Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 18

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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 018

Rush(2)

“Yoon Hwa-rim’s route doesn’t look good at all.”

Yoon Hwa-rim gritted her teeth. The internal atmosphere stirred as well. Only the production staff in the same conference room had excited expressions on their faces.

Yoon Hwa-rim forced a smile and asked back.

“Why? It’s the easiest path.”

“That’s true when entering the cargo location.”

I continued speaking calmly.

Anyway, my target for persuasion isn’t mage Yoon Hwa-rim. It’s team leader Kang Hyeon. All my words need to reach Kang Hyeon for now.

“But there’s a section where we’ll be surrounded when we start transporting the cargo.”

About 300 meters after dragging the cargo, we reach an open field that’s completely exposed on all sides.

Proper escort is impossible in an open field. We’ll only be ‘participating’ in combat.

“An open field would actually be better. We can just fight together.”

“Escorting isn’t about fighting together, it’s about preventing enemy approach entirely.”

An open field is the worst against orcs. They’re monsters intelligent enough to execute an encirclement annihilation formation.

Even Kang Hyeon couldn’t win if surrounded by a thousand orcs.

“Therefore, we keep the entry route the same but change the escape route.”

I changed half of the route Yoon Hwa-rim had set up. I twisted the transport path much further upward.

“Then we’d go through the forest. How can we transport cargo if our vision is obstructed?”

“The escort team will lead. Also, obstructed vision affects the orcs too. We’ll use divide and conquer tactics on the orcs that enter the forest.”

“…What are you going to lead? You’re ranked 96th.”

Twenty-one-year-old Yoon Hwa-rim brought up rankings instead of logic, but it’s actually a fact so there’s nothing I can do about it.

No matter how terrible a strategy is, there’s skill that can make it work, and no matter how good a strategy is, there’s incompetence that can ruin it.

Whichever side to choose is Kang Hyeon’s decision.

“Hmm…”

Kang Hyeon quietly checked the labyrinth structure. Then he asked me.

“Are you confident?”

“Yes. In this operation, my words will definitely be right. At the very least, I’ll work to make it so.”

“…”

He seemed to think for a moment, then looked back and forth between Yoon Hwa-rim and me before speaking.

“…I’ll follow the escort team’s opinion.”

A quite rational choice.

I nodded with satisfaction. On the other hand, Yoon Hwa-rim took an angry breath.

──30 minutes remaining until labyrinth entry. Teams that are ready, please set your entry positions.

Just then, Yoo Ji-in’s guidance voice rang out.

When entering the labyrinth, you can set your position. Of course, you can’t go anywhere in the labyrinth – there are areas where position setting is possible and areas where it’s not. The former is the Green Zone, the latter is the Red Zone.

“The escort team will wait in this forest.”

I placed a pin on the map first. It was the only Green Zone near the escape route.

“I’m the leader though…”

“Shh.”

I quietly silenced Im Hae-jun’s grumbling.

Kang Hyeon also pondered before pointing to a certain spot. Then he quietly looked at me as if seeking my opinion.

I looked at the point he had marked.

A forest close to the underground where the cargo was buried, but one that might not catch the orc village’s attention.

“Good. Proceed as planned.”

──15 minutes, 15 minutes remaining until labyrinth entry. Allied teams, please move to your respective waiting rooms now.

* * *

I clicked on another post.

Just before entering the labyrinth. A4 Team’s waiting room.

“…Aren’t you trusting the escort team’s words too much?”

Warrior Lee Jong-soo asked Kang Hyeon. Archer ‘Escher’ also had a similarly worried expression.

“?”

Kang Hyeon tilted his head silently.

“Well, that military guy might have a lot of combat experience, but our teamwork is important too.”

Lee Jong-soo glanced at Yoon Hwa-rim.

“She looks angry.”

She’d been keeping her mouth shut since earlier.

Probably because her opinion was overruled by the person in dead last place.

Kang Hyeon leaned against the wall.

“The transport team and escort team are one team. It’s not just the transport team by itself.”

He still glanced at the camera filming the entire team. A smile hung on the camera director’s lips.

“Hwa-rim?”

Kang Hyeon called out to Yoon Hwa-rim.

“…Yes.”

Yoon Hwa-rim responded sulkily. Kang Hyeon smiled faintly and nodded.

“Let’s do well. We can’t help it. Escorting isn’t our role.”

“…Right. Well, we can’t help it.”

As if melted by a single word, she sighed and lowered her face.

“What the hell is that.”

Lee Jong-soo was dumbfounded.

“She ignored me though…”

Weren’t my words persuasive?

It can’t be a face difference. I’m pretty good-looking too.

──A4 Team. Entering the labyrinth.

“Everyone get ready.”

At Kang Hyeon’s words, everyone closed their eyes.

Whooooom. With a sensation of the entire body floating, when I opened my eyes, it was dark night.

Not far away, the scenery of the orc village was visible. Grrrk- Grrrrk- The rough breathing sounds characteristic of orcs flowed in like fog.

[ Objective: Transport the cargo outside the labyrinth ]

“Advance. Follow me.”

Kang Hyeon whispered to his team members.

* * *

“So what do we do now?!”

Im Hae-jun asked loudly as if shouting. Did this guy come on a picnic or something?

Anyway, we entered the forest on almost the opposite side from A4 Team’s position.

“Let’s move first.”

I said while limping with my walking stick. Then Im Hae-jun grabbed me with narrowed eyes.

“…Um. But 96th place.”

“Seol Ha-woon.”

“Seol Ha-woon sir. I’ve been trying to say this for a while, but I thought I might be mistaken so I was going to stay quiet?”

“Yeah. What is it. Tell me.”

“It’s not ‘tell me.’ Why do you keep speaking informally?”

“….”

I looked at Im Hae-jun. I was suddenly dumbfounded.

Should I punch him once.

“Formal speech during operations is inefficient.”

“What’s formal speech! Is it some kind of fish?!”

“…How old are you.”

“T, twenty years old.”

“I’m much older than you, which means you can speak informally to me too. Follow me.”

“Still, the leader is me…”

I glared at him silently.

Twenty-year-old brat. The intimidating gaze for crushing young punks is still ingrained in my body.

The recruits never even dared to look me in the eye.

“…Yes. Let’s go!”

Im Hae-jun quickly pointed ahead.

“Since I’ve delegated the pathfinder authority to Seol Ha-woon sir! Everyone please treat Seol Ha-woon sir like the leader when finding paths! Please!”

Appointed as pathfinder by the great team leader, I said to the team members.

“Follow me.”

* * *

Follow me.

I regretted it the moment I said it boldly, and that regret became reality.

No matter how much Spirit Elixir I ate, I’m someone with serious physical limitations.

“Your stamina is a bit lacking~”

Im Hae-jun said mockingly.

“Sorry. I’m disabled.”

“….”

Im Hae-jun’s expression hardened instantly. He probably thought of the cameras.

Right now our entire process is being recorded and transmitted to the Monitoring Room. Even in front of my eyes there’s something like shimmering heat waves, and that’s the camera.

The production staff can set up remote magic cameras anywhere they want inside the Labyrinth, according to the production crew’s explanation.

“No, no! Seol Ha-woon sir. Seol Ha-woon hyung. I think hyung misunderstood what I meant! I was saying how amazing your stamina is. Even in that state-“

“That state? What state. Specifically what state are you referring to?”

“….”

Im Hae-jun swallowed his words again. His complexion also darkened considerably. I chuckled and lightly tapped his shoulder.

“Just kidding. Let’s go.”

“…Ah really. Why are you doing this, we’re on the same team. My heart is racing.”

“Sorry.”

He’s fun to tease.

Im Hae-jun glanced at me and asked.

“Should I carry you on my back?”

“I’m fine.”

My leg is still limping, and just walking through the forest path makes me breathless to the point of death.

But the most important things – my pride and mental strength – are still left in me.

* * *

I arrived at the center of the forest. It wasn’t as late as I thought. I guess I overcame my lacking stamina with mental strength.

“…Hyung, your leg is shaking.”

Im Hae-jun pointed at my left leg.

“It’s always like this.”

I looked up and examined the height of the trees. I placed my hand on the surface of what seemed to be the tallest tree.

If I climb to the top of this, I’ll be able to see the entire Labyrinth including the Orc Village at a glance.

It means I need a sniper’s eye.

“Hey. Im Hae.”

“It’s Im Hae-jun.”

“How high can you climb?”

“…What?”

Im Hae-jun asked back. I said again.

“How high can you climb.”

“…What?”

“How high.”

I turned to look at Im Hae-jun.

“Can you climb.”

“….”

Im Hae-jun was silent. He fidgeted with his fingers while reading my mood.

“Why.”

“I…”

“Tell me. It’s okay. What is it.”

“Well… I actually have acrophobia.”

“….”

I suddenly got a headache. I pressed my temple with my finger.

“Does it make sense for a shooter to be afraid of high ground.”

“It’s, it’s a different style! And up in those trees isn’t high ground?! It’s just… a cliff!!”

Im Hae-jun suddenly started whining.

“I’m a mid-range shooter. The sniper Seol Ha-woon sir is thinking of is basically a mage. Don’t you know? Geez!”

As this guy said, shooters have many roles. The sniper he just mentioned, turret, shooter, marksman, etc.

“You’re saying you’re a turret?”

“Oh! You know the position?”

A turret is a shooter who pours out firepower in the mid to long-range. In escort missions like this, they have considerable tactical value. A position worth tolerating acrophobia for.

“Then I’ll climb up here.”

“…What?”

“Are you okay?”

The other team members made ambiguous expressions. Probably because of my leg.

“I’ll be fine.”

I put on my gloves.

The core of a mage is Mental Visualization. There are of course many Standardized Magic formulas on the market, but ultimately it means you need to be able to create specific formulas on the spot when needed.

“…Huh.”

I preheat my magic power and infuse Mental Visualization into the surface of the gloves.

The specific target is duct tape.

Thud.

My hand stuck to the tree surface.

With this level of adhesion, I can climb using only my two hands without using my legs at all.

“I’ll climb up, scout for variables, and give orders through radio.”

“What! Orders?!”

Im Hae-jun suddenly made an expression like ‘Why am I the leader?!’ I gladly held out the radio.

“Then you go up the tree.”

“…Let’s delegate daily command authority to Seol Ha-woon.”

Im Hae-jun muttered seriously. I let out a hollow laugh.

“Then let’s start with maintenance time.”

Warrior Jin Yoon-hwa was already in armor, and swordsman Ichigo was checking his blade. Im Hae-jun strapped a quiver to his back.

I held out my hand to Im Hae-jun.

“Give me one of your arrows.”

“They’re mine!”

“Damn it.”

“…Here.”

I picked up one of Im Hae-jun’s arrows. It was a pretty expensive brand arrow. Called Ternium, each arrowhead costs from 300,000 won. How do I know? Because it appears in [MoMo] too.

“An arrow that absorbs magic power well.”

“That’s expensive.”

“Exactly. This’ll be easy.”

“What’s easy?”

Spell enchantment, that is.

I developed a specific formula on Im Hae-jun’s arrow. Swish… A tattoo-like spell formation was carved on the arrow shaft’s surface. Evidence of the formula.

“What, what are you doing?! It’s ruined!”

“It’s not ruined, man.”

I returned the arrow to Im Hae-jun.

“A mage’s role includes supporting all other positions. Try shooting it once. Anywhere.”

Im Hae-jun shouldered his curved bow with suspicious eyes. He nocked the arrow to the string, pulled it back fully and shot. In the distance, the arrow that hit the tree surface immediately spread out in multiple branches and surged upward.

Chazzzeuk!

“Oh, wow!”

“Oh!”

“Whoa.”

Not only Im Hae-jun but also warrior Jin Yoon-hwa and swordsman Ichigo were amazed.

I nodded with satisfaction.

“Spell Arrow. It’s called Split Arrow.”

It’s an actual military arrow that exists. The military has archers, warriors, and swordsmen too. Most UDT special recruits are from that field.

“Hyung! How many of these can you make?!”

Im Hae-jun held out his entire quiver with an excited face.

“I won’t know until I try-“

“Do them all!”

I counted the number of arrows. About 24 in total.

It’s nowhere near enough to clear the Labyrinth, but probably only this many are physical arrows, and when the arrows run out, he’ll form arrows with magic power and shoot them.

That’s why archers are called half-mages.

“I can’t do all of them, so only use them in important situations.”

Out of the 24 arrows, I enchanted 6 with Split Arrow, 4 with Explosive Arrow, and the remaining 2 with Wire.

“The colors are different, hyung?”

“I need to distinguish them. Red ones explode when shot, blue ones are the Split Arrows you just used. Green ones are Wire. Use them when escaping.”

“…Can’t you do the remaining twelve too?!”

I pushed Im Hae-jun away.

I’m low on magic power. I need to help Jin Yoon-hwa and Ichigo too.

“Next, Jin Yoon-hwa?”

“Yes!”

Warrior Jin Yoon-hwa straightened her back with an expectant face.

I enchanted her armor with a friction reduction spell.

“I reduced the friction on your armor. Since orcs use blunt cold weapons, they’ll slip off easily.”

Against orcs, reducing friction is much more useful than increasing the strength or hardness of armor. Even if spears and swords hit, they’ll just slide off smoothly.

Jin Yoon-hwa asked.

“How long will it last?”

“Until you take enough hits for the formula to be erased, or until the enchanted spell’s magic power runs out.”

This kind of enchanting has different durations depending on the ‘quality of magic power.’ Since my Magic Power stat is quite high, it’ll probably last about a day.

“Next. Ichigo.”

“Yes.”

I enchanted Ichigo with a blade sharpening spell. Blue magic patterns were carved quite elegantly on the sword blade.

“…It’s cool.”

Ichigo muttered with satisfaction.

Before climbing the tree, I pointed at each team member one by one.

“From now on, Im Hae is Bravo 1. Yoon Jin-hwa is Bravo 2. Ichigo is Bravo 3.”

Military communication alphabet. A is Alpha, B is Bravo, C is Charlie.

“It’s Im Hae-jun.”

“I’m Jin Yoon-hwa. Not Yoon Jin-hwa.”

“…I’ll brief everyone on their positions from up there.”

Thap! I climbed the tree by sticking my gloves to the bark. The walking stick was strapped to my back.

Thap! Thap! Thap!

I might look ugly climbing up, but there’s no choice. I can’t do those stylish things like before anymore.

I have to accept my current self…

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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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