Dungeon Maker - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: The Dungeon Armory (3)

Yong-Ho moved to the left.

Every time he reached the end of the room, he activated a new room and then moved forward.

The power of ‘Midas touch’ was greed’s secondary skill and it was a skill that was difficult to describe.

Just a feeling.

The ability to choose instinctively.

That was why he wasn’t able to explain fully to Catalina and Skull why they were walking forward. He just felt that he would obtain something if he continued to walk this path.

However, several hours later, Catalina and even Yong-Ho himself started to get worried.

Was this the right path?

No, even if he could obtain something by walking down this road, was that something like the armory?

It wasn’t a completely fruitless search. While they explored, they encountered a Crazy Ant and were able to increase their evolution rates as well and gain some mana. If they considered it as gaining experience, then it was quite useful for combat training.

However, the purpose of this exploration was to find Kaiwan’s armory. In games, completing the side quests and not the main quest was usually pointless, so he had to constantly remind himself not to forget about his main goal.

“Um…master?”

Catalina carefully spoke up. Yong-Ho, roughly knew why she called out to him, so he put on a calm expression and turned around.

Yong-Ho was the head of the House of Mammon and was currently the leader of the search party. If Yong-Ho looked anxious, then Catalina and Skull, though he wasn’t sure if Skull even knew what being anxious felt like, would feel anxious too.

“I have a strong feeling it’s this way. Let’s go a bit further.”

“Yes, Master.”

As a loyal spirit, Catalina answered right away. Skull wore his usual blank expression and followed behind Yong-Ho and Catalina.

Yong-Ho thought back to the time when he obtained Aamon. It was an incredible fortune to be able to find Aamon. It was quite the jackpot.

However, it wasn’t an easy trial. If Catalina hadn’t slowed down the speed of their fall, they would have surely lost their lives.

It was possible this time too.

One of Mammon’s spirits could appear or they could encounter an unknown trap.

But, he had no choice.

He had to go this way.

There was something there that would satisfy his greed.

‘One room. Let’s just go through one more room.’

If they don’t find anything, then Yong-Ho was planning to end the search for today. He would try again after they recovered their mana and stamina.

With his mind set, Yong-Ho commanded the Spirit of the Dungeon to activate the next room. He carefully opened the door.

[Be careful. Something feels off.]

As the Spirit of the Dungeon had warned, this room was quite different from the previous rooms. As soon as he opened the door, an eerie wind escaped. Furthermore, the room was still dark.

Activated rooms were usually lit with light created by mana. However, even though the Spirit of the Dungeon had activated it, the room was still in darkness. It wasn’t complete darkness, but the light didn’t even reach a quarter of the room.

“Catalina.”

Yong-Ho spoke and instantly Catalina reacted. She took out her flashlight from her belt and handed it to Yong-Ho.

“Master, I’ll take the lead.”

“No, stay behind me. I’ll take the lead.”

It was the same as when he had obtained Aamon. He had a strong instinctive feeling. Yong-Ho was certain that there was something here that had triggered his greed.

[I’m sorry. I’m unable to detect the entire room. It’s too far from the Heart of the Dungeon and some sort of power is interrupting me.]

The Spirit of the Dungeon spoke with his inner voice. Yong-Ho gulped nervously and used the flashlight to light up the room. It just looked like an empty room since he couldn’t see anything.

“The room seems extremely large. It’s as big as your throne room, Master.”

Catalina spoke up quietly as soon as they reached halfway across the room. However, Yong-Ho couldn’t reply. He had a strong feeling. Right in front of him. Something was lingering in the darkness.

Yong-Ho instinctively raised his flashlight. Once the flashlight joined with the dim light that was already in the room, he was suddenly able to see much more clearly.

“Underground… entrance?”

He had a feeling that the huge door in front of them would lead them underground.

At that moment, Yong-Ho sensed it. Greed started to strongly react to it and not because it was the armory.

‘Gold mine!’

That was the only possible solution. The Greed within Yong-Ho’s soul started to strongly express its desire.

However, that wasn’t the only thing.

“Master!”

Catalina’s long ears flinched as she quietly called out. Yong-Ho was able to feel it now too.

He could hear something rustling in all directions. On top of that, something was falling from the ceiling.

“Skulllll?!”

Even the slow-witted Skull was able to sense the danger. Catalina immediately pulled out her dagger and stood behind Yong-Ho with her back facing his. She looked around with the eyes of a dark elf, piercing through the darkness.

Yong-Ho’s grip on Aamon tightened. He knew there was an immense danger the moment he had heard the rustling sound. Though it didn’t make sense that he couldn’t hear anything earlier.

Furthermore, there was something dangerous falling from the ceiling.

Yong-Ho didn’t hesitate. He pointed Aamon towards the ceiling.

“Light it up!”

As soon as he shouted, a green flame was released from the tip of Aamon’s blade. The green flame burned down one of the Slimes that covered the ceiling. The Spirit of the Dungeon responded to Yong-Ho’s yell by releasing all of the stored mana through Yong-Ho, driving out the darkness from the room.

“Kyah!”

“Kyahhh!”

Strange sounds filled the room. Even, Skull was stunned by his surroundings.

A horde of Crazy Ants were covering the walls. The way they wriggled around each other while crying out made an abhorrent display. And at the entrance of the mine. Monsters that he had never seen before poked out their heads. A group of Soldier Ants, who were at least three to four times larger than Crazy Ants appeared.

“Retreat!”

Yong-Ho hastily shouted and swung Aamon around once more. He released the flames in front of him and then quickly turned around and ran.

The gold mine.

It certainly existed, just like Eligor had mentioned. However, a swarm of Crazy Ants had built a nest there. The dungeon monsters that had driven out the owners from the previous generation were still very much alive and well.

“Skull, skull!”

Skull started to swing around his hammer. Most of the Crazy Ants that were on the walls stayed put, but that didn’t reassure them. They had even covered their only available exit.

“Ahhh!”

Catalina who was running alongside Yong-Ho suddenly let out a scream. A few Slimes, which were dripping fluids from the ceiling, suddenly dropped down and enveloped Catalina.

Since it was such a sudden attack, even the agile Catalina couldn’t dodge it. The Soldier Ants then penetrated through the fire. As if they had received some sort of command, the Crazy Ants then also began to move around more.

“Skull, skull!”

Skull threw his body against the door. At the same time, Yong-Ho turned around. He tightened his grip on Aamon and saw the Slimes that covered Catalina.

He didn’t have time to think. It just occurred to him as soon as he saw them.

Slimes’ bodies were made up of strong acid. They even melted weapons, so Catalina didn’t have the time to endure it while they enveloped her body.

What could he do?

At that moment. In-between an opening.

Yong-Ho and Catalina made eye contact. Catalina spoke. She spoke with her eyes since she wasn’t able to speak.

‘Run away!’

Leave her. That was the best choice. This was her role as guard anyway.

Not only Catalina but Yong-Ho had thought of that option as well. It felt like someone was ordering him.

That moment disappeared. He felt the Soldier Ants approaching. He sensed the other Slimes beginning to fall to the ground.

In that moment, Yong-Ho made his choice. He didn’t think anymore. He pierced Aamon into the Slimes that covered Catalina.

In the face of Aamon’s flames that burned not only their body but their mana and soul as well, the Slimes wouldn’t stand a chance.

However, the same would happen to Catalina.

A green flame blossomed out of the tip of Aamon’s blade. It started to spread and envelop the Slimes. During this, Catalina tightly closed her eyes.

Yong-Ho yearned for it.

He didn’t abandon his greed. He commanded Aamon.

They were his.

Everything about them belonged to Yong-Ho!

Aamon’s fire was greed’s fire.

The fire of desire that devoured the body and the soul.

He burned the Slimes. Yong-Ho then inserted his hand into Aamon’s strong fire and grabbed Catalina, who wasn’t affected by Aamon’s fire.

“Go!”

Yong-Ho commanded. After being dragged out of the fire, Catalina faithfully listened to his command. Instead of thinking, she followed his orders and kicked off the ground. She threw her body towards the door that Skull had left open.

“One more time!”

Yong-Ho squeezed out his remaining mana. He waved Aamon with all his might and set his surroundings ablaze with a wave of fire.

“Kyahhhh!”

Surprised by the sudden wave of fire, the Soldier Ants started to scream. Yong-Ho didn’t bother to look back and started to run. He threw himself through the door and at the same time, commanded the Spirit of the Dungeon.

[Deactivating the room!]

It didn’t stop there, however. Catalina quickly helped Yong-Ho stand up. And Skull, who was running through the room, opened the next door.

Yong-Ho ran through two rooms in a row. At the same time, the Spirit of the Dungeon deactivated each of them.

And as soon as he had crossed the third room.

Yong-Ho stopped and breathed heavily.

His body was soaked with sweat. Catalina, who had almost died, collapsed heavily to the floor. She remembered how Aamon’s fire had completely covered her, causing her to wrap her arms around her shoulders and hug herself.

Yong-ho closed his eyes. He started to think while catching his breath.

The gold mine that Kaiwan found.

It existed. Even now, there was gold remaining. Yong-Ho’s greed had reacted strongly, so he was sure of it.

The issue was the colony of Crazy Ants that were blocking the way. Seeing the size of it, there was a high possibility that there was a Queen Ant inside the mine.

“I should really find the armory.”

Yong-Ho spoke. Skull looked up after opening the door to the third room. Catalina also raised her head and looked at Yong-Ho.

They had found the gold mine. Thanks to that, out of the two possible routes he found he was sure that the other connected to the armory. If they walk down the remaining route, they would most likely arrive there.

They could then obtain gear from the armory. And then reclaim the gold mine with the stronger gear.

‘However, before that.’

Yong-Ho stood up straight. He gathered his remaining mana into his empty left hand. He then activated the Power of Evolution and examined himself.

Chun Yong-Ho, The Demon of Evolution.

Evolution Rate: 100/100.

The evolution rate had completely filled after he had taken care of the Slimes that covered Catalina.

Yong-Ho didn’t wait any longer. He placed his left hand on his chest.

[Specialized Mana Development]

He invoked the Power of Evolution. Vivid green colored mana burst out of Yong-Ho’s body.