Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 169

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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 169

 

As world caves in(5)

 

┌──Labyrinth Exploration NaN Episode 14──┐

 

Labyrinth Exploration NaN, live broadcast begins.

 

[In 30 minutes, the magical beasts will make their final move.]

 

[The roles of the 33 surviving explorers are fixed as Defenders.]

 

[Survive for 6 hours]

 

Continuing directly from last week, the situations at Seol Ha-woon and Kate’s strongholds unfold through cross-editing.

 

At the western Kate’s stronghold, all the offenders gather together.

 

─Kate: Everyone. Get ready.

 

─Seo Ji-woo: Wow…

 

They all prepare for the final wave together on the stronghold’s castle walls.

 

Meanwhile, Seol Ha-woon is alone. He stands solitary, gazing beyond the horizon. His clothes flutter in the rushing wind, and the vibrations of a legion reach him from afar.

 

─Im Hae-jun: Master!

 

─Lee Jong-soo: Mal-ok Hyung!

 

Fortunately, Lee Jong-soo and Im Hae-jun run over and stand beside him. It’s much better than having no one and feels reassuring.

 

Reassuring~

 

─Im Hae-jun: This, what do we do?

 

─Seol Ha-woon: We have to endure.

 

Kuwoong──! Kuwoong──!

 

A tremendous rumbling shakes the speakers.

 

Kuwoong──! Kuwoong──!

 

Filling the screen, a magical beast stretching high into the sky reveals itself. It’s buried in mist as if the camera can’t capture it all.

 

Kung──! Kung──!

 

It’s not just Seol Ha-woon’s stronghold. A giant magical beast appears at Kate’s stronghold as well.

 

─Seo Ji-woo: What the hell is that now…

 

─Kang Hyeon: Ji-woo. How’s your magic power?

 

─Seo Ji-woo: It’s sufficient.

 

Its body size is like a decent 10-story building.

 

-Wow shit

 

-Can Seol Ha-woon block this?

 

-Modern weapons probably won’t work

 

-Is Mal-ok really going to be eliminated?

 

Then, the giant bends its knee.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: It’s not a single entity.

 

Seol Ha-woon seems to catch something, and the camera immediately zooms in on the magical beast. Skin that writhes like parasites clinging to it.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: It’s a swarm of magical beasts.

 

Each cell of its entire body is a different magical beast!

 

-Ugh shit put some mosaic on that

 

-Is this a real magical beast?

 

-Yeah magical beast colony. Official name is Overlord. You guys can see it too if you’re unlucky while adventuring lol

 

The magical beast, Overlord, leaps up greatly. A jump that devours the sun. Magical beasts pour down toward the stronghold from its entire body.

 

Seol Ha-woon looks up at it…

 

─Kate: They’re coming!

 

The western stronghold unites. Seo Ji-woo spreads a net-like defensive line, and the rest of the archers and swordsmen prepare for battle.

 

Drip drip. Against the bizarre enemies descending in all forms, Lee Jun-ho swings his long sword.

 

Tsssssssss──!

 

Sword crosses carved in the atmosphere. Lee Jun-ho’s blade trajectory lingers in the air, burning the magical beasts.

 

─Seol Ha-woon: ….

 

Back to Seol Ha-woon.

 

His stronghold is in slow motion as if time has stopped, but at some moment.

 

Magic power itself explodes from Seol Ha-woon.

 

Paaaaaa──!

 

As if refuting the shit post some inferiority-complex-ridden mage had spouted, tremendous magic power surges forth.

 

-Wow lololol

 

-Oh;

 

-Wow;;

 

-Look at that magic power exploding

 

-It’s blue as hell

 

-Is Mal-ol-haem’s serious punch coming out?

 

Meanwhile, suddenly Seol Ha-woon’s voice permeates.

 

A mage’s mental visualization is the path the mage has walked. It resembles the traces of their life.

 

An interview with only voice. The camera still shows Seol Ha-woon’s entire stronghold. It’s a bird’s-eye view shot vertically from above.

 

Some people say their mental imagery has clear limitations.

 

The outskirts of the stronghold. The giant magic circle that Seol Ha-woon drew glows blue hot with magic power.

 

Perhaps.

 

His eyes widened greatly, and the exploded magic power was neatly arranged…

 

It must be because he hasn’t experienced the battlefield.

 

Kuuuung──-!

 

Seol Ha-woon’s walking stick struck the road surface. The magic power that spread instantly activated the formula underground.

 

Sometimes apocalypse is dropped on the battlefield. Those things cannot be replaced with simple weapon names. And they shouldn’t be.

 

In the stretching time, slowly, magical beasts pouring down like a downpour.

 

Toward them──

 

However, technology to prepare for that apocalypse also exists.

 

Bullets are generated from the entire base. Defense systems are activated from every corner of the village.

 

My formula imitates that.

 

To Lee Si-ah, Seol Ha-woon’s voice sounds slightly unnatural. Having met Seol Ha-woon directly and watched the main broadcast dozens of times, she seems to know.

 

Beyond imitation, embodying it.

 

It’s a script written by the PD.

 

It’s a subtle difference anyway. Just accept it as it is.

 

I realize it.

 

As his narration concludes, interception takes place at high altitude.

 

Countless mana bullets fly toward countless magical beasts. Countless bullets defend against endless enemies. They precisely capture and shoot them down.

 

Gooooo…

 

Next, missiles rise up. Guided missiles that destroy relatively large magical beasts. They crush and grind the enemies’ bodies.

 

Immediately after, grid-like patterns are sprayed in the air. It’s the final protection line that burns the magical beasts that couldn’t be filtered out.

 

Kwaaaaaa──-!

 

All those sequences unfold in just a few minutes, and thus.

 

The sky was cleared.

 

The sun rose again where the Overload had disappeared.

 

“Wow…”

 

-He’s pouring out magic power?

 

-He’s just the main character..

 

-Some crazy guy said Seolhaun’s weakness is her mana pool lololol

 

-Isn’t Seol Ha-woon really capable of 1st place?

 

-My story is absolutely perfect lol

 

“Oh right.”

 

Lee Si-ah went to @ekaius’s SNS that she had just seen and clicked on the latest post.

 

—hahahahahahahahahaha

 

—Inferiority complex? Inferiority complex?

 

─Is it true that the great mage Seol Ha-woon lacks magic power

 

Comments are being posted in real time, but suddenly it switches to followers-only.

 

“Ah!”

 

I told them to leave comments.

 

It’s okay. Quick-footed people will already spread the posts to various communities…

 

Then.

 

─Seol Village Soldier : Royal Inspector! This is serious!

 

A soldier suddenly runs to Seol Ha-woon and shouts urgently.

 

What now?

 

─Seol Village Soldier : Hyeon Dan, Sergeant Hyeon Dan is in danger!

 

[Always right chicken, chicken is always right…]

 

“Ugh!”

 

Lee Si-ah unconsciously let out a scream.

 

-Oh shit

 

-What

 

-Ah fuck they’re doing this again

 

-Fuck lololololol

 

-Just breathing and 20 minutes have already passed lol

 

-Mal-ol-haem is really the main character.

 

-They’re really pushing him with editing.. Do this for Kate at least once too.

 

-They did when she fought Min Seok-jae…

 

* * *

 

Early dawn in Manhattan, New York State, America. Kim Jeong-wook, the Korean branch director of the Zephyrell school, is watching the main broadcast with his disciples.

 

─Village Chief : Royal Inspector.

 

─Hyeon Seon-ah : Sniff sniff. Sister, wake up.

 

Kim Jeong-wook gritted his teeth.

 

Herbalist Hyeon Dan. The young kid who consistently appeared in this labyrinth, nimbly gathering herbs, has collapsed and is about to die.

 

Looking at Hyeon Dan’s condition, Seol Ha-woon looks at the potion in his hand.

 

[Universal Fatigue Recovery Potion]

 

■ A universal fatigue recovery potion that perfectly revives even half-corpses on the brink of death

 

“Oh! Thank goodness!”

 

One of the disciples shouted from behind, but Kim Jeong-wook shook his head.

 

“…No.”

 

It’s actually a dilemma. The herbalist has no utility now. Therefore, the best way to use that potion is for Seol Ha-woon himself to drink it and replenish his magic power.

 

Since Seol Ha-woon himself knows this well, he agonizes intensely.

 

“…Seol Ha-woon. What is your choice?”

 

Kim Jeong-wook held his breath as he focused on him. Frankly speaking, he was much more nervous than when he had entered the labyrinth himself.

 

─Village Chief : Royal Inspector.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : …Yes.

 

Finally, Seol Ha-woon made his decision.

 

He poured the potion into Hyeon Dan’s lips.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : She should be fine now. Please take care of her.

 

“…Well done! Well done!”

 

Kim Jeong-wook jumped up and clapped.

 

“Ah, Branch Manager. We can’t see.”

 

“Please.”

 

It was the complaints of his disciples. Today was Zephyrell Society day, so Kim Jeong-wook’s eight direct disciples had gathered together.

 

“Acting like that makes you really seem like an old man.”

 

“…I got it.”

 

Kim Jeong-wook sat back down in his chair.

 

─Hyeon Dan : …Royal Inspector.

 

Hyeon Dan, who had awakened at some point, grabbed hold of Seol Ha-woon who was about to head back to the battlefield.

 

─Hyeon Dan : I brought… something very good…

 

─Seol Ha-woon : …This?

 

Seol Ha-woon picked up something from Hyeon Dan’s herb pouch.

 

─Hyeon Dan : Yes yes….

 

A bluish herb as if frost had been sharpened.

 

[Ten Thousand Ice Grass]

 

■ A herb imbued with vitality that never melts

 

■ Complete recovery of stamina, fatigue, and magic power upon consumption

 

■ 500% increase in natural recovery speed of stamina, fatigue, and magic power for 180 minutes

 

“Well done! Really well done!”

 

Kim Jeong-wook jumped up again.

 

─Hyeon Dan : Hehe… How is it?

 

It was a perfect narrative.

 

Seol Ha-woon had saved Hyeon Dan, and Hyeon Dan gave Seol Ha-woon the herb he needed most right now.

 

“Ah really.”

 

“Branch Manager, please!”

 

“…Ahem.”

 

He sat back down due to the complaints.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : Sergeant Hyeon. Rest comfortably. When you wake up from a nap, we’ll have won.

 

Seol Ha-woon climbed back up the castle wall.

 

“Look at that condition.”

 

He was clearly in peak condition. Magic power rose like heat haze with each step he took.

 

However, he had to consume it quickly. Too much magic power would cause qi deviation.

 

-Wow I came to a mage society meetup but everyone’s just watching Mitamnan right now lololol so funny lmao

 

-Can Seol Ha-woon use all of that?

 

-Those who’ve spent money know how to spend it well, efficiency freaks won’t be able to use it all while worrying about efficiency.

 

In fact, there were many chats on SilTalk pointing out that issue. Magic power was a case of too much being as bad as too little.

 

Whoooosh….

 

Seol Ha-woon released his magic power. The flow speed was very fast. The stream of magic power emitted from his body instantly rode the wind and stretched up to the sky.

 

“Huh?”

 

It gathered steeply. It swirled in the air, forming a typhoon.

 

“…Wait.”

 

Kim Jeong-wook’s expression hardened.

 

“That.”

 

He jumped up again. He strode toward the TV.

 

“Ah Branch Manager really….”

 

The complaints were no longer audible.

 

Right now, the formula that Seol Ha-woon was trying to manifest was surely.

 

Something he had once mentioned to Seol Ha-woon in passing….

 

Craaaack──-!

 

The camera pulled back to a wide shot, capturing the appearance of the formula.

 

A typhoon covering the entire area. Zephyrell’s natural disaster recreated by Seol Ha-woon.

 

Bullets swirled within it. Mana bullets collided with mana bullets causing chain reactions, completely destroying all the magical beasts within the radius.

 

“…Beautiful.”

 

A conversation from the past echoed in Kim Jeong-wook’s ears.

 

‘Think about it. What if you combined your mana bullets with that wind?’

 

‘It would just kill more people.’

 

‘Hey now. You could use it to sweep away monsters instead of people.’

 

“So that’s how you’re using it….”

 

Kim Jeong-wook let out a hollow laugh and looked back at his disciples.

 

“Hey! That thing, that thing Seol Ha-woon is using, I taught him that!”

 

There was no response. Everyone was already watching Mitamnan on their smartphones.

 

“Wow he’s using that. He’s using it just like I said. That guy, he’s a genius for sure. A genius.”

 

Kim Jeong-wook clapped while focusing on the live broadcast. He was absorbed, forgetting the passage of time.

 

Seol Ha-woon endlessly pouring out the magic power overflowing from the Ten Thousand Ice Grass.

 

He crushed the legion of magical beasts. It was both quality and quantity.

 

Lee Jong-soo and Im Hae-jun’s performances were also solid. Warrior Lee Jong-soo firmly guarded the entrance of the castle gate, and Im Hae-jun cleverly used the wind to snipe magical beasts.

 

─Kate : Everyone, please move according to the strategy! When the time comes, we’ll abandon the castle wall!

 

To the west, Kate’s base was defended together by individual explorers. Kang Hyeon, Lee Jun-ho, Kate, Seo Ji-woo, Yoon Hwa-rim… they were all talents who would become future pillars.

 

[ 00 : 03 : 00 ]

 

Tick.

 

The clock ticks like a trailer, and before they know it, 3 minutes remain.

 

The monsters pound against Seol Village’s castle walls.

 

Seol Ha-woon still stands proudly atop the castle wall, but his magic power is gradually withering away.

 

His stamina is running out.

 

[ 00 : 02 : 00 ]

 

Tick.

 

The precarious castle walls of Seol Ha-woon’s base and Kate’s stronghold, which strategically abandoned the walls, are cross-edited.

 

[ 00 : 01 : 30 ]

 

Tick.

 

At Kate’s stronghold, fierce urban combat unfolds. Even the slippery S-rank mercenary Min Seok-jae gives his all to assist Kate.

 

─Lee Jun-ho : Just kill them all!

 

The explorers don’t fall behind even against the endless monsters. Especially Lee Jun-ho, with monster blood splattered all over his face, looks quite terrifying.

 

─Lee Jun-ho : Haha, this is funny!

 

They say his nickname is Human Butcher, and he grins widely while swinging his sword. He seems to find cutting monster flesh entertaining

 

.

 

“…That guy’s also a tough one.”

 

─Seol Village Soldier : The castle wall is collapsing!!!

 

At that moment, Seol Ha-woon’s castle wall also crumbled. Monsters came flooding into the village.

 

Kim Jeong-wook, watching intently, finds it hard to breathe. His heart aches to the point of pain.

 

[ 00 : 00 : 30 ]

 

Tick.

 

Soldiers and mercenaries, Lee Jong-soo and Im Hae-jun stand against the flooding monsters.

 

─Lee Jong-soo : Block them with your bodies!

 

The soldiers block the castle wall entrance with their entire bodies. The camera closes up on their fierce and desperate faces.

 

“Ah…”

 

Kim Jeong-wook’s chest suddenly felt a pang.

 

Is it because he’s getting older? He feels like crying. The sight of civilians willing to throw away even their own lives… Damn it. How embarrassing.

 

“Sniff.”

 

─Lee Jong-soo : Just 30 more seconds!

 

Lee Jong-soo’s cry. Everyone shouts the number 30…

 

[ 00 : 00 : 00 ]

 

Click.

 

At that moment, a flash erupted from the center of the base.

 

Rings of light spread in all directions, enveloping the entire labyrinth, and whoooosh!

 

It wiped out all the monsters.

 

“…Phew.”

 

Kim Jeong-wook exhaled the breath he had been holding.

 

─Lee Jong-soo : It’s over!!

 

Lee Jong-soo on screen raised both arms high. The civilians of Seol Village embraced each other.

 

─Seo Ji-woo : It’s really over!!!!!

 

Kate’s stronghold is the same. The exhausted explorers sit down and look up at the clear sunlight, while Lee Jun-ho retrieves his sword.

 

─Kang Hyeon : Jun-ho. Good work.

 

─Lee Jun-ho : …You too.

 

Kang Hyeon and Lee Jun-ho. The two warriors currently among the best in South Korea clasp hands.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : It’s clear…

 

Seol Ha-woon looks up at the sky with a faint smile.

 

─Lee Jong-soo : Big brother~!

 

─Im Hae-jun : Master! We did it!

 

With Im Hae-jun and Lee Jong-soo rushing up from below, the screen briefly transitions.

 

It’s an interview scene.

 

The writer asks various questions to the main figures of this labyrinth.

 

─Kate : Min Seok-jae… At first it was really hopeless. But in the end, he was a great help.

 

Kate is asked questions related to Min Seok-jae.

 

─Lee Jun-ho : Oh, did I smile again? Actually, I don’t smile because I want to, but somehow when I’m fighting, laughter just comes out naturally.

 

Lee Jun-ho is asked about the grinning laughter while slaughtering monsters.

 

And to Seol Ha-woon.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : The Storm Magic Bullet Technique… I was inspired by Zephyrell.

 

Instantly, his disciples turned their heads to look at Kim Jeong-wook.

 

“…Hmm~”

 

Kim Jeong-wook sat in his chair pretending nothing happened, but his heart was pounding.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : Not to destroy something, but to use weapons to protect…

 

I never expected him to mention it so directly.

 

─Seol Ha-woon : Perhaps, that person might be watching this broadcast as well.

 

“…Is that ‘person’ you, Branch Manager?”

 

The disciples looked at Kim Jeong-wook with newfound eyes.

 

“Well… Is there any other mage in Zephyral who’s met Seol Ha-woon besides me?”

 

Kim Jeong-wook shrugged his shoulders. He held his neck up stiffly.

 

“You guys have been watching me for too long and gotten too used to me, but this is who I really am. You’ve never met Seol Ha-woon, right? Do you know how respectful he is to me?”

 

His spirits were soaring, absolutely soaring.

 

Kim Jeong-wook smiled like a corporate chairman and picked up his smartphone. Seol Ha-woon’s Instagram had already surpassed millions of followers.

 

“Look here. We’re even mutual followers, right? Hahaha.”

 

He stroked his chin solemnly while bragging about their mutual follow.

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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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