Is it Wrong to take a Chance in the Dungeon XVI Part 2

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Fun fact I wished I knew before! Cats have really fucking good hearing. Also,  Lili is a snoop and a snitch by nature.

And, well, considering Bast was currently dealing with the consequences of one poor and impulsive decision… she decided if she couldn’t relax right now no one was.

So with Anubis currently being scolded by Bast for not being able to hold it for a single day, I got the luxury of sleeping alone for the first time since I got here.

… It sure was an experience, I’ll tell you. Definitely one of them.

But, hey, all the unending silence gave me plenty of time to use my brain and think a way out of this fucking mess I’d dragged all my closest comrades into.

Y’see, only two Familias know that I’m responsible for the ten or so deaths in the city. Hell, I don’t think anyone would care enough to look into the mess, considering most ‘customers’ worth killing are already dead.

While my opinions on this shit have been talked to fucking death at this point, most people in Orario don’t participate in it. It’s the Adventurer city. Everyone and everything here is for the express purpose of using and benefiting off Adventurer culture.

Most people are Adventurers, who don’t have the time, energy, or patience to drag slaves through life or death scenarios. The others are people who benefit off their endeavors, shopkeepers and cooks and such. Hell, most prostitutes are still around for the most part- not everyone who fucks for money is forced into it, some of them even like doing it.

Probably. Idk, the only prostitute I know tried to kill me a couple of hours ago, so I may not be the most accurate source.

Still, it’s extremely likely that no one would care enough to look into it. ‘Cept the Ishtar Familia, or their remains at least, but the real question is if they’d even bother?

If your criminal boss and employers started spontaneously combusting one night, all at the same time, you’d probably get the fuck out of town and start a new life. Especially if your superpowers are leaving you. While Aisha probably represents the most likely response to the murder of their Familia members, Ishtar’s firework show is the heavy deterrent that prevented anyone else from finding out.

With her gone, the entire Familia is out of business, and a group like them definitely has a lot of enemies. Including Freya, apparently. Which… doesn’t make sense- what little I know of Freya doesn’t paint her as the type to get into cat fights with other Goddesses for no reason.

Did one of them steal from the other? Is Ishtar the petty- oh, probably, Ishtar’s usually a total bitch no matter the dimension.

… Luvia superiority. 

Speaking of, don’t I have status screens now? Hopefully that shit works on mirrors, because goddamn am I curious about the shit I got.

After a couple of minutes rummaging around Anubis’ room, I finally found my phone laying in a corner like some jackass tossed the shit. 

Dragging the near-nonexistent remains of the Red Wind, I lit one of the various candles in the room, and eyed my own reflection.

According to the description I received, Status Screen is practically useless if you lack significant information on the target. Thankfully, I already had an ability that let me see people’s weaknesses, so…

Class: None

True Name: Selah —

Strength: D

Endurance: D

Agility: C

Mana: B

Luck: D

Noble Phantasm: None

… Wow. This is worthless. Hopefully I actually have some skills…

True Magic (Curses):
Able to perform phenomena that is impossible to achieve with modern science as easily as one breathes. Specializes in inflicting negative effects onto both living and nonliving things.

Swordsmanship: D

Trained by a divine warrior, yet only just beginning to scratch the surface of combat.

Presence Concealment: D

Capable of feats of stealth and infiltration at the peak of humanity. 

Battle Continuation: C

Through enhanced regenerative capabilities and ingenuity, he is able to last in combat far beyond his abilities-

A shudder raced up my spine, and I pulled the phone away from my face. I’m an old hat when it comes to losing hours of the day staring at screens, and after a month of going cold turkey I’m not going straight back in so easily.

Especially when it’s just descriptions of shit I already know.

So, I threw the phone back where I found it and exited the dark room, to find that the sun had finally risen above the horizon. I took a deep breath, muttered Abracadabra, and got to planning.

The strongest man in the city personally came to tell me his Familia wouldn’t be starting any more shit with me and mine over the events of… yesterday(?), so I think I can write off them as enemies for the time being.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, Ottar did knock out Ryu, so by the Law of Luffy I gotta beat his ass at least once for that.

Speaking of…

It was a quick walk from the bedroom to the guest room we apparently had the entire time, and opening the door I saw Anubis asleep on a bench, ears still drooping like she was pouting. Seems like Bast put her on patient-watch for her crimes.

Abandoning my Goddess as easily as I breathed, I went over to the still sleeping elf. A flicker of my red-vision told me she wasn’t injured anymore, so she may just be sleeping it off.

… In the barely lit room, with no one to watch me, I bowed my head and spoke countless apologies to her. Someone who knew exactly what I was feeling, having been in a much worse position before, had tried to give me advice.

And I ignored it to ride the high of righteous anger straight into this moment. I knew that she’d probably forgive me if I were awake- she was nice like that- but as things stood the only reason she’d gotten hurt was because of me.

I won’t be someone who can shrug that off, and say that was her mistake. The one moral standard I’d die to keep, was making sure that no one was worse off for having met me if they didn’t absolutely deserve it. And look where that got me.

I shook my head silently. Writhing in self-loathing was the exact opposite of helping anyone, much less her.

So, how do I fix things. Ignoring my pride, my everything, how do I fix this?

… Break it down, Selah. What’s the problem?

People- no. The Freya and Loki Familias are aware of my actions, and are afraid of the consequences of such. Specifically, the fact that my spell can affect even gods. And that no one can be safe from the spell.

… But they don’t know about that last part. Or even how the spell works in specific- Anubis knows more than most people, but all the cold hard facts are rattling in my head right now. So, how would I feel if there was a random spell able to one-shot anyone from anywhere with no warning or explanation, with one of the victims being a god?

Okay, now I hear what the issue is here.

The issue isn’t my ability to kill a god, anyone could do that if they can get past their Familia. The issue, as far as they’re aware of, is that it could happen at any time and at any place without warning and seemingly no reason.

Most likely the reason the streets aren’t filled with more people after my head is that they’re more concerned with damage control than anything else… Or I’m overthinking it, because my only confirmed divine kill is Ishtar, and who the fuck knows if anyone other than Freya’s Familia can trace that back to me.

Taking the Maiden’s Prayer from beside Ryu’s head, noticing someone had fashioned a rope around the neck of the bottle and looping it through my belt, I left the room and felt the item alleviate the mild ache in my head.

Fuck was this shit complicated, why can’t I just through out a carpet bomb and forget about it?

I let my feet take me to the small kitchen hidden in the back, away from the various herb and tonics out in the shop, and began working on something to eat before I started my day.

Okay focus. Problem: The two strongest factions are both(?) aware that I’m capable of killing a god from stupidly far away. Neither are aware of the actual specifics of the spell, though Loki’s Familia are most likely closer.

550 points banked.

Control - Cloning Technique - Jujutsu Kaisen (400 points)

Roll Success! Purchased! 150 points remaining.

You’re capable of creating up to four identical clones of yourself using cursed energy, their bodies forming from a gloopy liquid over the course of a few seconds. These clones are completely identical to you in every way, possessing all of the same abilities you do as well as copies of anything you have on your possession, and act according to your will even out to great distances. In addition, since they’re all identical you can switch out your real body with one of the clones at any time, deciding it to be the real you with just a thought. As such, unless someone takes down all of your bodies you’re practically impossible to put down for good.

I… oh.

I put my hand in front of my stomach, and with the experience of generations of research on a single technique, felt my Cursed Energy flow throughout my body for the first time. A hazy blue light emanated from my body, and I raised my fist up in front of me, in awe at the fact I had finally gained the power I’d practically based my combat style on.

I… bit my lip, and held out on the urge to unleash my Curse Technique right at that very moment. Despite it not being naturally destructive, I wasn’t blind to the fact that the second I started getting into the particulars of this ability I’d probably completely forget about the issues at my fucking doorstep.

Still, where is the cloning technique even from? Is it from the Culling Games or something, ‘cause there’s no way anyone could remember all the fucking abilities from that mess off the top of their head-

Oh my Anubis it’s from Baghead isn’t it.

Shaking my head and ignoring the rush of energy that sent my hands shaking, I began the motions of cooking breakfast and focused on the much more pressing and important issues.

… Or maybe I’m overthinking things. I mean, while Loki and I don’t get along, we aren’t enemies… or, they won’t kill me on the spot without at least hearing me out. And they had a living lie detector, as well as proof I’m able to do a Binding Vow about not murdering Loki intentionally.

So… Just be honest, hope for the best. And use the waypoints to get the fuck out in the worst case.

… alright, I can afford to use it once considering I’ve got basically everything planned out. Pooling my CE together, a muddy liquid sprouted up out of the ground and grew into a perfect clone of myself.

Soon enough, I stood across from myself, and could practically feel the goosebumps rising on my flesh as something so undeniably weird stood across from me. He- it was exactly like me. It looked the same, stood the same, hell it’s breathing was perfectly synced with mine.

“Selah, are you awake-” Bast strolled into the kitchen, only to pause as she saw me staring at a perfect copy of myself. We both turned towards the tomcat, whose eyes flickered between me and my clone, before eventually settling on me. “What the fuck?”

“New power, I can make up to four copies of myself. How’d you know I was the clone?”

“In a room filled with a thousand copies, you’re still the only one who makes my hair stand on end.” … I don’t know whether that was romantic or insulting, but I felt my face heat up anyway. “Anyway, you ready for me to tear you a new one, or do you want me to watch you play with yourself first?”

“If you’ll stop with the sex jokes, I’m fine with the first one. I’m still making breakfast though.” With a heavy heart, I dismissed the clone and watched as it dissolved into mud that quickly disappeared. 

Bast looked weirdly at the spot the clone had been. “Do me a favor and never use that skill around me again.”

“I got ya.” I responded simply, pulling out the various produce from the fridge I’m consciously stopping myself from questioning. Letting my stats speak for themselves, I began peeling and cutting accordingly. “So, what do you want to start with?”

“I don’t want you to die on me.” I stopped mid-chop, put the knife down, and turned to look at her. Making sure she had my full attention, which cooking while she talked probably didn’t help with, Bast continued. “I did hear what you were talking about with Anpu earlier, and I understand what it means to act out based on… fear that the past repeats itself. Hell, doing that is what got this relationship started.” She chuckled dryly to herself, despite not saying anything remotely funny.

Bast’s original Familia members, rookies who died in the Dungeon through a mix of her sister being a total cunt who deserves to rot, and their own ambitions. I was more than aware of that fact, and how that may have colored our relationship when we first interacted.

While I love Anubis, Bast acts more as my official Goddess on the day to day. Offering advice on delving into the Dungeon, giving me combat training, items to help me not die… But initially, all of that stuff was mostly out of a desire for Nubi to not go through what she did. Having her first child die on her.

And here I go, doing reckless shit that’ll probably kill me out of fear something bad will happen to them.

“I’m sorry.” I apologized. “When I get emotional, or when I lose my cool my brain runs completely on instinct. Learning-” Something soft brushed against my wrist, and I was suddenly aware of the tanned goddess that was now standing so closely to me, to the point she could loop her tail around my wrist.

Her golden eyes gave a wordless glance, letting me know I didn’t have to explain myself to her. But, even if she had heard everything, I didn’t want to just… it’s hard to explain. It just felt like not telling her how I felt would be shutting her out, since she’ll only have the explanation I gave Anubis to go off of.

“It’s fine. I just… I know all of what are, is rushed and… weird and new, but I don’t want to give that up. I don’t want the people I learned to love to get hurt, like the people I already love already have been. So I lashed out, did what I could to make sure that couldn’t happen, but now everything is in more risk because of my actions. It all feels like I… failed a test or some shit, that ignorance and inaction was the right choice.”

“Selah, Anpu and I aren’t weak or frail.” Gold eyes pierced into mine, and my hand as grasped tightly in hers. Her fingers were an odd mix of rough and soft, calloused from fighting and preparing her medicines, but soft from the abundance of ointments she’s made and used in her life as well as the divinity in her. “Even if someone was crazy enough to defy Ouranos’ rules-”

The fucks an Ouranos? Is that like Pluto or something?

“- We can defend ourselves. Everyone we know is a fighter, who won’t just turn over and let the worst happen to them. We know what it means to fight off a fate worse than death, and we know what it means to want to do anything to protect the people you love.” Those words were said with such passion, conviction, and understanding that I couldn’t help but remember that the woman I love is a Goddess of Protectors.

“I’m upset at what you did. Not because of the what, or why, but that you acted without thinking and that you refused to listen to reason. Now, you’ve put yourself in a position where we’re less safe than before, when that was practically the whole reason you did it in the first place.”

I winced, but nodded in acknowledgement to her words. She was right, after all.

“Selah, I’m not some damsel in distress that needs saving from the big bad world. I understand how terrible your world is, more than you expect. And, more than that, we’re lovers now. Equals. We face things together as much as possible. Even if we think we can handle it alone, we don’t get to decide it’s not important to the other person. Our allies, our enemies, our goals. Get it?”

The Goddess looked up into my eyes, and I could only smile ruefully and nod. Anubis, I can be stupid. After all, I agree with her every word, and I can’t even act on-

Hands on my shoulders, Bast dragged me down and into a kiss. It was brief, chaste, and full of emotion that I didn’t get the opportunity to describe, even as the act made me feel as if I were lit ablaze.

250 points banked.

Destruction - Fearsome - Legends of Runeterra (200)

Roll Success! Purchased! 50 points remaining.

 Your imposing physical presence, overwhelming power or raw brutality instill fear in the heart of you enemies, paralyzing them in fear. Unless the enemy is physically able to match you, they cannot defend against your assault.

Wow. That has perfect synergy with the Heavenly Restriction (I’m just gonna call it Heavenly Body from now on), but I have more important things to think about.

I pressed my lips back against Bast, wrapping her into a hug she was quick to match, but we were interrupted by a huff. “... ‘Propriety in front of guests’.” Bast’s ears and tail (my hand went south against my will, I’m innocent!) went straight as she pulled away and turned to face Anubis.

“That’s-”

“ ‘For Ra’s sake, we’re Goddesses, at least pretend to be chaste for one evening’.” 

“Hey, he’s the one who was acting-”

“ ‘Have some maturity, you’ve had your cherry for a thousand years, surely you can wait a single day longer. We have injured guests in our home!’”

As fun as this entire interaction is, there’s one last thing I needed to do. “I’m gonna explain the entire situation to Loki and hope for the best.”

Anubis and Bast both looked towards me, then at each other. The jackal girl shrugged, and the tomcat rolled her eyes. Nubi turned over to me.

“Sounds good. Do you need either of us to go with you?”

“Nah, they won’t kill me on sight, and I have an escape route. Probably gonna let Lili sleep in so she doesn’t attempt mutiny for throwing her to the second strongest Familia after dealing with Ottar not even half a day later.” I muttered to myself, silently acknowledging that Lili has done literally nothing to deserve this aside from joining the Familia. “Oh, could I get an update before I go? No Level Ups, please.”

The hikki-goddess side-eyed Bast, before nodding in agreement.

Name: Selah

Race: Human (Variant)

Level: 2*

Ability Scores:

STR: F - 325 -> C - 678

END: E - 434 -> B - 706

DEX: C - 656 -> A- 845

AGI: C - 678 -> A - 836

MAG: S - 999

Developmental Abilities:

Luck - H

Improves Luck

Magic:

Skills:

Black Sheep - Increases the growth of stats in proportion to the risk being undertaken.

Mad Dog - Increases Mind regeneration in proportion to ill will and negative emotions.

Dragon Scales - Effectiveness of Endurance stat increases in proportion to damage currently taken. Endurance's applications have broadened.

Crouching Tiger - Increase damage dealt based on how lowly the target is thought of.

Hidden Dragon - All enemy spells are exponentially more expensive to cast, based on their strength and proximity.

Considering I hadn’t been immediately arrested/jumped/assassinated when I first stepped out of the shop, it was already a much better time then I had last night. And walking through the streets, waving at neighbors and flipping the bird to Bast’s competitors, I found that… nothing really changed for most of the people of the city.

A night of mistakes and murder for me, was a night not worth remembering for the rest of the world. 

For some reason, that thought made the guilt worse.

Still, the walk to Loki’s manor was almost too peaceful after the time I’ve been having. But… that isn’t particularly new, is it?

My time in Orario has been marked with various murder attempts, followed by peace and quiet. While Bast would have my ass if I said that no one cared about things like that in this city, by and large people disappearing one night and never showing up is a given here.

And, well, it’s not like a human trafficker goes around telling people that’s what they are. So to most people, they’re probably just… more people who are never seen again one day.

Bad shit happening is just a fact of the city. Sure, the sky was lit ablaze, but I can guarantee you most people decided that when nothing caught on fire it wasn’t any of their business. And right now, watching everyone go through the daily motions without a hitch, I could see it with my own two eyes.

… Heh. ‘No one here knows I just permanently erased several people from existence last night’.

“Hey, it’s Selah, I came to check in with Loki and my students.” Despite my best attempts, sometimes I did need to visit them at their base for various reasons- either to inform them that they needed to bring something, or that I was adjusting the schedule for whatever reason.

Thanks to that, the guards didn’t even bother to search me, the Level difference making them dismiss me as a threat on sight. Getting waved in, I contemplated how exactly I’d explain everything to them if they decided not to bring Loki to me.

Would just asking them to bring Loki to verify my words end up working out-?

“Yo, you called?” I glanced to the side, and saw… every single Lieutenant she had surrounding the bratty goddess, all tensed and prepared to put me down. “It hasn’t even been a full day, and you miss me already? I thought mortals grew out of insulting their crushes by the time their balls dropped.” She snickered playfully behind her hand.

“... I pity anyone who could form any sort of sexual attraction to you.” She didn’t flinch at my words, but her smirk twitched as the Truth smacked her upside the head. “Also, I’m willing to explain everything about my curse as long as you give me the benefit of the doubt.”

And that right there wiped the smile right off that red-headed brat’s face, as well as turning it upside down. “Oh.” She clicked her tongue. “Of course you’d use the most annoying method of proclaiming your innocence.”

“Loki?” Riviera asked, refusing to take her piercing gaze off of me, a fucking stick of all things pointed threateningly in my direction. “Will you verify his words?”

Her squinted eyes opened for a moment, dark red glaring at me with an almost excessive intensity, to the point I could feel my knees attempt to buckle. “Tell me. Do you intend to harm my children?”

“Not unless you all make a move against my allies.” I didn’t hesitate to respond as honestly as I could. After all, I knew some of them, and liked a few of those I knew. The most annoying part of my spell was when innocent bystanders saw me as unforgivable evil- because they may have a point, considering my spell doesn’t really do much against murderers.

… Which is good, considering… everything.

“... fine. The second I hear a lie come from you, you receive no mercy, understand?”

“Yeah, I got ya.”

“Good. What was the curse you used, and why did you use it?”

“The curse is called Flames of Liberation, it is a constantly spreading curse that targets and kills people who are willingly involved in the forced enslavement of innocent people. I used it because… I was reminded that slave-trade was still alive in Orario despite its laws against it, and lashed out because of both my ignorance and its presence.”

The Lieutenants of the Familia were completely silent as Loki continued her interrogation. “Define ‘constantly spreading’.”

“Similar to my student’s Bleeding Curse, which casts to nearby targets when the spell runs out, Flames of Liberation is practically a disease that is contracted by proximity to cursed individuals. Considering the lifespan of the spell is fueled by the Mind of the target and whatever nearby sources it can find, the spell will most likely continue to spread forever.”

“And it only kills bastards like the ones you describe?”

“Yes.” My simple and straightforward answer, after how exact and specific everything else had been, made Loki scoff and step closer.

“Do you regret using the spell?” She didn’t stop moving as she neared me.

“No.” I didn’t move an inch even as she came within arms reach.

“How would you react if one of ours died because of it?” Her eyes grew intense at that, but I merely shrugged.

“I’d offer my condolences for having let a piece of shit bastard into your Familia, but after that I can’t say for certain what I’d do.” Honest was the best policy, but being sympathetic and being a bitch were two completely different things.

“Why’d you come here to explain yourself?”

“I think you and Freya’s Familias are the only one’s who are aware of what my actions have done. I’ve just met the King for the first time, and want to make sure the second strongest Familia in the city I live in doesn’t want to kill me.”

“Second-?”

“Level Seven.” Loki’s mouth snapped shit with a click of her teeth, and she moved on.

150 points banked.

Illusion - Sword of St. Trina - Elden Ring (100 points)

Roll Success! Purchased! 50 points remaining.

Always an enigmatic figure, St. Trina is sometimes claimed to be a comely young girl-and at other times, a boy. Perhaps their straight sword explains these mysterious disappearances and reappearances, for it has the power to release purple mists that put foes to sleep. As with the Moonveil, a wielder with great intellect finds that it is a better weapon than an ignorant one.

… I’m realizing how spoiled I truly am, because the first thought that came to mind was how much I’d rather have the motherfucking Moonveil Katana than this fucking bullshit. Still, somehow I was able to keep the weapon from popping in from the sky through sheer force of will.

“That’s not what I mean.” She spoke plainly, so close her nonexistent chest might even brush against me. “Tell me why you came here to proclaim your innocence.” Her eyes widened, not in surprise, but in an attempt to force our eyes to meet.

… despite how annoying she is, she has a point. I could have gone to anyone to proclaim my innocence. They may be the ‘good guys’, but there are kinder people, and there are people with more connections I could have gone to.

So why these guys?

As if I didn’t know the answer already.

“... I… like you guys. I respect you. And I don’t want you all to start thinking the worst of me, without having the chance to defend myself.” Ugh, admitting any positive feelings towards Loki was like making out with a fire hydrant in a dog park.

Still, as much as I don’t regret killing those people… I don’t know what I’d do if my friends turned on me because of that. How could I justify it to myself? Do I justify my judgment, or condemn theirs?

I don’t want people to regret having known me, if they don’t deserve it. This is merely an extension of that.

“Aw.” Someone made a cutesy sound at the sight of me being emotionally vulnerable, so naturally my first response was to snap my head over to the dumb motherfucker and give them a peace of my mind.

“Tiona, shut it.” I said with barely any heat.

“Only when you get to Level Three!” … Oh right, she said that was one of the requirements, huh.

… eh, I don’t want to know how Anubis will react if I tell her I want to Level Up and she asks why, so I’ll just keep my mouth shut.
“Aw,” Loki said, with much less sincerity and attractiveness than Tiona. “I knew it, all your insults are just because you don’t know how to react to a real woman.”

“Yeah,” I said, restraining my every urge to laugh like a fucking hyena at how fucking wrong those words were, to the point I need to wipe a tear from my eye. “Sure, okay.”

“... Alright, enough. We aren’t gonna hunt you down for this.”

“All I needed to hear, see y’all on Thursday.” 

And then I used the waypoint from my pocket and teleported out of the room, suddenly back in Blessed Balms. “Lili wake the fuck up, we’re going to the Dungeon so I can destroy the world again!”

The faint screaming of the Pallum declaring war against me and my entire species was ignored as I let the cursed energy flow throughout my body, completely unhindered by my face-splitting grin.

A/N: If you couldn’t tell, another part of the reason for making these two updates into one chapter is because one is about the physical repercussions of the Chapter XV Incident, and the other is about the mental and social repercussions.

I hope everyone enjoyed, thank you all for reading. Peace.