Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 292

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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 292

Talking to the Moon(4)

When I came to my senses, I was in a hospital, in a VVIP room.

“….”

I stared blankly up at the ceiling.

Something felt dizzy and I couldn’t focus properly. It was probably a side effect from overusing magic power.

It’s fortunate that it’s vacation period.

No wait. Come to think of it, I got hurt because it was vacation, didn’t I?

“…How’s your body feeling?”

I flinched and turned to look in that direction.

Yoo Yul was there. She was turning the pages of some novel while raising her eyebrows.

“Magic power overuse. A mage, no, a human shouldn’t use more than 90% of the magic power they possess.”

“I know that. But-“

“Though an ordinary mage wouldn’t even be able to use more than 90% anyway.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s a compliment. Squeezing out magic power down to your toes is for ordinary people….”

She tilted her head briefly as if thinking of an analogy.

“Right. It’s similar to pulling out all your toenails while completely sober. It’s hard to endure without considerable mental strength.”

“…Thank you.”

Enduring pain is one of my specialties.

Pain also has a threshold, and people who have experienced a lot of pain have a higher standard.

“I’m curious what the final labyrinth will be like.”

Yoo Yul said nothing. She was probably refraining from spoilers.

“You posed an interesting problem.”

She skillfully changed the subject.

“Did you solve up to problem 10?”

Yoo Yul nodded. Well, of course she would have solved them.

“Then please teach me later.”

“…?”

Yoo Yul looked at me with a slight frown.

“Ah, well, I’m the one who made those problems-“

Knock knock. Kim A-rang knocked and entered.

“Good work.”

Yoo Yul switched places with her as if she had been waiting for Kim A-rang. Kim A-rang sighed and said.

“Phew. You worked hard.”

“Yes. Now it’s really vacation.”

Kim A-rang smiled bitterly then suddenly snapped her fingers.

“Right. There’s chaos outside, you know?”

“Chaos?”

“Yeah. Check the mage community. Explorer Net or something?”

Explorer Net is a global explorer community. Think of it as an explorer-only blind forum. Going deeper, there’s a mage-only community called ‘Raw Magica’. Both operate using magic power as a medium.

I accessed the mage-only community among them.

【6th Level】COOLGAMER│Wow, problem 7 is pretty hard lolol│

【6th Level】CrownTap│Everyone below my level gather here│

【Stage 3】Mage_Wannabe│Can someone please give me a hint for problem 4 ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ│

【7th Level】Silent│From problem 8 it gets real shit

【6th Level】DreamDream│Even Seol Ha-woon couldn’t solve from problem 7 shit He made unsolvable problems

【8th Level】Archmage│ Hmm, problem 9 is quite difficult.

─Whoa damn, level 8, that’s fucking awesome

─How did you solve problem 8?

─The real deal appeared

─No shit I can’t even solve 7 but how did you solve 8..

─Hyung please give me a hint too

Mages working hard to solve problems that even I can’t solve. They’re receiving quite a bit of stress from the problem set I made without much thought.

“Magic Hat wants to hold an event.”

“An event?”

“Yeah. Anyway, Ha-woon, you decided to donate all the money from the problem set sales….”

The contract was for me to donate my entire share and Magic Hat to take the commission, but Magic Hat proposed to use part of that commission as prize money.

“That’s good. Then I’ll put up something too.”

There’s one artifact I was going to use but left aside.

“Okay. I’ll proceed right away. Oh right, Ha-woon. The guests wrote letters before they left.”

Kim A-rang handed me an envelope. Inside were letters written by Jin Yu-ha and Lee Je-hoon, along with cards and a photo frame. They were taken on the sea.

“They’re all busy people so they couldn’t visit, but they asked me to pass this along.”

I smiled slightly.

“Yes. I’m looking forward to the broadcast.”

“Right. Oh, want to monitor the other kids? Maybe even make a guest appearance.”

“A guest appearance? That’s against the rules.”

“You can’t, but the truck you used before might be able to. It’s quite a large-scale joint variety show.”

“There are joint variety shows too?”

“Escape rooms. There were exactly two people who asked the production team to make escape rooms.”

I think I know who they are. They sometimes asked if I knew about escape rooms.

“With the truck… it won’t get damaged or anything, right?”

The truck is my first familiar. Aro uses it quite often too. I saw her reading some comic book while controlling the truck.

Anyway, it means it’s become quite a necessary item for me.

“Of course. I’ll handle it carefully. It’s not something that breaks easily anyway, right? You said it has a spaceship frame.”

“Yes. That’s right. It can carry up to 500kg.”

“Oh I know. I’ve heard a lot-“

“It has more durability than most cargo trucks, the battery is replaced with magic stones so it can operate for a month without charging, and it even gets stronger as days go by….”

Lee Jun-ho and Kang Hyeon collected hints in the forest then returned to the cabin.

“…First, this is the map.”

Lee Jun-ho spread out old parchment. It was a map with the entire forest drawn on it. In one corner, a tunnel leading to the next stage was marked.

“I think we can go through this tunnel?”

Kang Hyeon nodded at Lee Jun-ho’s words.

“I think so. Before the killer comes-“

“Killer?”

Lee Jun-ho suddenly frowned.

“Don’t tell me you think ‘those things’ are killers?”

At the meaningful words, Kang Hyeon swallowed. The atmosphere turned cold.

“Then. If they’re not killers, what are they?”

Lee Jun-ho glanced out the cabin window then placed his hand on Kang Hyeon’s shoulder.

“…They’re zombies, zombies.”

Instantly, goosebumps rose on Kang Hyeon’s arms.

The two silently exchanged glances and nodded almost simultaneously.

“This will be fun!”

“Exactly!”

His eyes lit up as he gathered the flashlight and supplies.

“Let’s go quickly.”

“Let’s hurry.”

The two escape room enthusiasts left the cabin. They stepped into the pitch-black darkness.

A mountain road shrouded in ominous silence, where only the thin beam of the flashlight illuminated the path ahead.

Rustle rustle-

Even the sound of rustling leaves made their hearts sink.

“There, over there.”

Lee Jun-ho whispered, pointing at the tunnel. A deep, dark entrance with barricades halfway across it.

It seemed completely unmaintained, with humid air and musty mold smell stinging their noses.

“…Let’s go first.”

“Yeah.”

The two entered the tunnel with tense expressions.

“Wait, isn’t this actually a labyrinth? The scale is too big for an escape room.”

“Right. Jun-ho. Do you have anything to eat?”

“Ah. Are you hungry too?”

“Yeah.”

They clutched their stomachs as they walked.

“I’m starving.”

“Let’s find something quickly. Jun-ho, you have a good nose.”

“…It’s not that good.”

Grrrrrr──

A strange, hoarse cry echoed from deep within the tunnel. The two walking men momentarily froze.

Lee Jun-ho shone his flashlight in the direction of the sound.

Something filled the space ahead. Rotting flesh, empty eye sockets, grotesquely twisted limbs. It wasn’t just one or two. Dozens, no, hundreds of them were gathered there.

“What the… what is that?”

“…Those aren’t extras, are they?”

The zombies’ gazes shifted and fell upon the two men.

Kraaaaaaaa──!

Suddenly, screams erupted. The zombies charged at them like starving beasts in a frenzy. It was a full sprint.

“Aaaaah!”

The two men quickly broke into a run.

Thump thump thump thump thump!

Hundreds of footsteps chasing from behind shook the ground.

In an instant, the flashlight beam illuminated an old iron door. It seemed to be a maintenance room attached to the side of the tunnel.

“Hyeon! Here!”

“Oh! I see it!”

Lee Jun-ho opened the door, and both men threw themselves inside almost simultaneously.

Bang!

Kang Hyeon shut the door.

Screeeech─! Screeeeeech──!

The chilling sound of claws scraping against the iron plate echoed from outside the door.

“…”

“…”

Kang Hyeon and Lee Jun-ho looked at each other. Lee Jun-ho nodded first.

“…This place is insane.”

“I know!”

Rather than fear, they felt an exhilarating thrill that reached the top of their heads.

Dopamine shower!

“Hyeon, over here. There’s a lot of stuff. Let’s search.”

“Okay.”

They first investigated the interior.

“Jun-ho! Food!”

“Where! Where!”

Since it was a space where workers stayed, there was a sofa and table, and on top were bottled water, a coffee pot, cup ramen, a microwave, hot bars, and more scattered around.

“Jun-ho. I’ll prepare it. How many ramens should I make?”

“How many are there.”

“There are only 10 cup ramens.”

“Ah, 10 is too few… Let’s make them all first, and eat the hot bars too.”

“Okay.”

Lee Jun-ho looked at the old map attached to the wall. The destination ‘Central Disease Control Center’ circled in red pen was clear.

“I guess we need to find the vaccine there.”

“Oh, Jun-ho. There was something here too.”

Kang Hyeon discovered a research journal on the table.

“Let me see.”

[20XX Year X Month X Day]

Confirmed antibody response to initial Z-virus variant. Sample V-3 shows significant suppressive effect. However, the neural infiltration speed of secondary infected subjects exceeds expectations. Communication with outside cut off. Food supply discontinued. Suspected infection symptoms appearing among researchers. To whoever finds this journal… please send V-3 to the Center…

“We need to find V-3.”

Additionally, a tunnel blueprint was attached. A faintly drawn maintenance passage separate from the main passage occupied by the zombie horde.

“Okay. We’ve confirmed the escape route too.”

“Jun-ho. Let’s eat. The ramen is ready.”

“Confirmed.”

Lee Jun-ho sat on the sofa. The two began their cup ramen mukbang side by side.

“I don’t understand why Kang Hyeon always eats like that.”

I frowned while monitoring.

Very unsatisfactory. How can a person eat like that. He’s pecking at the ramen like bird feed.

“Really, the way he nibbles…”

It would have been a disaster if he were my successor, a disaster.

“How’s the monitoring? Fun?”

“Yeah. It’s surprisingly fun.”

“Come out as a mentor next season. Then you can do monitoring.”

Kim A-rang mentioned next season, but I was momentarily conflicted.

For me, my future is uncertain.

“…I’ll consider it if I’m still alive by then.”

“What are you saying.”

She chuckled and patted my shoulder.

“You memorized the script, right?”

“Yes. Should I just recite it?”

“Yeah. That’ll do.”

My truck was already positioned in the right place.

“Ahem.”

I cleared my throat and prepared for my special appearance.

10 cup ramens, 5 hot bars, and various other frozen foods. After devouring tens of thousands of calories in total.

“Hey Hyeon.”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not eating meals with you anymore.”

“Why?”

“Somehow the food loses its taste.”

“…How is that even possible?”

Lee Jun-ho and Kang Hyeon exchanged this kind of banter as they opened the iron door. The zombies had scattered by now, and they quietly turned toward the maintenance passage.

Damp and gloomy air, a narrow path where water droplets trickled down the walls.

Trying hard to ignore the zombie cries coming from somewhere, wiping away flowing sweat, they reached the end of the passage.

“Jun-ho. What do you see?”

“Below. There’s a ladder below.”

Climbing down the ladder, a completely different space appeared.

A massive underground parking garage where dozens of cars sat covered in dust.

The only light there was the green electric car charging station indicator, and beneath it, a small truck was parked.

A cute truck that was too big to be a toy, yet too small to be a vehicle.

“What’s this truck?”

“Somehow it seems like it would work if we activate the charging?”

They first pressed the electric car charging kiosk.

[Electric charging activated]

Whiiiiiiiing─!

Suddenly the charger made a loud noise and the truck’s headlights turned on.

─Protocol activated.

“…Huh?”

“Huh? What’s that.”

It was a familiar voice. Both of their ears perked up simultaneously.

─Greetings. This is S E O L T R U C K.

“…Seol Truck?”

“Huh? Could it be Ha-woon hyung?”

─MODEL NUMBER SE09. Activating guidance protocol.

Whiiiiiing—

As if power charging was complete, the tires flashed.

─Please follow me.

Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle. It moves forward somewhere on its own.

Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle.

“…”

“…”

Rattle rattle rattle rattle rattle.

When the two people stood still, the front bumper turned slightly to the side as if looking back at them.

─Please follow me.

It urges them.

“Ah… oh. That’s amazing. Must be artificial intelligence. Hyeon, let’s go.”

“Yeah. Somehow the voice is also pleasant to listen to.”

“Right.”

Seol Ha-woon’s voice has tremendous stability. Whether this was learned or the effect of his natural voice tone, I don’t know, but anyway.

The two followed behind Seol Truck for now.

Ahahaha── hahahaha── hahahat── such laughter bloomed in the monitoring room.

Kim A-rang also entered the audio room and chuckled while watching Seol Ha-woon acting.

“Ah really. It’s so unexpected that Ha-woon does everything he’s told to do.”

“I know right.”

“I’m dying of laughter. Why is his expression so serious again.”

Usually explorers have strong personalities. The younger and more famous they are, the more so. Even the gentle Kang Hyeon is secretly difficult to handle. He’s very stubborn in certain aspects, and when you touch on those parts, he ignores you with a smile.

Im Hae-jun has the hassle of needing his mood catered to─though it’s not difficult─, and Seo Ji-woo doesn’t try to talk with the production staff that often.

Kate is difficult enough to make your mouth hurt from talking, and Jun-ho also secretly nitpicks. Lee Jong-soo grumbles whenever you ask him to do anything, and Yoon Hwa-rim sometimes pouts and becomes uncooperative with filming.

Still, they’re ultimately kids in their early twenties.

Seol Ha-woon is different.

When told to do something, he figures there must be a reason, asks once if he’s really curious, and just does it. Even if it doesn’t seem right, he does it first.

Once he does it, there’s absolutely no complaining afterward. Just situation over. That’s the end. He doesn’t grumble, doesn’t nitpick, and doesn’t say a single word about things that have already passed. He doesn’t express dissatisfaction. He shows no sign of difficulty at all. He doesn’t even act like he deserves credit.

Even person to person, he’s the type you’d want to become friends with regardless of gender. From the production staff’s perspective, he can only be perfect.

Of course he has his particular ‘line’, but that’s natural since anyone would get angry if you cross their line.

─Please follow me. Please follow me quickly.

Seol Ha-woon reading the script is funny. I don’t know why he’s deliberately talking like a robot though.

“…Je Mal-ol has to win first place in the end. That’s what makes sense.”

Kim A-rang convinced herself and nodded to herself.

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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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