Chapter 278
Chapter 278
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 278
Chapter Title: 63. First Prince (1)
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‘Chairman is a prince……?’
Young-woo stared incredulously at the string of text marked on the map, reading it over and over.
‘And now he’s a space gangster?’
Escort squad commander, First Prince Dogo Besedel.
He didn’t know exactly how many years ago this dungeon’s reconstruction point was, but it was clear that Chairman Dogo had once been a dignified being.
Then, after some incident, he founded a weapons manufacturing company and became a notorious villain known even to the universe’s bureaucrats.
‘Well, makes sense. Being royalty meant he could beat bureaucrats to death.’
Young-woo finally began to understand a lot of things.
It wasn’t just immense power that Dogo possessed.
He had the incredible background of royalty, royal blood no less……
‘Uh, hold on.’
In the middle of his thoughts, Young-woo paused.
‘But the Besedel royal family’s weapon is a bastard, right?’
It was surprising that the chairman had given him his family’s ultimate weapon, but that wasn’t what crossed Young-woo’s mind now.
‘Why is the weapon named “Bastard”?’
According to the testimony of the Giant God Gameta he’d met in the dungeon “Temple of Valor,” myths were created.
―Only those who write their own myths can leave that feat as a tangible legacy. Besedel killed a Transcendent and bore a bastard.
In other words, mythic gear was generated upon achieving feats comparable to myths, and the Besedel royal family became mythic by slaying a Transcendent.
And the embodiment of that myth was……
‘…Demon Sword Bastard.’
So why was the name attached to that myth “Bastard”?
With few clues, Young-woo could only draw one inference.
After all, the only person from the Besedel royal family that Young-woo knew, and the owner of the Bastard, was the chairman.
‘No way the chairman is a bastard too? Nah, that doesn’t quite fit. He’s the First Prince.’
In general, a royal bastard wouldn’t easily become a prince, let alone the First Prince.
The legitimate princes wouldn’t leave a bastard alone.
Of course, if that problematic bastard was the only option left, an upset could occur.
‘Like if all the other princes died.’
Whatever the case, he couldn’t know the truth right now.
“Hmm.”
Finally lifting his gaze from the map, Young-woo saw Otavio and Anu Bava hurriedly pointing toward the corridor behind them, who had been watching him.
“Hurry, let’s go. That’s the exit.”
But Young-woo looked in the opposite direction instead.
“No. I’m heading west.”
“Pardon……?”
“Wouldn’t it be a shame to just find the exit and leave right away? We don’t know what else is in this fortress.”
“No, that’s.”
*You’re strong, so that’s fine for you,* the words rose to Otavio’s chin.
“…What exactly is west?”
“Probably the strongest being in this fortress.”
“……?”
At Young-woo’s words, the other two participants silently dropped their jaws.
If this madman really planned to head deeper west, they’d be left with only two choices.
First, separate from Jeong Young-woo and try escaping this dungeon on their own.
Second, believe Young-woo would somehow survive and follow him to face the dungeon’s strongest monster.
“…….”
Otavio at least had seen Young-woo’s performance in the previous dungeon, giving him some reference material, but Anu Bava from India……
“Uh, you’re really going deeper in there?”
It was truly a moment of agony.
He knew that Eastern guy was a freak who could snap swords barehanded, but whether that prowess could solve every problem in this dungeon was unknown.
“Yes. You all know the exit location now, so if you’re anxious, go ahead first.”
As Young-woo said this and started walking alone down the west corridor, Otavio soon followed.
While doing so, he warned Anu Bava, left alone behind.
“Remember, survival obstacles aren’t just monsters. Other participants are basically enemies too.”
In other words, two or three together was better than alone, argued Otavio.
“…….”
After agonizing briefly, Anu Bava reluctantly stepped west as well.
* * *
As shown on the hologram map, the distance to the destination wasn’t far.
Passing the narrow corridor where the three first met and heading further west revealed a wide central passage, where they encountered two more escort soldiers.
But for Young-woo, who had already taken down one escort soldier and knew their durability decreased with hits, they weren’t a big obstacle.
Thud!
In just nine exchanges, Young-woo felled the two escort soldiers, now looking like a local guide to the other two participants.
“Your adaptability is incredible.”
As Otavio spoke, staring at the escort soldier turning to smoke and vanishing, Young-woo unfolded the map again and muttered.
“That’s why I’m still alive.”
Then he pointed to the large door ahead.
“Something’s probably in there, so those who want to spare their lives, stay here.”
“…….”
The door Young-woo pointed to was the room marked “First Prince” on the map.
Of course, the map only showed a wedge pattern in the large room, so it was unknown if the First Prince truly existed there in the flesh or if it was just labeled as his room.
Anyway, the important thing was.
‘If I play it right, I might see the chairman in his youth, and if I’m even luckier.’
Crunch.
‘I might get to punch the chairman.’
The chairman in the room was probably a replica like the escort soldiers, but that was enough.
Punching the real chairman wouldn’t leave his neck intact.
“I’m going in.”
Leaving a curt farewell to the two participants, Young-woo strode toward the large door ahead.
For a room housing the First Prince, escort squad commander no less, no guards were posted at the entrance.
Without the map, he might’ve just passed it as an unusually large door.
Three low steps led to the door, and as Young-woo ascended them one by one, it slowly began to open.
Rumble……
“…Whoa.”
Just as marked on the map, the First Prince’s room was excessively spacious.
About fifteen times the size of the bedroom where Young-woo’s dungeon started.
Black steel tiles covered the vast room’s center, with countless weapons—swords, spears, axes, and more—stabbed into it.
So this was.
‘A training hall.’
Strictly speaking, originally an office, but it looked like First Prince Dogo Besedel had converted it into a training hall.
Furniture like desks, bookshelves, and dining tables lay smashed and piled haphazardly in the corners.
Moreover, a 4-meter great reception arrow was deeply embedded in the wall, who knows what happened here.
‘This is a prince’s room?’
Stunned by the brutal scene so unlike his imagination, Young-woo stepped inside, admiring.
Step.
As Young-woo entered through the large door, someone in gray armor stood in the center of the steel tiles ahead.
“…Chairman?”
No need to enhance his vision.
Young-woo recognized the chairman—no, First Prince Dogo Besedel—at a glance.
The armor enveloping his body had no breaks or dents, but the form and stance were unmistakably Chairman Dogo.
Of course, precisely speaking.
‘The chairman in his fresh young days?’
Just seeing the spotless armor like new, compared to present Dogo, showed he was a novice.
This was Dogo before traversing countless cosmic battlefields.
In other words.
‘Still a total punk……?’
And if that was one of this dungeon’s elite monsters, loot was surely involved.
Gripping the supply sword Otavio had given him, Young-woo stepped forward brimming with confidence.
“Hey, Dogo!”
Then the First Prince quietly turned toward Young-woo.
-…….
And as if waiting, the dungeon system’s global announcement appeared.
「One participant has had an audience with the First Prince.」
“…Huh?”
Then a terrifyingly crimson warning message appeared.
【Boss battle begins.】
“……!”
It was then that Young-woo sensed the heavy presence above his head.
Whoosh!
“What the……!”
Young-woo reflexively dodged sideways, and soon the spot he’d been was crushed by a black silhouette.
Boom!
‘Subordinates……? Well, it’s the boss monster.’
Backing up two more steps, Young-woo looked up to see a giant knight in pitch-black chain armor, helmet to toe, rising.
It had been stuck to the ceiling above the room’s entrance all along.
“Black Eye… Desirak.”
Reading the name tag above the knight’s head, it turned and looked down at Young-woo.
「Black Eye – Desirak」
Unlike typical chain armor, its face was fully covered in dense chains, like an iron veil.
Thus, neither its gaze nor face could be properly discerned.
‘Do all Besedels cover their faces by tradition?’
Its height was immense—who knows how tall, at least twice Young-woo’s 2.2 meters.
Bluish lighting from somewhere in the room made Desirak’s long shadow tinged navy, adding an eerie feel.
Sss……
Sharp killing intent overflowed from its body in cold form.
“Haha… wow, the prince’s direct escort, huh?”
Young-woo chuckled awkwardly, glancing between Desirak and Dogo, but he was still the only one laughing.
Then finally.
-Interesting.
The First Prince, Dogo, spoke.
Even the timbre was remarkably similar to Chairman Dogo’s.
“Wha? Your Highness speaks?”
Startled, Young-woo’s eyes widened as he asked, and Prince Dogo flicked a finger slightly.
Snap.
An intangible wave erupted from Dogo, sweeping the training hall, soon reaching Young-woo’s feet.
Fwoosh!
“Ugh……!”
Young-woo suddenly felt his body tremble, legs giving way.
Looking down, both knees were already on the floor.
The power of the wave that just grazed him.
So this was.
‘Like the aura of the Greatest Swordsman.’
Novice Dogo with flawless armor, yet a single gesture forced the Korean Peninsula’s Greatest Swordsman to kneel.
Thus Young-woo thought.
‘You sneaky bastard! If I had the Bastard……!’
Far from awe at the opponent’s power, he just lamented the bad timing and place.
After all, wasn’t the Bastard meant to let him fight such foes evenly?
However, at least prince-era Dogo seemed more lenient in temperament than now.
-Ah, a mere beast.
Seeing Young-woo kneel instantly, Dogo withdrew his aura and placed a hand on his waist scabbard.
Clack.
-Come here. If you make me draw my sword even for a moment, you’ll no longer be a mere beast.
“So, if I make Your Highness draw his sword, that means boss battle victory?”
Young-woo dusted his knees and stood, and Dogo’s silence gave tacit agreement.
And meanwhile.
Sss……
Another presence slowly stirred on the ceiling.
‘No, these guys are for real.’
The direct escorts on the ceiling weren’t just Desirak.
Likely more would appear closer to the prince.
An absurdly difficult boss battle.
‘Just telling me to die?’
So Young-woo blinked rapidly.
Was there another way?
A way to make that arrogant bastard draw his sword……
‘Ah!’
Something flashed in his mind, and Young-woo unwittingly gaped.
Then.
Flick!
He pointed a finger, daring to indicate the prince’s scabbard.
“That thing, it’s not the real Bastard, right? Let’s take a look!”