Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 189

Dungeon Journal-189

# 189

Dungeon Journal

Episode 190

[The power of the High Lords, who once ruled the underground, has been finely fragmented and scattered to become the seals of nobles.]

[Among the scattered fragments, even the smallest and most insignificant Baron’s Seal, when gathered together like this, feels quite powerful.]

[Would you like to combine the Baron’s Seals into one?]

“Combine them.”

Kim Jin-woo sat on the throne and nodded. At that moment, the Baron’s Seals were enveloped in a cloud of light.

[The new seals have merged with the existing seals.]

[The fragments of ancient authority held within the Noble’s Seals have been completely absorbed.]

[The strength of your body has become more robust.]

[Your five senses have become more acute. You can see and hear further than before.]

[Your mental strength has been further enhanced. You cannot completely prevent the encroachment of the Great Labyrinth, but you can withstand it to some extent.]

Contrary to expectations, there wasn’t a significant improvement that could be noticed immediately.

However, the fact that he could withstand the encroachment of the Great Labyrinth to some extent was more encouraging than anything else.

[With more than ten seals combined, the conditions necessary for creating a new seal have been met.]

[Would you like to create your own unique seal?]

It was an unexpected question, but since he himself didn’t know much about the ancient authority and the High Lords, he didn’t hesitate to answer that he would create a seal.

No sooner had he spoken than the combined seal began to shine again.

[The Seal of Greed has been created.]

[The Seal of Greed is a new source of power that has never existed in the underground before and will never exist again.]

[The Seal of Greed is the key to opening and closing the Great Labyrinth, and the foundation of the new High Lord’s authority.]

A snake curled up in a circle, its jaws wide open, biting its own tail. That bizarre and eerie pattern was engraved on the seal.

[The Great Labyrinth and the unique seal, the conditions necessary for the birth of a new monarch, have been satisfied.]

[A new name is bestowed upon the new monarch. But you have already inherited the name of the One-Eyed Monarch.]

[The mysteries of the underground do not allow one High Lord to inherit more than one name.]

[Normally, you would have to choose one of the two names, but coincidentally, the name to be given to you is that of one who does not give up anything, one who constantly desires, craves, and covets, and even the mysteries of the underground could not stop your desire.]

[A tyrant who steals, plunders, and eventually devours even the world, your true name is Greed.]

[You who constantly desire and covet, you who are never satisfied even after taking everything from your enemies, no name could be more fitting for you.]

The moment he heard the name Greed, his heart began to pound as if it would burst. Just like when he first heard the true name of the One-Eyed Monarch, Botan, he had to struggle to avoid losing consciousness.

[The source of the newly born monarch is empty.]

[To fill the source of a mighty monarch, you must gather more fragments and make them your own.]

[The insignificant Baron’s Seal can no longer be of great help to you. To possess power worthy of the name Greed, you need fragments of Count’s Seal or higher.]

The dizziness made him feel as if he would lose his mind at any moment, and the tremendous energy flowing through his veins made him feel as if his whole body would explode.

“Kuh.”

A groan escaped through his teeth, and the body sitting on the throne slowly tilted.

[You have obtained the power of Greed, Gluttony.]

[Enemies defeated by you will have all their life force plundered and even lose the source of their existence.]

Beyond the blurred vision, the last message caught his eye.

[The news of the birth of the Lord of Greed spreads widely throughout the underground. This amazing news may even reach the deepest parts of the underground.]

“This damn…”

He managed to utter a word against the unwelcome message before finally losing consciousness.

***

When Kim Jin-woo regained consciousness, the first thing that greeted him was the sinister malice of the Great Labyrinth.

Resisting the eerie waves that amplified all sorts of negative emotions, he blinked his eyes, which were not easily opening.

Fortunately, not much time had passed, and there was no particular commotion. He was still sitting alone on the throne, and the Great Labyrinth was quiet.

“Hmm…”

As time passed and he regained some sense, the malice of the Great Labyrinth disappeared as if it were a lie. It seemed that it had been trying to encroach on him while he was unconscious but had quietly retreated when he woke up.

He couldn’t be more grateful that he had gained some resistance by absorbing the Baron’s Seals.

“Hoo.”

Kim Jin-woo, holding his throbbing head, let out a long sigh and tried to grasp the changes that had occurred in his body.

He had gained the plausible name of Lord of Greed, but there were no dramatic changes. However, that didn’t mean he hadn’t changed at all.

“Lord of Greed, huh…”

It was the same true name as the Great Labyrinth, which had swallowed thousands of rioters.

He couldn’t understand why the name Greed kept sticking to him.

“Not bad.”

Nevertheless, even though he didn’t fully understand it, he quite liked his new name.

The thought that there couldn’t be a name more fitting for the path he had to take in the future made him chuckle without realizing it.

However, it wasn’t just the name Greed that suited him well; the Great Labyrinth he ruled was just as greedy.

Goo-ooo-ooo.

The wind blew.

“No way.”

A mere noise, nothing special, just the sound of the wind, but he could feel the Great Labyrinth’s desire within it.

“You want the seals, don’t you.”

The wind blows again. The high and melodious sound of the wind whispered to him as if a woman were flirting.

“Hmm.”

Ten seals had gathered to become the Seal of Greed, and two remained. And the Great Labyrinth wanted the two seals that he had not yet absorbed.

Hee-ee-ee-ee.

While he was lost in thought, the wind blew again. This time, it was a thin and irregular sound, like a child’s whimpering.

“What to do with this.”

Kim Jin-woo dangled the two seals in his hand and drawled out his words.

He could feel the Great Labyrinth swallowing its saliva.

“I don’t have any use for them anyway, but it’s a shame to give them to you.”

The Great Labyrinth cried out again, as if it were impatient. He glanced at the altar and raised the corners of his lips as he spoke.

“A dog that runs at its owner without recognizing them should be starved for three days and nights.”

Kuaaaaa!

Perhaps its patience had run out. The Great Labyrinth roared savagely. Sharp malice rushed at him as if strangling his neck.

In the past, he would have been helplessly encroached upon by the terrible malice, but he was no longer the Kim Jin-woo of the past.

Although his face was pale, he didn’t budge and showed no emotional agitation.

“You and I.”

Before he could finish speaking, a violent energy rose like a tidal wave and pushed back the malice stirred up by the Great Labyrinth.

“Which of us is the master.”

Although he didn’t completely push back the Great Labyrinth’s energy,

“Remember!”

He bared his teeth savagely as he faced the two cores that were burning fiercely as if glaring at him.

“I am your master!”

The seals were hidden between his clenched fists. The Great Labyrinth screamed. It was like a child who had burst into tears because things didn’t go its way.

“Until you remember that fact, you will not get what you want.”

Kieeeee!

He laughed, and the Great Labyrinth cried.

***

In the end, he couldn’t completely subdue the Great Labyrinth. It seemed that the value of the Baron’s Seals was not enough to bring this terrible monster to its knees.

But Kim Jin-woo was not disappointed. Although the malice of the Great Labyrinth that seeped in from time to time was unpleasant right now, he was confident that he would soon tame even that malice.

“Master!”

Kim Jin-woo, who had been lost in thought, jumped up at Dominique’s sudden call. It was because her usually calm voice was unusually urgent.

“What’s going on!”

Dominique bent over in front of him, panting, and said,

“The Nagas, the Nagas have returned!”

At the unexpected words, he had a bewildered look on his face, and Dominique shouted again.

“The Naga warriors and guards have returned!”

The moment he heard those words, Kim Jin-woo couldn’t help but turn around. In his gaze, two cores that seemed to shine more brightly than usual caught his eye.

“Master! Don’t just stand there, go and see for yourself!”

At Dominique’s urging, who was pulling his arm, he left the owner’s room. He turned around several times before completely leaving the owner’s room.

“It’s true.”

Kim Jin-woo let out an ambiguous sound that was neither a groan nor an exclamation as he looked at the numerous Naga warriors gathered in the Great Labyrinth’s plaza.

“Ha!”

The Nagas greeted him as casually as if they had just parted ways and met again.

“One hundred and twenty-two in total. Everyone has returned without exception.”

Dominique, who had already counted the number of Nagas, reported in a clear voice.

“What about the Fighters, Priests, Mages, and Dragon Knights?”

“They are not here yet… Just in case, Balzac and Quantus are scouting the labyrinth.”

After waiting for a long time for her words, the two hero-grade summons who had returned from their search reported that they could not find the Nagas anywhere else.

“Why have they suddenly returned?”

Clearly, the return of the Naga warriors and guards was something to be happy about, but Dominique kept tilting her head and making a puzzled face, wondering why they had suddenly appeared when they hadn’t shown their faces when they were being searched for so desperately.

“Where have they been and what have they been doing, and now they’re back…”

“Maybe…”

In response to her question full of doubt, Kim Jin-woo said something out of the blue instead of answering.

“Maybe we’ll be able to find the other Nagas soon.”

“What do you mean by that…”

Dominique asked, but he didn’t answer.

“I’m counting on you to watch the rear.”

He gave a brief instruction and turned his body. The place he headed to was the owner’s room. Just like when he left, the two cores that shone more brightly than usual greeted him.

“Is it you?”

In the empty and quiet space, he asked as if he were talking to someone.

“I’m asking if you sent the Naga warriors back.”

There was no answer. But he continued to speak without caring.

“Answer me. Otherwise, you will not get what you want.”

Belatedly, the Great Labyrinth roared in response to his fierce voice.

“So it was your doing.”

A leisurely wind sound seemed to circle the wide and high owner’s room, and he had a confident look on his face as if he had heard an answer.

“Are you trying to make a deal with me now?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Great Labyrinth roared once again.