Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 190

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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 190

Still life(6)

The construction of my dwelling progressed at a surprisingly rapid pace. It developed into accommodations that were incomparably more spacious and comfortable than before, with all sorts of neat furniture arranged properly.

The interior itself was probably Arcal’s taste, but it didn’t clash too much with mine either.

“….”

I quietly lay down on the bed. The soft mattress embraced my body.

I turned on the dream bubble and closed my eyes.

Whiiiiiii──-

Suddenly, the sensation of hot wind brushing against my skin.

Dry sand particles touching the tip of my nose.

Desert.

I return to the desert again.

Is it because of the Labyrinth Person who resembles Seo Ji-hyuk? Those past memories rise up again like burning sand.

──During my active duty days, I had a small habit. Whenever I suspected an internal enemy, I would always act alone.

At the time, we had formed a special operations team to kill the Korean villain Gu Dong-po, but at some point I distanced myself from the unit.

I kept a proper distance from them and moved under the assumption that all operations had already been leaked.

It didn’t particularly matter who the spy was.

Because if the fact that there was an internal enemy was confirmed, I could make full use of it.

I just had to deceive both allies and enemies simultaneously.

I would observe the enemy deceiving our allies to obtain information, then flip the board at the most decisive moment.

…I didn’t know then.

That the informant whose existence I was certain of would be you.

‘I’m sorry, Ha-woon. I couldn’t bear it.’

Under the cold night sky of the desert.

The words Seo Ji-hyuk said to me still echo in my ears. They’re as vivid as if it were last night.

‘I had to save those children.’

I should have realized it a little sooner.

I always accounted for variables, but you had a will much greater than I had expected.

I judged that those children had to be ‘sacrificed’, but you wanted to save the children more than the mission itself.

We each ultimately carried out our own will, and everyone was wounded.

‘Ha-woon….’

I always thought you seemed to be looking for a place to die.

I thought you weren’t trying to live, but rather choosing how to die.

‘Ha-woon, ah… my, younger brother….’

Watching you worry about your younger brother even as you collapsed, I released emotions that even I couldn’t understand.

I wanted you to become a hero.

I wanted you, rather than someone worn down like me whose humanity had already been eroded away, you who ultimately saved hundreds of children, to be known to the world.

‘I’m sorry….’

You became my PTSD.

In this labyrinth, there’s a Labyrinth Person who resembles you. In the labyrinth exploration program, there’s your younger brother. Things I haven’t discovered yet are coiled up waiting.

Suddenly, I find myself saying this.

“It’s not a coincidence.”

That I came to regress. That Seo Ji-woo, Kate, and Kang Hyeon are here. That you had no choice but to die.

All of it─ might not be mere coincidence.

I opened my eyes. Looking up at the cleanly repapered white ceiling, I murmured quietly.

Ji-hyuk.

What were you thinking?

And what did you know?

* * *

〔Innovation in Magic Studies!〕 Professor Arcal Demonian Opens New Horizons in Magic Control!

〔Special Interview〕 “Magic is the language of living scholars.” – Professor Arcal reveals his thoughts after paper publication

〔This Month’s Academia〕 Forgotten wisdom finally breaks its shell and shakes magical engineering

My paper that Arcal published was a hit. Arcal’s name was written in all sorts of academic journals and newspapers delivered to the school.

Since he provided me with an ark of knowledge, I also gladly decided to become his ghostwriter.

“Are you all prepared for today’s conference?”

Arcal’s workshop. He asked while checking himself from various angles in a full-length mirror. I handed him neatly bound documents.

“It’s a script with all the expected questions and answers related to the paper.”

In other words, it was a script book.

“Hmm.”

Arcal took it.

He flipped through from the first page, and a bright smile appeared on his lips as if satisfied.

“Sometimes, you know. I think I did well to release my knowledge to the world. I even feel rewarded.”

Arcal’s gaze slanted toward me. As if the reason was solely me.

“Without knowing it, I raised someone like you.”

“It’s a virtuous cycle. You were a model of noblesse oblige.”

“A virtuous cycle… Ha. Right. Indeed. You worked hard today too. The payment will be deposited within this week.”

I asked for one million carings, and Arcal immediately agreed.

Future aspiration Seo Ji-woo is no longer a dream.

“Well then. Good work.”

“Professor Arcal.”

I briefly stopped him as he was about to go outside.

“I have something I’d like to tell you regarding the Corrupt Council.”

“Those idiotic bastards?”

Arcal’s brow furrowed.

“Yes. I’m devising a formula. If you support me, we’ll be able to wipe them out in one fell swoop.”

“…Is it possible? They’re like cockroaches.”

“I’ll wait for the right moment and strike them all at once.”

Here, I’m thinking of creating one of my formulas.

It would cost quite a bit of money, but if Professor Arcal supported me, it would definitely be possible.

“This will also become an achievement for you, Professor.”

“…You seem confident.”

Arkal crossed his arms. I stood upright, leaning on my walking stick.

“Yes.”

I’m tired of headache-inducing methods now. The cliché of facing the bastards I need to kill and listening to their long sob stories no longer fits with modern storytelling.

“I’ll send them back to the Stone Age.”

Whatever they’re thinking, whatever narrative they’ve prepared, I’ll shatter it all.

“Good. I’m counting on you. We’ll discuss the details when you return.”

“Yes.”

Professor Arkal left with a stern expression.

Left alone, I snapped my fingers with a sharp crack!

Geometric patterns unfolded in 3D throughout the workshop interior. It was a massive spherical spell structure diagram with magical circuits intertwining and rotating.

I had been thinking about this kind of spell ever since I started compressing mana into orbs.

A phenomenon where ultra-high-density compressed atoms split due to mutual impact, and that splitting causes a chain reaction leading to exponential explosion.

I’m thinking of making a nuclear bomb.

“This should be interesting.”

If everything about me isn’t coincidental, then I should prepare at least one ultimate technique that can’t be coincidental either.

* * *

Gangnam District, Seoul. Take just one step in that place where all the wealth of the Korean Peninsula gathers, and you can see Mitamnan members.

You don’t even need to go above ground. Even while walking through the subway station underground, if you glance to the side.

Let’s walk the snowy path together.

The right words for you.

A poster of someone walking through a snowy field with long hair flowing. It’s a Seol Ha-woon advertisement.

The Snow Removal Team was hastily formed when Ha-woon was unpopular, and since other fandoms gave it a somewhat derogatory feel, the fandom name seems to be settling on ‘Snowy Path.’

Of course, they’re still called pine caterpillars. The sound itself isn’t bad, so fans accept it endearingly.

All the moments we met together are like coincidental connections.

Next is Seo Ji-woo’s promotional panel.

Coincidence suits her quite well. Ji-woo’s ‘woo,’ connecting ‘yeon.’

Always present anywhere, anytime.

Always cheering for your brilliance

This time it’s Kang Hyeon. A phrase themed around Kang Hyeon’s name character ‘hyeon ‘ meaning ‘to appear.’

Everyone’s posters are incredibly cool. Though not quite as much as Seol Ha-woon’s.

We’re just, however you want it.

This time it’s Lee Jun-ho with a sword slung over his shoulder. Both the promotional phrase and concept give off a ‘just do whatever you want’ vibe.

Lee Si-ah likes Jun-ho’s catchphrase the most. It seems the most half-hearted compared to other members, but that actually represents Jun-ho as a person more clearly.

Anyway.

“…Phew.”

Lee Si-ah let out a nervous sigh as she came up from the subway.

This week’s voting feels like a battlefield. Everyone on the internet, the whole world, is curious about who will be first place.

Moreover, the current Seol Ha-woon phenomenon is very, extremely tremendous.

It’s a global boom.

Not only the incredibly destructive Eldia ending scene, but also the Magic Hat advertisement that spread as a meme.

These days, if you don’t know Seol Ha-woon, normal conversation is impossible. Not just in Korea, but in China, Japan, America, and Europe too.

Just swipe through Reels or Shorts three times and Mitamnan appears.

“First place. Is it possible?”

Just then, she could see the outdoor billboard of Gangnam Station’s largest building. The entire billboard was encouraging votes for Kate.

“Kate’s fans have a lot of money too.”

Lee Si-ah walked slowly and arrived at Mitamnan Hall.

It’s a private screening organized directly by the fandom, and since admission is free, there are tons of people.

I heard a Chinese big shot sponsored it.

Truly the spirit of the continent.

Lee Si-ah took her seat.

“Oh, Seol Si-ah! Nice to see you!”

“Ah. Yes.”

Seol Si-ah is Lee Si-ah’s fan account.

“We saw each other at the fan meeting last time too…”

“Seol Si-ah, you came too~ This sandwich, I made it myself…”

Other fans come by to greet her once each. Lee Si-ah is somewhat of a notable figure among Seol Ha-woon fans.

Actually, being a rookie card owner is also quite famous.

“Wow. Are all these people Seol Ha-woon fans? Amazing.”

Chinese could be heard from the side. Lee Si-ah looked in that direction.

A man and woman were sitting there, and their faces seemed familiar somehow.

“There’s also a Kang Hyeon screening right next door.”

“…Excuse me, aren’t you a ranker?”

“Huh?”

The man startled and looked back at Lee Si-ah. Lee Si-ah’s eyes widened.

“Right? Mount Hua Sect, Hao Xian!”

Then Hao Xian laughed awkwardly.

“Yes. That’s right. Actually, I’m not anyone’s fan, but she dragged me here.”

Mei Lan. She’s also a famous ranker from China.

“But did you come from living in China? You’re incredibly fluent.”

“Ah… Actually I-“

Woooooh!

Meanwhile, fans’ cheers erupted.

Just before the live broadcast started, last week’s highlights were showing.

‘Do I look like someone who trusts people?’

The number one Mitamnan famous line selected by global SNS. That very scene that 30 million people voted for.

* * *

For spell purchases, Magic~Hat!

“That Magic Hat commercial is fucking hilarious.”

“When does the live broadcast start?”

Astroal Merchandise Headquarters.

Explorers are streaming the Mitamnan live broadcast through ‘Explorer Net’ connected by mana on the front lawn grass field. I don’t know the principle. It’s some super-massive network magic invented by some lonely genius.

Something about using explorers’ mana as a cloud or whatever.

Swoosh- Swoosh- Swoosh-

Simultaneous entry sounds. Members who subscribed to Astroal membership are entering the subspace one after another.

When not in combat, you can use an invitation like this to enter directly.

These days, AstroAl feels not just like a shop but also like a luxury break room.

Aro thinks to himself.

I should ask the master to build a hotel.

“Aro. I can buy mint now, right?”

A white male explorer held out his membership card to Aro.

Aro’s panel scanned it.

〔AstroAl membership confirmed. Mr. David Beckery. 3 hours and 17 minutes remaining until your next purchase opportunity.〕

“Oh. Perfect timing to buy some after watching Mitamnan.”

These days, mint has become something of an essential item for adventurers. Adventurers who know about mint say they won’t explore fields without it anymore.

Since it makes such a difference in survival rates and comfort during work, from their perspective, it’s as addictive as drugs.

“How many random boxes can I buy?”

〔Mr. David Beckery. 2 days and 17 hours remaining until your next random box purchase opportunity.〕

“Ah~ I brought a bunch of C-grade loot. I don’t want to carry this back. Can you hold onto it for me?”

Can you hold onto it?

At that request, Aro’s advanced neural network processor kicked into gear like a cerebral cortex.

Banking.

Or rather, safe services.

This could also become a business.

I should ask the master to build a bank too.

〔Thank you for your feedback. I shall bestow 1 membership point upon you.〕

“…Bestow?”

Woof woof woof!

Vector, who had been running around on the grass field, acts cute toward the explorers.

“He’s really adorable.”

The adventurers pet Vector too. Aro finds this scene heartwarming.

“Aro. The membership subscription is all filled up now, right?”

〔Yes. Maximum capacity has been exceeded.〕

AstroAl membership can no longer be purchased even if you want to buy it.

This is because a maximum number of members has been set for smooth and comfortable management.

“That’s too bad. My friend was asking if there were any spots available. Is it possible to make a reservation?”

〔Additional fees will apply, and they must come in person.〕

“Ah, okay. How many people are on the waiting list right now?”

〔A total of 171 people.〕

“Wow… that’s a lot. Okay. Thanks.”

The man left with a bitter laugh.

Just as other explorers were sitting in chairs waiting for the live broadcast of Mitamnan.

Thud. Thud.

The sound of heavy, dark walker boots.

A tall man with his face hidden by a black mask and black hat approached and sat down in front of Aro.

“I’d like to apply for membership.”

〔Membership is currently at capacity…〕

He removed his mask.

Aro saw his face.

For the premium policy of membership, not only the limited number of members but also the ‘grade’ of the people who join is important.

Who has joined this membership. How sophisticated that person is. And how high their social status is.

Aro plans to establish a separate VVIP grade before long.

This person is perfect for that grade.

〔Here is the membership subscription application form.〕

Aro handed over the application. The man took out a fountain pen and filled it out with swift strokes.

Name: Tae-woo Nationality: South Korea Occupation: Freelancer Date of Birth: 1993/01/01 Payment Method: Annual Payment Referral Source…

“It’s not really something to brag about, but…”

Aro looked at him.

Tae-woo. Evaluated as being at the forefront among modern mages, one of the most brilliant stars humanity has produced since the concept of magic power manifested.

“I’m the person who was born first in South Korea in 1993.”

He handed the application form to Aro.

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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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