Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 170
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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 170
As world caves in(6)
The community exploded. SNS also blew up. All kinds of posts began pouring out about Seol Ha-woon’s stronghold defense.
│This Week’s Seol Ha-woon Summary│
Just ‘protagonist’
│Look at the shady stuff in the mage community│
They were sneakily copying Seolhaun’s techniques while talking shit behind her back about her being an efficiency freak and whatnot lol
│Elite Mage’s Scathing Criticism of Seol Ha-woon│
@ekaius People these days worship Seol Ha-woon like he’s some idol. It’s really strange. They treat him like an idol rather than a mage. They give this tattered narrative to someone who came up from the bottom…
─This guy is kind of weird. His way of speaking is just so condescending
─Just disgusting
─I heard this person also writes a drinking column lol
─What the hell, is everything you say wrong? lmaooooo
─Seol Ha-woon really seems to be getting popular, even attracting flies
└Well, to call them a scrub, that person is a four-digit ranker lol
│Seol Ha-woon’s Mental Visualization is Technology, Not Weaponry│
Projectile Launch, not bullets. Explosion, not grenades.
System, not parts.
When some mages pointed out that Seol Ha-woon’s mental visualization wasn’t deep, Seol Ha-woon was expanding his horizons through blood-soaked effort.
Seol Ha-woon is the system itself…
Lee Si-ah watched the live broadcast again with a gentle expression. For some reason, the world felt crystal clear. The atmosphere of the live broadcast was also peaceful.
Western Stronghold.
Kate and the explorers spend their remaining time rebuilding the village and releasing the orbs collected from the magical beast corpses to restore the ecosystem.
─Kate: …It’s working.
─Seo Ji-woo: That’s right. Amazing.
Their pleased expressions are shown, then back to Seol Ha-woon’s stronghold.
He builds a new house for Sergeant Hyeon Dan, the ace herbalist who was the greatest contributor of this labyrinth.
─Hyeon Dan: Th-this is our house?!
─Hyeon-san-ah: Woaaa!
The two children run around the room in amazement.
A pleased smile forms on Lee Si-ah’s lips, and then Seol Ha-woon also gathers and throws orbs like Kate did.
─Seol Ha-woon: Go.
─Im Hae-jun: Woaaa!
All kinds of mountain animals come back to life from the orbs and return to nature. Im Hae-jun and Lee Jong-soo also watch together from the side.
─Lee Jong-soo: Wow… what a sight, hyung-nim.
─Seol Ha-woon: Spectacular.
─Lee Jong-soo: Wow…
Then, S-rank mercenaries Akiman and Smeshion approach.
─Akiman: You worked hard. It was worthwhile.
─Smeshion: Your magic power was quite delicious.
Two S-rank mercenaries who trusted Seol Ha-woon and worked with him without any trouble. The moment they shake hands with Seol Ha-woon.
[The labyrinth will end soon. Please prepare.]
A bittersweet status window appears along with emotional OST.
Continuing to the Western Stronghold.
─Kate: Everyone…
Kate looks around at the explorers from the completed reconstruction site. She seems overcome with emotion and falls silent for a moment.
Clap. Clap. Clap clap.
Starting with applause from one resident, the entire village is greatly moved.
─Kate: You all worked so hard.
Kate close-up.
She looks at the people who struggled together and smiles with tears in her eyes. It’s a scene attractive enough to make Lee Si-ah gasp.
-Wow.. she’s really noble..
-This labyrinth was Kate’s reevaluation. Just noblesse oblige itself.
-Kate seems to be the biggest beneficiary of Mitamnan too. I thought she was just an annoying elite, but she wasn’t at all.
-Really, only Kate could get this much screen time..
-There is a reason why slaves like it lol
-Why does she look so fake every time I see her; feels like she’s just managing her image, there’s no sincerity in her smile
-Inferiority complex?
Kate had a lot of screen time. As the KakaoTalk said, if it weren’t for Kate, it would have become a Jo Woon and Seol Ha-woon special.
[ Stronghold : Seol Ha-woon ]
─Im Hae-jun: Master!
─Lee Jong-soo: Hyung-nim, let’s go.
Unlike the west bustling with explorers, Seol Ha-woon’s stronghold has only three people. It seems empty and somehow more bitter.
However.
─Hyeon Dan: …Royal Inspector! Wait a moment!
Hyeon Dan calls out to stop them. Behind her, many soldiers and residents are standing.
The Village Chief steps forward.
─Village Chief: Royal Inspector. And, adjutants.
Tears are already welling up in the Village Chief’s eyes. He cries with his eyes while smiling with his mouth. It’s a sincere expression.
─Village Chief : For such humble people like us… I believe this was the greatest fortune we could encounter in this lifetime.
At that, Im Hae-jun bit his lip tightly. His face showed him holding back tears. Lee Jong-soo pounded his chest as if to remember this moment.
-This is kind of sad
-This is why they say not to give backstories to Labyrinth People..
-Are they all going to disappear? Can’t they remain as like a tourist attraction?
-No immersion, it’s a crime
For Lee Si-ah, she suddenly feels sad.
Why do labyrinths occur? Do even good Labyrinth People have to disappear just because they’re Labyrinth People, like the bad ones?
─Village Chief : Everyone!
At the Village Chief’s shout, the soldiers lined up in formation. It was a perfect movement as if they had practiced beforehand.
─Village Chief : To the Royal Inspector and his adjutants who have worked so hard!
The soldiers, Hyeon Dan, little Hyeon Seon-ah right beside her, and all the village residents raise their arms. Their fingertips touch their eyebrows.
──Loyalty!
A salute that rings out with full vigor.
Lee Si-ah unconsciously let out a sigh. Teardrops rolled down like orbs.
─Seol Ha-woon : ….
The village rustling in the wind. Seol Ha-woon quietly watches them.
─Seol Ha-woon : Yes.
Though he is no longer a soldier, he stands straight facing them.
And.
─Seol Ha-woon : Loyalty.
A completely natural salute. A faint smile spreading across his lips. Sunlight bursting brilliantly from beyond the horizon.
A fragment of soldier Seol Ha-woon.
[Ending the labyrinth.]
Goosebumps rise all over Lee Si-ah’s body.
It’s a perfect scene. An indescribable harmony.
She unconsciously moved her mouse. She captured a screenshot of this moment.
Quickly, she needs to spread this so people can replay this scene.
Fortunately, there was enough time.
[Let’s fly together with AMOS WAY Airlines….]
A commercial break. If only it would just come out like this.
Lee Si-ah went around various communities.
│Holy shit│
│I’m just crying my eyes out│
│Fuck what was that just now│
│ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ don’t go│
│This really drives people crazy│
The speed of post uploads was insane. Every time she refreshed, she was dozens of pages behind.
Lee Si-ah timed it right and uploaded her screenshot.
│Seol Ha-woon Saluting│
As soon as she posted it, views and recommendations shot up and it became a popular post!
─Got goosebumps watching this
─This episode’s Seol Ha-woon really hits you without any resistance..
─Crazy crazy lol
─How is this 96th place?
─Pretends not to care but takes care of his comrades the most. Pretends to forget but can’t forget. Just such a heartbreaking human.
─In the end, Seol Ha-woon was with civilians from start to finish. He protected them all….
Hundreds of comments appeared with one refresh.
“Hehe.”
This is also dopamine. This is why I can’t quit communities.
* * *
“…What? Where did he go?”
At the conference waiting room in Manhattan. The students looked around for Kim Jeong-wook who had disappeared at some point.
“He went out suddenly while watching Seol Ha-woon salute. I think he was sniffling?”
“…No way. What are you doing?”
One student had paused Mitamnan at Seol Ha-woon’s stronghold defense scene.
“Looking at the magic formula.”
“Oh right. Did that formula get captured?”
The THAAD Magic Formula that Seol Ha-woon used to defend the entire village. The circuit diagram of the formula that manifested a modern defense system was caught on camera.
“How is it?”
“This scale with this efficiency just doesn’t make sense. I think we could use it when teaching kids.”
As a university teaching assistant, it’s perfect as lecture material.
“Really? I should take a look too.”
It’s worth studying.
A 10-year veteran mage learning from a mage with less than a year of experience. It hurts his pride, but they’re the same age anyway so whatever….
Whoooosh.
Kim Jeong-wook plunged his face into the washbasin full of cold water. He cooled his heated face, the tears that kept flowing.
It’s nothing serious.
When Seol Ha-woon saluted, it just reminded me of those days.
It’s not that I miss the past.
Because my present self is much more brilliant than back then.
He had more money, and his social honor and prestige were much higher too.
However, he suddenly felt an aching longing for his young self from those old days, and the friends who had been equally young by his side.
Kim Jeong-wook slowly lifted his face. He looked at the mirror with reddened eyes.
Wrinkles that hadn’t existed in his twenties. Traces of time carved without him knowing.
“…Heh heh huk.”
He buried his face in the washbasin again.
This was a problem.
A hormonal problem.
Humans cannot overcome hormones.
“…”
Kim Jeong-wook, who had barely calmed down, wiped his face roughly with paper towels. He took deep breaths and regained his composure.
“Phew…”
He came out to the conference hall. The conference was supposed to start at 10 AM, but many people were gathered in the seminar room looking at their smartphones.
Most of them were about Mitamnan.
Was this Seoul, Korea or Manhattan, America?
“Is this what national pride feels like?”
Netflix OTT number 1 for 6 consecutive weeks.
The CEO had immediately attended conferences wearing Mitamnan uniforms, and it had also achieved number 1 as America’s most talked-about program.
American mages were especially serious about it – if you went to their communities, hundreds of analysis posts about Seol Ha-woon at dissertation level were uploaded daily.
There had never been anyone like Seol Ha-woon before – an old-school glass cannon reminiscent of the 50s-60s who pushed efficiency like crazy.
“…Hmm.”
Kim Jeong-wook straightened his shoulders.
To be honest, among branch managers, his influence was on the weaker side.
Zephyrell had 13 branches in America alone, and the Korean branch ranked somewhat lower than the European or Japanese branches.
But today was different.
“…Oh, Kim!”
Jalen, the San Francisco branch manager, approached first. An unnecessarily handsome guy. Normally Kim Jeong-wook might have felt slightly intimidated, but today he held his head high instead.
“Oh. Hello.”
“I was just looking for you. That guy who appeared here, Seol Ha-woon – you’re the one who taught him Zephyrell formulas, right? Mana Bullet Storm?”
Magic Bullet Storm, huh. They were already making up formula names as they pleased.
“Well. That’s right?”
Kim Jeong-wook waved his hand dismissively as if it was nothing.
“When I met Ha-woon, I just threw him some formula ideas, but I didn’t know he’d internalize them so quickly either.”
“Oh… If Seol Ha-woon releases formulas later, you could claim copyright, couldn’t you?”
“Oh my~ Really now. Do I look like that kind of person to you? You probably don’t know since you’re American, but Ha-woon and I don’t have that kind of cold relationship.”
Then Jalen swallowed. Today he seemed even more intimidated than Kim Jeong-wook usually was.
“You must be… very close?”
“You saw the interview.”
“Well… actually, you know. My daughter is a huge fan of Seol Ha-woon? A big, big fan. She even bought tickets to Korea because of that.”
Ha. So he had this kind of ulterior motive.
Kim Jeong-wook raised his eyebrows.
“What, want me to get you an autograph?”
“Oh! Is that possible, possible?”
“Don’t worry, don’t worry. If you need merchandise or anything, just let me know.”
“Merchandise too?!”
Jalen’s expression brightened.
A parent’s heart is the same everywhere. Requests they couldn’t make when alone came out so naturally when it was for their child.
“Yeah yeah. I’ll get it for you, so don’t worry and just enjoy watching the show.”
Kim Jeong-wook casually placed his hand on branch manager Jalen’s shoulder. Then the envious gazes of the conference attendees fixed on him as he walked majestically.
Kim Jeong-wook spread his naturally robust frame even wider.
* * *
Lee Si-ah watched the live broadcast while stroking her Seol Ha-woon plushie.
The daily life episodes after the Defense Labyrinth were psychological therapy.
Kim Yoon-jun’s murder. A current unsolved case where the culprit still hadn’t been caught.
─Lee Jong-soo : Mentor Kim Yoon-jun was… *sob*.
During counseling, Lee Jong-soo couldn’t hold back his tears and lowered his head. He cried like a child.
─Jo Woon : He was a wonderful person.
Moisture gathered in Jo Woon’s eyelids too.
-They’re broadcasting this as is;;
-The broadcasting station people are really ruthless
─Seol Ha-woon : We must catch the culprit, without fail.
Seol Ha-woon expressed his anger,
─Kang Hyeon : …It’s regrettable. He was a good person.
Kang Hyeon also seemed distressed.
-But are the police actually working?
-If someone could kill Kim Yoon-jun, the association should step in. The police can’t catch them either.
-I heard Kim Hyeok-jin died this time too.
-Since they became famous worldwide, villains seem to be attracted too..
After about 5 minutes of psychological therapy remembering Kim Yoon-jun ended.
─Seo Ji-woo : …Are you okay?
─Seol Ha-woon : There’s no reason I wouldn’t be okay.
With a camera angle that seemed to be filming secretly, Seo Ji-woo and Seol Ha-woon on a park bench were captured.
─Seo Ji-woo : You’re so cold. That person was from the Snow Removal Team, right? I heard you were his top pick~
Seol Ha-woon sank into silence. Despite saying he was okay, he remained heavy throughout.
Seo Ji-woo also continued speaking as if choking up.
─Seo Ji-woo : You know what. Why do people die? And why do they kill?
─Seol Ha-woon : It’s most comfortable not to think about such things.
Seol Ha-woon advised her, the younger sister of his dead comrade.
─Seol Ha-woon : Consciously keep your distance. For people in jobs like ours, it’s better to exercise empathy selectively.
-Wow but don’t those two look kind of similar?
-For real, if Ji-woo dyed her hair black, their backs of heads would look exactly the same lol
-People who make jokes like that have no empathy, right?
-What, should she be sad forever??
─Seo Ji-woo: …Did my brother do that too?
Suddenly, Seo Ji-woo brings up her brother out loud.
Lee Si-ah was also slightly shocked.
Even when Seo Ji-woo occasionally does Instagram lives, whenever her brother comes up, she can’t manage her expression and immediately turns it off.
-Ji-woo is even talking about her brother
-It’s probably because Seol Ha-woon was her brother’s comrade
-But they said those two weren’t really that close.
-We don’t know that for sure yet
─Seol Ha-woon: …He must have done his best in whatever he did. That’s why he received a military decoration. The Taegeuk one, at that.
The symbol of a hero, the Taegeuk Military Merit Medal.
Seol Ha-woon readily respects Seo Ji-hyuk. He’s not the type of person to feel jealous after all.
-So Seo Ji-hyuk was above Seol Ha-woon?
-They were comrades
-Seo Ji-hyuk was posthumously promoted to sergeant. Seol Ha-woon was discharged as a staff sergeant.
-It’s really disgusting how you’re ranking them even here lol
─Seo Ji-woo: Of course he did his best. It hurts. I can never see him again.
At Seo Ji-woo’s sighing words, Seol Ha-woon quietly says.
─Seol Ha-woon: …Just think of it as not being able to see him because the timing doesn’t match.
Just like how a real older brother would to his real younger sister.
─Seo Ji-woo: Pfft. What’s that supposed to mean.
Then Seol Ha-woon tilts his head to look at Seo Ji-woo. His eyes look somewhat serious.
─Seol Ha-woon: You’re speaking informally again.
So it was because of the informal speech.
Now that I look at it, those aren’t serious eyes, but a “do you want to die?” look. Seo Ji-woo also flinches and shrinks back.
-lololololol
-Seol Ha-woon really is old-fashioned lol
-No, it’s weird to speak informally when there’s a 6-year age gap
-But there’s such a thing as atmosphere lol
-No, isn’t this like real siblings vibes? lololol
Anyway, the explorers’ rest and daily life continues for about 20 minutes,
and they prepare to enter the labyrinth again.
─Yoo Ji-in: …Everyone has worked so hard. There have been many things happening, haven’t there? Losing a comrade is always sad….
It’s Yoo Ji-in in her astronaut outfit. She also continues speaking with a haggard face.
─Yoo Ji-in: But we’ll overcome it. Just like we always have.
With a sad smile, she clenches her fist firmly.
─Yoo Ji-in: Well then, shall we depart to somewhere in space now?
-I wonder if they’ll show us up to the beginning of the next labyrinth.
-Please ㅠㅠ
-Ah, Kim Yoon-jun ate up all the screen time, damn it
-The memorial could have been just 5 minutes
-Wow, why are there so many psychopaths?
The explorers change into clothes like astronauts and enter the capsules.
─Yoo Ji-in: Everyone please enter the capsules. We’ll depart soon.
「Beginning hibernation.」
「5, 4, 3, 2, 1….」
The screen goes black.
After staying completely black for about 5 seconds, the explorers open their eyes one by one.
The beginning is similar for everyone. They wake up from the capsules and blankly explore their surroundings.
But something seems off.
The atmosphere is too quiet and silent.
─Im Hae-jun: Where is this place?
Im Hae-jun walks around in his space suit.
Creak creak creak──!
He turns toward where some bizarre sound is coming from.
Im Hae-jun’s eyes widened.
-I find it scary when he gets scared.
-His eyes are so big it’s adorable
–I can’t tell if his face is small or his eyes are big, his eyes take up half his face
─Im Hae-jun: Ugh, uaaaah!
His eyes really are incredibly big. He really looks like a small-faced puppy.
After that, the perspective switches.
─Kang Hyeon: …Hmm. Where is this place.
It’s Kang Hyeon.
He looks down at the ground from what appears to be an apartment balcony.
─Seo Ji-woo : Huh? Hey!
At that moment, Seo Ji-woo waves her arms enthusiastically from the opposite balcony.
─Seo Ji-woo : Kang Hyeon! Nice to see you?!
Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon reuniting at an early stage.
─Seol Ha-woon : …Who are you?
Seol Ha-woon!
Seol Ha-woon, awakened from his capsule, greets someone who has come to find him.
─Julione : I’m Julione. I’m the supervisor who accepted you.
Seol Ha-woon moves with the supervisor named Julione, but the supervisor enters the control room alone, leaving him behind.
─Julione : My job ends with waking you up.
─Seol Ha-woon : Isn’t there any guidance or instruction?
The supervisor stubbornly abandons Seol Ha-woon, and he has no choice but to come out into the corridor alone.
At that moment.
R U N
YOU THE NEXT
DIE ! ! !
WE ALL DIE ^０^
THANKS FOR YOUR NEGLIGENCE…
On the ship’s walls, desperate letters written in human blood are eerily disturbing.
─Kate : …Oh no.
Now it’s Kate.
She hides behind a tree in the park, watching some creature making creaking sounds in the distance.
─Kate : It’s a zombie.
The most famous undead. Though maintaining human form, a zombie whose entire body has been horribly mutated.
“Whoa.”
Soon the camera pulls away. The vast and endless space. A large warship floating in the middle of it slowly comes into view…
[To be continued next week]
“…It’s already over.”
-What viewership rating will satisfy these guys.
-Isn’t the current highest rating 36%?
-Fuck how do I wait another week
-Life’s joy. Life’s light. Life’s reason… back to reality again
Lee Si-ah closed SilTalk and accessed the news section of a portal site.
│Mitamnan Aftermath… Korean Peninsula Stirred by Seol Ha-woon’s Salute│
│”This is skill”… Seol Ha-woon’s Mental Visualization, Praised for Systematic Approach Rather Than Simple Firepower│
│Kate, ‘True Noble’ Reevaluated… Screen Time + Story Rivaling Seol Ha-woon ‘Draws Attention’│
│Mage Community Filled with Seol Ha-woon│
│Today’s Best Scene from Mitamnan, Seol Ha-woon Saluting.│
There are tons of articles too.
“This will definitely appear on SNL this time.”
Jema-raun parodying Jemal-ol. This time will he salute while eating malatang?
Lee Si-ah, immersed in the afterglow of this episode, checked the post she had just uploaded again.
│Seol Ha-woon Saluting [5,553]│
Only an hour has passed and there are already 5,500 comments.
Insane popularity.
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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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