Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 262

Dungeon Chronicle – Episode 263

# 262

Dungeon Chronicle

Episode 263

I had retrieved the stolen Labyrinth Core and dealt with the ruler of the East Labyrinth as a bonus. But the work wasn’t over yet.

There were still two Labyrinth Cores to collect, and I had to meet the Dragon Emperor, who had advanced to the 9th floor after hearing Ortea’s message.

“Hmm, if I’d known things would turn out this way, I would have saved the Dragon Emperor card for later.”

I had mobilized the Dragon Emperor, anticipating a shortage of power. I figured that even if things went south, the Dragon Emperor could at least deter Alitos if he raided the undefended Great Labyrinth.

“It was the best option at the time. If things had gone wrong, Master would have had to face at least two dukes, maybe even three, simultaneously,” Kim Jin-woo said.

Kim Jin-woo nodded at Dominique’s words. With this incident, the Ortea card was spent, but it was impossible to predict every situation from the start and only mobilize the necessary forces. This war had too many variables.

“You can’t even look me in the eye, but you sure can talk,” Angela said sarcastically.

Dominique’s serious expression crumbled. Her face was redder than ever, and she fidgeted, awkwardly averting her gaze because she couldn’t meet her master’s eyes.

“Ahem.”

He pretended to be calm but couldn’t help recalling the past that had embarrassed the innocent Naga woman.

“To do that… Ugh, to go that far…”

Dominique even mumbled incomprehensible words as if she had lost her mind. He quickly tried to clear his head and fix the situation, but Angela wouldn’t let him.

“Was that all he did? What about this and that?”

“Angela!”

Kim Jin-woo frowned at the teasing tone.

“You should have finished it quickly. Why did you drag it out and mess up the order? It’s all Master’s fault.”

She was startled but didn’t back down. What order was messed up? It was clear that the morning dramas she had watched while on the surface had a bad influence on her.

Angela, who already didn’t listen, had now broken free from the shackles of the contract and become an equal Highlord, so the future was clear. He sighed, clutching his throbbing head.

Perhaps sensing her master’s thoughts, Angela became frightened.

“Now that the contract is over, I won’t act recklessly. I will never do that, Master. Please don’t abandon me.”

Kim Jin-woo looked bewildered, wondering what she was talking about. But only for a moment, as he belatedly noticed the fear in Angela’s eyes.

Surprisingly, she, who had become a True Blood Lord, was anxious about the fact that her connection with her master had been severed.

She felt more fear than liberation from the freedom suddenly thrust upon her, and she was watching him, her shoulders slumped like an abandoned puppy.

This pitiful vampire, who had lived for so long relying on others, seemed to have completely forgotten how to stand on her own.

His heart felt like it was being pricked.

How could Kim Jin-woo not know how she felt? He, too, had been filled with fear instead of rejoicing at the fact that he had been freed by the Spider Duke.

What was more frightening than the whip of a harsh supervisor was having to judge and act on his own. The complete loss of purpose; he might have remained in the underground as a tomb robber if it hadn’t been for Sohee.

Born as livestock and treated like a beast, he lacked so much that he didn’t even know the meaning of the term “slave mentality.”

“Are you going to leave me?”

“Of course not. Unless Master abandons me—no, even if you abandon me, I won’t leave.”

She was trembling with fear of being abandoned, but she spoke clearly. What she meant to say in a determined way looked endlessly weak in his eyes. He comforted Angela with a rare gentle expression.

“As long as you don’t betray me, I won’t abandon you. I’m not the type to let go of my things easily.”

“Master!”

Angela hugged him tightly.

“I will never betray Master. Even if the entire underground turns its back on you, I will never leave you.”

Despite feeling awkward at the unexpected confession, he couldn’t help but feel touched.

Where else in the world could there be a more ardent courtship than this? Although she was an obsessive and sinister vampire, there was no doubt about her unwavering loyalty and affection.

“Yes, so you don’t have to be so anxious.”

He gently stroked her hair.

“Ahem.”

A strange sound that was neither an exclamation nor a moan. Kim Jin-woo finally noticed Dominique’s complex and subtle expression and pulled Angela away.

Angela, who seemed reluctant to leave her master’s arms, soon realized the situation and stepped back.

“Sister.”

That was what she said as she approached Dominique.

“Sister?”

“What does the order matter? We’re serving the same master anyway.”

It was getting worse. What kind of drama had she been watching? Kim Jin-woo felt the urgent need for viewing guidance.

“Master, what is going on?”

Even the wise Dominique looked bewildered, unable to grasp the situation. After all, where would she have heard the word “sister” in the underground, where it didn’t matter who was born first or later?

“Ugh.”

He groaned at the sight of Angela, a True Blood Lord, even abandoning the pride of a Highlord and acting friendly toward Dominique.

But Kim Jin-woo’s lips were smiling, even though he wore a troubled expression. He didn’t say anything because Angela’s determination not to cause problems in her own way seemed desperate.

***

It became Angela’s job to collect the two Labyrinth Cores that had lost their masters and were ready to welcome new ones. She went back and forth between the two labyrinths, which were far apart, in an instant, just by crossing the reverse side [the back or hidden side of a location or object].

“I got one, but it’s already too late for the other.”

The Labyrinth Core that Angela handed over was only from the labyrinth located in the east.

“Hmm, it seems the Dragon Emperor was a little faster.”

Kim Jin-woo could easily guess where the uncollected Labyrinth Core was.

“The bear did the trick, and some random guy got the money.”

He felt a pang of bitterness but decided not to dwell on the past any longer, as Dominique had said.

“Can you find the Dragon Emperor’s location? No, if it’s the Dragon Emperor, he’ll definitely come looking for me. Let’s go back as we are.”

If the Dragon Emperor valued honor, he would definitely find the Great Labyrinth. It was a matter involving a Duke-level Labyrinth Core, but Kim Jin-woo wasn’t worried. The reason the Dragon Emperor would look for him wasn’t just because of the Labyrinth Core.

“Let’s go.”

Returning to the Great Labyrinth wasn’t difficult. With Angela’s help, Kim Jin-woo visited the Red Castle once again and opened a portal to the Great Labyrinth from the reverse side, where no one could find it.

“Your Majesty!”

“Master!”

Seeing the summoned creatures welcoming him, he was finally able to realize that this war was over.

***

[Before obtaining the Heart of the Sea Dragon, the Nagas were merely shells. They were incomplete and had bodies too weak to unleash the power of their race.]

[As those Nagas hatched from their eggs, they perfectly found their original forms.]

[The Naga race has become the Naga-Jin race.]

The long tail was still there, but the scales that sprouted on it now resembled those of a blue dragon rather than a snake.

The mane-like hair resembled a lion’s mane, looking tougher and more valiant, and the four arms sprouting under the strong shoulders each held a spear, a shield, and two swords.

[Born from the scales of a blue dragon that lived in the deep lake in the distant past, this race did not inherit the power of the dragon but strived to resemble the dragon’s omnipotence.]

[As a result, they have gained deep wisdom and a strong body.]

[The Naga-Jin race is a much more powerful being than the existing Nagas.]

“Punish the servants who failed to stand with the King in his trials!”

Quantus’s voice, apologizing for their disloyalty, was distinctly different than before. The hissing, sharp, wind-like sound was now as thunderous as thunder.

[Naga Elite Guard (Elite) Warrior Quantus has become Naga-Jin Chief Guard (Hero).]

[This steadfast and loyal warrior has always wished to be the sword and shield that protects his master.]

[Becoming a Naga-Jin, Chief Guard Quantus gained a pair of arms, and as a result, he now has not only a shield to protect the King but also a spear to pierce the enemy’s heart and sharp swords to cut off their limbs.]

[Quantus has become a fortress that protects the King and a spear that pierces the enemy.]

[Chief Guard Quantus will not hesitate to face any hardship for the King and his race.]

[Chief Guard Quantus has gained the special abilities ‘Indomitable’ and ‘Unmatched’.]

[Chief Guard Quantus will never back down against any strong enemy, even if it is the mighty ruler of the deep.]

Kim Jin-woo looked satisfied as he watched the endless messages appear. The Naga-Jin race, newly reborn through the Heart of the Sea Dragon, had become incomparably more majestic than before.

It was as formidable as the Ursus High Legion and the Tarus Ogre Legion, the most powerful armies he had ever seen.

[All Naga mages have become Naga-Jin Archmages (Heroes).]

[Archmages are proficient not only in offensive magic but also in all sorts of miscellaneous magic.]

[Naga-Jin Archmages have gained ‘The Compendium of Frost.’ They know every spell related to frost and cold attributes.]

[Although the mages have gained numerous ice magic spells, their thirst for knowledge and curiosity is endless. They will constantly create new spells and something else.]

[Sometimes their thirst for knowledge and curiosity may bring disaster, but their research will be of great help to the race.]

This was not welcome news. The fact that the curiosity and thirst for knowledge of the already troublesome Naga mages was still there made him feel a chill down his spine. But for now, he was purely happy.

The fact that the mages, who had been focused solely on offense, could now exert their power in various fields was a great advantage.

[Naga Dragoons have become Naga-Jin Dragon Knights (Heroes).]

[The Guardian Dragons they rode were born from the blood of the Horned Dragon, but now they have become more like dragons. They resemble the blue dragon that the Naga-Jin race originated from in many ways.]

[These valiant riders have become more threatening than before. They can now achieve perfect unity with the Guardian Dragons when they enter battle.]

[The breakthrough power of these powerful cavalrymen, with the dragon and rider as one, is terrifying. There are not many beings in the underground who can stop their breakthrough.]

The messages continued to appear.

[Naga Priests have become Naga-Jin High Priests (Heroes).]

[Naga Archers have become Naga-Jin Snipers (Heroes).]

[Naga Soldiers have become Naga-Jin Guardians (Heroes).]

The abilities and changes they gained were all different, but one thing they all had in common was that they had all become hero-grade summoned creatures.

The Heart of the Sea Dragon was a rare and powerful treasure in the underground, but it was abnormal for all the Naga-Jin to reach hero grade.

It seemed that Daedalus’s research had brought about these absurd results.

Kim Jin-woo glanced at the large head peeking out in the distance and smiled at the Nagas.

“Welcome back, my soldiers.”

***

Instead of the Dragon Emperor, Mimir was the first to find the Great Labyrinth. The quick-eared imp had somehow learned the results of the war and came to the Great Labyrinth with all sorts of gifts.

“Congratulations, Lord. It was a great victory that will never happen again in the underground.”

Kim Jin-woo smiled at Mimir, who was rubbing his hands together. But somehow, his smile was chilling.

“I had something to ask you anyway.”

As a quick-witted imp, Mimir noticed his unusual expression and rolled his eyes.

“What are you talking about?”

Kim Jin-woo lowered his voice even more. Mimir’s face turned white at his voice, which now sounded like a growl.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“The fireworks prepared by the Ursus, wasn’t that your doing?”

The fiery hell prepared by the Ursus was so hot that thousands of vampires melted, and he almost got injured.

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Weren’t you the one who got the dangerous firecrackers for the polar bears?”

The huge explosion caused by the polar bears wielding cold air; Kim Jin-woo was able to find traces of the surface in the remnants of the fire. [This implies the firecrackers were not of underground origin.]