Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 22

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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 022

Fall(2)

Kang Hyeon awakens in the dawn light. Before morning breaks, in a world of indigo blue. His eyes always open at this moment. As if he had made a promise with someone, as if dying and being reborn again.

His daily routine is obsessive.

As soon as he gets out of bed, he starts his morning exercise. 45 minutes of Mana Breathing and 45 minutes of Mana Training. In between, he mixes hundreds of push-ups and bodyweight exercises using equipment.

Afterwards, for breakfast he precisely measures 60g of oatmeal, 40g of protein powder, 60g of blueberries, 120g of tomatoes, and 120g of bananas, putting them in a blender with water.

Whirrrrr.

After swallowing the entire liquid shake from the blender, he prepares something to chew. He oils a frying pan and places 400g of beef sirloin on it.

Sizzzzzzle.

Hazy eyes watching the cooking pan. When the surface of the beef is lightly cooked and blood begins to seep out, he removes it to a plate.

Blue rare.

He cuts and eats the bloody meat as is.

Next, showering always starts with the head.

He washes his hair with shampoo, washes his face with cleansing foam, and cleans his body with body wash. He applies the same skin toner and lotion to his face that he’s used for 10 years, and likewise applies the same body lotion to his body that he’s used for 10 years.

When his precisely 130-minute morning routine ends, the morning sun pokes its head out.

Kang Hyeon gets dressed and comes outside with his sword.

When going out, always right foot first. The broadsword on the left side of his waist.

There is not an inch of error in any action.

A routine that the human called Kang Hyeon has repeated without missing a single day since childhood.

However, this time is a little different.

Because it’s not his home.

When he leaves his room, he encounters quite a few people. Lee Jun-ho, Seo Ji-woo, Ryu Yeon-hwa, Yoon Hwa-rim, Im Hae-jun, Jo Woon, and so on… They greet Kang Hyeon in some way, and Kang Hyeon also responds with a faint smile, but his expression hardens coldly outside the dormitory.

He has already forgotten what he just said or what greeting he received.

He stopped in front of the exit on the first floor.

If he looks at his watch here, it’s exactly 6:33 AM.

Kang Hyeon counts numbers in his mind.

One.

Two.

Three.

When he turns his head to the side, he sees someone climbing the back mountain.

It’s Seol Ha-woon.

He always climbs up there at 6:33. He doesn’t know what he does on the mountain, but it has somehow become part of Kang Hyeon’s routine.

Kang Hyeon is suddenly curious.

Is he also the same type as himself?

He can’t know yet.

He might never know, forever.

* * *

Two days after conquering the Cargo Dungeon.

The day to receive feedback from the mentors had arrived. The 96 explorer candidates stood on the set stage with tense faces. The mentors, including Yoo Ji-in, sat in the judge’s seats.

“A1-B11 Team, please come forward.”

First, Lee Jun-ho’s alliance team lined up in front of them in uniform.

Warrior mentor Kim Yoon-jun picked up the microphone.

“I also enjoyed watching this team’s conquest. The Lizard Spawning Pool must have been quite tricky since you can’t predict the number of monsters, but you handled it well. The disappointing part is… you all played too separately?”

Mentor Kim Yoon-jun pointed out their organizational skills. His gaze focused on Lee Jun-ho.

“Lee Jun-ho. I understand you want to show your performance. However, it’s also important to match the pace so your teammates can follow.”

Lee Jun-ho nodded while managing his expression. However, the way he pressed down the corners of his mouth didn’t look entirely pleased.

His dissatisfaction was voiced by warrior mentor DK.

“Well, I don’t think it’s Lee Jun-ho’s fault that others can’t keep up with that pace. Working together is good, but if there’s a more reliable method, the ability to tactfully help in that direction is also important, right?”

DK glanced over the other members excluding Lee Jun-ho.

“I was rather displeased with the other team members who just waited for Lee Jun-ho to do everything. Even if Lee Jun-ho is fast and strong, couldn’t you help more proactively? You could have assisted plenty. At the very least, bringing drinks or something… ah, that’s a joke.”

Lee Jun-ho lowered his head as if suppressing laughter. Warrior Kim Yoon-jun put down the microphone. It seemed he wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict between mentors.

“We’ll announce the mentors’ evaluation scores for A1-B12 Team.”

Kim Yoon-jun 93 points, DK 98 points, Yoo Yul 82 points, Kim Ji-an 95 points. Total 368 points.

Lee Jun-ho seemed flustered by Yoo Yul’s low score.

The mentors’ evaluations are quite important. They’re the basis for determining explorer tiers, influence voting numbers, and if the score is too low, there’s a risk of elimination.

“A4-B12 Team. Please come forward.”

The next turn was Kang Hyeon and Im Hae-jun’s team, that is, our team.

We went out together and stood side by side.

“Yes. This team…”

Warrior Kim Yoon-jun looked at me and smiled slightly. The eyes of all the other mentors were also fixed on me.

“There was unexpected activity from a mage. Sniping an Orc Shaman from a long distance. Is that Mental Visualization you learned in the military?”

“Yes. That’s correct.”

Next to him, Kim Ji-an mixed in her commentary with regret.

“You should have been a shooter…”

“But. I do think it must have been quite comfortable.”

On the other hand, warrior DK seemed somewhat dissatisfied.

“While the other team members were busy dragging cargo and slaying orcs, you just gave orders from above, right?”

I nodded. It was true. It was also my fatal weakness as a mage.

Because mages move from long range, mobility is actually more important. Since it’s the most targeted position, you need to be able to change positions frequently.

“Well. That’s better than being a burden down below. Still, you provided decisive help from above. That smoke grenade was quite interesting. Though it was too shallow a trick…”

DK trailed off and turned his gaze. It was toward Yoon Hwa-rim.

Kim Yoon-jun picked up the microphone again.

“Mage Yoon Hwa-rim?”

“Yes, yes.”

Yoon Hwa-rim clenched her fists as if what was coming had come.

“You put the team in danger with drowsy driving.”

The mentors probably received edited versions from the staff. Videos edited and delivered the way the staff thought.

No matter how good their eye, they wouldn’t have caught Kang Hyeon’s deviation.

More coldly, even if they knew, they would have ignored it.

“I’m sorry…”

“This isn’t something that can be solved with an apology.”

“If it wasn’t a team, it could have been a situation where you kill each other.”

Warrior DK chimed in. Yoon Hwa-rim’s face turned ashen.

Then Yoo Ji-in redirected the question.

“What do you think, escort team?”

Im Hae-jun raised his hand first.

“…It was difficult, but I think it was a trial we could overcome!”

Words defending Yoon Hwa-rim. Well, he couldn’t exactly say we almost got screwed because of her here.

Still, Im Hae-jun is a good guy.

This time Yoo Yul grabbed the microphone.

“What about Mage Seol Ha-woon?”

A question directed at me. All the team members turned to look at me. I answered briefly.

“I had no particular thoughts about it.”

“…You’re saying there wasn’t any? You should lie in moderation.”

DK tackled me again.

“You’re the person who completely ruined the operation, right? Military people are sensitive about that kind of thing.”

“No. It’s actually the opposite. If variables occur, we simply respond to the variables.”

I calmly refuted. DK’s brow furrowed.

“Geez. Aren’t you trying too hard to look good?”

“…Didn’t you feel resentful or anything?”

Kim Yoon-jun asked again.

I answered with sound logic.

“Why would I resent a teammate?”

Then I turned to look at Kang Hyeon.

“Also, to say it was only one person’s fault, there were three other people on that cart.”

Suddenly Kang Hyeon met my eyes. They were still transparent pupils. Even under the stage lights, eyes that stood out alone like stars.

Probably, no matter what I said, the color of those eyes wouldn’t change.

Even if I exposed him right now saying it was his doing, he might not bother making excuses and just acknowledge it.

“If just one of the four… no, including me who was watching from above, if just one of the five had kept their wits about them, it could have been corrected immediately. Therefore, it’s everyone’s fault.”

However, I decided not to say anything beyond that.

Because I don’t know who you are.

Because there’s nothing more foolish than making an enemy of someone whose depths you can’t fathom.

“That’s all.”

I cut my words short. Yoon Hwa-rim had buried her face deeply at some point. Sniffling sounds rang out intermittently.

Yoo Ji-in nodded.

“…Next. Mr. Im Hae-jun?”

“Yes, yes! Just now, teammate Seol Ha-woon’s opinion is also my opinion as team leader! I also think the same-“

“No. Not that. I’m going to ask a different question now.”

“Ah, oh… yes.”

The mentors made several comments about other scenes and scored us.

Kim Yoon-jun 95 points, DK 93 points, Yoo Yul 90 points, Kim Ji-an 97 points.

With a total of 375 points, we easily beat Lee Jun-ho.

* * *

As soon as filming ended, I was caught by the staff again. This time I was dragged to a pitch-black interview room.

“You said you had no particular thoughts about Yoon Hwa-rim’s drowsy driving.”

The writer asked about the words I had just spoken.

I answered while glancing at the camera.

“Yes. If the mission succeeded, I think everything else was just a happening.”

Yoon Hwa-rim is a scapegoat.

Of course, with my personal feelings, is she an annoying mage? That’s right. But that doesn’t mean she deserves to be one-sidedly attacked.

“Still, a mission that should have ended easily became twice as difficult. Speak honestly. Seol Ha-woon might get criticized for being overly sweet instead.”

Meaning this was an interview for me. The writer seemed to be trying to draw something out of me.

However, this person doesn’t know the real depth. They don’t know that it happened due to someone’s intention, not a mistake in the first place.

I quietly opened my mouth.

“…Mage Yoon Hwa-rim is an elite. You can tell by looking at the formulas she uses.”

Yoon Hwa-rim is definitely an elite. Among the explorers who didn’t make the debut team, she’ll stand out the most.

“People who don’t know mages might not relate, but I know. I know how precise and good the formulas Yoon Hwa-rim handles are. Certainly, her abilities as a mage are far superior to mine.”

“….”

The writer who had been listening quietly put down her pen.

“Cart driving requires a tremendous amount of magic power. You might mistake it for being easy when watching.”

It’s not coincidental that cargo transport is prominently included in Magic School’s curriculum. Just because someone does it easily doesn’t mean you should conclude it’s easy work.

“If Yoon Hwa-rim was the driver, the people in the passenger seat were the other teammates. But none of them fulfilled the role of assistant. They couldn’t lighten her burden.”

A lie close to the truth.

Without realizing it, I was making up words to cover for Kang Hyeon’s scheming.

My conscience was screwed, and Kang Hyeon owed me a debt.

I would collect this price somehow.

“I’m stating such an extremely obvious fact.”

“…I see.”

The writer nodded. She seemed somewhat satisfied as she twisted her lips.

“Good work. Go rest. You must be tired.”

* * *

5 PM.

After a short break, the participants were summoned to another set stage. It was a place decorated like a classroom.

“Everyone please sit down.”

At PD Kim A-rang’s words, the explorers sat anywhere.

Soon the cue sign dropped along with the slate.

“Nice to see you~”

The main MC was Yoo Ji-in as usual. She had quickly changed outfits again. She was dressed like a teacher. The men sent loud cheers as if seeing her for the first time today.

Yoo Ji-in smiled brightly and turned on the beam projector. Text was carved onto the green chalkboard.

“This week we have [ Mentor Class ].”

[ Warrior Mentor DK, Improvisation Using Mental Imagery ]

[ Fighter Mentor Kim Yoon-jun, Clear Mind. How to Take Hits Without Pain. ]

[ Mage Mentor Yoo Yul, Mana Circuit Refinement ]

[ Archer Mentor Kim Ji-an, Dual Slot Usage ]

“You can pick and choose the special lectures from whichever mentors you want.”

“Isn’t Mentor Yoo Ji-in holding a class?!”

Some man shouted loudly. It was Lee Jong-soo. Right, the fighter from Kang Hyeon’s team.

“Unfortunately, not yet for me.”

“Not yet” means later. Actually, around the middle there’s a task themed around Yoo Ji-in herself.

How narcissistic.

“Everyone, please choose the lecture you want. You don’t necessarily need to choose a mentor that matches your class. Just because you’re a warrior doesn’t mean you don’t need a mage’s knowledge, and just because you’re a mage doesn’t mean you don’t need a fighter’s knowledge.”

She scattered papers in the air. 96 application forms settled at each person’s seat.

“Feel free. Discuss with each other~”

The participants busily got up to try to match classes with people they’d become close to.

“Hyung! Hyung!”

I naturally didn’t need to do that.

Straight to Yoo Yul’s Mana Circuit improvement.

“Hyung hyung!”

The moment I checked her, someone grabbed my sleeve. It was Im Hae-jun.

Someone had been chattering away since earlier. I guess it was him.

Im Hae-jun asked.

“Hyung, what are you going to do?”

“I’m doing Mana Circuit Refinement.”

“Uh… why?”

“Why? I’m a mage.”

“Still, she’s someone you don’t know. Mentor Yoo Yul.”

The name Yoo Yul has extremely low name value. Not just low level. Most people would be seeing her for the first time on this program.

“What are you going to do?”

“Uh… I’m actually thinking about taking this Mana Circuit Refinement too.”

Im Hae-jun pointed at Yoo Yul with his finger.

“Just take what your mentor’s taking.”

“Ah… no. My magic power is also a weakness. This Mana Circuit Refinement looks pretty good, doesn’t it?”

I shook my head vigorously.

“Don’t do it. You’ll regret it.”

“Why?”

“This is supposed to hurt like hell.”

Im Hae-jun flinched and asked back.

“How much, how much does it hurt?”

“Hmm…”

I roughly imagined and answered.

“Think of doing a bungee jump from 300 meters high, but accidentally doing it without the cord.”

“…That’s just dying.”

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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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