Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 194

# 194

Dungeon Journal

Episode 195

72. Authority of Frost

A parched gaze scanned Kim Jin-woo, as if searching for something. But when his expression didn’t change at all, the merchant’s clear eyes lost their focus with a snap.

“I thought it was a pretty unconventional offer, but you’re not surprised at all.”

He remained unmoved by the black merchant’s brazen attitude.

“Is there anything to be surprised about? As you said, you fulfilled your role by delivering the item, and my role ends with receiving it. What I do after that is up to me.”

He, who would have been busy trying to grasp the hidden intentions in the words in the past, now nonchalantly returned the black merchant’s words.

“I see, I’ve been outmaneuvered.”

The black merchant feigned surrender with a gesture of raising both hands.

“Get to the point. There’s no way the Black Merchant, who hasn’t shown any activity for over a year, would reappear for such a trivial reason.”

“I gave you a Count’s seal, and you call it a trivial reason? You’ve become quite bold while I wasn’t looking.”

Knowing that the black merchant wouldn’t get to the point all day if left alone, he urged him again with a look.

“Alright. I’ll get to the point.”

In the end, the black merchant couldn’t play coy any longer and revealed his purpose.

“We, the Black Merchant, are sincerely pleased and congratulate you on the birth of the Great Dungeon, breaking our long silence and reappearing in the world.”

As expected, the Black Merchant already knew that he had risen to the position of High Lord.

After all, it wouldn’t make sense for the Black Merchant, who was second to none in gathering information in the underground, not to know what all the Counts on the 11th floor knew.

Since it was something he had already expected, Kim Jin-woo accepted the black merchant’s expression of respect with an arrogant expression.

The black merchant’s salesman, who had been expressing lengthy congratulations and respect in a tone devoid of playfulness, hurriedly wrapped up his words when he saw a bored look on Kim Jin-woo’s face.

“We offer infinite respect to the High Lord, the master of all this, and wish only glory in the future of the new ruler.”

“Thank you.”

Kim Jin-woo’s attitude was so indifferent that the black merchant sighed again with a disheartened face.

“Ahem, it seems my efforts to run around for you have been in vain, since you are so indifferent, my lord.”

The black merchant said that the Count’s seal had been decided for him long ago.

However, he boasted exaggeratedly that he had to work hard to persuade those who opposed the process, as there was much internal debate over whether to deliver it since he had suddenly risen to High Lord.

“I see. I will repay you.”

He didn’t know if it was true, but he matched the black merchant’s tone appropriately since the black merchant’s help had been significant.
The black merchant smiled brightly only after hearing the words of gratitude.

“So, about that.”

The black merchant’s eyes became sly again as he rubbed his hands together obsequiously.

“May I know what name you have received, my lord?”

“I don’t want to. You will gradually find out as you wait.”

He shook his head firmly, avoiding mentioning his True Name. But the black merchant didn’t give up easily.

It seemed that the Black Merchant’s purpose was to find out his True Name.

“Then, how about this?”

The black merchant pretended to look around, deliberately pausing.

“If you tell me your name, my lord, I will give you corresponding information.”

Kim Jin-woo didn’t answer, but the black merchant quickly started chattering as if he had received permission.

“The newly born High Lords are not just you, my lord.”

***

The Black Merchant’s salesman left. But the conversation he had with the black merchant was still lingering in Kim Jin-woo’s mind.

“The underground is vast, and there are many potential High Lords.”

The black merchant seemed determined to surprise him, continuing to reveal unexpected facts.

“The war that took place this time is not unrelated to you, my lord.”

“What do you mean?”

“Think about what the underground was like when your Great Dungeon was born. Well, that’s all the hint I’ll give you. Now it’s your turn to answer, my lord.”

“Greed, that is my name.”

Was it just his imagination? The black merchant seemed surprised when he heard the word ‘Greed.’ But he was too engrossed in the new topic to pay close attention to the black merchant’s attitude.

“Hmm.”

Thoughts continued to flow.

It seemed that there was another secret to the birth of Moai, which he had thought was just a disaster caused by human greed.

“Could it be…….”

Kim Jin-woo, belatedly recalling the countless rioters who had lost their dungeons and were driven into the underground when the Great Dungeon was born, let out a suppressed groan.

What would have happened if he hadn’t dealt with all the rioters? What would they have become if they had continued to wander the underground after losing the core, the source of their tribe?

His face hardened as he imagined the thousands of rioters who had been consumed by the evil of the underground and eventually turned into beasts.

If the birth of the Great Dungeon really turned them into the spirits of the underground, then there would be a terrifying monster beyond the passage where the Moai were pouring out.

A Great Dungeon several times larger and more powerful than the Dungeon of Greed, which had only devoured one floor, would exist.

It was a far-fetched fantasy. But the reason why he couldn’t shake off his fantasy was because he remembered the last words of Ustus, the fragment of the one-eyed lord.

“I have left you a gift as a final gesture. The eyes of the usurper will not be able to follow you for the time being, so I hope you will reserve as much power as possible. May luck be with you.”

He hadn’t thought deeply about it at the time. He had dismissed it as just shaking the Counts of the deep layers or creating confusion in the information, but the story suddenly echoed in his head.

Even if the Counts of the deep layers made every effort to conceal information, he couldn’t believe that they could completely hide the eyes of the usurper, who feared even the fragments scattered in the underground.

But since the usurper’s gaze still hadn’t reached the 9th floor, it was more convincing to think that there was something more important that had turned his eyes away.

“Damn fragments. How big of a mess did you guys make?”

As Ustus openly talked about uniting the fragmented underground, perhaps the fragments of the old lord were really behind all of this.

Kim Jin-woo sighed deeply in a situation where he couldn’t see an inch ahead.

But he couldn’t keep worrying about a problem that wouldn’t be solved no matter how much he thought about it, so he made an effort to turn his attention to the immediate task.

The Count’s seal, which had a presence different from the noble seals he had seen so far, was in his hand.

“Hoo.”

He headed to the owner’s room.

No matter how the situation in the underground was going, it was time to increase his power right now.

***

Sitting on the throne, he immediately absorbed the Count’s seal.

[The power of the High Lords who once ruled the underground has been finely divided and scattered, becoming noble seals.]

[The Count’s seal is a true noble seal that is incomparably more powerful than the other seals held by lower nobles.]

[Would you like to accept the Count’s seal into the Seal of Greed?]

“Accept.”

With a short answer, the Count’s seal, which he tightly gripped, melted away without a trace and was absorbed into the Seal of Greed.

[The Count’s seal has been completely absorbed into the Seal of Greed.]

[Unlike the seals of lower nobles, the Count’s seal and higher have fixed attributes.]

[The attribute of the absorbed seal is ‘Frost on the surface of a waveless lake (氷寒)’.]

[Coincidentally, the attribute of the newly absorbed seal is perfect for the most noble Naga, the lord of the Nagas, Nagaraja (Dragon King).]

[According to the unique attribute of the seal, a chill of frost dwells in your breath.]

[Attribute ability, Frost Breath, has met Nagaraja’s authority and become a new ability.]

He didn’t even know that the seal had an attribute.
It would have been a disaster if there was a fire attribute that didn’t suit the Nagas.

Fortunately, what was in the seal was coldness that perfectly matched the nature of the Nagas, who prefer cold and humid places.

It was a coincidental event as if it had been planned from the beginning, but it was a great relief since the benefits outweighed the losses.

[You have acquired the unique ability, Frost Battlefield. Once a day, you can create a battlefield only for you and the Nagas. The Nagas in the Frost Battlefield become even more courageous.]

[A cold attribute is added to the Nagas’ attacks. Enemies who are hit by the Nagas will cower from the cold that seeps deep into their bones, preventing them from exerting their full strength.]

[The Naga mages’ spells have become even more powerful. Their spells will now freeze even the enemy’s soul.]

[The Naga priests’ healing spells have become so powerful that they can completely restore even severed limbs.]

Before he could rejoice at the fact that he had gained a new ability, messages continued to appear.

[Your ability has become even more powerful after absorbing the Count’s seal.]

[You have acquired Frost Armor. You can temporarily surround yourself with cold armor to increase your defense. The ice armor constantly regenerates as long as your energy remains.]

[You have acquired Frost Blade. You can use a blade made of extremely cold and sharp coldness. Even if the blade of the Frost Blade breaks, it will quickly grow back.]

[Congratulations. You have become a little more suitable for the King of the Nagas. Surrounded by frost abilities, you are now the King of the Nagas to anyone who sees you.]

[The Nagas’ loyalty becomes deeper and more fanatical.]
[The Nagas’ loyalty has exceeded its limits and become fanaticism.]

[Now the Nagas will not succumb to any mental pressure and will only follow your orders.]

The power of the Count’s seal was more than he had expected. He smiled with satisfaction as he watched the messages that kept popping up.

[The frost attribute has been added to the Seal of Greed.]

[A considerable amount of energy has been accumulated in the empty source of power. The accumulated energy is used to raise the rank of the seal or to use its unique authority.]

[Although the power of the Count’s seal was great, it was somewhat insufficient to grow the Seal of Greed in one go.]

[At least one or more Count-level seals are required to fully raise the rank of the seal.]

[The source of power is 63 percent charged.]

The light of the seal disappeared, and the biting cold burst out instead.

“Hmm.”

The vitality and energy overflowing throughout his body were new and unprecedented. So Kim Jin-woo exclaimed as he watched the cold crystals that formed at his fingertips and then disappeared.

But it was only for a moment, and he frowned at the coldness that didn’t disappear no matter how long he waited.

“I won’t be able to see the sun for a while.”

There was a bigger problem than that: winter had come to the Great Dungeon.