Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 166

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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 166

 

As world caves in(2)

 

I came up to the upper floor.

 

There were two sections on one floor. On the left was a gym with treadmills and various exercise equipment, and on the opposite side was a laboratory equipped with quite advanced machines.

 

Was this a military research facility?

 

First, I stopped by the laboratory. There were many medicine bottles on the shelves. I took them all out and laid them out.

 

[Mana Steroid]

 

■ When injected into the body, it enhances physical abilities for a short time. The effects gradually fade over 720 hours, but there are no side effects.

 

[Medkit]

 

■ Contains multiple items for treating external injuries and infections.

 

[Radiation Blocker]

 

■ When taken, it reduces the effects of external radiation exposure for a certain period of time.

 

[Magic Fluid]

 

■ A blue liquid containing refined magic power. When injected, it restores depleted magic power.

 

I picked up the magic fluid. Swish swish. A reagent bottle glowing blue.

 

In this labyrinth, the mana in the atmosphere seems to be contaminated, so while magic power can be used, recovery appears impossible. In fact, even now I don’t feel my magic power circulating.

 

If magic power is consumed, it must be directly injected into the body to replenish it.

 

Given that nuclear bombs have pounded Earth hundreds of times, this is quite understandable.

 

“…Hmm.”

 

I looked back and forth between the gym on the left and the steroid.

 

The combination of these two words is too destructive, but I need to quickly adapt to both legs.

 

I injected the steroid into my body.

 

While waiting for the drug to take effect, I first examined the entire bunker.

 

The upper floor was a food storage and bedroom combined, and above that was an exit leading to the ground.

 

I counted the food supplies in the storage room. Most were canned food, barely enough for five days.

 

Assuming I’d be building muscle and engaging in intense activity, it was an amount I could finish in just two days.

 

I packed all the canned food into a duffel bag and came back down.

 

I put my legs on the treadmill in the gym.

 

I still have psychological resistance to running with both feet, but it’s just a mental block. It’ll improve soon.

 

Click.

 

I pressed the button on the treadmill.

 

Thump thump thump thump.

 

I run.

 

Bouncing my feet, stepping forward with both legs.

 

There isn’t much time.

 

Neither the time until the nuclear bomb falls, nor the time I can use these legs…

 

I broke a sweat from running for the first time in a while. I only ran for 30 minutes but was already gasping for breath.

 

I sat at the desk with a can of food. While spooning some unidentifiable protein into my mouth, I turned on the laptop.

 

[ Doomsday Net ]

 

According to Wikipedia, this community was created by one of the survivalists and currently has the highest floating population.

 

Indeed, posts were being uploaded steadily.

 

│There are a lot fewer people on doomsday forums these days│Well, with only 7 days left… I’d probably be in denial or hanging myself too.─Exactly! Let’s still try to enjoy our remaining days!─That’s why it’s so sad ㅠㅠ─But tomorrow will definitely be a lively day!

 

The state of the comments is strange.

 

─Damn crazy AI bastards… still operating.

 

Most of them seem to be AI. This is the scene of the dead internet theory.

 

│Everyone! Can I ask a few questions?│

 

Just then, a new post went up.

 

1. I looked up doomsday on the internet, but is destruction unavoidable?2. Is it the same even if you’re in a bunker?3. Are all the people in this Korea tab currently staying in Korea?

 

I don’t know who it was, but they were definitely an explorer.

 

─Is this guy an AI too..? AIs don’t usually write posts though.─Hey! Long time no see!─Of course you can ask questions~─New users are always welcome~─Korea ㅇㅇ where’s your bunker? Send me a message.

 

I also wrote a comment.

 

─It doesn’t look good to write posts on this community. Never reveal your bunker location, and don’t meet other people either.

 

Ding.

 

Someone immediately sent me a note.

 

[Anonymous: Are you an explorer?]

 

They’re asking if I’m an explorer.

 

[Yes]

 

The moment I replied, I hesitated.

 

The other person might not be an explorer.

 

Even if the world ends in 7 days, human desires don’t disappear. Rather, this labyrinth would have more people who don’t believe in doomsday, who don’t want to believe it.

 

Therefore, the outside is likely a lawless zone rampant with looting and attacks – no, it’s almost certain.

 

“Hmm…”

 

No matter how long I waited, there was no reply. Did the other person have similar thoughts to mine?

 

I closed the community. I checked the current location information through the laptop.

 

First, the bunker’s current location was in America. Specifically, Florida.

 

I memorized the map near the bunker with Sequence.

 

“Ugh!”

 

Suddenly, pain struck my temple. Squinting one eye, I examined my body with magic power.

 

There was a problem with the implant that controls the load of Sequence.

 

“…”

 

After thinking silently, I moved my magic power again to break through the implant’s circuit. So it would reach my ‘left leg’ as well.

 

* * *

 

I established a routine.

 

90 minutes of sleep and 60 minutes of exercise, 30 minutes of practical training, 30 minutes of information gathering, then 90 minutes of sleep again, and repeat.

 

With the synergy of steroids and dream bubbles, my stamina recovered quickly, and my muscles and athletic ability improved rapidly too.

 

After about 18 hours of effort, the coordination between my left and right legs was completely restored.

 

It was time to leave the bunker.

 

I put my laptop and medicine into the duffel bag. I stuck a dagger at my waist. I put a fake pistol into a real holster.

 

It was something I made by roughly folding a box and wrapping it tightly with duct tape. The silhouette was identical to the real thing.

 

Rather than shooting mana bullets with my fingers, creating a ‘medium’ like this consumed much less magic power. Since magic power doesn’t naturally recover in this world, conservation is essential.

 

I put on military uniform. I wore combat boots. I tied the knots tight. I slung the duffel bag over my shoulder. I put on a gas mask.

 

And so I came up to the ground.

 

The scenery was── a concrete wasteland I’d never seen anywhere. Under the gray sky, tough weeds grew through cracks in the asphalt, and some of the buildings visible in the distance maintained their shape. They were remnants of civilization that hadn’t completely collapsed yet.

 

Whiiiiing!

 

Radioactive sand came rushing in.

 

I moved forward against the wind.

 

After walking for several dozen minutes, a road buried in dirt became faintly visible. There were traces of cooking that had been done just moments before.

 

Judging by the spacing of the footprints, they had hastily fled the scene. They probably saw me.

 

I waited for a moment.

 

I thought about it.

 

Would they choose to attack first, or would they choose to attack later.

 

Either way didn’t matter to me.

 

A first strike would be disorganized combat, which would be advantageous for me, and a delayed attack would give me time to plan strategy, which would be equally advantageous.

 

There was no reason to avoid a fight. I had my left leg, after all.

 

“Hey.”

 

I sensed a presence behind me. A scavenger wearing a bizarre iron mask on his face. They had chosen to attack later.

 

“Haven’t seen your face before. What are you doing here?”

 

Even in this situation, the punishment magic responded. I first assessed the enemies’ positions. The sequence spread wide and detected human locations.

 

Two people above the sand canyon on the right.

 

Two people behind me.

 

Two people below the pit on the left.

 

Two people in front.

 

Eight in total.

 

These guys maintained their battle formation quite well.

 

“Hey soldier. I’m talking to you. You fucking bastard, guk!”

 

I drew the dagger from my waist and stabbed one guy’s throat. I blew the other guy’s head off with the pistol from my holster.

 

Immediately after, I took aimed shots at the two guys in front. The moment the mana bullets shattered their skulls, I picked up the guy I’d just stabbed with the knife like a shield.

 

The two guys who jumped out from the side pit fired their rifles.

 

Kudddddeuk!

 

Their bullets buried into the corpse, and I returned fire as if breaking the pistol.

 

My bullets curve.

 

Because they’re mana bullets.

 

“Urk!”

 

“Kraak!”

 

I killed all six on the ground. I looked up. There was a bazooka in the canyon.

 

Click.

 

The moment he pulled the trigger, I extended a wire with magic power.

 

Whiiiii.

 

The missile descended, and I flew up toward them.

 

The assistant gunner hurriedly raised his rifle, but I was faster.

 

Bang.

 

His head exploded. I rolled once more as I landed. Just in case there was more shooting-

 

“Please spare me!”

 

The guy holding the bazooka quickly dropped to his knees.

 

“….”

 

I holstered the fake pistol.

 

For now, there was no need to kill him.

 

“Hey.”

 

“Yes! Please spare me! Please spare me! I didn’t recognize you! That such a superhuman still exists on this fucking Earth-”

 

“Shut up, and guide me to your hideout.”

 

Right now, information was desperately needed.

 

“H-here it is.”

 

Their hideout was a 3rd floor building near the train station.

 

It was almost ready to collapse, but it was still standing for now.

 

“Thanks. Jesse, was it?”

 

His name was Jesse. That was the name of the man who guided me. He nodded his head almost tearfully.

 

“You guys don’t believe in Doomsday, right?”

 

“Yes, yes. The boss said that’s bullshit only idiots believe….”

 

“Ah. Right.”

 

“Please, please….”

 

“Please what.”

 

I grabbed his neck. Crack! I tore it right off.

 

“Uaaaak!!!”

 

“You’re an android, aren’t you.”

 

“…Huh?”

 

Jesse, caught in my hand, blinked his eyes blankly.

 

“…What.”

 

He looked at the wires that had been pulled out instead of a spinal cord, and at his own kneeling body.

 

“Wh-what is this….”

 

I noticed after walking together for about 5 minutes. I couldn’t feel any body temperature from him.

 

“This… this can’t be.”

 

Jesse’s face was colored with shock and terror.

 

“You didn’t know?”

 

I played along for now.

 

“Uh, uh… uh….”

 

“Looks like you were fooled by those guys too.”

 

“I… I was an android….”

 

Jesse’s breathing became rapid. His face showed doubt about his own existence. It’s grotesque how he’s acting like this with just his head dangling.

 

“Fucking hell….”

 

“What do you want to do.”

 

I pointed Jesse toward the hideout.

 

“If you want revenge, cooperate.”

 

Jesse’s eyes rolled around. He stared at me blankly, then opened his mouth with a deliberately resolute expression.

 

“…What information do you need? First, our gang’s boss is a person named Dave.”

 

I always think this, but thugs have no loyalty.

 

* * *

 

“Got everything packed.”

 

Dave, the leader of the Florida Chemical Gangsters, packed his travel bag.

 

7 days remaining. The only companions were three elites that Dave particularly cherished. The stupid low-level guys still believed that Doomsday was complete bullshit, but consider that your blessing-

 

Bang!

 

Some gunshot rang out from outside. Dave was startled.

 

“Who’s there….”

 

Swoosh. The door opens halfway, and through the gap, something rolls in with a rattle.

 

It’s a grenade.

 

“Hup!”

 

Dave quickly dove under the desk. He drew the revolver from his waist while preparing for the explosion.

 

“…What the.”

 

But no matter how long he waited, nothing happened.

 

Dave grabbed a hand mirror and held it up. There was no one inside. The door had closed at some point.

 

“What the…”

 

And the moment he poked his head out.

 

His consciousness cut off.

 

Bang.

 

His forehead had been penetrated.

 

“You’re quite refreshing, big brother.”

 

Jesse’s head on top of Seol Ha-woon’s duffel bag, who emerged from the blind spot, giggled. Seol Ha-woon retrieved Dave’s revolver.

 

[Finisher]

 

■ .44 Magnum Revolver. The barrel has been modified to produce twice the impact and destructive power of a standard .44 Magnum revolver. The power is too excessive to call it a simple pistol.

 

He holstered it and sat in front of the laptop.

 

“Do you know the password?”

 

“Yes. It’s 10538.”

 

“How did you know?”

 

Seol Ha-woon asked while accessing the laptop.

 

“I manage the intranet.”

 

“Then can you do things like hacking too?”

 

“Oh, of course. You just need to get me a new body.”

 

A new body….

 

He placed Jesse on the desk.

 

“Good work.”

 

He pressed the revolver against his temple.

 

“Uh-”

 

The guy’s face completely exploded. Machine fragments scattered like torn pillowcases.

 

The guy who claimed not to know he was an android was too familiar with android-like language.

 

Humans don’t refer to their own bodies as “bodies.”

 

Even if that weren’t the case, he had no desire to keep someone who easily betrayed others by his side.

 

Seol Ha-woon sat in the chair and examined the laptop’s journal.

 

[I’m going to the fucking moon]

 

The future of humanity lies on the moon. Many say that when you actually observe the moon through a microscope, you can see something. Florida’s rocket launch pad. Kennedy something. It’s what NASA used before the apocalypse, and they say equipment is still left there, so let’s go and give it a try. If those fuckers won’t take me, I’ll make sure they can’t go either.

 

“…The moon.”

 

He took out a chocolate bar from the drawer and ate it.

 

“Unnecessarily romantic.”

 

He confirmed his primary objective.

 

I need to go to the moon in the sky.

 

However, I shouldn’t go out right now. Soon, the fireworks will go off once more.

 

Rustle….

 

He could sense movement coming from above. Probably gang members returning after finishing their separate patrol.

 

They would first check the devastated hideout and try to enter cautiously, but.

 

Click. The sound of the booby trap on the stairs being triggered.

 

The trap detonated.

 

Aaaaah! Screams echoed.

 

“….”

 

It’s contrived.

 

They’re smart guys.

 

They saw through the trap. If he opened the door now, gunfire would pour in from all directions.

 

He would have liked to farm this entire hideout if possible, but it can’t be helped.

 

Seol Ha-woon put on his gas mask and opened the window. As he jumped outside, he pressed the detonator firmly.

 

───-!

 

The TNT installed in the building’s framework exploded, bringing the entire structure down. Clean controlled demolition. This time there weren’t even screams.

 

Whoooosh…!

 

His hair swayed in the debris-filled wind.

 

The gains were substantial. His duffel bags had somehow increased to two. He filled them with the gang’s gunpowder, explosives, firearms, and ammunition.

 

Anyway.

 

The primary objective is Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

 

America is such a vast landmass that traveling on foot would be impossible.

 

I need to find transportation.

—————
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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