Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 105

 

DINOSAUR(6)

 

│Labyrinth Exploration NaN Episode 9, Nationwide CVG Advance Booking Begins│

 

│100,000 Pre-bookings, 43.6% Booking Rate. The Power of Fandom Ignites│

 

│Can Mitamnan Become a New Era Across All Platforms?│

 

│You Can Watch It on TV, So Why Bother? There Are Reasons│

 

Seon News Reporter Lee Jin-yoon

 

The theatrical release of Labyrinth Exploration NaN Episode 9 is leading the overall advance booking rankings for its opening day.

 

According to the Korean Film Council’s integrated cinema ticketing system, ‘Mitamnan Episode 9’ recorded first place overall with a 43% booking rate and 100,000 pre-bookings for its opening day.

 

It’s already unprecedented for an explorer competition program—neither a movie nor a drama—to release a specific episode in theaters, and this experimental challenge seems to be heading toward success…

 

[ Yongamek Verification ]

 

Damn, I’m in the front row but couldn’t hold back. I was worried about getting spoiled while waiting for the theater so I just came, but there are so many people..

 

─But I’m seriously curious, why go all the way to the movie theater? This is my first time seeing simultaneous TV and theater release.

 

└The screen size is different; They edited it with theatrical release in mind from the start.

 

└Just seeing Kang Hyeon on the big screen is worth it

 

└Rumor is there’s even a stage greeting. You just watch at home.

 

─Ugh, I’m jealous,, I couldn’t even try. Everything sold out immediately..

 

[ Dragon user but fighting in the lobby lmaooo ]

 

Someone was suddenly screaming their head off so I was like what’s going on, turns out they’re fighting lmaooo so dramatic

 

─You’re there too? lololol That crazy guy is going nuts because they won’t give him a poster lolol I mean, it’s not even a movie, where would there be a poster

 

└What? Someone said they were giving out posters, was that a lie? Then why did they make such awesome posters

 

─Must be crowded. There were lots of rumors that this episode turned out well.

 

─Our neighborhood CVS is also packed with people lol

 

CVG Yongsan I’Park Mall IMAX. The so-called Yongamek is packed to the brim today.

 

──Let go of this! Won’t you let go?!!!! Damn it!!!! Give me the poster!!!! At least give me the one hanging there!!!!

 

“…Ah, so noisy.”

 

A crowd similar to when a blockbuster collaboration between famous directors and actors is released, something rarely seen these days.

 

Lee Si-ah’s heart is also fluttering a little. There’s a rumor, though not very reliable, that Mitamnan cast will come for a stage greeting today.

 

“Whew…”

 

Lee Si-ah sat in the prime seats at Yongamek.

 

No need for popcorn or cola. It’s a shame she can’t see KakaoTalk since it’s a movie theater, but well. They must have released it as a movie because they’re confident they can provide that level of immersion, right?

 

Tap tap.

 

The lights dimmed and the screening began.

 

〔NaN World〕

 

“Oho…”

 

She unconsciously muttered then quickly covered her mouth. She thought she was at home.

 

Anyway, it’s different from the opening. The screen itself is so large that the atmosphere filling her entire field of vision is overwhelming.

 

〔RAINOS〕

 

〔DAY ２〕

 

Who could the opening be? Drumroll drumroll. While nervously anticipating──

 

Seol Ha-woon appeared!

 

The location is that orphanage from the previous episode.

 

Seol Ha-woon is the opening for such an important theatrical release. This is no ordinary matter.

 

There were many rumors that Seol Ha-woon’s screen time was protagonist-level, could it be true?

 

─Seol Ha-woon: I found this at that bastard’s house.

 

Seol Ha-woon held out the child’s pendant to the orphanage director. The director’s face twisted sadly.

 

─Director: Probably… those young children who left Roha with us were planning to come find their child later. With this pendant… they would be able to recognize their own child.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: I don’t need the backstory.

 

─Director: Ah, yes. I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking straight. Please wait just a moment…

 

─Seol Ha-woon: No. Rather than money.

 

Seol Ha-woon refuses the completion fee. The currency of the Labyrinth World would be decent loot too.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: Black tea. I want to buy as much as possible of those tea leaves you said were grown in your hometown.

 

He’s making excuses about tea because he’s embarrassed.

 

While Lee Si-ah smiles warmly, the screen transitions.

 

─Kang Hyeon: Dong-ha. How’s work?

 

─Kim Dong-ha: Yeah. It’s busy, but what kind of company has this many assassination attempts? How have they survived?

 

Kang Hyeon and Kim Dong-ha. Coincidentally hired as bodyguards for the same company, they’re leaving work together.

 

─Hey.

 

Some NPC appeared from the alley.

 

A rather fierce-looking woman with a beastly tone. She has a sturdy build and considerable muscle.

 

─Are you the guys who came from across the sea?

 

The two took defensive stances. The woman grinned.

 

─Syndra: I’m Syndra. No need to be on guard. I heard you’re looking for work.

 

─Kang Hyeon: …Work?

 

─Syndra: That’s right. I’ll pay you as much as you want.

 

As much as they want. Just as Kang Hyeon and Kim Dong-ha were gauging each other’s reactions, the perspective changed again.

 

This time it’s Kate.

 

She went underground to resolve a complaint about sewers getting clogged too frequently, and encountered a strange creature.

 

A new type of monster born from sewage and filth mixed with magic power.

 

─Kate: Hyup!

 

Kate’s characteristic visually pleasing combat unfolded. Magic power flashed brilliantly each time she swung her long spear. Some swordsman assigned to the same mission also diligently assisted her.

 

Both were wearing radiation protection suits, so their faces weren’t clearly visible, but anyway, all the monsters had been dealt with.

 

─Kate: Haa.

 

After completing the mission, Kate, who had come up to the ground, was the first to take off her protective suit.

 

─Kate: …Good work. The cost-effectiveness wasn’t very good though.

 

─Swordsman: Yes.

 

The swordsman on the opposite side also lifted his helmet.

 

But then.

 

─Kim Du-gyeom: That’s right.

 

It was Kim Du-gyeom!

 

The movie theater suddenly started murmuring.

 

A minor plot twist. As expected of Mitamnan. They made the decision not to edit out Kim Du-gyeom for smooth progression.

 

Though it seems like opinions will be divided either way…

 

─Kate: Please go in.

 

Kate gives a businesslike smile. Her beauty makes it clear why she’s so popular.

 

While seeming entirely gentle, there’s an unspoken pressure within that says don’t come near me.

 

A person with incredibly strong presence who thoroughly maintains her ‘line’ and doesn’t allow others to cross it.

 

─Kim Du-gyeom: Ah… yes.

 

Kim Du-gyeom stares blankly at Kate. His expression is somewhat disgusting.

 

Just as they were about to part ways.

 

─Ms. Kate. Mr. Kim Du-gyeom, is it.

 

Some group called out to the two of them. They were men in neat suits.

 

─Nice to meet you.

 

Kate glares at them suspiciously and…

 

─Butcher: Huff… huff…

 

It quickly cuts to an urgent scene.

 

This time, someone is frantically running around a cold storage. A man with considerable bulk. Is he being chased by someone?

 

He runs precariously and then.

 

─Butcher: Kyaaaah!

 

He stepped on a bear trap made of magic power.

 

─Butcher: Kuk. Kuuuk…

 

Dragging his leg, he looks around somewhere. The camera follows to show that place too.

 

A shaking angle here and there. In the darkness of the cold storage thick with cold energy, beast-like bluish eyes flash.

 

Thud-!

 

The sound of a walking stick scatters like fragments.

 

It’s Seol Ha-woon.

 

─Butcher: You, you damn, damn, bas, bastard!

 

As the heavy mass of flesh curses at him, a flashback scene seeps in.

 

‘Name is Bico. Butcher. BICO THE BUTCHER. He’s a vicious criminal.’

 

A flashback of Seol Ha-woon preparing for bounty hunting at the tavern.

 

‘They say he butchers travelers at the cold storage on the city outskirts, and he’s killed several vigilante group members too, so even we can’t easily touch him. He’s set up the entire cold storage like a workshop…’

 

‘I’ll go with this one.’

 

While drinking black tea, Seol Ha-woon chooses Bico. The tavern owner asks back with a strange look.

 

‘Why specifically a vicious criminal?’

 

He quietly replies.

 

‘That’s more comfortable.’

 

Returning to the present, Bico is crawling on the floor.

 

─Bico: Th, th, this!

 

He gripped his butcher knife and looked around before throwing it toward where the walking stick sound was coming from.

 

Thunk!

 

The sound of it embedding was heard.

 

─Bico: Heh, hehe! Got you!

 

Bico grinned, but the blade was blocked in mid-air. His eyes widened in shock.

 

─Bico: Wh, what, guy…

 

─Seol Ha-woon: Guys like you always say the same thing.

 

At this moment, Lee Si-ah somehow thought of Kim Du-gyeom.

 

Seol Ha-woon dealing with Kim Du-gyeom, Seol Ha-woon looking at Kim Du-gyeom, wasn’t he really like this?

 

Suddenly her spine grows chilly.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: ….

 

Seol Ha-woon didn’t finish off Bico. Rather, he left him there and turned back.

 

─Bico: Where, where are you going! Come, come with me!

 

The vicious criminal struggles and reaches out his hand but.

 

Thud. Thud.

 

As soon as Seol Ha-woon exits the cold storage, he closes the door and places his hand on it.

 

Crrrrrack──-

 

The sound of the entire storage freezing solid. Cold Amplification.

 

The movie theater suddenly seems to have gotten cold too.

 

“….”

 

The camera quietly captures the back of Seol Ha-woon as he walks away, leaning on his walking stick.

 

A dark soundtrack flows heavily.

 

He is… a person who shows no mercy to enemies. An infinitely terrifying person.

 

Lee Si-ah unconsciously placed her hand on her heart.

 

Every scene with Seol Ha-woon makes tension run wild. Her lips become parched.

 

Probably, the entire theater feels the same way.

 

When he appears, even people eating popcorn or drinking cola freeze in place.

 

〔City – Tai-ryung〕

 

〔DAY 3〕

 

The story then briefly shifted to the east.

 

The Eastern Region was mainly about Lee Jun-ho, Seo Ji-woo, and Yoon Hwa-rim. They performed quests in caves and filmed some action sequences after meeting a Taoist Mage.

 

It was quite entertaining. Even if they had released just the Eastern Region part as a separate movie, it would have been successful.

 

Lee Jun-ho and Seo Ji-woo fans would absolutely love it.

 

However, Lee Si-ah simply took it as a break.

 

Because…

 

〔RAINOS〕

 

─Tavern Owner: Would you like to take on a new job?

 

The long-awaited West.

 

The tavern owner asked Seol Ha-woon.

 

─Tavern Owner: Word about you has been spreading lately. A corporation came looking for you.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: …A corporation?

 

─Tavern Owner: That’s right. A mage like you is always the kind of talent corporations seek. Think it over carefully and go check it out. You’ll be able to earn much more than catching trash here.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: …

 

Seol Ha-woon accepted the tavern owner’s proposal and moved to the building written in the document.

 

[Estin Corporation]

 

He enters the building and takes the elevator up.

 

The office on the 77th floor.

 

There, an unknown man stood looking out the glass window.

 

─You’ve arrived. Welcome.

 

He turned to look at Seol Ha-woon. A 2:8 pomade hairstyle. Rimless glasses. Long, slender limbs. He was a very neat and handsome NPC.

 

─Seer: I’m ‘Seer,’ the Raynos branch manager of Estin Corporation. Please, have a seat.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: Yes.

 

─Seer: Your name is Ha-woon, correct? As you know, Estin Corporation is one of the leading major corporations in the Labyrinth…

 

Seer explained about his business.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: The introduction is fine.

 

─Seer: …Yes. Since some time ago, scavengers have been flocking to our construction site. It’s probably at someone’s instigation, but

 

The request was for construction site security.

 

For a job from a major corporation, it seemed too trivial.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: You want me to handle all these strays by myself?

 

─Seer: To be more precise, we’re looking for a mage with that level of skill.

 

A mage with that level of skill. It seemed to be an employment test.

 

Seol Ha-woon stared intently at Seer. As if trying to see into his heart…

 

〔DAY 4〕

 

A dark construction site. Ruins where framework was piled up in heaps, where construction had made no progress at all, just as Seer had said.

 

Seol Ha-woon was there.

 

He was merely standing, but that itself was security and escort.

 

Lee Si-ah felt good. There really was a lot of screen time.

 

Rumble.

 

Construction began. There were no workers, everything was machinery. Seol Ha-woon quietly watched the machines building the structure.

 

…Swish.

 

From somewhere, multiple presences moved stealthily. The camera captured their movements.

 

Without Seol Ha-woon’s knowledge, they moved with remarkable organization to surround him.

 

Click-

 

They aimed their gun barrels at him and immediately fired.

 

The entire process took less than 30 seconds.

 

Bang───-

 

The footage slowed down with the gunshot. Bullets swam through the air, and Seol Ha-woon looked at them rushing toward him.

 

Though the frame was very slow, only his pupils moved quickly. A speed that even high-speed cameras couldn’t capture. In the colorless screen, only his magic power glowed deep blue.

 

It was ultra-high-speed calculation of formulas.

 

The moment Lee Si-ah’s eyes widened.

 

Countless mana bullets stopped right in front of his nose. The warheads vibrated palely and bluely in place.

 

They were caught by a mana barrier.

 

Tap.

 

Seol Ha-woon stepped forward with his walking stick.

 

Immediately after, the trajectory of the shots reversed. Following the path they had been fired at him─as if reversing time.

 

Gack! Guk! Guk! Urk!

 

The slow motion was released. The attackers were annihilated in one second.

 

Lee Si-ah swallowed. The theater was quiet as if holding its breath.

 

Seol Ha-woon, who had single-handedly blocked the ambush, was relaxed.

 

Too peaceful.

 

He simply took out his thermos and poured black tea into the lid, taking one sip.

 

Looking up at the still dark night and moon, a second sip.

 

With his eyes closed, a third sip.

 

Lee Si-ah couldn’t take her eyes off that elegant figure. Every audience member here was watching Seol Ha-woon.

 

There was no room to think of anything else. Only the sound of breathing flowed quietly. Every gesture he made on this screen, every glance, every word he spoke, every action was all… so captivating.

 

Clap. Clap. Clap.

 

Suddenly, the sound of applause could be heard. Lee Si-ah was startled. She thought someone had clapped in the Theater.

 

─Seer: Perfect.

 

It was Seer.

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