding of these matters, so he wasn't particularly surprised, just listened calmly.
"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Gowasu asked with a smile, a hint of expectation in his eyes. "As long as the comprehensive index level is raised by one rank, the task can be successfully completed."
"Are there rewards for completing the task?" Soya inquired, a flicker of slyness in his eyes.
Gowasu: "..."
"This... I didn't ask." Gowasu wiped sweat, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead, saying somewhat awkwardly.
"How about submitting another application?" Soya encouraged, a hint of temptation in his tone.
Gowasu covered his face, feeling speechless inside.
I can't go bother Great Priest again, can I?
What would Great Priest think?
"This... isn't appropriate..." Gowasu's mouth twitched a few times.
"Having only punishment, no reward, doesn't quite make sense." Soya shook his head, let out a sigh, a trace of disappointment in his tone. "Why should I go looking for trouble? I might as well just be the Supreme Kai of the new universe. The matter of serving concurrently as Supreme Kai can be discussed later."
Gowasu was genuinely speechless.
I've already said it, and now you don't want to be the Tenth Universe's Supreme Kai again...
"Or, how about I find you a more suitable Supreme Kai?" Soya, not wanting to make things too difficult for Gowasu, softened his tone a bit.
"You'll help me find a more suitable Supreme Kai?" Gowasu was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise and curiosity in his eyes.
"Correct, definitely much more suitable than Zamasu." Soya nodded, an expression of seriousness on his face, his tone certain.
"Negative emotional value from Zamasu +1100!"
You not serving concurrently as the Tenth Universe's Supreme Kai is one thing.
You actually want to find someone to replace me!
Zamasu lay on the ground, trembling with anger, but due to his severe injuries, didn't even have the strength to stand up.
"But speaking of which, when do you plan to retire?" Soya asked again, his gaze falling on Gowasu.
"It'll probably take thirty or forty years? There's still a lot of finishing work that needs to be done." Gowasu pondered, a trace of emotion in his tone.
"That's plenty of time." Soya nodded. "You do your finishing work first. In thirty or forty years, I'll find you a suitable Supreme Kai."
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📖 Like the story? Read 120 chapters ahead!
🔗 patreon.com/atomelectron
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━