Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 199

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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 199

Still life(15)

Door.

When I first encountered ‘that thing’ long ago, did ‘it’ really look like a door?

What was it about ‘that thing’ that made me think of it as a door?

Dimensional connections, the labyrinth, and Gustav.

The reason I ended up tracking through the desert to discover the door was ultimately because of Seo Ji-hyuk. I reached that place while trying to uncover Gustav’s background, who had led Seo Ji-hyuk to his death.

Seo Ji-hyuk sacrificed himself to save the children Gustav had kidnapped, and Gustav tried to use the children as ‘living batteries’ in the desert.

However, I never looked deeply into what those batteries were ‘for.’ Even back then, I was someone who didn’t care about villains’ motivations…

Door.

What kind of door was it, really?

“I solved it.”

Suddenly Erica held out a magic circle to me.

“…Right.”

I quickly scanned Erica’s answer sheet up and down.

It was correct.

She had perfectly absorbed the efficiency I wanted.

“Correct. I wish the other kids were all like you.”

Erica smiled and looked at Il Hae-jun and Lee Hae-jun. Those guys were deep in thought with both arms wrapped tightly around their heads.

“…”

I let my gaze drift as I watched them.

These are Labyrinth People. When the labyrinth ends, we’ll part ways. Forever, never to meet again, and they’ll only remain as records in something called Labyrinth Exploration NaN.

Because they are fake.

But where do fakes come from?

How are fakes created?

The answer to that vague question might not be far away.

I have to go back there again.

…No.

Perhaps they might come to me instead.

“Hm? What’s that.”

That’s when something caught my eye on my patrol truck.

Swish swish. Moving nimbly between the walls – it was the real Im Hae-jun.

The way he was moving by climbing over walls in the dead of night looked quite suspicious.

I stood up, gripping my walking stick.

“I’m going on patrol.”

I immediately tracked Im Hae-jun, leaving the students behind.

Im Hae-jun infiltrated quite quickly, but I reverse-tracked his movement and reached a place he was likely to come to ahead of time.

Thud!

I struck my walking stick hard in the alley.

“Aaaahhh!”

Im Hae-jun was startled and fell over. He looked just like a red panda.

“M-Master?!”

“What are you doing?”

Im Hae-jun swallowed nervously with a flustered face. I felt mischievous.

Strangely, whenever I see this guy, I feel like this. I want to mess with him a little.

“This is the school I’m protecting.”

“Oh, I see! Master, I didn’t know!

“Hae-jun. So you’re challenging me.”

“N-no! That’s not it! I’ll leave!”

“You can’t leave.”

“Oh no!”

I opened my pupils wide. Countless blue bullets appeared in the air.

Simultaneous fire.

“Aaah!”

Im Hae-jun’s complexion turned deathly pale.

Whoooooosh──.

Relentless artillery fire. I pretended to pour out bullets.

“Waaahhh!!!!”

Im Hae-jun ran away as fast as his legs could carry him. Watching his panting figure from behind, I couldn’t help but laugh.

* * *

The Corrupt Council. In the underground secret meeting room shrouded in thick darkness. Their faces were hidden in shadows, but a secret meeting was taking place through sound transmission.

-We must strike Arkal first. Everything about him is becoming an obstacle. There are even those who are getting scared by Demonian’s halo and starting to reject us.

-I agree. We can no longer stand by and watch Arkal.

-Arkal is no longer a useless figure. Rather, he has tremendous influence on society…

It was all talk about Professor Arkal.

Thanks to Arkal officially tearing apart the Corrupt Council like dogs on every public platform, their social reputation was severely damaged, and lobbying no longer worked.

Then, Silo raised his hand, timing it perfectly.

-As Arkal’s closest spy, I have something I’d like to say.

Everyone turned their attention to him. It meant for him to continue with sound transmission.

-Professor Arkal will participate in this outdoor academy meeting.

The order, the request that Silo received from Seol Ha-woon was just one thing.

-I dare to make this proposal to the chairman and all the senior members. We should all work together to cast a formula and massacre Arkal and his followers.

Gathering the Corrupt Council’s most important forces in one place.

-…Massacre?

-Yes. The outdoor academy meeting will take place at Asen Canyon. That’s a dangerous area where many monsters appear.

-Claim that the mages were massacred by monsters? The world won’t believe such an excuse.

Silo smiled coldly.

-What if they don’t believe it? Arkal will already be dead by then.

For a moment, everyone’s sound transmission stopped. Silo quickly pressed on.

-I believe Arkal is an incredibly powerful individual. He’s getting stronger by the day. That’s why we all need to join forces.

The core of the council, including congressmen, the chairman, and elders, quietly exchange sound transmissions.

However, the conclusion is already decided.

Since this is the only method left.

* * *

“Everyone agreed.”

The Asen Outdoor Academy is an actual scheduled event. It wasn’t organized by Arkal, but a traditional gathering of mages held regularly.

“We can target that time.”

“Okay.”

I looked at Silo who was scooping up ice cream.

“But tell me. Why are they trying to complete that magic? What are they planning to do by opening dimensional gates?”

Silo gave a bitter smile.

“According to their claims, this dimension. That is, the world we live in will soon be destroyed.”

My expression hardened for a moment.

“They say we need to cross dimensions, overthrow the natives, and take their place… It’s hard to believe. They’re cultists.”

I looked Silo up and down.

“What if that’s true?”

“Even if it’s true, what meaning would there be in living like that.”

Seeing Silo like that, I calmly settled down.

“That’s right. Is there a way to completely eliminate that dimensional magic?”

“There’s Professor Arkal.”

Silo waved the ice cream spoon in the air.

“The professor will abolish it for being dangerous. If our operation succeeds, there won’t be anyone in this society who can defy Professor Arkal’s words.”

Indeed, that would truly be the case. I’ll disguise my magic bomb with Arkal’s formula.

“That’s fortunate for us.”

I looked at Silo.

If there was a unique way for them to survive, to not be annihilated, it might be opening that ‘door’.

The Corrupt Council might have been right, and they might have been wrong.

“Right.”

However, I won’t let that happen.

They are Labyrinth People. They’re fakes distinct from us.

You who resemble Seo Ji-hyuk are not Seo Ji-hyuk.

Though you resemble Seo Ji-hyuk, you must disappear.

“I’ll help you destroy that magic too.”

Even the smallest possibility must be eliminated.

Silo said with a smile.

─Silo: Yes. Thank you.

“He says thank you.”

The NPC called Silo thanks Seol Ha-woon. Without knowing the meaning of what he’s saying.

“…Ha-woon is really cold-hearted.”

“He’s adding fuel to the rumors that he’d kill even his comrades if things go wrong.”

The audience in the Monitoring Room watched with somewhat bitter feelings.

Still, this is Seol Ha-woon.

Originally, one of the biggest reasons Seol Ha-woon rose to first place was the public opinion that ‘Mitamnan is not an idol competition program’.

His cold-hearted aspect. His attitude that was so decisive it seemed almost cruel helped him.

Seol Ha-woon will definitely kill the villains.

Though he can use Labyrinth People, he’ll never be swayed by them, and will definitely clear the labyrinth. He’ll move only toward that purpose.

Seol Ha-woon, no one else but Seol Ha-woon will absolutely never waver.

A character who provides some satisfaction and vicarious pleasure to modern society that’s indecisive, full of double standards, constantly changing words, and inconsistent in words and actions. A protagonist who wouldn’t come out like this even in a drama.

That’s Seol Ha-woon.

Even now, all the Seol Ha-woon related memes and cut scenes uploaded to SNS and communities highlight such aspects of Seol Ha-woon.

That’s why one of his nicknames is Earth’s Representative.

If a labyrinth occurred where Earth would be destroyed upon failure, they’d have to squeeze Seol Ha-woon in among the mages and send him too, or something like that.

“How much time is left in this labyrinth?”

Kim A-rang asked.

“It’ll end soon.”

Anyway, we gained many stories from this labyrinth.

“That’s a shame. It was interesting.”

The Youngest Writer nodded.

“Right. This time the kids performed so well across the board… Who would be the protagonist?”

“Well.”

Kim A-rang pondered while stroking her chin, but one person came to mind.

“Wouldn’t it be Jun-ho?”

“Ah, I agree too.”

They switched the screen back to Lee Jun-ho.

─Lee Jun-ho: …How is it?

Jun-ho is looking at a house together with the children. Standing in front of the spacious house, they all have moved expressions.

─Lee Jun-ho: This is our home.

“Jun-ho just threw away this labyrinth.”

Lee Jun-ho gathered caring points and bought a house.

Even an incredibly expensive house. A big house where thirteen people can each have their own room.

Just when you think he might become a dark horse establishing Hao Gate and collecting tons of money under the pretext of protection fees, he spends it on the kids’ medical bills, house payments, food expenses, toys, and now he’s even preparing for after he leaves.

“Won’t he get some criticism? For getting attached to Labyrinth People.”

“Jun-ho will be fine.”

You shouldn’t develop feelings for Labyrinth People. Even such attacks from T’s will be partially neutralized in front of Jun-ho’s personal story.

─Lee Jun-ho: Live well, work hard. I can’t stay by your side for hundreds or thousands of years. You understand?

Saying that, his eyes well up with tears.

Though Lee Jun-ho failed this labyrinth, he might gain the more important ‘votes’.

* * *

Asen Outdoor Academy.

“Regarding the Corrupt Council, I want to say first that you all have absolutely no need to fear.”

In that place like an Ancient Greek Theater, Arkal opened the proceedings.

“I, Arcal Demonian, will crush those wicked bastards and…”

In the name of Arcal Demonian, he will crush the Corrupt Council. With Demonian Magic Arts, he will beat them up. Smash them to pieces. Pulverize them.

While infinitely repeating such content with only flowery language changed.

I waited for Silo’s signal.

Hundreds of magic stones were already placed in appropriate positions. The magic bomb activation preparations were complete.

When Silo sends the promised signal, we will devastate the Corrupt Council without delay.

Crackle!

The signal.

A change was detected somewhere in the canyon. In crater-like terrain quite far from the conference hall, demons in black robes began to reveal themselves one by one.

They dangled cursed magic stones as mediums. They chanted incantations and activated formulas.

From their appearance, they seemed to be the senior congressmen who were the main pillars of the council.

Whoooosh…!

Black smoke rose like pillars.

From within, twisted and grotesque demons began to reveal themselves one by one.

Legion of Ten Thousand Demons. This was their summoning technique that Silo had mentioned.

The demons quietly awakened and prepared to devour the mages including Arcal.

At least that’s how it appeared.

“…Hah.”

I exhaled deeply and gripped my walking stick.

Tap.

A formula appeared in mid-air. It received magic power from hundreds of magic stones, forming rings and slowly condensing.

A crystallization of magic power that would unleash an impact equivalent to a miniature atomic bomb.

Roooooar──.

With a hot sound and blazing resonance, it soared high into the sky.

The magic bomb was soon delivered precisely above where they had gathered, descending gracefully and…

Exploded with a bright blue light.

────.

A mushroom cloud rose. A tremendous explosion shook the canyon. A gale swept through the area.

Heart-rending screams echoed from Asen Academy, but Arcal calmed them down.

Calling it ‘Demonian Dark Magic Technique’.

“Done.”

I nodded with satisfaction. The performance wasn’t bad.

“…I-is it over?”

Silo appeared from behind. With his hair disheveled, he nodded with a dazed expression.

“With a bomb… all at once… somehow it feels anticlimactic.”

“It’s much better than dragging it out.”

I stood leaning on my walking stick. I looked at Arcal at the academy in the distance. He resumed his speech according to the script he had prepared in advance.

─From now on!

A powerful voice filled with magic power.

The event we prepared still remains.

─The air strike I prepared will completely destroy the Corrupt Council.

My drones patrolling the sky above the city will bomb all remaining members of the Corrupt Council.

Whiiiiiing-!

Just then, the descent of drones was spotted in the distant sky.

Arcal, and Silo and I looked up at their trajectory and smiled.

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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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