Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 168

Dungeon Journal- Chapter 169

65. Provocation

It was only to be expected.

With not one, but two labyrinths that should have been deep underground appearing here, there was no way ordinary workers could endure it.

The energy of the underground is deadly to ordinary people. Prolonged exposure often leads to a quick temper and deteriorating health.

Only when one can withstand that energy does one become qualified as an Explorer. But this construction site isn’t an underground teeming with monsters. Naturally, not only do they lack the qualifications of an Explorer, but most of the ordinary workers are exhausted and worn out.

Even though the labyrinths are still undergoing upgrades and emitting only a weak energy, it was enough to make the atmosphere here deadly to ordinary people.

Each time a chilly breeze carrying the faint energy of the underground swept by, the workers coughed, and as night fell, they shivered with an inexplicable chill.

Nerves frayed, leading to frequent disputes, and fatigue accumulated, resulting in a series of absurd accidents.

Ominous rumors never ceased. But perhaps the fear of vengeful spirits wandering the construction site was greater than the fear of starving, so the workers diligently hurried their work.

It was as if they had decided to speed up the work while they had the chance, as even workers who used to drink during breaks were nowhere to be seen.

Soil and sand piled up even higher than originally planned, and fences stretched out even further.

“Please hurry a little more.”

Even if the growth efficiency of surface labyrinths wasn’t great, it shouldn’t take too long for the core to upgrade from Rank 1 to Rank 2.

If they didn’t finish the work quickly, something terrible would happen due to the intensified energy of the labyrinth as it ranked up.

So, Kim Jin-woo urged the supervisor, who was already rushing around to oversee the entire private property, once again.

“It’s almost done, isn’t it?”

If Angela, contrary to Jeon Seung, hadn’t been wandering around the construction site in rather revealing clothing, enjoying sunbathing instead of fearing the sunlight, the work efficiency might have been slightly better.

Even now, the workers’ hands kept making futile gestures in the air as they watched her cross her arms and flirt.

Unlike Dominique, who disliked gazes from anyone other than her master, Angela seemed to enjoy the workers’ reactions quite a bit.

But even she, in reality, only craved her master’s attention, a fact he now knew.

Perhaps that’s why he didn’t harshly push her underground but allowed her a certain degree of freedom.

As a result, Yoon-hee subtly appeared above ground this time.

It seemed she had quietly joined the ranks of those freely going in and out of the surface without any restrictions, like Angela and Dominique.

Kim Jin-woo didn’t stop her this time either.

Thus, the women who came above ground, except for Dominique, had no particular task other than finding a sunny spot and sunbathing all day before returning, which was their only pastime.

Once Kim Jin-woo saw that they had somewhat adapted to the surface and become acquainted with the supervisor, he entrusted the construction site to them and left the safe house. He headed to his parents’ house, which he hadn’t visited even once in the past year.

***

The time consumed by the Great Labyrinth wasn’t very long. But the changes that occurred during that time were by no means small.

Hundreds of labyrinth owners were thrown to the Great Labyrinth as food, and the lives of thousands were taken.

Although he was usually cold-hearted, it was a somewhat excessive decision.

But despite that, he felt no guilt, and he couldn’t tell if it was because of his adaptation to the law of the jungle in the underground or the influence of the Great Labyrinth.

So, Kim Jin-woo felt the need to confirm. He needed to identify how much of the changes were due to the influence of the Great Labyrinth and address it.

As he looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar apartment door, the *japnyum* [雜念 – 잡념: idle thoughts, random thoughts] that filled his head gradually disappeared. And an unknown emotion took its place.

Kim Jin-woo carefully pressed the doorbell. He worried that something absurd might have happened, like them moving in the past year, but fortunately, the voice that came from beyond the door was familiar.

“Who is it?”

With a click, the door opened, and unlike Kim Jin-woo’s expectations, it was his younger sister, Hyun-ji. She froze when she saw him, not opening her mouth for a long time even after seeing her brother for the first time in a year.

In that awkward and uncomfortable silence, Kim Jin-woo silently exchanged glances with her and was inwardly surprised by Hyun-ji’s appearance.

Her once slender belly was now noticeably protruding. It seemed there was good news while he was away.

But the person who should have answered the question simply spat out a word with a face as cold as ice.

“Come in, Mom’s inside.”

With a subdued voice, she said that and turned around, her figure somewhat thicker. It seemed she was no longer single in the past year.

Without waiting for an answer, she strode in and sat on the sofa. Then, with a face as if she were wearing a mask without any expression, she stared blankly into space.

Her *moseup* [Korean: 모습 – appearance, figure] was so unfamiliar that he couldn’t easily step inside and stood aimlessly in front of the narrow shoe rack. Hyun-ji knew he was there but didn’t even turn her gaze.

Eventually, after hesitating, Kim Jin-woo finally took a step into the living room. He had only taken off one shoe, but for some reason, one side of his heart felt cold, as if a non-existent chill was circling only around him.

He stepped in hesitantly and stood at the edge of the living room, in an awkward position that was neither inside nor outside the house.

Should he even be here? Wouldn’t it have been better if he hadn’t come at all?

In a short time, countless fragments of thought that had tangled in his head disappeared, and he barely shook them off before taking another step.

Just one step, yet his whole body felt heavy as if he had run from one end of the underground to the other.

But having already made up his mind, he didn’t stop walking.

Knock knock.

The sharp knocking sound cut through the silence. But there was no answer.

Knock knock.

A slightly clearer noise than before, but still no answer.

“Mother, it’s Jin-woo.”

This time, instead of knocking, he spoke with a hoarse voice, but there was no sound coming from beyond the door.

“Mother, I’m coming in.”

Gathering his courage, Kim Jin-woo grabbed the doorknob. But before he could even turn the tightly gripped knob halfway, dry footsteps were heard, and the door burst open.

“Ah…….”

Dry skin, sunken eyes, disheveled hair, the appearance of a middle-aged woman with a clear *byeongsaek* [Korean: 병색 – the look of illness] was several times older and more tired than the mother he remembered.

“Mother.”

Born without a name and even having to steal someone else’s, he had to constantly replay the most pleasant memories from his miserable life to live through yesterday and today.

The cruel truth that Dinariyon had dragged out from a corner of his nightmare said that everything about him was fake.

So, he thought that even if he met his mother and family again, he wouldn’t be particularly moved. After all, there was no way anything real belonged to him in this world.

He thought he could live without the family that the government had forcibly paired him with, and he cut off contact. He thought that was how he felt, and that was how they would feel too.

But,

“Jin-woo, have you eaten?”

The moment he saw his mother smiling at him as if they had just parted yesterday and met again, he realized.

Even if the world around him was fabricated on lies and deception, the world surrounding him was real. The moment he realized that fact, he quietly hugged his mother.

“I’m back, Mother.”

One of her dry, bony arms came up and quietly stroked his back.

“And I’m sorry for being late.”

***

It didn’t take long to fill the 1-year gap in the family.

“Oppa…….”

Kim Jin-woo, who had barely reassured his mother, who had finally burst into tears, and pulled her away, turned his head at Hyun-ji’s dry voice calling him.

“Wait, let’s talk for a bit.”

Perhaps because she was now a mother, she was more composed than ever before. But it seemed like too hasty a judgment.

“Where the hell have you been and what have you been doing! Do you know how much we suffered because of you!”

As soon as the door closed, she started shouting. Her *moseup* was no different from a year ago. She screamed and sobbed before finally bursting into tears.

“The news keeps talking about what happened to the underground, how many Explorers died, and how chaotic the Gates are. The Labyrinth Management Office keeps saying they can’t locate you. Do you know how hard it was for us…….”

After crying and ranting for a while, Hyun-ji finally wiped away her tears and said fiercely.

“Just try doing that again. Then, I’m telling you, I won’t care if you’re my brother or not.”

Her tone was harsh, but the warmth in her expression remained the same, so he couldn’t help but smile.

“What are you smiling about as if you’ve done something great? I was really going to live without seeing you again when you came back, you know? But I’m letting it go because of Mom.”

She said with an expression that was hard to tell whether she was crying or laughing, saying things she didn’t mean.

“Ha, anyway, you came back.”

“Yeah. Thank you, Hyun-ji.”

As soon as he said thank you, she was about to get angry again, but she stroked his face and said.

“Ugh, what’s wrong with your face? It’s become half its size.”

***

It seemed that 1 year was nothing in the name of family.

The sense of victimhood and delusion that he had steadily built up alone scattered like a mirage, and a warm, heartfelt affection took its place.

But the warmth was only temporary, and Kim Jin-woo looked for his father, who didn’t return until late at night. But at his words of looking for his father, his mother and Hyun-ji froze at the same time.

“Is he busy with work these days?”

He tilted his head, trying not to have any ominous thoughts, but the moment he saw the two women’s inner thoughts with his suddenly activated Eye of Truth, his heart dropped.

-Sadness. Worry. Resentment.

All sorts of negative emotions. The worst possible scenarios flashed through his mind.

“Mother?”

Instead of answering, his mother lowered her head. An increasingly strong ominous premonition, it felt as if something had already happened, and his heart began to pound.

“Hyun-ji.”

He called Hyun-ji, looking at his mother, who wouldn’t even try to meet his gaze. But she also avoided his gaze and didn’t answer.

“Hyun-ji, is there something wrong at home?”

Suddenly, Hyun-ji burst into tears. The tears were so ominous that Kim Jin-woo’s face hardened like stone.