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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: Dungeon Break
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"They said he had the divinity to be one of the Paljongyungma, but it was all just empty hype."
"..."
At first, it was just by chance.
Something she happened to overhear while passing by.
"To think he'd threaten us, saying we'd all die, only to step back and watch from the sidelines."
"In the end, he was just scared to fight, so he made excuses and ran."
"..."
But in the narrow hallway.
In the dining hall while getting food.
Even to her face.
The voices, growing closer and more blatant, made her realize.
The utterly frigid atmosphere flowing through the lodge.
"Hmph, there's no way a coward like him is from one of the Baekdaesega."
"Just you wait. As soon as I get back, I'll use all my connections to expose the White-Masked Young Master's false reputation."
"..."
Mockery.
Contempt.
Disdain.
The cold, venomous gazes pouring in from all sides were something Arsha was all too familiar with.
Back in the age of the Five Heroes.
After losing the World Tree.
For the elves who had fallen to the very bottom, ridicule was a part of daily life.
But why?
Why did that familiar, expected mockery feel so unbearably sharp?
So grating that she felt an urge to retort.
But no matter what anyone said, she offered no rebuttal.
Managing the slaves.
Attending to Dion.
Secretly helping install the magic circles.
She simply focused on silently following Dion's orders.
She believed that one day, all these preparations would prove their worth.
But…
'…I never thought it would turn out like this.'
In the lodge, half-buried under piles of blood and corpses, Arsha felt a mix of complicated emotions.
Most of the participants, including the high-level Awakened, were either dead or had fled.
Of the hundreds of forest spiders, only about a hundred remained.
The outer walls were cracked in places, and the interior was a complete mess.
And then there were the overflowing numbers of injured.
To think this was the same lodge that had been perfectly fine just a few hours ago—it was hard to believe, even seeing it with her own eyes.
Especially since this entire tragedy had occurred because they couldn't stop a mere seven monsters.
Of course, considering those monsters were all 3-star and had appeared with hundreds of others, it was an expected outcome.
Even if the summoners were skilled in defense and protracted battles, as they handled many familiars.
Given their inherent weakness—a lack of offensive power to subdue a single powerful entity—it was inevitable that the lodge would be torn apart.
"Wait a moment, what did you just say?"
In that sense, at this moment.
Arsha could understand why Chavera was so utterly aghast.
But despite her understanding, she spoke with perfect composure.
"I said that this is the last time the Lord will be lending his strength."
"Meaning… you intend to just watch, no matter what happens from now on?"
"That's about right."
"And you think that makes any sense?!"
Chavera raised his voice in a roar.
It was understandable.
The lodge's forces had already been cut in half.
He couldn't possibly accept a declaration from a high-level Awakened that he would simply stand by and watch.
Especially when that person was the White-Masked Young Master, who had obliterated five bosses at once.
And yet… no, precisely because of that, Arsha spoke even more firmly.
"There is no reason it shouldn't make sense."
"What do you mean…!"
*Thump.*
"I have the right to go hunting, but I have no obligation to protect the lodge."
"...!"
"Welcome back."
"Yeah. I was worried the magic stones might have been blown away, but thankfully, they're intact."
Perhaps because he had personally rummaged through the shredded corpses of the bosses.
The boy who entered was a bloody mess.
Dion naturally accepted Arsha's care as she wiped the blood from him with a handkerchief.
Then, he plopped down in a seat and handed the magic stones he'd brought to Arsha.
"Looks like you were still talking."
"My apologies."
"Nothing to apologize for. As long as you delivered the important message, that's enough."
"However…"
It was her job to have concluded the conversation before Dion's arrival.
Dion did not accept her apology for the meeting's delay, which was caused by her having to deal with the ruined lodge.
Instead, he simply pulled her in by her slender waist.
And…
*Mwah.*
"Good work."
"...!!!"
Her exposed abdomen.
At the soft touch that tickled the spot just above her navel, Arsha's face flushed crimson.
Watching the boy who held her, chuckling, Chavera grit his teeth.
"Young Master, is it true you have no intention of protecting the lodge?"
"You already heard, so why ask?"
"You…! Do you think you'll be safe if the lodge falls?!"
"Yep. We have a way to escape safely even if the lodge collapses."
"...!?"
In that moment, Chavera felt his words catch in his throat.
His reason thought and judged.
*That can't be true.*
But his instincts knew.
*Those words are the truth.*
Dion's actions—his leisurely demeanor while the lodge fell into this state, without a single thought of escape.
More than anything, the crimson eyes revealed through his white mask told him.
Whatever means he had.
This boy was truly confident he could get out of here alive.
"…Is what you say true?"
It must have been because she felt the same thing.
The middle-aged woman of the kobold leader tribe who appeared in the wide-open doorway.
The reason Rea spoke with a trembling voice.
"If you truly have a way, Young Master… I will not dare to propose a deal, nor will I attach any other conditions."
"..."
"So please, save our clan."
Money.
Territory.
Her daughter.
If he would just save them from this crisis, she would give him anything.
Rea was practically begging, and Chavera, his face contorted, couldn't deny her words.
After watching the two lord candidates, who had reached an agreement for the first time, for a long moment.
Dion smiled brightly.
"Looks like you're finally ready to 'talk' with me."
***
"I see…"
The woman with her eyes blindfolded, imprisoned within a dark iron cage.
The Calamity Princess, Pandora, spoke.
"Congratulations."
"What's there to congratulate? It wasn't that big of a deal."
"It is a sufficiently great feat."
Pandora turned her head slightly.
Looking at the black glove on Dion's hand, she continued quietly.
"To acquire not just the Hara family's heirloom, but the family itself."
"Hey, that's not it. I just promised to protect the lodge in exchange for sufficient compensation."
*That sufficient compensation is the important part,* Arsha, watching from behind, did not point out.
Dion, who had deliberately waited until the lodge was cornered, couldn't possibly be unaware of that fact.
"So, for what reason have you come today?"
"Do I need a reason all of a sudden? This isn't the first or second time I've been here."
"At a time like this, might one not be necessary?"
"That's a rather hurtful thing to say."
"..."
Unlike the smirking Dion.
Arsha's eyes narrowed.
He had always accepted Pandora's invitations to her tea parties from the very beginning.
And after the previous lord, Ras, died and Pandora was imprisoned here, he had come to visit her every single day.
For her to pointedly ask his reason for visiting was just too cold.
"Well, it's not like I don't have a reason."
Despite this, Arsha remained silent.
It wasn't just because she judged that, in her position as a concubine, she shouldn't dare to interfere between the two.
It was also because Dion hadn't come to visit her today just to enjoy some snacks.
"What is it that you desire from me?"
"Nothing major. I'm going to get you out of here, so I need you to promise not to join the fight."
"…Absolutely, you say?"
"Yep. If you step in now, everything will be ruined."
"..."
"And you don't want that either, do you, Pandora?"
The Calamity Princess, Pandora.
As one of the Vile Breeds of the Paljongyungma.
A being capable of single-handedly destroying not only the lodge they protected.
But even this labyrinth itself.
The witch of ruin, who could not protect or save anyone, did not deny Dion's words.
She simply spoke quietly.
"If this territory falls, I will have no choice but to act."
"Don't worry. That won't happen, at least not while I'm away."
"Even so…"
Why was it?
In the middle of her rebuttal to Dion.
The sight of Pandora suddenly stopping and closing her mouth felt somewhat amusing.
Well, it was only natural.
What Dion was about to do was something no one could have predicted.
"When you say you will be away, what do you mean?"
"The labyrinth isn't a place you can survive just by playing tower defense."
"..."
"If we can't run and can't hold out, there's only one way to solve this situation, isn't there?"
"…Do you mean, by any chance."
"Yep, by that chance."
She must have realized it already.
No, she must have known from the start.
That there was only one way to solve this situation.
She just hadn't thought of it because it was such a foolish, suicidal act.
That was why she could only say, 'by any chance,' and to her, Dion replied with a broad smile.
"—I'm going to conquer this labyrinth."
As if asking if there could be a more perfect solution.
Pandora summed up her thoughts on Dion's bold declaration in a single sentence…
"Are you mad?"
And Arsha found herself silently agreeing.
Indeed, her lord seemed to be a bit too reckless.
***
The labyrinth was a demonic realm.
A land of death that devoured and destroyed all intelligent species.
From the time of the ancient kingdoms to the present day, the number of nations and territories destroyed by labyrinths was countless.
But just as a cornered rat will bite a cat, the intelligent species did not just let themselves be devoured by the labyrinth.
To protect their nations and territories.
Or to avenge their families.
Or simply out of ambition and desire.
Those who tenaciously delved into the labyrinth sometimes ended up devouring the demonic realm itself.
That was a conquest.
A miracle that went beyond killing monsters to bring down the labyrinth itself.
But miracles are called miracles because they don't happen easily.
The success rate of conquering a labyrinth was so low that if 100 people challenged it, all 100 would die, and this would repeat dozens of times.
Even high-level Awakened died in droves in mere 2-star labyrinths.
It was only natural.
Wipe out all the monsters.
Defeat the boss.
Destroy a hidden core.
Perform a specific ritual.
The methods to conquer a labyrinth varied from one to the next.
Without trying each and every method, there was no way to know which one was correct, so it was impossible to conquer a labyrinth even with ten lives.
That was why the Five Heroes, who had conquered numerous labyrinths and defeated the Seven Calamities, became legends in Odobaekryeong.
'So far, so good.'
In that sense, when Dion declared he would conquer the labyrinth.
The reaction from everyone, from Pandora to Rea and Chavera, as if to say, *are you insane?*, was not just natural, but a matter of common sense.
But Dion himself was perfectly composed.
'[Slay all named bosses]. The conquest condition is quite a bit easier than I thought.'
Dion smirked.
Conquering a labyrinth was nigh impossible only for others.
The `[Status Window]` that showed the conquest conditions.
The `[Class Changer]` that allowed him to freely switch classes.
Dion, who possessed two cheat-like traits, had conquered countless labyrinths with The Voice in his second life.
Conquering a labyrinth of this level was truly just a matter of time.
The problem was whether the lodge could hold out until he hunted down the remaining named bosses…
"Arsha, my lucky charm. Can I count on you?"
"…Yes."
Unlike the lycanthrope girl nodding eagerly beside her, the dark elf woman, Arsha, wore a complicated expression for a moment before picking up a small bag.
She then spoke with a determined face.
"Until you return, my Lord, I will protect the lodge without fail. You can leave it to me."
"Alright, I'm counting on you."
With a slight chuckle.
Dion took the bag from Arsha.
He patted Orr Kai's head once, then strode forward with light steps.
Leaving the blood-soaked lodge behind, he headed toward the far side of the labyrinth, where giant branches intertwined in a complex web.
It was at that moment that a voice reached the ears of Arsha, who was silently watching his retreating back.
"You seem to place a great deal of trust in the Young Master."
"…Is that what you think?"
"To be honest, I still find it hard to believe the Young Master's words that he can conquer the labyrinth."
"..."
"Including his claim that he will finish the conquest by tomorrow."
Pandora's point was valid.
Conquering a labyrinth was something that had a low chance of success even when dozens or hundreds of Awakened invested months into it.
To do it alone, and in a single day at that.
It was truly an absurd statement.
The ramblings of a madman would have been more believable.
In fact, the others in the lodge, including Rea and Chavera, were openly sending him looks of suspicion.
They were wondering if his talk of conquering the labyrinth was just a front.
And if Dion had, in fact, run away by himself.
"Rest assured."
But there was at least one person.
The elf, who knew just how many impossible feats the boy had accomplished so far.
And who knew how he had fought against hundreds of soldiers and ultimately achieved victory, declared with certainty.
"My Lord… no, my husband will definitely conquer the labyrinth and return."
*Nod, nod.*
"Chik, Madam is right."
"I can't imagine Master dying in a labyrinth, ribbit."
The lycanthrope girl nodded eagerly as well.
Watching the slave soldiers, who, while not as confident as the two, were muttering amongst themselves without much tension, Pandora slowly nodded her head.
"I see. I understand."
As if that concluded her business.
Just as Pandora quietly turned to enter the lodge.
Arsha suddenly spoke.
"Lady Calamity Princess. Are you still certain that Thousand-Face was the one who harmed the former head of the family?"
"It is merely a conjecture with a high probability, not a certainty."
"In that case, could Thousand-Face pose a danger to us?"
"…That is unlikely to happen."
Pandora shook her head.
Taking on a second contract was the greatest taboo for an assassin.
If they couldn't even maintain that level of trust, Thousand-Face wouldn't be called the greatest assassin in the City of Deformities.
More than anything…
"This is a labyrinth, after all."
"..."
"Then, I pray for your good fortune."
In the middle of a labyrinth, if the lodge were to fall, even the greatest assassin would find it difficult to escape.
If they didn't want to die, they wouldn't interfere.
After Pandora left only that quiet reply and entered the lodge, Arsha slowly turned her head.
The enthusiastic Orr Kai, and the 30 slave soldiers armed in wooden armor.
Rea and Chavera, along with about 50 members of the Hara clan and the 100-odd familiars they commanded.
As a bonus, a few participants, including Naru, who was clutching his lute with a deathly pale face.
And finally, to the other side.
From atop the giant branch the lodge rested on, through the dense leaves, and down to the base of the distant trunk.
She looked into the eyes of the countless monsters that had fled after the bosses fell, but had slowly begun to gather again as time passed.
Arsha calmly declared.
"Everyone, remember."
"..."
"If we can hold out for just one day, victory is ours."
***
Itchy.
Itchy, itchy, itchy.
Was it because he was covered in monster blood?
Or because he hadn't been able to wash it off with purification water?
As he dragged his heavy legs along the thick branch, he lamented, scratching his itchy body furiously.
This was truly unpleasant.
The fact that the hunt he had paid a hefty price to join was ruined, and that he had to flee from boss-level monsters.
The increasingly incomprehensible structure of the labyrinth and the constantly appearing monsters.
The corrupted mana that seeped stickily into his lungs with every breath.
Everything, truly everything.
He didn't like it.
So much so that he wanted to smash and tear everything apart to vent his anger.
But that wasn't something a rational, intelligent being would do, so he suppressed his rage.
Therefore, he thought.
He was still fine.
The people who had fled with him had disappeared one by one until he was alone, but that didn't matter.
The only discomfort was the itch.
The fact that he hadn't brought any purification water was just so irritating.
He channeled that irritation into his scratching.
His skin.
His flesh, his muscles.
He scratched, and scratched, and scratched.
By the time his bones were exposed.
The corrupted mana seeped deep into his marrow, and the itch gradually turned into a cool relief.
So it was fine.
It wasn't itchy anymore.
With a much more comfortable mind, he thought.
Even for someone as rational as himself, escaping the labyrinth without purification water might be difficult.
So he turned back.
With utmost composure.
To return to the lodge.
To eat the flesh and blood of the intelligent species.
To hunt and devour the divine beast.
Doing so would make him stronger, and the labyrinth a more comfortable place to live.
Since he could make such a rational judgment.
He was still fine.
Objectively assessing himself, the bloody half-troll…
No, what had once been a half-troll, headed back up the labyrinth with the other monsters.
—Following the utterly rapturous scent of corrupted mana.
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