Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 103

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 103

 

DINOSAUR(4)

 

Ultra-High Density Magic Stone Bomb. A device that appeared to have dozens of magic stones compressed under high pressure. The only cargo on Seol Ha-woon’s cart that wasn’t food supplies.

 

Kate easily understood his intention.

 

Crack-!

 

She summoned her long spear and attached the bomb to its tip. Securely with magic rope.

 

“Kate. I’m ready.”

 

She received someone’s signal. Kate immediately hurled the spear toward the point where the magical beasts were concentrated.

 

Whoooosh──!

 

An explosion erupted as it touched the road surface.

 

Originally, the magic power should have been limited to one point, but it moved in a longer pattern. The ‘prepared mage’ was grasping and stretching the magic power. As if drawing a curve.

 

Kwaaaaah──!

 

The blast wave spreading like a donut completely devoured all the magical beasts surrounding the base.

 

With just one bombardment, 80% of the magical beasts were annihilated.

 

“…The performance is insane.”

 

The mage, Seo Ji-woo, was impressed. She wiped her sweat and placed her hand on Kate’s shoulder.

 

“Good work~”

 

Kate brushed it off.

 

“Please go eat now.”

 

“What about you?”

 

“…Please, would you go ahead first?”

 

Kate deliberately used extremely formal language. It was a polite request to keep some distance.

 

“Okay. See you later.”

 

Whether she was being insensitive or ignoring her.

 

Kate glared at Seo Ji-woo’s retreating figure before turning away sharply.

 

The faces unloading food supplies from the cargo were all smiles. Numerous snacks, three sacks of rice, herbal pills that helped with fatigue and stamina recovery. Enough to last three days.

 

“…Smell that.”

 

In the village where the savory scent of cooking rice wafted up, proper rationed meals were being distributed for the first time in a while.

 

The menu consisted only of rice cooked like porridge and snacks. But even this was a feast for everyone.

 

“What kind of snack is this that tastes so good? It tastes like beef bone broth, and that’s what gives it the kick.”

 

Lee Jun-ho turned the snack this way and that, as if it were fascinating.

 

“You’re right, hyung.”

 

Kim Woo-hyeon agreed.

 

Nacho-shaped snacks. When you put the porridge on top and eat it, it felt like beef was blooming in your mouth.

 

It was good enough that they’d want to eat it even after going home.

 

“Wow. My fatigue is already fully recovered.”

 

Kim Dong-ha patted his stomach and let out a hollow laugh. After eating some herbal pills for dessert, his fatigue had reached 80!

 

“Everyone~ Did you all eat well? There’s still some left, so if you’re hungry, please have some more~”

 

Meanwhile, Yoon Hwa-rim took care of the 14 civilians who had been with her since her base first.

 

“Ah~ It’s nothing special. Please don’t do that~”

 

Lee Jong-soo was being revered like an idol by the civilians.

 

Kate passed by all of them and reached a corner of the village. A cart and scarecrow were placed there.

 

She leaned against them.

 

“I’ll enjoy drinking this.”

 

She held up her teacup. A tea bag personally made by Seol Ha-woon.

 

Then the scarecrow moved slightly.

 

─Savourez bien votre thé.

 

Kate smiled bitterly.

 

“…Why do you beat around the bush with my gratitude like that?”

 

─You know the phrase ‘beat around the bush’ too?

 

“I might be better at it than most Koreans. I have some talent with languages. Your French pronunciation is the same, Ha-woon.”

 

The scarecrow bowed its head as if grateful for the compliment. Like a butler.

 

…’Butler’?

 

A small pain struck Kate’s temple.

 

─Please take care of the western crystals. Let’s do well together until the end, being in the same situation.

 

“Yes… It’ll probably end quickly.”

 

The only problem was food supplies. Thanks to the offenders gathering at one base, route planning had become easier, so it wouldn’t take long.

 

Kate smiled along with her black tea.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

 

However, when she turned around, that smile disappeared without a trace. Her expression froze into something much colder.

 

To her, Seol Ha-woon was not a friend. Not a colleague either. Rather, he was an enemy.

 

An enemy of the family who should rightfully be eliminated.

 

So even if she smiled in front of him, she always had to hide a sword behind her back.

 

She had to be ready to stab at any time…

 

* * *

 

The offenders who had recovered their fatigue moved simultaneously.

 

The eastern forces, based on the route Kate had meticulously planned, smashed most of the crystals in 36 hours──

 

And finally, now.

 

[ Remaining crystals: 1 ]

 

The last one remained.

 

“…Phew.”

 

Kang Hyeon sighed while wiping his broad sword.

 

“Ah, it was long, so long. Feels like we did this for a year.”

 

Seo Ji-woo frowned as if she was sick of it. Lee Jun-ho also gestured at the crystal with his chin.

 

“Break it quickly. I’m sick of looking at that thing.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Kang Hyeon swung the sword he was gripping.

 

Clang!

 

[ Remaining crystals: 0 ]

 

“Done!”

 

“Did we get it?!”

 

Seo Ji-woo’s innocent exclamation.

 

Perhaps, a cliché that shouldn’t have been said.

 

[ In 30 minutes, magical beasts will make their final move. ]

 

[ The role of the 33 surviving explorers will be fixed as defenders. ]

 

[ Survive for 6 hours. ]

 

“…Huh?”

 

Seo Ji-woo tilted her head in confusion. A chilly wind brushed against the three people’s skin.

 

“Ah seriously, hey Seo Ji-woo! I told you not to say stuff like that from way back!”

 

Lee Jun-ho irritably threw his sword aside. Seo Ji-woo blinked her eyes in bewilderment.

 

“No, hey. Is this because of me?”

 

“Ah shit, forget it. Let’s just go.”

 

“No, no, no, this is because of me? This event happened because of what I said?”

 

“Let’s go, Ji-woo. This isn’t the first or second time you’ve done this, so I’ll understand.”

 

“Wow, look at this guy. Hey! Is this my fault or what!”

 

“Ji-woo. Don’t get excited from the start, okay? I’m doing this because I’m worried about you. You’ll really die later if you keep this up. Think about if this was an actual Labyrinth. The moment you go ‘Did I get them?’, your head gets blown off.”

 

“No, you fucking son of a-”

 

Kang Hyeon watched the two of them and then turned around.

 

Trudging along, he headed toward the base.

 

“Fucking crazy#!@#!@#”

 

He just wanted to hurry and go eat some snacks. Chicken-flavored snacks, bone broth-flavored snacks, pork belly-flavored snacks. He could only choose one of the three…

 

“You chicken-brained bastard, why are you taking it out on me!”

 

…I’ll go with chicken leg.

 

* * *

 

[ In 30 minutes, the demonic beasts will make their final move. ]

 

[ The role of the 33 surviving explorers will be fixed as Defender. ]

 

[ Survive for 6 hours. ]

 

“…This is really annoying.”

 

My legs are killing me. I climbed the castle wall while looking at the System Message.

 

Thud thud thud thud thud…

 

The earth rumbles in the distance. All of it, the sounds of demonic beasts.

 

“Boss!”

 

“Mal-ok Hyung!”

 

Im Hae-jun and Lee Jong-soo came running.

 

“What do we do about this?”

 

“What do you mean what do we do. We just endure.”

 

Fortunately, I have plenty of arrows left. Kesooabi and Yoonsooabi are also in good shape.

 

Since I’ve been saving them up until now, I should pour everything out at this moment.

 

Thoom──! Thoom──!

 

Suddenly an ominous rumbling arose.

 

Thoom──! Thoom──!

 

Giant footsteps. With each crushing stride, the dust on the road surface stirred.

 

Thoom──! Thoom──!

 

I narrowed my eyes. I stared at some existence wavering at the edge of the horizon.

 

“…Ha.”

 

There was a giant.

 

Its height must be about 20 meters.

 

Thoom──! Thoom──!

 

The thing approaching while trampling the ground.

 

“…What is that thing.”

 

“Crazy.”

 

Im Hae-jun and Lee Jong-soo were also shocked.

 

The giant bent its knees not far away. As if trying to pour something out.

 

Only then did I perceive the thing in more detail.

 

“…It’s not a single entity.”

 

“What?”

 

When magnified, it’s a swarm of demonic beasts. The skin all over its body consists of different demonic beasts.

 

A colony formed by thousands, or perhaps tens of thousands of demonic beasts merged into one.

 

The thing is now trying to ‘shoot itself’ toward our base.

 

“Oh no.”

 

Before I could even voice my dismay, the demonic beast leaped high.

 

Kwaaaaaa───!

 

Demonic beasts fall like raindrops from the massive body soaring through the sky. Bizarre chunks of flesh of all forms rain down like precipitation.

 

Hallelujah.

 

I activated the sequence. The movements of the demonic beasts slowed down. The creatures spread like a curtain had already blocked out the sun.

 

There’s no need to be afraid.

 

I didn’t expect this, but I had prepared for it.

 

The formula I had inscribed throughout this entire base.

 

I planted AC-0308 on the ground.

 

Thoom──!

 

Magic power instantly extended through the walking stick. I activated the formula beneath the ground.

 

It’s a special Mental Visualization.

 

A technology devised at the national level to prepare for war where death is dropped, the end of regions. A fortress that defends the whole from bombardment.

 

Terminal High Altitude Area Defense [THAAD]

 

My formula that mimics it will highly bestow individual order upon magic power.

 

It’s not just a formula that performs functions, but an act of granting an actual system to magic power.

 

Gooooo…

 

The magic power generated from the formula settles on my back. The demonic beasts are still flying toward us. Like the mucus spewed by Leviathan.

 

To me they’re slow, but clear.

 

Thoom───!

 

The wave of magic power struck the road surface once more. The turbulent waves shook the space.

 

Swoooosh───

 

The formula surges. Magic power shoots up. Countless blue bullets bloom upward, detecting enemies on their own like radar.

 

Altitude 1 kilometer.

 

First interception. The pouring demonic beasts are penetrated by magic power. Flesh and organs decompose and crash to the ground.

 

There are still many left.

 

Altitude 500m.

 

Second defense line. Dully condensed magic power aims at enemies with anti-aircraft gun-like precision.

 

Kwaang! Bang!

 

Blue flames flicker in the sky. The exploding demon beast flesh turns to ash and scatters.

 

Altitude 100m.

 

The last. A grid pattern is carved in the air. The trembling of magic power that completely burns the approach of demon beasts that couldn’t be filtered out. The demon beasts collide with this surface and are annihilated.

 

───-

 

How many minutes had passed? The sky cleared again, and my magic power was completely exhausted.

 

“…Wow. That’s insane.”

 

Im Hae-jun is amazed, but I’ve only dealt with one swarm.

 

There are still countless individual demon beasts overflowing on the other side.

 

The problem is that I don’t have much strength left.

 

I’m so sleepy.

 

It’s not just being sleepy.

 

If I lie down like this, it won’t be sleep but fainting.

 

“…Ah!”

 

Suddenly, a thought comes to mind.

 

「Fatigue Recovery Potion」

 

The potion that can revive even the half-dead is in my possession. Right now I’m in a half-dead state both magically and physically.

 

The moment I took out the potion to open the cap.

 

“Royal Inspector! This is terrible!”

 

The Village Chief’s cry was heard. He was running on his two legs. Even abandoning his walking stick.

 

“Hyeon Dan, Sergeant Hyeon Dan is in danger!”

 

* * *

 

Hyeon Dan was lying on a sickbed. The entire body of the small child, only 16 years old, was covered in blood.

 

Her complexion is more dangerous than the bleeding. Her blood vessels are already turning dark. She’s been poisoned by a demon beast.

 

I checked the remaining time.

 

[ 3 : 13 : 23 ]

 

3 hours.

 

I just need to endure for 3 hours anyway.

 

In this situation, the herbalist’s utility is now… coldly speaking, none.

 

The method to heal her is in my hands, but to clear the labyrinth, and for everyone to win, leaving her might be the ‘right’ choice.

 

This recovery potion should be used by me.

 

For the success of the operation.

 

“…Royal Inspector.”

 

The Village Chief asked with a trembling voice. Hyeon Seon-ah’s sniffling, who had rushed over, was annoying.

 

“….”

 

I pondered while looking at the potion.

 

Choice.

 

What is the right choice?

 

The righteousness I learned through countless battlefields was ‘victory’.

 

Success of operations. Enemy retreat. Value-neutral decisions that prioritize the war situation over a few lives.

 

Comrades whose fingers trembled after killing children, commanders who drove fellow soldiers to death, superiors who praised it as unavoidable sacrifice or devotion to the country.

 

All of that was the right choice.

 

Righteousness was a trophy given to the victor.

 

But how many nights were there before that choice, how deep was the anguish?

 

That’s how it was then.

 

Now it’s different.

 

Being right is ultimately a standard. It’s not some unchanging truth.

 

Depending on the person, depending on the situation, it can change at any time.

 

Time changes everything.

 

I became that way too.

 

The right choice for me now is…

 

This.

 

I parted Hyeon Dan’s lips. I poured the potion in.

 

Gulp. Gulp.

 

Though it’s only about three sips, Hyeon Dan’s breathing quickly stabilizes. Vitality returns to her complexion, and her dying breath turns into sleep talking.

 

Kraaaang. Kraang.

 

What kind of dinosaur is this?

 

“She’ll be fine now. Please take care of the nursing.”

 

“As, as expected of the Royal Inspector!”

 

I took out a snack bag from my inner pocket. Even this doesn’t have much left.

 

I just need to suffer a little more. I just need to push myself to the limit.

 

‘Sequence’ makes that possible.

 

Overload of the entire nervous system. Sleep and fatigue are just signals the body sends anyway.

 

People often misunderstand, but originally magic power recovers faster than stamina. Especially for talent like mine where magic power overwhelms stamina.

 

This is why magic power overuse and qi deviation occur.

 

Pazzt!

 

I activate the implant and advance to the front line-

 

“…Royal Inspector.”

 

Suddenly Hyeon Dan woke up.

 

I turned to look at her.

 

“I… brought something… very good.”

 

A tired, drawn-out voice. But grinning with satisfaction, she points to a basket scattered on one side of the sickbed.

 

“…This?”

 

“Yes yes….”

 

I picked it up. There was a flower with quite an unusual appearance, carefully wrapped in the wrapping cloth that Hyeon Dan treasures.

 

[ Eternal Ice Herb ]■ Herb imbued with vitality that never melts■ Complete recovery of stamina, fatigue, and magic power upon consumption■ 500% increase in natural recovery speed of stamina, fatigue, and magic power for 180 minutes

 

Suddenly, my mind went blank. I stared blankly at the information window.

 

This was the herb most needed at this moment.

 

“Hehe… How is it?”

 

Hyeon Dan grinned.

 

I should have thought about it.

 

The reason why she, who had always operated safely while being solely responsible for herbs for all combat personnel, suddenly came back with serious injuries today.

 

I should have considered it more deeply.

 

If I had rashly accepted her death.

 

No, if I had left her to die….

 

“Sergeant Hyeon. Rest comfortably. When you wake up from a nap, we’ll have won.”

 

“Oh my. The Royal Inspector is indeed reliable….”

 

Hyeon Dan’s eyes relaxed. She fell asleep as if smiling.

 

I left the Medical Office.

 

Staring at the ground covered with magical beasts, I shoved the Eternal Ice Herb into my mouth.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————