Is It Wrong to Want Luxury in a Dungeon? [16]

A Predator’s Gaze

Orario felt... quiet.

Twilight Manor was nearly empty. No shouting Tiona. No Bete barking. No Riveria, trying to correct their behaviors, like a mother. Most of Loki Familia had set off for their latest expedition, aiming for Floor 50—which meant even the second-stringers were gone.

And that left Calista here. Alone.

Well, not literally alone. There were still a handful of Level 2s puttering around, but they weren’t exactly training maniacs. They were the type to stay home and "focus on support roles." And Loki? She was still in Orario, of course, but she wasn’t exactly the “push your adventurers into hardcore training” type.

No Finn meant no structured training.
No structured training meant no one breathing down her neck.
And no one breathing down her neck meant…

Slower progress.

That wouldn't do.

Calista spun her spear, feeling its weight settle in her palm. It wasn’t a particularly good weapon—one of the cheap, disposable ones she’d bought in bulk. A temporary solution. But even temporary solutions needed to be tested.

She adjusted her grip, exhaling slowly. Then, with a single step—

She vanished.

A flash of red hair. The sharp bite of her heel against the cobblestone.

Her body moved instinctively, muscles tightening as she twisted mid-air, angling her spear for a downward strike. The invisible enemy in her mind—a shadow, a nameless opponent—rushed forward, fangs bared.

Step. Pivot. Thrust.

The spear shot forward, faster than an arrow, the tip stopping just short of an imaginary target.

Too slow.

Her foot scraped against the ground, rebounding into a backward spin—just in time to avoid the phantom counterattack.

No, still too slow.

She clicked her tongue, frustration bubbling beneath her skin. Not good enough.

She’d sparred with Finn once. Just once. And she’d seen it—the gap. Not just in level. Not just in raw stats. But in skill. Finn Deimne could fight at a level so refined, so precise, that even when he was holding back, she couldn't even touch him.

And yet, when she activated [Torrent of Light]—for a single instant—she’d closed the distance.

That moment haunted her.

That surprise in Finn’s eyes. That split-second where she almost broke through his guard.

That meant something.

And if she could push further—if she could just refine her speed, sharpen her precision, fortify her endurance—

Maybe next time, she’d do more than just make him pause.

Maybe next time, he’d actually have to block.

A smirk curled at her lips.

Yeah. That sounded fun.

With that thought, Calista flicked her spear back into ready position, muscles burning, chest heaving from exertion.

No structured training? Fine. She’d make her own.

...

The Guild was busy, as usual.

The scent of sweat, parchment, and bad decisions hung in the air as adventurers crowded around reception desks, hoping to cash in their magic stones before heading off to drink away their earnings. Someone was shouting about not getting enough valis. A pallum tripped over his own feet carrying a sack of loot twice his size.

Calista wove through the crowd with practiced ease, dodging sweaty Level 1s and sidestepping a drunken dwarf who smelled like he’d bathed in ale instead of water. She had a destination—one specific, grumpy werewolf behind the reception counter.

And there she was.

Rose Fannett.

Guild clerk, werewolf, professional killjoy.

Calista grinned, stepping up to the counter and leaning forward on her elbows. “My favorite redhead. Did you miss me?”

Rose didn’t even blink. “No.”

Calista tsked, shaking her head. “You’re breaking my heart.”

“Good.”

That was about the response she expected.

“Alright, fine,” she said, waving a hand. “I actually came to check on Dungeon activity. Anything interesting?”

That got a reaction. Rose set down her pen, her golden eyes locking onto her with something too serious.

“…Yeah. Something’s wrong.”

Now that got her attention.

Rose leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice. “Adventurers are disappearing.”

Calista blinked. “Disappearing?”

“Level 1s, mostly. And not just a few.” Rose’s jaw tightened. “The number of missing persons reports has doubled in the last two weeks.”

That was weird.

Adventurers died all the time. Sometimes they got cocky, bit off more than they could chew, and whoops—the Dungeon claimed another soul. That was normal.

But this?

“This isn’t just a string of bad luck,” Rose continued. “Some bodies have turned up—but not many. And the ones we have found…”

She hesitated.

Calista tilted her head. “What?”

Rose exhaled. “They put up a fight.”

That was the part that stuck.

Low-level idiots who died in the Dungeon usually got wiped out before they had a chance to struggle. The weaker you were, the faster you died. But if even the lowest-ranked adventurers were fighting back—and still losing—then whatever was doing this was playing with its food.

Calista hummed, rolling that thought around in her head. Then, after a beat—

“…Okay. That is kind of weird.”

Rose gave her a flat look. “You think?”

Still, Calista didn’t seem worried. It wasn’t that she didn’t care—it was just… well, what was she supposed to do about it?

The Dungeon had always been a meat grinder for the weak. If something was chewing through Level 1s faster than usual, that was just the natural order, wasn’t it?

She sighed, stretching her arms above her head. “Well, unless there’s some kind of pattern, it’s not really my problem.”

Rose’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You’re not even a little concerned?”

Calista shrugged. “Not really.”

Silence.

Rose exhaled through her nose. Annoyed.

Calista thrived on annoying people, but for once, it wasn’t on purpose.

“I’m just saying,” she added, tapping her fingers against the counter, “until there’s proof it’s something other than dumbasses running into things they can’t handle, it’s not worth panicking over.”

Rose studied her for a long moment. Then, finally—

“…Fine. Just watch yourself.”

Calista smirked. “Aww, you do care.”

Rose rolled her eyes so hard they practically left her skull.

Calista chuckled, then gave a lazy two-finger salute as she turned away. “See you later, Rose~.”

“I swear,” Rose muttered, already reaching for the nearest bottle of headache medicine.

...

Daytime – The Dungeon, Floor 9

The air felt off.

Calista didn’t believe in adventurer superstitions. She wasn’t the type to talk about “the Dungeon having a will” or “monsters moving strangely.” That sounded like the kind of nonsense people came up with to excuse their own incompetence.

But as she adjusted her grip on her spear, her body tensed—like a violin string pulled too tight.

Something about Floor 9 felt wrong.

She wasn’t alone. Lefiya was frowning, her usual nervous energy replaced by something quieter, sharper. Lili, on the other hand, didn’t seem to notice anything was amiss. The little prum marched ahead with her crossbow slung over one shoulder, completely unbothered.

“Calista-sama, are you even listening?” Lili huffed, glancing over her shoulder.

“Mm? No, not really.”

Lili sighed, but she didn’t seem surprised. “I said, we should move a little faster. Monsters are swarming more than usual.”

Calista hummed in agreement. More monsters meant more excelia.

A flicker of movement caught her eye. Shadows shifted between the Dungeon walls—something fast, something big.

Here we go.

A Dungeon Lizard lunged from the darkness, claws outstretched, yellow eyes locked onto Calista’s throat.

She moved.

Her spear lashed forward, catching the beast mid-leap. The impact sent a shock up her arm—solid hit, but not enough force.

The monster twisted, tail snapping around like a whip.

Calista ducked. The tail whistled over her head, close enough to rustle her hair.

She grinned.

Fast. But not fast enough.

Her spear pivoted—sharp, controlled, precise.

Lefiya chanted behind her.

Lili’s crossbow clicked.

A breath. A rhythm. A team moving in sync.

One step forward—

Calista slammed the spear straight through the Dungeon Lizard’s mouth, driving the steel tip through the back of its skull.

The monster convulsed, screeched, then collapsed onto the floor.

One down.

But there were more.

A pack of six scuttled into view—scaled bodies twisting unnaturally, tails lashing, claws scraping against the Dungeon floor.

Lili groaned. “Why does it feel like we’re fighting more of these than usual?”

“They are a swarm-type monster,” Lefiya said. Her grip on her staff tightened. “But I agree—it’s strange.”

Calista twirled her spear, rolling her shoulders. “Strange or not, they’re still just lizards.”

Lili frowned. “I don’t like it. Monsters are supposed to be predictable. But these…” She hesitated, then muttered, “Something’s off.”

Lefiya nodded. “Agreed.”

Calista barely reacted.

Because that’s when she saw it.

One of the Dungeon Lizards—larger than the rest.

It wasn’t just big.

It was wrong.

Its scales were darker, its movements too fluid, too coordinated. While the others darted around mindlessly, this one watched. Studied.

And the moment Calista’s eyes met its glowing yellow gaze—

It disappeared.

Her stomach flipped.

Lili sighed dramatically. “Oh great, they’re evolving now?”

“Lizards don’t evolve,” Calista muttered, narrowing her eyes at the empty space where the monster had just been. “That’s just—”

“Not what I meant,” Lili interrupted. “Sometimes monsters change when they eat too many magic stones. There’s a theory about it, but it’s not common.”

Calista tilted her head. “...Huh.”

Lefiya was quiet.

Too quiet.

Calista glanced at her. “Something eating at you?”

Lefiya hesitated, then—“Lili just said something interesting.”

“Oh? Do tell.”

The elf bit her lip. “Monsters don’t eat magic stones naturally. They’re not supposed to. But… if they do…”

Calista’s smirk widened. “They get stronger?”

Lefiya nodded. “Stronger. Smarter. More dangerous.”

Later on the Dungeon Lizards seemed to be avoiding them.

Lili clicked her tongue. “Huh. Weird. The Dungeon Lizards are acting like they’ve got a leader.”

Calista laughed.

Lefiya did not.

The silence that followed wasn’t comforting.

The prum crossed her arms. “You’re laughing.”

“Yes, because that’s the funniest thing I’ve heard all day.”

Lili stared at her, deadpan. “We might be dealing with a super-powered monster that’s eating magic stones, and you think that’s funny?”

“Do you not?”

Lili pinched the bridge of her nose.

Lefiya was still frowning.

Calista exhaled, rolling her spear between her fingers. “Look, unless you want to start running scared, there’s only one way to find out if these lizards really have a leader.”

Lili groaned. “We are not tracking a monster just because you’re curious.”

Calista smirked. “Aww, you do care.”

Lili glared. “I care about not dying.”

Lefiya still didn’t look convinced.

...

Dodge. Pivot. Counter.

Calista’s spear slammed into a Dungeon Lizard’s skull, shattering bone, twisting deep—until the monster went limp.

She barely had time to exhale before another one lunged.

She moved.

Her body reacted before thought—sidestep, shift weight, reset stance.

Fast. Clean. Predictable.

Except—

Instead of dodging the next attack, she blocked.

Claws raked against her armguard, metal screeching. The force vibrated up her bones.

Ugh. That stung.

But she didn’t back down. She didn’t avoid the pain.

Instead, she took it.

Testing. Pushing. Seeing how much her body could withstand.

“Calista, what are you doing?!”

Lefiya’s voice cut through the chaos—sharp, alarmed.

Calista flicked her spear, sending the lizard flying. “What’s it look like?”

“It looks like you’re letting yourself get hit!”

Lili groaned from behind them, loading another bolt into her crossbow. “Let me guess—some brilliant new strategy?”

Calista smirked. “I call it ‘Endurance Training.’”

Lefiya gaped. “That is not how Endurance training works!”

“I disagree.”

“You—! Ugh! Just—just fight properly!”

Calista chuckled, spinning her spear lazily. But Lefiya’s frustration? It stuck.

Because she wasn’t wrong.

Fighting like this in a real battle was stupid. Tactically unsound. But if she wanted to fix her weakest stat—

She had to start taking hits.

She glanced at Lefiya out of the corner of her eye. The elf was still glaring, her hands clenched around her staff.

Then, in the next fight, when another monster lunged—

Lefiya hesitated.

Just for a second.

Like she was about to copy Calista’s method.

Calista didn’t call it out.

Because in the end? Lefiya dodged anyway.

She shook it off, but Calista noticed.

A tiny, split-second moment where she’d considered it.

Hah. Interesting.

...

Nighttime – The Dungeon, Floor 8

Darkness wrapped around her like a second skin. The only light came from the faint, eerie glow of the Dungeon walls.

This time, there was no Lili. No Lefiya. No one to watch.

Just her.

Just the monsters.

A Needle Rabbit darted forward—fast, too fast.

Calista let it hit her.

The impact cracked through her ribs.

Pain exploded through her torso. Her lungs seized.

Her vision blurred.

Good.

That’s what I need.

She let the force of the hit carry her—rolling back, planting her feet, and shoving forward.

Spear met flesh.

A single, perfect strike.

The Needle Rabbit screeched, its long, needle-like skull splitting as the weapon punched through.

Blood erupted.

Another lunge—this time from the side.

Too slow.

She turned into it, intercepting with her shoulder. The hit rocked her body, sharp claws cutting into skin.

She clenched her jaw.

The pain. The pressure. The sheer force of it.

It felt—

Like progress.

Her grip tightened on her spear.

And she kept going.

---

Next Morning – Dungeon Entrance

“Calista-sama, you look like garbage.”

Calista yawned, stretching her arms behind her head as she strolled into the plaza. “Good morning to you too, Lili.”

Lefiya frowned. “You're late, did you stay up all night?”

Calista shrugged, stretching in front of her “Just a bit.”

Lili scowled. “You’re not supposed to train so hard that you look weaker.”

“Mm.” Calista hummed noncommittally, eating the fruit she brought with her.

Lili sighed. “You are aware that reckless adventurers die early, yes?”

Calista took a bite, raising an eyebrow.

Lili pointed her finger at her. “It’s a fact. The Dungeon doesn’t care how cocky you are.”

“Noted.”

“I don’t think you’re noting it at all.”

Calista grinned.

Lefiya, however, was not smiling.

She hadn’t been smiling recently. Her expression was tight. Uncertain.

Then—

“…Calista.”

Calista paused, mid-chew. “Yeah?”

A beat.

Then—

“…Nevermind.”

Calista blinked.

But Lefiya just went back to looking at the ground.

As if she hadn’t spoken at all.

Hah.

Even more interesting.

...

That Night - Twilight Manor.

The manor was silent.

The kind of deep, empty quiet that only settled when almost everyone was gone.

Calista moved like a shadow—steps careful, muscles relaxed but precise. The hallway stretched ahead, dimly lit by moonlight spilling through the high windows.

Her target? The window at the end.

It was already cracked open, just enough for her to slip through.

A clean exit.

No witnesses.

She smirked. Too easy.

Then—

“Yer pretty good at sneakin’.”

A lazy drawl. Unamused. Right behind her.

Calista froze.

Her head snapped toward the door.

And there she was.

Loki.

Leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, red eyes gleaming in the dim light.

She’d been waiting.

Calista straightened slowly, fighting the urge to grimace.

“…How long have you known?”

Loki smirked. “Long enough.”

Damn it.

Calista played it cool, adjusting her posture. “And yet, you never stopped me.”

Loki tilted her head, watching her with that too-knowing look.

“Ain’t my job to stop ya.”

A pause.

Calista flicked her gaze back to the window.

Then back to Loki.

“…Are you gonna stop me?”

Loki shrugged, stepping forward just a little. “Nah. Just wanted to see if you'd notice me this time.”

Calista exhaled through her nose. Annoyance, amusement—both at once.

“Great. I noticed you. We’re done here.”

She turned.

Took exactly two steps.

And then—

Something warm crashed into her back.

Arms wrapped tight around her waist.

She stumbled forward. Eyes widening.

What the hell—

A hug.

A real, solid, steady hug.

Loki’s head rested against her back.

No teasing.
No laughing.
Just… warmth.

Calista froze.

Her body tensed on instinct.

This was not normal.

She braced for the inevitable—hands sliding up, a cheeky grope, some perverted remark.

But… nothing.

Loki just held her.

The weight of it was solid. Steady.

Not a joke.

Not a trick.

A real, genuine hold.

“…Ya need to take care of yerself more, y’know?”

The words were quiet. Softer than usual.

Calista didn’t know how to respond.

Her hands hovered awkwardly at her sides.

Loki’s grip didn’t loosen.

“Yer always runnin’ ahead. Chasin’ somethin’. Tryin’ to be the best.”

A pause.

“Nothin’ wrong with that. Ain’t my place to stop ya.”

Another pause.

“But don’t burn yerself out, alright?”

Something about the way she said it made Calista’s chest tighten.

Loki was warm.

She smelled like fresh air and faint traces of alcohol.

Her voice was steady.

Calista didn’t move.

She could say something cocky.
Brush it off.
Laugh.

But… she didn’t.

The moment lingered.

Then—it was over.

Loki suddenly shifted—

And Calista’s chest got groped.

“—THE HELL?!”

She yanked herself free, twisting violently—but Loki was already retreating.

Cackling.

“Gotta keep ya on yer toes, don’tcha think?”

Calista gawked.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “You ruined the moment.”

Loki grinned, utterly shameless. “Callie, if ya thought there was a ‘moment,’ that’s on you.”

A beat.

Calista scowled. “Perverted goddess.”

Loki smirked. “Tits for brains.”

Another beat.

Then—

“…Thanks, though,” Calista muttered.

Loki blinked.

Then—her smirk softened.

“Yeah. Anytime, kid.”

Calista turned. This time, Loki didn’t stop her.

She slipped through the window, disappearing into the night.

Loki leaned against the doorframe, watching the open window.

She let out a slow breath.

“Tch. Brat.”

...

The Dungeon was never quiet.

Even on the upper floors, something was always moving—scraping against stone, breathing in the dark. The air was always alive, humming with the low growls of waiting monsters.

But tonight?

Something felt off.

Calista adjusted her grip on her spear, keeping her pace steady. Her body ached from the last few nights of pushing herself—bruises hidden under armor, soreness settling deep into her limbs.

Nothing she couldn’t handle.

Still, she didn’t like this feeling.

It wasn’t exhaustion. It wasn’t fear.

It was…

Something’s watching me.

She shook it off, rolling her shoulders.

If something was watching, it could come say hello whenever it wanted.

Until then? She had rabbits to kill.

A blur of movement caught her eye—small, fast, darting between the Dungeon walls.

A Needle Rabbit.

Calista’s body moved before thought—twist, step, thrust.

Her spear shot forward, piercing straight through the monster’s skull. The body collapsed, twitched, then fell limply.

She exhaled.

And that made… what?

She frowned, turning slightly, glancing back down the corridor.

A few minutes ago, there had been… what? Six? Seven?

She turned fully, mentally counting.

One. Two. Three… four?

Calista blinked.

There were less than before.

Her head tilted slightly.

“…Huh.”

She tapped the butt of her spear against the floor.

“I swear I killed more than that.”

A beat.

Then a slow smirk curled her lips.

“Wow, maybe I should be getting more sleep? Can't even count properly anymore, but—”

She trailed off, amusement flickering into something else.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

She knew she’d downed at least seven.

So where were the others?

The Dungeon absorbed bodies eventually, sure. But it wasn’t instant. It took time—minutes, not seconds.

And yet…

She scanned the corridor.

The missing bodies weren’t there.

A flicker of movement.

Calista spun.

A shadow shifted ahead.

The blue glow of the Dungeon walls warped and twisted.

And in the dark, something stirred.

A glow.

Not from the walls.

Not from the ceiling.

From the shadows.

Two gleaming yellow eyes.

Watching.

Calista stilled.

Her breath left her in a slow, measured exhale.

For a long moment, nothing moved.

Then—

The eyes blinked.

And vanished.

Calista’s fingers curled tighter around her spear.

A heartbeat.

Two.

Then, finally—

“…Tch.”

She rolled her shoulders, turning away.

It was probably nothing.

But for the first time in a long time—

She hesitated.

...

The Next Day

Something felt wrong.

Calista couldn’t place it—not yet. But the deeper they went, the more it settled into her bones.

A tightness in the air. A pressure, faint but constant.

Like the Dungeon itself was holding its breath.

She twirled her spear between her fingers, rolling her shoulders. Lefiya was unusually quiet beside her, and Lili…

“Calista-sama, I swear, if you get hit on purpose again, I’m docking your pay.”

Calista smirked. “Oh? So I'm the one who's been getting paid this whole time?”

Lili shot her a flat look. “Not anymore.”

“Tragic.”

Lefiya sighed. “Can we focus? The mana flow is… off.”

Calista glanced at her. “Off how?”

The elf hesitated. “It’s… harder to explain than usual. It’s like something’s stirring.”

Lili scoffed. “You’re always saying the Dungeon is alive. Maybe it’s just annoyed at Calista.”

“If it is, it should get in line,” Lefiya muttered.

Calista grinned.

Then—

The air shifted.

Her body moved.

She turned instinctively, spear coming up—

A Dungeon Lizard lunged from the shadows.

Lili cursed, already raising her crossbow.

Lefiya’s staff came up, lips parting for a chant—

Not fast enough.

Calista stepped forward.

One fluid motion—a pivot, a thrust.

Her spear pierced straight through the lizard’s skull.

The monster let out a garbled screech, then collapsed.

Calista didn’t let herself exhale.

Because there was another one.

And another.

And—

Her stomach flipped.

They were surrounded.

“Uh.” Lili loaded another bolt. “Anyone else getting déjà vu?”

Lefiya gritted her teeth. “I don’t like this. Dungeon Lizards aren’t this aggressive. They don’t usually—”

Then they heard it.

A low, deep rumble.

Something shifting.

Something big.

Calista froze.

Because she knew that sound.

It wasn’t a growl.

It wasn’t an idle, animalistic noise.

It was breathing.

A slow, measured inhale.

A long, drawn-out exhale.

And it was close.

Too close.

Lili swallowed. “Okay. I don’t know what that was, but I hate it.”

Lefiya’s fingers tightened around her staff. “Calista.”

Calista nodded.

Then—

The shadows moved.

The Dungeon walls flickered—just for a second.

And from the darkness, something stepped forward.

Two glowing yellow eyes.

Huge. Unblinking. Focused.

Watching.

Calista’s breath left her in a slow, steady exhale.

Then—

A low growl.

A shift in the air.

A single, thunderous step.

And suddenly, she knew.

The predator had found its prey.

---

A/N: tsssssss yikes... we got uhhh a wanna be dragon here.... damn...... AND ALSO BEFORE YOU SAY OHHHH WISE DUNGEON LIZARDS DONT SPAWN ON FLOOR 9 WELL FRIG YOU FRIG YOU FRIG YOU, I FORGOT AND BY THE TIME I PICKED THE NEXT ENEMY AND WRITTEN ALL THIS OUT I REALIZED SO FRIG YOU hmph this is an AU so you can't correct me on that anymore!