Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 291

Dungeon Journal-Episode 292

# 291

Dungeon Journal

Episode 292

103. The Promised Land

Discovering Brunhilde, the Queen of Corruption, was purely by chance. While spying on messengers coming and going to avoid the Evil Gods, she was discovered by Under Elf patrols on a reconnaissance mission.

“Having received no specific orders, we have discreetly placed observers to monitor her. If you give the command, we will promptly bring that cunning schemer before the King.”

Even in her diminished state, Brunhilde, a Countess, was still formidable. Rikshasha’s attitude, speaking of her capture as if she were already in hand, was quite striking.

“Won’t there be any casualties?”

“Though our tribe is humble and foolish, we have been empowered by the King’s grace to fulfill our duties. Now, we are confident that we can capture even a Countess.”

Rikshasha’s presence seemed different than before. It was no surprise that the Under Elves had also grown while the other summons were developing; their growth was not unexpected.

“Then I will trust you with it.”

“This humble servant does not fully understand the King’s intentions. We wish to know to what extent the King desires Brunhilde’s capture.”

“As long as she doesn’t die.”

No sooner had he spoken than Rikshasha led a couple of Under Elves out of the Great Labyrinth.

“Morrigan, secretly follow Rikshasha with Heimdall, and prepare for any eventuality.”

But for some reason, Morrigan didn’t seem inclined to leave her post despite his orders.

“My Lord has yet to recognize her true worth.”

Morrigan, who rarely acknowledged others, made an unexpected remark.

“In her current state, she can handle a Countess alone. The spirit medium abilities and Nether Spirits she has awakened are quite useful.”

He had been too indifferent, oblivious to the efforts and growth of his loyal subordinate, whose only value was to be recognized by her master. He had been using the excuse of looking after external affairs. Kim Jin-woo smiled wryly as he realized this.

“She has worked that hard.”

“It’s not just effort, but the potential of the Under Elf tribe is more significant than you or I anticipated. If you had not wanted Brunhilde alive, she wouldn’t have brought her subordinates.”

Morrigan emphasized the growth of Rikshasha and her tribe, saying that even the Naga who had evolved into True Naga could not easily defeat the current Under Elves.

“It’s natural that you didn’t notice her growth. You have become too strong in a short amount of time. Even if she had gained the strength of a Duke, you wouldn’t have easily detected it.”

There was truth in her words. Compared to what he had achieved, Rikshasha’s growth was almost stagnant.

Yet, his heart was glad because she had gained the power to stand on her own, free from the shackles of slavery.

“I see. Thanks to you, I’ve learned something good.”

Thanks to the unexpected advice, Kim Jin-woo was confident that he didn’t have to worry about the labyrinth even if he went to the inner depths.

Naturally, the attention that had been focused entirely outside the labyrinth was now balanced between the inside and outside, and he felt his somewhat anxious mind calming down.

Morrigan was right. Rikshasha had indeed captured Brunhilde alive. She looked exhausted but unharmed.

“The resistance was fierce, so we had to cut off both her hands.”

In contrast, Brunhilde’s appearance was miserable. With both hands severed, she was crawling pathetically on the floor, a sight that was hard to believe of the once proud ruler of the inner depths.

“That’s too bad. Brunhilde was a renowned mage even in the Netherworld. Without her hands, she won’t be able to cast proper spells anymore.”

Contrary to the words, the summons of the Great Labyrinth showed no sign of pity.

Kim Jin-woo’s expression was the same. With a face devoid of sympathy, he coldly looked down at Brunhilde.

“I already expressed my intention to surrender, so why are you treating me so cruelly!”

To Brunhilde’s protest, a voice filled with pain and loss—a moan or a scream—he replied nonchalantly.

“What you proposed was a deal, not a surrender. And you are not qualified to make a deal with me.”

A deal requires matching status. If she truly wanted to find a way to live, she should have offered the Wish Stone and begged for leniency.

But Brunhilde didn’t give up her greed until the end, and as a result of her presumptuous offer, she ended up in a miserable state.

“If you were content with merely surviving, you could have hidden deep in the Netherworld, or the surface, with your connections, would have been sufficient as a refuge.

Yet, despite all that, you proposed such an absurd deal to me, which means there must have been something else you wanted.”

Kim Jin-woo guessed that what she wanted was the power of the High Lord. After questioning her, he found that his guess was correct.

Excessive greed always brings disaster. Brunhilde’s situation was a perfect example.

“Foolish. It was a power that could never have been yours from the start.”

Except for special cases like the Lord of True Blood, no one could ascend to the position of High Lord on their own.

The Duke of Depravity only planted seeds in Dungeon Babies born and raised in the Netherworld.

“I will get you the Wish Stone, so please give me a chance!”

Kim Jin-woo clicked his tongue at Brunhilde, who was still shouting, unable to give up.

“You call yourself a sage of the Netherworld, but you’re incredibly foolish.”

He glared at the Queen of Corruption with cold eyes.

“The Wish Stone should naturally be given to me. And instead of trusting that paltry stone, you should earnestly beg and plead, hoping for my whim.”

Since things had come to this, he intended to obtain the Wish Stone by any means. As such, the conditions she offered were merely additional gains. From the beginning, a deal was impossible.

Besides, unlike before, it was impossible to believe that a Countess who had lost her base in the Netherworld, where the Evil Gods were rampaging, would be able to find the Wish Stone properly.

Naturally, all her proposals were worthless.

“Beg. Beg and beg again.”

Realizing his ruthlessness too late, Brunhilde only understood what she had to do after losing her base, but she still had a chance.

Now, he was willing to take Brunhilde in.

“If you do, my small whim might save you, and bring about the miracle of your severed hands being reattached.”

As if anticipating this situation, Rikshasha presented Brunhilde’s severed arms, and he held out the blood-dripping limbs, forcing her to submit.

“As you command! I will do anything you command!”

With both hands, she could form seals and cast powerful spells. Brunhilde desperately clung to him, clinging to the hope she had regained.

Although her situation had become miserable, Brunhilde was eventually able to retrieve her severed arms.

After a full day of effort by the Naga priests, her stiffly moving arms were back in place.

But even with her arms restored, she couldn’t rashly dream of betrayal. Not only was there the mutated Under Elf who had defeated her, but the Great Labyrinth was teeming with too many powerful beings.

Vampires who seemed to possess the power of the High Lord, ancient hero-level summons who looked down on ordinary Counts, and Nagas with powerful auras she had never seen before. None of them were easy to underestimate.

She was as cunning as she was weak-willed, and she gave up quickly. In the end, she chose to cling to Kim Jin-woo to survive.

“Good. Have Angela help Brunhilde retrieve the Wish Stone. With you, I can rest assured even if she tries anything else.”

It was too harsh to say in front of the person involved, but no one present considered Brunhilde’s pride.

Even she pretended not to hear it, bowing her head and remaining silent.

“If you try anything else, I’ll show you what real pain is. I’ve learned a lot from Master in the meantime.”

Brunhilde turned pale at the sight of Angela, who was smiling gleefully, saying she was looking forward to her betrayal. She was beginning to realize who she had been dealing with.

“And one more thing.”

“I know. Yoonhee. You want Yoonhee, don’t you?”

“I have much to hear from her.”

“I’d like to throw her into the depths of the Reverse Side [a dangerous and unknown dimension], but since you want her…”

He ordered her to capture Yoonhee, thinking that she might know more than he thought. Angela assured him that if she was in charge of transporting the Wish Stone, she would definitely capture her, and left with Brunhilde.

“Still, it would be helpful if Angela were with you.”

Dominique was anxious to give more power to her master, who would soon head to the inner depths. But Kim Jin-woo adamantly refused her words.

“I don’t know what’s in the inner depths, but I have a feeling it’s prepared only for me. Others will only be a hindrance.”

Was the time ripe? He felt an unprecedented sharpening of his senses beyond the five senses, and all of it compelled him to head to the inner depths alone.

“Then I’ll be off.”

“I will be waiting to answer your summons at any time.”

He smiled at Dominique, who repeatedly wished for her master’s safe return.

“Then I’ll be off.”

With those words, he left the labyrinth without looking back. In his hand, he held only the Mortal Spear, a branch of mistletoe.

The path to the deepest part of the Netherworld was never smooth. The changed terrain of the Netherworld could be navigated thanks to the Under Elf patrols that appeared everywhere, but the relentless attacks of the Evil Gods made his progress slow.

“It seems the former lord left behind more than just power.”

The grudges and resentments that had not been cleared were holding him back.

“I am sorry that I cannot be of more help.”

Rikshasha said that this was as far as she could go together, and soon promised to meet again.

“Thanks to you, I didn’t get lost. Good work, Rikshasha.”

Even Rikshasha, who couldn’t hide her happy face while saying that it was nothing, left, and he walked alone through the dark tunnels of the Netherworld for the first time in a long time.

Numerous Evil Gods, claiming their grudges against the One-Eyed Lord, rushed in, lost their immortality to the power of Greed, and were annihilated.

“Hmm.”

And finally, at the end of the tunnel, he paused for a moment in the darkness that had deepened beyond comparison.

He couldn’t even be sure if this was the right path to the inner depths. But as a result of the Under Elves’ diligent exploration, this was the only path whose destination was unknown, except for one path leading upwards.

The fact that countless Under Elves who had crossed that ominous darkness had disappeared without returning was unsettling, but he couldn’t turn back now.

In the end, he took a heavy step, and the pitch-black darkness swallowed him up.