Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 123

—————
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 123

In the house(10)

Inside the casino vault.

Kang Hyeon, Seo Ji-woo, and Eldia’s group had finished preparing for departure. They covered all areas that might be bitten by zombies. It was quite luxurious armor.

They melted gold with magic power and cast it into molds.

“This is what real loot looks like…”

Seo Ji-woo swallowed her saliva while touching the golden armor.

“…Is he trustworthy?”

Eldia asked Kang Hyeon with a worried tone.

“Yes.”

Kang Hyeon answered immediately. Seo Ji-woo chimed in from the side.

“He’s a former special forces member, so relax~”

Seo Ji-woo lightly tapped Eldia’s shoulder. Eldia gave a bitter smile.

─Ready.

Seol Ha-woon’s voice came through the terminal. Everyone had already clearly understood the operation details.

“Check the rope.”

At Seo Ji-woo’s words, everyone checked their waists. The magic rope she had woven was firmly attached.

Soon when gravity reversed, the floor would become the ceiling and the ceiling would become the floor. Then they would need to cross to the ‘tape’ using the rope’s power. They still didn’t know what the tape was. They’d find out when they got there.

“Ready.”

─Start.

Boom—! A loud noise rang out. Gravity was overturned. The gold bars in the vault came pouring down, but the three people’s bodies dangled suspended.

“I’ll open the door. Ji-woo, please control it.”

“Yes.”

Seo Ji-woo extended Eldia’s rope length. Eldia slowly descended and reached the vault’s locking mechanism, opening it with her supervisor authority.

Creeeeak—

As soon as it opened, they pulled Eldia back up.

Immediately after, zombies came pouring inside.

Graaaaahhhhh—!

Hundreds of zombies began running around the spacious vault, and Seo Ji-woo created ropes on the ceiling at one-span intervals.

It was a method of moving from rope to rope like Tarzan.

“…Whew!”

Seo Ji-woo took a deep breath and leaped. Kang Hyeon and Eldia followed behind her.

Graaaah—!

The stupid zombies were rummaging through the clattering pile of gold. She had played some tricks with magic formulas, so they should be able to draw some aggro.

Meanwhile, Seo Ji-woo reached near the lobby. She could clearly see tape laid out like a track.

“Over there. Everyone see it? Let’s go. Hup!”

She flew toward the tape as if falling upside down and pressed her soles against it.

Slap. The shoe soles stuck.

“Ow, my hands hurt.”

Seo Ji-woo touched her trembling arms and swollen palms. Kang Hyeon and Eldia also reached the tape without delay.

“Here.”

Someone called her. Seol Ha-woon with his hair neatly tied up, carried by a robot. He had his usual calm expression.

“Let’s go…”

They walked carefully. It was precarious each time they lifted one leg, but they safely arrived in front of the slot machine.

“Start right away.”

“Okay. What about coins?”

“Don’t need them. I hacked it in advance.”

“I don’t know what hacking is, but okay.”

Seo Ji-woo pulled the slot machine.

Ding ding ding ding—

The slot machine on the screen spins. Particularly clear, bright, and noisy.

Graaaaaaah!

The zombies naturally heard that sound too.

[ ◆ ◇ ◆ ]

It’s not a jackpot, but coins come out.

Ting ting ting ting ting ting-

They all spill onto the floor, quickly attracting the zombies.

Swoooosh! A special zombie that appeared from somewhere shot out its tongue like a tentacle.

Swish! Kang Hyeon beside her drew his sword and cut it.

Seol Ha-woon said.

“Keep spinning.”

“I will.”

Seo Ji-woo pulled the lever again.

Ding ding ding ding-

[ ■ ■ ■ ]

Ting ting ting ting ting- Coins pour out.

“Damn it.”

We don’t need this kind of petty luck.

Zombies had piled up before they knew it. They had somehow made a hill. They trampled each other trying to climb up to the ceiling, but Seol Ha-woon fired explosive bullets.

Whirr- Bang! Whirr- Bang!

He aimed mainly for the heads of the nearby ones and blew them up.

[ ■ ★ ■ ]

Graaaaaaah!

A zombie with good athletic ability jumped all the way up to the ceiling.

Splat. Its head flew toward Kang Hyeon.

[ ★ ♬ ♬ ]

Its face was blown off, but it moved with just its body and jumped up again.

Kang Hyeon cut it completely in half.

“Is this actually working?!”

Seo Ji-woo had already spun it ten times. Seol Ha-woon said while firing his pistol.

“I believe in you.”

“What are you telling me to believe in?”

“I’m telling you to believe in your luck.”

“Huh?”

It’s the first time I’ve been encouraged to trust luck rather than myself.

Ding-ding-ding-ding-

Ding-ding-ding-ding-

Anyway, Seo Ji-woo continued pulling the lever.

Ding-ding-ding-ding-

Ding-ding-ding-ding-

“How many minutes left?”

“3 minutes.”

According to the simulation, they needed to leave at least 2 minutes to comfortably reach the VVIP Room.

“Don’t worry about it.”

“How can I not worry…”

Seo Ji-woo broke out in cold sweat as she pulled the lever.

Ding-ding-ding-ding—

[ ７７ ◆ ]

“Ah, damn!”

So close.

Seo Ji-woo spun again.

[ ７ ● ◆ ]

Come on, seven. 7. 7. 7.

[ ◆ ◆ ◇ ]

“Hah…”

Seo Ji-woo bit her lip. She quietly closed her eyes and stopped the lever.

Luck.

Trust my luck.

Taking a deep breath, she poured her Mental Visualization, single-minded focus, and prayers into this lever. For the jackpot to come out.

“Come on, please…”

—In that instant, some visual illusion flashed by.

It seemed like tiny heat waves were shimmering before her tightly closed eyes.

No, it wasn’t heat waves.

A line.

A very small thread-like line.

What kind of line was it?

Seo Ji-woo opened her eyes. That thread was connected to the lever.

Thunk. She pulled the lever.

Trrrrrrrr…

[ ７ ７ ７ ]

“Yes, we did it!”

Finally, the jackpot hit.

Ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting-ting——!

Coins poured down like a waterfall. Seol Ha-woon mentally counted the remaining time.

10 seconds.

Exactly 10 seconds over.

This margin of error was tolerable. Let’s put Plan B aside for now.

[ Slot Machine #317, Jackpot! ]

[ Congratulations. ]

[ Clap-clap-clap-clap-clap. ]

Party music and applause echoed throughout. The zombies became more frenzied and much noisier.

“Focus on catching the membership card.”

“Okay!”

Seo Ji-woo opened her pupils wide. Coins falling from the sky. Watching with eagle eyes for the VVIP Card that would pop out among them, snap!

She extended a line like Spider-Man and snatched it.

“Got it!”

“Throw it to Truck.”

Seo Ji-woo looked for Truck.

Where’s Truck… the toy truck. The truck with arms was stretching out its hand.

“Catch!”

Seo Ji-woo quickly threw it. Truck caught it and swiftly ran to scan it at the VVIP Elevator.

[ Security check in progress ]

[ …Temporary VVIP Membership confirmed ]

[ JACKPOT confirmed ]

“Robot. Let’s go.”

〔Confirmed.〕

Thump. Thump. Thump. Robot activated while carrying Seol Ha-woon. The four people and robot ran along the tape track on the ceiling, reaching the elevator leading to the VVIP Room. The zombies pursued them like moths.

As the elevator slowly opened and everyone stepped inside.

Thud!

Gravity was restored again. The zombies on the ceiling all came crashing down. From vertical to horizontal orientation. Everyone now faced the zombies.

[ Cable inspection before operation. ]

“From now on, it’s exactly 10 seconds.”

The VVIP Elevator operates analogically to prevent hacking. Therefore, it takes 10 seconds to inspect the cables.

They just needed to hold out for exactly the amount of time they went over getting the jackpot.

Kraaaah!

Before their eyes, zombies came rushing in.

Just as Kang Hyeon drew his sword to block the front.

〔The elevator requires 13 more seconds to operate.〕

Robot stepped forward.

It recited its calculation results and stood in front of the elevator. Like a barrier blocking between the zombies and us.

Everyone’s gaze rested on its back.

〔Protecting Agent Seol Ha-woon.〕

“…Right.”

Seol Ha-woon nodded.

Kraaaaa——!

The zombie horde rushed at the robot. The robot spread both arms and pushed them back.

[ Inspection complete. ]

Seconds passed. The zombies tried to break through the robot, but the robot with tape stuck to its feet stood firm.

Kyaaaaa──!

One zombie stretched out its arm. The blade-like transformed part pierced through the robot’s chest and rushed into the elevator interior.

Clang! Kang Hyeon’s sword struck it down.

〔Fortunately… agent… protect Seol Ha-woon…〕

The robot with damaged circuits slowly came to a halt. Beep beep. Its panel flickered red, and even as it slowly collapsed, its final image was of blocking the zombies.

Thud!

The iron door closed.

Whirrrr.

The elevator ascended. The zombies’ screams grew distant.

“…You did well.”

Seol Ha-woon’s quiet words broke the silence.

─That was the best robot I’ve ever seen.

Truck’s voice trembled.

Seo Ji-woo scratched the back of her neck.

“…Sorry. I was too slow to draw it.”

“It was a matter of luck anyway. No need to apologize.”

Seol Ha-woon leaned against the elevator wall. He sighed as if tired.

Seo Ji-woo casually spoke to Truck beside him.

“…Hello.”

Truck moved to look up at her.

─Hello.

“Hello.”

Kang Hyeon also greeted.

─Hello.

Truck turned its head with a whirr to look at Eldia.

─…Supervisor Eldia. I’m a fan.

“Huh? Oh, thank you.”

Eldia smiled brightly, then lowered her gaze and glanced sideways at Seol Ha-woon.

“It’s fascinating and mysterious. I only heard it was a malfunctioning robot…”

Seol Ha-woon answered.

“There are no bad robots in this world.”

[ Welcome, VVIP. ]

Meanwhile, the door opened. It was the casino VVIP area, a private room.

Inside, there were several game rooms exclusively for VVIPs—

“The hotline is here. It’s an inter-hull tram.”

Eldia pointed to the rail at the very back. It was a bus-like tram. She was about to board it immediately, but.

“Before that.”

Seol Ha-woon stopped her.

“Let’s do some farming. We came all the way to the VVIP room after all.”

* * *

I rummaged through the VVIP room. There was exactly one desktop, and I claimed the skill. Kang Hyeon and Seo Ji-woo also looked somewhat envious, but it was distribution according to specialization.

Thanks to that, my hacking rose to Lv.4.

“First… I’ll take these batteries.”

Next, I picked up three 〔Zecatron Batteries〕. They were upgraded versions of xenon batteries.

“Handle the rest yourselves.”

“Okay.”

Seo Ji-woo was walking around exploring the VVIP room when she found a bracelet in a drawer. I was about to pass by but hesitated.

“Wait, let me see that.”

“What, why. You said to handle the rest ourselves.”

“I’ll just look.”

“…Here. Just look.”

Seo Ji-woo handed over the bracelet.

【Shield Dice】◆ Grade: Rare~Epic ◆ Overview: A custom bracelet commissioned from a master craftsman at the casino. Performance varies according to the wearer’s luck. ◆ Roll dice to form a shield. The higher the dice roll, the greater the defense.

“…”

How does everything she touches turn out to be good?

It’s even defensive equipment, so it would suit me really well.

“If you wanted it, you should have given up the desktop~”

Seo Ji-woo quickly snatched the bracelet back.

“Hey.”

I called Seo Ji-woo.

“What?”

“…If you find anything else, let me see it too.”

“Food’s ready.”

Just then, Kang Hyeon brought out the meal. It was a full course meal including steak, the first in a long time.

“Wow!”

Seo Ji-woo quickly ran to the poker table. I also limped over and sat down.

“So delicious! Everyone try it!”

I cut a large piece of steak and stuffed it in my mouth.

It’s been a habit since childhood. I have to eat as quickly as possible.

“…You really eat well.”

Seo Ji-woo watched me in admiration, while Kang Hyeon nibbled bit by bit.

I glanced at Kang Hyeon while chewing my steak.

“…Why are you taking derivatives of your steak?”

“Pardon?”

The steak was cut into a grid pattern, piece by piece.

“Ah… I guess it’s been a habit since childhood.”

Kang Hyeon put the meat in his mouth. Chew chew. It looked like he was chewing rubber.

“…Right. Eat well and enjoy it. If you want to fix that habit, try military experience sometime later.”

Whirr whirr.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of wheels.

It was Truck.

Watching endlessly from below.

“Oh right. This is awkward.”

─…

I gestured to Kang Hyeon with my eyes. Kang Hyeon picked up a frozen kit.

“We prepared some for you too, Truck. A kit for three days.”

─…Thank you.

Seo Ji-woo looked around, searching for someone.

“Ah, Eldia! Aren’t you eating?”

“…Yeah. I’m fine. Eat plenty.”

She was communicating through her terminal. I swallowed a piece of meat and asked.

“Is there perhaps some problem?”

“No. Just need to make some minor adjustments. Since we’ve opened the hot line anyway, the rest is just a matter of time. Everyone, please eat plenty. I’m fine.”

Saying this with a smile, Seo Ji-woo looked at Eldia with admiring eyes.

I nodded as well.

“You’re kind.”

“Oh~ What’s this. You’re always suspicious when you look at her.”

Seo Ji-woo laughed as if surprised.

“This time I don’t think I need to be.”

I put meat in my mouth.

─Eldia is famously an angel to begin with. Slurp. There’s nothing worth being suspicious about. Slurp.

Those were Truck’s words while watching the eating broadcast.

“Wipe your drool.”

─….

Truck turned off the microphone.

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