Chapter 22
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: ??? Floor - Abyss (2)
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In this Labyrinth, gods are the absolute top dogs.
Especially to Exiles, they're untouchable overlords.
So, situations where a believer can turn super-bottom against a god are practically nonexistent.
In most cases, the god is just an absolute observer watching over their followers.
If one catches their fancy, they might bestow something now and then.
Sometimes, they even give hints helpful for clearing the place.
In truly rare instances, if they're really pleased, they might unleash their divine power to save them from the brink of death.
But at their core, they're all beings who act on their own whims.
Those ancient Exiles who nearly conquered the Labyrinth long ago.
Having reached the pinnacle as adventurers, their mindsets are utterly stubborn and self-centered.
Of course.
Now, they're nothing but prisoners chained to the Labyrinth, waiting for someone to set them free.
Prisoners with freakish strength and nasty tempers.
"Exile" carries a nuance of possibly returning someday.
Having abandoned that hope makes "prisoner" a pretty apt term for calling out to gods, don't you think?
In the game lore I knew, there was nothing about what happens to the gods when the Labyrinth is liberated.
No matter how much I asked the storyline writers, they never spilled.
So, from a certain viewpoint, gods are pitiful beings whose fate remains unknown even if everything in the Labyrinth is freed.
And in this situation, even more so.
A god who seems immortal dies without believers.
He knelt before the tombstone.
As he chanted the god's name in his mind and offered a prayer, a message appeared.
[The Goddess of Chaos expresses her gratitude to you.]
'You send messages?'
[The Goddess of Chaos says gods must communicate indirectly.]
'Even if I back out of becoming your believer right here?'
"You'll let me live!"
Her voice finally rang out loud. Fiery as hell. And young-sounding. Younger than our party's high school girl—maybe middle school age?
Well, sure, her insides have aged thousands of years, but still.
You might say that doesn't matter, but surprisingly, the mind tends to follow the body.
If she perceives herself as eternally middle-school age, her personality won't mature properly.
Of course, that doesn't mean Chaos is truly a childish middle-schooler.
Just easier to handle than some old hag.
'Oh goddess, show me what you're bringing to the negotiation table first.'
"Negotiation table? What are you even talking about?"
'Ever heard of the guy who digs a well when he's thirsty?'
"You bastard!"
'Hey now, want me to show you what a real bastard looks like?'
"Wait, sorry. Let me live."
At this point, he was certain this Chaos came with the "Freedom" suffix.
"Freedom" makes a god's personality a bit more puppy-like, you could say.
Awful synergy with Chaos. Not because he'd get played by a puppyish god, though.
It's awful from the god's own perspective.
Normally, faith isn't switched that easily. The god gets pissed.
Plus, apostates aren't welcomed warmly by other gods.
But with the "Freedom" suffix, it's different.
The god themselves has declared freedom of faith—it's their nature.
Other gods don't interfere.
Even if they don't want to, once declared, their divine name binds them to it in the Labyrinth.
That's why Chaos couldn't punish or hold onto apostates.
He could feel the Goddess of Chaos hesitating.
Then, in a small voice as if no one else could hear, she spoke.
"I'll manipulate it for you."
"Manipulate what?"
"The odds of divine powers."
True to her name, everything about the Goddess of Chaos's divine powers was probabilistic.
From powers like that finger-waggling roulette in some manga where good or bad could hit anytime, to rerolling skills that had already procced.
In the late game, she could even reroll the map itself as a miracle.
But by then, whatever came up hardly mattered.
Everything was brutally tough anyway.
Still, they could be useful depending on how you used them, but most ignored them.
In a game already tortured by RNG, few wanted to roll the dice one more time.
A god's divine power was one of the few constants in this variable-riddled game.
Chaos's powers weren't bad. They just added one more die to roll, ultimately.
Too many more efficient gods existed to settle for that.
Plus, honestly, the buffs from worshiping the Goddess of Chaos on the Mind Map were underwhelming except for races like vampires...
That's why she had a tiny following in most worlds.
In this case, the "Freedom" suffix probably made it worse.
Even he would happily worship Chaos temporarily if he could switch later.
The "Goddess of Chaos and Freedom" was always on a knife's edge in every world.
Worlds without a Goddess of Chaos to begin with? Probably ended like that.
Anyway, he answered firmly.
'Not good enough.'
"You bastard!"
'Hey now.'
"Even so, how far do you plan to scam a god?"
'Isn't that exactly what you're offering with the manipulation?'
"What?!"
Labyrinth gods are originally veteran Exiles.
What kind of beings are veteran Exiles?
Senior players who've scammed believers for thousands of years, that's what.
'I know you'll just barely tweak the odds to avoid damaging your divinity. Just enough to hold out till new believers show up, right? That RNG manipulation gets sniffed out these days.'
"How many years have you been at this?"
She'd find out anyway once he became a believer. No point hiding from a god.
'97 years.'
"This guy's insane."
'2975th Run.'
"Not even human."
'Harsh words. Should I shop around for a better god?'
"Sorry. I won't mess around anymore."
This super-bottom thing wasn't new. He loved it. Always thrilling. Always fresh.
Felt like bullying a kid, but since he was younger, no issue.
'Alright, then not RNG manipulation.'
"Then what?"
'Guaranteed proc of what I want.'
"......"
Divine powers are great precisely because they're constants.
Chaos's are variables, but if they proc well, their value surpasses other gods.
So what if you could turn them into a constant?
Chaos started sniffling.
"You said you'd let me live......"
'Didn't say I'd kill you. Godslayer? Already cringing at the thought.'
"Don't play dumb. If you do that, I'll vanish anyway."
He'd aimed for it, but seems there was a misunderstanding.
'Just three times. Spaced out.'
Give her time to recover. Acts against divinity hurt the believer too.
Chaos went silent for a bit.
"Three times? For real?"
She perked up fast.
'No believers, right? Two in a row and you'd vanish, so three spaced out. That's the limit anyway?'
"True, but how do you know so well? Been a god yourself?"
If it was choose experienced or not, yes—but better not say.
'So, you in? Or out?'
"I'm in! Three times! Exactly three!"
'What kind of believer breaks promises with their god.'
"No believer scams their god, you psycho."
'What about gods who vanish from no believers?'
[The Goddess of Chaos says to you, 'You dog bastard']
'Aigoo, elder. Where'd you learn emoticons from? Oh right, not a believer anymore.'
"You bastard!"
This was bad. Needed to ease up.
But her reacting to every tease was too fun to stop.
The Goddess of Chaos could exert influence in the Abyss partly because it's her domain too.
The Abyss's god doesn't care what she does.
Thus, her followers can receive guidance on paths through the Abyss.
This isn't a divine power—it's the god's personal favor.
Truly "completely voluntary favor."
"This is perfect."
He'd found a new weapon for the Girl.
Amid the collapsed floor's rubble, there was a sleek dagger worlds better than the crude 2nd-floor junk.
Properly forged steel too.
No magic effects was a minor shame, but it'd last far longer than starter gear.
The Hunter had already grabbed a bow from the corpses and was eagerly picking up intact arrows.
In the Abyss where junk rained everywhere, he even found some exceptional ones.
Would've been nice for higher-end stuff, but those sink deeper into the Abyss.
Standard level design—hard to complain.
The Goddess of Chaos was "voluntarily" marking monster positions in his view and spots with decent gear left.
Augmented reality map hack, no less.
Not much intact stuff remained, but someone pointing it all out changed everything.
Risk was basically nil.
A red-glowing something started marking across the rubble—a formless slime, by the looks.
Abyss slimes melt and pierce anything they touch. Level 700, no less.
Run.
Normally, hard to spot early—it's the proud #1 cause of Abyss deaths.
But with divine protection, safe.
He didn't just grab weapons.
Over the sackcloth he'd worn as clothes, he picked up actual armor-like gear.
Leather armor is agility-class basics.
Plate assassins? Not in this world.
For the Girl, her fairy clothes sufficed as both garb and armor—no change needed.
Following the goddess's guidance, they scavenged and equipped.
Then he realized something awkward.
"Think about it—we're a triple-agility party."
[The Goddess of Chaos mocks your half-baked party composition.]
"Hey, goddess. We came from Floor 2—what kind of party comp critique is that? Starting now, right?"
[The Goddess of Chaos can't believe it.]
He hadn't expected to come to the Abyss from Floor 2 either.
"Um, Uncle."
"Yeah?"
The Girl had mostly recovered.
They'd stayed far from those grotesque horrors that'd drain your sanity just by looking.
Luckily, the Abyss's outskirts weren't monster-dense.
Having repeatedly learned no nightmares entered her view, she finally opened her eyes.
She still clung to him, though.
Arm gripped tight as she followed.
"Which god should I worship?"
Curiosity revived. She seemed fascinated and bothered by his chatting with someone.
"Chaos is a bit wasteful."
[The Goddess of Chaos sulks.]
Pouting because he wouldn't make her three believers.
Only he worshiped Chaos.
The Girl and Hunter would suit other gods better.
The Hunter brightened once his quiver filled.
Ammo count stresses rangers always.
The Girl had another reason to brighten.
A sure escape route now existed.
Just have the goddess point out the exit.
"Seriously, this place. Never coming back."
"Same here."
He'd visit often later, but no spoilers now.
Wonder how much time passed outside.
Normally, their goddess would check.
[The Goddess of Chaos apologizes, saying her view doesn't reach outside the Abyss.]
Only one believer meant no eyes out there.
[The Goddess of Chaos begs you not to abandon her.]
Wonder how that feels via message.
Guess he should treat her better.
Anyway, no clock meant avoid exiting too early and returning to Floor 2 prematurely.
After a generous subjective five days, they escaped the Abyss.
Something felt off, though.
"Hold up. How many days has it even been?"