Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 273

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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 273

Call Me Call Me(2)

“A game? What kind of game?”

Kim A-rang approached Tae-woo and asked. She didn’t know mages liked games.

“It hasn’t been released yet.”

“What, are you a tester?”

Her curiosity was piqued. Actually, we also have a matter we’re currently negotiating.

“Mitam also has game plans. Using the Labyrinth Exploration IP.”

“That makes sense.”

“Well… but why did you come here?”

Tae-woo said nothing. Kim A-rang leaned against the railing in front and looked at him.

Indeed, he had the bearing of a mage. Dressed entirely in black formal coat from top to bottom. Not a single wrinkle or dishevelment, someone who always stands upright regardless of external circumstances.

“…I’m envious.”

Tae-woo asked with his eyes. What was she envious of.

“Of mages. I had no talent for it.”

Her childhood dream was to be a mage, but she lacked the talent.

Effort without talent is painful. Beyond painful, it’s meaningless. Like trying to light wet wood with matches – nothing happens.

“Magic power is nothing but a curse cast upon this world. There’s no need to be envious.”

“…Still, some people want it but can’t have it.”

“That’s because you only see one side. Great talent requires equally great responsibility.”

Tae-woo turned to look at her. His eyes were opaque.

Pupils deep and dark like obsidian. Eyes that were hard to meet for long, honestly seeming to fall outside the category of human.

“I erase people who cannot bear such responsibility.”

“…Oh. Like a mage killer or something?”

Tae-woo rolled up his suit sleeve to check his wristwatch. Kim A-rang glanced at it.

“Looks really expensive.”

“It’s a magic artifact my family made for me. No matter what timeline I’m in, it always shows the current moment.”

“Timeline…? Wait, does your family make magic artifacts too?”

If asked to pick just one of South Korea’s most prestigious families, the answer is clear.

The Tae family.

Even the heads of major corporations, chaebols, and even the masters of orthodox martial arts sects fall short compared to them.

“It wasn’t made by the family.”

“Huh? Then who made it?”

Tae-woo fell into thought for a moment. He fiddled with the watch strap and said.

“There’s someone who’s good at making things like this.”

Kim A-rang was quick to pick up on things.

Tae-woo’s vague expression. An item made by family, not the clan.

And quite a familiar tone.

Probably his younger sibling.

“Rumors say you don’t get along with your family… I guess that’s not fact?”

“It’s fact. I don’t like the family. I wanted to take my mother’s surname, but when I thought about it, my name would become ridiculous.”

“Uh… you’re really honest.”

Ding. A call rang on her smartphone.

“Break time’s over. I’ll be going. To do monitoring.”

She was about to leave, but stopped in front of the rooftop door. She looked back at Tae-woo still standing there.

“That… Mage Tae-woo, you’re really kind. Different from your appearance.”

Tae-woo turned to look at her.

“There probably isn’t anyone who listens to ordinary people as well as you do.”

“It’s probably because you’re an ordinary person.”

“Ooh… like being strong against the strong and weak against the weak?”

“There’s no weakness or strength.”

This mage would definitely be stricter with other mages of his kind.

Tae-woo looked at his wristwatch again.

It seemed like a gesture of someone about to leave.

“Take care.”

Tae-woo kept his gaze on Kim A-rang. He seemed like he was about to say something, but

Whooooosh──!

Wind blew, and dust brushed past Kim A-rang’s eyes.

When she briefly closed and opened them, he had disappeared.

“…A real mage indeed.”

Kim A-rang searched for his name on the user wiki as she went down the rooftop stairs.

Real Name│Tae-woo

Nationality│South Korea

Birth│1993

Parents│Tae-hoon, Woo Yeon-hee

Sibling│Tae-yul…

“So his mother’s surname is Woo.”

Then his name really would become strange.

In a living room filled with various Seol Ha-woon merchandise – Seol Ha-woon cushions, Seol Ha-woon blankets, Seol Ha-woon walking stick, and more – Lee Si-ah is watching the live broadcast.

The sight of explorers living new lives somehow feels cozy. It lacks dopamine, but sometimes labyrinths like this are necessary.

─Kate: …

Kate walks down the street and looks at the display window of a clothing store. It’s a cape and hat set like Sherlock Holmes.

─Kate: It’s wasteful.

She seems very conflicted, but the purpose of the life game is to save money.

She eventually gives up and leaves.

─Police Officer Emol: Detective Kate. You’ve arrived.

In the very next scene, Kate appears fully dressed in that Sherlock outfit.

-Hahahaha no way hahaha

-Ended up buying it lololol

-hahaha shit hahaha

─Kate: What’s the matter.

She even has a pipe in her mouth. She can’t even smoke but forces herself to light it.

-Hahahahahahaha

-Hahahahaha

-No but why are you being so serious lol

-Didn’t he go crazy because of Bok Mal-ol?

-Hahaha so cute

-hahahahahahahaha

-Hahahahahahahaha

-He’s really good at image making.. Wow

─Police Officer Emol : This way.

─Kate : Cough, yes. Cough.

─Police Officer Emol : It’s a murder case, but as you can see….

A corpse with hands and feet bound in strange knots.

Kate stares intently at the scene. The camera zooms in closely on the traces, showing them to the viewers as well.

─Kate : I think I know.

─Police Officer Emol : What? This quickly?

─Kate : Yes. This corpse was frozen.

─Police Officer Emol : Frozen?

─Kate : I can see it with my eyes. The traces of frozen storage.

A space where frozen storage of corpses would be possible.

─Kate : Let’s search for slaughterhouses with cold storage in this area.

─Police Officer Emol : Yes!

“Ooh….”

Maybe it’s because of the job bonus, but she’s totally like a master detective.

─Lee Jong-soo : I distributed all the flyers.

Next is Hyeon’S Kitchen. There aren’t many customers yet, but the open kitchen is the highlight. Customers come in as if mesmerized watching Kang Hyeon cook.

─Yoon Hwa-rim : Good. Then we just wait. We’ll definitely succeed.

Yoon Hwa-rim nods confidently.

─Yoon Hwa-rim : Let’s be first place this time!

─Lee Jong-soo : Okay. But what should I do?

─Yoon Hwa-rim : Now serve the customers.

Subtitles announcing their beginning appear.

Hyeon’S Kitchen.

Full-scale business start Day 1.

Revenue: 183,102 Caring

─Beggar 3 : Pickpocket arrested!

Meanwhile, Lee Jun-ho’s rapidly developing underworld organization. They drive out pickpockets, robbers, and thieves, taking their place.

─Beggar 4 : Boss! We caught the pickpockets!

─Lee Jun-ho : Good. Well done.

Lee Jun-ho smiles while looking at the children. The reason it feels somehow sad is probably because of his family circumstances.

─Lee Jun-ho : But everyone listen well. Don’t be overly righteous. Never die or get hurt. That’s an order.

─Beggars : Yes!!!

Never die or get hurt. It’s a very Jun-ho-like command.

-ㅠㅠㅠ I feel sad for some reason

-I heard Jun-ho goes to see his sister almost every week

-Yeah, you can meet often if you go to the columbarium

Rustle. Rustle.

“It’s Seol Ha-woon.”

Finally, Seol Ha-woon. He’s correcting Professor Arkal’s thesis, and this scene is also fascinating.

Seol Ha-woon never moves his hands. The pens write on their own in mid-air.

-He really looks like a mage

-Damn, is that really how you’re supposed to handle mana?

-What kind of formula is that? Telekinesis?

-Mal-ol might really become a mage someday.

After completing the thesis, he returns to Professor Arkal’s office.

─Seol Ha-woon : I’ll leave this here.

He puts down an envelope and moves to go tutoring.

Seol Ha-woon’s private tutoring, in a study room. There are three students.

─Erica : You’re here.

─Student 1 : Teacher! I tried changing the magic power flow like this for this part, how is it!

The tutoring begins immediately.

─Seol Ha-woon : Mana backflow is likely to occur. Secure stability first.

-Seol Ha-woon as a teacher;

-I want to learn too

-Je Mal-ol probably can’t teach anyone.

─Seol Ha-woon : This is homework. I made it so you can grasp efficiency just by solving it.

He also gives them homework.

-Show us too

-What’s the homework

-I want to solve it too

Knock knock-

The study room door opens with a knock.

It’s Assistant Professor Silo.

─Silo: Coffee~ By any chance, could I also receive that homework assignment?

Seol Ha-woon takes the coffee and glances at Silo.

─Seol Ha-woon: By the way. I heard our Magic School is storing some kind of magic.

─Silo: Ah… Yes? Yes. Magic is a matter where even the Board of Directors has divided opinions. Whether we should manifest the magic, or just leave it as is…

─Erica: Activating magic requires great sacrifice.

─Seol Ha-woon: Sacrifice?

─Erica: It’s enormous magic. Though its very existence is questionable.

Seol Ha-woon suddenly turns to look at Silo.

─Seol Ha-woon: What do you think?

It’s a meaningful gaze, and a thrilling sound rings out sharply.

─Silo: I… Well. What would a mere assistant professor know~

-Seol Ha-woon is solving the story by himself

-Hahahaha while all the other kids are just focused on making money

-This is the charm of Jemal-ol.

-For real, such a serious tryhard lololol

-At this rate, later on Jemal-ol will be fighting all by himself

Snooore.

The scene changes to an inn room where snoring echoes.

Seo Ji-woo is on the bed, Im Hae-jun is lying on the floor.

Hissss!

Im Hae-jun’s eyes snap open at the strange sound.

Hissss!

Im Hae-jun quickly sits up and shakes Seo Ji-woo.

─Im Hae-jun: S-sis. Sis, wake up.

─Seo Ji-woo: …Ah, what… so noisy…

Hissss!

─Im Hae-jun: S-sis! I think there’s some weird creature here!

─Seo Ji-woo: You wanna die for real? Let me sleep.

─Im Hae-jun: No, that’s not it, I really heard a super ominous sound just now!

─Seo Ji-woo: Sleep quietly before I set fire to your curly head.

-Hahahaha

-hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

-hahahahahahahahahahaha

-Both of them are fucking hilarious characters lol

-Hahahahahahaha

-These two are like real siblings lololololol

“Ah, why are these two so funny.”

Lee Si-ah also laughed out loud.

─Im Hae-jun: Ah geez. I’m telling you there’s a sound.

Im Hae-jun jumps up and turns on the lamp, brightening the room.

Hissssss!

A long writhing form – it’s a snake!

─Im Hae-jun: …Gulp.

─Seo Ji-woo: Ah shit, turn off the light… Huh? It’s a snake.

Seo Ji-woo is calm, but it’s not an ordinary snake.

It has two heads!

─Im Hae-jun: Kyaaaaaaaaaah!

─Seo Ji-woo: Ugh.

─Im Hae-jun: Kyaaaaaaaaaah!

─Seo Ji-woo: Shut up, you bastard.

Seo Ji-woo flicks her finger to draw magic threads, and the snare wraps around both heads of the twin-headed snake.

─Seo Ji-woo: …Wow. It’s a twin-headed snake. A white snake at that.

─Im Hae-jun: T-throw it away! No, just kill it, please!

─Seo Ji-woo: Why would I throw this away. Do you know how precious this is…

That morning.

─Appraiser: Where did you catch this precious thing again?

The admiring appraiser and Seo Ji-woo grinning smugly.

─Seo Ji-woo: In the forest. How is it?

─Appraiser: If you’re asking how it is… you could easily get 500,000 to 600,000 caring for this.

─Im Hae-jun: …What?

Im Hae-jun asks back in a daze, and Seo Ji-woo clenches her fist in satisfaction.

-Crazy, does that make sense

-Just… in life, the lucky bastards win

-This labyrinth is just specialized

-Seo Ji-woo has no choice

-Seo Ji-woo will win anyway

♩♬~♬♪♬♪~

The next space is a high society gathering with elegant melodies flowing. The character isn’t an explorer.

It’s Professor Arkal. He’s in a position that draws attention from the entire social circle, but.

─Nobleman 1 : I heard Professor Arkal hasn’t been making much progress lately.

─Nobleman 2 : But he’s so talented. I’m sure he’ll find a breakthrough.

─Nobleman 3 : That’s right~ Where else can you find someone as brilliant as Professor Arkal.

─Nobleman 4 : Hasn’t it been about 3 years since he produced any results? I’m already excited to see what amazing theory will emerge…

He’s being subjected to noble-style passive aggression. Even to Si-ah’s ears, their tone is infuriating.

─Arkal : Inspiration always comes eventually.

─Nobleman 5 : Professor Arkal is always so confident. Your reasoning is so solid too… I’m envious.

─Nobleman 6 : You’re exactly the same as before. Your unchanging nature is admirable.

-Disguising insults as compliments is their tradition

-Why do I feel sorry for him lol

-Lolololol this would drive me crazy

-Look how sickly sweet the nobles’ voices are damn

Still, Arkal endures and forces a smile, but the moment he gets in the car after the party ends.

─Arkal : Those damn bastards!

His face turns red, and his wrinkles contort like a demon’s.

─Arkal : Those damn parasites…

He pounds the car window in blood-boiling rage and roughly runs his hands through his hair.

─Arkal : Go to my office!

─Driver : Yes, understood.

-He’s screwed.

-Seol Ha-woon’s gonna get it

-Lololol

-Damn

-Meeting someone like that in real life would be so exhausting..

-People with no ability but huge egos who throw tantrums are so annoying

─Arkal : What’s this now.

Arriving at his office, Arkal discovers a paper envelope on his desk.

─Arkal : What idiot left this trash here.

He seems to have already forgotten the request he made to Seol Ha-woon.

His face twisted in arrogance, he takes the paper from the envelope and begins reading its contents.

─Arkal : ….

Arkal’s hair stands on end.

Static electricity rises from his slicked-back hair.

Gentle sound flows as his expression is shown in close-up.

─Arkal : Ha.

Arkal’s eyes soften. A smile forms at the corners of his mouth. It’s an incredibly bright smile.

-What’s this??

-Why’s he suddenly like that

-Lololol Seol Ha-woon must have written something amazing?

-Lololol looks shocked

-Show me too

-Lololol

-Why is he so honest

─Arkal : What a lovely security guard we have here.

It was quite the memorable line.

“Oh what’s this.”

Si-ah also covered her mouth and laughed.

Magic Studies Lab.

Professor Lee Yun-se had somehow become absorbed in the broadcast. His eyes were fixed on the screen.

─Seol Ha-woon : What’s this.

Seol Ha-woon stops in front of the duty room. It’s under construction.

─Arkal : You’re here. This duty room doesn’t suit you at all.

Arkal appears and pats Seol Ha-woon’s shoulder as he speaks.

─Arkal : You were born with quite good qualities. You need a space that matches them. If anyone at this school bothers you, don’t hesitate to tell me.

“Wow. That professor is completely smitten with Seol Ha-woon.”

“Right. I’m curious about the paper’s contents.”

The graduate students chattered about various things, but Yun-se was absorbed in Professor Arkal.

─Seol Ha-woon : …Yes. Thank you.

─Arkal : Good. Rest comfortably. Bill whatever you want for research expenses. Hahaha…

Arkal leaves Seol Ha-woon with a blank check.

Special product from Magic Hat! Everyone please pay attention!

A commercial advertisement is broadcast.

A dark room with fog settling down.

Life is a labyrinth. But even in a labyrinth, a path exists.

Seol Ha-woon appears filling the screen. He picks up a book and places it on the desk.

‘Life Game: Seol Ha-woon’s Spell Book’ Volume 1 is being released. Only at Magic Hat.

“…Holy!”

“Crazy.”

“Hey, hey hey, try accessing Magic Hat.”

The lab became noisy. They hurriedly grabbed their smartphones.

Professor Lee Yun-se also quietly took out his smartphone.

“Ah what! The server crashed!”

“Huh? Why did Magic Hat crash?”

Magic Hat is the world’s largest spell platform. It’s a large corporation that almost all mages have used at least once, so the server should be incredibly solid.

There are many users accessing. Please wait a moment. : Waiting users 391,201

“It’s real. What’s with 400,000 people waiting?”

“…Is this some kind of opening rush?”

“What do you think?”

Broadcasting station break room. Yoon Sa-hyuk asked mentor Yoo Yul.

“It’s well made.”

Yoo Yul put down Seol Ha-woon’s Spell Book Volume 1. For reference, she was in charge of the review.

“With this, the average skill of mages worldwide will probably improve a bit.”

Seol Ha-woon is surprisingly not secretive about knowledge. While other mages keep things tightly wrapped their entire lives, barely passing on knowledge to children or disciples just before death, he reveals everything.

He generously shares theories and intuitions that he studies desperately every single day.

“But he’s donating all the profits anyway.”

He’s donating the entire net profit excluding platform fees and production costs.

“Yes. It was Mage Seol Ha-woon’s wish.”

“That guy’s going to end up donating tens of billions.”

It might set a record for individual mage donations.

“Considering Mage Seol Ha-woon’s personality, he probably won’t feel regretful about it.”

Yoo Yul chuckled.

“Well, let me ask you now. What do you plan to do when Mitamnan ends? Do you think this program can continue?”

“Yes. I will make efforts, infinite efforts at least.”

Yoon Sa-hyuk was quite resolute.

“What do you think, Mentor?”

In contrast, Yoo Yul rested her chin on her hand indifferently.

“I don’t think about anything. I’m just curious. Just watching. Hoping it will be interesting.”

Yoon Sa-hyuk quietly nodded.

She is distant from humans.

Not all mages are the same kind of mage. The lower-level mages are more human-like, while noble mages like Tae-woo and Tae-yul lose their human aspects.

They are beings already distant from the human world.

They are beings closer to magic power than to earth.

“What do you think about Mage Seol Ha-woon? Still, Mage Seol Ha-woon considers you his teacher.”

Yoo Yul lightly touched the cover of Seol Ha-woon’s spell book.

“Having a battlefield as mental visualization means he’s a very dangerous guy.”

Seol Ha-woon has a battlefield. When mental visualization reaches its peak, it’s the potential to destroy everything.

“I know. I think Mage Seol Ha-woon might be the first.”

“No. He wasn’t the first. There was one more guy before.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. Though I don’t remember well.

Yoo Yul ‘doesn’t know’ many things. For her own amusement, she erases or buries most of her memories.

However, there are some who occasionally come to mind. Humans who gave her quite a lot of fun and impression do so.

“That name was probably… Seo Ji-hyuk.”

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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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