Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 216

Dungeon Journal-Episode 217

79. Restoration

Catherine’s envoy didn’t seem inclined to stay long.

Indeed, the advice that would have been useful had it arrived sooner was now useless, leaving him with no reason to linger.

From Kim Jin-woo’s perspective, he had narrowly missed the chance to avoid disaster, and the envoy’s leisurely attitude only fueled his frustration.

Nevertheless, he persisted in pressing the envoy, managing to extract various pieces of information.

“So, there are three more events like this to come?”

“My mistress cannot foresee whether the upcoming Restoration Days will resemble today’s or take on a different form.”

He felt even more bitter. The fact that he had been struck head-on by a disaster he could have prepared for, due to a timing mismatch, was incredibly frustrating.

But the damage was already done, and a vast amount of funds had been spent restoring the Great Labyrinth.

Scolding the envoy wouldn’t recover the spent funds, nor would it restore the Great Labyrinth to its former state, so he could only glare at the envoy’s composed face with displeasure.

“Ugh.”

The envoy had previously arranged a meeting between his mistress and Kim Jin-woo at the Black Merchant’s auction house.

As such, he knew better than anyone what Kim Jin-woo’s power was. Seeing that his aura was completely different from before, he quickly lowered his head, hiding the somewhat condescending look that had lingered on his face.

“Countless spirits cling to my feet like watchdogs, making it difficult to even reach this place.”

It seemed that releasing the Moais [giant stone statues from Easter Island] to guard against intruders had backfired this time. Ultimately, he couldn’t blame the envoy any further and had to put the past behind him.

“The first restoration is the first step in integrating the divided subterranean layers into one. Please hasten to survey the surroundings. This is something my mistress did not instruct me to tell you, but it is my small apology for being a slow and inadequate messenger.”

Perhaps feeling somewhat responsible, the envoy shared some additional information. According to him, the earthquake was a disaster that occurred during the process of integrating the twelve subterranean layers.

And this unusual integration process would not be completed in one go. He couldn’t say which layers were currently merging.

“I’ve already sent troops to scout the area. We’ll have an answer soon.”

Kim Jin-woo kept the envoy around, hoping to glean more information.

“How is she doing?”

“I cannot discern what you wish to know, but there is no one left who could threaten my mistress’s peace. Does that suffice as an answer?”

He had only asked a simple question, but the envoy was extremely reluctant to answer. It would have been better to ask about the restoration process instead.

Time passed in awkward silence, and soon the patrols that had set out to survey the area returned one by one, inquiring about the situation.

“Most of the spirits have disappeared, leaving the layers empty. A more detailed investigation is needed, but as it stands, the labyrinth’s vicinity is completely deserted.”

“The passages have collapsed, making exploration difficult. It seems we need more time.”

“Based on the remaining passages, it seems that the existing information is no longer valid.”

However, the reports from the returning patrols were of little value.

“May I leave now?”

Kim Jin-woo, having no further excuse to detain him, reluctantly agreed.

“Go. Convey my gratitude for her consideration to your mistress, and tell her that I wish to continue our previous conversation soon.”

“I will relay your message as I heard it. Farewell until we meet again.”

Catherine’s envoy departed. Shortly after, the Under Elf and Naga patrols that had gone on a long-range reconnaissance reported on the situation on the 9th floor.

“A previously unseen labyrinth has appeared a day’s journey to the west!”

“Traces of a collapsed labyrinth can be found half a day’s journey to the east!”

“We discovered traces of a small unit’s encampment in the northeast!”

“A large labyrinth has been discovered a day’s journey to the south!”

Kim Jin-woo frowned at the successive reports. He couldn’t tell which layers were connected to the 9th floor based on the patrols’ reports.

However, one thing was certain: the lower floors, which were already mostly defunct, no longer contained any intact labyrinths.

If an intact labyrinth was discovered, it was likely located somewhere in the deeper layers.

“Have five Naga units stand by to prepare for any eventuality!”

Kim Jin-woo put the Nagas on standby while also expediting the labyrinth’s restoration.

“We will reinforce it further to prevent it from collapsing again.”

Daedalus, who had been wandering the labyrinth aimlessly after losing his work for a while, saw the damaged Great Labyrinth and his eyes lit up.

Just by looking at his expression, one might think that Daedalus was welcoming the situation.

But he could count on the skills of the dwarf obsessed with labyrinths, so it was obvious that the reborn Great Labyrinth would be even stronger than before.

“I’m still lacking in power.”

It was possible that the layer connected to the 9th floor was a deeper layer. If that were the case, he would face the worst-case scenario of having to confront powerful Dukes before his preparations were complete.

He wanted to avoid that situation until he had absorbed the Count’s seals and increased his power.

But the subterranean world wouldn’t grant him such convenience, so he needed to completely restore the Great Labyrinth as soon as possible and use the Sea Dragon’s Heart to feel at ease.

Even as he accelerated the labyrinth’s restoration, patrols continued to enter and exit the Great Labyrinth.

They didn’t hesitate to throw themselves into a grueling schedule to grasp the useless 9th floor’s map as quickly as possible.

Nevertheless, they were unable to obtain any significant information.

“It’s taking time to identify the labyrinths that have been created nearby. It seems that the patrols have never seen these labyrinths before.”

But sometimes, simply not knowing could be information. This was exactly such a case.

The Under Elves, who had been exploring the subterranean world with such zeal as to seem reckless in order to prove their worth, had been everywhere, whether it was the deeper or lower layers.

If they had never seen these labyrinths before, it was highly likely that they were the territories of the 12th floor Dukes.

“The passage through which the Moais came has completely disappeared.”

And the following report said it wasn’t even that.

“We must consider the possibility that the layer connected to the 9th floor is not a layer of this subterranean world.”

But it was too early to jump to conclusions. It was possible that the patrols simply couldn’t find the location of the previous passage due to the changed terrain.

To be certain of everything, they needed to increase the number of scouts even further.

“Well, it’s certain that they’ve also suffered severe damage from this earthquake. Otherwise, there’s no reason for them to lock the labyrinth’s doors and be so cautious.”

Dominique’s words seemed plausible.

“There are too many risks to approach for confirmation. For the time being, surround the area and maintain a strict perimeter. Don’t forget to report to me immediately if even a strand of hair is seen outside the labyrinth.”

But thanks to that, identifying the labyrinth’s identity was also delayed, but Kim Jin-woo didn’t care.

Time was needed more on this side than on theirs.

This side could aim for an increase in strength by using the Sea Dragon’s Heart to attempt to strengthen the labyrinth once more as soon as the damaged labyrinth was restored.

Perhaps they were also waiting for something to happen by chance, but he was confident that this place, with the power of the High Lord and the Great Labyrinth, would be more advantageous in the same situation.

So he huddled in the Great Labyrinth, waiting and waiting for this anxious time to pass. And the restoration of the labyrinth that he had been waiting for so long was finally completed.

[The restoration and reinforcement of the Great Labyrinth has been completed.]

[Most of the existing traps and facilities have been restored and further reinforced.]

[The residences of the different races that had been destroyed have also been completely restored, with the exception of the incubi’s residential area.]

[The Great Labyrinth, which had been groaning in pain, has finally found stability. The Great Labyrinth no longer drools over its residents.]

Despite suffering nearly half damage, it took less than two weeks for the Great Labyrinth to be completely restored.

Of course, most of the Down Gems that had filled the warehouse were consumed in the process, but if it could speed up the labyrinth’s recovery, he would have offered even more than Down Gems.

[Labyrinth designer Daedalus has suffered a severe blow to his pride. The fact that his work, which he thought would never be found again in the subterranean world, collapsed helplessly in the face of the disaster was a great shock to him.]

[He threw his soul into the restoration and reinforcement of the Great Labyrinth, hoping that the labyrinth he designed would never be destroyed again.]

[The Great Labyrinth has once again made remarkable progress thanks to Daedalus’s touch, who has risen to the rank of master craftsman beyond artisan.]

[The Great Labyrinth’s durability has increased nearly twofold compared to before the earthquake.]

[A portion of the Great Labyrinth has been connected to the subterranean world’s leyline [a supposed alignment of landforms of ancient sites]. The Great Labyrinth no longer needs to worry about its residents to take care of itself. If the labyrinth is damaged, it primarily uses the energy stored in the leyline.]

[The leyline’s energy was only meager to support the massive Great Labyrinth, but Daedalus fundamentally blocked the leyline’s energy from gathering in the Down Gems, thereby increasing the accumulation speed of the deficient energy.]

[As a result, the existing leyline can no longer generate Down Gems and has become completely subordinate to the Great Labyrinth.]

[The subterranean world’s leyline is being overworked by the unnatural work. The leyline’s lifespan has been halved.]

These were messages that Mimir would have been furious about. Kim Jin-woo knew that the leyline, which formed the foundation of the subterranean world, had been damaged, but he didn’t care.

To him, the subterranean world was merely a means, and whether the subterranean world’s leyline was completely destroyed or depleted, it was not a matter to be concerned about after his death.

Rather, he was pleased that the subterranean world’s leyline, which had been depleted once by User and lost its usefulness, was helping in this way.

“I have a request.”

Daedalus knelt before him, looking exhausted from the arduous work. Kim Jin-woo, who was pleased with the restored labyrinth in many ways, listened to the words of the big-headed dwarf without hesitation.

“Speak.”

“Although it was destroyed once, I was able to create a better child than before thanks to it. I can confidently say that even if the same earthquake were to occur, it would not be easily destroyed this time.”

Perhaps he was very confident in this result, Daedalus did not hide his pride.

He would have urged him to get to the point immediately, but this time he listened to all of his lengthy praise.

“I don’t think the labyrinth will improve even if I touch it any further. But if you have the Sea Dragon’s Heart, that’s a different story.”

It seemed that he remembered the story about the Sea Dragon’s Heart that he had mentioned when he told him the reason for expediting the restoration.

“Why are you telling me that now?”

When he asked that, Daedalus replied with a face full of heat.

“If you entrust the Sea Dragon’s Heart to me, I promise to show you a result that exceeds what you desire.”