Dungeon Defense Discussion [Korean Light Novel]

[biigoh]

From left to right: Low class birth, Lapis Lazuli. Worst, Lowest, and Weakest Demon Lord, Dantalian. Rank 8th Demon Lord, Barbatos. World’s Richest Man, Ivar Lodbrok. Rank 5th Demon Lord, Marbas. Rank 9th Demon Lord, Paimon.

The light novel is the 3.0 version. Originally, there was a webnovel, then a light novel that failed and floundered, and it got redone and the current light novel version is doing well.

Currently, there are 3 volumes out, and translation by Shalvation is excellent, and he's almost done translating the 3rd volume.

This is not a shonen type light novel, rather it's a seinen light novel where mind games will show up in place of "it's over 9000!" power levels and power creep. The story IS for mature readers and has mature subject matters, and features twisted characters and mind games. There have been numerous comparisons to Light Yagami (death note), Lelouch (Code Geass), and so on.

That said, the artwork is beautiful, the characters are complex, and despite it being a "reincarnation" into a fantasy world light novel, it does not have an overpowered main character. Instead, he is effectively basically baseline human with 1 special trait and knowledge about the setting from the human side that wants to kill him and those like him after the tutorial introduction to the world.

Here is the summary of the light novel from the translation site. I am sorry, but you're going to need to google the translation site up, which is an easy enough task, yes?

Do you know how this world ends?

Become the hero and take down the 72 Demon Lords. The game that was boasted as the absolute hardest strategy game, |Dungeon Attack|.

I used to be the ‘hero’ that had accomplished everything in this game, but after answering a suspicious survey, I found myself in the game as the weakest Demon Lord, |Dantalian|.

With only my eloquent tongue and my memories of conquest as a hero—.

In order to survive as Dantalian. I shall tear this world apart.

As a note, this discussion thread WILL have spoilers... but let's be nice to the newcomers who had yet to catch up and use the spoiler tags.

As a side note, this thread is being mirrored on TFF, SB, QQ, and SV. So, if you want to discuss some of the more mature themes or subject matter, you know where to go [QQ].

 

[zerohour]

Currently reading through volume one.  Not really sure if that material counts as spoilers, but just in case...

Spoiler

I guess I can see shades of Lelouch and Light in him, but since he's in the game world of a game he's played through all the paths, he's more of Bill Murray in Groundhog's day.  Right now, he's got all the information that he needs to do basically whatever he wants.  He's taking advantage of knowledge he attained beforehand, rather than predicting things when he's on equal footing with his foes.

Still, it's interesting, and he has a lot of potential.  I'll wait to see how well he can handle things once the butterfly effect really kicks in, or when he has to deal with lower level foes he wouldn't really care about in the game, like goblin chief #63.

Current Question: Is he going to end up with a harem like his dad?  The idea of that happening just makes me want to laugh.

 

[Christopher Robin]

Vol2 turned out to be a shocker, sorta. Feels kinda like the series gets a lot darker after the first one, and all the characters turn out to be super twisted. I like it though. I like thinking protags.

 

[biigoh]

Vol2 turned out to be a shocker, sorta.  Feels kinda like the series gets a lot darker after the first one, and all the characters turn out to be super twisted.  I like it though.  I like thinking protags.

Dantalian is definitely a thinker... and so are his enemies/peers.

***

So.... here we are. Dungeon Defense Volume 3 is now fully translated, afterword and everything.

Dantalian, you magnificent bastard. You've done it...

Spoiler

You have acquired the Mountains. XD

Paimon just said you now belong to her. I actually want to see what the relationship meter that Dantalian has say about the way she defended him against Barbartos and Marbas. :3

 

[biigoh]

Currently reading through volume one.  Not really sure if that material counts as spoilers, but just in case...

Spoiler

I guess I can see shades of Lelouch and Light in him, but since he's in the game world of a game he's played through all the paths, he's more of Bill Murray in Groundhog's day.  Right now, he's got all the information that he needs to do basically whatever he wants.  He's taking advantage of knowledge he attained beforehand, rather than predicting things when he's on equal footing with his foes.

Still, it's interesting, and he has a lot of potential.  I'll wait to see how well he can handle things once the butterfly effect really kicks in, or when he has to deal with lower level foes he wouldn't really care about in the game, like goblin chief #63.

Current Question: Is he going to end up with a harem like his dad?  The idea of that happening just makes me want to laugh.

I will say this... his father was right. Just wait til you get to volume 2 and 3. :3

 

[biigoh]

The covers for volumes 1 to 4 do look rather nice side by side...

 

[daniel_gudman]

So I read volume 1 and 2.

Volume 1 was hilarious and clever, but I feel like Volume 2 had some "top that!" problems; like how a shounen title like Dragon Ball has power-level creep, only instead it was like edgelord-level creep.

That is to say, I think it's going to cross the derp line into self-parody.

But volume 1 was interesting, at least.

 

[seitora]

I think I read up through part of Volume 2, after which the translation at that time was halted. Dantalian is definitely an interesting character, but his human family was really fucked up.

 

[biigoh]

So I read volume 1 and 2.

Volume 1 was hilarious and clever, but I feel like Volume 2 had some "top that!" problems; like how a shounen title like Dragon Ball has power-level creep, only instead it was like edgelord-level creep.

That is to say, I think it's going to cross the derp line into self-parody.

But volume 1 was interesting, at least.

Volume 2 was more luring Barbatos and is actually a nice set up for volume 3. It all actually comes together in volume 3 in a way that made me go "no... Dantalian could NOT have planned this all the way from when he snagged Lapis Lazuli."

 

[biigoh]

I think I read up through part of Volume 2, after which the translation at that time was halted. Dantalian is definitely an interesting character, but his human family was really fucked up.

Yeah... the human family was kind of fucked up. But his father was a harem protagonist and Dantalian was the kid from the yandere waifu... soooo.... ^_^;;;

 

[daniel_gudman]

Maybe I'll go check out Vol 3 then.

...I kind of still can't get over the fact that Barbados -- the "Bearded Old Philosopher" -- was made into an alcoholic battle-maniac loli. At least Paimon was actually supposed to be effeminate (although still a dude) (and always riding a camel) and Marbas was a lion that could turn into a man.

Dantalion was a shapeshifter that could look like any human, male or female, and could read minds, basically.

Well, it wasn't like they were ranked, the number was just how they were listed, Dantalion was actually in like the top third since he (it?) was a Duke with 36 legions after all, exactly the same as Barbados.

Of course, in the end, all of demons listed in the Ars Goetia were those that were perfectly happy to be summoned by humans and teach them all kinds of useful things; after all, worldly knowledge was a distraction from God. So the way they're even debating over a "war" when they are "supposed" to prefer interaction is...

Well, the whole Lesser Key of Solomon is more interesting in the context of Catholic Christianity, I guess? So I guess it bugs me a bit that the author took all the names but didn't actually use any of the core concepts.

 

[biigoh]

Given that there is the von hapsburg empire, the black death, the map basically being europe and the middle east..... The demons named after the ars goetia..... Is kind of an eh thing....

 

[chronodekar]

I just finished binge reading this for the past few days from the online translations here;

https://shalvationtranslations.wordpress.com/dungeon-defense-toc/

I like the plots and scheming, but the gory stuff .. is a bit too much for my personal tastes. It feels a bit like some kind of anime + Game of Thrones crossover. The demon lord, Dantalion is someone who uses his head. But, I'm more curious to know how things will turn out when the playing field is more leveled around - without his game knowledge to guide him, what will he become?

The Go game, and the princesses reaction after, was really amazing. Good show!

-chronodekar

 

[Deathwings]

*sigh*

I'm having the same problem with this that I'm having with Overlord. Incredibly good start and then the author go full Gore Porn to show off how "villainous" the MC is and isn't at all just them furiously masturbating to Grimderp, honest!

What's the fucking point?!

*sigh*

Every time something like this happen, it make me want to grab the author by the throat and force feed them the Successful Overlord List.

 

[zerohour]

After catching up... I'm taking a wait and see approach.  Right not the lead is taking full advantage that he knows what the hell is supposed to happen about ten years before they actually start moving.  So not only does he know who the major players are, he also knows how to exploit their weaknesses and flaws.

Once the scenario deviates enough from the game, I'll be a bit more interested, but right now it's basically free season for him to wreck the hell out of things until he changes the setting enough so that his knowledge is greatly reduced, or people are aware of his skills enough that he isn't the idiot persona he's trying to cultivate.


Also got a bit too much of the 4tehevulz going on, like rubbing his power in the face of the vampire, or slaughtering everyone to cover things up.  Yes, he is a demon, but he should know that pragmatic villainy is way more efficient than evil villainy.

 

[biigoh]

“The 2nd publications of October, <My Past Girlfriend Smiled to Me>, <Banwoldang’s Odd Story: Volume 5>, and <Dungeon Defense: Volume 4> is planned to be released on or after November due to internal affairs. An exact date will be announced on our homepage at a later date. Thank you for your constant interest.”

This notice came out on October 24th, I’m sorry that I was unable to announce this sooner. I didn’t realize they used Twitter to make these sort of announcements.
I’ve been going to only their homepage to check for the release until now.

This delay may be happening due to the fact that they’re planning to put out a DD-themed merchandise along with the book. Don’t take my word for it, this is just my assumption.

Anyway, please continue to be patient! For me, this just means I can rest a bit longer. I’ll be going to the bookstore today to pick up some new reading materials, and maybe I’ll stumble upon another gem. Who knows?

So it looks like next volume of Dungeon Defense is delayed... but it's not going to be delayed that long... so that's good. :3

 

[biigoh]

The release date of the fourth volume of Dungeon Defense has been officially announced.
 
Volume 4 will be released on December 21st.
 
Official thread from Novelengine
 
(Please don’t ask me to translate this, just know that it seems to be heavily focused around Laura.)[/blog]

 
So... volume 4 is coming out for christmas... which means it'll be translated bit by bit in the new year. :3
 

Sauce

 

[biigoh]

Dungeon Defense Volume 4 update by the translator's blog~

I’ve received my copy of <Dungeon Defense: Volume 4>, however, please do not expect any post of it yet. I’m going to wait until I obtain proper scans of the illustrations before I decide to post. I know I posted before with pictures from my phone, but as much as this novel has gain popularity, I feel that much more inclined to provide you guys with the same quality of the book itself.

So I do hope you guys can be patient for a while longer.

Although I won’t be posting until I get the scans, I will still be translating during that time. Translating will start next week(Since I need time to read the book properly and also because it’s Christmas soon), December 26th.

 

[biigoh]

Sooo.... Dungeon Defense volume 4 translation has started. Prologue and Chapter 1 is out.

Interesting interactions all around.

 

[biigoh]

That Chapter 3 of Volume 4.... that ending. Good god, I did not expect that plot twist.

Oh Paimon.... no wonder Dantalian's speech hit all of her buttons.

 

[biigoh]

...

Latest Dungeon Defense chapter got translated. Dantalian gets to see just how twisted a schemer Paimon truly is. Paimon... oh, Paimon.

Also, Dantalian truly wants both Paimon and Barbartos now... XD

 

[zerohour]

I'm enjoying the look behind the scenes of what was probably a generic fantasy game.  Seeing the reasons for a lot of different things that the player might never have known about is interesting.

 

[biigoh]

Agreed on that....

 

[biigoh]

So... Dungeon Defense Volume 4 is now completely translated.

All hail the translater!

Truly, the one with the most character development this volume is Laura de Farnese and Paimon.

Look at that pure smile.

And the delicate way she plays the piano.

 

[biigoh]

Dungeon Defense: Volume 5 – Chapter 4

Humbaba is too pure for this world.

I was being projected on the smoke and in that scene with me was a woman. The woman coincidentally had hair that was white and gave off a silver shine, coincidentally had horns sticking out of her head, and also coincidentally had golden pupils.


— All right. What am I? Go ahead and say it with your own mouth. What am I, Dantalian, to you?

— Master······. Lord Dantalian, mm. Is my, Barbatos’ master······!”


And coincidentally, her name was Barbatos.

The first porno video or is this first Sex Tape leaked. :3