Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 155

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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 155

 

Spear Ghost(18)

 

Honey….

 

Grandfather Ghost. Elder Lee Yong-tae takes one step, two steps, carefully approaching his wife. He looks at her as she tilts her head in bewilderment.

 

A husband who became a vengeful spirit because his love was so deep, because he couldn’t forgive that bastard who stole his body and even harmed his wife.

 

Honey… where did you go…

 

The vengeful spirit asks the soul. With a face trying to smile.

 

“Who are you to keep talking to me?”

 

The grandmother’s eyes, pure like a child’s. Round and small. To grandfather, she is the most beautiful woman in this world.

 

Together….

 

The elder’s voice gradually becomes clearer, as if finding its way. The deep resentment in his heart is melting away.

 

Breaking free from the shackles that bound him, letting go of his grudge and purifying himself.

 

Together… we promised to go together….

 

Grandfather took grandmother’s hand. Grandmother too, as if finally understanding, opened her eyes wide.

 

“Ah, it was you?”

 

A smile like a small cloud appeared on her lips. That was enough. Grandfather had returned to being a complete soul.

 

“Honey.”

 

His voice became clear. Clear pupils. Now shedding tears instead of blood, wiping them with his sleeve, holding his wife’s hand tightly.

 

“When going far away, I always said I’d go with you. Said you’d get lost.”

 

“You did. Of course. I always trust what my old man says….”

 

Step. Step.

 

Now the two of them walk together. Somewhere, to a place Lee Jun-ho doesn’t know.

 

Thud. A bundle of old coins fell from grandfather’s pocket. Lee Jun-ho picked it up.

 

Probably a reward for resolving the grudge.

 

“….”

 

Lee Jun-ho watched the slowly swaying figures of the elderly couple from behind.

 

He knew all too well the feeling of losing someone precious. Loss destroys a person forever.

 

Just as the elder became a vengeful spirit, I too might already be a living ghost.

 

“Grandfather!”

 

Lee Jun-ho picked up the coins and threw them back to grandfather.

 

“Use it for travel money!”

 

Grandfather caught it nicely. Nice catch.

 

“…Um, by the way, elder.”

 

Still holding his wife’s hand tightly, grandfather looks at Lee Jun-ho.

 

Seeing the two of them like that, Lee Jun-ho suddenly imagines happiness.

 

“I too, someday, will be able to meet them, right?”

 

The child I loved so much, someday I’ll meet them again, and say I love them, that I was so sorry.

 

That all this time, I missed them so much.

 

“I’ll be able to say it at least once, right.”

 

…Shoo, shoo.

 

Grandfather waves his wrinkled hand. Telling him to go away. As if he’s too young. As if it’s not yet time to harbor such wishes.

 

“…Yes. Farewell.”

 

Lee Jun-ho turned around.

 

Swallowing a sigh, he gripped a crumpled piece of paper in his pocket.

 

[Map to the skilled shaman’s house that Hwa-rim went to!]

 

The map Yoon Hwa-rim left behind. The skilled shaman’s house. The culprit Lee Jun-ho strongly suspects, no, is almost certain of.

 

“I’ll definitely cut your throat.”

 

He shoved the map deep into his pocket again.

 

* * *

 

Under the blood-red sky, four explorers are confronting Kate.

 

“…Kate.”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim swallowed dry saliva and drew up her magic power. Her sharpened gaze fixed on Kate.

 

“No, who are you?”

 

“As you can see. I’m Kate.”

 

Kate answered calmly. She seemed no different than usual, but the Destroyer’s magic power rose dangerously.

 

The talent she possesses is the power of ‘destruction’ infused in magic power itself.

 

An attribute that shakes the foundation of existence and breaks bonds. An instinctual flow that returns all things to their origin, dismantling forms and causing annihilation.

 

Under Kate’s mask-like expressionless face, magic power deadly to the touch bubbles up drop by drop.

 

Ryu Yeon-hwa opened his fan. Snap! The sound rang out clearly.

 

“Why did you step on the stairs?”

 

He still maintained courtesy.

 

Kate slowly scanned the four with drooping eyes.

 

“I think there’s a culprit among us.”

 

Culprit.

 

That shaman is among these five.

 

Kate willingly decides to include herself in the list of suspects too.

 

Even though the [R] mark that Seol Ha-woon vouches for is still vivid on her body.

 

Because I don’t trust Seol Ha-woon.

 

“So I made it impossible to escape.”

 

Kate took something out of her lunch bag. It was a ‘rope’.

 

A rope strong enough to easily kill explorers if made into a snare.

 

“From now on, we are.”

 

Kate lightly swayed the rope while looking around at her companions. A bleakness settled in her voice.

 

“All going to commit suicide together.”

 

It was a suggestion bordering on a threat.

 

* * *

 

In the used bookstore, I checked the loot.

 

【Mysterious Carving Knife】

 

【Craftsman’s Hand Skills】

 

【Haunted Tool Set】

 

Three pieces of loot purchased with 90 old coins. Precious items that will become my seed money.

 

I was also tempted by one more, the 【Miraculous Kettle】, but I left it alone.

 

There’s probably someone who wants it more than me, and I didn’t want to take even that away.

 

I had already taken away someone too precious from her.

 

Dong- Dong- Dong- Dong-

 

It happened to be 7 o’clock.

 

It’s about time that could be called morning. The used bookstore is almost empty too. Just three people sleeping while snoring.

 

Knock knock.

 

Someone knocked on the door.

 

“Ah, Mr. Woo-hyuk.”

 

Youth patrol captain Kang Woo-hyuk and the grandmother who was the bookstore’s former owner.

 

“Yes, Mr. Seol Ha-woon. Grandmother came to collect the remaining payment.”

 

“Here it is.”

 

I handed 15 nyang to the grandmother.

 

“Including interest, it’s 15 nyang.”

 

“Hoho. The young man keeps his promises well.”

 

The grandmother smiled. Perhaps in a good mood, her permed hair bounced cheerfully.

 

“Rather, I’m the one who’s grateful. Are you thinking of taking the boat now?”

 

“That’s right. I must leave.”

 

All the souls had one purpose. They gathered here solely for that purpose.

 

To catch the culprit.

 

However, souls also get tired. Spirits also get tired. We’re living proof of that right now.

 

Just one night in the spirit world is equivalent to ten days in the real world.

 

How long have they endured, how long have they stayed awake?

 

“Still, please wait just a little longer before you go.”

 

I placed my hand on the grandmother’s small shoulder.

 

“There will be a good show to watch soon.”

 

* * *

 

Lee Jun-ho turned the skilled shaman’s house upside down. Slash─! Slash─! He swung his short sword like mad, cutting everything down.

 

“Huh?!”

 

Beneath the debris of the shaman’s house, cut down like unarmed bamboo.

 

An entrance leading to a basement was discovered.

 

“…Let’s go.”

 

Breathing heavily, he went down with the Dokkaebi Fire.

 

Hihehehehehehe

 

The dark and damp bottom. The Dokkaebi Fire laughed as it grew larger. Purple light illuminated the interior.

 

“What’s all this?”

 

Korean paper was stuck to the walls.

 

It’s similar to the used bookstore. Has this bastard also been investigating something in his own way?

 

“…Sacred tree? Imgak Mountain?”

 

Among the characters written in palace script, a particularly eye-catching passage.

 

This village, the sacred tree that is the guardian spirit of Imgak Mountain… everything originated from that damned tree. The souls are weaving an invisible barrier relying on the sacred tree’s spiritual energy, ah, there’s no way to escape. What a shackle, as if trapped in eternal time. Those sacrificial bastards who couldn’t even enter the underworld dare to rely on luck and try to defy heaven’s will. Insolent things! Along with the karma of this land that binds me, soon the evil god’s wrath will punish you all…

 

“…This bastard was also trapped here.”

 

It wasn’t only souls that were trapped in this place.

 

This ghost village itself was originally a trap to catch the shaman bastard.

 

I finally read the village’s five elements and the weak links in the earth veins that spread out like a spider web centered on the sacred tree. If I drive stakes containing impure energy into each of those acupoints, I can surely defile and weaken that tree’s sanctity, cut off the land’s spiritual veins, and escape from this trap-like place. The problem is the vengeful spirits bound together by terrible resentment. Monsters that devour even my protective talismans without a care. I don’t yet have a way to deal with them. The evil god won’t lend power just to deal with mere vengeful spirits. …I discovered a method.

 

When he read the next passage, Lee Jun-ho’s hair stood on end.

 

A fragment of another world that the evil god personally showed me. I will open a path to that place and summon them. Without knowing it themselves, they will become the evil god’s chess pieces and help annihilate the vengeful spirits.

 

“Ha. The method was us?”

 

The explorers exorcised or sublimated vengeful spirits to find clues and earn coins.

 

Without knowing it, they helped this shaman.

 

No, this vermin bastard used us.

 

“…Wait. Stakes?”

 

In Lee Jun-ho’s mind flashed the stake that had been driven behind the abandoned hospital.

 

He hurriedly grabbed his radio.

 

“Hey, police box! Is anyone there right now?!”

 

* * *

 

In the small temple room of the Death Temple. Kate neatly placed her shoes at the threshold and wove sacred rope elaborately at the entrance.

 

Swoosh.

 

She hung the rope from the ceiling using telekinesis technique.

 

“Everyone, please come in.”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim smacked her parched lips and asked.

 

“Are you really going to do this?”

 

“Yes. We get forced return when we’re in danger anyway. The one person who fears death or can’t endure it will be the culprit. Or should I kill you instead?”

 

“…N-no. That’s a bit much.”

 

Four people entered in turn. Kate offered nooses to all of them. Like offering a glass of wine.

 

“Everyone hold onto these.”

 

“This can be broadcast, right?”

 

Lee Sin-hye touched her own neck.

 

“Of course. They even show people getting killed.”

 

Ryu Yeon-hwa took a deep breath.

 

“…If it’s something that must be done, then we must do it.”

 

This rope was woven by Mage Seo Ji-woo. Once tied, it absolutely won’t let go.”

 

Rope made by Seo Ji-woo. Just hearing about it is scary.

 

“Then, everyone.”

 

Each took their position. They grasped the nooses hanging from the ceiling. Each opened the knots with trembling hands.

 

“…Rest in peace.”

 

The moment they put their faces through those eerie ovals.

 

Snap!

 

The nooses gripped their necks. Like anacondas coiling around prey, they couldn’t breathe.

 

Suffocation.

 

Kate looked at the other four people.

 

They were all suffering equally. This pain is real. Pain enough to lead to death.

 

“Kuk. Krgrgk…”

 

“Guh… Guhhhhrk…”

 

Vision turns white. Blood vessels in the eyes burst, limbs thrash about. Even resistance mixed with an explorer’s magic power has no effect on the rope.

 

Ah, well made indeed.

 

“Ha…”

 

In the pain of breath being cut off, in consciousness hazily swelling up, Kate suddenly asks someone a question.

 

Was it this kind of pain?

 

Was it more painful than this for you?

 

‘Kate.’

 

His voice ripples like waves. They say hearing is the memory humans forget most easily, but not for Kate.

 

Perhaps it’s because Percival’s voice is uniquely clear and deep.

 

Or perhaps it’s because the precious parts of my memory are concentrated only on him.

 

‘Living life, someday.’

 

Swoooosh.

 

The golden sand of the beach wraps around softly, and the blonde hair fluttering in the wind is exactly like Kate’s.

 

‘There will come times when you’ll hate this world.’

 

Gazing at the distant blue horizon, Percival continues speaking quietly.

 

‘Moments will come when life feels too unfamiliar and painful.’

 

A person who was more like a father than my own father.

 

‘It’s proof that you’ve lost your way in this helplessly vast… ocean called life.’

 

The only person I could lean on, my family.

 

‘When that happens, listen to the deepest voice within you. Not the noise of the world, but only your own voice.’

 

Percival looks down at me with a somehow sad expression.

 

‘Paths aren’t there from the beginning. Each step you take accumulates to become a path.’

 

Soon, he wears a wave-like smile.

 

‘Don’t be afraid and move forward. You choose whatever path yourself. Even if that end is a thorny path… if it’s your choice, that will be your meaning.’

 

A smile bluer than any watercolor painting, as brilliant as pouring sunlight.

 

‘Kate. I have now… made my decision.’

 

Uncle Percival always,

 

remains as the lake in my heart.

 

“…!”

 

Kate opened her eyes. She touched her throat scraped by the rope.

 

“…Fortunately.”

 

She made it well as requested.

 

What she had asked Seo Ji-woo for was a snare that would push her to the brink of death but definitely wouldn’t kill her.

 

“Wh-what…?”

 

The others had awakened too. Kate raised her upper body and examined them. Yoon Hwa-rim, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Lee Sin-hye.

 

One person was missing.

 

Lee Jong-soo.

 

That bastard had escaped.

 

“One person is missing.”

 

“Who… Jong-su?!”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim was shocked. She trembled with both hands and grasped at the air.

 

“Th-then Jong-su?! Shouldn’t we go catch him?!”

 

“No. We can’t get out of here anyway. We’re screwed.”

 

To be honest, Kate had been defeated by him. She thought he would be trapped in this Death Temple too.

 

So he had a separate escape method.

 

What a shame.

 

I really wanted to handle him myself. This time I wanted to beat that bastard.

 

“Th-then what about us?”

 

Lee Sin-hye asked anxiously.

 

“Can’t be helped. Let’s rest while eating lunch boxes.”

 

Kate casually pulled out the lunch box bag. Everyone opened their mouths in disbelief.

 

Click. Kate opened the lunch box lid.

 

“That human is really stupid too. It’s like avoiding bandits only to meet robbers.”

 

He should have rather stayed here and settled things with me.

 

That way, he would have met a more comfortable end for himself too.

 

“Avoiding bandits to meet robbers…? What does that mean?”

 

Yoon Hwa-rim asked. Kate thought calmly.

 

The Percival she knew was a strong person. Mentally and physically, he was an iron man close to perfection.

 

If Seol Ha-woon was the one who killed such a Percival.

 

Also, according to the reputation of ‘agent-era Seol Ha-woon’ that Kate had investigated so far.

 

“There is. Such a person.”

 

A human more ghostly than ghosts.

 

Perhaps we should rather pity the bastard who will go looking for him on his own feet.

 

* * *

 

Jingle jingle… jingle jingle…

 

Clearly, the sound of bells cutting through the night’s curtain rings out. Imgak Mountain shrouded in darkness. It’s a shadow climbing those ridges.

 

Swaying her colorful clothes, touching her neck, the Shaman gasped for breath.

 

Though an unexpected variable had interfered, she had still driven a stake into the temple.

 

Only one target remained.

 

To drive the final wedge into the giant Sacred Tree at the heart of Imgak Mountain and completely cut off the breath of this damn village.

 

With such determination, the Shaman finally reached the mountain peak.

 

“Hah… what a tedious business.”

 

The giant Sacred Tree cast a black shadow under the moonlight.

 

A detestable body that must be over a thousand years old. Under tree branches like human arms and legs, messily wrapped with sacred ropes of various colors… a man holding a walking stick stood there.

 

A man?

 

“You came.”

 

A low, calm voice breaking the silence. The resonance of just one word seems to shake the entire mountain.

 

Standing upright, he smoked a cigarette while gazing this way.

 

A human she had once evaluated as being born with the spirit of a deity.

 

Indeed, a bearing that would not pale in comparison to a mountain god.

 

“I was waiting.”

 

He looks at me coldly. Like a wolf looking for a place to bite, thoroughly.

 

“Shaman.”

 

In the darkness, his two pupils flashed eerily.

 

However, the Shaman did not back down. Rather, she faced him and opened her eyelids wide.

 

“I have received divine revelation.”

 

Dark red demonic energy swirled in her bulging pupils that seemed ready to pop out.

 

“The evil god has descended through me. You have all come here according to his will, to save me-”

 

“Shut up. Before I tear your mouth apart.”

 

Thud──-

 

The walking stick struck the road surface hard. The mountain trembled at the tremendous resonance.

 

The Shaman wore a sneer.

 

“Do you, a mere human, dare to defy the evil god? Do you think you can overcome him?”

 

Then Seol Ha-woon picked up the finished cigarette with his fingertips and burned it. Whoosh. The ash disappeared into the air.

 

“I.”

 

──In an instant.

 

An aura almost equal to the Shaman’s demonic energy exploded.

 

Judgment Magic.

 

Incomparably pure density and pressure grips the surrounding air powerfully like a typhoon.

 

“Don’t fight losing battles.”

 

A conviction like forged steel, spoken quietly.

 

If it’s a bastard like you as an opponent, I couldn’t lose even if I wanted to.

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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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