Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 141

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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 141

 

Spear Ghost(4)

 

At the used bookstore, I prepared a hearty meal with soybean paste stew, pot rice, pork belly, ssamjang, and lettuce wraps.

 

The three of them ate like they were possessed by hungry ghosts. Even Kang Hyeon was eating quickly this time.

 

“…Ah.”

 

“…Haah.”

 

“Phew…”

 

All three collapsed on the floor as soon as they finished eating. They seemed to have suffered quite a bit getting here.

 

I gestured to Kang Hyeon with my chin.

 

“Kang Hyeon. Don’t rest. We need to go right away.”

 

“Ugh… Yes.”

 

Kang Hyeon struggled to get up.

 

“Then can we just rest here?”

 

Lee Jun-ho asked while lying down.

 

“Yeah. Ghosts can’t enter here.”

 

“Huh? Why not?”

 

Lee Jun-ho’s eyes widened.

 

“Later. Kang Hyeon, take these.”

 

I pointed to the ‘devices’ I had prepared in advance. At first glance, they looked like wooden sticks.

 

“Yes.”

 

Kang Hyeon tucked them all under his arm, and we went outside together.

 

“What are we going to do, hyung?”

 

“Infrastructure expansion.”

 

No matter how long we wait, customers aren’t coming, or rather can’t come, so I’m thinking of paving a way for customers to come.

 

“The problem is like a bridge.”

 

Wolryeong Bridge. This first obstacle is the problem.

 

We went down to the mound below Wolryeong Bridge.

 

“We’re going to make a ferry boat. Is it called a cable ferry?”

 

“Ah. I know what that is.”

 

“Good. Stick in the wooden stick.”

 

First, I had him stick a long wooden stick into the mound facing the river. I hung a thick rope from it.

 

“Follow me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I grabbed the rope and got on the ferry boat.

 

I pointed to the center of the ferry boat.

 

“Put the wooden stick here.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Swoosh. After fixing the wooden stick with a ring to it using duct tape, I put the rope through the ring part. Like threading a needle.

 

I also hung a small lamp.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

The misty river. We cross to the other side on the ferry boat.

 

“Heuk heuk heuk…”

 

The usual ghost reappeared. Goosebumps rose on Kang Hyeon’s neck.

 

“…Hyung. Can only I hear this by any chance?”

 

“I can hear it too. But this person is fine. Look. No eyes, right?”

 

I pointed to the ghost’s eyes.

 

“…”

 

Kang Hyeon looked at me like I was a ghost.

 

Meanwhile, we arrived.

 

“Get off.”

 

We got off at the mound and stuck in an identical wooden stick. Then I connected the rope.

 

Wooden stick←Ferry boat→Wooden stick

 

It was connected like this.

 

“Now…”

 

I materialize magic power to create buttons on the wooden stick.

 

Two buttons, red and blue.

 

Press the red button and the ferry comes, press the blue button and it departs.

 

“How’s that? I formed magic power like a machine.”

 

I bragged a little.

 

This kind of mana utilization technique broadly stems from my life experience. A soldier’s friend is machinery, after all.

 

Of course, I’m not at an engineer’s level, but I’ve experienced far more actual combat than them.

 

For a sorcerer’s visualization, experiencing things directly with your body is more advantageous.

 

“That’s amazing. Will it last long?”

 

“Yeah. It’ll last long here. Just need to attach this.”

 

Slap. I stuck a protective charm I got from the bookstore onto the wooden stick. Just in case ghosts try to mess with it.

 

“Now let’s go up. To put up a sign.”

 

“Yes.”

 

We went up the mound and stuck a new sign next to the warning sign for Wolryeong Bridge.

 

Take the boat instead of the bridge – Really made by Seol Ha-woon himself – Ghosts appear but don’t worry

 

“Now. Let’s go put one up in front of the other bridge too.”

 

There are two bridges in this Shaman Village.

 

“Yes.”

 

While we were walking across the field.

 

Clang clang clang.

 

The sound of bells ringing echoed. Kang Hyeon hid behind my back. I turned to look at that place. There was a sign in the forest.

 

│Those who cross will surely commit suicide│

 

Beyond the ominous text, some form flickers.

 

A person, swaying like eerie mist.

 

Dressed as a shaman, but with a sword stuck in her chest.

 

“…Where are you two going?”

 

Her voice is firm. There’s no gap for wind to slip through.

 

“We’re doing infrastructure construction. Wolryeong Bridge is so inconvenient.”

 

“Even if it’s inconvenient, could it be as inconvenient as your leg?”

 

My facial muscles twitched.

 

“It’s natural for the village bridges to be inconvenient. Would it be comfortable when the souls underfoot grab your ankles? Also, if you’re real construction workers, why do your footprints smell of blood? Do you think I wouldn’t know the scent of those who go around tearing people apart?”

 

“…”

 

People who go around tearing people apart.

 

In a way, that’s correct.

 

I asked her.

 

“By any chance, what is your name?”

 

“What use is the name of the one standing before you? Names are just shells…”

 

The shaman who stopped speaking stared at me intently.

 

“Do you serve a spirit?”

 

“No. I don’t even know what a spirit is.”

 

“My goodness… this is not the aura of a human…”

 

Jingle jingle jingle.

 

Then the shaman turned around, shaking her bell.

 

“Who could it be, hyung?”

 

“I don’t know. I memorized his face for now.”

 

Even if it’s uncomfortable, could it be as uncomfortable as your leg?

 

I memorized those words exactly too.

 

Take the boat instead of the bridge, really. It’s a boat made directly by Seol Ha-woon. Ghosts appear but you don’t need to worry.

 

When we arrived at the second bridge, we likewise planted a signpost.

 

We even marked the approximate location of the ferry boat.

 

“This is basically spoon-feeding them everything.”

 

“Hyung. But why are you helping them?”

 

Kang Hyeon asked as if genuinely curious.

 

“That’s how business goes well.”

 

There’s also a separate reason why business needs to go well.

 

‘…Huh?’

 

While getting tired of waiting for customers and patrolling the night market with Truck.

 

‘Sir. This.’

 

A book that an elderly person was sitting and selling at a street stall.

 

【Craftsman’s Hand Techniques】■ Grade: Unique■ Overview: Contains all kinds of hand technique know-how that a craftsman has refined over 60 years.

 

A unique grade mastery book.

 

For me, who has recently opened my eyes to item crafting, if this book were given to me?

 

Perfect.

 

’50 nyang.’

 

’50 nyang?’

 

’50 nyang.’

 

“No discount?”

 

‘No discount. Only 50 nyang.’

 

‘…Confirmed.’

 

“And everyone needs to scatter and gather evidence.”

 

“Evidence?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

The murderer is human. However, I can’t investigate all the village residents by myself. If I tried, either my knees would burst, or it would become 10 o’clock and everyone would die – one of the two.

 

Therefore, I as a human will just be an unwavering center.

 

Collecting the village’s secrets is the job of the other explorers.

 

“Let’s go back now.”

 

“Yes.”

 

* * *

 

The still eerie Shaman Village.

 

“…Ah, please stop clinging to me, you crazy people!”

 

Three people were clinging to Yoon Hwa-rim: Ryu Yeon-hwa, Lee Sin-hye, and Lee Jong-soo.

 

Yoon Hwa-rim was less scared than expected, while the other three were more scared than expected.

 

“This is really ridiculous. Sin-hye unnie, didn’t you say you were a strong character?”

 

“…When did I ever. That’s fake made up by the media…”

 

She lowered her eyes pretending to be weak. Ryu Yeon-hwa and Lee Jong-soo were even more ridiculous. Despite having builds like houses, they’d been whining like babies since earlier.

 

“I get it, so don’t cling too much. We found it.”

 

The hint they discovered was the location of the skilled shaman. A house with sacred ropes hanging all around. The four people rolled inside like slimes.

 

“…!”

 

A shaman was sitting in the room with her eyes tightly closed.

 

“Excuse me… are you the skilled shaman?”

 

The shaman opened her eyes.

 

“You’re wandering around unable to even find your way.”

 

Chills, chills.

 

All four people sat in front of the shaman.

 

“Yes. It’s nothing special, but we can’t even get a clue about where we should go now…”

 

Jingle jingle jingle.

 

She shook her bell.

 

“There’s a man born with the aura of a spirit. Acting like he’s some living guardian spirit, my goodness, did he eat a dragon in his past life… He’s more steel-like than any mountain god I’ve ever seen. Such humans are rare.”

 

Jingle jingle jingle.

 

The shaman spoke while constantly shaking her bell.

 

“Ferry boat. Follow that man’s path.”

 

“Ferry boat…?”

 

“The problem would be the bridge. But now there will be a ferry boat under the bridge. You can take that and go.”

 

“Ah, yes! Thank you! Um, what about the fortune-telling fee?”

 

“Not needed. You there, just stay here for a moment. You need to get hit with some red beans…”

 

The four people who left the shaman’s house walked to the mound under the bridge as the shaman had said.

 

Yoon Hwa-rim’s eyes widened.

 

“It’s really there! Wow!”

 

“Whoa, that’s creepy.”

 

Lantern light dimly illuminating the misty riverside. A ferry boat was tied with thick rope.

 

“There’s a signpost too.”

 

Ferry boat made directly by Seol Ha-woon. Press the red button and the boat comes, press the blue button and the boat goes.

 

“…Ah! It’s Jemallot!”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim clapped her hands. Lee Sin-hye grabbed and pulled her.

 

“Ah, we don’t know yet. It could be a gh-ghost impersonating Seol Ha-woon…”

 

“There’s a signature here too, unnie.”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim pointed to the edge of the sign.

 

“He must have anticipated that we’d be suspicious. Crazy.”

 

Ryu Yeon-hwa also widened her eyes.

 

“Then, the man the shaman mentioned was Seol Ha-woon…”

 

“That’s right.”

 

What did she say again?

 

A human more solid than a mountain god? Considering Jemallot’s track record so far, it’s a very fitting description.

 

“It fits perfectly. He’s someone who never loses. Anyway, let’s get on! Let’s get out of here!”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim led them as they boarded the ferry.

 

* * *

 

Used Bookstore.

 

I placed the blade fragment on the counter.

 

[ Sharp Blade Fragment ]

 

■Who… who… who on earth… why…

 

The murder weapon that the River Ghost had harbored in her eyes.

 

Grandmother’s axe, Kang Woo-hyuk’s sashimi knife, the dagger embedded in the Shaman’s heart.

 

“…”

 

I unfolded the map.

 

On the used bookstore wall, articles related to various locations on the map were clipped.

 

First, Jeoldong Elementary School.

 

5 additional people missing from Jeoldong Elementary School… Mystery continuing from last year. According to witnesses, they heard “bell sounds ringing from the payphone inside the school.” Police decided to halt additional searches.

 

Next, the Temple.

 

4 hikers confirmed missing near the temple. Lost contact after visiting on the full moon last month. What the search team found were only burnt incense and empty shoes left at the temple entrance. Residents mentioned the old taboo that “you must not climb the 108th step.” This brings the total number of temple-related missing persons to 13.

 

Finally, the Abandoned Hospital.

 

5 filming crew members missing from abandoned hospital… Only unknown morgue footage remained on the camera found inside the hospital. “Police once again emphasize absolute prohibition of entering the abandoned hospital.” 11 missing persons occurred at that location this year alone.

 

Like this, all spaces in Wolryeong Village are connected to these incidents.

 

In my opinion.

 

“A trap.”

 

Wolryeong Village is a trap.

 

Someone has set a trap to catch the culprit.

 

…Oh right. This is a broadcast.

 

“Wolryeong Village is a trap. Someone has set a trap to catch the culprit.”

 

A monologue for the viewers.

 

I thought about the culprit.

 

“Human-Skin Masked Ghost.”

 

That’s the only possibility. The missing persons have reached 66 people.

 

A madman who single-handedly nearly decimated an entire village, but the world isn’t stupid, and detectives are smart.

 

The method to avoid being caught despite committing such massacres.

 

“The type that forgets themselves.”

 

A villain who can wear human skin and not just act ‘like’ that person, but actually ‘become’ that person.

 

A bastard who forgets their original self while wearing the skin.

 

“Haah…”

 

I exhaled cigarette smoke and stood up, positioning myself in front of the bookstore wall.

 

Though empty, I drew a diagram visible only to me through Sequence.

 

Suspect Candidates 1. Kang Woo-hyuk – 20s youth, neighborhood watch captain. Narrow eyes. Kind impression. 2. Grandmother – Estimated 70s-80s, used bookstore owner. Permed hair. Wrinkled heavy smoker. Considering retirement. 3. Shaman – Estimated 60s-70s. Broad face with sharp impression.

 

If the Human-Skin Masked Ghost assumption is correct, everyone I meet in this village is a suspect.

 

“Ugh… hyung?”

 

Just then, Im Hae-jun woke up. His face showed he’d been tormented by nightmares.

 

“Oh. Finally awake?”

 

“Wow hyung… I really went through so much.”

 

He whimpers like a drenched baby hippo.

 

“You’re the only one who did.”

 

“What do you mean I’m the only one…”

 

Knock knock. A knock on the glass window right next to where Im Hae-jun was lying.

 

Crash!

 

At that moment thunder flashed. There was a human figure outside.

 

Eerily shadowed eyes met Im Hae-jun’s gaze directly.

 

“─Kyaaaaa─aa─aak─aaa──gak.”

 

Im Hae-jun grabbed the back of his neck like someone whose blood pressure burst and fainted on the spot.

 

I opened the bookstore door.

 

“Who is it?”

 

“This is the right… right place!”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Lee Sin-hye, Lee Jong-soo. Color returned to the faces of the four people who discovered me.

 

“Ha-woon hyung!!”

 

“Seol Ha-woon… seeing you like this is truly heartwarming…”

 

“That’s right! That’s right! That’s right!”

 

Lee Jong-soo and Ryu Yeon-hwa were moved to near tears, while Yoon Hwa-rim chanted “that’s right” and pushed her feet forward first.

 

I blocked them.

 

“4 nyang.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Pay the money first.”

 

* * *

 

Snore… Snore…

 

As Yoon Hwa-rim’s party ate and fell asleep, I opened the Wolryeong Ghost Stories.

 

│Jeoldong Elementary School│◇ Elementary school in Wolryeong Village. The classroom conditions are strange, and sometimes the payphone in the corridor rings.◇ Danger Level ★★★★★◇ Countermeasure: Just don’t go in, but…

 

This was what Lee Jun-ho left behind. Rather than reading it on the spot and devising countermeasures, it’s much more efficient for me to read ahead and inform them.

 

“There’s probably evidence inside this elementary school.”

 

‘Evidence’ that will narrow down the range of suspects.

 

I focused my senses on Truck.

 

“Is everyone ready?”

 

─Is everyone ready?

 

“Oh, that startled me.”

 

Jeoldong Elementary School entrance. Anyone could see it gave off an eerie atmosphere that screamed death to those who enter.

 

Kang Hyeon, Lee Jun-ho, and Kate hesitated in front of it.

 

─Follow me.

 

Truck entered first. The three people followed belatedly.

 

They entered through the central entrance, and flash!

 

A flashlight beam shone.

 

“Who’s there?”

 

All three of them froze.

 

Truck answered skillfully.

 

─We came out for an investigation. Are you a security guard?

 

“Yes. I’m Seo Jong-myeong, the janitor. Nice to meet you.”

 

A man in his mid-40s wearing a cap and security uniform.

 

Kang Hyeon and Lee Jun-ho looked at his hands with anxious eyes.

 

“The janitor is holding a club…”

 

Ominous. Usually in horror games, the janitor beats up the players.

 

Truck said.

 

─We have a case to investigate.

 

“A case?”

 

─We heard there was a murder at Jeoldong Elementary.

 

The janitor’s face hardened.

 

“…It’s not murder but a missing person case. Are you police officers?”

 

─Yes.

 

“I see.”

 

“Huh? I see?”

 

Lee Jun-ho found the situation strange. What do you mean ‘I see’? A toy truck is talking to you. How does a truck become a police officer?

 

“Is it just me who finds this weird?”

 

─Shh.

 

Truck shone its headlights intensely. Lee Jun-ho frowned, and Seo Jong-myeong sighed and nodded.

 

“…I understand. Though it’s such an old case, I wonder if there’s anything left, but follow me. I’ll guide you…”

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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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