Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 21

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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 021

Fall(1)

…In the Labyrinth’s forest.

When Yoon Hwa-rim was doing her drowsy driving.

Kang Hyeon’s eyes dimmed like sea fog. He moved stealthily. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was half asleep, he pretended to lean against the cargo and sleep while inserting his blade into the wheel.

At that moment, the cart’s durability was exhausted.

It wasn’t because of Yoon Hwa-rim’s drowsy driving, but because of Kang Hyeon’s sword.

The cart that lost direction collided with a tree, and Kang Hyeon calmly destroyed the evidence.

‘I just need to remove the cart parts and drag it with my body.’

He quickly cut away the cart’s body to erase his sword marks.

I saw the entire sequence with my own eyes, but I couldn’t understand the motive behind his actions.

Why on earth did Kang Hyeon do this?

Was it simply because he was displeased with Yoon Hwa-rim letting her guard down? Or was he thinking of creating a more dramatic situation?

“…It was necessary.”

Kang Hyeon only replied like that. I stared at him quietly. His eyes had an unfathomable depth.

Difficult to comprehend and impossible to predict, the type of eyes that never reveal their true self.

I’ve always been told I’m good at reading people. I had excellent results in filtering out false identities and extracting confessions through interrogation and torture.

“Necessary?”

However, I couldn’t figure out Kang Hyeon. Everything about him was eerie.

His pupils were clearly transparent, but precisely because of that, I couldn’t see the bottom. I might misjudge the depth and get sucked in and drown the moment I dip my ankle in.

Is this thought just my misunderstanding?

Or is it because of my rebellious nature?

If not that, then…

[ Breaking News: 7 bodies from Labyrinth Exploration NaN’s debut team recovered. ]

[ All confirmed dead except one… Body parts recovered during search. ]

The past that keeps circling in my head, the facts from before regression. The single missing person attached to the word annihilation.

Questions that arise belatedly.

Who exactly was that missing person, and why were they the only one not found?

“…Seol Ha-woon.”

Kang Hyeon called my name. He looked straight into my eyes. I didn’t avoid his gaze either.

“Let go.”

I had been holding his hand for quite a while.

“…Right.”

His hand was cold. Surely, he must have dragged the cargo like an ox until his muscles melted.

Kang Hyeon pointed at the cargo.

“Let’s hurry and push it in.”

The destination portal was right in front of us.

“Okay!”

The team members shoved the cargo into the portal.

[ Mission Complete ][ Labyrinth Conquest Successful ][ You will be transported to the Waiting Room shortly. ]

“Nice~”

A system window appeared in mid-air. The other team members high-fived each other.

“Ha-woon hyung!”

Just then, Im Hae-jun offered me rock-paper-scissors. I threw out scissors.

“Ah, what are you doing-“

* * *

We were transported to the Waiting Room. Everyone was exhausted, but it was still quite a pleasant time now.

Loot distribution.

“Open it up, open it up~”

“Eheheheh.”

Lee Jong-soo did a shoulder dance, and Im Hae-jun laughed like an idiot. Kang Hyeon cut open the cargo with his sword.

Cargo freed from the Labyrinth’s influence breaks apart very easily.

“Wow! There’s tons of equipment items!”

I appraised the loot using [MoMo]’s system.

【Magic Stone】, 【Chieftain’s Feather】, 【Murakak Wooden Staff】, 【Orc-style Axe】, 【Wolf Bone Armor】, 【Eagle Feather Coat】, 8 【Emergency Trauma Potions】.

Magic Stones are obviously the gold that comes from Labyrinths, and all the equipment is decent too.

In terms of actual market value, it might approach ten million won, but I’m drawn to the accessory 【Chieftain’s Feather】.

It’s the rarest item after all.

I want it.

“If we divide these potion-like liquids into 4 bundles, we get 8. Let’s distribute one to each person fairly.”

Kang Hyeon said. Most faces showed agreement.

“Yes! Then what about the order?”

The problem was the distribution order. Anyone could see that the 8 Emergency Trauma Potions were the worst.

Yoon Hwa-rim quickly raised her hand.

“I’ll, I’ll go last.”

She sighed with the posture of a sinner.

“Actually, I’m even embarrassed to receive a share…”

“Hey. But you still have to take something. Hwa-rim, you only messed up at the very end, everything else was good. You were like a proper A-tier Mage.”

Lee Jong-soo, who had cursed her out thoroughly 30 minutes ago, now looked out for her. Other team members chimed in one by one.

“It’s okay~ These things happen~”

“Ah, of course, of course.”

Yoon Hwa-rim smiled bitterly and bowed her head.

“Then, Seol Ha-woon.”

That’s when Kang Hyeon called me.

“What do you think about Seol Ha-woon choosing first?”

Is this perhaps a bribe?

That thought crossed my mind, but the other team members also seemed to agree.

“Sounds good. Seol Ha-woon hyung-nim should choose first. Thanks to you we cleared it…”

Lee Jong-soo had already changed his way of addressing me to hyung-nim.

I gladly chose the Chieftain’s Feather without declining.

【Chieftain’s Feather】■ Overview: An orc chieftain’s feather. For some reason, it seems like it would make you nimble.■ Grade: Rare■ Restriction: Recognition Level 5 or higher■ When equipped: Agility +0.2, special effect [Feather-like Flexibility] granted.■ Feather-like Flexibility: Fall resistance increased by 20%. Flexibility increased by 20%.

“Oh! Hyung! Are you okay with that one?”

Im Hae-jun asked. While doing so, he twitched his nose tip, seeming to hope I’d quickly take the feather. The other guys also looked quite pleased.

“This one looks best to me.”

“Ah, I see…”

Actually, the Chieftain’s Feather is the only rare-grade item. All the other equipment is common grade.

Next, Kang Hyeon stepped forward.

“Then I’ll choose this.”

He picked up 4 potion bundles.

“That’s okay, right? None of you were going to choose them anyway.”

“Uh, hey. Are you sure?”

Lee Jong-soo blinked his eyes. Kang Hyeon smiled slightly.

“I didn’t do much. Jong-soo pulled the cargo the longest, and the escort team worked really hard too.”

“But still…”

From my perspective, Kang Hyeon’s choice was extremely conscientious, but the other team members looked uncomfortable.

Yoon Hwa-rim also picked up the remaining 4 potions.

“I’ll take four potions too.”

Now the remaining people from the escort team were: archer Im Hae-jun, warrior Jin Yoon-hwa, swordsman Ichigo.

The remaining people from the transport team were: warrior Lee Jong-soo, archer Escher.

Kang Hyeon gestured.

“Distribute the rest however you want. The equipment all seems to have similar value.”

* * *

[ A4-B12 Joint Labyrinth Success ]

Monitoring Room.

Kang Hyeon and Seol Ha-woon’s team had just cleared it. It was quite difficult, probably the most brutal labyrinth among this cargo labyrinth series.

Kim A-rang tried to calm her pounding heart. In fact, she had already lost her composure. At some moments, she almost clapped.

“…I was thinking it might be too difficult.”

Even for her, the Orc Shaman was unexpected.

The labyrinths in the Labyrinth Exploration series scale according to the participants. The production staff can control it to some extent, but ultimately cannot interfere with the fundamental structure.

This is why some irregulars from the Explorer Association criticize the “Labyrinth Exploration” series itself as being one giant labyrinth.

Anyway.

Ryu Yeon-hwa’s team, Lee Jun-ho’s team, Seo Ji-woo’s team, and other main characters also cleared their labyrinths magnificently, but none had as much narrative as Kang Hyeon’s team.

The suddenly appearing Orc Shaman. Seol Ha-woon’s support sniping them from long range. Even the scenario that it’s not over until it’s over.

“Oh. Producer Kim, aren’t you done yet? We’re about to go eat dinner.”

The youngest PD in the monitoring room pointed at the door.

“No. I just finished.”

Kim A-rang smiled and stood up from her seat.

“Let’s go eat something delicious.”

Today’s meal was going to taste quite good.

* * *

[ Labyrinth Exploration NaN first broadcast May 19th… ]

With about 2 weeks left until the first broadcast.

My recognition level is still 5.

“Maybe it’ll go up after the first broadcast.”

I tapped my wrist. NaN’s information window appeared.

[ Seol Ha-woon ]Rank: 96thVotes: 7,301

“…The vote count is going up though.”

It’s the individual profile voting before airing. People vote just by looking at profiles and self-introduction videos.

Yesterday it was five thousand something votes, but in one day it went up by a thousand votes.

Of course, that’s incredibly few. Kang Hyeon probably already has over a hundred thousand votes.

I looked at my watch. It was exactly 6:25.

My body moved naturally.

I left the dormitory according to my set routine and was about to climb the back mountain when.

“Hyung!”

Someone called me. It was Im Hae-jun with a soccer ball tucked under his arm.

“Want to play soccer together?!”

“…”

Who is this guy trying to mess with.

I silently pointed to my leg. Im Hae-jun’s eyes widened.

“Ah, I forgot, no wait, but still, without prejudice, goalkeeper-“

“Go.”

“Yes!”

Im Hae-jun ran toward the sports field. Quite a lot of people had gathered to play soccer. Seo Ji-woo was among them too.

I climbed the back mountain.

I sat in the grassland where Yoo Yul had taught me and started Mana Breathing and Circuit Opening simultaneously. The total amount of magic power built up through Mana Breathing also helped the mana circuits themselves, and now my upper body was almost complete.

Arms, chest, back, waist, abdomen. I had carved proper paths through my upper body.

“Seems to be going well.”

Just then, Mage Yoo Yul came. Actually, I knew before she arrived. She had a distinctive scent.

“Yes. Thanks to you.”

I welcomed Yoo Yul warmly. She looked me up and down.

“You’re at a level where you can refine your circuits.”

“Oh. Are you going to teach me refinement?”

I stood up with delight. Yoo Yul answered as if it was nothing special.

“Refinement itself is simple. You just tear them.”

“…What? Tear them?”

“Think of weight training and it’ll be easier to understand. Weight lifting is training that tears and recovers muscle fibers. Through that repeated process, muscles become bigger and stronger. Mana circuits are the same.”

“Then…”

“Tear your circuits delicately with your magic power. I’m telling you to hurt yourself.”

Yoo Yul sat on a rock.

“What makes refinement different from weight training is that the more you refine, the more extreme the pain becomes.”

She tried to cross her legs again but failed.

“And you absolutely cannot grasp the threshold of pain.”

“…Does it hurt a lot?”

“Magic power is the same as a mage’s soul. Mana circuits are paths artificially carved into the soul. How could it not hurt to tear that up into pieces?”

At Yoo Yul’s words, I became quite resolute.

“Whether genius or mediocre, it’s not pain that’s easy to endure. You might get trapped in nightmares, or suffer from hallucinations and auditory hallucinations. That’s why once people reach a certain level, they all choose the easy path.”

However, my body is accustomed to pain. That much is true.

“Because of such pain, most people need a supervisor for their first refinement. If done wrong, the circuits can be damaged.”

“Yes.”

I clenched my fist.

“I’m ready.”

Yoo Yul answered curtly.

“Come next week then.”

“…What?”

“There’s a mentor class in the program schedule. I’ll teach you then. All together.”

I blinked, but soon smiled and nodded. Without realizing it, I had acted presumptuously.

I had thought I was receiving special treatment from her.

I’m not disappointed. It’s because I made assumptions on my own.

“I understand.”

“…But you know.”

Yoo Yul raised her eyebrows and started speaking.

“Yes.”

“Kang Hyeon, how was he? You were on the same team.”

She asked about Kang Hyeon.

“Is he your first pick?”

“…”

She remained silent. That means yes.

“Haven’t you watched this Cargo Dungeon footage?”

“Not yet. The feedback will probably happen next week.”

“Hmm…”

I thought about Kang Hyeon.

A guy who seems suspicious when there’s nothing suspicious about him. A guy who’s so transparent that he’s actually opaque.

But there doesn’t seem to be any need to say such things to others.

“He’s just as he looks. Very clean and strong.”

The first principle of suspicion is not trusting even myself. Always maintaining that I could be wrong. No, never forgetting the fact that I’m wrong about many things.

“Hmm. I see. Good work.”

Yoo Yul left with a satisfied twist of her lips.

It seemed like her real business wasn’t my Refinement, but Kang Hyeon.

“…That’s disappointing.”

It would be a lie to say I don’t have such feelings.

I lay down on the Grass Field and yawned.

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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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