Chapter 127
The ceiling of the Great Labyrinth was lined with Luminous Orbs that repeatedly darkened and brightened in sync with the day and night of the outside world.
And now, the surroundings were very dark.
An Aerial Assault targeting the dead of night.
Unlike the attacks of the Magic Beasts, it was a surprise attack that showed signs of considerable thought.
The Golden Company Members raised their rifles and began firing.
The heavy, intense gunshots characteristic of Bolt-Action Rifles erupted all around, popping like beans roasting.
“Fire! We have to suppress them!”
True to their reputation as the Imperial Army's finest elites, the Golden Company Members displayed incredibly accurate shooting skills.
But the bullets simply ricocheted off the bodies of the Wyvern-like Magic Beasts.
Old Man Ban shouted at the sight.
“Kuera’s Barrier only breaks with a single, massive impact! Don’t use Dispersed Fire, group up and use Concentrated Fire!”
The Golden Company Members reacted immediately to his words.
“Squads, group up and fire!”
The changed tactics brought immediate results.
The Barrier of the Wyvern-like Creatures shattered instantly under the Concentrated Fire.
Once the Barrier was broken, the rest was simple.
The Squad Leaders immediately sniped the Wyvern Riders with their rifles, bringing them down.
Old Man Ban wasn't idle either.
“These damn bastards!!”
Old Man Ban’s 10-gauge Shotgun spat fire continuously.
In a short burst, Old Man Ban showcased terrifyingly accurate Rapid Fire, continuously striking the same spot on the Barrier with multiple Slug Rounds, neutralizing the Barriers of several Wyverns by himself.
The Hunters, meanwhile, broke the Barriers of the Wyverns, which they called Kuera, in a completely different manner.
A Bear Beastman brought out a Heavy Machine Gun and began spraying fire into mid-air, and the barriers shattered and exploded after only a few hits.
The Demon Followers seemed quite flustered.
*[They thought a night raid would cause chaos, but look how flustered they are because our defense is so systematic. Those idiots!!]*
It was thanks to Con.
A forewarned surprise attack naturally loses its effectiveness.
And I had no intention of standing idly by either.
My weapon wasn't anything grand.
I calmly picked up a rock lying on the ground.
“Con.”
He knew exactly what I meant.
*[Skill: Body Modification is Cast!]*
Con began to subtly touch my body.
I felt a terrifyingly powerful force settling into my latissimus dorsi and forearm muscles.
I slowly gripped the rock and took a throwing stance.
*[I'll use Psychic Power for Ballistic Correction! Just throw it roughly!!]*
I hurled the rock into mid-air.
The rock, launched with the immense Super Strength granted by Body Modification, flew precisely towards its target with the aid of Telekinesis.
The Barrier shattered instantly, and the Kuera's body and Rider behind it exploded simultaneously.
“What the...?”
The Golden Company Members right beside me seemed momentarily startled, then immediately changed their strategy.
“Cease Fire! Pick up the rocks on the ground!”
“Spears! Rocks! Metal scraps! Bring everything you can throw!”
In an instant, a pile of throwable objects accumulated in front of me.
With the support of one Squad, I began throwing like a madman.
*[Hahahaha!! This is a great stress reliever!! Die, you bastards!!]*
While Con and I were throwing objects like crazy,
Old Man Ban skillfully began directing the Hunters and the Golden Company.
“Once the Hunters break the Barrier, the Golden Company will shatter the magic stone in the Wyvern Rider’s chest! Without that magic stone, they can’t use Black Magic! Break the magic stone before the head! If the magic stone is intact, they might revive with Black Magic!!”
Even with such rough instructions, the elite Unit immediately adjusted its tactics.
“Precision fire! Target the Magic Stone Socket in the chest! Don’t give them a chance to use Black Magic!!”
The Golden Company, grouped by Squad, began firing at the chests of the Kuera Riders whose Barriers had been broken.
“Fire in Two-person Teams! Break the magic stone, then aim for the head!”
After the crisp sound of the magic stone shattering, a single gunshot immediately followed, embedding a bullet in the Lucifer Follower’s head.
The Hunters, meanwhile, were focused on smashing the Barriers.
Me?
I didn’t need to follow the rule of breaking the magic stone first before killing them.
Since throwing roughly simply caused both the magic stone and the body to explode, there was no need to worry about it at all.
After about 10 minutes of continuous engagement,
There were no more Kuera flying in the sky.
“Each Squad, report your status to your Platoon Leader!! Seriously wounded individuals are to be immediately escorted to the Saint!!”
Captain Jerome and Old Man Ban each assessed the situation of the Golden Company and the Hunters.
The seriously wounded were immediately brought before me, and I placed my hands on their bodies, healing them in an instant.
Three were seriously wounded.
About ten had minor injuries.
There were no fatalities.
“It’s done.”
The Golden Company and the Hunters wore blank expressions, seeing someone who had been bleeding profusely from a deep thigh wound and was instantly restored to full health.
The Hunters’ expressions, in particular, were unusual.
“Saint.”
Mayor Ragot approached me with a serious face.
“Is it possible for you to do modification besides treatment?”
“Pardon?”
“We want that Super Strength you just displayed too. Could you perhaps modify our bodies?”
It wasn’t just Mayor Ragot.
Countless Hunters around me were all looking at me with the same expression.
Their expressions were like those of seasoned players who had just discovered previously unknown Upgrade Content.
***
*The next morning.*
The Expedition Team gathered at my tent, even delaying their departure.
Captain Jerome and the main Hunter Guild Masters of the Labyrinth had all gathered in my tent.
All of them were looking at me with bright, eager eyes.
“We had never seen the Saint fight, so we never considered this kind of application. But seeing you in combat yesterday changed our minds. If Modification is possible, please modify us.”
“The Expedition Team’s survival rate and mission success rate would become unimaginable.”
“Skin like steel! Super Strength! Eyes that can even see objects 1km away!”
“If you had had such abilities, we should have asked sooner!”
Up until now, I had always moved alone on my journey.
I tried my best to avoid people, and whenever someone fought for me, I was always unconscious or unable to move.
Since this was my first time fighting together with others, I hadn't thought about modifying and enhancing other people's bodies.
Right. Why didn't I think of this before? If I modify these people and turn them into superhumans, going down to Floor 7 would become incredibly easy, wouldn't it?
I nodded unconsciously at Con’s words.
Right.
Wouldn’t this make things incredibly easy?
“Captain Jerome, Would you please step forward?”
At my words, Captain Jerome immediately stepped forward as I asked.
As a test, I grabbed his arm and Cast the Skill: Body Modification and the Skill: Sensitivity 3000x.
And sure enough.
*[Modification is possible!]*
Modification was possible.
Reflexes enhanced 3000x.
Super Strength surpassing humans.
Furthermore, if Absolute Hypnosis was also used, it was literally possible to mass-produce superhumans equipped with absolute mental fortitude capable of enduring and overcoming trauma or pain.
“It’s possible. Modification is possible. If you wish, I can make everyone here the same level as you saw me yesterday. Since this is my first time fighting alongside others, I hadn’t thought of this before!”
Everyone’s faces brightened at my words.
“Could you do it immediately? I volunteer to be the first test subject.”
At Captain Jerome’s excited voice, I chuckled and spoke to Con.
“Con. Remember the Body Modification you always cast on me? Cast it on him exactly like that.”
Since I can't constantly adjust for a target I'm not attached to, it's impossible to turn him into a monster like you. But I can make him dozens of times stronger than he is now.
“Good. Then let’s proceed immediately...”
Just as everyone in the tent was about to act, smiling brightly without any doubt or worry,
“Wait.”
Old Man Ban suddenly raised his hand, stopping us.
“I object, Saint.”
“Pardon?”
“A person should only use a caliber of bullet their body can handle. If an ordinary human, envious of a Bear Beastman, carries around a Heavy Machine Gun and fires it, they’re just asking for a broken back.”
I shook my head, not understanding.
“What are you trying to say?”
“Powerful strength that doesn’t suit one’s station or is obtained too easily always comes with a price. Saint. If such a thing exists, there’s bound to be something dangerous hidden behind it.”
Old Man Ban carefully removed my hand from Captain Jerome.
“I object. Something feels ominous. Superhuman Cultivation shouldn’t be this easy. It shouldn’t be this simple.”
Captain Jerome frowned.
“Mr. Ban, I understand, but consider how much the expedition’s success rate would increase if this procedure were possible. Why insist on taking the long way around when there’s a faster path?”
“That’s advice born of experience, young man. The only easy path you can trust is one found after long experience and effort. An easy path laid out plainly before your eyes always has a trap.”
Captain Jerome looked at the Hunter Guild Masters with a bewildered expression.
But the Hunter Guild Masters, who had been excited just moments ago, now looked serious.
“If Old Man Ban says it like that, we should listen.”
“His advice has never been wrong.”
“Saint. Could you perhaps investigate this “Body Modification” ability in more detail? It wouldn’t be too late to perform the procedure after confirming there are no problems.”
The Hunter Guild Masters backed down a step.
With the atmosphere shifting that way, Captain Jerome couldn’t simply demand the Modification anymore.
I looked at Old Man Ban.
His words, and the last words Rufiel had told me before disappearing from the peak of Talahaim’s Rocky Mountain, came to mind.
[Go by the Narrow Path.]
The Narrow Path.
And the easy path Old Man Ban spoke of.
“Please wait a moment.”
After saying that, I immediately closed my eyes.
Unlike in the past, Asmodeus was now fully awakened.
If I wished, I could summon her anytime to ask questions or seek advice.
*[Asmodeus?]*
After closing my eyes and concentrating my mind, I quietly called her name, and before long, Asmodeus, residing within my soul, began to answer my call.
*[Speak, Master.]*
*[There’s something I want to ask.]*
[Anything.]
[I want to use your power to strengthen these people into superhumans. What side effects could there be?]
In response to my question, Asmodeus, instead of explaining with words,
It showed me what could happen.
She showed me a vivid illusion.
After watching that illusion for nearly 10 minutes,
I opened my eyes.
“...The plan to create superhumans through Body Modification is on hold. I will not proceed with it.”
The Hunters and Captain Jerome simultaneously let out a sigh.
“May I ask why?”
Captain Jerome asked cautiously.
I shrugged at his words.
“You would all fall into corruption.”
“Pardon?”
“The moment your bodies are strengthened beyond their natural limits, or more precisely, the moment you are exposed to the Goddess of Life’s Authority beyond what is permitted, you would be swallowed by an irresistible, intense desire to claim that Authority as your own.”
It was a temptation greater than drug addiction.
It was a scene where superhumans, unable to resist coveting the Goddess of Life’s Authority contained within my soul, ultimately forgot the Expedition Team’s mission and fought fiercely among themselves to seize the Authority within my soul.
Asmodeus calmly showed me that scene as an illusion.
“It’s not a temptation that humans can withstand. Even Lucifer was once the Archangel of the Goddess of Life. Even he couldn’t resist and fell, becoming a Demon King. This is a potent poison, a poison so sweet that you can’t help but drink it.”
I shivered with a chilling sensation.
Just now. If I had unknowingly granted these people that Authority...
Asmodeus replied to me with a gentle smile.
If it was what I desired, she would do it.
She would simply carry out my orders blindly.
I grew afraid.
The belated realization filled my mind that what I carried within me was not an ordinary being, but a transcendent and blindly obedient entity.
It was the moment Rufiel’s advice to *go by the Narrow Path* finally made a little sense.
Seeing my pale expression, the Hunters and Captain Jerome also seemed to recognize the danger.
“Do you think just anyone can become a Saintess, a Saint, or a Hero? Only a select few, chosen from among the chosen, who have proven their qualifications, can become one. Don’t try to fire a bullet of a caliber you can’t handle. You’ll get hurt. What are you doing? Let’s go. Let’s go out and do our part!”
Old Man Ban herded the people inside the tent.
The Guild Masters and Captain Jerome seemed to ponder their words for a moment, but then shook off their lingering regrets and walked outside.
This is right. That illusion just now was truly chilling. I mean, people were completely losing their minds, like crazy bastards... No. But why are you fine, even after being exposed to the Goddess’s Authority beyond the permissible limit?
I couldn’t answer Con’s question.
By this point, I was genuinely curious too.
Why?
Why am I fine even when using the Goddess of Life’s Authority?
I asked Asmodeus, but the unhelpful answer I received was, *[The reason Master has not changed like Lucifer is that you chose not to fall into corruption.]*
In the end, neither did Lilia.
Nor Asmodeus.
Could you resolve my questions?