Chapter 129
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: 12th Floor - Minimal Cleanup
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Leaving the current Girl, who had fainted dead away, I waited for the future Girl to arrive.
A sparkling Girl appeared, shining like sunlight pouring in.
An empty, hollow skull bobbed along beside her.
I could tell right away that she'd lost Sharkma.
"The note the kid brought said it was gone. Sharkma's supposed to get away anyway, right?"
"Yeah... I tried to swap it out, but it didn't go so well."
"It's fine. Nothing major's gonna happen."
In a more typical kingdom setting, it might've been a big deal, but from what I'd heard, things were a mess there too.
An ancient kingdom was waiting.
So it was probably no big loss.
The Girl let out a sigh and tried to crack open Sharkma's now lightless skull. I stopped her.
"That's valuable in its own way. You could sell it for a good price in the kingdom."
"Huh, this thing? What do people even use it for?"
"It's like angel's tears—used in all sorts of catalysts. Once you hit damage reach, it's rare no matter what."
Even ground into powder, it'd be mana-infused bone dust. The Labyrinth had black magic as a field of study too.
Conventional magic used your own mana, shamanism drew mainly from the environment, and divine arts converted mana to holy power through faith.
Black magic didn't mesh with any of that.
It was a passive magic class that borrowed power from something else that definitely existed.
If you imagined the stereotypical demon contractor, that was it.
You didn't see it much on the continents of each server, but Exiles—who didn't care much for taboos—used it plenty.
An Exile's soul couldn't be collateral, so the risks were low.
Exiles prioritized ease and efficiency above all.
Naturally, black mages were common enough that you couldn't ignore them.
"Trades between Exiles often involve bartering too."
"I've heard that. The future Uncle gave me a ton of lectures on it."
"Trying not to let on that it's your first Run?"
"He said being an angel would draw way too much attention, so I had nothing to say to that."
The Girl released the holy power sealing the skull. I took it and stashed it in the bag the youngest usually carried.
We usually ditched it somewhere else during fights, so our luggage was intact.
With most of our defensive gear gone, I pulled spares from the bags and laid them over the guys.
And for the Girl...
"How's it feel dressing your past self?"
"Yeah, tell me about it."
We couldn't get another fairy priest robe, so it was standard combat gear.
No reason to wear medieval getups now, so it was stuff I'd prepped after coming from the future. The fit should be better at least.
Future outfits had little to do with magic, but their physical materials handled bullets and blades just fine.
Funny thing was, as magitech advanced, the tech for enchanting personal gear fell by the wayside.
Only master craftsmen could imbue gear strong enough to fend off guns.
Of course, there were few of them, and production was limited.
Cost-performance issues led to their obsolescence.
By later eras, those items became premium rarities—which was hilarious from a time-hopping Exile's perspective.
Before long, the detained Exiles started coming to.
To prepare for any threats, the rest of the party hung back while just the conscious old man, Proboy, and I faced them.
There were a lot of Exiles, and none were weak, but most were human.
And against humans, I was practically invincible.
Most didn't regain their senses right away.
Sharkma had detained them efficiently.
They'd all been sunk deep in their own illusions, living whatever dreams they desired.
Getting hurled back to reality from that was nightmarish.
Especially for Exiles whose lives were full of suffering.
Some went berserk.
I drained their blood to subdue them. Without enough blood, they couldn't even stand properly.
Controlling Exiles bound by their own blood and reeling from acute anemia was easy.
With patience, some fully regained their wits.
"Rescue team? Thank you so much!"
Despite his haggard face, one who approached to bow was clearly an archer.
He handled mana well, and at a high level. Couldn't tell without his gear, but he seemed like a veteran.
I didn't bother correcting his assumption. The old man and Proboy played along as rescue too.
Just from my prior heads-up, the crafty orc and ancient vampire nailed the act.
If there were veterans who'd recognize Trdongt by face alone, it'd be different—but anyone that sharp wouldn't have been caught here.
Just in case, I'd temporarily altered my face and Proboy's too.
No telling when these guys had hit this floor.
They might know me.
The Labyrinth's tangled timelines made crap like this annoying and exhausting.
Nothing worse than them knowing me one-sidedly when I had no clue.
As more came to their senses, the natural leaders stepped up to manage things.
A few killed themselves.
Couldn't face the harsh reality after waking from sweet dreams, it seemed.
Everyone checked their remaining timers. The longest detainee had unknowingly become a 90-year veteran.
He laughed hollowly.
"I always pitied folks who hid their tenure. Never thought it'd be me."
That meant no respect whatsoever, obviously.
All regard in the Labyrinth came from ability.
So-called fake veterans had to lowball their tenure.
Claim high-rank vet status upfront, then get exposed as mostly wasted time? No way that ended well.
I didn't try to control them like some rescue team.
Some suicides came from cold, rational judgment, not delirium. Probably had reasons they couldn't return to the kingdom.
Once things settled, the Exiles dispersed to find their stairs and head back to the kingdom.
One party stood out—they'd never even reached the kingdom.
Caught on 15, a boss floor, with rotten luck.
We're only on 12. Hm.
Still, they were thrilled to reach the kingdom.
No one but the leader had kingdom experience.
Pass through the gates on 16, and they'd enter Exile country.
The party leader who'd first called me rescue? No one questioned it after that.
First impressions set the tone—no trouble.
"Kinda disappointing. A few more attackers, and I could've stocked up more on [Blood Spring]."
"Plenty suicided, though."
"You've adapted quick, old timer. Indeed."
"Think like an Exile? After all this, yeah. Guess my ossified brain cracked open. Kah hah hah."
My body felt wonderfully comfortable again. Humanoid beat bat any day.
Regrettable part: Sharkma had utterly vaporized the angel-feather padding.
Vampire life meant less need for defense anyway, but still a shame.
Kingdom pulls would have more feathers. Satisfied with good use till then.
First, tell the angel waiting in the kingdom to scout for Sharkma and the fairy mage.
Heading to where the party lay, I saw the future Girl had dressed the current one, laid her down, and was just staring.
"What're you doing?"
"Just... it's fascinating."
"What is?"
"You don't think seeing your past self is fascinating?"
Fair point. Didn't cross my mind—normal for me.
"Tiny. Cute."
"Narcissist?"
"But it's true."
"Nah, she's no different from now."
"Really?"
The Girl thrust out her chest.
"For real real?"
She struck her secret sexy pose.
I know this one. Mirror practice.
How could it look so flat?
"Hit your head?"
"Tch, fine. Uncle's Uncle even on this timeline."
"Why? The other me's no different."
"Hm, lots is different."
She smirked faintly.
Glancing sidelong, unbelievably...
Sultry.
Objectively so.
Her suddenly mature face started showing traits I'd thought impossible.
Yet she had no clue what expression she'd just made.
I couldn't help chuckling at how ridiculous it was.
She blinked in confusion, then—somehow interpreting it—huffed, narrowing her eyes.
With her best enigmatic look, she said,
"Gonna get confessed to soon. Watch out."
"What?"
I double-took, but she started fussing over the current Girl's cheek, done talking.
I just shrugged.
Checked the party's conditions while circling. Most just unconscious, otherwise fine.
Made sense—Healing Springs everywhere meant no death, full health otherwise.
But fatigue the springs couldn't fix had piled up bad.
Soon, the surviving fairies arrived.
Mad fairies lived up to their grim rep: always cold-blooded.
Hence the madness.
The dog-eared rep approached, spirit summoned just in case, but ears drooped as she raised her hands.
"Dismiss it."
"Okay."
Spirits vanished. I finally relaxed. They could've rushed us feigning approach.
Predicting these fairies' thoughts wasn't wise.
Just brace for everything.
So I straight-up bound the dog-ears to chat.
Her compliance showed no fight left.
Future Girl watched beside me. Fairies knew this angel sparked the mega-blast.
"Come to think, aren't we acquainted?"
"Yeah, you never introduced the Spirit King."
I smirked back.
"Guess your faith isn't the Nature God. Makes sense why."
"Sigh, still regret betraying Him."
"Then beg forgiveness."
Dog-ears looked puzzled.
I grabbed her hand, let her hear the Nature God's decree—her ears twitched wildly.
"Why'd you betray Him anyway? 10th floor—no, the ruins—you sided with us fine."
"Um, kinda embarrassing."
Confessed: banned from Spirit King contract attempts.
I asked the Nature God directly.
"Why? You know these kids go nuts for spirits."
[Sigh, how could I allow that? They'd all die.]
"No real talent for success was the issue, huh."
Dog-ears blushed.
"Back then, I thought I could. Seeing you? Nah."
"Too late now?"
"Yeah, ditched faith for War God. Not a fairy's place."
Nature God's deep sighs echoed—not just words, genuine lament.
"Server with tons of nutty fairies, huh."
[Tell me about it.]
But fairy issues were mostly trivial.
Few harbored true malice.
Most fairies just didn't think much.
Even a human-turned Nature God had limits. Fairies veered unpredictably.
I could relate painfully—rebuilt the fairy empire in one Run.
Ruling them wasn't bliss.
Dog-ears glanced up.
"You can go back in time, right? Stop past me?"
I shook my head firmly.
"Even if a new future branches, it'd be unrelated to you here."
Her ears—and body—drooped.
"Mistakes can't be undone, huh. Yeah, shameless ask. Sorry."
"Apologize to Him."
"Yeah, God, really sorry. Forgive me just once."
Nature God sighed again.
Not all fairies like this. Lacked summoner wisdom, that's all.
Grove Fairies thought more, at least.
I glanced at the future Girl beside me.
She got my look instantly—proved minimal smarts.
"I'm better than these kids, right?"
"True enough."
"Hee hee. My win."
Suit her better as a leaf fairy card than an archangel, maybe.