Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 301

# 302

Dungeon Journal

105. The Subterranean Throne

“Deepest in the underground, I shall await the moment you fulfill your promise.”

The most heinous of the Evil Gods, the Red Giant, chieftain of the Dragonkin and giants, departed, promising a future reckoning.

Numerous other Evil Gods followed, disappearing into the darkness of the underground. Though they did not obtain the Highlord’s body as initially desired, they seemed content with the long-awaited feast.

Indeed, the corpses of the summons they devoured were countless, more than enough to satiate their hunger.

With the Evil Gods gone, only the Sky Giant Lord and the Lord of Lament remained.

The once mighty force had been annihilated by Mjolnir and the Evil Gods, leaving no trace. The lords, who once dreamed of becoming kings of the underground, were now in a pathetic state.

[Dwarven Chains.]

[Initially created to forcibly fix the tilting underground moon and sun, these chains unfortunately missed their timing and have now become restraints for prisoners.]

[The Dwarven Chains bind a new prisoner, the Sky Giant Lord.]

[The Sky Giant Lord’s giantification ability has been sealed. Attempting to forcibly giantify will result in his body being torn apart by the tightly bound chains.]

[Most of the Sky Giant Lord’s abilities have been sealed.]

[The Dwarven Chains will never loosen their knots without the owner’s permission.]

The Sky Giant Lord, bound by the Dwarven Chains taken from the Vault of Eternity, was hung on the walls of Valhalla.

The Lord of Lament was not much different, but her abilities involved manipulating lions, wraiths, and drawing upon the world beyond death.

Therefore, in addition to the Dwarven Chains, various other measures were taken.

Though the specific measures differed, both she and the Sky Giant Lord were hung on the walls of Valhalla like untimely Christmas tree ornaments.

[The entire underground bows to your majesty, hanging one of the mighty rulers of the underground, the Highlord, like a decoration.]

[No one in the underground will dare to show hostility to this powerful and merciless lord.]

[The dukes and nobles of the underground, who harbored animosity towards you due to the Highlords’ enticements, no longer oppose you.]

Despite the many nobles who had fallen in the previous battle, remnants still remained.

Kim Jin-woo was belatedly relieved, realizing how challenging the battle would have been without the Evil Gods.

[Numerous nobles of the underground have begun to recognize you as another king, following the usurper.]

[You have not truly become the king of the underground, but it is true that you wield considerable influence.]

[The entire underground will now be on tenterhooks, watching your every move.]

His expression soured at the grand explanation. But whether he liked it or not, the messages continued.

[The majesty you have shown in the underground, unprecedented, lies not in recognition or generosity, but in the tenacity and ruthlessness to ultimately annihilate your enemies. No word describes you better than ‘Tyrant.’]

[The name of the Tyrant begins to spread throughout the underground.]

[The majesty of a fierce and merciless ruler will make even the most steadfast noble unable to maintain their unwavering will.]

[The existing Tyrant title, which only affected nobles below the rank of count, has grown to influence even dukes.]

[You have acquired the Tyrant’s unique ability.]

[Nobles will desperately try not to incur your displeasure. They know all too well the fate of those who opposed you, and they do not wish to be in the same situation.]

[You can now issue a summons throughout the underground, temporarily.]

[No noble would dare to spare their army before the messenger bearing your name.]

[The army of those who have succumbed to the majesty of the fierce lord, the Underground Army, can now be summoned.]

[The Underground Army, summoned under duress, is a powerful force, but cohesion and unity cannot be expected. They do not have the ability to sustain a war for long.]

[The time you can maintain the Underground Army is not long. Also, no matter how fearsome the ruler, not many nobles will indefinitely offer their armies.]

[The ability to summon the Underground Army can only be used once. It would be wise to think carefully and issue the summons when it is most needed.]

The Tyrant title, which had only been a name, now possessed a unique ability befitting it. Kim Jin-woo was amazed by this absurd ability to gather the entire army of the underground, even if only once.

He realized through the previous battle that even if each individual was a powerful fortress, they were bound to collapse in the face of numerical inferiority.

Although he managed to end it in victory through wise action, there was no guarantee that the Evil Gods would side with him again when the same situation arose.

In such a situation, the ability to summon the Underground Army was like welcome rain in a drought.

“This has become interesting.”

For some reason, he had a feeling that the day to use this ability was not far off.

***

Numerous delegations visited Valhalla and the Great Labyrinth. They trembled before the name of the Tyrant that had spread throughout the underground and eagerly sought to build friendly relations.

It did not take long for the nobles, who initially held their heads high, to bow down.

They turned pale at the miserable sight of the Sky Giant Lord hanging on the walls of Valhalla and quickly changed their attitude.

“Thank you! If you need our meager strength, we will come running at any time!”

“None dare to raise their heads before your lofty majesty; a true king has been born in the underground!”

“Now that we have finally found someone to serve, we will pledge our loyalty.”

The nobles were proud, but they had the flexibility to bow down at any time to survive, and they seemed to have judged that this was the right time.

They did not hesitate to call themselves vassals and pledge their submission.

However, not all nobles were the same. Most of those who quickly visited Valhalla and the Great Labyrinth were nobles below the rank of count, and no dukes had yet come to this place.

It seemed that those who were as cunning as they were powerful needed time to weigh their options.

Unlike the counts who resided on the surface of the deep layers, they could be said to be true residents of the deep layers, and they were just as sensitive to the currents there.

The dukes had long sensed that this merciless tyrant was about to do something big and were being extremely cautious.

Kim Jin-woo did not pay much attention to the dukes’ lukewarm response.

Eventually, they would have to make a choice, and that time was just around the corner. Until then, he intended to leave them alone.

He had much more important things to deal with now.

“Ugh. I’ve never resented my power as much as I do now.”

Kim Jin-woo shook his head, looking at the Wish Stone in Angela’s hand. Due to the Gluttony Authority, which woke up and craved food before he could even touch it, he, who had been called the owner of the Wish Stone even in the prophecies, had not even been given a chance to properly examine the powerful stone.

“But the prophecies of the old lords were not wrong, so there will be a way somehow. Perhaps it’s just not the right time yet.”

He nodded at Dominique’s words. It made sense. The treasures of the underground were not something you could get just because you wanted them, nor could you avoid them just because you wanted to.

The three Highlords who had attacked him so desperately wanted to become the owner of the Wish Stone, but in the end, they only chased after empty dreams.

“And that time won’t be too far off.”

He let go of his impatience. Although it was too much to say that it was entirely his, he had obtained the most important Wish Stone.

Even if others were aiming for something, they would have to be mindful of him.

Once he found that composure, he wondered what the One-Eyed Lord had seen through the Throne of Truth.

“He must have seen something, but I don’t know what it is.”

He must have seen something to tell Baek-oh to head to the deep layers. And he had a feeling that it was somehow important.

After much deliberation, he finally made a decision.

“I will use the Throne of Truth.”

His summons, including Dominique, dissuaded him, saying it was dangerous, but he did not reverse his decision.

“Bodan sacrificed an eye in exchange for using the Throne of Truth.”

He looked at the throne for a moment, recalling Bodan, who had become unrecognizable, even his name before he was one-eyed.

Being able to glimpse hidden truths through the Throne of Truth was certainly attractive, but it would lose its meaning if he became disabled.

Bodan, who had made a name for himself with one eye, was born a giant with great power, and he was an insignificant human.

If he lost an eye, an arm, or something equivalent, it would not be easy to make up for the damage.

“But that doesn’t mean I have to be the same.”

Despite knowing this, Kim Jin-woo’s expression was not very hesitant. Angela asked him why, as if she found it strange.

“As far as I know, when Bodan acquired this castle, he was penniless.”

His summons focused, tilting their heads at his sudden words, wondering what he was trying to say.

“That means he had nothing but his body.”

Dominique, who glimpsed his thoughts through shared consciousness, widened his eyes and clapped.

“Indeed, Master!”

The other summons had puzzled faces.

“Could you explain it so I can understand too?”

Kim Jin-woo asked, looking at Angela, who narrowed her eyes with a dissatisfied expression.

“Still don’t get it?”

He added a word, looking at Angela, who narrowed her eyes with a knowing expression.

“The price to be paid to the Throne of Truth doesn’t necessarily have to be a part of my body.”

Only then did Angela and the other summons exclaim in admiration, realizing what he meant.

“If preciousness is what determines value, then I have more than enough valuable things.”

He had defeated numerous nobles and taken everything from them. And now, he was the true victor who had even taken the Highlords as spoils of war. He had several sacrifices that the Throne of Truth would be satisfied with.

And among them were the two lords he had captured as prisoners in the previous battle.