Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 191
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 191
Still life(7)
〔Identity verification complete. You are eligible to register for VVIP grade membership.〕
The mage named Tae-woo is someone befitting Astroal Merchandise’s first VVIP. Aro has no intention of letting this once-in-a-lifetime customer slip away.
“Are there any special benefits to becoming a VVIP?”
〔You can receive Astroal invitation tickets whenever you wish. There are also no purchase limits on Astroal mints, and many additional benefits are planned for the future.〕
Tae-woo looked at Aro for a moment. Aro maintained an expressionless panel.
“Let’s do that then. Use this for the annual fee.”
Tae-woo handed over an old wristwatch. Aro scanned the item.
〔This appears to be a possession of a historical figure.〕
“An independence fighter… do you understand what that means?”
〔Yes.〕
Korean Peninsula, Japanese colonial period. Aro doesn’t need to memorize such historical content. It’s knowledge naturally downloaded.
“It’s a watch that such a person carried. Keep the change.”
It’s at least an A-grade item.
Occasionally, there should be customers who give such generous tips.
〔Confirmed.〕
Meanwhile, the main broadcast began.
Tae-woo conjured a screen with his magic power.
┌──Labyrinth Exploration NaN──┐
This episode 17’s opening is… some truck.
Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle. A truck carrying spaceship parts in its cargo bay, returning to the Supervisor’s Office. Real-time chat appears below the subtitles.
-lololol what is this guy doing from the opening lolol
-It’s a truck lololol
-Why is that thing so cute
Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle.
The truck trembles as it retraces its path, gets on the VVIP Elevator and tries to go down to the zombie-infested casino.
Ding.
The moment the elevator doors open, some figure collapses.
─Truck: …Oh! You! Hey. Snap out of it!
It’s a robot with a damaged body.
-Wow lol
-Gasp
-Wow that guy appears too
-Hero robot reappears
-Phew thank goodness
-ㅠㅠㅠㅠYou’re alive ㅠㅠㅠ
─Truck: Snap out of it!
Truck taps the robot’s face with its robotic arm.
Tae-woo let out an expressionless chuckle at the sight of it acting like a human.
─Truck: Damn it…
Truck performs emergency surgery on the robot. Bzzt. Bzzzzt. As if treating an actual person, it’s a scene that makes the heart race for no reason. The watching explorers are also serious.
“Oh please.”
“Robot, live…”
While voices could be heard from the front yard, Tae-woo quietly observed Aro’s panel.
Perhaps because they’re both robots, it seemed very tense.
─Robot: Beep beep beep.
The moment the robot on screen awakens.
〔Beep.〕
This robot also lets out a sigh of relief.
─Truck: Robot! It’s me! Do you know who I am?
─Robot: …Recognized. You are Agent Seol Ha-woon’s subordinate.
─Truck: Sub, subordinate? Not subordinate, colleague.
─Robot: Agent Seol Ha-woon’s colleague, Mr. Truck. Function check complete. 63% stable.
─Truck: Anyway, okay. Follow me!
Truck and Robot team up as a duo and set off on their journey together to the Supervisor’s Office.
It’s a short drama of about 3 minutes that’s hard to watch without tears.
-Hahaha no but why are they so cute
-It’s like watching clay animation lololol
-They’re really adorable.. it’s such a god season that even the Labyrinth People are perfect
Tae-woo asked Aro.
“Could that robot be one of your kind?”
Aro frowned as if displeased.
〔I am a far superior model. There’s a gap of over a hundred years.〕
“Ah. I see.”
Cosmos Ship A Sector – Prison
Just then the screen switched.
Seol Ha-woon’s party, with magic orbs illuminating the interior in blue.
“Oh! It’s Seol!”
“Seol! Seol! Seol!”
The other explorers watching the broadcast on the Grass Field immediately got excited. The previous episode’s ending was so catastrophic.
─Seo Ji-woo: From the beginning… did you suspect?
Seo Ji-woo asks Seol Ha-woon, but he doesn’t answer and just surveys the interior. It’s a cold gaze.
─Seo Ji-woo: Are they dead?
Seol Ha-woon’s answer is simple.
─Seol Ha-woon : If they’re alive, I’ll have to kill them.
“HOLY SHIT~”
“Hahaha, I love that about him.”
“SEOL is definitely taking first place this week. After seeing last week’s episode, you’d be crazy not to vote for him.”
The explorers outside applaud and cheer.
The sight of various nationalities mixed together, admiring and chattering about a Korean program, feels awkward as an actual Korean.
Tae-woo looked at SilTalk.
-That active duty moment is fucking scary;;
-Wow, what a devil lol hahaha
-He seems like the villain
-Really scary
-Anyone who gets targeted by Jemal-ol is fucked
─Kang Hyeon : Ha-woon hyung. How should we get out?
─Seol Ha-woon : Well. We need to find out where the zombies are first… wait.
Seol Ha-woon creates a light in his palm and floats it up. Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon’s gazes follow it to the ceiling.
Zombies are packed in without any gaps.
-Ah, that scared me
-Crazy
-That really startled me
〔Beep-〕
Aro seems startled too. It’s a robot with surprisingly clear emotional expressions.
─Seo Ji-woo : …I almost cursed just now.
─Kang Hyeon : You do that a lot anyway.
─Seo Ji-woo : Are you still sulking about the terminal?
─Kang Hyeon : No, I’m not.
─Seo Ji-woo : Yes, you are?
─Seol Ha-woon : Quiet. Everyone, first look around and see what’s on the ground.
-Hahahaha those guys are still pretty young
-Ha-woon has it tough..
-I heard he was the boss even at the orphanage lol
-Really gives off eldest brother vibes.
Suddenly, Seol Ha-woon discovers a broken tablet.
─Seo Ji-woo : Oh. What did you find?
─Seol Ha-woon : …Here. This wasn’t a prison.
─Seo Ji-woo : Then what is it?
─Seol Ha-woon : A processing room.
He scrolls down on the tablet, and the camera zooms in on the content.
〔Processing Room Usage Manual〕Date Created : 2346 / 09 / 01■ Subject processing method for data acquisition.■ …Zombies can be controlled by threading their central nervous systems onto ‘hosts’. Send them down at 1-hour intervals to process subjects.■ To understand the exact principles and structure of the ‘substance’, much more data and specimens are needed. Mutations occur in uncontrollable environments…
─Seol Ha-woon : The mothership was controlling this substance and the zombies. From the beginning.
Seol Ha-woon realizes the ‘truth’ that runs through the story.
The camera captures him staring into space. It’s a composition that seems to make eye contact with the viewers.
In other words, it’s an extreme close-up face cam.
-Damn right, what’s with that face/look lol
-You’re on fire lol
-But why is Mal-ol so scary. Is it because of last episode
-For real, I’d look down immediately if I met him on the street
-He’s so three-dimensional that it’s actually scary; no cute or gentle vibes at all, really gives off scary handsome guy feels
-Fuck, this is exactly the art style of Northern Grand Duke Season 2 lmaooo
-Your hair is so damn long, why do you look like a tiger lmaooo Is that a mane?
-Info) Tigers don’t have manes
─Seol Ha-woon : In other words, the supervisors deliberately spread the virus.
─Seo Ji-woo : …What? Why?
─Seol Ha-woon : Because they needed data.
The inside story that they turned this hull into hell to accumulate data related to the ‘substance’.
─Seol Ha-woon : This was why Eldia left briefly and came back. But the zombie mutations were more serious than expected, so she got our help.
─Seo Ji-woo : Crazy… She was way more insane than I thought.
-The story is terrifying
-Seol Ha-woon is an exposition character. He explains the whole story by himself.
-Seol Ha-woon does consider the viewers the most.
-Ah so that Eldia created the zombies?
-Good thing she died, fuck
Seol Ha-woon looks up at the ceiling.
─Seol Ha-woon : The zombies will come down soon.
─Kang Hyeon : Hyung. Let’s create a space with tape.
─Seol Ha-woon : Good idea.
Swoooosh. Duct tape appears from Seol Ha-woon’s hands.
─Seol Ha-woon : Seo Ji-woo. Set up a framework. Use the wall corners to make it like a hut. Okay?
─Seo Ji-woo : Okay.
Seo Ji-woo raises thick lines, and Seol Ha-woon wraps them thoroughly with duct tape.
-Isn’t this PPL?
-That duct tape is permanently sold out, can’t buy it even if you want to
-Has anyone tried that amazing duct tape? That shit is incredible lol it sticks to everything
After that, here’s a commercial break. The currently hot ‘Magic Hat’.
〔Beep.〕
Aro’s panel turns slightly red as if displeased.
“Robot.”
Tae-woo looked at Aro indifferently.
“How many times have I visited this place?”
〔This is the first time.〕
“No.”
Tae-woo shook his head. Aro quietly watched him.
He held up four fingers.
“For me, this is the fourth time.”
Aro felt puzzled, but quickly reasoned and grasped his intention.
According to what Aro often heard while surfing the 〔Deep Web〕, Tae-woo has an extremely mage-like alias.
“Today is the fourth time. Just remember that fact. The watch I gave you is payment for that.”
〔Yes. I will remember today’s date and our current meeting〕
The Mage of Time and Space.
He deals with the concepts of time and space.
* * *
Rip! Riiiiip!
When the scene of making a temporary trench with duct tape in Mitamnan appeared.
Department Manager Yoon Il-young of the major corporation ‘Seokho’ said to the renowned theoretical mage Copyfield.
“It’s possible, right? Exactly like that tape.”
The plan was to copy the duct tape and sell it much cheaper than Seol Ha-woon’s group.
Copyfield nodded with a confident face.
“Of course. I just need to disassemble and analyze the orb, then modify the circuit slightly differently.”
“Yes. Then when can we start the work…?”
“It’s possible right away. Let me just finish watching this first.”
Copyfield fixed his gaze on Labyrinth Exploration NaN.
This foreign mage also watches Mitamnan apparently. Actually, Yoon Il-young never misses the live broadcast either.
If you don’t watch this, you can’t have conversations with MZ generation or even with fathers.
“By any chance, who are you a fan of, Boss Yoon? I can’t vote because I’m a foreigner… isn’t this racial discrimination?”
“It’s not quite racial discrimination. I’m for Kate. You like Kate too, right?”
Since he’s American, he’d naturally like Kate who’s also American.
“No. It’s a misconception to think all Americans support Kate. I’m for Seo Ji-woo. She’s my goddess.”
“…Goddess.”
This is ridiculous. Is this foreigner saying he worships an Asian now?
“By any chance, if this job goes well, could I meet Goddess Seo Ji-woo once?”
What a funny guy.
“…If you do well, it’s not impossible. I’ll invite you to a meeting once.”
“!”
Copyfield clenched both fists tightly.
“Yes. I will definitely succeed.”
“I hope so too.”
“Haah… I’m curious. What might the goddess be doing right now…”
Life Game LIFE GAME
“Oh. Found a coin.”
On a trail a bit far from the village. Seo Ji-woo discovered a single coin while returning to her hotel room.
“…What is it this time.”
Porter Im Hae-jun right beside her pouted his lips. All sorts of items were loaded on his A-frame carrier. Buried under the loot, his height had shrunk to almost 160cm.
“Hae-jun. Doesn’t this coin look pretty good?”
“Looks like someone just threw it away. Let’s just hurry up.”
“…Let’s just hurry up? You’ve been pretty rebellious lately?”
Seo Ji-woo narrowed her eyes. Im Hae-jun faced her with a sheepish smile.
“What’s rebellious about me. It’s because it’s heavy, sis. Sis, sis.”
“Okay.”
“Carry half my load, sis.”
“Get lost. I’m paying you to carry that stuff.”
“…”
Im Hae-jun secretly raised his middle finger.
* * *
3 AM local time in America. LA’s plaza.
“Is this right?”
Zephyrell Korea branch manager Kim Jeong-wook was shocked.
At this early hour, an enormous number of people had gathered to watch Mitamnan.
“Huh, well. You live long enough to see everything”
Kim Jeong-wook let out a hollow laugh as he looked at the large screen.
Cosmos Ship A Sector – Laboratory
In the deepest part of the mothership, Kate’s team who arrived first moves together with supervisor James.
─James : All the tragedy started here. We still don’t know the detailed cause but…
“But James seems to be in cahoots with Eldia too.”
“Doesn’t Kate also seem to suspect James somehow?”
“Nah, no way.”
Everyone discusses among themselves. The murmuring voices and reactions appearing in real-time chat are almost identical.
Kim Jeong-wook sat in an empty chair. A black man approached holding a hot dog.
“That’s my seat.”
“Ah yes.”
He quickly stood up.
─Kate : ….
Kate stares intently at James’s back. Still with a suspicious gaze but.
─James : It reminds me of the old days. Here… I used to work together with everyone.
James hangs his head while choking up.
“If that’s acting, it’s Oscar-worthy.”
“James has been honest from the beginning. Upright and all.”
─Yoon Hwa-rim : Hey~ don’t think such depressing thoughts.
Yoon Hwa-rim approaches James to comfort him. Jo Woon and Lee Jun-ho do the same.
─Jo Woon : Let’s finish this. Ending it is what everyone wants.
─Lee Jun-ho : Exactly. Let’s just go. Lead the way.
Kate glares at the four of them. She doesn’t seem to like the party that has already formed bonds.
However, Kate lacks decisiveness. This is her biggest difference from Seol Ha-woon.
If you’re going to trust, you must trust to the end, and if you’re going to doubt, you must doubt to the end. Being half-hearted gets you nowhere.
Kim Jeong-wook looked at KakaoTalk.
-There must be some good ones among the Labyrinth People too. Like Truck.
-James looks super kind just from his face
-Since Seol Ha-woon’s side stepped in shit, it seems like they met the nice one.
─James : The source of all evil… is right there.
James turned on the CCTV from the laboratory.
A flesh-like substance. Zombies were surrounding it in incredible numbers.
“Whoa.”
“Wow, that’s insane.”
“Damn. Are those all zombies?”
“Hey. Do things like that come out in real Labyrinths too?”
“Sometimes. But that one’s on a huge scale. That level would be between C~B rank.”
─James : First, there’s equipment in the nearby maintenance room. I’ll guide you.
Kim Jeong-wook picked up his smartphone. There were all sorts of contacts. Most were about Mitamnan and Seol Ha-woon related content.
Ever since appearing on Mitamnan once, most of the contacts he receives are like this. Requests related to Seol Ha-woon.
“Really… the whole world is Mitamnan.”
Esmos Civilian Ship
Meanwhile, back to the Esmos civilian ship.
─Im Hae-jun : Ugh, ughhh, ughhhh…
Im Hae-jun crawls through the ventilation duct and barely manages to escape.
Clatter clatter clatter clatter.
At the sound of something moving, he startles and turns in that direction.
It’s Truck.
─Im Hae-jun : Wh-what’s this now.
─Truck : Who are you.
─Im Hae-jun : Hup!
Im Hae-jun trembles and grabs his bow, but Truck also raises his railgun.
─Truck : I asked who you are.
─Im Hae-jun : Don’t, don’t shoot.
He quickly raises both arms up high.
-Hahaha oh
-hahahaha
-How the hell does that guy even survive lol
-Being cute is also a survival strategy lol you know that.
─Truck : Speak. Who are you.
─Im Hae-jun : Im Hae-jun.
─Truck : …The name format is the same? Tell me one name of someone you know.
─Im Hae-jun : Huh?
─Truck : A name of someone you know. Similar to yours. Any name.
─Im Hae-jun : Uh… yes, um… do you know Seol Ha-woon?
Then electric current whirs and charges up in Truck’s railgun.
─Im Hae-jun : Why, why!
─Truck : Raise your voice and zombies will come. Just answer what I ask. What’s your relationship with Seol Ha-woon?
─Im Hae-jun : I’m, I’m his disciple, disciple.
─Truck : …You look too stupid to be a disciple.
Truck furrows his brow.
─Im Hae-jun : What did you say?! Who are you anyway.
─Truck : Seol Ha-woon’s colleague.
─Im Hae-jun : …Colleague? That guy doesn’t keep colleagues.
-He said colleague
-Hahahaha they are colleagues though
Colleague. That word made Kim Jeong-wook feel inexplicably heavy.
─Truck : Follow me. Im Hae-jun.
Anyway, Truck and Im Hae-jun join up.
Cosmos Ship A Sector – Processing Room
Inside the tape barrier created in a corner of the processing room where zombies roam.
─Kang Hyeon : But, is there a way after this?
Seol Ha-woon answers Kang Hyeon’s concern.
─Seol Ha-woon : Truck.
─Seo Ji-woo : …Ah! Right!
─Kang Hyeon : If Truck brings the spaceship…
Kim Jeong-wook nodded.
As expected, if someone is trustworthy, he trusts them to the end. That Truck has earned Seol Ha-woon’s trust.
-Oh right, Truck had a spaceship
-A colleague recognized by Seolhaun ㄷㄷ
-If that Truck comes out as merchandise, I’m definitely buying it.
While Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon were trembling while holding their breath,
Beep!
Kang Hyeon’s radar reacted.
─…Who is it? Is someone there?
A voice flows in first. A familiar tone just from hearing it. It’s Im Hae-jun.
─Seo Ji-woo: Huh? Are you Im Hae-jun?
─Im Hae-jun: Yeah! It’s me, Im Hae-
─Julione: Crackle. It’s Julione.
Seo Ji-woo tilts her head.
─Seo Ji-woo: Julione? Who’s that?
─Julione: …Truck.
─Seo Ji-woo: Ah! Mr. Truck! You’ve returned!
-Wait, is your name literally “Truck”? lololololol
-This season is good with the random funny moments, everything’s just good
-Hahahahaha
“Hahahaha.”
“Ji-woo is really charming.”
“Kang Hyeon is good too. Hae-jun is cute.”
Countless Americans watch Mitamnan while sharing their impressions. Sometimes laughing, sometimes enjoying it seriously.
Kim Jeong-wook suddenly had a thought. He stepped back a bit and filmed this scene on video.
│LA Local Situation Shocking│
As soon as he posted on the community, recommendations and comments flooded in and it immediately became a popular post.
─I can see the philosophy, the philosophy
─I do feel some national pride
─It’s just number 1 on global OTT right now
─The whole world is Mitamnan..
─I’m also a study abroad student and it’s amazing how absorbed they are in Mitamnan. Really, if there are a hundred people, all hundred watch Mitamnan. When you say you’re Korean, Mitamnan talk comes up right away.
“…Ah this is fun.”
Now I understand why internet attention-seekers exist.
─Seo Ji-woo: Where are you now? We’re trapped in some kind of prison right now.
The live broadcast is in the middle of an escape operation.
─Julione: I’ve located your position. But the hangar is damaged.
─Seol Ha-woon: Can you open the gate? I’ll explain the details later. Open the gate.
─Julione: It’s dangerous. If I open the gate, the air will escape.
─Seol Ha-woon: It’s fine. Open the gate right now.
Seol Ha-woon pulls out more tape. He wraps the three people thickly like cocoons. Seo Ji-woo also weaves lines densely between the gaps.
─Julione: Opening now.
Whooooom!
As the gate opens, an enormous number of zombies fly out into space. Without any sound.
“Wow~”
“Jemal-ol! Jemal-ol!”
Clap clap clap. Some people applaud, others whistle.
It’s dawn but aren’t they tired?
Soon Julione’s small spaceship enters the hangar. Seol Ha-woon’s party and Truck’s party reunite.
It’s a satisfying scene.
─Im Hae-jun: Hey! Hyung! Master!
─Seo Ji-woo: Can’t you see me?
─Kang Hyeon: Hae-jun. Did you level up your terminal too?
─Im Hae-jun: Of course! I knew this would happen.
─Kang Hyeon: But Seo Ji-woo hates terminals.
Hahahaha!
Everyone laughs again at the terminal-related conversation.
─Seo Ji-woo: …Ah really, cut it out a bit. I won’t do it! I’m not hating on them!
Then, Julione approaches Seol Ha-woon.
─Julione: When I came to my senses, I realized I was your Plan B?
─Seol Ha-woon: Yes. Mutual trust. I was counting on you.
Seol Ha-woon’s expression is shown in close-up. He smiles, but sadness is mixed in.
In Kim Jeong-wook’s opinion, the reason is…
It’s also being posted on KakaoTalk.
-He’s a Labyrinth Person anyway.
-From Seol Ha-woon’s perspective, a villain like Eldia would actually be much better
-Exactly. They’re bound to part ways anyway.
-It is sad though.
Seol Ha-woon is someone who doesn’t trust people easily. His trust is that hard to earn.
Julione succeeded in that difficult mission, but unfortunately was just a Labyrinth Person.
And…
Chicken is always right… always right chicken.
“Ah~ Why again!”
“That crazy chicken, seriously.”
“Ha, damn it, don’t do this at dawn.”
Everyone let out sighs at the commercial break that immediately followed.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————