Chapter 168
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: 16th Floor - Temple of Time (3)
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Changing races is a bizarre experience that can leave lingering aftereffects if it's your first time.
It's literally being reborn, so it's only natural.
Hiu tore the card with eager, excited movements.
A sparkling light enveloped her body, transforming her into the form I remembered seeing.
Hologram pin-like mechanical wings, and a similarly inorganic halo.
It felt like it emitted a soft glow, but no actual light came from it.
At a glance, she looked just like her original self, only with wings and a halo added.
She seemed to think the same.
"Compared to when I became a goblin, I don't feel much different."
"Your build and body shape haven't changed much. Still, do you feel like throwing up or any sense of discomfort?"
She wiggled her fingers busily as she replied.
"I can sense that parts of my body have changed a bit, but it feels fine."
"You're adapting well. Some people are bedridden for days after using a card."
In the Hunter's case, he didn't stay down, but he was seriously uncomfortable with his body everywhere. His walking turned robotic—it was hilarious.
"I'll move around a bit more!"
With that, she started testing her body. She walked, squatted, jumped, did a backflip, and even sprinted full speed to check her physical abilities.
This place, where the kingdom's gate was located, was an endlessly white space—perfect for testing the physical capabilities of a high-rank race without issues.
Just from running, Hiu dashed beyond the horizon and back before saying,
"Take back what I said about not noticing any changes! This... hmm. How do I put it? It feels like I've become a cartoon character."
"You've been like that from the start, haven't you?"
"You mean I'm pretty?"
"Yeah, exactly. Look at that flawless skin. Angels don't even need skincare. They're always in top condition."
"I love that part."
"As long as you have the minimum mana, you don't need to eat. And obviously, no waste either."
"That's the best!"
The food shortages in the Abyss must have left quite an impression—she was grinning ear to ear.
I couldn't touch her body, so I inspected every inch with my eyes.
Her physical abilities had improved so dramatically that she didn't notice the incongruity herself, but even her body shape had changed slightly.
Her muscles now settled into a more ideal form.
No major change in volume, but her weight had probably increased a bit.
Considering the unnatural strength those slender arms' muscle fibers could output before, it was hard to even guess how physically powerful she'd become now.
It was perfect. An optimal setup for the role I'd envisioned and prepared for in the party.
Soon enough, she'd notice the differences from humans herself.
For starters, I needed to retrain her on how to exert strength in an angelic way.
Relying solely on racial specs without development would hit a limit quickly. I couldn't let that happen.
Not when thinking about the harsh paths ahead after the kingdom.
As I stared intently at her from close range without a word, Hiu started squirming.
"Hey, hold still. Can you flex your arm now?"
"No way, I'm dying of embarrassment here!"
"It'd be nice if I could touch it with my hands."
"You can touch! I'm already yours, Uncle."
With that, she carelessly reached out toward me.
I screamed.
A hazy pale flame spread across my body.
"Aaaah! What the hell?!"
"Uh, oh no. I didn't mean to. What do I do?"
"Control your divinity like you do mana! Your body's trying to smite an undead on its own!"
"I've never tried exorcising a vampire before!"
"Don't ever touch me! The me on the 12th floor barely survived!"
Watching that farce, the old man chuckled heartily.
"Those fools. What fools."
"Doesn't the leader seem to have some ulterior motives?"
The old man shook his head at the little mage's words.
"Right now, it's the eyes of a warrior polishing his weapon. If that's ulterior motives, then sure."
"Sigh, but becoming an angel really changed her completely. No need for makeup anymore."
The old man, still lacking in human sensibilities, needed time to understand.
"Ah, you're talking about looks."
"Her skin tone changed, right? No need for lighting either. Maybe I should try becoming an angel too."
"That's something really rare."
"Just kidding. I plan to live and die as a human."
"Keep track of your lifespan well."
"Waking up at fifteen again after dying of old age doesn't sound bad, does it?"
As such chit-chat went on, the Hunter—who had become a sharp-eyed fairy—was just grinning away.
That smile might be full of ulterior motives.
His eyes never left the direction of the temple.
He didn't leave immediately because, though it wasn't a long time, he wanted to see the end of this party that had given him such a profound memory and finally achieved what he desired.
He had already waited decades.
Spending a bit more sweet time in patience wasn't a waste.
I focused on flight training, reset her somewhat initialized mind map, and...
After hastily teaching her the bare basics, I sent her to the 12th floor.
A death lich beating an angel was nearly impossible. Just knowing how to fly made it unbeatable.
She was actually the least worrying one.
As expected, she returned completely unharmed.
But when she came back, her head was hanging low.
"What, did you get lost again?"
"No! I went straight there!"
She sounded annoyed, but her eyes oddly avoided mine.
This was a lie. She definitely wandered around muttering "where, where" before barely making it.
History has a high chance of repeating.
Hiu handed me a pouch. Gold trinkets from the 12th floor.
I passed it to the youngest.
What I tasked the kingdom's angel with was nothing major.
Just secure and maintain a home for multiple people.
Earn minimal living expenses and save the rest.
If an angel race seriously tried to make money in the kingdom, it'd be no joke, but she showed no such intent.
She seemed to have accumulated wealth by occasionally going out for a big score and returning.
But she was too lazy—even the Goddess informed me they were seriously short on cash.
I had no choice but to ask Hiu, heading to a floor connectable to the federation, to bring back some gold.
Sometimes, trivial things later make you nod in realization.
The youngest blinked at the money pouch.
"What's this money for?"
"How'd you plan to live in the kingdom?"
"I'll follow the boss."
"Isn't it time to drop the 'boss' talk?"
"Hahaha."
The youngest stared at me like a subordinate awaiting orders.
"Let's use it to open a Temple of Chaos. There's none left in the kingdom. I want you to be the high priest."
The youngest grinned widely without a word.
I asked the little mage.
"Is there anywhere you want to go back to?"
"Huh?"
"That whole 'going all-in on intelligence because of mental strength' thing is a lie, right?"
She blinked in genuine surprise that I knew.
"Whoa, you caught me?"
"You act too smart for that. Real all-intelligence builds are rare—it's a good excuse. You've probably brushed off skeptics by blaming intelligence side effects."
"You know exactly."
This kid joined our party on the 9th floor.
Before that, her even floors would differ from mine, so places I don't know.
Thus, no specific place to send her, in my judgment.
Her mage abilities were similar.
The Hunter was highly capable outside combat, no issue. The youngest had outstanding warrior talent.
The little mage had no big advantages as a combatant beyond being a mage.
I felt it teaching her magic repeatedly—her talent was subtle for an all-intelligence build.
Just picked mage reluctantly for spirit correction?
Her occasional demeanor suggested otherwise.
So her strengths lay elsewhere.
"Actually, there's one thing I haven't told you seniors."
She said with a bashful smile.
Unlike Hiu's, it was genuinely seductive.
Her average face gained color.
She survived this labyrinth as a mage and as a woman—using every means to live.
Typical for exiles.
But even so, it didn't feel high-quality.
Exiles will do anything to survive, but death isn't the end.
An adapted exile can now choose for themselves.
The labyrinth doesn't only breed evil. Spare lives mean lives to throw away for others.
Conditions easy to become nobler relatively.
But not the little mage.
She chose a stickier, slimier way. Willingly.
The female archer chose the opposite. She was a solidly upright party leader pursuing virtue.
Murder taboo unavoidable, but labyrinth kills aren't true murders anyway.
The female archer was plenty capable too.
Even without a mage for human hunts, she had countermeasures.
The little mage probably approached perfectly from the start.
Before her body matured, as an appealing child, she used various charms.
She knew exactly how she appeared to others and exploited it.
Sharp mind. Separate from magic talent, perhaps the slyest in the party in devious directions.
But fine. She never crosses lines.
And she won't betray me.
I've shown too many feats.
Knowing that and her own utility, the little mage casually confessed.
"On the 12th floor, I mainly handled mana detection."
Mostly assisting the old man. Excluding me, he was our party's main mage.
"At the end, I barely caught someone descending stairs at detection's edge."
"Yeah? Then another one must've shown up there."
"Yes."
"Can you win?"
"That fairy senior was completely exhausted. And I can take Time Faith, right?"
"Even if they squeeze out a final time spell, you can handle it. Good. Go."
The little mage became a follower of the God of Time.
Then returned to the 12th floor.
Not telling us before was probably insurance.
She knew from me that events differ per timeline.
So she thought the fairy mage and Sharkma could safely head to the kingdom.
Or even that she'd save them herself.
If her position in the party felt shaky or she sensed being discarded, she'd likely have done it.
The little mage tried creating more footholds any way possible.
Chilling, really.
She precisely knew her value to opponents as a 9th-year exile and Time God follower.
Against a distant senior fairy exile and a hero-unit death lich.
Most would be overwhelmed by their power, not thinking that way.
And that's correct.
With a brainwashed exile leading, even the fairy mage would feel uneasy in the exile kingdom.
If the little mage offered cooperation, they'd have no choice but accept.
A 9th-year exile reaching that idea? Maybe she lied about her years, but the Goddess—who sees plainly—confirms it's true.
No backstory like the Hunter's, anyway.
So truly 9th-year.
Talented in another sense, this kid.
Unlike her words, the little mage had detected the position precisely.
Praying to the God of Time, pinpointing the teleport was effortless.
She arrived in the city of darkness from memory.
Before her, an exile and a fairy about to descend the stairs.
Recognizing it, she muttered,
"God of Time..."
The world's time halted abruptly.
The foot extended toward the stairs froze.
In the ash-gray world, the little mage walked slowly.
The fairy mage noticed the stopped time.
Squeezing her last mana, she turned her head within it.
"You..."
The words didn't continue.
Physical attacks work on those who enter stopped time too.
She stabbed the dagger—borrowed from her angel sister—into the neck.
The fairy mage flapped her mouth in panic, clutched her throat, and collapsed.
The red gem clutched in her hand hung frozen in midair.
The little mage picked it up and slashed down.
Adamantite cleaved the Life Force Vessel effortlessly.
"Here."
The split gem was definitely Sharkma's LFV.
"Well done. Let's do great in the kingdom too."
"I'll do my best. No room for second thoughts anyway... I prefer handsome guys if possible."
I chuckled and pointed at Hiu.
"I'm taken by her."
"Don't like concubines?"
"Nope."
"Guess no choice then."
The little mage shrugged.