Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 189

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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 189

Still life(5)

“Do you want to expose this to the media?”

Im Hyeong-uk asked Yoo Seok-hoon. Yoo Seok-hoon smiled faintly and shook his head.

“No. If that were the case, I would have pushed it to foreign media rather than the production team.”

The power and influence that the program Labyrinth Exploration NaN holds domestically is now beyond imagination.

With political circles paying attention and individual fandoms being incredibly strong, half-hearted exposés are likely to be buried or distorted.

“I want a private meeting.”

“What? With Seol Ha-woon?”

“That’s not it either.”

Yoo Seok-hoon cut him off decisively. His gaze lingered briefly on Yoo Yul beyond Im Hyeong-uk.

Im Hyeong-uk frowned.

“Then who-“

“Seo Ji-woo.”

“….”

Im Hyeong-uk’s expression hardened. Meanwhile, Yoo Yul covered her mouth with her hand and laughed.

“Most of what we experienced is bound by state secrets anyway. We can’t and shouldn’t leak it to the media.”

Yoo Seok-hoon continued.

“However, if it’s family, they should at least know the truth about the death.”

Suppressed anger could be felt in his voice.

“I was simply disgusted. By Seol Ha-woon’s behavior on screen, acting as if he had no relationship with Seo Ji-hyuk whatsoever.”

He took out a small crystal orb from his chest and dropped it toward Im Hyeong-uk.

“This is a magic orb containing records from that day in the desert.”

“Records?”

“Yes. Memories extracted from the brain of an already dead unit member.”

“…Is that even possible? No, isn’t that a crime?”

“This should be interesting.”

Yoo Yul had already reached out and lightly picked up the crystal orb. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Im Hyeong-uk reluctantly answered.

“For now… I understand. I’ll make sure to convey Captain Yoo Seok-hoon’s intentions properly.”

Things like the Gustafni Desert operation are all state secrets. If they were to leak externally, it wouldn’t end as a simple incident.

If all he wants is a private meeting, that’s actually better.

“Yes. Please contact me at an appropriate time. I’ll be waiting.”

Yoo Seok-hoon disappeared into the dim fog. The sound of his prosthetic leg stepping faded away bleakly.

“Surprisingly….”

Watching his retreating figure, Yoo Yul murmured quietly.

“Surprisingly, he doesn’t seem to hate Seol Ha-woon that much.”

“You can sense that?”

Im Hyeong-uk asked with a puzzled expression.

“I’m a bit different from PD Im.”

“…Yes. I’m envious that you’re a ranker.”

Yoo Yul chuckled.

“More importantly, are you good at keeping your mouth shut?”

“My mouth? Why are you suddenly asking that….”

“Are you someone who goes around blabbering everywhere?”

“No, what do you take me for? Absolutely not. My nickname is-“

“Then let’s go. There’s nothing more to see here.”

Yoo Yul started walking first.

“Ah, let’s go together.”

The two returned to the Porsche parked outside the amusement park. Only then did the tension finally release.

Yoo Yul in the passenger seat looked at the scenery outside the window and muttered as if talking to herself.

“Does PD Im know anything about mages?”

“…Suddenly asking about mages?”

“Yeah. The existence called mages.”

Yoo Yul slipped Yoo Seok-hoon’s orb onto her finger.

“Sometimes they read memories left in space, and embody them according to their will to manifest them in reality.”

It was a cold and mysterious tone.

“Ah, I see.”

“What do you think of mages, PD Im?”

“Just, well, I think of them like CEOs of major corporations. People who can do whatever they want.”

Im Hyeong-uk answered casually while pressing the accelerator.

“No. It’s a bit different from that.”

She shook her head.

“People like chaebol chairmen have great power from ‘what they possess.’ But mages are people whose very existence is strong. So ‘real mages’ who have already shown off enough to show off and achieved enough to achieve….”

Yoo Yul seductively rested her finger on her chin. Im Hyeong-uk almost let out a hollow laugh.

That doesn’t suit you at all, lady.

“Each day would be terribly boring.”

Yoo Yul suddenly turned to look at Im Hyeong-uk.

“Think about it. How would such mages view ordinary humans?”

“Well. Not all mages are the same. I heard that top-tier mages feel ordinary people are almost like ants.”

Mages are the humans closest to gods on this Earth. At the very least, they’re very far from ordinary.

A crimson smile appeared on Yoo Yul’s lips.

“Not ants. Just objects of amusement.”

What is she talking about? Does she think she’s a mage?

Im Hyeong-uk concentrated on driving. The Porsche raced down the night highway.

“But it’s quite a coincidence. With Seo Ji-woo and Seol Ha-woon too. And Kate and Seol Ha-woon too. Their pasts seem to overlap somehow.”

“If you think it’s a coincidence, then that’s the limit of PD Im’s capacity.”

Yoo Yul said quietly. Im Hyeong-uk glanced at the passenger seat with displeasure. Cold moonlight swept across her eyes.

He felt an inexplicably frightening sensation.

She’s not a stalker, is she?

* * *

LIFE GAME

I arrived at Professor Arkal’s Workshop. As soon as I entered, the smell of magic power and parchment seemed to pierce my nose. There were that many books related to various formulas.

Not just simple Standardized Magic. Theories dealing with the fundamental principles of formulas, specialized texts detailing the repulsion between magic power attributes, and even ancient books containing fragments of magic.

“….”

I unconsciously swallowed my saliva. My heart suddenly started racing. All the blood flow in my body gathered toward my optic nerves. My breathing became rapid too.

This is a gold mine.

The worldview of this Labyrinth is identical to the modern world. Not only how magic power operates, but the entire theory of formulas is exactly the same as in the modern world.

In other words, it means I can absorb it as sedimentary layers to broaden the foundation of Mage Seol Ha-woon.

“How is it?”

Professor Arkal asked. His arrogant voice was full of pride.

“This is the first time in my life I’ve seen such a workshop.”

This time, it was praise filled with sincerity.

“Haha. I suppose so.”

Arkal ran his hand through his hair. He seemed to be in a good mood.

“Would it be alright if I looked at a few books?”

“I’ll allow it.”

I picked up any random book.

[Considerations on the Correlation Between Stepwise Mana Movement and Formula Manifestation]

“Each and every book there is worth hundreds of thousands, no, millions of carings. These are materials that the Demonian family has carefully selected and collected for generations.”

This man seems to evaluate books only by their price, but at least it’s not a wrong method.

The workshop’s standardized magic formulas were all high-grade. The knowledge was also high-grade.

Compared to this place, Mitamnan Library is trash.

What caught my attention most was a concept separately classified in one corner of the workshop.

[Methods of Using Dead Mana]

[Souls Captured in Eyes: Reproducing Mana Particles Observed by Spirits]

Formulas that directly handle the human body and soul. In modern times, these are considered the domain of dark magic or are legally prohibited and difficult to obtain.

However, there are no such legal restrictions in this labyrinth.

I can develop my formulas here.

“I heard there was some commotion again last night. Was there another intrusion?”

“Yes. They’re presumed to be related to the Fallen Council.”

“Hmm. How should we announce this?”

Arkal stroked his chin, pretending not to know. I suppressed my laughter inside.

He’s honest yet not honest.

“How about we say that Professor Arkal personally dealt with these intruders as well?”

“Me?”

Arkal slightly furrowed his brow, pretending it wasn’t him.

“Yes. After all, the source of my formulas is Professor Arkal.”

“…That’s not entirely wrong, but.”

What do you mean not entirely wrong.

I casually brought up the topic.

“And if I may be so presumptuous… would it be alright if I came here regularly to read these workshop books?”

“…”

Arkal’s gaze swept over my legs. Eyes looking at disability. Not exactly pleasant.

“They are precious things.”

His gaze turned cold again.

“But I’ll make a special exception for you.”

A satisfied smile typical of nobility spread across his lips.

“Take this. It’s the key to this workshop. I don’t come here often anyway. I already mastered all the books here when I was young.”

“You’re truly remarkable, Professor.”

Arkal is an incompetent man. But precisely because of that, he’s easy to handle.

He’s worth staying under.

“Ah, but listen. This is a paper I’m currently writing.”

He held out a stack of documents from his desk.

“I thought I’d give you, who admires me, the privilege of reading it first.”

His intentions are transparent.

I accepted it without showing my thoughts.

“It’s an honor.”

I smoothly flipped through about ten pages from the introduction. The topic was ‘roughly methods of handling environmental mana.’

“Would it be alright if I lightly refined it?”

From now on, I’ll try my best to impress Arkal. It’s not just for simple flattery or fawning.

“Hmm, you would?”

This gentleman has a lot of money. Not just a lot. The Demonian family would rank in the top 10 of the business world in modern terms.

“Yes. Though it seems some funding will be needed.”

“Funding?”

Thorough suspicion appeared in Arkal’s eyes.

As expected, he’s incompetent but not stupid. He’s the type who readily finds and crushes those trying to use or deceive him.

“I’ll show you the first draft results first. You can judge whether to provide support after seeing that.”

Arkal pondered for a moment, but soon nodded.

“…Good. Let’s do that.”

Those who ask for money first are scammers, but those who ask for it later are quite trustworthy.

It’s a truth of life.

* * *

I polished Professor Arkal’s mana paper.

Even though I have to work this hard and present it to Arkal, I can just publish it under my name when I return to reality anyway.

“I’ll leave this here.”

I sealed the first draft of the completed paper and left it in Professor Arkal’s office.

Next was the tutoring class. The study room Erica had reserved in advance.

There are three students.

“You’re here.”

Originally it was just Erica, but she recommended a few more clients, so I ended up with three total. Roughly two more guys who look like Im Hae-jun appeared.

My head aches every time I see them, but it’s fine.

My teaching method is simple anyway. I just correct the formulas they present first.

“I tried changing the mana flow like this in this part, how is it!”

Il Hae-jun demonstrated his formula while swallowing nervously.

“Mana backflow is likely to occur. Secure stability first.”

“Me too! Me too! Ugh!”

Mana sparked up from Lee Hae-jun’s hand like electricity.

“The mana sparked! Kyaak, it hurts like hell. Feels like my hand’s going to fall off. What should I do about this sparked part…!”

“Shut up. I’ll correct it for you.”

Then I suddenly thought of Seo Ji-woo. That person is probably going around saying they appraised a coin they picked up on the street for millions of kirings.

“Homework.”

I gave them a problem.

“I made it so you can grasp efficiency just by solving it.”

Efficient Magic Flow Control Method.

In other words, if you don’t move mana through the ‘shortest path,’ the formula will break. It’s Seol Ha-woon style homework that emphasizes efficiency above all else, and I’m quite confident in it.

Won’t I get master class offers when this labyrinth broadcast airs?

Knock knock-

The study room door opened with a knock.

It was Silo.

The guy who resembles Seo Ji-hyuk visits this place frequently. As if he’s monitoring us.

“Coffee~”

Erica and the Hae-juns each took a cup of coffee. I looked at Silo.

“Could I perhaps get that homework assignment too?”

At his bitter smile and request, I threw a question instead of answering.

“I heard our Magic School keeps some kind of magic.”

“Ah… Yes? Yes. Magic is a matter where even the board of directors has divided opinions. Whether we should manifest magic, or just leave it as is.”

The voice discussing magic is different from usual.

“To activate magic, great sacrifice is required.”

Erica muttered while sipping her coffee. Her eyes were fixed on the assignment I had given.

“Sacrifice?”

“It’s massive magic. Actually, I even doubt its very existence.”

I turned to look at Silo.

“What do you think?”

“I…”

Once, in the not-so-distant past.

Seo Ji-hyuk had completely deceived me.

“Well, what would a mere teaching assistant know~”

But this guy can’t do that.

Because he’s not Seo Ji-hyuk. Also, because I’m not my past self.

“I suppose so. Well then, everyone make sure to do your homework.”

I left the study room.

* * *

I returned to the duty room, which was originally my place.

“…?”

The duty room was under construction. They weren’t ordinary workers. Mages wearing robes were completely renovating the interior.

“What’s this.”

“You’re here.”

Professor Arkal appeared from the side. Dressed in a perfect uniform, he stood with his hands clasped behind his back.

“This duty room seemed too unsuitable for you.”

Blonde hair slicked back and an upright posture. Quite dashing indeed.

Arkal’s goodwill was sudden, but I quickly understood.

He must have seen the research paper I gave him.

“You were born with quite good qualities. You need a space befitting them.”

Arkal grinned.

I quietly observed such an Arkal.

“…”

He’s probably close to being a villain. However, he doesn’t register on my radar. It’s only very faint.

Arkal is that kind of person.

Not all narcissists are villains, and not all nobles steeped in elitism are villains either.

If I had been an ordinary person in this world.

If I had been someone ordinary with strong pride who didn’t want my achievements stolen, I would have become his enemy.

“If anyone at this school bothers you, don’t hesitate to tell me.”

I decided to become his ally, and he didn’t trample on my goodwill either.

Rather, he was positioning himself as my backing.

“Yes. Thank you.”

He reminded me of the superiors I had worked under.

People who couldn’t be perfect in every aspect.

Perhaps they could have been better superiors than me.

No, they certainly would have been.

I had demanded too much from them, disappointed too easily, and judged too quickly.

“Good. Rest comfortably. Bill the research paper expenses as much as you want. Hahaha…”

Arkal left, leaving behind a blank check.

Looking at his retreating figure, this thought suddenly occurred to me.

Maybe they weren’t incompetent superiors, but I was an incompetent subordinate.

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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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