Chapter 5

Carl and Donut reach the third floor's safe room, where Mordecai—now transformed into a handsome Incubus—guides them through selecting new races and classes. Donut chooses to remain a cat and, following a plan devised with Odette, deliberately selects the Former Child Actor class with its Manager benefit, which bonds Mordecai to her as her permanent manager, much to his frustration.

The trio arrives on the third floor in a golden hallway with a fake outdoor sky. Carl discovers it's an illusion by firing a rock at it. Mordecai emerges from a door in his new Incubus form, explaining that the first two floors were merely training and the real games begin now. He removes his formal wear once inside his room, revealing he'd been waiting three hours. Mordecai explains that public viewers cannot see what happens inside the room, comparing it to a jury room. He presents Donut with 320 possible races and she immediately chooses to remain a cat. For her class selection, Mordecai shows her 34 options, including the three AI recommendations: Artist Alley Mogul, NecroBard, and Former Child Actor. Carl tries to guide Donut toward Artist Alley Mogul, emphasizing the Pathfinder skill and safety. Donut initially resists, finding it unappealing. However, unbeknownst to Mordecai, Carl and Donut had previously agreed with Odette to select the Former Child Actor class if available, as it grants the Manager benefit, binding Mordecai to Donut permanently as her manager. Donut deliberately acts as though she's choosing Artist Alley Mogul before revealing at the last moment that she's selected Former Child Actor instead. Mordecai becomes furious upon realizing he's now bound to her as manager, losing his position at the magic guild, his personal space, television access, and information codex. Carl silently acknowledges that Odette predicted Mordecai's anger and advised making it appear to be Donut's mistake rather than a calculated deception. Donut is now a Level 13 Former Child Actor Cat with immunity to poison and disease, the Cockroach skill, and a higher Charisma stat. It's now Carl's turn to select his class.