Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 167

Dungeon Journal – Episode 168

# 167

Dungeon Journal

Episode 168

“I, you see. Without thinking…”

He scratched his head, speaking in a troubled tone, but Kim Jin-woo already knew through the Eye of Truth that he had intended and was enjoying this situation.

He must have been plotting something to provoke Jung Chan-sik.

Kim Jin-woo was curious as to why Jung Chan-sik, who used to grind his teeth at the Association, was here and why he had rushed at him in such an agitated state, but he coldly cut off Song Jong-chul’s words.

“Not a topic I find particularly interesting.”

Song Jong-chul, who was just getting excited to launch into his story, shut his mouth. He seemed speechless at the unexpected reaction.

Regardless, Kim Jin-woo got straight to the point.

“Is the Association running a business targeting ordinary people these days?”

“Business?”

Song Jong-chul looked puzzled at his words. His expression made it seem like he was genuinely asking because he didn’t know, but the Eye of Truth told Kim Jin-woo that he was lying.

“Down Jam [a consumable item used to enhance abilities in the dungeon]. I heard someone bought it from the Association for five million won.”

To be precise, it was an empty Down Jam.

Even for a Dungeon Baby [a term for individuals who grow up in or are closely associated with dungeons], it wasn’t common to be able to tell whether a Down Jam was empty just by looking at it. So, Kim Jin-woo probed Song Jong-chul while concealing some of the truth.

“Ah, that?”

Contrary to his expectations, Song Jong-chul quickly admitted to it, not trying to deny it to the end.

“Does the item have an owner? If you need it and have the money to pay, you buy it.”

However, Song Jong-chul was still hiding a lot. He knew the Down Jam was empty but acted as if he knew nothing.

“Seems like you have a lot of stock these days?”

“Not at all. We’re just getting rid of things we’ve been hoarding.”

It was a somewhat superficial conversation, but there was a crucial difference between Song Jong-chul and Kim Jin-woo.

Song Jong-chul had no way of seeing through him, while Kim Jin-woo possessed the unrealistic ability of the Eye of Truth.

“Well, it’s not really my business.”

Unaware of this, Song Jong-chul smiled with satisfaction as he saw Kim Jin-woo readily backing down. It was a friendly smile that didn’t reveal his true intentions.

“So, how about telling me what you’ve been up to? We’re quite close, aren’t we? I’ve shown you quite a bit of goodwill.”

Song Jong-chul was the one who told him the secret history of the Dungeon Baby’s birth, and he was also the one who introduced him to Ustus as a detour to the deeper levels.

He had gained some benefits, so his words weren’t entirely wrong. Therefore, Kim Jin-woo vaguely recounted his activities, agreeing with him to a certain extent.

“Just wandering around the underground, been busy.”

“As expected of a top-level Dungeon Baby. To be going in and out of the underground in this situation. Ordinary explorers like us just catch creatures that come out of the entrance and get paid.”

It was a meaningless conversation. But the two men’s eyes were constantly moving, probing each other.

On the surface, it was an equal conversation where neither side was giving in, but Song Jong-chul was already losing in terms of momentum.

What the hell has he been doing for the past year?

Song Jong-chul smiled slyly and acted friendly, but he had been observing Kim Jin-woo the whole time. The level 12 Dungeon Baby he saw was a completely different being from a year ago.

He was amazed by the aura that Kim Jin-woo exuded, which had changed remarkably. His casually spoken voice carried an unknown dignity, and his unwavering black eyes were so deep that it was impossible to fathom his inner thoughts.

Whenever his gaze brushed against him indifferently, he couldn’t help but shrink back, as if his insides were being laid bare.

All of it was familiar yet uncomfortable. He felt like he had seen that gaze somewhere before, but he couldn’t remember, which was driving him crazy.

But what made him even more uncomfortable was Kim Jin-woo’s gaze, which kept lingering on one of the empty walls.

Coincidentally, the spot where his gaze kept stopping was where he had a specially made safe hidden inside the wall.

“The name of level 12 is quite something. To make the chairman of the Explorers Association feel so uneasy.”

Feeling uneasy for a moment, Song Jong-chul soon chuckled. He couldn’t see anything special about the wall, even with his knowledge of the safe’s existence. It was impossible to see through the secret safe beyond that wall.

He thought he was just suffering from this kind of obsession because he had overestimated Kim Jin-woo too much.

But there were two things he didn’t know: the transparent gaze that seemed to see through him was because Kim Jin-woo had activated the High Lord’s special ability, the Eye of Truth, and the fact that he kept looking at the wall was no coincidence. And the invisible being that was watching the world through his eyes, the Parasite.

-Something invisible to your eyes has been detected by the Parasite’s senses.

-The Parasite’s ability ‘Exploration’ is activated.

Kim Jin-woo smiled inwardly as he saw one side of the wall flashing with a green light.

Found it.

He pretended to give in to Song Jong-chul’s attempts to distract him, who seemed restless and tried to divert his attention, but the Parasite’s ability was still active.

-A pile of Down Jams has been discovered. Some of them have already been used and are useless, but most of the Down Jams have not lost any energy.

Seeing the message that appeared before his eyes, Kim Jin-woo subtly got up from his seat.

“Oh, are you leaving already?”

“We’ll probably meet again.”

“Wow, are we really getting closer? You’re actually promising to meet again.”

“Think what you want.”

Even as he said that, Song Jong-chul seemed very relieved that he had no intention of staying any longer.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

“Let’s have a meal next time.”

Song Jong-chul didn’t reveal his true feelings until the end, but his expression completely changed as soon as Kim Jin-woo’s presence disappeared.

“Sang-sik and Ja-cheol, follow that guy. We need to find out why he came and where he’s going.”

A short answer was heard from outside the door, and then footsteps faded away.

“Damn it. Why do I feel so uneasy?”

“Serves you right. You were so confident, but even as the chairman of the Association, you’re overwhelmed by a top-level Dungeon Baby?”

Jung Chan-sik, who had a resentful look on his face, sneered as if venting his anger. But Song Jong-chul had no intention of just listening to him.

“Chan-sik, I feel sorry for you. Even as a man, I can see that our Chan-sik is no match for that guy. Well, Lee Jun-young must have already fallen for him too, so it’s all meaningless.”

“Stop talking nonsense. Jun-young isn’t that kind of easy woman.”

“Who said Lee Jun-young is easy? I’m just saying that guy is that attractive. Isn’t that the trend these days? The bad boy style. If I were a woman, I’d be head over heels for him.”

Jung Chan-sik, whose Achilles’ heel was Lee Jun-young, quickly backed down.

“You should have treated her well when you had the chance. Why are you so anxious now that she’s gone? If that’s the case, you should have just tied her down and kept her from going anywhere, regardless of her Down Jam addiction.”

It seemed that Jung Chan-sik wasn’t just agitated for no reason.

His body twitched noticeably whenever Lee Jun-young’s name was mentioned, which was completely different from his fierce demeanor just a moment ago.

Song Jong-chul clicked his tongue as he looked at him.

“I don’t understand, really. You could have just given her Down Jam and had her fall for you.”

“Don’t talk carelessly.”

“You shouldn’t talk carelessly either. Have you forgotten who I am? I’m Song Jong-chul, Song Jong-chul. Do you think I don’t know what you were thinking when you gave Lee Jun-young Down Jam? If I open my mouth, your image will be thrown into the gutter in an instant. You should be grateful.”

Song Jong-chul’s eyes flashed, and Jung Chan-sik looked more intimidated than necessary. It was hard to believe that he was once the leader of a strong-willed explorer team that opposed the Association.

“But don’t be like a beaten dog. I’ll shake that guy up properly soon. Who knows? You might get another chance.”

At his words, Jung Chan-sik finally closed his eyes tightly.

***

Kim Jin-woo, who had left the Explorers Association, smiled as he sensed that he was being followed.

“I’m going home, so there’s no need to follow me. Your boss knows where my house is anyway.”

There was no response. But he started walking briskly again, as if he had expected it.

It was only long after he disappeared that a groan flowed out of the shadows where the streetlights didn’t reach.

“Ugh, how are we supposed to follow him?”

But even that sound was soon swallowed by the silence, and nothing could be heard or seen.

“Master.”

Kim Jin-woo, who had left the alley, wasn’t surprised at all when Angela suddenly popped out of the darkness.

“I told you to go first.”

Angela smiled at his answer and snuggled up to him, as if hugging his arm.

“I don’t have anything to do anyway, so it’s nice to go together.”

Her face was full of a happy smile, as if she was on a date. Unlike before, he had recently stopped pushing away her skinship [physical affection]. He looked at her and suddenly stopped walking.

“Why? Are you being followed?”

“No, it’s not that.”

He looked in the direction of the Explorers Association for a moment and then started walking again, saying,

“Well, I left something behind.”

“What did you leave behind?”

Angela asked excitedly at the words that he had left something behind.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about it. I’ll go get it again soon.”

Angela looked puzzled at Kim Jin-woo, who was saying increasingly incomprehensible things.

Even as he saw her expression, he didn’t bother to explain. He just gave her a knowing smile.

A blue light flashed in Kim Jin-woo’s eyes for a moment and then disappeared.

***

Accidents were constant, but construction didn’t stop. Rumors spread that the site was cursed, and many workers were reluctant to work, but Kim Jin-woo smoothed things over with higher pay.

“If you do the work like this, we’ll have to do it twice!”

“Then you should have said something beforehand. Why are you making a fuss now! Do you think we’re just playing around while you guys are working?”

There was a fight again today. The supervisor mediated to prevent it from escalating into a big fight, but the atmosphere at the construction site was ominous.