Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 171

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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 171

 

As world caves in(7)

 

Earth’s Last Day D-5

 

An apocalypse lined with abandoned buildings. I move through the traces of fallout and lingering radiation.

 

There is no fear. Urban combat is information warfare, and in that regard, Sequence is nearly invincible.

 

It emits mana waves more accurate than radar to detect threats. I track and eliminate those hiding below pits, between building gaps, and beyond bulkheads.

 

There are no errors in Sequence, which absorbs even the smallest breathing sounds.

 

We advanced gradually, tightening our grip from the outskirts. Crushing the group that occupied this area, we reached the heart of enemy territory…

 

“…Cough.”

 

We captured the enemy leader. The one tied to the pillar coughed up blood. I deliberately kept him alive to gather information.

 

“More idiots who believe in Doomsday, I see.”

 

The man’s name is Jeremy. He’s the leader of the gang that made their nest here.

 

I loaded bullets into my revolver.

 

“For something like that, the view is too nice.”

 

I gestured to the right. It was a view where Kennedy Space Center was clearly visible.

 

“You must have been inside. What was there?”

 

Jeremy chuckled.

 

“If I give you information, will you spare me?”

 

“No.”

 

I shook my head.

 

“I’ll send you off without pain.”

 

According to the Geneva Convention, torture on the battlefield is impossible. Personally, I think it’s a treaty worse than dogs. Villains or terrorist groups don’t care about such humanitarian considerations, but the military has its hands tied.

 

I’m no longer a soldier now.

 

“…Tempting. Just like your face.”

 

The bastard grinned and gestured over there.

 

“Kennedy Space Center. I tried to go in too. But it’s a demon’s den. There’s one monster-like bastard who’s fucking numerous.”

 

One monster-like bastard who’s fucking numerous.

 

The word combination is strange.

 

“That’s all I know… Cough.”

 

Jeremy coughed up blood.

 

“Hey. Don’t live so tiringly. If Doomsday is fact, you’ll die comfortably anyway, and if not, you’ll just live. Why bother acting up?”

 

I observed Jeremy’s reaction.

 

The reason I deliberately kept him alive and talked to him wasn’t because I expected him to directly spill information. It was simply to read his physical signals.

 

Humans tend to show unconscious reactions toward things that are important or precious to them.

 

The rooftop, I see.

 

“Wait.”

 

I whispered some words in Kate’s ear.

 

She nodded, and I extended wire toward the rooftop while pretending to go down.

 

* * *

 

“Hah~ Really. Fucking annoying. Hey. How do you trust a guy like that? If things go wrong, he’ll snap your neck right away too.”

 

Jeremy’s mouth opened the moment Seol Ha-woon left.

 

“I don’t understand. You can see it just by looking. The moment he thinks you’re not it, he’ll turn his gun on you right away? You’ll die without even knowing you’re dying. Stupid, so stupid~”

 

Kate wasn’t feeling very good. He couldn’t say a word properly in front of Seol Ha-woon, but now he thinks I’m easy.

 

“Only lowlifes like you would think I trust that person.”

 

“…What?”

 

Jeremy’s eyes widened, then he laughed as if it was ridiculous.

 

Kate asked him.

 

“I am curious though. How did you survive this nuclear war?”

 

“For me it was pure luck. Some were revived.”

 

“Revived?”

 

“Androids. Clones. Something like that. I gathered up guys who knew nothing. We were living quite enjoyably.”

 

Jeremy smiled bitterly. Were those we killed precious comrades to this man?

 

But there’s no need for sympathy.

 

“Killing people must have been fun.”

 

“Ah~ Of course. It was an amazing business. Once we set up base here, 2-3 parties came steadily every month. Carrying all sorts of stuff saying they’re going to the moon. Do you know how happy we were then? The kids revered me like a god… until you ruined everything.”

 

Just then Seol Ha-woon returned. Three cards were clutched in his hand.

 

“Space Center cards.”

 

Jeremy’s expression instantly hardened.

 

“…Found them already. This fucking bastard. Damn son of a bitch.”

 

“Kate.”

 

Seol Ha-woon threw the cards to Kate. Kate put them in her pocket.

 

Jeremy hung his head as if resigned.

 

“It’s over now. Still, it was fun. It was fun…”

 

Without even glancing at the bastard spouting last words, Seol Ha-woon just trudged along.

 

Why?

 

Kate quietly watched Seol Ha-woon’s back. Suddenly Seol Ha-woon gestured to her.

 

“Let’s go. Follow me.”

 

“…Aren’t you going to kill him?”

 

Seol Ha-woon nodded. His attitude of deliberately leaving future trouble suddenly didn’t make sense to her again.

 

“Yes. Come on.”

 

“…”

 

Kate looked at the dazed Jeremy then followed Seol Ha-woon.

 

“Hey, hey! This is different from the promise!”

 

Suddenly Jeremy had a fit. For the first time he seemed flustered, struggling and screaming.

 

“Hey! Look here! Look! You said you’d send me off comfortably!”

 

Seol Ha-woon treated him like he didn’t exist.

 

“…You’re quite merciful?”

 

“No. It’s not mercy.”

 

“You fucking, fucking bastard──! Where are you going! Where, where are you going, you dog, you piece of shit, I’ll tear out and devour your guts, shiiiiiit──!”

 

Curses mixed into Jeremy’s voice. The sight of him coughing up blood while begging to be killed was eerie.

 

Thud——!

 

Suddenly a loud sound rang out. Kate flinched and looked back. Jeremy was slamming the back of his head against the pillar.

 

“Let’s run.”

 

Seol Ha-woon’s low voice rang out. He turned and ran. Kate reflexively followed behind him.

 

Thud——!

 

The bursting sound of Jeremy destroying himself, echoing like a timer.

 

“To the railing.”

 

Seol Ha-woon pointed to the railing at the end of the corridor, 4 floors high. There was no time to hesitate.

 

Thud——!

 

Kate flew up to the railing and looked at Jeremy.

 

With his skull crushed, his two eyes glared at us desperately. His skull and eyeballs were already separated.

 

Looking more ghostly than a ghost itself, he grinned and twisted his neck once more.

 

He buried the back of his head into the pillar.

 

Crack─!

 

His brain was completely shattered, and the moment his life stopped.

 

───-!

 

His body exploded. Blue flames surged from his chest.

 

The two people’s bodies swayed in midair from the raging torrent.

 

Kate skillfully performed a falling technique, and Seol Ha-woon extended his wire to maintain balance.

 

Thud.

 

They landed safely on the road surface.

 

Seol Ha-woon casually brushed off the dust from his clothes. Kate watched him and opened her mouth.

 

“How did you know?”

 

“The pulsation near his heart was strange. Of course, it could have been ordinary heart disease, but….”

 

He looked up at the building. Kate followed his gaze.

 

“Kate.”

 

Kwaaaaang──-!

 

A second explosion occurred, completely collapsing the remaining framework of the building. Thick clouds of debris and sharp fragments violently shook their collars.

 

Whoosh. When the dust settled, Seol Ha-woon said quietly.

 

“Never underestimate human malice.”

 

Even when they can survive, sometimes they give up everything to harm their opponent.

 

It’s a malice unique to humans that cannot be calculated or predicted.

 

“….”

 

Kate wanted to ask him.

 

Did you kill Percival with that malice?

 

Earth’s Last Day D-4

 

Past midnight. Seol Ha-woon stopped at a dirt mound near a lake where the Space Center was visible at a glance.

 

“Oh.”

 

“…What are you doing?”

 

“It’s a cave.”

 

A fairly well-made cave hidden by thick grass.

 

He removed the roots at the entrance. Inside the round hollow were a lamp and emergency rations.

 

“Oh.”

 

He went inside like a dog finding its home and looked around the cave as if examining a department store display.

 

“It’s suitable for taking a rest.”

 

“Here?”

 

“It’ll be much safer than inside the Space Center.”

 

There were 95 hours remaining. During that time, they probably wouldn’t be able to sleep a wink.

 

“…I suppose so.”

 

Kate also went inside. It was surprisingly cozy.

 

Hiss!

 

Seol Ha-woon lit the lamp. Dream bubbles stuck to the ceiling. He had already taken out a sleeping bag and was about to go to sleep, but….

 

Kate casually brought up a topic.

 

“Seol Ha-woon.”

 

“…?”

 

“You said you were under Colonel Percival’s command.”

 

Seol Ha-woon’s eyes blinked. It was a gesture indicating there were cameras in here.

 

“They’ll edit out personal matters.”

 

The broadcasting station guys were currently doing her wrong in real-time, so she had the right to demand this much editing.

 

“Yes.”

 

Kate suppressed her hostility as much as possible.

 

…No, he had already noticed her.

 

If she thought she could hide herself after seeing Seol Ha-woon’s current actions, it would be like covering her eyes and meowing.

 

They were probing each other while knowing each other.

 

“What kind of person was Colonel Percival in the military?”

 

“…He was a good person. At least to his subordinates.”

 

Weren’t you also his subordinate?

 

Kate swallowed her words, and this time Seol Ha-woon asked her.

 

“What kind of person was Percival to you, Kate?”

 

She thought for a moment.

 

What kind of person was Percival to me?

 

“…In my young heart, I wished that person could be my father. Hailford was sometimes a suffocating place.”

 

He was the only person who gave her breathing room.

 

“People don’t really know. How hard it is to grow up in such a family… They just think you travel around in private jets for fun.”

 

Kate spoke about the Hailford family.

 

“It’s always like walking on thin ice. When we gather, we hold invisible swords and try to slash each other. Not satisfied with the wealth already in our hands, we swing our arms to grasp and grasp more. We look around like demons to see who to bite, hiding endless aggression behind the mask of nobility. If you let your guard down even a little, you’ll be devoured even by your own kind.”

 

Seol Ha-woon listened quietly and then moved his lips.

 

“That place was also a battlefield.”

 

“…It might have been.”

 

The shield called Percival protected her on the battlefield called Hailford.

 

Kate looked up at the dream bubbles on the ceiling.

 

“Seol Ha-woon. What made you endure on the battlefield?”

 

This conversation was a series of transactions.

 

Since she had also opened up about herself, he had to offer a corresponding part of himself.

 

“What made me endure was death.”

 

There was no hesitation in Seol Ha-woon’s answer.

 

Kate turned to look at him.

 

“We waste our lives. I’m the same. Just being alive doesn’t let us know if we’re truly living. Only when death brushes past our nose… do we realize how precious life is. I sought to find myself on the battlefield.”

 

Seol Ha-woon chuckled softly. As if he found himself quite ridiculous.

 

Kate asked back.

 

“…You find yourself on the battlefield?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Seol Ha-woon affirmed calmly.

 

“Probably many people don’t need to do that. They already have someone by their side who recognizes them.”

 

Someone who recognizes you.

 

Right, Seol Ha-woon is an orphan.

 

A child without parents.

 

They say a child is the parent’s universe, and parents are the child’s world.

 

A child gains the meaning of life from their parents. Simply because there are parents who want the child to live, the child can continue living.

 

Seol Ha-woon didn’t have that beginning. Therefore, he wandered searching for his own meaning.

 

Not all orphans would become like Seol Ha-woon, but Seol Ha-woon became Seol Ha-woon.

 

He is someone who is always in that place.

 

Because ‘himself’ is the standard, he is paradoxically the real thing that doesn’t waver.

 

Like the heaviest anchor that settles down, or a lighthouse that always emits constant light.

 

He doesn’t waver to external forces, and only explores and cherishes himself alone.

 

He is the most trustworthy person.

 

If he’s an ally.

 

“Let’s sleep now.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

Kate silently closed her eyes. She felt like her complicated mind had cleared up a little.

 

She decided to hide the dagger in her arms for now.

 

Her hatred for Seol Ha-woon hadn’t disappeared, but my revenge and anger must be extremely personal. It must be entirely my own.

 

I won’t let the name of the Hailford Family or the elder’s calculations get involved.

 

I have absolutely no intention of moving according to the elder’s will.

 

* * *

 

Kennedy Space Center. I arrived at the entrance of the quite futuristic headquarters.

 

“Shall we go in?”

 

Kate asked as she took out the card key.

 

“Yes. Let’s go in.”

 

She placed the card on the pad near the wall.

 

Along with a beeping sound, a human voice was heard.

 

─Confirmed. Please wait a moment.

 

After waiting for a few minutes, the door opened.

 

“Welcome.”

 

A person in training clothes came out. He smiled brightly and introduced himself.

 

“I’m Dale, a staff member of the Space Center. Mr. Ern, and Ms. Jane. Confirmed. Please follow me.”

 

I followed behind him as he led us inside.

 

Android… no, he’s not. I can feel body temperature. His heartbeat is real too.

 

“Now. Please wait in the Waiting Room. The staff will help you.”

 

Dale opened the door to the Waiting Room.

 

At that moment, Kate let out a hollow laugh. I felt similar.

 

“Welcome. I’m Dale. Mr. Ern, I’ll help guide you.”

 

One Dale smiled brightly at me and bowed his head.

 

“Welcome. I’m Dale. Ms. Jane, I’ll help guide you.”

 

Another Dale smiled brightly at Kate and bowed his head.

 

There were three identical Dales.

 

Kate shrugged her shoulders.

 

“Jeremy was quite an honest person.”

 

“…That’s right.”

 

There are fucking many of one monster-like bastard.

 

It was an accurate description.

—————
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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