Chapter 28: Goddess of Misfortune [II]

I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Stand up, Julie," I said flatly. "And continue behaving like you always have."

Julie hesitated for a moment, glancing at me with a mix of timidity and mischief. Slowly, she rose to her feet, brushing the dirt off her knees.

"Will it really be alright... even if I indulge myself?" she asked, her voice soft, almost hesitant. Then, as if testing the waters, she added slowly, "Even when you're there?"

I shot her a cold look, my tone unwavering. "Do whatever you want, but don't expect me to approve—or intervene. Just don't cause trouble, and don't drag me into it."

She blinked a few times, then gave a small, sheepish smile. "You're so stern, Lira. I suppose that's why I'm so drawn to you."

Ignoring her comment, I turned and started walking again. "Let's keep moving. We need to find a safe zone before nightfall."

Julie followed behind me, mumbling something about how goddesses should be more lenient with their believers. I pretended not to hear her.

I opened the system once more, eager to understand the implications of this "Goddess of Misfortune" title. The same screen appeared before me, displaying the details I had seen earlier:

Host: Lira

Occupation: Goddess of Misfortune (Sealed)

Priestess: 1

Believers: 291

Beneath it, new information appeared, providing a more in-depth explanation of my newfound role.

Holy Power Pool: 2.7M

Believers: The number of followers directly impacts the pool of Holy Power. The more believers, the stronger the power.

Granting Blessings: As a goddess, You can bestow blessings upon your believers, enhancing their abilities or granting protection. However, each blessing consumes Holy Power.

Knighting: (Sealed) Allows the creation of divine knights, granting them authority over other followers.

Below that, a notification blinked:

Current Holy Power Usage: Minimal.

Recharge Rate: Unlimited. Restrictions removed.

The sheer magnitude of it all made my head spin. Infinite power? That seemed impossible, even in this strange tower.

I clicked further, and a tooltip explained the nature of blessings in detail:

Blessing of Fortune: Temporarily increases a believer's luck, combat ability, or vitality. Requires 10,000 Holy Power per minute.

Curse of Misfortune (Passive): Random occurrences of bad luck may plague those who oppose you or your believers.

I frowned. The whole setup felt like a game that someone—or something—wanted me to play. The idea of granting blessings or managing followers didn't appeal to me. I had no interest in being anyone's goddess.

Yet, the system's very existence meant that someone believed in me, whether I wanted it or not. Or , I thought of Kailus, maybe he created believers, why? Maybe for his amusement I don't know.

Julie tugged on my sleeve, interrupting my thoughts. "So? What do you say? Are you going to give me a blessing?"

I shut the system interface with a flick of my hand, my expression unreadable. "Keep moving. We don't have time to waste."

She pouted but followed obediently, mumbling something about how stingy a real live goddess could be.

The surroundings darkened slowly, the light dimming in a way that felt unnatural. I glanced up.

The sky was cloudless, empty, yet there was no sun. Just an omnipresent glow that kept the world illuminated. How was it bright here without a visible source of light? I wondered, my thoughts drifting.

"Lira! Lira!" Julie's voice interrupted my musings.

I turned to see her rushing toward me, her face flushed and her breathing uneven.

"There's a village! I see a village ahead!" she exclaimed, pointing excitedly into the distance.

I raised an eyebrow. Just earlier, she was kneeling before me, calling me her goddess, and now? She was back to her usual self, full of energy and unrestrained emotion.

At least I'd take this Julie over one that was scared of me.

"Lead the way," I said, gesturing for her to go ahead.

Julie nodded eagerly, turning back toward the direction she'd come from. Her movements were filled with excitement, her steps bouncing with barely contained joy.

I sighed inwardly. Pure excitement. Pure lust. That's all it was. No ulterior motives. No schemes. Just Julie being Julie.

I followed her, my steps steady and calm, my mind already considering what kind of "village" could exist on this strange new floor.

Humans.

The sight of them milling about the village was a relief I hadn't expected to feel. After everything we'd encountered in this tower—its monstrous denizens, its strange rules—this slice of normalcy felt almost surreal.

What even was the goal of this tower? I thought to myself.

If I were to imagine the mechanics of the climb, I would've expected tasks—specific objectives to complete on each floor, rewards handed out by some unseen tower managers or supreme beings. Yet, so far, there had been nothing. Aside from the system's acknowledgment of progress, the tower seemed to care little for its climbers.

I frowned, my thoughts swirling, only to be interrupted by a soft giggle.

Julie.

She approached, her usual mischievous grin plastered across her face, trailing behind her a young couple.

"This is Hina and her newlywed husband, Marc," she said, gesturing to the pair with exaggerated flair. "They've so kindly offered us a place to stay."

Her tone was innocent enough, but her eyes… they were anything but.

I stared, stunned. Since when had she even had the time to charm someone? She must have disappeared for all of five minutes, yet she'd managed to secure lodging with a couple she barely knew.

"Since when—" I started, my voice unintentionally sharp.

Julie beamed, entirely unbothered by my incredulity. "Don't worry about it, Lira," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "They're nice people! You'll love them."

I pressed my fingers to my temple, suppressing the scream threatening to escape my throat. Julie had a way of making the absurd seem almost normal. Almost.

Hina and Marc stood awkwardly, clearly unsure how to handle the dynamic between the two of us. I sighed, resigning myself to whatever chaos awaited.

"Fine," I said curtly. "Lead the way."

Julie grinned, triumphant, as the couple began to lead us toward their home.

...

Author's Note:

Q: So, what's with the goddess system?

A: Stoopid, I never said I wouldn't add them. Be patient or not, your call. Next question?

Q: How are you even writing this story? And will there be more Julie scenes?

A: With one hand, obviously. As for Julie scenes, oh yes, more and more Julie until she di—uh, until whatever happens next. Keep reading. Next question?