Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 184

Dungeon Journal-Episode 185

# 184

Dungeon Journal

Episode 185

Stepping through the portal, Kim Jin-woo cautiously took his remaining step. The feared encroachment of the Grand Maze did not occur.

No, the Grand Maze still relentlessly exuded malice, trying to engulf him, but the suffocating malice no longer carried the overwhelming sensation he had felt before.

This change also came after learning the true name of the one-eyed lord, Botan. Nevertheless, he couldn’t shake off the sinking feeling from the sticky malice, indicating a long road ahead.

“So, I need to gather the seals after all.”

Realizing the true name of a High Lord wasn’t enough to eliminate the threat of the Grand Maze.

It was only slightly depressing now, but if any weakness was exposed, the Grand Maze would surely reveal its true colors as before.

He decided to proceed with collecting the seals as originally planned.

“Where is Ariane?”

Quantus, who had been waiting, answered his question.

“Heimdall and Hoya are watching her.”

Heimdall, who looked down on most maze lords, and Hoya, specialized in dealing with humanoid monsters, were more than sufficient to watch over Ariane.

“What is she doing now?”

“Her injuries were severe, so she hasn’t shown any particular behavior and has been sitting blankly all day.”

Given that he hadn’t held back, Ariane was likely struggling to even support herself.

“I see.”

Kim Jin-woo simply nodded without asking further questions. Quantus, who had been watching him for a while, looked like he had something to ask.

“What is it? Is there something else you want to say?”

“The King may have his reasons, but I don’t understand why you’re keeping her alive. Now that you’ve said you’ve obtained everything you wanted, keeping her alive is like leaving a spark [a potential source of future trouble].”

It was a surprisingly logical statement for the steadfast Quantus. Kim Jin-woo, intrigued, narrowed his eyes and examined the brave and loyal Naga warrior.

“Oh ho.”

Why had he only noticed now? Quantus looked subtly different than before.

His body, optimized for combat, was the same as before, but the sharpness in his eyes was incomparable.

The blue eyes, previously clouded by blind loyalty, flickered rarely.

“Leave her be. I have a use for her.”

Quantus didn’t ask further.

“Hmm, instead of this, I should see her.”

Quantus, who was about to step back, approached again and volunteered to guide him.

“Ugh…”

Ariane trembled all over as if having a seizure when she saw Kim Jin-woo. The fear in her eyes showed that she was thoroughly intimidated.

“I’ve only come to have a conversation today, so you don’t have to tremble so much.”

He tried to speak in a gentle tone, but her attitude remained unchanged.

“Tsk, they didn’t even treat her wounds.”

Heimdall, who was watching, looked dumbfounded at Kim Jin-woo’s words. After all, he was the one who had made her like that, and his attitude was so brazen. But Kim Jin-woo, with a face that said he didn’t care about such things, ordered.

“Have her treated. At this rate, we don’t know when she’ll give up on life.”

At his words, the Naga priest rushed over and healed her. She wasn’t completely healed right away, but her face, whose contours were barely distinguishable due to scabs and bruises, became somewhat presentable.

“Ugh.”

Ariane shrank back even more at his kindness.

“I got a little excited and used too much force. I hope you understand.”

Even at his words, Ariane still avoided his gaze with a fearful expression. Watching her, Kim Jin-woo strode closer and lowered his body.

Ariane, who had been crouching and bowing her head, trembled even more at his sudden action.

But he didn’t care and reached out to caress her cheek, where new flesh had barely grown.

“Eek.”

Seeing her flinch as if cut by a blade at his touch, he said.

“Oh dear, your beautiful face is injured. Come back and have it treated again.”

At his words, the Naga priest clung to her again and chanted a healing spell.

“I feel a little better now.”

Ariane’s body had recovered, but her face showed that the overwhelming fear had only grown, and she couldn’t dare to look him in the eye.

“When you think about it, your master and I were in the same boat. I was short-sighted and treated you harshly. I apologize.”

Perhaps he was worried about his relationship with Dinarion now, but his attitude was unusually gentle.

“It’s a bit late to say this now, but I have no intention of harming you. Unlike Hecarim, you helped me quite cooperatively, no matter what anyone says.”

He seemed to be trying to comfort her in his own way, but mentioning Hecarim, who had been brutally murdered, wasn’t a good idea.

In fact, she became even more frightened and now even closed her eyes tightly.

“I can’t release you right away, but I intend to return you to Dinarion. If you don’t believe me, I’ll swear to the laws of the Underworld here.”

For the beings of the Underworld, the laws of the Underworld were not just laws to be followed superficially.

The foundation of the Underworld’s laws was the Underworld’s mystery that watched over everything in the Underworld, and among those who did not keep their promises to the Underworld’s laws, none had a good ending.

Indeed, Ariane’s face had relaxed a little this time, and she seemed to believe to some extent that he had no intention of harming her.

-So, you’re thinking of sparing me?

In fact, through the Eye of Truth, he saw that she was quickly weighing her life.

“I had a pretty good deal with your master. I don’t want to ruin it because of unnecessary emotions.”

He, who would normally have scoffed, took the time to explain his deal with Dinarion.

-Ah, the Seal of the Parthenon is a great price for him too. Indeed, my master has made a big decision.

It was becoming increasingly difficult to grasp her thoughts. It seemed that the Eye of Truth only worked on those who were in confusion or unable to resist. But he didn’t care.

After all, once fear is imprinted, it’s hard to shake off, so she won’t antagonize him again.

With a relaxed face, Kim Jin-woo ordered Heimdall as if driving a wedge.

“As long as she doesn’t leave the Grand Maze, don’t interfere with what she does. She is not a prisoner, but a guest.”

“Are you really going to spare me?”

For the first time, she opened her mouth and asked about her treatment. He guaranteed her safety as if it were nothing.

“I swear to the laws of the Underworld. I have no intention of harming you.”

With the promise repeated twice to the laws, Ariane finally looked relieved.

“If you wish, I will guarantee you freedom within the Grand Maze from now on. Of course, I can’t allow you the entire maze. You were once the master of a maze, so I trust you’ll behave yourself.”

With those words, Heimdall and Hoya disappeared at his gesture.

“Well, I’ve conveyed my intentions, so I’ll be on my way. If you need anything, grab anyone and talk to them. I’ll grant you convenience for most things.”

With those words, he turned around and started to leave the secret room, then stopped again.

“I hope this doesn’t ruin things between you and your master.”

At his concerned tone, Ariane replied with a face that said she didn’t know what was going on.

“My master wouldn’t even care about such trivial matters.”

“Is that so? Then I’m relieved.”

Kim Jin-woo, looking as if he was finally done with his business, smiled and left the secret room.

“What on earth is he thinking?”

Ariane, left alone, muttered to herself with a confused face.

“Whatever happens, I just need to ensure my own life. The master will make the judgment.”

Eventually giving up on thinking, she fell asleep in a truly comfortable position, perhaps believing in the promise made to the laws of the Underworld.

Her physical wounds had healed, but she had spent a considerable amount of time trembling in fear, so the mental fatigue was inevitable. She fell asleep as soon as she closed her eyes.

She probably didn’t know.

That the laws of the Underworld were just a good excuse for Kim Jin-woo. He was a being of the surface, not bound to the Underworld. The coercive power of an oath based on the laws of the Underworld meant nothing to him.

It was just fortunate for her that Kim Jin-woo had no intention of breaking his promise this time.

He really had no intention of harming her.

What Kim Jin-woo wanted from Ariane was not just a brief emotional revenge, but something much bigger.

“Come to think of it, even if the Conqueror spares me…”

Belatedly awakened, she recalled how ruthless and cold her master was and made a firm face.

Now that the mission had failed and the investment had been lost, she would never see a good outcome even if she returned to the depths.

So she desperately began to rack her brains to find a way to survive. Not knowing that this was the situation Kim Jin-woo had intended.

***

Kim Jin-woo, having parted with Ariane, went to the owner’s room.

“My King.”

But the face of the woman who greeted him belonged to someone who shouldn’t be here. With pointed ears and dark skin, she was none other than Lisha.

Why had she, who had been hidden on the surface to avoid Dinarion’s clutches, who sought the succession to the Fairy Lord, returned to the Grand Maze? Her face was serene.

Nowhere on that composed face was there any fear of the Count of the Depths.

“Now it’s your turn to move.”

“As you command.”

Her attitude in answering was somehow awkward.

As if wearing clothes that didn’t fit, she kept looking back at her body and fidgeting, which was inconsistent with the usual sleek movements of an Under Elf.

But Kim Jin-woo, even while watching her, had an indifferent face.

“I wish you luck.”

At his greeting, Lisha bowed her head and turned away.

Her awkward movements had returned to normal by the time she left the owner’s room and disappeared far down the hallway.

“Esper, or rather, will Lisha be able to do it well?”

“The question is wrong.”

The woman who had been hiding in the darkness of the throne, Dominique, revealed herself and asked.

“What we should expect is not her performance.”

“Then?”

At her question, Kim Jin-woo smiled coldly.

“Dinarion. We must hope that his greed is as great as we expect.”