Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 305

Dungeon Expedition Log – 305

# 305

Dungeon Expedition Log

Episode 306

107. The Subterranean Tree Expedition

After the third restoration, the Subterranean world had completely changed. The information and maps that the Under Elves had risked their lives to gather became useless, and it was impossible to even figure out where any labyrinths were due to the rampaging Calamity Gods.

It was natural to feel burdened when going on an expedition in such a situation. Fortunately, the Subterranean Tree, visible from anywhere in the Subterranean world, was the goal.

It was impossible to get lost when you could see the giant ash tree supporting the ceiling unless you were blind.

“Minimize the scouting party and take the shortest route.”

Rickshasha frowned at Kim Jin-woo’s command.

“The scouting range has become very narrow due to the Calamity Gods running wild. Minimizing the scouting party in such a situation will make it impossible to avoid labyrinths and clashes with the Calamity Gods along the route.”

Normally, he would have nodded at her words. But not now.

Almost all the Nagas, except for a minimal force, were included in the expedition. Each of them was more powerful than the masters of the labyrinths, and the power of the core members, excluding Dominique, was so strong that even nobles would be at a disadvantage.

Those Nagas were all armed with new divine weapons taken from the Vault of Eternity. Ordinary labyrinths would only serve to strengthen their power.

“Close the gates of Valhalla, and Morrigan and Baek-o will lead the Einherjar [elite warriors of Valhalla].”

Moreover, it wasn’t just the Nagas who were included in this expedition. Valhalla, too, had drafted all the Einherjar into the expedition, leaving only the minimum force to operate Mjolnir [Thor’s hammer].

It was a force so powerful that one might wonder if such a large army had ever moved at once. If anyone stood in their way, one would have to question their sanity.

“Dominique.”

The Naga Queen stepped forward at his call.

“Your steps will never be stopped.”

Telepathy. She knew better than anyone what her master wanted to hear and did not hesitate to declare his will with her own mouth.

“Perhaps the Duke’s labyrinth may block our path. Our goal is not them, but from their perspective, they cannot allow such a large army to roam their front yard.”

“If there is such a person, they will have to worry about their tomorrow, not their front yard.”

Dominique, who had always shown a cautious and thoughtful demeanor, was full of spirit today. It seemed that the awakening of the inheritance had a more significant impact on her inner self than her appearance.

“If there is no road, we just have to make one. That’s all.”

At Dominique’s words, the Nagas simultaneously struck the ground with their swords and spears. They stomped their feet and made wind sounds as if the Duke’s labyrinth was right in front of them.

“Ha!”

The Nagas’ unique, sharp roar instantly froze the air, and frost formed everywhere. Kim Jin-woo wore a satisfied expression at the higher morale and spirit that was incomparable to before.

“I trust you.”

At those words, the Nagas roared once more and then returned to their usual demeanor.

“Ah…”

As they withdrew their energy, the cold disappeared. But the surrounding scenery, which had been covered in frost in a short time, remained as it was.

Rickshasha made an ambiguous sound that was neither an exclamation nor a groan, looking at the frost clinging to her curved sword with a dumbfounded expression.

“Your mission and the Under Elves’ mission is only to find a quick path. If the path is blocked, they will create a new one.”

Kim Jin-woo said to her as if declaring. Only after hearing his words did Rickshasha come to her senses and receive his words in a calm voice as if nothing had happened.

“As the King wills.”

As soon as she finished speaking, carefully selected Under Elf scouts broke away from the group and set out on reconnaissance.

“All troops.”

Kim Jin-woo raised his finger, chasing the Under Elves who had disappeared far away with his eyes. His hand was pointing towards the endlessly towering Subterranean Tree.

“Advance.”

At his words, the great army began to move.

Dominique and the Nagas kept their word. They destroyed everything that blocked their path, as they had promised.

[You have won the battle. It is a meager victory against enemies who are pathetically weak compared to the powerful Nagas, but a victory is a victory nonetheless.]

[The Nagas ask about the treatment of the labyrinth’s core and the surrendered enemies.]

The Nagas showed no signs of fatigue in the battle that ended in an instant. They simply looked at their master with eyes filled with an unknown heat and enthusiasm.

“Hmm.”

Kim Jin-woo knew well what their eyes were craving and had no intention of betraying that expectation.

“Enjoy the rights of the victor.”

As soon as his permission was given, the Nagas silently cheered and rushed towards the survivors and the labyrinth.

[The Carnage Festival has begun.]

[It is pitiful that the nameless Count’s labyrinth is the first to encounter the hungry Nagas. The Nagas devour all the remaining survivors and even absorb the labyrinth’s core.]

[The Nagas participating in the Carnage Festival grow slightly.]

[The nameless Count’s army and labyrinth were hardly enough to fill the bellies of these greedy Nagas. No immediate changes are visible to them.]

[However, the Carnage Festival, which they enjoyed for the first time since being released from the seal, was enough to restore the Nagas’ lost appetite.]

[The Nagas want to face stronger enemies.]

The sight of an entire labyrinth disappearing before his eyes was both familiar and strange.

“Now I know why the old lords tried so hard to stop the Subterranean Serpent and its clan.”

After the meal was over, only the remnants of the labyrinth remained. For some reason, even the smallest stone fragment felt lifeless and parched, which was somewhat eerie.

“All troops, move forward again.”

Although it had been several days since the expedition began, the Subterranean Tree looked no different from what he had seen from the Great Labyrinth. Kim Jin-woo clicked his tongue at the enormity of the single ash tree and the vastness of the changed Subterranean world, seeing that the Subterranean Tree did not seem to get any closer no matter how much he walked.

[The Nagas have devoured quite a few labyrinths in a series of Carnage Festivals, but they still complain of hunger, perhaps resembling their master’s greed.]

[The Nagas continue to grow.]

What was exciting in the meantime were the Nagas. The Nagas held a Carnage Festival every time a labyrinth appeared and focused on their meal. Thanks to that, the Nagas who had departed from the Great Labyrinth were now completely different beings.

[The Naga’s tail is a symbol of power. The scale-covered tail is a good indicator of the Naga’s strength and authority and is the most effective means of attack.]

[Quantus’s tail has exceeded 10 meters. There is no longer a Naga who can challenge the authority of this brave Naga guard captain. The tail, surrounded by solid scales, is a powerful weapon that can even wrap around and crush a giant Subterranean creature.]

[Valishus’s tail has reached 8 meters. The limitations of Naga wizards, who are vulnerable in close combat, have been somewhat compensated. But he is paying more attention to the changes in the clan than to his own grown tail.]

[Caution is needed for Valishus and the Naga wizards who follow him. The increasingly persistent madmen will not hesitate to use even their own kind as experimental material. They already seem to be looking for the easiest research target.]

The Nagas’ tails, which were at least 2 meters and at most 3 meters long, had now grown to 10 meters for the largest Naga, and even the smaller Nagas had tails that were over 3 meters long.

[Dominique has grown once again.]

[This Naga Queen, who is the most noble being besides you, is not one to rush into battle.]

[The true purpose of the Naga Queen lies in being the King’s consort. As such, her tail does not become cumbersome and large but instead has even denser scales and a beautiful luster.]

[But that does not mean that her own martial power is weak.]

[Her brilliance in assisting the King and all the abilities that amplify his power prove that she is the King’s true consort.]

[Also, in terms of her ability to handle cold energy, even the Naga wizards cannot ignore her. Her cold magic is more effective against a single, giant target, unlike the Naga wizards who specialize in dealing with multiple opponents.]

This time, Dominique’s growth direction was different from the other Nagas. And Kim Jin-woo, looking at her, was lost in thought for a moment, forgetting the situation. Even he, who had no doubt that his taste was no different from that of a normal adult male, felt an unknown impulse when he saw her scales and tail shining like black jewels.

Her beauty was that fatal.

[Now, before the most dangerous battle, is the best time to breed.]

[The Naga Queen emits an alluring fragrance all over her body without even realizing it.]

[But unfortunately, your unnecessarily strong mental strength and obsession with victory have overcome her temptation.]

[The Naga Queen is disappointed but has not given up. She will continue to tempt you in the future.]

It seemed that it was not just the clan’s power that had been released from the seal. She became more eager for her master than before and did not hesitate to appeal to him.

Naturally, Kim Jin-woo was in trouble.

“Master, there is the Duke’s labyrinth ahead…”

“Handle it as usual. Get Angela’s help if you don’t have enough power.”

“Master, it’s the Duke’s labyrinth, but is it really okay for us to absorb it?”

“Do as you please.”

Later, he didn’t even look at Dominique’s side. But it was impossible to completely ignore her, who was in charge of big and small tasks, and he had to fight against temptation several times a day.

However, Dominique was not easy. Since absorbing the Duke’s labyrinth a few days ago, the scent of temptation she emitted had become so strong that it made his head ache, and his self-control weakened over time.

After all, it was rather amazing that the Lord of Greed, who had to have everything he wanted, had endured this much. In fact, there was not even a clear reason to reject her.

As the message said, wasn’t now, when the future was uncertain, the time to leave descendants?

Eventually, he did it. He pretended to give in to Dominique’s temptation.

“Don’t be too late.”

Angela said mischievously, watching him subtly push the expedition forward. He sent her away without hearing her and looked at Dominique.

Dominique, who had already transformed into a human form, greeted him with dazzlingly pale legs instead of a tail.

“Master…”

The moment her eyes, filled with alluring light, turned to him, he lost his reason.

“Ah…”

He already knew the mystery through his experience with Angela, but Dominique’s case was on a different level. The Naga Queen’s body made even the most trivial things ecstatic, as if it existed only for him.

“Ugh. I lost again.”

Thanks to that, he had to recall the memory of the first night he had been most brutally defeated.

[The Naga Queen was very satisfied with fulfilling her greatest mission and felt an incomparable sense of fulfillment and happiness.]

[A single relationship was enough for the Naga Queen to conceive your child.]

[The Nagas will now treat and protect the Naga Queen, who is pregnant with your child, as they would treat you.]

A message popped up, but he was not surprised. There was no reason to be surprised since he had embraced Dominique with everything in mind from the beginning.

“Master, I will protect this child even if I lose my life.”

He smiled warmly at Dominique’s determined words and was about to say something when a familiar voice echoed in his head.