Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 119

# 120

Dungeon Journal

#48. The Change

The moment Kim Jin-woo heard the story of the One-Eyed King, he immediately thought of Morrigan’s former master.

However, forcing a connection seemed difficult.

The One-Eyed King didn’t seem powerful enough for the proud and mighty Morrigan to serve.

“Do you know me?”

“In this vast underground, there is no one who doesn’t know of your legendary achievements and conqueror’s fame.”

Despite his bizarre appearance, Ustuth’s voice was dignified and gentle. Perhaps that’s why Kim Jin-woo unconsciously replied so casually.

“That’s not very good news.”

Having his name known in the underground was no different from exposing Naga’s Fortress to other forces.

The fortress’s rapid growth was largely due to the element of surprise, like himself being an unseen blade. It was clear that the fortress’s future would not be easy.

“I get the feeling you were waiting for me. Is that just my imagination?”

Like the bold Kim Jin-woo, who didn’t dwell on what had already happened, he immediately got to the point.

At first, he thought Molzak had confessed everything, overwhelmed by the noble’s dignity, but now that he thought about it, he wondered if they had been waiting for him from the start.

After all, who would expect the master of a labyrinth to come out to greet someone without knowing when or who would arrive? Moreover, Molzak also lured him in, pretending to be suppressed by the intimidating effect.

If they hadn’t coordinated in advance, they wouldn’t have sent such a dangerous person into the master’s labyrinth.

As if his guess was correct, Ustuth shook his large body up and down.

“Molzak told me that a Commander of Inheritance had visited those they were trading with. The moment I heard that, I realized that the Commander of Inheritance was from the underground and also a surface dweller. So, I thought you would come again soon.”

“Damn it. I was just being paranoid.”

His face was burning. He had been making such a fuss about hiding his identity when it had already been exposed. How ridiculous must he have looked to others?

“Why were you waiting for me?”

It was necessary to get to the point to change the atmosphere. So, Kim Jin-woo immediately brought up the main topic. Instead of answering his question, Ustuth asked a question of his own.

“Wouldn’t it be similar to the reason you sought me out?”

At the meaningful words, Kim Jin-woo inadvertently looked at Ustuth. The One-Eyed King, whose entire body was made up of a large eye, somehow seemed to be smiling.

“Could it be…?”

A hypothesis that had already sunk deep resurfaced rapidly. And that hypothesis became a conviction and a reality.

“Is my small and lovely crow doing well?”

“If you’re talking about Morrigan, she’s doing overly well.”

Now he had to admit it. This ridiculous being called the One-Eyed King was clearly related to the One-Eyed Lord who ruled the ancient labyrinth in some way.

Otherwise, there was no way he would ask about Morrigan’s well-being so affectionately.

Of course, he couldn’t agree with the words ‘small and lovely crow’.

“Now, how about we get to the point?”

“No, before that, let’s make one thing clear. Are you the One-Eyed Lord himself, the master of the ancient labyrinth?”

At the stiff question, Ustuth wiggled his body.

“Of course not. I am merely one of the many fragments scattered by that being at the final moment, a humble existence that cannot even approach his shadow.”

“One of the fragments? Then are there others like you?”

Ustuth didn’t answer this time. But Kim Jin-woo didn’t need an answer to be sure that beings like Ustuth were hidden here and there in the underground.

“The Black Merchant would be shocked if they knew.”

At the groan-like remark, Ustuth expressed agreement.

“Shall we get to the point now? Neither you nor I have much time. It’s almost time for the Watchers to move.”

Without waiting for his answer, Ustuth began to explain.

***

Having visited Ustuth’s labyrinth, Kim Jin-woo couldn’t find peace of mind amidst the increasingly complex and intertwined underground, surface, past, and present.

It felt like trying to find a clue to advance to the 11th floor had grown into something much bigger.

The facts he had learned in the process were by no means trivial or useless, so his worries only grew.

However, amidst all this, there were some gains.

First, he had formed a tacit alliance with Ustuth, a descendant of the ancient labyrinth, and accordingly, he had obtained a passage to approach the depths without anyone knowing. Whether Ustuth was a trustworthy being was secondary; the fact that there was one more thing he could use right away was the biggest gain.

In addition, he had found a weakness to exploit Song Jong-chul.

The information he had heard from Ustuth about how the Dungeon Babies [monsters created in dungeons] were released before the agreement, what purpose they had, and what they had been doing would be useful someday.

Nevertheless, the reason he couldn’t move easily was because he had encountered an enemy far greater than he had imagined.

‘The underground is not just a tunnel under the ground. It is another world entirely different from the surface. But someone forcibly tore that vast world apart and scattered it. That person is the enemy you and I must face.’

‘Who is it?’

‘The betrayer who stabbed the Nine Allied Kings in the back, the king of the deepest underground and the only emperor who rules the current underground, the King of Depravity is our enemy.’

***

It was almost time to return to the underground. There were still many unfinished tasks, but he had originally come to the surface to obtain information about the situation in the depths.

Now that he had gained a powerful ally in Ustuth, there was no reason to waste time on the surface.

So, he opened a portal without hesitation and headed to Naga’s Fortress. But as soon as he crossed the portal, someone hugged him tightly.

“Dominique?”

Black hair, purple eyes, and a beautiful face looked up at him.

“Master.”

The purple eyes, filled with longing, joy, and deep affection, sparkled like stars. At the adoring gaze, Kim Jin-woo smiled brightly and welcomed her.

“Is it all over now?”

“Yes. It’s all thanks to you, Master.”

With that answer, she stepped away from him and turned around to show off her body. And on her lower body, which she showed off so proudly, were two slender legs.

“Legs?”

He let out a dazed voice without realizing it, his jaw dropping and his expression blank. Seeing him like that, Dominique smiled even more brightly.

“I told you before. Some lucky Nagas are granted the honor of resembling their master.”

Now that he thought about it, he had heard that the most noble Nagas were granted the honor of standing on the ground with two feet.

At the time, he couldn’t understand why it was an honor for Nagas to stand on the ground with their feet, but now he could see why.

The Naga King was the most complete species in itself.

For the Nagas, their king was the very figure they wanted to reach the most.

[You have witnessed the change of the King’s Advisor (Heroic) Dominique.]

[Dominique has now become the perfect proxy and advisor. Simply listening to her advice will rapidly develop the fortress.]

[The dignity of the administrator, the qualifications of the proxy, and the ability to dedicate and serve have each grown, becoming even more perfect.]

[Dominique is now the closest being to the noble Naga. But she is not perfect. During the day, she will remain in the form of a normal Naga, and for a short time during the deepest night, she will be in a form close to human.]

Kim Jin-woo exclaimed as he looked at the messages that appeared belatedly. Whether he did or not, Dominique was looking at him with an excited face.

But there was a hint of expectation in her eyes, and he felt a cold sweat running down his back for no reason.

“Ah……”

Perhaps because she was still awkward standing on two feet, she smiled and tried to approach him, but she lost her balance and was about to fall.

He reflexively jumped out and supported her.

“Hehe.”

A naive smile that didn’t match her intelligent and provocative appearance, she explained as if making an excuse.

“I’m still awkward……”

“You’ll get used to it eventually.”

He replied with an inexplicable awkwardness, and she slipped out of his arms.

“Then I’ll let everyone know that you’ve arrived, Master. Everyone is waiting for you to return.”

With those words, she turned around and left the owner’s room, but somehow her gait didn’t seem awkward at all.

“Ugh. Was I tricked?”

An action that was obviously transparent, but he didn’t dislike it.

***

Having returned to the fortress, Kim Jin-woo quickly shared his information.

“T, that being……”

Morrigan had been unable to come to her senses since hearing that a fragment of the One-Eyed Lord existed in this underground.

“Hmph. Are you trying to have an affair? Aren’t you being too much in front of Master?”

Seeing her like that, Angela snapped fiercely.

“Your attitude is problematic.”

Even Dominique, who rarely got angry, was showing displeasure at Morrigan’s agitation, so there was no need to mention the reactions of the loyal Quantus and the Nagas.

“Make your attitude clear!”

Quantus growled and said that, and Morrigan, who belatedly came to her senses, knelt down.

“I was just momentarily immersed in longing for an old relationship, so please forgive me.”

But her appearance as she said that still seemed confused. Kim Jin-woo’s heart became complicated at the unusual appearance of the strong and haughty crow.

It felt like she had been robbed of something of his own, so he couldn’t hide his uncomfortable feelings.

“Morrigan, I understand, but don’t forget who your master is now.”

He growled and revealed his unpleasant feelings, and she bowed her head and apologized.

“I’ll say it again. Make your attitude clear. Only those I can trust have gathered in this place. If you continue to take that attitude, I will have no choice but to kick you out of this place.”

The Dark Merchant said.

No one knows what the Watchers of the underground usually look like. So, before bringing up Ustuth’s story, he had gathered only the most trustworthy people in this place.

“I will be careful.”

The proud crow of the battlefield had already apologized for the third time today. Considering her usual prickly behavior despite her vows of loyalty, it was an unimaginable sight.

Morrigan, who had barely regained her usual complexion, stood straight with a face as hard as stone and prepared to listen to the story. Kim Jin-woo, who clicked his tongue at her, began to explain again.

He combined the stories he had heard from Ustuth and the information from the surface and told various stories, and Dominique asked.

“Then the reason why the war in the depths broke out is……”

At her question, Kim Jin-woo replied in a heavy voice.

“There are signs that the torn underground is merging back into one.”

“Then……”

Dominique couldn’t bring herself to say the rest and closed her mouth. He took her words instead.

“The war will spread further. And the war will come to this 9th floor as well.”