Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 187

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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 187

Still life(3)

“Th-this is worth how much?”

At an appraisal shop somewhere in the city. Hunter Seo Ji-woo, fully equipped in leather armor, asked with a surprised face.

“The final price would need to be determined at auction to be accurate, but.”

The appraiser said as he set down the jewel.

“It should be worth at least 200,000 carings.”

“Huh.”

“If you don’t mind me asking, where did you obtain this…?”

“I killed a goblin and it dropped.”

There are monsters outside the city. Just like a real RPG game. Seo Ji-woo’s profession is a hunter who explores such fields.

“Hmm. I see. It was goblin craftsmanship.”

The appraiser stroked his chin.

“200,000 carings…”

If you think of it as about 100 won per caring, that’s 20 million won. Making 20 million in less than a week seems like incredible earnings.

“…Sis~”

Someone grabbed Seo Ji-woo’s collar from the side.

“Sis~”

Tug tug. They shook it up and down as if acting cute.

Seo Ji-woo looked in that direction.

“What. Why.”

Im Hae-jun smiled brightly.

“Will you share some with me too~?”

The two had met by chance in the field. Im Hae-jun was hunting some birds with a bow. Maybe his profession is livestock farming.

“Well. How much should I give you?”

“Whatever you feel like~”

Im Hae-jun acted cute, twisting his arms and legs. Seo Ji-woo nodded.

“Then I won’t give you any. I’m the one who got the loot, so why should I give it to you?”

“…”

His expression soured. The corners of Seo Ji-woo’s mouth curled up.

“Wow~ look at that face? I test you once and your true colors come right out.”

He belatedly smiled broadly again.

“Hey~ that was obviously a joke~ Don’t you know me, sis? I’m Woo-yeon! Woo-yeon King Im Hae-jun! Seo Ji-woo devotee!”

Woo-yeon is Seo Ji-woo’s fandom.

WOOYEON, combining Seo Ji-woo with the character for connection.

“Let go for now. I still have more stuff to get appraised.”

“Yes.”

Im Hae-jun released her sleeve. Seo Ji-woo pulled out one more item from her backpack.

“How much would this be worth?”

An axe obtained from killing an orc. Formula-like patterns were carved into its surface.

“Hmm… This will need detailed appraisal. Please come inside.”

The appraiser guided Seo Ji-woo to a private appraisal room.

“Hey, Hae-jun. Wait here.”

“Yes~ I’ll keep good watch~”

As soon as Seo Ji-woo went in with the appraiser.

“…Ah shit, really.”

Im Hae-jun grabbed a handful of gum from the counter table and stuffed it in his mouth.

“So fucking annoying, really.”

Chew chew. Chew chew.

“Acting all high and mighty just for being born 4 months earlier, disgusting.”

Im Hae-jun was born in March, and Seo Ji-woo in December.

“Ptui ptui.”

Ptui! Ptui! Ptuieck!

Then Seo Ji-woo came out. Im Hae-jun quickly wrapped the gum in tissue and smiled broadly.

“Sis~ What did they say~?”

He ran over like a child. Seo Ji-woo let out a hollow laugh.

“Hey. I made more money.”

“Huh. How much?!”

“300,000 carings.”

“Wow! So that’s 500,000 total?! As expected of Seo Ji-woo! Seo Ji-woo! Seo Ji-woo!”

“But after taxes and fees are deducted, about 250,000 will remain.”

“These bad guys! Pure highway robbery! Kyaak ptui!”

“Still gotta pay taxes though.”

“…As expected, Ji-woo sis is kind. I’m so jealous! I was making 2,000 carings daily wage catching chickens!”

“Really? Then I’ll give you ten days’ worth as daily wage.”

Seo Ji-woo handed over 10 bills.

10,000 carings. Making 200,000 and only giving a measly 10,000.

Seo Ji-woo smiled contentedly.

“Hae-jun. Keep being a porter from now on too, okay?”

“…”

Im Hae-jun’s lips twitched.

Honestly, this isn’t right. I’m not a porter but an archer, and I helped fight the mobs too.

“Huh? Im Hae-jun, are you perhaps dissatisfied?”

Seo Ji-woo tilted her head.

“No way~ What complaints could I have. It’s good, really good. As long as I can be helpful to you, sis, that’s enough for me~”

Even if it’s servile now, there’s no choice. In this situation, Seo Ji-woo holds the power.

“Alright. Follow me. Let’s go eat.”

“Yes.”

Seo Ji-woo left the appraisal shop. Im Hae-jun followed her with a meaningful smile.

One of the famous cardinal rules of the labyrinth.

In the labyrinth, you shouldn’t trust even fellow explorers.

Im Hae-jun is currently looking for an opportunity.

Seo Ji-woo, there’s one fact you don’t know.

[Profession: Low-grade Thief]

That my profession is low-grade thief!

A thief can someday backstab Seo Ji-woo and run away. The viewers will understand it as ‘behavior according to profession.’

Seo Ji-woo. You collect the money. I’ll be standing behind you. At the most crucial moment, I’ll strike you in the back of the head.

But I won’t take everything. I’ll just take exactly 30% as my fair share.

“Hehehe…”

“What are you snickering about. Hey, Hae-jun.”

“Yes.”

Im Hae-jun straightened his back.

“Want to eat over there?”

Seo Ji-woo pointed to a restaurant.

“Ah, I love it~ Of course I love it~ If noona is buying~”

“Of course I’m buying, you punk. I don’t mooch off my younger brother.”

“As expected! This labyrinth’s protagonist! Honestly, that bastard Ha-woon has been hogging the spotlight too much. It’s time for noona to be the protagonist.”

“…Really? Honestly, I’ve been wondering if this was my labyrinth since the life game thing started.”

“Of course~ Wow, as expected~ As expected, as expected~”

The two entered a high-end restaurant. Seo Ji-woo sat at the table and said.

“Order whatever you want to eat.”

“Yes. What would you like to have, noona?”

“Anything.”

“Hmm. How about this steak?”

Im Hae-jun pointed at the menu. Seo Ji-woo’s brow furrowed slightly.

“Hmm… I don’t feel like meat today.”

“Ah. Then there’s also fish steak.”

“Ew. I hate fish.”

“…Pasta?”

“Pasta… makes me bloated. Not flour-based.”

“…Risotto?”

“Risotto is too greasy.”

“Then what should we eat?”

“Hey. I said order anything. I’m going to the bathroom.”

Seo Ji-woo left for the bathroom. Im Hae-jun watched her retreating figure and gritted his teeth.

“She says she doesn’t like anything but tells me to order whatever. Is she crazy?”

It’s damn hard to please her.

If she were my younger sister, she’d be dead by now, seriously.

“No fish, no meat, no flour, ugh, I should just smack the back of her neck.”

Still, I have to order something. Right now I need to gain Seo Ji-woo’s trust as much as possible.

What would she like….

Shellfish is good. Let’s go with lobster.

“Waiter~?”

Im Hae-jun elegantly raised one hand.

“Waiter?”

The waiter doesn’t even pretend to notice.

“Waiter!”

Only then does he glance over and makes a curt gesture to wait.

“Haa… Today is really annoying.”

He pressed his throbbing temples firmly with both hands.

* * *

Night at Magic School.

I’m doing night patrol. Since my main job is security guard, I plan to do my best at my duties.

However, I changed the patrol method a bit. I reassembled parts bought from the pawn shop to make a drone and installed Seol Ha-woon’s exclusive CCTV throughout the campus.

I don’t like the inefficiency of wandering around the school aimlessly.

──Grrrr.

While comfortably grilling meat in the duty room.

Strange movement was captured in one corner of the screen.

Near the back gate wall. Something was writhing in the darkness.

Zooming in, it wasn’t human in shape. A monster with a twisted form crawling on all fours.

“It’s a summoned beast.”

──Kraaak.

The monster crawled over the wall in a low posture. Two more similar monsters appeared following behind.

I left the duty room. I followed their presence while leaning on my cane.

The monsters hid in the grass field of the campus. Their target seemed to be the dormitory or research building.

I gripped my cane properly and drew up my magic power.

Keeping the sound to a minimum, I fire multiple mana bullets.

Swoosh.

Magic power penetrated their spines. Silent explosions occurred inside.

──!

A flash spread. The monsters disintegrated like dust.

However, summoned beasts are just summoned beasts. I need to catch the mage.

I extended my magic power.

Beyond the wall, they’re not far from here.

Three presences are fleeing. Those who used summoned beasts to gather information about ‘me’.

I can’t let them go. My existence must not be discovered by them.

I must pursue.

“….”

I looked down at my left leg.

If only this damn thing was intact, I would have immediately climbed the wall. I would have sprinted and tracked them.

I can’t catch up to them with this broken leg.

Suddenly, an impulse to throw away my cane arose.

This disabled body has limitations.

…No.

“There are none.”

There are no limitations. Physical constraints mean freedom of magic power.

I can mobilize. In a different way.

Tssssss─.

I pulled the sequence output to maximum. The sound of my neck burning rang in my eardrums.

Cognitive ability was amplified, and the range of senses expanded instantly.

My magic power flows through the ground.

Footsteps kicking off the road surface in flight. Their vibrations are clear. I can almost grasp them. Not one person, but three.

All coordinates captured.

I sprayed magic power into the air. I projected magic power in particle form to form a formula at high altitude.

High-density energy of a different class from mana bullets.

My mental visualization creates an Aerial Ballistic Missile (ALBM).

──-!

For a moment, blue flashes surge upward. The light clusters briefly illuminate and linger in the night sky, then split into three and descend. They’re precisely dropped toward their coordinates.

It’s a supersonic strike.

Flash.

Brilliance split the darkness. The earth’s axis was gouged and dust clouds rose.

Immediately after, the vital signs of the three mages completely vanished.

A precisely configured air strike is a battlefield catastrophe. Once position is exposed, death is unavoidable. It leaves no trace of life in that spot.

I deactivated the sequence. Senses were restored. Time returned.

“…The school security is pretty lousy.”

Intruders are occurring almost daily. However, this Magic School is a fairly prestigious and wealthy institution.

In such cases, I usually suspect an internal enemy.

* * *

The corrupt council. Those who follow dark magic converse in the shadows. Thick black fog envelops the area, and even voices cannot be heard.

It’s a meeting conducted solely through sound transmission.

-The strictly selected mages failed to return and were killed.

-Is this Professor Arkal’s doing?

-It seems so, but was Professor Arkal’s martial prowess this outstanding…?

-…It appears we underestimated him.

They seek to devour the magic school and obtain information about a certain ‘magic’ being researched there.

-…

At some point, one silhouette looks toward a corner. It has sensed some distortion.

-What’s wrong?

-…Nothing. I just had the feeling someone was watching us for a moment.

-Impossible. No one can enter this place.

-Yes. That must be right…

“Be careful not to get the camera caught. They’re quite sensitive bastards.”

Monitoring Room. At PD Im Hyeong-uk’s words, the assistant director scratched the back of his neck.

“Ah. Yes, sorry. This is my first time operating a camera.”

“Just don’t move it around too quickly. If another bastard like Seer shows up, it’ll really be a headache.”

Of course, the probability of that is low. Seer is a monster who caught the labyrinth within labyrinth through pure situational judgment, not the camera.

“Ah~ But Seol Ha-woon finally hit first place… So annoying. I’m going out for a smoke.”

“Yes. I’ll be careful.”

“Yeah. Take care.”

Im Hyeong-uk sighed and went outside.

He came out to the broadcasting station lobby to get some air.

“Excuse me, are you by any chance a PD?”

Some man wearing a motorcycle helmet approached him.

“Ah yes… But what about it?”

“Quick delivery.”

He held out an envelope.

What’s this? Who sends letters by quick delivery?

“From who?”

“I don’t really know either. Have a good day.”

“…Hmm.”

Im Hyeong-uk tore open the envelope. Inside was a single letter written in neat handwriting.

To the production team of Labyrinth Exploration NaN. Greetings. I am Yoo Seok-hoon. I previously served as the superior of both Seol Ha-woon and Seo Ji-hyuk. For a long time, I hesitated about whether I should convey these words. This is already a matter of the past, and I thought that perhaps covering it up might be the path for everyone’s sake… However, seeing Seol Ha-woon’s recent behavior and watching that child Seo Ji-woo talk about Seo Ji-hyuk, I have reached the conclusion that I can no longer remain silent. I will speak directly to the point. The cause of the late Staff Sergeant Seo Ji-hyuk’s death in action was not simply due to enemy attack as is known. Behind it was Seol Ha-woon’s act of betrayal. I would like to deliver the detailed contents in person. I will leave my contact information, so please respond.

“…”

Im Hyeong-uk blinked his eyes.

The cause of the late Staff Sergeant Seo Ji-hyuk’s death in action was not simply due to enemy attack as is known. Behind it was Seol Ha-woon’s act of betrayal.

He rubbed both eyes.

“Come on. What kind of aggro is this?”

He turned to the next page, and there was a military photo.

A photo of Seo Ji-hyuk, Seol Ha-woon, and the person called Yoo Seok-hoon together, one that would never be posted on the internet.

“Holy shit, wait a minute.”

Goosebumps rose on his back.

Im Hyeong-uk hurriedly sent a text to that number.

[This is PD Im Hyeong-uk from the Mitamnan team. I received your letter. When can we meet?]

A reply came immediately.

[Right now is possible.]

Right now…

“Should I come along?”

“Aaaahhh!”

At the sudden voice, Im Hyeong-uk trembled all over.

Yoo Yul was right behind him.

“Wh-what, what is it, Mentor? Suddenly appearing like that…”

“Not suddenly. I was behind PD Im from the beginning.”

“Uh… No, but-“

“Bodyguard. You might need one.”

To Im Hyeong-uk who was blinking blankly, Yoo Yul urged.

“Let’s go. It seems like an important matter.”

Im Hyeong-uk nodded in bewilderment.

Porsche Panamera. While driving his recently purchased dream car, Im Hyeong-uk kept glancing at the passenger seat.

“Um, Yu-yul Mentor.”

“Yeah.”

Yoo Yul, this woman bothers him for no reason.

What part is it because of?

“I… actually don’t have a girlfriend right now, but I’m planning to date someone soon.”

“Really? Soon?”

“…Ah, no. That… never mind.”

Shit.

No matter how I think about it, this mentor seems to like me. She’s been hovering around me since monitoring, and look how she immediately clung to me when I came out.

Fuck, I’m breaking out in cold sweat.

“Drive carefully. You’re drifting to the right.”

Yoo Yul pointed out. Im Hyeong-uk smiled bitterly.

His hands were sweaty, making the steering wheel slip.

“Ah sorry. I’m originally bad at driving. Ha, I’m not even a real man. Not a real man… Someone like me should never be liked by anyone. Never. You know that, right? Mentor.”

“What.”

“Not ‘what,’ you need to understand, right? I’m really a loser man and car-poor. I don’t even have a house. Yet I love luxury goods like crazy and live extravagantly…”

Yoo Yul looked at Im Hyeong-uk like this and thought.

Is this bastard a comedian?

—————
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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