Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 150

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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 150

 

Spear Ghost(13)

 

[Hey, try driving better.]

 

[No… I’m doing fine.]

 

[What do you mean fine!]

 

[If you can’t trust me, damn it, then you drive!]

 

[…That’s not it. You’re doing well.]

 

The scenery in the camera shows a forest road in the rain.

 

The film crew keeps driving, and driving, and driving some more, but they keep going in circles around the same place, and the only destination they reach is.

 

[Damn it, it’s that hospital again.]

 

Just the abandoned hospital.

 

[This… isn’t what that person said right?]

 

[That crazy woman?]

 

[…She didn’t seem crazy though.]

 

[Saying she has a beard because it’s cold, does that make sense? And eating that lunch box was crazy to begin with. Who knows what kind of lunch box that was.]

 

The film crew circled around the abandoned hospital for a whole hour, and during that time I searched the entire abandoned hospital.

 

From Basement 1st Floor to 6th Floor.

 

There were no real clues.

 

However, I had suspicions.

 

Did Seo Ji-woo really come here ‘alone’?

 

No.

 

That can’t be right.

 

Seo Ji-woo isn’t stupid. She’s not such an ignorant mage that she’d pick up some unknown camera, hold it to her face, and press the REC button.

 

Definitely, there’s someone who filmed Seo Ji-woo.

 

[…No choice. Let’s just go.]

 

The film crew got out of the car and entered the abandoned hospital again. Seo Ji-woo greeted them on the 1st Floor. As if she had been waiting.

 

[You came.]

 

[Excuse me. What’s going on?!]

 

Reporter Lee Tae-young rushed forward as if ready to hit someone.

 

[What?]

 

But he was rather overwhelmed by Seo Ji-woo’s presence.

 

[…No. Nothing.]

 

[I told you. We can’t get out.]

 

[Why, why can’t we get out?]

 

[If I knew, I would have left too. I also went in circles here. We’re trapped, completely. Come inside for now.]

 

Seo Ji-woo clicked her tongue and entered the hospital, sitting on a lobby chair, while the film crew gathered around her.

 

[So, Ms. Seo Ji-woo, you’ve been going in circles around here for two days?]

 

[About a day. I gave up because there was no hope. I was afraid I’d starve to death wasting stamina for nothing.]

 

While watching the scene of them talking, I suddenly felt something off.

 

“…?”

 

Something feels awkward.

 

I counted the number of people captured in the camera screen.

 

Seo Ji-woo.

 

Reporter Lee Tae-young.

 

Director Jin Yu-seon.

 

And three other writers.

 

Three women, three men.

 

All of them were captured in one angle.

 

This is strange.

 

The film crew was originally five people, and Seo Ji-woo was alone.

 

Then.

 

“…Who is filming this footage.”

 

Including the person filming, there should be seven people.

 

* * *

 

Whoooosh.

 

In the falling rain, the film crew first brought the equipment from the car inside. Tent, flashlight, drinking water, heater, tripod, etc… Watching the film crew finally getting serious, Seo Ji-woo said.

 

“The answer is probably inside this hospital. Want to move together?”

 

“Where to?”

 

Director Jin Yu-seon asked. Seo Ji-woo crossed her arms.

 

“First the 4th Floor. Only the 4th Floor Operating Room is marked in red-”

 

…Whiiiiing!

 

Seo Ji-woo frowned. She quickly bent down and pressed her temples.

 

“Ah wait. Didn’t you just hear some sound?”

 

“…I didn’t hear anything.”

 

Reporter Lee Tae-young replied bluntly. Jin Yu-seon and the others were the same.

 

Seo Ji-woo looked at them with a serious face, but soon nodded.

 

“Yes. Well. It’s such a strange hospital after all.”

 

Lee Tae-young shone his flashlight on the elevator floor numbers. Indeed, only the 4th Floor was painted bright red.

 

“Let’s go up to the 4th Floor for now. We can film while we’re at it. There’s nothing else to do here anyway, right?”

 

At Lee Tae-young’s words, everyone gathered their equipment. Seo Ji-woo also stood up accordingly. Lee Tae-young gestured to her with his chin.

 

“We’d be grateful if Ms. Seo Ji-woo could lead the way.”

 

“Ah of course. I’m an explorer after all.”

 

Seo Ji-woo grinned and pressed the elevator button.

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

“….”

 

No matter how long they waited, there was no response.

 

“…It’s not working again.”

 

“Really?”

 

Jin Yu-seon pressed the button.

 

Whirr.

 

The elevator door opened immediately.

 

“It’s working?”

 

Lee Tae-young and Jin Yu-seon got on the elevator. Watching them, Seo Ji-woo’s expression became quite strange.

 

“There must be some condition… Let’s go for now.”

 

She pressed the 4th floor button.

 

* * *

 

I thought deeply.

 

Why did the film crew suddenly increase to 7 people?

 

Simply because it’s a horror movie cliché? To scare the viewers?

 

“…No.”

 

That can’t be it. Every phenomenon has a reason.

 

Just ‘because it’s a ghost’ doesn’t exist.

 

Seo Ji-woo wasn’t alone when she came here in the first place.

 

She definitely wasn’t alone.

 

“…”

 

I recalled the conversation between Seo Ji-woo and the film crew.

 

Concentrating ‘Sequence’ on my cerebral cortex, I summoned all memories and rewound them one by one in detail.

 

I compared, contrasted, and interpreted them with all the information I knew about this village.

 

…Eventually.

 

“Perhaps.”

 

I figured out the cause.

 

It was surprisingly simple.

 

However, I shouldn’t reveal it hastily. Not only is there no concrete evidence yet, but this is merely a secondary answer.

 

More importantly, there are definitely clues about the real culprit inside this camera.

 

The past film crew discovered some truth, and that’s why they were murdered.

 

I have to wait until they find ‘it’ in the camera.

 

Perhaps, I need to help them find it.

 

[4th Floor Operating Room]

 

The film crew and Seo Ji-woo had already gone up to the 4th floor operating room.

 

Everything captured by the lens was desolate. The operating table was covered with rusty stains and dried spots, and medical records were piled up like dust on the floor.

 

Seo Ji-woo rummaged through various parts of the operating room like a search dog. The film crew also filmed as if investigating.

 

[This is the 4th floor operating room. There are a total of four operating rooms in this abandoned hospital, but-]

 

[Oh! Look at this.]

 

Then, Seo Ji-woo discovered something. Documents placed together with tools including scalpels in the drawer of a mobile cart in the operating room.

 

The camera also filmed it.

 

It was a bizarre report.

 

Research Subject: Red Garment Technique Judged to be a modified form of ancient East Asian shamanic magic. The subject delicately separates the victim’s facial tissue, followed by ritual acts of reciting specific incantations. The procedure of the ritual is as follows: The victim’s face is incised in a special way and worn inside out. This is called Human-Skin Masked Ghost. At this time, a phenomenon where the victim’s soul physically condenses is observed. The subject can consume the condensed soul. Strong energy emission is measured during this process. After the ritual is completed, the subject perfectly replicates the victim’s memories, personality, voice, and even biometric fingerprints. Theoretically, the subject acquires all aspects of the victim. Existence of Constraints: There is a constraint of having to wear red clothing. Without this, the transformation becomes unstable, and a phenomenon occurs where the subject’s and victim’s consciousness clash. Red clothing is presumed to act as a shamanic medium, maintaining the boundary between the two beings. Experimental results showed that when the subject removes red clothing, extreme pain and mental splitting phenomena are observed, along with rapid physical transformation between the subject’s form and the victim’s form. This can lead to fatal results. Even normally, constant wearing of red clothing is recommended to maintain transformation stability.

 

I read it carefully.

 

“…Not only essential when consuming souls, but also a method of maintaining oneself.”

 

For that thing, red clothing was both a constraint and a safety device.

 

[…delicately separates facial tissue… What is this?]

 

Reporter Lee Tae-young, who was reading the same report, frowned.

 

[Wait a minute.]

 

Cinematographer Jin Yu-seon opened her eyes wide.

 

[The serial disappearance case… The serial disappearance case. What if… the culprit used this kind of Human-Skin Masked Ghost?]

 

[What are you talking about.]

 

[Think about it! If they could deceive everyone with this Human-Skin Masked Ghost, of course they wouldn’t get caught!]

 

[…Are you crazy?]

 

[No. It makes sense.]

 

Lee Tae-young let out a hollow laugh, and just as Seo Ji-woo was frowning and pondering.

 

[You there. Who are you?]

 

A voice coming from somewhere. The camera films that direction.

 

Shuffle. Shuffle. A man approaching while wearing slippers.

 

[Hmm. You all have beautiful faces.]

 

Dressed in surgical mask, surgical cap, and rimless glasses, holding a scalpel in one hand and a medical drill in the other.

 

[Would it be alright if I opened up your faces?]

 

It’s a vengeful ghost.

 

[…What’s with that person.]

 

[Run away!]

 

Seo Ji-woo quickly led the film crew, and I also moved urgently. Limp, limp. I went up to the 4th floor using my walking stick.

 

The film crew must not die.

 

Because…

 

Hehehehehehehe

 

The laughing thing appeared again. Its form was a purple will-o’-the-wisp.

 

“Hey. You. Follow me.”

 

It’s cute for a vengeful ghost. Either the size of its resentment is very small, or it might not be a vengeful ghost. It might be useful.

 

“I said follow me.”

 

The purple will-o’-the-wisp seemed flustered, but soon followed behind me with a grin.

 

Hehehehehehehe

 

“Good. Let’s go. I’ll make you my partner.”

 

You’re going to be on TV, buddy.

 

* * *

 

Chime.

 

An eerie bell sound. Suddenly, the used bookstore’s door opened.

 

The trio sitting around the counter—Yoon Kang-ho-Yoon Hwa-rim, Kang Hyeon, and Lee Jun-ho—turned to look that way.

 

There was nothing there.

 

Lee Jun-ho instinctively placed his hand on his waist.

 

“What, what is it now. Why is the door opening by itself—”

 

─It’s me.

 

A voice comes up from below.

 

Rattle rattle rattle rattle.

 

It’s Truck.

 

“Ah. Ha-woon hyung.”

 

Phew. Everyone let out sighs of relief.

 

─Nothing happened to you guys, right?

 

Perfect sense of security, his characteristic low voice steady and comfortable without wavering. It felt like the used bookstore was being purified.

 

Yoon Hwa-rim spoke.

 

“Except for one ghost that came to visit.”

 

─That’s a relief. By any chance, do any of you know information related to the abandoned hospital and film crew here?

 

“Film crew? What film crew? And what’s this about an abandoned hospital?”

 

At Lee Jun-ho’s question, Truck extended his robot arm and pointed to a newspaper clipping stuck on the used bookstore wall.

 

─This. Information about the film crew that went missing at that time and the hospital staff. If you don’t have it, go get it.

 

“…Right now?”

 

─It’s important. Seeing how my knees are starting to ache, you guys should be able to move around too. Go to the police station or wherever and look into it.

 

Then Yoon Hwa-rim muttered while pretending not to know.

 

“Hmm… What do we get if we work hard?”

 

─Three free meal tickets, two accommodation vouchers.

 

“I’ll go check it out!”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim jumped up. Kang Hyeon and Lee Jun-ho beside her also got up reflexively.

 

─One of you two should stay. Someone needs to watch the bookstore.

 

Lee Jun-ho, Kang Hyeon. The two exchanged glances.

 

Lee Jun-ho casually sat down at the counter.

 

“I’ll pass. I already had my moment of glory at the school.”

 

That was his reason. Kang Hyeon looked at him as if dumbfounded.

 

Yoon Hwa-rim put on her boots first.

 

“Malolham is at that abandoned hospital, right?”

 

─Yeah.

 

“Okay. Then we’ll go check out the police station.”

 

─Yeah. Contact me on this radio when you find something. I’m going.

 

Rattle rattle rattle rattle. Truck drops off some radio and heads off somewhere. He must be busy.

 

“Hey guys, anyone want to come with us?”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim asked while quickly looking around the used bookstore.

 

No one reacted. They were either sleeping or pretending to sleep.

 

A mischievous thought flashed through Kang Hyeon’s mind.

 

“…Hwa-rim. Want to try that thing?”

 

“What thing?”

 

“That voice mimicry like in the horror story. Let’s see if it really works.”

 

“Ah~”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim grinned. Lee Jun-ho also quietly got up as if it was a good idea.

 

Kang Hyeon tapped the floor of the used bookstore and said.

 

“Hey. Want to come?”

 

Lee Jun-ho changed his voice.

 

“…No. I’m tired, so I’ll rest a bit.”

 

“Okay. Let’s leave the tired ones alone.”

 

“Right. Just pick out the ones pretending to sleep and drag them along. It’s annoying.”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim added with a chuckle.

 

Kang Hyeon turned to the side and tapped Ryu Yeon-hwa.

 

“Hey. Want to come?”

 

No answer. She’s really sleeping.

 

Lee Jun-ho changed his voice differently.

 

“No. I’m tired. I’ll rest a bit.”

 

“Okay. Rest up.”

 

And as they turned around, one guy breaking out in cold sweat suddenly caught their eye.

 

Im Hae-jun. The guy who definitely seemed to have fainted.

 

Kang Hyeon tapped Im Hae-jun’s shoulder.

 

“Hey. Want to come?”

 

They didn’t expect much.

 

But surprisingly.

 

“No hyung. I’m so tired… mmph…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

The three people froze like stones.

 

It was a shock like being hit in the back of the head with an arrow.

 

“Ha.”

 

Lee Jun-ho let out a hollow laugh.

 

“…Mmph…”

 

Im Hae-jun, trembling around his eyes and desperately acting.

 

Lee Jun-ho gestured to Kang Hyeon and Yoon Hwa-rim. The two nodded as well.

 

Let’s see, shall we take Im Hae-jun along?

—————
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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