Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 124

—————
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 124

 

In the house(11)

 

After finishing the VIP Room farming, we arrived at Cosmos Ship A Sector through the Hot Line.

 

“You can think of this as the entrance to the Mothership.”

 

I looked around the interior while listening to Eldia’s explanation. It looked like a Laboratory.

 

I didn’t let my guard down and explored the surroundings with Sequence.

 

“There are no zombies within 300m nearby. I think we can relax.”

 

Kang Hyeon said while looking at his Terminal.

 

“That thing shows stuff like that too?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“What level is your Terminal?”

 

“Level 3.”

 

“….”

 

No wonder.

 

“What? Was that Terminal thing important? I leveled up other stuff.”

 

Seo Ji-woo suddenly butted in.

 

“I told you that.”

 

Kang Hyeon proudly stuck his nose up.

 

“What level is your Terminal, hyung?”

 

“As if I would do that.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Kang Hyeon’s face went round. His cheeks were full of confusion.

 

“Still, it’s not bad to have one person in the party who has it. What happens when you level it up?”

 

“I’ll tell you. Look here. First, you get a Radar function that can detect zombies. Here, the range for sending messages also gets wider. You can also check Item Information in more detail….”

 

Kang Hyeon showed off his Terminal while explaining proudly. I examined his Sword rather than some Terminal.

 

Definitely, it’s a Broadsword.

 

“Oh. Then what about your Companion Skill?”

 

“…Companion Skill?”

 

Kang Hyeon tilted his head. He seemed to have no idea what a Companion Skill was.

 

I smiled slightly.

 

“Never mind. That’s good. You did well leveling up the Terminal.”

 

Then Kang Hyeon glanced at Seo Ji-woo with a ‘see?’ look. Seo Ji-woo gave a hollow laugh.

 

“Eldia.”

 

I called out to Eldia.

 

“Yes?”

 

“We’ll take it from here.”

 

“…Ah. Yes.”

 

She smiled brightly.

 

“Don’t worry. Since I’m connected with my companions, support will arrive at the Hangar soon. You can rest until then. According to the rotation orbit… about 4 hours?”

 

“We’re a bit late because we were farming, right?”

 

At Seo Ji-woo’s question, Eldia tucked her hair behind her ear.

 

“…I can’t deny that.”

 

The Cosmos Ship is spinning around in the same spot. It’s to create gravity.

 

Also, according to Eldia, the time when the Hangar opens is limited, so if you miss the docking point once, you have to wait quite a while.

 

Her companions had already missed that window.

 

Because of me.

 

“I’m sorry. We also needed to get some things.”

 

I smiled bitterly and scratched the back of my neck.

 

“No, it’s fine. Rather, if you all hadn’t been here, we wouldn’t have made it this far. We’ll give you compensation when it’s over.”

 

“Oh~ that’s not necessary, but you’re so considerate~”

 

Seo Ji-woo grinned and waved her hands dismissively. At Eldia’s truly considerate nature, I asked back.

 

“Eldia, are you perhaps nobility?”

 

I suddenly became curious.

 

Where is this Labyrinth Person’s Hometown?

 

“Nobility? Just, from an ordinary planetary system… honestly, I did grow up well-off.”

 

“….”

 

There are many more things I want to ask, but I shouldn’t dig too deep. The Camera is recording. The culprit who killed Kim Yoon-jun might be watching me from somewhere.

 

“Oh right. Truck. Look around here once. This is A Sector where the singing was coming from. There might be Parts.”

 

─Yeah. I was already looking around with my peripheral vision.

 

“Parts?”

 

Eldia asked back. Truck looked at Eldia.

 

─Ah. Yes. Well….

 

As if pondering, it moves its Wheels back and forth with creaking sounds.

 

─Actually, I….

 

“Yes. I think I understand what you mean.”

 

Eldia understood right away. She really was a quick-witted person.

 

“Follow me. The ultra-small model is probably A0391-BIOLA, right?”

 

─That’s right.

 

“There should be replacement Parts. This way.”

 

─Yes.

 

Truck and Eldia walk together. Rattle rattle rattle rattle. It’s shaking its body as if excited.

 

“You know. That Truck is a person, right?”

 

Seo Ji-woo asked as if genuinely curious.

 

“Yeah. A person is controlling it.”

 

I sat down in a Laboratory Chair. Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon each grabbed a Chair too. Seo Ji-woo twirled her hair and muttered.

 

“Eldia is really kind. Well, she’s kind, so that’s why she came back to this zombie den.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

I shifted my gaze to Kang Hyeon. I looked at the belt where his Sword was attached.

 

“But isn’t that a Priest Sword? How did you hide it and bring it?”

 

A question thrown casually as if it was nothing.

 

“Ah~ this?”

 

Kang Hyeon smiled faintly and drew his Broadsword. Shing. The Blade flashed.

 

“Even without hiding it, it’s always by my side.”

 

“….”

 

He’s saying that to me.

 

I suddenly become curious.

 

Do you know? That I’m suspecting you.

 

“I see.”

 

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

 

Just then, Truck returned. Truck’s Wheels were bouncing up and down.

 

It seemed to have found what it wanted.

 

“Did you find it?”

 

─Yeah. Look at this.

 

Truck proudly showed its rear end. Some Parts were loaded in the expanded Cargo Bay.

 

─Spaceship engine components and an Ultra-small Mana Reactor. With just these, departure is possible.

 

It puts those things into a box that Eldia prepared and carefully embraces them with its arms.

 

“Congratulations. Is this your escape after 3 years?”

 

Truck let out a deep sigh.

 

─Yeah. Finally after 3 years….

 

“Truck.”

 

I spoke to her. With a somewhat firm intention.

 

“Then please go back now.”

 

─….

 

Truck hesitated. She raised her camera to look at me.

 

This is as far as Truck goes.

 

Since I received generous help including the duct tape, she should return home safely.

 

“Ah. Right. Wait a moment.”

 

I hacked a nearby vending machine. From the mothership’s vending machine, I packed a bundle full with 40 ultra-high calorie energy bars of 800 calories each, batteries, and medical supplies.

 

“This is my final gift.”

 

Truck looked at me and spoke.

 

─…Thank you.

 

Even in that brief answer, there was a tremor of holding back tears.

 

“Yes. Think of it as compensation for mutual trust.”

 

Truck loaded my gift into her cargo hold as well.

 

Then she started to leave alone with her rattling sounds.

 

“Wait a moment.”

 

This time Eldia stopped her.

 

“This is a temporary card. I copied the supervisor’s authority, so you should be able to return safely the way you came.”

 

She pressed a card copied from somewhere into Truck’s hand, giving a caring smile.

 

Truck muttered as if in a daze.

 

─The supervisor really is an angel.

 

I added a comment too.

 

“Did you perhaps come from heaven?”

 

“No. Since Truck helped us too, I should help her as well. Take care.”

 

Eldia and Truck shook hands. It was quite a remarkable scene.

 

─Yes. I’ll be going then.

 

Truck went outside the gate and waved her hand.

 

─Thank you. Seol Ha-woon.

 

“Yes. Julione.”

 

Calling her by her real name that I had almost forgotten, I waved back at her too.

 

“Please succeed in your return mission as well.”

 

─…Yeah. You two there, Seol Ha-woon, and Eldia, please complete your missions safely too.

 

“Yes~ Take care~ Return safely~”

 

“Take care.”

 

Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon also gave their own farewells.

 

The gate closed, and Truck disappeared.

 

“….”

 

I silently brushed my hair.

 

The feeling of seeing off a comrade is always bittersweet. Of course, we were only together for three or four days, but I always think life is about density, not volume.

 

Someone you’ve known for just 6 years can have more value than half your life, while family you’ve been with for decades can become worse than strangers.

 

“So now we just wait?”

 

I asked Eldia.

 

“Yes. For about three more hours… you can rest that long.”

 

“Oh my. Then.”

 

I lay down on the laboratory floor.

 

“I’m going to sleep a bit~”

 

“Rest comfortably. I’ll keep watch.”

 

With Eldia’s consideration, Seo Ji-woo also sat down as if she’d been waiting.

 

“Ah. I want to sleep too. It’s been 36 hours since I last slept.”

 

“…Then me too.”

 

Kang Hyeon and Seo Ji-woo lay down in a row next to me.

 

“Yeah. Let’s sleep together.”

 

I gladly activated my Dream Bubble.

 

* * *

 

Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle.

 

Truck is leaving. The dignity of a triumphant general who achieved a goal that everyone thought impossible after being stuck for a full 3 years.

 

Now if she returns home and writes a book about this great journey, or becomes an elite crew member on another ship using this experience, her future path will be a smooth conveyor belt.

 

─….

 

But Truck keeps stopping and looking back, stopping and looking back.

 

Is it lingering attachment? Or perhaps wistfulness?

 

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

 

─Haah….

 

A deep sigh. Truck doesn’t stop as if she’s made up her mind. She moves forward.

 

Using the temporary administrator access card given by Eldia, she goes up to the Hot Line and comes down to the VVIP Room in Den Mexico.

 

─Hmm….

 

She was about to pass by but stopped, creaking around and looking inside for no reason. Wondering if there might be something for her to take too.

 

─Oho.

 

There was quite a bit of loot remaining.

 

Poker card decks. Rings. Very luxurious-looking wine, whiskey, even jewels.

 

She loaded everything into her cargo hold. Thanks to upgrading everything from the storage compartment to the frame with spaceship materials, she could withstand 200-300kg.

 

She departs again.

 

Alone.

 

She inserts the key card into the VVIP Elevator and goes down to the casino swarming with zombies.

 

─Whew.

 

An unconscious sigh escapes. She’s worried too.

 

Her 3-year wish, the comrade who lifted up her life when she was about to give up.

 

He’ll be able to achieve his goal too.

 

He’ll definitely succeed.

 

Even though they haven’t known each other long, he’s stronger and more meticulous than anyone she’s ever seen.

 

Thud.

 

The elevator door opened.

 

Truck was about to step out carelessly, but some form collapsed into the elevator first.

 

─…Oh! You!

 

It was Robot. The comrade who sacrificed himself for us.

 

─Hey. Snap out of it!

 

Truck tapped Robot’s face tap tap, tap tap. There was no response.

 

─Damn it….

 

She looked inside the steel plate pierced by the zombie. The wound was deep. The main circuit board was badly damaged, but fortunately it wasn’t beyond repair.

 

Whirr.

 

She switched her robot arm to welding mode. Sizzle sizzle! Sizzle sizzle! She repaired the damaged parts as much as possible.

 

─Hey! Snap out of it!

 

She continued the surgery while frequently talking to him. Nearby zombies showed interest after hearing the sounds, but quickly turned away.

 

They identify and track biological signs. They don’t care about audiovisual information.

 

─Suction coming!

 

Truck picked up the temporarily gathered mana battery and shoved it into the main board.

 

Chiziiiiik—-

 

The board and battery fused together.

 

Now the battery would serve as a temporary circuit.

 

The remaining task was just waiting for it to boot up on its own.

 

─…Wake up.

 

How many minutes passed in that tense moment of sweating palms and wheels shaking uncontrollably?

 

〔Beep beep beep.〕

 

─Oh!

 

Finally, the robot awakened again.

 

─Robot! It’s me!

 

〔….〕

 

The robot’s panel flickered erratically. Beep. Beep beep. It still seemed dazed.

 

Truck patted the robot firmly and asked.

 

─Do you know who I am?

 

〔…Recognized. You are Agent Seol Ha-woon’s subordinate.〕

 

─Sub, subordinate? Not subordinate, but colleague.

 

〔Agent Seol Ha-woon’s colleague, Mr. Truck.〕

 

─My name is Julione. Anyway, can you stand up?

 

Thud. Thud.

 

The robot wobbled its nearly broken limbs and stood up. The leg circuits were leaking out, making it look unsightly, but this was a level that could be covered with welding.

 

─Wait. I’ll repair you.

 

With temporary welding and parts replenishment from the mothership, it could be reborn cleanly again.

 

─Done. How is it?

 

〔Function check complete. 63% stable.〕

 

─Good then….

 

Kwaaaaang-!

 

Suddenly a massive explosion erupted. Truck startled and looked up at the elevator ceiling.

 

It was a sound from the VVIP Room.

 

─What’s that.

 

An explosion of unknown cause. The details were unclear, but one thing was certain – they couldn’t go back up.

 

But why so suddenly? What was the cause of the detonation?

 

─Can’t be helped. Robot. By the authority of colleague Seol Ha-woon, I command you. Follow me.

 

〔Confirmed.〕

 

─Let’s go. To the Supervisor’s Office.

 

The Supervisor’s Office had plenty of parts too. Even if it couldn’t make it like new, it could at least swap out parts adequately.

 

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

 

Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle.

 

The duo of Truck and Robot set out.

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