Chapter 49
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: 6th Floor - Lv. 95 Stormhowl Brigade (6)
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"The God of War already hates us anyway, right?"
"Not necessarily. Our party's damage to the Greenskins wasn't that devastating."
"Well... true."
The Girl nodded.
The smell of blood still lingered a bit. The magic on the Fairy's clothes would fade if I didn't renew it soon.
"At that level, a strong apology should do the trick. Gods forgive easily. They were Exiles themselves once—veteran ones with real skills."
Powerful Exiles were beings even gods didn't want as enemies. They could pop up anywhere and hassle their followers.
The best outcome was turning them into devotees.
It was a subtle game of wits.
I'd flipped the board and even declared war.
"I see. So how do gods become gods, anyway?"
"After the kingdom, wandering dimensional rifts, you find something called a divine seat. Sit on it, and you're a god."
"Whoa... So it's luck-based?"
"Finding it is one thing, but there's usually a god already sitting there. You have to fight and win."
"Hmm."
"What?"
The Girl's eyes sparkled as she asked.
"No God of Love or anything?"
"Nope."
"Aw."
I chuckled and caught the incoming attack.
The Girl looked dumbfounded.
"How do you even react to that? Even my dad would just take it."
"The motion's a bit telegraphed. You felt it fighting Blanche, right? When they wind up big for power, it shows."
"Still, it's bullet-speed even if you see it coming."
"Bullets are faster than you think."
I released and created distance again.
As always, the Girl struck first.
Dust flew up.
No, it felt like only dust remained.
The swift incoming strike was more linear, mimicking my movements.
But mimicking me meant I knew it best.
I parried slightly, grabbed, and targeted the joint to cut off her power.
Muscles couldn't transmit force properly, halting acceleration.
Strength gaps meant little.
A thread of mana flowed through every motion, maximizing the technique.
In the end, the Girl spun like a flash of thrusting kinetic energy and got suplexed.
"Gwehk."
"Not even a girly scream from a girl in her prime."
Her physical prowess meant quick recovery.
Landing on snow cushioned the blow a bit.
Tears welled in her pained eyes as she spoke.
"Go easier next time."
"That was easy. You're still conscious."
"Mean."
Even as she complained, a smile hung on her lips.
A battle maniac streak showed. Maybe try berserker?
But dagger berserker? Sounds idiotic. Needs a greatsword or axe.
"That's enough for now."
"I'm fine."
"I'm tired."
The Girl grumbled since she hadn't even landed a solid hit.
"I thought I copied it perfectly."
"Copies can't beat originals."
"I'm stronger. Faster too."
"Mana use is clumsy."
"Magic's cheating."
"Love hearing the weak whine."
"Ugh, screw you."
Still, her progress was remarkable.
Humanoids had joint limits by default.
Unless size overwhelmed, it was a big PvP advantage.
All that practice paying off.
"Next time, I won't lose."
"To me?"
"No, to Blanche."
"Call her sis?"
"Eww, no. Then you'd be Dad."
"What the hell."
The goddess cackled openly via divine word.
I shook my head.
What kind of nonsense setting is this?
"No Blanche on 7th floor, right?"
"Yeah. Meeting her again soon might be rough."
"Got a win plan? She'll try killing you."
"Of course. Who do you think I am?"
"Big shot."
Despite the banter, the Girl seemed thrilled to have me alone.
Not pure possessiveness.
More like affection-starved.
Kids born from Exile hookups in the Labyrinth often were.
Harsh environments turned fleeting flings into "love."
Countless born and abandoned.
They weren't even Exiles.
That's why love was taboo without permanence.
Her bubbly front hid it at first, but the craving showed.
Wanting more love, to be needed.
The Jeong Family seemed less than warm, despite noble roots.
I'm human too—can't push away a kid filling her voids with me.
"Hold my hand."
"Why?"
"Just."
Her beaming at this made gauging limits tough.
Leaf Fairy card randomizes animal traits.
Thought cat at first.
Now? Puppy.
As Leaf Fairy, her tail would wag nonstop by me.
Love and marriage reminded me.
The Hunter had quit hanging with Fairies, now tending his weapons.
I'd done no melee here—no throws even—so nothing to maintain.
Tended my body instead.
"Need help?"
"You have something to say."
"Busted?"
Usually left him to it, no meddling.
"Wanna learn mana use?"
"...Sure."
Surprisingly agreeable. Thought pure ranger stubbornness, but no.
Reason clear soon.
"I don't say this often."
"Heard 'no talent' plenty."
"Yeah."
Fatal for bow rangers.
Gun rangers gear up easily; pure bow has limits.
Magic compensates.
Late-game, special arrows become normals.
Bullets too small for mana.
Even big calibers? Velocity issue.
Arrows: ideal size, speed for projectiles.
Magarcher—or cooler, [Arcane Archer].
Mid-game must for bow users.
Can't?
"Why I never reached the kingdom."
"Not entirely. Try guns?"
Hunter eyed me surprised.
"Useless. Guns rare, ammo?"
Gun rangers legendary.
Post-kingdom common; pre? Mythical.
Ammo sourcing hell too.
Early drops lack bullet crafting eras.
"Heading for [Anvil] anyway. Early guns craftable."
"News to me."
"They don't spread it. This era's dwarves don't know guns."
Hunter murmured "gun," staring at hands.
Somehow unfamiliar.
"Never thought I'd hold one again."
"No doubts?"
"Doubting leader now? Waste."
His gaze pure as the kid's.
Hanging with maknae rubbing off?
Hunter sighed.
"So, real talk?"
"Right. Not prying personal. Just... party member stuff."
Hunter smiled wryly.
Knew what I'd ask, guessed why.
"Had a wife."
"Fairy?"
"Grove Fairy."
"Kids?"
"Two daughters."
Oh god. Stepped on Fairy landmine, not trap. Ankle gone.
I avoid deep personal dives.
Just enough to respect.
Labyrinth standard.
"Got it. Tell wants, I'll hear. No more prying."
Hunter shrugged.
"Ask away. Just didn't volunteer—too pathetic."
"Not my style. Knowing everyone's story... leads nowhere good."
Not just love—bonding with the gone is taboo.
Outside: death erases.
Labyrinth: 100 years, then pine til death.
Many Exiles wish early end before full century.
"Me? No marriage, but dated."
"Sweet poison. Unforgettable."
"Yep."
Think: man with blown ankle from Fairy mine must reach kingdom.
"Temple of Time?"
"Yes."
"Rumor."
"Yeah."
Labyrinth rumors abound.
Hopeful tales, grounded or not.
I know truth.
The rock dwarf village chief learned of Night Crow's grand mage arrival.
And that he repelled the Greenskin army—his recent worry.
"More hospitality..."
"No need. Lend snow leopards?"
Leaf Fairies' eyes lit up.
What, scary—magic?
Chief eyed Fairies warily, reluctantly agreed.
Begging safe return.
Local villages: limited trade.
Lose them? Isolated long.
Moss dwarves might visit with carts.
"Cute!"
"Fluffy!"
"Best!"
Noisy Leaf Fairies scattered map-wide.
Full Fairy allies: spirits mobilized, stripping map.
Already itching for leopard rides, eagerly scouted.
Rebound from constant flight.
Few adult male Fairies oddly...
Dead, probably.
Cheerful by nature, Leaf Fairies don't dwell in grief.
Volatile emotions—like orcs maybe.
Say that? Rage.
Girl bonded with cat-ear Fairy amid it.
Learning to ride together—nice seeing her bright away from me.
I wanted [Anvil]; found soon.
Wild yetis guarded; easy.
[Anvil] looked anvil-like, but huge, mana-infused.
Like Healing Springs per floor—Exile aid.
"Spawns somewhere if rock dwarves here."
"Labyrinth rules: learned only from vets."
Borrowed dwarf hammer, called maknae.
Dropped Quetzalcoatl scales, plus misc parts.
Scales key, but details vary by item.
Can't haul all; borrowed from Fairies/dwarves.
Greenskins? Obliterated—nothing left.
Goddess coughed.
「Return some tribute?」
‘Why... no, planning that?’
「One troll corpse makes decent armor. For our maknae.」
‘Likes maknae, huh.’
「Prays morning and night. Before meals too. How not joyful? True faith. Learn?」
Intel says goddess not Earth-origin.
Doesn't know maknae's old faith.
Me silent: both happy. Stay quiet.
‘Don't make doctrine.’
「Freedom god imposes nothing. Ahem. Just... nice like that.」
‘Thought so. Not can't—won't.’
「Was dying.」
Goddess really cherishes maknae—returned intact troll corpse.
Divine seat violation; she groaned.
Undead pain like Healing Spring water.
Maknae knelt in awe, prayed.
I started hammering; Hunter baffled.
"No artisan dwarf? Doing it yourself."
"Better than most."
Major factions have perks when allied.
Greenskins: avoid fights, maybe strong allies.
Fairies: magitech, versatile support.
Dwarves: gear.
Moss: merchants, stock.
Rock: smiths, crafting.
[Anvil]: bittersweet for rock dwarves.
Gods' pact—Labyrinth piece on continent. Legendary magic anvil.
Better results same work.
Hurts pride, but shiny results. Bittersweet.
Skip complications; DIY.
Troll leather armor for maknae. Why anvil? Dunno.
Just know method: anvil, work.
Gods' pact power.
Armor: troll regen partial, but ravenous hunger downside.
Proper shield too—body-sized, shield-specialized; handles it.
Whole scale; not heavy.
Goddess happier than maknae.
Bow: Quetzal fangs/tendons premium.
"Not gun?"
"Aimed main; materials only pistol. Sidearm it."
Flintlock pistol.
Hunter took, puzzled look.
Ignored; made ammo, handed over.
Test-fired.
Normal shot, then exploded delayed.
"What... is this?"
"Boss weapon. More than meets eye."
"Huh."
Mythic beasts versatile.
Solar god lore enchants.
Rare for guns—hard to enchant.
Sells in kingdom.
Early guns rare: even floors lack invention eras.
No loot, no dwarf help—Exiles craft. Tough.
Me possible.
Girl eyed expectantly.
Two daggers.
Boss-grade.
All fire attribute.
Solid, versatile. Snow theme: heat bonus. Great.
My longsword too.
Prior mains wearing out.
No throwers—materials gone.
Done: Fairies found fruit tree.
Purple explosion; red? Invisibility—three only.
High-end, low count.
"Whoa! Fruit forever. None on 4th?"
"Were; too nasty. Wanted scout?"
"Ugh, no."
"Night Crow front, rummaging? Ruins 'civilized Exile' image."
Good not lingering with old Fairy mage.
Might've ID'd me, twisted things.
Tree odd—no guard monsters.
Scout: three frozen vamps.
Ah. Licked lips.
Barbaroi Clan, but not kid vamps.
Exposed sun: ash.
Pity. How'd they get here.
Dusk: stairs found.
No Fairies? Near Sudden Death stay.
Deep crevasse, northern glacier.
Guarded even there: frost dragon.
Solo, not faction—easy.
Thawed from ice via crevasse.
Secured stairs; asked party.
"Rest? Or go?"
All fine; proceed.
Leopards returned confirmed; back stairs.
Fairies bummed.
Girl hugging cat-ears: touching.
Hunter, expected saddest: chill.
"My family was Grove Fairies."
Yet enjoyed them much.
All leveled nicely.
Points: allocate post-next floor.
Descending: queasy float sensation.
[TIP: The Labyrinth imposes various trials on Exiles. Sometimes yesterday's friend becomes today's foe.]
Battle royale? Team maybe.
Exiles as players: PvP/PK floor.
Labyrinth says: kill each other now.