Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 249

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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 249

Dangerously(15)

─Seol Ha-woon: Noah’s Ark Project underestimated the variables of human cloning. Especially, they failed to control the variable called mana…

Seol Ha-woon recites about Noah’s Ark Project.

─Seol Ha-woon: The probability of producing a finished product strictly identical to the DNA holder was remarkably low. Therefore, they established criteria to distinguish between ‘replicas’ and ‘the real thing.’

Yoo Yul sat in the broadcasting station’s break room, looking up at the TV screen.

─Seol Ha-woon: Reproduction rate of 98% or higher. Only a very small number of clones meeting that standard were judged as successful works, and specimens that exceeded the threshold and perfectly reproduced 99.999% or more of the original were called masterpieces.

Masterpieces.

Seol Ha-woon mutters quietly as if thinking about something, then soon opens the next file.

Space Z Spaceship

Currently operated by AGI ‘MASK’ with outstanding intellectual capabilities.

Boarding is only possible after passing MASK’s test.

─Seol Ha-woon: Artificial intelligence?

Seol Ha-woon stares at the monitor for a long time, then suddenly shifts his gaze outside the window.

Whoooosh─

Rain mixed with radiation falling in the middle of the sea. His eyes ripple darkly.

Seoul

Im Hae-jun created a device to utilize the subway rails.

─Im Hae-jun: Good thing I learned spell techniques.

It looks like a basket with wheels attached, but it works reasonably well with standard spell techniques carved into it.

Rattle rattle rattle─

Inside the basket, Im Hae-jun keeps watch in all directions. This time it’s a marmot, not a squirrel.

─Im Hae-jun: Let’s go to the airport like this!

Busan

Busan Namhae Highway. Seo Ji-woo is pedaling hard. It’s a bicycle sprint.

Grrrraaaaah─!

Ghouls hiding on the road surface rush toward her, but.

─Seo Ji-woo: Hyah!

Seo Ji-woo’s speed is very fast. She’s filming a racing movie by herself.

─Seo Ji-woo: To Naro Space Center… 300km. Not much left.

After Seo Ji-woo, there’s Yoon Hwa-rim crossing the sea on a cart, Ryu Yeon-hwa who made a hot air balloon, Kim Woo-hyeon and Lee Sin-hye who found a helicopter, and so on…

The explorers all pursue the same goal, advancing in their own ways.

“Hello~”

“…?”

At the sudden voice, Yoo Yul turned her head. Main mentor Yoo Ji-in sat down next to Yoo Yul.

“Yu-yul Mentor~ It’s been a while.”

“Yes.”

Yoo Yul responded halfheartedly.

“This live broadcast is interesting, isn’t it?”

She nodded silently. Yoo Ji-in quietly glanced at her.

Yoo Ji-in is keeping Yoo Yul in check. Rather than keeping her in check, she has some kind of ‘suspicion.’

Incheon Airport

─Lee Jong-soo: So there’s a rocket buried under here that can go to space.

─Kim Dong-ha: How can you be sure? If there are ghouls, we’re screwed.

In the underground terminal of Incheon Airport, there’s the Kim Dong-ha and Lee Jong-soo comedy duo stuck with choice paralysis.

─Lee Jong-soo: …No, if there’s nothing and we can’t ride the rocket, we’re screwed anyway.

─Kim Dong-ha: Then you open it.

─Lee Jong-soo: Let’s play rock-paper-scissors.

─Kim Dong-ha: …Odds and evens? Rock-paper-scissors-shoot?

Busan

In Busan, Kang Hyeon’s slaughter continues. He goes around finding and killing his clones one by one.

─6th Kang Hyeon: …I thought you’d come.

Starting from the ones with lower reproduction rates, reproduction rate 96%.

The 6th clone.

─6th Kang Hyeon: If I were you, I would have come looking for me too.

─Kang Hyeon: If you knew I was coming, you should have washed your neck clean.

Kang Hyeon’s lines are very murderous. From Yoo Yul’s perspective, his condition is quite poor.

─6th Kang Hyeon: I am you.

─Kang Hyeon: No. You are not me. You’re someone else who mistakes yourself for me.

Kang Hyeon glares at Kang Hyeon. From 96% onwards, there are almost no external differences.

─6th Kang Hyeon: …I want to live too.

Kang Hyeon looks at his clone and chuckles.

─Kang Hyeon: If you were really me…

Kang Hyeon drew his broad sword. The 6th Kang Hyeon also drew his sword with a sad face.

─Kang Hyeon: You wouldn’t be able to think such thoughts.

The clone has the original’s memories. Therefore, Kang Hyeon cannot tolerate his replica.

Because Kang Hyeon must be the only real one.

─Kang Hyeon: Hup!

A single leap. Instantly closing the gap and beheading his ‘6th self.’

Kennedy Space Center

The labyrinth gradually intensifying. Now finally, Kate and Seol Ha-woon have arrived at the Space Center.

─Kate: Shall we go in?

─Seol Ha-woon: Yes. Let’s go in.

Beep- Beep-

They tag the card at the entrance.

─???: Confirmed. Please wait a moment.

The door opens, and a staff member in training clothes greets the two.

─Dale: Welcome. I’m Dale, a staff member of the Space Center.

Dale looks at the two and smiles brightly.

─Dale: Mr. Ern, and Ms. Jane. Confirmed. Please follow me.

Seol Ha-woon and Kate follow Dale’s guidance.

─Dale: Now. Please wait in the waiting room. The staff will help you.

When Dale opens the waiting room door, Kate and Seol Ha-woon laugh awkwardly in surprise.

“Hmm~”

Yoo Ji-in next to her also made an interested sound.

─Dale: Good day, I’m Dale. Mr. Ern, I’ll help guide you.

One Dale bows his head to Seol Ha-woon.

─Dale: Nice to meet you. I’m Dale. Ms. Jane, I’ll help guide you.

Another Dale escorts Kate.

There are three identical Dales.

─Kate: Jeremy was quite an honest person after all.

─Seol Ha-woon: …Indeed he was.

Jeremy’s voice seeps in quietly.

There’s fucking many of one monster-like bastard.

“Hmm~ What do you think, Yu-yul Mentor? The fakes are taking over.”

At Yoo Ji-in’s words, Yoo Yul turned her gaze.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“…Worry?”

Yoo Ji-in frowned.

“I don’t care whether you’re fake or real.”

In that moment, her expression hardened. Her face rapidly stiffened.

Yoo Yul continued speaking nonchalantly.

“However, if I may give you one piece of advice, don’t bother trying to determine what’s real or fake. Being obsessed with authenticity is something only fakes do.”

“What…”

The corner of Yoo Ji-in’s mouth trembled.

“You doubt my existence but don’t doubt my watch. Probably because the watch you’re wearing is real.”

Luxury watches worth tens of millions of won. Both of them were wearing items of similar value, practically equivalent to a foreign car each.

Yoo Yul stared expressionlessly at Yoo Ji-in’s wrist.

“It’s strange. Fakes try to find other fakes. Perhaps they’re trying to find some comfort in that.”

“…You’re quite an interesting person, Yu-yul Mentor.”

Yoo Ji-in smiled while clenching her teeth tightly. Her voice shook roughly.

Yoo Yul responded calmly.

“I do get told I’m humorous quite often.”

* * *

Thud- Thud-

Bok Mal-ol walks following Dale’s guidance. The corridor is full of Dales. Cameras closely film the identical faces.

─Dale: Our Space Center will spare no effort in supporting your journey to the moon.

Dale kindly opens the gate.

─Dale: To check for infection status, we’ll briefly separate and examine you both.

Kate goes left, Seol Ha-woon goes right.

Lee Si-ah clutched her pounding heart.

─Seol Ha-woon: See you in a bit.

─Kate: Yes.

The camera follows Kate first.

As Kate walks down the corridor while being wary of Dale, Dale glances at her and asks.

─Dale: Miss Kate. Do you dislike your companion?

─Kate: …Dislike him?

─Dale: Yes. I sensed that kind of atmosphere between you two.

-It’s not dislike, it’s suspicion

-But isn’t she really disliking him? Kate and Je Mal-ol are incompatible

-If even the NPC can feel it, hasn’t Bok Mal-ol already noticed too?

-Honestly, I don’t think Seol Ha-woon and Kate are incompatible; I think they’re actually the most similar. They have mutual hatred for their own kind.

-That’s just your opinion

─Kate: That’s too personal a question.

─Dale: I see. I apologize. First, there will be a brief examination here.

Kate enters the isolation room that Dale points to.

The door closes and a hologram appears.

[Checking for contamination…]

A scanner thoroughly sweeps over her.

[Warning: Contamination confirmed.]

[Contamination levels exceed acceptable range.]

[Miss Jane. We’re sorry.]

─Kate: What-

The moment the message disappears, the floor beneath her gives way.

Thud!

Kate nimbly maintains her balance like a cat and successfully lands.

─Kate: Tch…

It’s dark. Crackle, crackle- sparks fly from broken wires, and there’s a strange rustling sound of something writhing.

Kate concentrates her magic power to illuminate the area.

Uhh aniyeong… it’s us… you… please…

“Ugh!”

It’s Dale. It’s Dale, but a monster with eyes, nose, and mouth in mixed-up positions.

-Ugh shit, that startled me

-What the fuck

-Ah my heart

-Fuck my chest hurts

-Jump scare;;

Failed clones, discarded waste.

Where are… you… going?

Kate slowly backs away, but there’s a presence behind her too.

“This is fucking crazy.”

It’s even more grotesque. The face is like slime, and the body is crumpled like paper.

-Wow that’s fucking disgusting

-Ah shit

-?? What are you guys watching? It looks normal to me

-Ah it’s revolting

-You have to turn off the 19+ filter to see it properly

-Kids just watch it as is lol

“…Should I just turn on the filter.”

It’s nauseating.

Lee Si-ah considered it for a moment, but left it as is.

Mitamnan should be enjoyed 100% as it is.

Are you… tasty…

The failed Dale grins while looking at Kate.

Tasty…

Crack. Shark-like jaws open tremendously wide.

Then, one by one, glowing eyes light up in the darkness.

Tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…tasty…

An enormous number of failures.

-Wow fuck that’s creepy

-Fuck; I would have fainted immediately

-Ah shit I’m turning on the filter too

-This is fucking scary

-Kate really is the protagonist

Screeeech─!

Kate doesn’t waver at all and shoves a long spear into the failure’s mouth.

Seol Ha-woon

Next, it’s Seol Ha-woon.

No, it’s the cloned Seol Ha-woon.

─Seol Ha-woon: Dale. May I ask you a few questions.

─Dale: Of course.

Walking through the gate, the conversation between Dale and Seol Ha-woon continues.

─Seol Ha-woon: Have many people come to this place?

─Dale: Recently there have been relatively few, but previously there were quite a lot. However, there was a bit of a problem. Most of them were contaminated individuals.

─Seol Ha-woon: What kind of contamination?

─Dale: They were people who differed from our standards. Unfortunately, we had no choice but to turn them away.

Standards. What could those standards be.

The camera moves briefly to show the Dales working diligently.

─Seol Ha-woon: Do you know about the Noah’s Ark Project?

At that moment, Dale hesitated.

Lee Si-ah’s heart also stopped for a moment.

-is bok mal-ol’s identity getting revealed

-really curious what’s gonna happen to him

-fuck at this rate a fried chicken ad will come out, damn bastards

─Dale : …Mr. Ern is still a traveler with insufficient information access privileges, but I’d like to make a special exception to inform you.

Dale says while opening the third gate.

─Dale : Noah’s Ark was a human preservation project. Even if Earth were to perish, it was meant to restore humans with completely identical DNA sequences in the future.

Seol Ha-woon chuckles.

─Seol Ha-woon : You people are the proof of that.

-bok mal-ol somehow seems pitiful

-they’re talking about you, mal-ol..

-well even if it’s seol ha-woon, he wouldn’t want to admit he’s a clone

-is black mal-ol coming out now.

─Dale : This is the place. Please go inside for a moment.

Dale points to a rectangular isolation room.

Seol Ha-woon receives the same examination as Kate.

[Checking for contamination….]

The scanner sweeps over his entire body.

[Status Check : Normal.]

[Proceeding with disinfection procedure.]

[Mr. Ern. Welcome to the interior of the Space Center.]

-what, his opens

-ah so only clones can enter

-oh

-the noah’s ark project was originally about sending only clones to the moon anyway

Whirrrrrr-

The gate on the opposite side opens smoothly.

First, it’s Seol Ha-woon’s POV.

The transparent glass and dazzling white tiles that Seol Ha-woon directly sees. Dales with identical faces moving back and forth in the corridor.

However.

Spark!

Electric current flashes from his eyes, and the scenery changes. Everything around is broken gray ruins.

Seol Ha-woon squeezed his eyes shut and opened them.

─Dale : Please follow me.

─Seol Ha-woon : …When will my companion join us?

Bok Mal-ol asks about Kate. Dale droops his eyebrows pretending to be sad.

─Dale : …Unfortunately, that person cannot come here.

Seol Ha-woon’s brow furrows.

─Seol Ha-woon : The reason?

─Dale : You should be aware of the reason yourself, Mr. Ern. And this situation will ultimately benefit you.

‘This will ultimately benefit you.’

At Dale’s words, Seol Ha-woon falls into thought for a moment.

─Dale : Please follow me.

Then he looks at the hand Dale extends.

He stares intently.

-bok mal-ol’s corruption confirmed..

-wow fuck my heart is pounding right now

-what happens to kate then

-does kate die in the end?

-ah what happens to ha-woon

-i’m more excited about this ha-woon than the real ha-woon

-my hands are shaking

Kate

Kate, trapped on the underground floor, doesn’t give up and keeps moving. She conceals herself from the eyes of the failed products and advances toward the exit.

Swish. Swish.

Intent Concealment that she’s become familiar with. Seol Ha-woon’s movements can be seen in her.

Swish. Swish.

Finally, Kate reaches the corner where the escape elevator is visible.

The area is quiet. No Dales are visible either.

But!

─One-Eyed Dale : You’ve come.

Dale emerges from the shadows. A Dale with only one eye.

─Kate : You’re in good shape. Why didn’t you just put on an eyepatch and go upstairs?

─One-Eyed Dale : I could have done that, but I willingly chose to supervise and manage this underground floor.

One-Eyed Dale gestures upward.

High ceiling. Hundreds of pairs of eyes glitter like a swarm of bats.

“Ugh, creepy.”

Lee Si-ah rubbed the back of her neck.

─Kate : …Oh no.

─One-Eyed Dale : You have been marked for disposal, and we have been given the mission to eliminate you.

Snap──.

The moment Dale snaps his fingers, the Dales on the ceiling come pouring down!

Seol Ha-woon

At that crucial moment, it switches to Seol Ha-woon’s perspective. But the speed of KakaoTalk is still slow.

Everyone is concentrating on the live broadcast.

From now on, not even a second can be wasted.

─Dale : We don’t go to the moon.

Seol Ha-woon stands with Dale in front of the monitors in the control room.

─Dale : We merely remain here to send you all up. That is our calling.

When the screen zooms in, there are various facilities prepared on the moon. Seol Ha-woon’s expression looking at them is complex.

-you can live if you go there

-hang in there bok mal-ol

-it’s complicated

-sigh~~~

-haah.. what happens if both mal-ols live

─Dale : Your life is on the moon. How about it?

Dale’s fatal words.

Seol Ha-woon in military uniform quietly lowers his gaze.

─Dale : …You’re contemplating.

The camera focuses on Seol Ha-woon.

He is definitely a clone.

Probably by now, if he’s an existence that ‘perfectly’ cloned Seol Ha-woon.

He would have realized who he is.

“…Ah, why is this so sad.”

That’s why Lee Si-ah finds that Seol Ha-woon sad.

─Dale : Your thoughts….

The moment Dale starts to say something.

Spark

Sparks fly up again, and the clone Seol Ha-woon’s memories flash by in editing.

The memories of four days from when he first emerged from the capsule, marveling at his intact legs, driving with Kate, eating combat rations, destroying enemies and running to this place.

-No..

-Phew.

-Ha

-They’re sighing so damn much, idiots lol

-Ha…

-Wow but this is really ambiguous..

-Still, the production crew is laying down the narrative.. making Bok Mal-ol’s actions understandable

“…Right.”

Anyone in Bok Mal-ol’s position would act like Bok Mal-ol.

Even someone as cold as Seol Ha-woon could end up being just an ordinary person.

With that kind of narrative, it would damage his image but everyone would understand.

─Dale : Mr. Ern.

A gentle voice calls out to Seol Ha-woon.

─Dale : The boarding gate is over there.

Dale’s finger points to the elevator.

Seol Ha-woon looks at Dale who accompanies him, at the countless clones standing in this space.

─Seol Ha-woon : ….

He seems lost in deep thought. As if contemplating.

He lowers his head, and his long hair covers his expression.

It’s silent.

Cold.

The air flowing there seems to reach all the way here.

“…Sigh.”

Moisture wells up in Isia’s eyes without her realizing it. A ton of ㅠㅠㅠ appears in the chat too. Though there are plenty of jerks typing ㅋㅋ as well.

Before long, he murmurs quietly.

─Seol Ha-woon : Seol Ha-woon.

Dale looks at him.

─Seol Ha-woon : My name is Seol Ha-woon.

Lifting his head up, Bok Mal-ol states his name.

He is fake, but he also claims to be Seol Ha-woon.

It’s natural.

The only name given to him is those three syllables: Seol Ha-woon.

─Seol Ha-woon : My principles-

Right then, the situation changed rapidly.

Seol Ha-woon suddenly drew his pistol from its holster and aimed it at Dale’s forehead.

“Huh?”

─Seol Ha-woon : Must apply equally to me as well.

All the Dales in the control room turn to look at Seol Ha-woon in unison.

Probably viewers around the world have similar reactions to Dale.

─Seol Ha-woon : So I’ll ask.

“Huh?!”

Lee Si-ah’s eyes widened greatly. Her heart and lungs briefly stopped functioning.

─Seol Ha-woon : Where is Kate?

What is Bok Mal-ol trying to do? Is he trying to escape this hell together with Kate?

Or….

-Whoa

-Ah..

-Wow;

-Wow what’s this?

-ㅠㅠ

-Wow

-Damn it Ha-woon..

-You’re Ha-woon too

-Still, Kate is more trustworthy than Dale?

-Damn that’s cool;

-Even if he’s Bok Mal-ol, he’ll save his comrade first?

-In the end he’s going to board the spaceship with Kate.

-Cool;

-Doesn’t he still not know he’s a clone?

-Wow Bok Mal-ol

-Is Bok Mal-ol also Je Mal-ol?

─Seol Ha-woon : Answer me.

He spoke of his ‘principles’ and placed his finger on the trigger.

─Dale : Ah- Mr. Seol Ha-woon.

Dale looked at Seol Ha-woon with a twisted smile.

─Dale : You are… a masterpiece.

Bang!

A gunshot rings out mournfully.

And….

It might be right.

As Seol Ha-woon’s narration overlays heavily.

No, it must be right.

Lighting falls upon his face as he stands alone.

He is.

Always the right chicken.

Holding drumsticks in both hands.

“Ah….”

Lee Si-ah staggered briefly from dizziness. She bit her lips tightly. She clenched her fists trembling.

“There should be limits.”

No matter if it’s an advertisement, no matter if they need to make money, this level is just unpleasant!

“I said there should be limits─!!!”

She almost threw a straight punch at the monitor.

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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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