Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 16

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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 016

Gotta Fight(3)

The next morning.

I’ve been pushing down my mana circuits since dawn.

I finished my right arm, left arm, and chest area, but I still have the abdomen and lower back including the upper body left, and the lower body is still far off.

“Haah…”

Arms that humans move consciously and are aware of in daily life are easy. However, the belly and back, and the lower body which has a lot of muscles originally, are difficult.

So I extend backwards from the right and left arms where I’ve already opened the mana circuits. It’s the concept of lengthening existing circuits and pulling them down a bit more, further down…

Krrrgggk! A sound came from inside. A contraction feeling like someone had thoroughly beaten all my muscles with a plunger. Pain as if my internal organs had twisted entirely.

I clutched my upper abdomen.

“Krrreeek.”

It’s painfully agonizing, but still, circuits that weren’t there before glimmer blue between my abdominal muscles.

“…”

Looking at it makes me smile. An addiction-like sense of achievement. So this is why people become mages.

“I’m dying…”

I let out a sigh when the pain subsided.

There’s still more routine left.

It’s the mana breathing that Tae-yul, no, Yoo Yul mentor taught me.

The other guys are just lightly managing their condition in preparation for the upcoming assignment, but I don’t even have time for that.

96th place must grow.

I make up for lacking stamina with mental strength.

[ Seol Ha-woon accepts new learning. ]

[ Magic Power grade increases. ]

■ D+ → C-

* * *

6:30 AM.

I climbed the mountain while leaning on my walking stick. I used to go back and forth on Seorak Mountain like it was a neighborhood hill, but now even this back hill has become too difficult.

“…There it is.”

I could see the large rock where Yoo Yul mentor had sat. I felt strangely glad. I limped over and plopped my butt down on the grassy ground beside it.

Mana breathing preparation complete.

First, I gather magic power in my airway,

“Hheup!”

And take a big breath in.

When air flows into my lungs, the magic power condensed in my airway grabs hold of the mana in the atmosphere. Then a burning heat sensation rises in my throat. I don’t know why. They didn’t teach me that far.

However, it stings. It’s agonizing. It’s painful. It’s hard to endure.

But, if you keep doing it, it gets easier.

I believe in myself.

More precisely, I believe in the [Tech] I’ve acquired.

[ Lower Grade Mana Memory ]

[Mana Memory]. Thanks to this tech, any action related to magic power becomes easier each time I repeat it. Beyond simply getting easier, I should be able to perform it like a habit ingrained in my body.

Did I repeat mana breathing about twenty times like that?

“…Ptui.”

When I spat, dark red blood flowed out.

“Damn it.”

My voice had become hoarse before I knew it. I staggered and sat on the rock.

Now, it’s time to rest and think. Where should I invest the tech points I gained from the recognition level up?

Actually, this is simple too.

Right now, the 8th tech is appealing.

８. Lower Mana Amplification■ You can amplify your magic power for a short time.

Mana Amplification. The last tech whose unlock condition is magic power stat ’10’ or higher.

Honestly, this is my first time with a mage’s 8th tech. In [MoMo], mages don’t help with making money, and they’re actually the job my clients mainly play.

Meaning they’re money pits.

So I’ve naturally never seen a mage’s 8th tech.

However, since the first broadcast isn’t far off, some degree of impact will definitely be necessary.

[ You acquire Lower Mana Amplification. ]

Next, the Spirit Elixir.

I took out the Spirit Elixir I received from Yoo Yul. I pondered until last night, but if Yoo Yul is Tae-yul as I think, then I don’t need to feel any pangs of conscience.

I took out the Spirit Elixir and shoved it in my mouth. I chewed thoroughly. At the same time, I preheated my mana circuits. In almost the same way as mana breathing, this time I concentrated magic power in all the circuits I had opened. I was determined to absorb all the nutrition from the Spirit Elixir.

[ You consume a Supreme Grade Spirit Pill! ]■ Your body seems to become healthier. Stamina increases by 0.3.■ Your muscles seem to bulge. Strength increases by 0.2.■ You feel like you can move swiftly. Agility increases by 0.2.■ You seem to become sturdier. Durability increases by 0.3.

[ Very Good Digestion ]■ Your body absorbs the Spirit Elixir. Mental strength increases by 0.5.

…Why did mental strength suddenly go up?

I was puzzled, but,

[ Discovery! Character ‘Seol Ha-woon’ acquires a lower grade trait! ][ Body That Responds Well to Medicine ]■ Drug efficacy increases by 25%, but side effects decrease by 5%.

It was a good thing.

* * *

Meanwhile, at the fast food restaurant inside the training camp site. S-tier Ryu Yeon-hwa, Lee Jun-ho, and Seo Ji-woo ordered hamburgers together.

“Hey, mix them up, mix them up.”

As soon as they received their sets, Seo Ji-woo cheerfully mixed the french fries. Ryu Yeon-hwa frowned and asked.

“Why do you have to mix them?”

“This is how you’re supposed to eat them. They’re all large anyway.”

“Ask before you mix them.”

“…Ah, shit. Then I’ll take them back.”

Seo Ji-woo tried to restore the french fries to their original state with a formula-

“Don’t be a pain. Just eat them.”

Ryu Yeon-hwa stopped her. Seo Ji-woo glared with her eyes and cursed.

Lee Jun-ho chuckled while watching the two. These guys are the same now as they were before.

Seo Ji-woo narrowed her eyebrows.

“What are you grinning at?”

“Just~ reminded me of the old days.”

The three were alumni from Seoul Special Exploration High School. Of course, Ryu Yeon-hwa and Seo Ji-woo showed talent in magic early and transferred to Magic School, but Seoul Magic School and Seoul Special Exploration High School were adjacent to each other from the beginning.

It means they practically spent their school years together.

“You’re talking like the old days. All I remember is getting disciplined.”

Seo Ji-woo busily ate her french fries while looking out the window.

Suddenly, her hand stopped. She fixed her gaze somewhere. Ryu Yeon-hwa and Lee Jun-ho also looked in that direction.

The 96th ranked Mage was there.

Seol Ha-woon, coming down the mountain while leaning on his Walking Stick.

Seo Ji-woo followed his limping figure with her eyes for quite a long time.

“Don’t mind him.”

Lee Jun-ho said as he picked up his hamburger. Seo Ji-woo’s eyes quietly shifted.

“That person is ranked 96th. He’ll get 5 minutes of screen time at most.”

“…You don’t know him well enough. That person has something subtle about him.”

Seo Ji-woo had checked the level test records. Although Seol Ha-woon took over 3 hours, his hit count and trap exposure were 0.

It was definitely not a trivial result.

Lee Jun-ho snorted with laughter.

“What could he have. He’s even limping. He’s exactly 96th place material.”

He took a bite of his hamburger while saying that.

Seo Ji-woo shook her head.

“That’s why you’re a blockhead. He’s the only person who didn’t get caught in any traps during the level test.”

Blockhead. Lee Jun-ho’s lips twitched slightly. He put down his hamburger and said quietly.

“Isn’t it because he’s from UDT?”

Seo Ji-woo’s expression hardened instantly. She glared at Lee Jun-ho with sharp eyes.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Nothing special.”

Lee Jun-ho shrugged, but Seo Ji-woo smiled intensely. It was a habit that came out when she was angry.

She leaned her face forward.

“Nothing special my ass. You have an agenda.”

“…”

Lee Jun-ho silently scratched his hair, and Seo Ji-woo looked like she was about to pick a fight right then and there, broadcast or not, when.

“Oh?!”

Ryu Yeon-hwa held out her Smartphone.

“The profiles are up.”

“…Profiles? What’s that?”

Seo Ji-woo asked back. Lee Jun-ho took out his Smartphone and answered instead.

“The PDs said they’d release explorer profiles sequentially starting today.”

* * *

[ Labyrinth Exploration NaN Explorer Profiles Released ! ]

Some people didn’t even know the release schedule, but others had been waiting so eagerly their eyes might fall out – the explorer profiles were uploaded.

Not all of them, just exactly 15.

“…Finally.”

Lee Si-ah. Her ID was RollingShuttlecock. As a famous core fan of the “Labyrinth Exploration” series, she accessed the profiles after 580 refreshes.

Space-Burning Warrior◇ Lee Jun-ho LEE JUN HOBlood Type: BType MBTI: ENFPHeight: 184.3㎝Weight: 80㎏Hobbies: Composing, Reading, BoxingSpecialty: Justice ManifestationResolution: I will move forward looking only ahead.[▶] Lee Jun-ho 1-minute Self-Introduction Video

Swordsman Torn from Manga◇ Kang Hyeon KANG HYUNBlood Type: AType MBTI: INTJHeight: 185㎝Weight: 84㎏Hobbies: Hunting, FishingSpecialty: DrawingResolution: I will do my best.[▶] Kang Hyeon 1-minute Self-Introduction Video

Usually, explorers revealed on the first day have a high probability of being main characters. The current profile lineup only includes explorers like Lee Jun-ho, Kang Hyeon, Seo Ji-woo, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Yoon Hwa-rim – all obviously cool, pretty, and exceptionally skilled.

But then.

UDT-Origin Mage◇ Seol Ha-woon SEOL HAUNAge: 27Height: 187㎝Weight: 63㎏MBTI: ISTJHobbies: ShootingSpecialty: Not MovingResolution: I will show potential that overcomes handicaps.[▶] Seol Ha-woon 1-minute Self-Introduction Video

Seol Ha-woon?

Even for Lee Si-ah, who was well-versed in the exploration world, this was an unknown person.

His background was unique though. UDT-origin Mage. His profile photo had a certain feel too. Uncommon long hair and a raw impression.

“…”

Lee Si-ah played Seol Ha-woon’s self-introduction video with her dark-circled eyes.

──Nice to meet you. I’m Mage Seol Ha-woon. Although I was discharged due to an accident during operations, I came here to challenge the second act of my life.

He was on the handsome side but not particularly special, had good proportions but was thin as a skeleton, and even used a Walking Stick.

──Of course, I believe nothing comes for free. I came here to seize things for myself. I won’t avoid any difficulties.

He seemed like someone without much fan appeal. Why is this person on the first page?

──National Scouters.

Just when she was thinking that, he extended his finger toward the Camera.

──Please vote for me.

Bang. Magic Power shot out from his Hand Gun like a real bullet and hit the lens. Lee Si-ah flinched and pulled her neck back.

“…Startling.”

Her heart racing for no reason, she immediately accessed the community.

Core fans don’t think much. Typing comes first, uploading comes next. It means she’s long past the stage of thinking while being a fan.

[ Labyrinth Exploration Explorer Profiles – 15 People Released ]

１. Lee Jun-ho

Space-Slashing Warrior https://ieonet.cadbridg1

２. Kang Hyeon

Manga-Ripped Handsome Guy https://ieonet.cadbridg2

She wrote Lee Jun-ho and Kang Hyeon first, but the third one was…

3. Seol Ha-woon UDT-Origin Mage https://ionet.cadbridg15

She posted Seol Ha-woon.

Order matters quite a bit in posts like this. There’s a reason why three-line summaries exist.

Click.

Lee Si-ah uploaded the post.

About 2 minutes passed.

─Who is Seol Ha-woon

A comment was posted immediately. Lee Si-ah replied with a different account.

└He’s UDT-origin but has problems with his left leg. I saw him walking around with a Walking Stick.

└Huh? Can someone like that clear the Labyrinth?

└They must have gotten attached because it’s possible??

Several more comments followed.

─Lee Jun-ho is so handsome lol cute

─But Kang Hyeon has the best looks though?

└Seriously, I was shocked as soon as the video started.

└My heart hurts

─Really looking forward to this

─What was Seol Ha-woon shooting at the camera?? Really startled me

└Looks like he’s shooting with a Formula lol since he’s ex-Military lol

“….”

Most were already interested in the famous promising candidates, but comments about Seol Ha-woon appeared quite frequently as well.

Lee Si-ah played Seol Ha-woon’s video again.

──I’m Mage Seol Ha-woon. Though I was discharged due to an accident during an operation, for the second act of my life….

Was it because this kind of character was a first in this field? Or because he was new and had no resistance built up yet?

She liked his rather worn-down atmosphere.

Lee Si-ah pursed her lips and played the video once more.

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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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