WiseTL

Is It Wrong to Want Luxury in a Dungeon? [10]

Added 2025-03-08 07:00:12 +0000 UTC

Late Night Revelations

Calista was suffering.

Three days. Three entire days of being stuck in this bed, subjected to Raul’s patronizing concern, Lefiya’s overbearing mothering, and Riveria’s soul-crushing disappointment. If she had to choke down one more disgusting potion or listen to one more lecture about "the importance of patience in an adventurer’s growth," she was going to scream.

At least let her die with some dignity.

She flopped onto her side with an exaggerated groan as the door creaked open again. "Lefiya, if you try to force another disgusting potion down my throat, I swear I will haunt you."

A chuckle—low, amused, and unmistakably not Lefiya’s—answered instead.

"Ohhh? But what if I’m here to personally nurse ya back to health, Callie?"

Calista’s eyes snapped open just in time to see Loki swagger into the room, hands tucked into her pockets, red eyes gleaming with mischief.

Oh, no.

The goddess’s gaze swept over her like a hunter sizing up a freshly caught prize, and a smirk curled at her lips.

"Damn shame, though," Loki sighed as she plopped into the chair beside the bed, stretching out as if she owned the place. "Ya look real good all vulnerable like this, but those bandages are coverin’ the goods."

Calista sighed loudly, tilting her head toward Loki with a half-lidded stare. "You wound me, my goddess. Not even five seconds and already you’re objectifying me."

Loki smirked. "C’mon, can ya blame me? Ya might be a troublemaker, but yer a real nice view."

Calista lazily stretched one arm over her head, shifting just enough to let the motion highlight the curve of her waist beneath the sheets. "If you wanted to ravish me, you should’ve come earlier. I was more defenseless when I couldn’t even sit up."

Loki snorted. "Oh, please, Callie. Ya could be half-dead and still find a way to be a handful."

"You say that," Calista mused, shifting her weight slightly, "but I don't see you making a move."

"Ya really wanna go there?" Loki raised a brow, looking entirely too entertained.

Calista hummed, tilting her chin up with a slow, practiced smirk. "Well, if you’re gonna flirt, at least commit to it."

Loki leaned in, her grin widening as she propped an elbow on the bedframe. "Ohhh, ya think I won’t? Callie, sweetheart, ya really don’t know who yer messin’ with."

She reached out and flicked Calista’s forehead.

Calista yelped.

She snapped up in bed on reflex, glaring. "Ow—what the hell?!"

Loki cackled, kicking her feet up on the edge of the bed. "Pfft! Ya should see yer face right now! What happened to all that ‘ravishing’ talk, huh?"

Calista groaned, flopping back against the pillows. "I take back everything. You’re the worst person I’ve ever met."

Loki grinned. "Aww, c’mon, Callie. Don’t pout now, ya were doin’ so well."

Calista sighed, throwing an arm over her face. "I am trapped in this bed, tortured daily, forced to endure Lefiya’s lectures on ‘safety’—and now, on top of it all, I have to deal with you. This is truly the worst moment of my life."

Loki smirked. "Ohh? Worse than the time ya got rejected from Freya Familia?"

Calista let out the loudest, most dramatic groan imaginable. "I am not speaking about that."

Loki laughed, stretching out more comfortably in her chair. "Hah! I love messin’ with ya."

Calista peeked out from under her arm, deadpan. "You do realize I’m going to return the favor the moment I get out of this bed, right?"

"Oh, I hope ya do." Loki winked. "This is way too much fun to be one-sided."

"Gods, I hate it here," Calista muttered, shaking her head.

Loki propped her chin up with her palm, red eyes gleaming. "Mmm… nah, ya love it."

Calista tried to scoff, but her lips twitched slightly before she could stop it. Damn her.

She was impossible to stay mad at.

Loki didn’t let the teasing linger forever.

Once she’d had her fill of watching Calista groan in suffering, once she’d flicked her forehead, stolen her pillow, and successfully gotten her riled up, she leaned back in her chair, propping one foot against the side of the bed. The shift in her body language was subtle, but noticeable. She wasn’t just here to mess around.

Calista could tell the exact moment the atmosphere changed.

Loki exhaled through her nose, her smirk evening out into something lighter, less overtly playful, though still holding that ever-present edge of amusement.

"Alright," she said, drumming her fingers against her thigh. "Fer real this time, Callie. What the hell were ya thinkin’?"

Calista tilted her head, letting her eyes drift lazily up to the ceiling.

"What, no more flirting? Is my near-death experience that much of a turn-off?"

Loki snorted. "Nah, if anything, it’s a turn-on. But we can talk kinks later. First—tell me why the hell ya ran off to die."

Calista's smirk flickered—just for a second.

"...I didn’t think I’d die."

Loki’s red eyes narrowed slightly.

"No kiddin’."

Calista shifted against the pillows, rolling her shoulders as if she could physically shrug off the conversation. Her fingers tapped idly against the blanket draped over her waist, a restless motion, the kind she wasn’t aware she was doing.

"I just thought I’d feel… different."

Loki leaned forward, forearms resting against her knees. "Different how?"

A slow inhale. A slow exhale.

"Stronger," Calista said, brows furrowing slightly. "I thought after all the fighting, I’d start noticing it. But I didn’t. It was like running in place."

Loki hummed softly, tilting her head.

"Ya thought if ya just kept goin’, the Dungeon’d hand ya a shiny new upgrade?"

Calista clicked her tongue. "That’s how it works, isn’t it?"

A beat of silence.

Loki’s smirk faded slightly—not gone, but curious now.

"And what woulda happened if ya didn’t feel it?"

Calista frowned, glancing at her. "What do you mean?"

Loki shrugged. "Say ya didn’t get stronger. Say ya never felt different. What then?"

The question sat between them, pressing against her ribs in a way she didn’t like.

Calista opened her mouth—then hesitated.

She hadn’t thought about that.

She had been so sure that it was only a matter of time. That if she kept pushing, the strength would come. But if it hadn’t? If she had kept fighting and fighting and never moved forward—

Would she have kept going?

Would she have been able to accept that?

The silence stretched.

Loki watched her carefully.

For once, Calista didn’t have a quick answer.

Instead, she inhaled, slow and measured, before letting the air seep from her lungs.

"...I don’t know."

Loki tilted her head.

"Huh. Interestin’."

Calista clicked her tongue, shaking her head. "It doesn’t matter. That’s not what happened."

"Yeah," Loki agreed easily, "but ya still ran ahead before ya knew."

Calista turned away slightly. "...What’s your point?"

Loki rested her chin on her palm. "I dunno. Just thinkin’. It’s funny, ain’t it? How the people who never struggle always end up chasin’ somethin’."

Calista furrowed her brows. "And what’s that supposed to mean?"

Loki smirked, but it was softer now.

"Ya ever met someone who’s too good at things?"

Calista gave her a flat look. "Are you about to compliment me again?"

Loki ignored her, stretching her arms over her head before letting them drop lazily onto the armrests.

"Nah. I mean it. There are people who struggle their whole lives just to be decent at somethin’. Then there are the ones who don’t gotta try. They start at the top."

She let the words settle before continuing.

"People like that? They don’t know what it feels like to fail. So when they finally do?" Her grin widened. "It wrecks ‘em."

Calista didn’t say anything.

Loki tilted her head, watching her carefully. "And you, Callie? Yer the kind that’s used to bein’ at the top. Ain’tcha?"

The silence stretched.

Calista let out a slow breath, her gaze drifting upward, toward the ceiling.

"You know what’s funny?"

She exhaled, slow and measured, before letting the air seep from her lungs.

"I don’t even remember what it felt like. To not be good at something."

Loki didn’t speak. She just watched.

Calista let out a small, breathy laugh, turning her head slightly toward her.

"I think that’s why I love this so much."

She shifted, her fingers curling loosely against the sheets.

"Because for the first time, I’m not at the top."

Loki’s grin curled slow and knowing.

"And ya like that?"

Calista smirked, but there was something sharper beneath it now.

"I love it."

Loki huffed out a laugh, shaking her head.

"Hah! Now that’s somethin’ I can work with."

She leaned back, looking far too satisfied.

Calista rolled her shoulders, stretching her sore muscles.

Loki flicked her fingers toward the door. "So. What’s next?"

Calista arched a brow. "What do you mean?"

Loki smirked. "Now that ya got a taste of what it's like to struggle, what’s next?"

Calista exhaled, slow and measured.

She glanced at Loki, her dark blue eyes gleaming.

"I climb."

Loki grinned wide. "That’s what I wanna hear."

She tilted her head, gaze flicking toward the bedside table where a dagger sat.

"Well then," she said, stretching lazily. "Guess it’s time we actually see how much ya got."

Calista blinked. "Wait. What do you mean—"

Loki stretched lazily, arms behind her head, watching the gears in Calista’s brain slowly grind to a halt.

"Y’know," she mused, voice light, easy, "I was wonderin’ how long ya were gonna keep goin’ like that."

Calista blinked, something cold creeping into her spine.

Loki’s smirk curled sharp.

"Ten whole days," she drawled, her voice practically dripping with amusement, "and ya never once thought to ask how the Falna actually works."

Calista froze.

Loki’s grin widened.

"Not once," she continued, absolutely savoring this. "Not when ya first got it, not when ya started fightin’, not even when ya were sittin’ in bed mopin’ about how weak ya still felt."

Calista opened her mouth. Then closed it. Then opened it again.

Oh no.

Loki tilted her head, eyes gleaming with the kind of delight that only came from witnessing a premium-tier dumbass moment in real time.

"Tell me, Callie," she purred, "what exactly did ya think was gonna happen?"

Calista stared at her.

Her mouth opened and closed several times.

She had an answer. She knew she had an answer.

But then she actually thought about it.

Thought about how she had been waiting for something to change.

How she had been expecting that, eventually, she’d just feel stronger.

How she had been pushing herself harder and harder in the Dungeon, thinking it was only a matter of time.

A slow, creeping horror crawled up her spine.

Loki watched her process it, and then—

She burst out laughing.

"OH GODS—OH, CALLIE—" Loki wheezed, slapping her knee. "YA REALLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST GONNA—PFFT—AUTOMATICALLY HAPPEN?!"

Calista stared at her, eyes wide, brain rapidly melting down.

"Wait—WAIT—"

"OH MY SIDES—" Loki cackled harder, nearly falling out of her chair. "OH, SWEETIE, YA REALLY SAT THERE, GETTIN’ ALL MOODY—THINKIN’ SOMETHIN’ WAS WRONG WITH YA—"

Calista clutched her head. "WAIT—WAIT, NO—"

Loki wheeled back in her chair, absolutely losing it. "YA HAD A WHOLE EXISTENTIAL CRISIS— BECAUSE YA DIDN’T THINK TO ASK A SINGLE GODDAMN QUESTION!"

Calista screamed into her hands.

"I HATE IT HERE."

Loki was still howling, absolutely unhinged. "I CAN’T—*I CAN’T BREATHE—*CALLIE, SWEETHEART—"

She gasped between laughter.

"YA—YA REALLY THOUGHT YA WERE DEFECTIVE?!"

Calista flopped face-first into the pillow. "I want to die."

"NAH—" Loki wiped at her eyes, still giggling. "Nah, ya don’t. Yer too dramatic for that."

Calista groaned, slowly turning her head to glare at her. "Why—why didn’t anyone tell me?"

Loki snorted. "Oh, don’t go blamin’ other people, Callie. This one’s all on you."

Calista curled further into the sheets. "I’m going to kill Lefiya."

"Nah, nah, I bet Lefiya just assumed ya knew."

"WHY WOULD SHE ASSUME THAT?!"

Loki grinned. "‘Cause every other adventurer does."

Calista let out the loudest, most dramatic groan of her entire life.

"This is actually the worst thing that has ever happened to me."

Loki waggled her eyebrows. "Worse than the time ya got rejected from Freya Familia?"

Calista let out a noise somewhere between a snarl and a scream.

Loki cackled.

"Alright, alright, let’s fix ya up, sweetheart. Roll over."

Calista hesitated.

"…Why?"

Loki snickered.

"Callie. Yer back is covered. Ya think I can just slap my divine blood on ya through all that fabric?"

Calista opened her mouth.

Then closed it.

Then squinted.

"...You planned this."

Loki waggled her eyebrows. "Would ya believe me if I said no?"

Calista groaned, throwing an arm over her eyes. "Gods, you’re the worst."

Loki grinned and grabbed her shoulders. "C’mon, sweetheart, let me help ya get comfortable."

Calista immediately resisted. "Wait, don’t touch me—"

Too late.

Loki shifted her with all the gentleness of a drunk bar patron adjusting a chair.

One hand under the ribs, the other against the hip—she rolled Calista onto her stomach effortlessly.

Calista choked.

"Hey—hands!"

Loki snorted. "Ya really think this is the worst place I’ve grabbed ya?"

Calista spluttered. "That is NOT—"

A squeeze.

Calista froze.

Loki hummed, casually resting her hand exactly where it shouldn’t be.

"Hmm. Y’know, Callie, I gotta say—these are real nice."

Calista screeched.

"LOKI."

Loki burst out laughing. "WHAT?! I’M JUST APPRECIATIN’ THE GODDESS’ BLESSIN’!"

Calista tried to twist away, absolutely mortified. "YOU ARE THE WORST PERSON ALIVE."

Loki cackled, shamelessly giving another squeeze. "Damn, girl, ya got some good heft to ya—"

"STOP TOUCHING ME!"

Loki grinned ear to ear, completely unrepentant, before finally—finally—pulling her hands away.

"Alright, alright," she cooed, "I’ll be good."

Calista trembled with rage.

"Swear to every god in this city, I am going to punch you in the mouth."

Loki snickered. "Ohh, Callie, yer killin’ me."

She finally pricked her finger, a small drop of divine blood welling up before she pressed it against Calista’s back.

The soft hum of divine power pulsed beneath her skin.

Loki’s voice was way too amused.

"Now, now, Callie, this is a sacred process. Try not to sound so scandalized."

Calista bit her tongue.

The glow of the Falna intensified.

A strange sensation washed over her, something almost… weightless. Like her body was shedding something invisible.

Then—

Loki leaned over her ear.

"Yer a real fast grower, y’know that?"

Calista immediately turned red.

"GET OFF ME."

Loki burst out laughing.

Calista gritted her teeth, twisting as much as she could with her sore muscles to physically shove Loki away.

"Alright, alright," Loki chuckled, lifting her hands in mock surrender. "I’ll be good—for now."

Calista huffed, face still burning. "Unbelievable."

Loki grinned. "Aww, ya’ll get used to it, Callie."

Calista shot her a glare. "That’s what I’m afraid of."

Loki just smirked and grabbed the freshly formed parchment, holding it up to the candlelight.

There was a beat of silence.

Then—

Loki let out a low whistle.

"Hooooh. Not bad."

Calista pushed herself up on her elbows. "What? What does it say?"

Loki flipped the page toward her.

"See for yerself, sweetheart."

Calista snatched the parchment and scanned the numbers.

---

──────────────────────────────────

➤ Name: Calista Aldebrand
➤ Level: 1

──────────────────────────────────

Basic Abilities

✦ Strength : I 0 -> I-31
✦ Endurance : I 0 -> I-12
✦ Dexterity : I 0 -> I-42
✦ Agility I 0 -> I-68
✦ Magic : I 0 -> I-5

──────────────────────────────────

Magic

[None]

──────────────────────────────────

Skills

◆ Torrent of Light ◆
A rare and powerful skill that allows the user to channel an immense surge of magical energy into their body and weaponry, greatly enhancing their combat potential.

— By expelling magical energy in rapid bursts, the user drastically enhances their physical attacks, increasing striking power and durability beyond natural limits.
— When wielding a weapon, this energy reinforcement can cause ordinary armaments to surpass their designed durability, leading to rapid wear or outright destruction upon impact.
— Inflicts increased damage against Chaotic-aligned and Evil-aligned entities, disrupting their essence with an overwhelming surge of light energy.
— The power of this skill is directly tied to the user’s magical reserves—excessive use can lead to rapid mana depletion and severe exhaustion if poorly managed.

──────────────────────────────────

Development Abilities

None

──────────────────────────────────

---

Her brows furrowed slightly. She saw the numbers—some of them were higher than she expected, others weren’t as high as she would’ve liked. But she had nothing to compare them to.

"...Is this good?" she asked, tilting the page toward Loki. "Like, compared to what you normally see?"

Loki tilted her head, considering. "Mmm. Fer a first-time update?" She smirked. "Yeah. Yer growin’ real nice."

Calista nodded slowly.

Her gaze flicked over the parchment again before stopping on one thing in particular.

She tapped a finger against the section where her Skill was recorded.

"So," she murmured, tilting her head. "This…?"

Loki’s red eyes flicked to where she was pointing.

"Torrent of Light," she read aloud, smirking.

Calista glanced at her, remembering something.

"This is what you said was 'real interestin’' back when you first put the Falna on me, wasn’t it?"

Loki grinned wide.

"That’s right, sweetheart."