Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 243

Dungeon Journal-Episode 243 (243/319)

# 243

Dungeon Journal

Episode 244

87. First Experience.

‘The ruler of the Satyrs has been defeated in war.’

‘The mysterious labyrinth has captured the ‘Eternal Exile’.’

The results of the large-scale war, the first since the Great Cataclysm [a major, world-altering event], spread far and wide, beyond expectations.

The fact that a Duke, a true ruler of the Depths, had been killed was no small matter.

A newly emerging powerhouse, who had risen to the position of Duke faster than anyone else, had fallen before even fully unveiling himself.

It was a decisive event that changed the landscape of the Depths, and it was enough to make the masters of the newly reorganized underground labyrinths, whose layers were in contact, feel a sense of crisis.

Among them, the masters of the 9th floor underground labyrinths, where the Naga King stood firm after defeating the Demon of Sin, were particularly anxious.

They spared no expense, pouring all the resources they had been saving into repairing the damage caused by the earthquake, while also diligently engaging in reconnaissance and exploration.

Thanks to this, Kim Jin-woo became busier.

He was the central figure in all these events, the one who had defeated the veiled Duke and seized the core, the most valuable part.

It would have been strange if the attention of the underground wasn’t focused on the Great Labyrinth.

“This is the third time today.”

Rickshasha reported with a grim face. As the leader of the Under Elves and the de facto administrator of the Great Labyrinth after Dominic’s disappearance, she was busy taking care of both the inside and outside of the Great Labyrinth.

“Who and from where this time?”

“It was a reconnaissance team from a labyrinth located in the east.”

Recently, reconnaissance teams from other labyrinths had been frequently appearing near the Great Labyrinth. Thanks to this, the Under Elves and Vampires had become busy.

They desperately tried to disrupt the spies from approaching the Great Labyrinth, and in the process, their fatigue was rapidly accumulating.

“For now, we are using Ant Demons to block their approach as much as possible, but I cannot guarantee how long we can hold them off.”

Rickshasha’s concerns were by no means exaggerated. The eastern side of the underground, which was in contact with the 9th floor, was the deepest part of the Depths, and each labyrinth represented a massive force equivalent to a Duke. It was not easy to deal with the reconnaissance teams they sent.

“I know it’s difficult, but please hold on a little longer. We need time right now.”

The spoils obtained from defeating Luyang were by no means small.

Although it was not a force that had reigned in the underground for a long time, its foundation was more solid than expected, and the ‘Crystal of Sin,’ which could be called the core, was more powerful than anything Kim Jin-woo had ever seen.

However, it took time to collect all those spoils and turn them into power.

“If it becomes too much, tell me. I will make up for the lack of power with Ant Demons.”

Rickshasha bowed her head instead of answering, and Kim Jin-woo let out a sound he didn’t mean to.

“Keuhm.”

That steadfast Under Elf leader would never ask him for help. Even if her own tribe had to be sacrificed, she would not borrow her master’s hand and would eventually fulfill her duty.

These were the differences between Rickshasha and Dominic. Unlike Dominic, who saw the entire labyrinth as a single organic entity and appropriately allocated manpower, Rickshasha was overly steadfast. That wasn’t to say she was incompetent or didn’t properly perform her assigned tasks. She simply lacked flexibility.

“Rickshasha.”

“Speak.”

Rickshasha’s shoulders, which were bowed, looked particularly stiff.

“You’re doing well right now. If you weren’t here now that the Nagas are gone, it would have been really difficult.”

Rickshasha’s eyes widened at the unexpected warm encouragement.

“N, Not at all!”

“No, I’m not just saying it. I want you to have pride and a little more leeway [room to maneuver or relax].”

It was a rare sight to see a blush rising on the pale face of that steadfast Under Elf, and he laughed heartily, expressing his honest feelings.

Rickshasha, feeling both touched and embarrassed, left the room as if running away with a face that was neither laughing nor crying.

“Are you finally thinking of deciding on a candidate?”

Angela was standing in the spot where Rickshasha had left, appearing as if from nowhere. She was leaning against the wall, smirking with a sly face, looking as if she was looking for something to tease him about.

“Candidate? You’re talking nonsense.”

“Isn’t now the perfect time since there’s no first wife? She would be willing to give everything whenever the master wants.”

A groan escaped him involuntarily.

Angela, who was already mischievous, had become even more sly since returning from the surface. Uncharacteristically, she quite liked dramas, especially morning dramas [Korean daytime soap operas, often known for their dramatic and sometimes over-the-top storylines].

The word ‘first wife’ was probably learned from the morning drama she was enthusiastically watching.

“If you came here to say useless things, stop it. This is not the time for that.”

Although he had defeated Luyang, the crisis was not over. Dukes who had received the usurper’s orders were constantly targeting the Great Labyrinth, and the Great Labyrinth had not yet reached its peak power. The situation was not good for engaging in romantic games.

“No, the more this is the case, the more you should think about descendants.”

However, Angela’s thoughts seemed to be different from his. The sly look on her face disappeared, and she had a serious expression.

“The most trustworthy are blood relatives. Even if you don’t think about the future of the labyrinth, it’s such a natural thing, a providence, and the order of things.”

It was ridiculous for a vampire who was neither dead nor alive to talk about the order of things. But he couldn’t laugh. It was because Angela had asked a sharper question than ever before.

“Could it be that the master is afraid that his descendants will not be human?”

He didn’t answer.

“Or does the master not want his descendants to be involved in the underground?”

Again, he couldn’t answer. It was because Angela’s words were all correct.

“Or is there another reason?”

She didn’t stop asking questions, as if she had made up her mind to be persistent. Her questions, which had become more insightful about humans after going back and forth to the surface, were quite sharp and difficult to refute.

But even she couldn’t completely see through Kim Jin-woo’s inner self.

Traumatized, having lived on the sacrifices of countless delvers, he was extremely hesitant in pursuing his own happiness.

Whether it was out of guilt for the delvers who had sacrificed themselves for him, or because something was lacking, he didn’t have the desire to be happy to the point of being deficient.

“All of that is probably right.”

If it had been before, he would have been angry at Angela’s questions. Revealing one’s inner thoughts was not a pleasant thing for anyone.

But now he was more mature than ever before. He had gained power and was developing a mind befitting that power.

Instead of getting angry, he acknowledged her words and fell into thought.

Was he being stubborn? Was he delaying necessary things because he was bound by personal feelings?

It was strangely off-topic, but he began to seriously consider the issue of descendants for the first time.

Angela read his conflict and, feeling confident, stepped closer.

“If the master wants, there are plenty of women here who would give everything right away.”

While he was lost in thought, the crimson eyes of a true blood vampire were right in front of him.

“And that goes for me too.”

Her seduction was not subtle. She flaunted her innate charm and the beauty that had become even more dazzling after reaching true blood.

She unbuttoned a few buttons of the blouse she had obtained from the surface, revealing her cleavage and pressing her body against him.

It was different from Wooseo’s squishiness, and different from the softness of a bed. Feeling the fullness of a woman’s body for the first time, he unconsciously tensed.

“Hmm.”

Today, it didn’t even seem to have the unique fishy smell of a vampire. Instead of the fishy scent, it was replaced by a woman’s unique sweet fragrance, and he unconsciously sniffed, inhaling the dizzying scent of seduction.

“Why are you being so 적극적인 [proactive/aggressive] all of a sudden?”

In a situation as natural as flowing water, he asked a question to catch his breath.

“Unlike before when I was only half-blooded, now that I have obtained true blood, I can also conceive the master’s descendants.”

Indeed, was that why? Her seduction was more blatant than ever, so it seemed there had been a change. She reached out her pure white fingers and stroked his chest.

“I won’t be greedy. I don’t care how many women the master takes. Jealousy is for ugly women.”

“You’re presumptuous.”

It was too arrogant for someone to say to the lord who held the life and death of everything in the Great Labyrinth. In the first place, there was no one he had to ask for permission from.

But her confidence didn’t feel so bad.

“Hmph.”

As his thoughts changed, so did his attitude. He wasn’t sure what to do right away, but that small change alone was enough to enjoy the situation at hand.

Even so, he was still a man, and Angela was beautiful enough that any man would not refuse.

“There’s no need to think too complicatedly. It’s not like having descendants will happen right away just because you take me.”

Angela was clever and didn’t expect too much from the beginning. She decided to take things one step at a time, putting the issue of descendants aside and trying to ease his 경계 [guard/caution].

And her efforts seemed to be somewhat successful.

From a little while ago, Kim Jin-woo’s breathing had become much rougher than usual.

“Take me. We can think about the next thing later.”

Kim Jin-woo finally made a decision in the face of the deadly and sweet whisper that seduced the living.

“Ah.”

Angela let out a sound that was neither a moan nor an exclamation, as if she had done something somewhere.

“You are too 건방지다 [arrogant/cocky].”

The lord’s 체면 [face/honor] would not be saved if he appeared to be 넘어가는 [giving in] to the seduction. He grabbed her slender waist and pulled her close.

“So you don’t like it?”

Angela was not afraid or embarrassed. She simply smiled, arching her eyes beautifully.

Instead of answering her question with words, he answered with actions.

[Angela’s 권능 [authority/power] has been activated.]

[The deadly charm of the 독배 [poisoned cup] that seduces the living, its fatal fascination, binds the body.]

***

Kim Jin-woo was staring at the ceiling with a blank face. His hazy eyes, as if he had just woken up from a dream, were not even focused, and his naked body was covered with red and blue marks.

He lay limply as if he had fought a fierce battle for ten days and nights, not moving for a long time.

Beside him, Angela was closely attached, wearing a face like a satisfied cat. The smile hanging on her lips as she closed her eyes, as if she was having a good dream, looked happy.

After a long time, Kim Jin-woo turned his head and looked at the face of the beautiful vampire, bitterly muttering.

“I lost.”

The true blood vampire was excessively attractive and a born 요부 [femme fatale/seductress] as the opponent of his first experience.

He was 농락당하고 [played/manipulated] by her to the point of being 무기력하다 [powerless/helpless].

It was the day the commander of the great victory was defeated for the first time.