Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 9

# 9

Dungeon Journal

Episode 10

#5. Dominique

“I will summon a Naga Handmaiden.”

[The Naga Handmaiden commands the Naga Workers. Under the Naga Handmaiden’s command, the work efficiency of the Naga Workers greatly increases. The efficiency of resource collection increases. The probability of discovering rare resources increases.]

Kim Jin-woo nodded, a hint of displeasure on his face as he read the message floating before him. He had initially intended to summon Naga Soldiers to bolster the labyrinth’s defenses. However, unlike the Naga Handmaidens or Workers, Naga Soldiers required upkeep.

With no Down Gems to spare, he reluctantly decided to summon a Naga Handmaiden.

[Once summoned, a Naga Handmaiden cannot be unsummoned before death. Would you still like to summon a Naga Handmaiden?]

“I will.”

The altar suddenly began to glow. He expected the light to fade quickly, but for some reason, it persisted, its brightness far exceeding that of the previous Naga Worker summons. He tilted his head, puzzled.

[The Mystery of the Underworld is at work. Against all odds, a Naga Handmaiden Hero has been summoned!]

His eyes widened at the unexpected message, and the brilliant flash subsided.

[Naga Handmaiden Dominique (Hero) has been summoned. Dominique is an existence far beyond that of ordinary Naga Handmaidens. She is a true advisor, dedicated to her master’s honor.]

As grand as the message was, Dominique’s appearance was even more striking.

Her black hair was like solidified night, framing a face of pale, ethereal beauty.

Unlike the Naga Workers, Dominique possessed a surprisingly human-like appearance. Aside from her serpentine lower body and pale blue skin, she could easily pass for a human woman.

Kim Jin-woo stared blankly into her mysterious purple eyes, then blushed and quickly looked away.

*Splash.*

Each time Dominique shifted her serpentine form, her jewel-like scales shimmered, and the subtle movement of her form was strangely captivating.

His face flushed as he caught glimpses of her tantalizing silhouette through the sheer fabric she wore.

‘Master.’

A woman’s voice echoed in his mind. Startled, he turned to see Dominique’s lips moving.

Each time she spoke, her soft, whispering voice resonated directly within his thoughts.

‘Please, tell me what to do.’

Kim Jin-woo’s heart skipped a beat as he saw Dominique gazing up at him demurely, her lips forming the words.

***

Although she was a Hero-grade summon, Dominique was still a Naga Handmaiden, and she naturally took charge of the labyrinth’s various tasks.

Dominique handled most things independently, but she would occasionally appear and communicate directly into his mind, which took some getting used to.

In the two weeks since her arrival, the Naga’s labyrinth had undergone a significant transformation. First, the haphazardly piled resources in the warehouse were meticulously organized.

The once-dusty labyrinth became remarkably clean, and the atmosphere felt strangely brighter.

It was as if a woman had moved into a house previously inhabited only by men.

The unrecognizable appearance of the labyrinth was impressive, but Dominique’s true value extended far beyond mere tidiness.

Noticing Kim Jin-woo’s obsession with Down Gems, she completely reorganized the Naga Workers’ resource collection efforts. As a result, Down Gems, previously a rare find, were discovered three times in the past two weeks.

“Good work.”

He praised her as he accepted the green Down Gem she had carefully sorted and presented to him. Dominique subtly swayed her body, a movement that he found strangely seductive, causing him to unconsciously avert his gaze.

‘Imps are targeting the warehouse. We need soldiers to guard the warehouse and the labyrinth entrance.’

Dominique differed from the Naga Workers, who silently followed orders. She regularly informed him of the labyrinth’s situation and offered valuable advice.

“I was just about to take action.”

With those words, he tossed the Down Gems onto the altar as if throwing stones into a pond.

“I’ll summon two Naga Soldiers.”

[Naga Soldiers are brave warriors and skilled hunters. However, until they become familiar with the new labyrinth, they are no different from recruits. Until a feeding ground is developed or the Naga Soldiers find hunting grounds near the labyrinth, the upkeep will be covered by the Down Gems accumulated in the labyrinth. The monthly upkeep for two Naga Soldiers will consume 1/8 of a low-grade Down Gem. Would you still like to summon two Naga Soldiers?]

“Do it.”

No sooner had he spoken than light coalesced on the altar, and two Naga Soldiers, each towering over 2.5 meters tall, materialized.

Covered in red scales, the Naga Soldiers, resembling enlarged versions of the Naga Workers, each wielded a spear.

He briefly wondered if a Hero-grade summon would appear, as in Dominique’s case, but it was a vain hope.

It was said to be an extremely low probability, so her case must have been exceptional.

He clicked his tongue in disappointment as he looked at the Naga Soldiers and gave a short command.

“From now on, you will guard the entrance to the labyrinth.”

The Naga Soldiers thumped the ground with their spears and turned to disappear.

The labyrinth was still low-grade, consisting only of the warehouse near the Owner’s Room, the Naga Workers’ nest, and a few passages, so those two would be enough to guard it for the time being.

Unlike the surface, which was in the middle of summer, the Naga’s labyrinth was strangely cool. He wandered around the labyrinth for a while, idling, and was about to open a portal when his vision turned red and a message flashed.

[Naga Soldiers have engaged in combat!]

How long had it been since they were summoned to be in combat already? Without time to assess the situation, Kim Jin-woo hurriedly left the Owner’s Room.

[Would you like to synchronize with the Naga Soldier’s body? After synchronization, you will share the Naga Soldier’s vision. If desired, you can also control the Naga Soldier’s body. If the synchronized Naga Soldier is killed, the synchronization will be forcibly terminated.]

He was curious, but he shook his head. Now was not the time to satisfy his curiosity.

Most of the area was not yet activated, so he soon reached the place where the Naga Soldiers were fighting.

“Kack! Kack!”

He wondered who had invaded the labyrinth, but the small red body and relatively large head were familiar.

“Imp?”

“Kaaaack!”

He didn’t know how it had been discovered by the Naga Soldiers, but the imp, surrounded by Naga Soldiers in front and behind, was rolling around, dodging spears, looking precarious.

The imp, who had discovered him, sent a pleading look as if they were close, even though they weren’t.

“Stop! Don’t kill it, capture it alive!”

At those words, the imp looked despairing, and the Naga Soldiers grabbed their spears upside down.

***

“So, this is all of it?”

The imp, captured by the Naga Soldiers, nodded diligently. Kim Jin-woo’s face was filled with delight as he looked at the four Down Gems on the imp’s thick palm.

The size of the Down Gems the imp had presented was considerable.

They were about the same size as the red Down Gem he had sold before.

“Kiii.”

Kim Jin-woo snatched the Down Gems without hesitation, and the imp looked like it was about to cry. But even so, he wasn’t looking at the imp.

Even if he received only as much as the previous market price, the four Down Gems would be worth 70 million won [~ $53,000 USD]. He couldn’t help but feel good about the unexpected luck.

“Go.”

He had already taken the Down Gems, so he couldn’t kill it, and he released the imp.

“Kack, Kaaaack!”

The imp, freed from the Naga Soldiers’ hands, kicked the ground with its feet, spat out unintelligible sounds, and disappeared. He couldn’t understand the meaning, but it probably cursed him.

‘Imps are vile thieves. If you spare it, it will surely covet the warehouse again.’

Dominique didn’t seem to like that he had spared the imp. But Kim Jin-woo, who had already profited handsomely from the imp, spared the small thief and looked forward to the next time.

Who knew? Maybe he would get another profit thanks to the imp.

Kim Jin-woo’s face, which had been pleasant for a moment, hardened.

“Dominique, what’s the fastest way to level up the labyrinth?”

‘Well, the easiest way is to invest Down Gems generously. And right now, Master has enough Down Gems in his possession to upgrade.’

He was lost in thought at Dominique’s advice, then took out two Down Gems from his pocket and threw them onto the altar. The two blue and yellow Down Gems thrown onto the altar disappeared in an instant.

[Two mid-grade Down Gems have been offered to the altar. This is enough energy to upgrade a Tier 2 labyrinth to Tier 3.]

“Upgrade.”

[Upgrading Tier 2 labyrinth to Tier 3 labyrinth. 239:59:57 seconds remaining until upgrade.]

He looked at the spot where the Down Gems had been placed, which had disappeared without a trace, checked the remaining time, and left the labyrinth.

**

“What’s keeping you so busy these days?”

He gave an awkward smile at his father’s question.

“I trust you’re not thinking of anything foolish. Your mother and I don’t want you going back to that place.”

Perhaps sensing something unusual in his expression, his father’s words were heavy.

“Yes.”

Even as he answered that he understood, Kim Jin-woo’s face was stiff. He was reminded of himself, who had been indulging in the warmth of his family and turning a blind eye to reality.

He gritted his teeth as he thought of the Underworld he had left as if running away, under the pretext of providing for his family.

He couldn’t run away any longer. Unlike his powerless self back then, he now had power.

The Underworld Duke, who had brutally ruined countless brothers and ultimately thrown them into the spiders’ mouths. He, who had been a tunneler, was now the owner of a labyrinth like him.

Thinking that, Kim Jin-woo was impatient and couldn’t stand it. He tried to calm himself, but he couldn’t help but feel anxious.

And after waiting for a long time, when he returned to the labyrinth, the upgrade was already complete.

[Labyrinth upgrade complete. Labyrinth tier increased from Tier 2 to Tier 3. Locked facilities have been newly activated.]

[With the activation of the labyrinth, beasts and creatures that were far away now clearly recognize the labyrinth’s existence.]

[The labyrinth is no longer safe. You must quickly reinforce your forces to prepare for invasion.]

[You were unlucky. A nearby herd of Horned Rats (Tier 1) is approaching the labyrinth. You must hurry to defend (arrival in 00:59:59).]

As always, notification messages appeared, filling his vision. Among them, the last message was flashing red.

[If the labyrinth’s defense fails, the labyrinth’s core will be destroyed. The owner, whose fate is intertwined with the labyrinth, will also suffer severe damage.]

“Dominique!”

He called out to Dominique, seeing the red flashing message indicating urgency. Before long, she appeared from somewhere and said.

‘We need to summon troops. We can’t defend the labyrinth like this.’

Even as she spoke, the message window was flashing red.

[00:59:32 remaining until the Horned Rat herd invades.]

The numbers relentlessly decreased. With a stiff face, he quickly checked the labyrinth’s status.

[Naga’s Labyrinth] (Activated)

□Owner Kim Jin-woo (Level 6)

□Tier 3 Labyrinth (Size 18×18)

□Dungeon Energy 20/100

□Durability 2148/2148

□Facilities

*Owner’s Room (Tier 2)

*Portal (Activating 23:59:15 0/1)

*Gate (350/350)

*Warehouse (540/2500)

*Naga’s Nest (18/40)

-Tier 4 facilities must be upgraded to be activated.

□Troops (18/40)

*Naga Handmaiden (Dominique/Hero) 1/10

*Naga Soldier (Tier 1) 2/2

*Naga Worker (Tier 1) 4/1

Four Naga Workers, two Soldiers, and one Handmaiden. Could they really stop the invaders with just these? He didn’t know. He hurriedly sat on the Naga’s throne and placed his hand on the orb.

[Summonable Troops]

□Naga Worker (Tier 1) (1)

…Omitted

□Naga Archer (Tier 2) (10)

*The deadliest snipers when in the shadows. They pierce the enemy’s heart with sharp arrows.

□Naga Warrior (Tier 2) (6)

*Born warriors, Naga Warriors possess incredibly strong bodies.

□Naga Mage (Low-Grade) (19)

*Those who explore the mysteries of the Underworld. Wise Naga Mages overwhelm enemies with powerful magic in battle.

□Naga Priest (Low-Grade) (17)

*Priests who serve the First Serpent. Naga Priests, sages and doctors of the earth, heal injured Nagas.

New troop types, including Archers, had been added. The summoning energy required was a burden, but he shook his head.

In the case of Mages or Priests, he could barely summon one with a mid-grade Down Gem.

As he was agonizing over the composition of his forces due to the sudden invasion, another message appeared.

[00:50:00 remaining until the Horned Rat herd (20/20) invades.]

His heart burned as he saw the newly appeared number 20/20. It was a number that was somehow comparable to the two Naga Soldiers, who only needed 1 energy to summon.

But he couldn’t easily add troops. There was too little information.

Time kept decreasing as he couldn’t make a decision.

“Damn it! I need to know what’s going on!”

He cursed and shouted, and Dominique, who was beside him, spoke.

‘A soldier can handle four Horned Rats alone.’

He suddenly felt enlightened at her words. Kim Jin-woo smiled brightly, and she added with a dizzying smile.

‘And Warriors and Priests can handle two soldiers, Mages can handle five soldiers, and Archers can handle three. However, except for Warriors, all are very weak in close combat, so be careful.’

Based on her information, he was finally able to decide which troops to summon.

“Two Naga Warriors!”

[Naga Warriors are born warriors and fighters. They can fully exert their power even in unfamiliar places. If you tell them the hunting grounds, the Naga Warriors will take care of themselves. However, to maintain their strength, 1/4 of a low-grade Down Gem will be consumed each month. Would you still like to summon two Naga Warriors?]

“Summon!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Naga Warriors burst out of the light.

Kim Jin-woo felt relieved just by seeing the Naga Warriors, who were twice as big as the Naga Soldiers, holding huge shields and brutal clubs.

“Soldiers and Warriors, block the entrance! Dominique and Workers, watch the situation from behind!”

[There is no commander. Would you like to command them directly?]

It was a message that appeared more often than usual today. He nodded without looking and headed straight for the labyrinth entrance.

[The Horned Rat herd (20/20) is approaching. 00:24:32 remaining until invasion.]

As he watched the numbers slowly decrease, he felt the darkness stirring in the distance from some point.

Squeaking sounds flowed out of the darkness, and scurrying footsteps were heard.

And finally, the moment the message appeared that the Horned Rat herd had invaded the labyrinth’s territory, 2-meter rats that looked like they had just crawled out of the sewer emerged from behind the Naga Warriors’ broad shoulders and shields.

[Combat begins. The battle will not end until the Horned Rat herd is annihilated or driven out of the labyrinth. The dungeon owner has stepped forward as commander. The labyrinth’s core will be destroyed upon the commander’s death.]

“Block them!”

No sooner had Kim Jin-woo’s words fallen than the Naga Warriors rushed out with their shields raised, and the Soldiers thrust out their spears.