Chapter 33: Chapter 222

"My goodness..." Agnes, who had put her aura blades away, joined me by my side and gave a low, impressed whistle.

Our shock was entirely justified, as an enormous pile of gold coins had emerged from the satchel, big enough to form a small hill in front of me. I grabbed one of the coins that was rolling away and noticed a strange symbol engraved on it.

⟬«MISC» The Gold of Demons.

Currency used in the Demon Realm. Using it right away will result in a curse. Must be laundered using a purification skill.⟭

How did he get his hands on such a large sum of money from the Demon Realm? My curiosity was quickly settled by a note Tesilid had left me.

⟦The place I entered seems to be the Black Market of Joy. I was in hiding when I noticed a map in the inventory. I went to the marked location, which revealed a room with an extremely large safe. I took as many gold coins from there as possible, but tell me if you need more.⟧

He was referring to the Map to the Secret Safe of the Master of the Black Market, an item I'd received as a reward for crossing the fifth gate. He seemed to have entered the dungeon by chance and took the opportunity to use the map to the safe.

Well done, my Tez! How did you know I needed money?!

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls congratulates you for achieving a dual-income family.⟭

I was about to shriek with excitement at how everything had very conveniently worked out when I noticed a problem. The next message Tesilid had written completely froze my brain.

⟦I've become a wanted criminal.⟧

Huh...? What? A wanted criminal? I read on.

⟦All of the gates have been closed. I can't subjugate Marchioness Gibrelte with my power right now, so this might be the last message I get to write to you...⟧

That was it. That was the last message.

"No!"

"No!"

Agnes and I both screamed as our faces went pale.

"What are we going to do?! At this rate, Tesilid is going to die!"

"No! No, he can't!"

It was evident that his life was in danger due to the genre breach penalty. There was only one way to save Tesilid in this situation, so I blanketed the mountain of gold from the Demon Realm with my purification skill as I shouted, "We need to pay the offering right now!"

I needed to purchase the Genre-Change Voucher.

That is when Agnes took the opportunity to remind me this was all my fault. "Why did you have to confess to him? I gave you so many hints not to, but you couldn't control yourself at all."

"Ahem..."

"By the way, is this enough money? You said you needed several million gold!"

"Let me check. I just finished purifying all of them."

I didn't think about anything else as I poured all of the gold into the cash purchase page, and the system was kind enough to systematically count the coins for me.

⟬«System» Twenty-six billion, seven hundred million cash purchase complete. Refunds must be completed within a week...⟭

"No way..."

The amount was far greater than I'd expected.

"Why? How much is it?" Agnes asked.

"2.67 billion gold in Serentran currency."

«What?! Wow, that's incredible.»

Marchioness Gibrelte truly lived up to her name as the embodiment of greed, for her wealth was unfathomable. It only felt right to pray and offer my gratitude for this blessing.

Thank you for helping us, Lord Voice.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World wears a proud and satisfied smile.⟭

All of the cash I'd collected was slightly over five billion, so I collectively had over thirty billion cash now. I immediately opened the cash shop, as it was time for me to put an end to the painful rule that had tormented me for so long.

⟬«Product» Genre-Change Voucher.

The ultimate item that allows the transmigrator to change the genre of the story.

Note: Genre changes are randomly generated among fantasy, romance, 21 and over, GL/BL, etc.

Price: 10,000,000,000 Cash⟭

It almost felt as if the system was boasting the absurd price of its product, so I glared at the message as if it was my worst enemy. I recalled the day I was evaluated for transmigration after I'd passed away. Despite my desperate plea to transmigrate into the female lead of a childcare romantic fantasy, I'd ended up in a completely different genre.

⟬Original Work: Infinite Returns to Save the World

Genre: Action Fantasy Time Loop⟭

It was a genre based on the story universe of the Three Great Powers, coupled with countless battles with dungeon bosses and a main lead who returns infinitely. It was time to escape this place.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World tells you to remain calm and hopes you don't land on BL.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls agrees to this since they don't want some random male character to start hitting on the main lead.⟭

⟬The Eye Overseeing All Chaos suggests you get rid of the main lead and purchase another Genre-Change Voucher for a chance at GL with sparkling eyes.⟭

⟬The Critic for Balance calculates the probability of unluckily choosing BL three times in a row.⟭

⟬The Executive of Creative Economy plans a Gender-Change Voucher just in case.⟭

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering is interested in the minor genres.⟭

⟬The Advocate of Confidentiality returns from their reflection and is waiting for the results of your three random picks.⟭

The message window exploded with comments from the gods, reflecting their apparent excitement at finally purchasing a Genre-Change Voucher. I didn't engage in any of the comments about BL and GL because I was concentrating my energy before partaking in this important step, but I did feel the need to clarify their remarks regarding three picks.

I don't plan to purchase the ticket three times. Ten billion cash. I'm going to settle this in one go. There was a reason for my confidence.

⟬The Eye Overseeing All Chaos' eyes glint with curiosity.⟭

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls holds their breath in anticipation.⟭

⟬The Executive of Creative Economy is severely disappointed.⟭

⟬The Critic for Balance desperately pities you.⟭

⟬The Advocate of Confidentiality narrows their eyes.⟭

There was an item I had been saving for this day, the rainbow-colored potion I'd received from Lord Architect during the recent opening ceremony of my church.

When I removed it from my inventory, Agnes asked, "What a colorful liquid. What is it?"

"It's a Luck Potion."

"A Luck Potion? The color is strange. Are you supposed to drink it?"

"Yes."

I read aloud the system message that followed, so Agnes could understand the purpose of the item.

⟬«Single Usage Item» [You Only Live Once! Winner's Luck Potion.⟭

Sometimes, the game of life depends not only on skill but, rather, a little bit of luck. Drinking this potion maximizes your luck stats temporarily. Can be consumed only once. Use thoughtfully!

Note: A gift from the Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering, but only in name. A different god is the real sponsor.⟭

It was obvious who the real sponsor was, for only one god remained composed when I declared that I was going to purchase the Genre-Change Voucher just once.

I praise you, O mighty Voice. I believe in you, V-men.

⟬The Voice that Shapes the World raises their thumb.⟭

Now, it was time! I filled my lungs with a long pull of oxygen, then released my breath slowly. Without another moment of hesitation, I knocked back the potion. A strange taste coated my tongue then glided down my throat, but I didn't feel any different after I drank it.

"Whew..."

However, I must've looked very different on the outside.

"Your eyes look like prisms, Ailette."

"Great. Now's the time."

My heart pounded, and my breaths hastened the moment I stopped talking. At first, I wondered if this was a side effect of the potion, but soon realized that this was entirely my body reacting to the high anxiety of the situation.

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls widens their eyes with excitement and anticipation.⟭

And finally...

Clink! Clink, clink, clink, clink, clink!

The sound of decreasing cash not only rang in my ears but my brain as well.

I-I purchased it!

A new system message window suddenly flashed in front of my eyes.

⟬«System» Genre-Change Voucher used. Would you like to check the result?⟭

"Yes."

I felt nauseous, but my reply sounded surprisingly composed. In that short moment, I clasped my hands together and prayed sincerely.

Please. Please. Please. Give me romance. Not just any romance, but a safe and wholesome one. I don't want angst, nothing that's hardcore like bloodshed, kidnapping, and confinement. I can't do that to my Tez now, can I? Don't you agree?

⟬The Scale that Judges Souls is confused why you would be the one designated with that role.⟭

⟬The Architect of the Skyscraper of Suffering suggests that they think so because it's often the main lead that suffers.⟭

⟬The Critic for Balance nods and agrees that you suit the role better.⟭

While the gods casually conversed, I opened my eyes and viewed the result I'd put the luck of a lifetime into. And that turned out to be...

⟬«System» Your genre is Action Fantasy.⟭

My brain stopped working as my lips merely mimicked the sound of the new genre.

"Action... Fantasy?"

Everything about the genre was the same as Infinite Returns to Save the World except for two missing keywords.

Belatedly realizing what I was faced with, I murmured, "B-But why...?"

How did I get this result? What about romance? Why isn't there romance in the genre?

"No! My romance! Give me my romance!"

Ten billion cash and my Luck Potion was wasted like this? It felt like the world was caving in on me as my heart stopped, my breathing ceased, and my mind began to collapse.

"A-Ailette! Snap out of it!"

"I can't Agnes... I'm going to faint now."

That was when...

Ding!

Shocking messages I never expected to read began to pour in, for the announcement wasn't over—it had only begun.

⟬«System» The causality of the world has shifted upon the use of the Genre-Change Voucher.⟭