CH 263

The stolen Labyrinth Core had been found, and as a bonus, the ruler of the eastern labyrinth had also been dealt with. But that wasn’t the end. There were two more Labyrinth Cores that hadn’t yet been collected, and after receiving Ortehaga’s message, Kim Jin-Woo also had to meet the Dragon Emperor, who had arrived at the 9th Floor.

“Mm, if I had known that things would turn out this way, I should have kept the Dragon Emperor as a hidden card,” he muttered.

Thinking he might require reinforcements, Kim Jin-Woo had mobilized the Dragon Emperor. He had been considering the possibility that should things go wrong, at the very least, he could still make use of the Dragon Emperor to sneak into Alitos’ empty labyrinth and finish him off.

“At that moment, that was the best solution we could think of. If things had gone wrong, Master would have had to deal with at least two Dukes, or perhaps even three at the same time,” Dominique said.

Kim Jin-Woo nodded. That decision would render the Ortehaga card unusable, but it had been impossible to foresee every situation from the beginning and play the right cards perfectly in the first place. There had been too many factors to consider in this war.

“You can’t even look him in the eyes, but you sure can speak perfectly fine,” Angela said sarcastically.

Dominique’s serious demeanor fell apart. She fidgeted and started blushing once more, unable to look straight at her master, and awkwardly looked away.

“Mm.” Kim Jin-Woo pretended to be calm, but he couldn’t help but think about the incident that had happened in the past that was embarrassing the Naga woman so much.

“That… That… Urgh… Going that far…” Dominique mumbled something incomprehensible, as if she had gone mad.

Kim Jin-Woo quickly cleared his head and tried to rectify the situation, but Angela wouldn't let the matter rest. She remarked teasingly, “Just that? We even did this and that…”

“Angela!” Kim Jin-Woo exclaimed with a frown.

Angela was slightly startled, but she continued to revolt until the end, asking, “Why are you in such a hurry to swat the matter away? Why did you dilly-dally and mess up the order, huh? This is all your fault, Master.”

What does she mean by messing up the order? Kim Jin-Woo wondered. He was certain that Angela’s exposure to so many morning soap operas during her time on the surface had had a bad influence on her.

Angela, who had never been the most obedient of his subordinates, was now a Highlord herself, free from the bondage of her blood pact and with a bright future ahead of her. Kim Jin-Woo grabbed his throbbing head and let out a huge sigh.

Perhaps she read his mind, as Angela suddenly seemed frightened and said, “Even though the pact is no longer, I won’t behave recklessly. I’ll never do that, Master, so please don’t abandon me.”

What is this all about? Kim Jin-Woo was left stunned by the sudden change in behavior. But immediately, he was able to see the hidden fear in Angela’s eyes.

Surprisingly, Angela, who was now the True Blood Lord, was terrified by the fact that her bond with her master had been severed. She seemed to be more afraid than liberated due to the sudden freedom bestowed upon her, and she was looking at him with her shoulders drooping like an abandoned puppy. The poor Vampire, who had been dependent on others for so many years, seemed to have completely forgotten how to survive on her own.

Kim Jin-Woo felt as if his heart were being continuously stabbed. How could he not understand exactly how she felt? He himself had once been in the same position in the past. Back then, instead of cheering on the fact that he had been liberated when he was suddenly freed by the Spider Duke, he too had been overcome by his fears instead.

Even more terrifying than the whips of the Spider Overseer had been the fact that he had to make his own decisions and act on them. With the complete loss of his sense of purpose, if not for the woman named So-Hee, he might have remained a tunnel digger to this day.

Because he had been born and raised as livestock and treated like an animal, he had lacked even the most basic of knowledge to the point that he didn’t even understand the concept of slavery.

“Are you going to leave me?” Kim Jin-Woo asked.

“No way. Unless Master abandons me… No, even if Master abandons me, I’m not going anywhere.” Angela spoke gracefully, perhaps out of fear of abandonment.

The way Angela spoke with a sullen expression made her seem infinitely weak in Kim Jin-Woo’s eyes. Thus, he decided to comfort Angela with an uncharacteristically gentle tone. “Unless you betray me, I’m never abandoning you. I’m not the type to let go easily of what’s mine.”

“Master!” Angela rushed toward him and hugged him tightly. “I’ll never betray Master. Even if the entire Underworld turns their back on you, at the very least, I’ll still be here by your side.”

Although Kim Jin-Woo felt awkward due to the untimely confession, he couldn't help but be moved. There was nothing in the world more passionate than this. Although she was a Vampire with an unusual obsession and a rather insidious nature, there was no doubt about her supreme loyalty and affection toward him.

“Alright, so there’s no need for you to kick up such a fuss,” he said, gently stroking her hair.

“Mm…” However, seeing Dominique with a conflicted expression from the corner of his eye, Kim Jin-Woo let out an ambiguous groan and gently lifted Angela off him.

Angela relented, obviously wanting to continue being in her master’s arms, but she quickly noticed the situation and took a step back.

“Unni[1],” she said to Dominique.

“Unni?” Dominique replied quizzically.

“Well, the order doesn’t matter. In the end, we’ll be serving the same Master,”[2] Angela continued.

This was getting more and more complex. What kinds of TV drama had Angela been watching while she was on the surface? Kim Jin-Woo felt the need for better context.

“Master, what’s going on?” Even the wise Dominique looked bewildered, unable to understand the situation that they were in. After all, how could she, considering that such a hierarchy had never mattered in the Underworld in the first place?

“Urgh.” Kim Jin-Woo groaned in agony as he witnessed Angela pretending to be friendly with Dominique, even throwing away her pride as a Highlord, the True Blood Lord, in the process.

However, the corners of his lips were curled in a smile. Angela’s determination to no longer cause any problems made her so desperate that he felt it was better for him to stay silent.

***

It was Angela’s job to collect the Labyrinth Cores of the two labyrinths that had lost their masters and were waiting to welcome new ones. She was able to reach the two labyrinths that were located far away in an instant by crossing into the Back Floors.

“I’ve managed to save one, but it’s already too late for the other,” she reported afterward. She was only able to rescue the core from the labyrinth located in the east.

“Mm, looks like the Dragon Emperor was one step ahead of us.” Kim Jin-Woo could easily guess where the last Labyrinth Core was located. He complained, “The bears were the ones that pulled all the tricks, and the wrong guy reaped all the rewards.”

He was disappointed, but he decided to not dwell on the past any longer as per Dominique’s advice. He asked, “Can you tell where the Dragon Emperor is right now? No, if it’s him, I’m sure he’ll come looking for me instead. Let’s head back.”

Kim Jin-Woo was certain that the Dragon Emperor, who valued honor above anything else, would eventually seek him in the Grand Labyrinth. Although there was a Duke-class Labyrinth Core at stake, he wasn’t too concerned. After all, the Dragon Emperor would surely find him for something greater than just a single Labyrinth Core.

“Let’s go,” he finally said.

Returning to the Grand Labyrinth wasn’t difficult. Kim Jin-Woo returned to the Red Castle once again with help from Angela, and opened a portal directly to the Grand Labyrinth from the Back Floors where no one else could find it.

“My King!”

“Master!”

Seeing his summons welcoming him, Kim Jin-Woo finally realized that the war was over.

***

[Before obtaining the Sea Dragon’s Heart, the Nagas were mere shells. They were not perfect, and their bodies were too weak to draw on the power of their clan.]

[These Nagas have woken from their eggs and finally recovered their original forms.]

[The Naga clan has become the True Naga clan.]

Their long tails were still present, but the scales that sprouted from their bodies looked more like those of dragons than snakes.

Their heads looked grander and more valiant, adorned by what resembled a lion’s mane; and the four arms sprouting from their broad, mighty shoulders held a spear, a shield, and two swords simultaneously.

[This clan, born from the scales of a Blue Dragon who lived in a lake on the Deep Floors long ago, tried to emulate the omnipotence of the dragons, although they were unable to inherit the dragons’ powers.]

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

[The True Naga clan is so powerful that it cannot be compared to the previous generation of Nagas.]

“Please punish these servants who did not share the King’s suffering!” Quantus apologized deeply for their disloyalty. His voice was remarkably different from before, however. Once sounding like hissing wind, it now roared like thunder.

[The Naga Protection Squadron (Elite) Warrior Quantus has become the True Naga Protection Squadron Captain (Hero).]

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

[By becoming a True Naga, Captain Quantus has gained an additional pair of arms, resulting in the ability to wield a shield to protect his king, a spear to pierce the hearts of his enemies, as well as sharp swords to sever his enemies’ limbs.]

[Quantus has become a living fortress that protects his king, as well as the king’s spear that will penetrate all his enemies.]

[The Captain of the True Naga Protection Squadron has acquired the special abilities ‘Fortitude’ and ‘Unmatched’.]

[Captain Quantus will never back down no matter what kind of enemy he encounters. This will apply even when facing a Deep Floor ruler.]

Kim Jin-Woo had a satisfied look on his face as he continued to read the messages that appeared endlessly. After all, his True Naga clan, newly reborn through the Sea Dragon’s Heart, had become incomparably more powerful than before. They were now as formidable as the armies of High Ursus and Taurus Ogres that he had recently faced.

[All Naga Sorcerers have become True Naga Mages (Hero).]

[Mages are proficient not only in offensive magic, but also in all kinds of miscellaneous magic.]

[The True Naga Mages have gained the ‘Cultivation of Frost’. When it comes to Frost and Chill attributes, there are no spells they do not know.]

[They are mages who have acquired a lot of Frost magic, but their desire for exploration and curiosity is endless. They will constantly invent new spells and other such things.]

[Their desire for exploration and curiosity may sometimes provoke your anger, but their research will be of great help to the clan.]

This wasn’t unwelcome news to Kim Jin-Woo. It was already refreshing to hear that the already troublesome Naga wizards were still curious and eager to explore. But for now, he was simply happy; the mages, who were known to be rather aggressive, were now able to use their powers in various fields.

[The Naga Dragon Knights have now become True Naga Dragoons (Hero).]

[The Guardian Dragons they rode were born from the Basilisk’s blood, but now, they are more like dragons. They resemble in many ways the appearance of the Blue Dragon from which the True Naga clan originated.]

[These intrepid riders have become more menacing than ever before. When they enter into combat, they are able to form a perfect unity with the Guardian Dragons.]

[The breakthrough power of these powerful cavalry units, united by the dragon and the rider, is terrifying. There will not be many in the depths of the Underworld who can stop them.]

More messages followed.

[The Naga Priests have become the True Naga High Priests (Hero).]

[The Naga Archers have become the True Naga Snipers (Hero).]

[The Naga Soldiers have become the True Naga Guards (Hero).]

The abilities and transformations the different Nagas had acquired were all different, but if there was one thing they had in common, it was that they had all become Hero-grade summons.

The Sea Dragon’s Heart was a rare treasure with incredible power in the Underworld, but even so, it was unusual for all the True Nagas to have risen to Hero-grade.

It appeared Daedalus’ research had been highly successful, considering these absurd results.

Kim Jin-Woo glanced at the large head that could be seen in the distance, and then smiled at the Nagas, saying, “Welcome back, my soldiers.”

***

Instead of the Dragon Emperor Kim Jin-Woo was waiting for, it was Mimir who was the first to find the Grand Labyrinth. The imp came to the Grand Labyrinth with all sorts of gifts, as if he had already known about the outcome of the war.

“Congratulations, Milord. It was a victory on a scale that could never be replicated again in the Underworld,” he said, rubbing his hands.

Kim Jin-Woo smiled. But for some reason, his smile was cold as he replied, “I just happened to be looking for you.”

Mimir, being the quick-witted imp that he was, quickly recognized the unusual expression on his master’s face, and his eyes widened. He asked, “What do you mean?”

“Are you going to feign ignorance until the end?” Kim Jin-Woo’s voice lowered even more into a deep growl.

Mimir paled as he began, “I’m not quite sure I understand what…”

“The fireworks display that the Ursus prepared, wasn’t it your doing?” Kim Jin-Woo asked. The inferno the Ursus had prepared was so searing hot that thousands of Vampires had melted in an instant, and he himself had almost gotten severely injured.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Mimir replied.

“Aren’t you the one who gave those dangerous explosives to the white bears!?” Kim Jin-Woo exclaimed.

For the white bears who specialized in the cold attribute, it was extremely unusual for them to possess such fiery firepower. And in that explosion, Kim Jin-Woo had found remnants of energy from the surface.

1. Means ‘elder sister’ in Korean when used by another woman for their real elder sister, or as an affectionate term when used for an older female friend. ☜

2. In the Korean social context, Angela is implying that Dominique is the ‘elder’, because Dominique was by Kim Jin-Woo’s side first, before Angela was. ☜

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