Chapter 130
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: 13th Floor - Lv. 775 Lava Hammer Assault Squadron (1)
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When the Goddess called, a single legion from the Federation tried to warp here to provide escort.
The Goddess firmly refused.
Not even a battleship should come.
This was not a war.
Nor should it be perceived that way by those around us.
Deputy High Priest Proxy Globachov, the Secretary-General, gladly followed her words.
With the Alliance's permission, an unarmed transport ship landed on the tiny artificial planet.
Of course, it wasn't hard to imagine that the Alliance had accepted the request quite reluctantly.
They had barely agreed because a hero of the Federation was coming along without any armaments.
The Alliance wouldn't have wanted to touch the Federation's most sensitive nerve either.
Regardless of other circumstances, it was also thanks to them clearing out the armed forces occupying the territory.
Some might say their heads ached at the thought of the Federation, which worships Exiles, spouting nonsense again.
Watching events unfold, Proboy looked crestfallen.
"Wait, then what happens to us? Do we have to leave this place? We have nowhere else to go."
"Hmm, no thoughts of heading to the Federation?"
"Is that even possible? Barbaroy was the one who rejected us most vehemently. Sure, we were at fault first, but..."
It was a grudge from 500 years ago, it seemed. Barbaroy and his clan mates hadn't forgotten the past.
When the homeless vampires had headed to the Federation to somehow secure a place, the response had been icy.
"No interest in going under them?"
"Exactly. We held back because nothing good would come of it. Besides, the Federation back then wasn't strong enough to bend that far."
Thinking about it, that made sense. Both the Federation and the Alliance were still unstable, and the Empire remained powerful.
Even a rich family that goes bankrupt lasts three years—they probably saw no merit in bending their pride to go under a Federation openly hostile to the Empire.
Of course, that was just how things were back then.
"So, satisfied with the Alliance?"
"If we were, would vampire clans have been pushed to this backwater?"
"Not exactly happy, then."
"We're managing somehow. Other clans... some vanished into the annals of history."
Many things that existed in medieval fantasy worlds disappear in the divergent future.
New things emerge, but many end up only in history books.
Vampire clans that once dominated the night through pacts even with human nations now couldn't even check on each other's well-being.
I said to Proboy,
"Here's the thing. I'm the clan master."
"Pardon? Oh, yes."
After a day packed with shocks, he wasn't quite in his right mind.
"That Barbaroy clan is now the Orgel Clan. Wait, no. Here, it's been that way since 500 years ago."
"Orgel?"
"Call me that when referring to me. Remember it."
"An alias, right?"
"Ever seen an Exile go around using their real name?"
Proboy's face went blank.
A sword master with a handsome young face looked quite odd like that.
"Uh, so then."
"One word from me, and even Barbaroy can't object."
"If you do that, we'd be endlessly grateful. Our clan will pledge full loyalty."
"Good. You'll like the new home. I'll make sure of it."
Proboy beamed with joy and embraced the faith of Chaos.
He had once eagerly offered to submit to Chaos but got turned away at the door.
Thinking back, besides the kid I brought and Barbaroy, most of the other clan members from back then were probably still alive.
And they wouldn't have forgotten the grudge easily.
I couldn't forget the ragged state I saw at the end of the 10th floor.
According to the fallen clans, that's just how it was. Life in hiding was harsh for vampires who even hated the sun.
Night Crow spared no effort in hunting downcast clans that broke vampire society's accords.
They were pursued doubly by humans, once kin, and now by fellow vampires.
In fact, the survivors Barbaroy had scraped together on the 10th floor weren't that many.
Considering the clan members who froze to death in the northern snowfields on the 6th floor, over half had probably turned to ash by then.
But that was probably Proboy's conclusion.
What was the reality? I thought it was for a different reason.
Anyway, putting that aside, time to see how loyal our clan members really are to me.
The boxy, massive transport ship opened, and a ridiculously shiny staircase descended.
Federation ships tended to have that rigid, angular style.
Maybe that's why the ram that struck the Empire's capital felt so devastating.
Vampires poured out first.
I didn't think I remembered every face from the 10th-floor survivors.
Still, I committed as many passing faces as possible to memory within that run.
It's a habit, no reason not to.
Yet, not a single familiar face appeared.
All under 500 years old, it seemed.
They recognized their first-ever clan master and sent gazes sparkling with overwhelming fervor.
The city, which had briefly glittered before sinking back into darkness, provided a perfectly vampiric backdrop.
But the attitude of the lined-up vampires in front of it was...
Barbaroy stepped forward.
An utterly aristocratic, handsome face.
His sharp features blended seamlessly despite a slight Eastern blood mix.
His face looked unchanged, but it truly wasn't.
Experience doesn't always show in facial wrinkles.
The way he handled his gaze, his gait, posture, subtle expression shifts.
Humans instinctively judge opponents from such minutiae.
I could do it more consciously.
Barbaroy had clearly lived a life worthy of a [Hero Unit].
"Long time no see, Master."
"More than that, surely."
"About ten years."
"We must've met pretty often."
Barbaroy smiled faintly.
"As always. And as it will be."
"Could be. But I heard you wanted to rest."
"Federation research says this timeline is nearing its end. The last 100 years are deemed the Labyrinth's 'far future'."
"So, this is the last time we'll meet?"
Ironically, the Federation, which reveres and studies Exiles more than anyone, knew as much as I did about appearance locations and times.
However, with different data, their conclusions held more credibility than my rough guesses.
Barbaroy continued.
"Probably not. From our view, the Master who appeared 91 years ago was in the Labyrinth's late stages. He said there'd be one more after that."
"Then he should've stepped down then."
"Master wasn't always a vampire, though."
"Ah, so you've seen after he stepped down."
"Yes... We controlled it as much as possible for security. Best not to pry."
A rare race must've come up for future me.
Learning it now could affect probabilities.
Race cards are especially sensitive to odds, easily messing things up.
The God of Luck doesn't like the God of Time meddling in his domain—or so the planner slipped.
I'll hide that the girl becomes an angel too.
She might guess, but without certainty, it'll happen as is.
Guessing, I had her draw on the 15th floor.
Since she beats probabilities, she pulled the angel card, right?
Better to have her handle pure luck pulls.
Not always good results, but half-decent is enough.
Working them is my job.
A banquet followed. Sitting at the head table with other vampires made me wonder what was happening.
Barbaroy and I weren't exactly close, but I played along as much as possible.
The young vampires' mood demanded it.
After the banquet, there was time for chats with the legendary clan master.
I serviced diligently, keeping weight without Barbaroy at my side.
Once the thrilled young vampires left, Barbaroy chuckled.
"You always read the room perfectly."
"Reading the vibe is my best skill."
"Rest now. We've prepared the finest quarters."
"I'll impose a bit."
"It's yours. No imposition."
I'd already moved the party inside the transport ship. They got their rooms.
Upon waking, attendants selected from tens of thousands competed to serve.
Proboy glanced at Barbaroy.
I laughed.
"Forgive this guy, will you?"
"The grudge faded long ago."
"So it was door-blocking after all."
"He had to be here for you to survive, Master."
Seemed likely. Rejected to place him here as needed.
What would Proboy think learning that?
Anyway, he relaxed and boarded the planet-piercing train to fetch his clan.
The future girl smacked her lips.
"That was kinda fun."
"You're faster than that now, aren't you?"
"Thrill's hard these days."
Chatting idly, I headed to my personal quarters.
I asked the girl,
"Anything to fetch from the 12th floor?"
"Oh! Right! Bring money! Gold or something."
Prepared instantly. She hugged the pouch and bowed.
"I'll head out then! Be nice to this place's me too!"
"Of course. Thanks for the help."
"Aw, embarrassing."
Golden divinity wrapped her. Leaving faint traces, the angel from the future returned to her time.
Alone, I went to my personal study.
Various memos remained.
Relative to me, future me left them; relative to this server, past me did.
Ridiculous.
I confirmed some facts. Info left by me from the kingdom's mid-to-late game.
Not fully fixed futures, but high-probability ones pieced by the Labyrinth at this point.
In game days, it was simple future/past stages; reality's corrections made it headache-inducing.
"But if it weren't a headache, I couldn't get these hints."
Everything in the world is both pro and con. Pure upsides are rarer than thought.
It's all mindset.
Rest was just a day. But thorough.
Barbaroy said I'd ordered a dedicated transport for the safest, densest relaxation.
And we'd used this ship multiple times before.
Members varied, but I didn't ask. Sometimes, limiting info benefits the Labyrinth's judgment.
Even self-control info.
Facilities were excessively opulent, almost overkill.
Federation tech crammed every inch of the vast ship with conveniences.
The multi-attribute mana hot springs awed Grandpa most.
"This is that rumored thing."
"Even on the continent?"
"Yeah. Hidden legend stuff. Artificially made? How?"
The kid spent time with Barbaroy.
For her, he was still more familiar than me.
He wanted it too.
Probably had reasons.
Barbaroy had seen future kid in the past.
Not bad. Limits my info but helps party management like a butler.
This universe seems set like this.
Told the Nature God, whom I'm indebted to, my intent. He supported readily.
"Fairies might feel bad. Issue?"
[Beyond managing this server's fairies, I checked with other gods. You made this future mostly alone, but most like it. One dissent changes nothing, especially with Chaos pleased.]
I'd asked politely. More gods than expected observed this universe, just from detained Exiles.
Order God seizing Alliance first makes sense.
"Then I'll proceed."
[Asking that is silly. One Exile twisting a whole server.]
"You always say it, but I'm impressive. No special news on Order God?"
[Just entered this future first. Some unease.]
"We'll learn later."
I don't see Order God as hostile. Troubles without smooth resolutions exist.
[Still, this server's future starts quite late.]
"Happens sometimes. Hard to interfere."
Time order tangled, but this server's 'future stage' began now.
My future visits to its past are just fitted now.
Labyrinth revolves around Exiles. Kingdom as time anchor.
Gods perceive Exile time as kingdom time. Servers are new scenarios in strategy sims.
Past future-me Barbaroy mentioned? Prequel DLC post-main story in kingdom terms.
If changes erase this future, meaningless tale.
All NPCs ultimately.
Clan vampires moved by me, Barbaroy's centuries of devotion.
Mere fleeting illusions.
I remind myself each time.
Maybe I'm this world's only true human.
We descended the stairs.
A day of luxury shook even those unmoved by wealth and glory.
Still, we advance. Everyone has goals; no desire to stay.
Bullets and shells welcomed us to the battlefield.
Grateful it's not space?
Troll troops with glowing greatswords charged.
Behind, goblin soldiers in dire straits fought desperately.
Before grasping location, we all drew weapons.