Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 163

63. Labyrinth on the Ground

The Great Labyrinth’s influence hadn’t reached the surface. The core planted on the ground was intact, and as it had been planted in preparation for the potential loss of the Naga fortress, its potential was by no means insignificant.

From Kim Jin-woo’s perspective, it was an unintentionally brilliant move.

He wanted to upgrade the Labyrinth to its maximum level immediately, but he held back. The Labyrinth’s grade was low now, making its presence minimal, but there was no guarantee that would always be the case.

Preparation was needed even if he upgraded the Labyrinth. And to prepare, he had to go down to the underground.

The Down Gem [a gem used to enhance the Labyrinth] needed to upgrade the Labyrinth was down there.

“Ah…”

He met Dominique as soon as he crossed the portal. She usually greeted him with a bright smile, but today, for some reason, she tried to run up to him but then backed away, lowering her eyes.

It seemed she was bothered by their last conversation, which had taken place in a less-than-pleasant atmosphere.

“Dominique.”

If he left her alone, she looked like she would stand there forever and not approach him.

Eventually, he took a step forward and called her name, and only then did she rush toward him in a fluster. But even then, she stopped after only a few steps.

“Master…”

She replied in a voice full of dejection and then lowered her head deeply. He could see her biting her lip.

“Master!”

She looked like she had made up her mind about something, her eyes filled with a resolute determination. She must have still thought he was being consumed by the Great Labyrinth’s greed.

He grinned at her expression, knowing that if he left her alone, she would start nagging again.

She was about to open her mouth to say something, but she paused for a moment, looking dazed at his smile.

“Thank you, I feel much clearer thanks to you.”

Apologies like, ‘I’m sorry,’ or ‘I was being unreasonable,’ were unnecessary. Just that one word of thanks was enough.

Dominique still seemed unable to grasp the situation, blinking blankly.

“Thank you, I would have been in big trouble if it weren’t for Dominique.”

When Kim Jin-woo thanked her once more, she finally seemed to realize the situation, her face turning emotional.

“Master!”

Her voice was distinctly different from her previous dejected tone, and Dominique’s eyes welled up with tears.

“I said something presumptuous, and I thought you wouldn’t want to see me anymore…”

What kind of look had he given her that day, and how had he treated her? Although his consciousness, which had been consumed by the Great Labyrinth, had returned, he couldn’t imagine what he and she had been feeling at that time.

But he was certain that she had spoken frankly to him with great determination.

She looked like a small puppy on the verge of tears, anxiously worrying about being hated and abandoned by her master.

“Thank you.”

“No, I am grateful. Thank you for coming back. I am grateful that you have returned to being yourself, Master.”

Kim Jin-woo felt a warmth in his chest at her selfless devotion and service.

[The advice of the King’s Advisor, Dominique, was uncomfortable to hear, but it was also necessary. Although you were consumed by the Great Labyrinth’s greed and your consciousness was hazy, you wisely listened to the advisor’s words. As a result, you became aware of the Great Labyrinth’s insidious nature and began to be wary of it, and you found a clue to overcome it.]

[The relationship between a wise king and a loyal advisor will become a rare tale of virtue in the underground.]

[Even the wisest advice is meaningless if it does not reach the king. But she admirably fulfilled her role and succeeded in saving you from the crisis.]

[Dominique’s ability, her ability as the King’s Advisor, has grown by one level.]

[Dominique has gained a new ability.]

[Special ability, ‘Awakening,’ has been activated. From now on, her advice will be conveyed to you directly in any situation. Even if you are once again consumed by the Great Labyrinth, her advice will awaken you.]

“Ah…”

Dominique and Kim Jin-woo exclaimed simultaneously. Startled by the sudden messages, he saw her flinching. She seemed to be feeling the subtle changes in her body and was flustered.

“Congratulations, Dominique.”

“Ah… what is this…”

Come to think of it, her voice was subtly different from before. He admired the mysterious tone that made him feel comfortable just by listening to it and congratulated her again.

“Hmm…”

The atmosphere had improved due to the changes in Dominique, but this was only temporary. Kim Jin-woo, feeling that his consciousness was being invaded by something again, quickly explained what had happened.

“For the Labyrinth itself to try to control its master…”

She looked shocked, unable to believe that the Great Labyrinth had its own ego and was trying to devour its master.

“So, I don’t think I’ll be able to come back for a while. Even now, I feel something surging up, and if I stay too long, my consciousness will become unstable like last time.”

First, he needed to gather the fragments of the Ancient Monarch and the Noble’s Seal to increase his own power. If he returned before he had enough power, he would be consumed by that fierce will.

“So, I need Dominique to gather some necessary things for me.”

A wise Dominique would prepare the necessary items without him having to explain everything one by one.

As he expected, she gathered everything that could be helpful, from Down Gems to Summoning Stones.

But her energy was unusual. Holding the packed luggage preciously, she showed no intention of handing it over.

“Dominique?”

“I will go with you.”

Kim Jin-woo looked taken aback by the unexpected words.

“If you are seriously thinking of growing the Labyrinth on the ground, there should be enough room for one more person to live, right?”

She didn’t seem to consider his refusal at all.

“Who will manage the Great Labyrinth without Dominique…?”

“I couldn’t possibly handle the vicious Great Labyrinth that even tried to devour its master. Anyway, there’s nothing for me to do here, so I’d rather follow you, Master.”

Every word she said was correct. There was no way she, who was only a proxy, could control the Great Labyrinth that even he, who had risen to High Lord [a high-ranking title], couldn’t control.

“If something happens, Crow and Rickshasha will take care of it.”

He could trust Morrigan now, unlike before.

Her loyalty, as seen through the Eye of Truth, was genuine, even if its target was wrong.

Rickshasha had also gained experience by leading the Under Elves and had become quite useful, so he could trust her to manage the Labyrinth.

“Ugh.”

Eventually, he groaned, realizing that there was no way to break her stubbornness.

“So be it.”

As soon as the words of permission fell, Dominique relaxed her hardened expression and let out a sigh of relief. She had asserted her claim quite firmly, but she must have been worried that he would refuse.

Eventually, she crossed the portal, leaving him behind before he had even finished his business.

“She must have been very worried.”

He ended up laughing at her actions, which were motivated by her fear that he might change his mind and leave her behind.

But that was only for a moment. As time passed, he realized that his consciousness was being consumed by something, and he moved to finish the remaining work.

“Jin-woo?”

It wasn’t difficult to find Lee Jun-young. She remained in the room she had been initially assigned to, without moving.

“I don’t think I’ll be able to come back for a while.”

“Ah…”

He felt somewhat sorry for her, considering her situation, now that she had finally come to her senses. As the person who had left her stuck underground, he couldn’t help but feel responsible.

“Are you going to fight again?”

“Something like that.”

Having broken free from the Down Gem’s addiction with the birth of the Great Labyrinth, she had all her past memories intact.

Her face was full of worry, as if she was reminded of him looking into her and setting out to fight the Moai [ancient statues].

“Be careful. And don’t be too late. I haven’t heard what you want me to do yet.”

If he had had a little more time, he might have given her a suitable job, but the Great Labyrinth’s greed was tightening its grip on him even at this moment.

“If you need anything, tell me. I’ll get it for you if I can.”

In response to his question, she stared into his eyes for a long time instead of answering.

“You’re going to the surface.”

“…That’s right.”

Seeing him sigh, unable to lie, she made a complicated expression.

“I still can’t go to the surface, can I?”

Kim Jin-woo couldn’t answer. If she went back now, things could get complicated. There were still too many people who remembered her, and most of them were very interested in what was happening underground.

If they intervened because of her return, his plans would be disrupted.

Of course, he didn’t think she would necessarily betray him.

No matter what anyone said, she was a woman of strong character who knew how to repay her debts. He believed that she wouldn’t stab him in the back, but he still needed to be careful in case something happened.

“I’m sorry.”

She smiled at his apology with a somewhat complicated expression. She had said that she had decided to adapt to this place, but she couldn’t possibly have no lingering feelings about the surface.

However, she didn’t cling to him or give him pleading looks to the point of making him uncomfortable.

She knew her situation well and tried to understand his position.

“I’ll try to understand. I haven’t recovered my strength yet, so it’s hard to talk for long.”

But even so, she couldn’t help but feel a little drained. At her subtle hint to leave, he hesitated and said.

“If you need anything, just grab anyone and tell them, and they’ll get it for you.”

After exchanging appropriate greetings, Kim Jin-woo turned around and left, hiding his complicated feelings. Lee Jun-young, left alone, murmured softly, looking at his empty space.

“Jin-woo, I don’t intend to tell anyone the story…”

It was a heartfelt word, but he had already left.

***

“I knew it. I already expected that this Naga girl, who can’t live without Master, wouldn’t let Master go up alone.”

Angela, who had completely recovered in half a day, said, looking at Dominique.

“Hmph, mind your own business.”

From her point of view, she had come back from the dead, so even this haughty Naga was welcome. But Dominique, unaware of these circumstances, turned her head away, ignoring her.

“It’s been a while.”

Yunhee’s figure, standing at a somewhat awkward distance, came into Dominique’s view.

“You are…”

“I’m here for a reason. Just know that.”

Kim Jin-woo, who had belatedly crossed the portal, gave a rough explanation of the situation.

“For the time being, let’s stay like this without upgrading. We need to do some construction around here first to prevent the energy from leaking out.”

His explanation was fluent, as if he had already made a simple plan in the meantime.

“But there are no Naga workers here, and it would be difficult for us to do the work in many ways.”

Dominique, who was wise, and Yunhee, who could be said to be cunning, were inevitably ignorant of life on the surface.

“We don’t need to work.”

He sighed, looking at the women with wide eyes.

“Here, there’s nothing you can’t do with money.”

On the surface, where you could even hire ghosts with money, he had enough money to hire not just ghosts, but a whole family of ghosts.