Chapter 375

The entire guard force was reeling in shock, trying to compute that this tentacle monster had just turned the Patriarch back into a child, casually rewinding millennia of aging in the blink of an eye.

It is Aggron who recovered first, despite being the one changed. “This appearance, it is the very first day I saw you, so in your arms that must be…”

“Exactly, this is Princess Manila, your blushing gnomish bride. As good as new. I am told that a kiss from their beloved is the best way to wake mortals up from stasis, so if you would do the honors.” Cain teases the renewed Demon, handing over the sleeping form of the Gnome. 

She isn’t in stasis anymore, hasn’t been since her modified her; she is just sleeping whole her mind slowly comes back online, but this form always seems to bring out Cain’s sense of theatrics. 

Aggron gently kisses her lips, and the Gnome stirs a little before wrapping her arms and legs around him and turning it into a full on make out session. 

Even delirious and half awake, she is all over him. The Princess really was the perfect choice for Aggron. 

“What are you idiots up to now?” Booms Aggramor’s voice as he strides into the transport room. 

The guards part, revealing Cain and a young Demon making out with a gnome. Cain thinks it might be time to intervene before clothes are discarded, but Aggramor gets to them first. 

“What are you two doing in public, and how did you get in here? I’m sorry you had to see that Duke Cain. I was going to visit Neffie.”

“Not a problem at all, and possibly my fault.” Cain begins before Aggron cuts him off.

“Do you have no respect for your elders? Let go of my ear, you young punk.” Aggron complains, making Princess Manila giggle.

“That voice, no. It can’t be. Grandfather?” Aggramor stammers. 

“As I said, this might be my fault. The gnomish woman was left at one of my houses, so I reset her body to the last time I had seen her. Then in the name of fairness, I did the same thing to Aggron so that they could start over again.

I’ll give her a skill and see if we can’t activate a system for her this time so that you can spend more time together, Patriarch.” Cain informs the Demon, whose hand has stealthily disappeared inside his bride’s dress while he holds her.

“What is a class? Is this Ancient Cain? And Aggramor, is that you pretending to be all grown up? Change back right now so I can see you.” Manila demands. 

Cain pets her head with a tentacle from his arm, and she grabs it to examine it, then looks at her husband. “You said he was ten meters tall.”

“I can be. Or I can be a human in a Dark Elven suit looking for surviving Ancient Cities.” Cain says, and Aggramor gasps.

“Wait, Grandmother? We left you in stasis. How is she? Does anyone have a drink? I’m going to need one for this.” Aggramor complains. 

Cain hands over a small cask from his inventory. “Not a problem. I’ve got Dwarven whiskey.”

“Little Aggie is old enough to drink? How long was I in stasis while you looked for the Ancient?” Manila complains. 

“There have been a few incidents during the search. Namely, he was displaced through time, according to Neffie, who is the new Demon Queen in waiting. You can meet her later. It has been over a thousand years. Aggramor has been King for over two hundred years now.” Aggron says softly. 

The next part will be rough, no matter how you look at it. Most of the Demon Royals died in the war between species. Cain considers running away after causing his daily chaos, but they know where he lives, so that won’t help much. 

“How about we discuss that later. You always wanted to be a famous engineer, right? Aggramor says, leading the conversation to a new topic. 

“Oh yes. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Everyone in Muzz would be so happy to hear about it.” Manila cheers, easily sidetracked. 

Cain searches for good options and finds a master engineer among the dwarves he recorded wandering around Tortuga. Without a system, everyone from the past just recorded a basic template. 

In a second, he has it applied, and Manila freaks out.

“What is this? I’m blind. Aggie, help, I’ve been abducted to a dressing room.”

“Calm down, darling. It is the class selection, a blessing from the Laughing God. Find the class that appeals to you the most. If you want, you will even be able to use magic. I am right here; you’re still in my arms.” The Patriarch explains, used to describing things the way she will most readily accept them at face value. 

“Okay. So you’re saying if I want to be a wizard, I can be? Like an actual wizard?” She says, staring into space as she is immersed in the interface. 

“Exactly. Whatever you want from that list.” Aggron agrees. 

“It did it. I am a level 1 Gnomish Wizard. Hey, I have Master Engineering. How did that happen? Are all wizards engineers?” Manila cheers. 

Cain laughs. “Not at all. Do you know how Ancients were known to modify and tweak Mortal species? It is part of that. I granted you the skill, now you just need the knowledge to round out your skill set.”

The room goes quiet for a moment while everyone comes to grips with what had just happened. 

“Since I am here. Do you know where any of the Awakened areas are? I will need to find them to continue my advancement.” Cain asks, breaking the increasingly awkward pause. 

“Mostly the Southern Continent and the interior of the Western and Northern Continents.” Aggramor answers, having expected this day to come eventually. 

“Then I guess I will have to hold off a little on exploring them. Or maybe I should rush and visit them now before the real chaos starts.”

Cain’s answer makes Aggramor laugh. “With twin Ancients on the way, I’m unsure how to answer that.”