Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 317

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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 317

HERO(3)

──The landscape I surveyed through Gitburmi was entirely ash-colored.

The vigilante group had formed a small village centered around a few surviving buildings among the collapsed ruins.

They had repaired the crumbled walls and patched together precarious roofs with planks and scraps of sheet metal. At the village entrance, they had erected crude wooden stakes, and tension hung on the shoulders of those standing guard above them.

“…Nothing special.”

I severed the visual connection. I looked at Jeong Soon-i, who was sleeping while holding the puppy in her arms.

In the ruins of war, a child surviving and taking care of herself without adult help.

Why was this child enduring alone in a remote shack instead of going to Ja-gyeong-dan Village?

I quietly pondered before getting up.

I began tanning the hide of the mountain beast I had hunted yesterday. If I used magic power to soften the fibers, I could make warm clothing or a blanket.

I also gathered the magic stones scattered around the house, practically underfoot.

Crystallized magic power that had bloomed from human deaths. I selected only those with particularly high purity and put them in a sack.

These magic stones would someday become a valuable asset for the child.

Meanwhile, morning came.

“Jeong Soon-ah. Is there a place nearby where snow doesn’t melt?”

I asked Jeong Soon-i, who had woken up at some point and was mixing canned food and bracken in a metal bowl.

“Ah, there is! You mean the place with eternal snow, right?”

Eternal Snow Ginseng. As its name suggests, it’s a precious medicinal herb that only grows in shaded areas where snow never melts.

“Follow me!”

Jeong Soon-i energetically finished her meal and stood up.

I followed Jeong Soon-i. Baduk-i also excitedly wagged his tail and followed behind.

Even while being guided by Jeong Soon-i, I kept my hands busy. Among the abandoned household items, I collected still-usable utensils like pots and dented buckets. Even rusty chunks of scrap metal could become excellent materials if I purified the impurities with magic power and refined their shape.

I wanted to increase the assets of the small shack, even by a little.

“It’s here!”

I nodded while looking at the place Jeong Soon-i pointed to.

“…The terrain has been abnormally uplifted.”

As far as I knew, this kind of terrain didn’t exist in modern times.

“Uplifted?”

“No. Let’s go.”

We climbed the mountain.

As someone with damaged legs, mountain climbing is one of the most difficult activities, but it’s bearable with mental strength.

Tap. Tap.

I walked the mountain path using my cane. The air gradually became colder, and traces of snow began to appear on the dirt path beneath my feet.

“I told you to go back down.”

“I said I’m fine.”

Jeong Soon-i stubbornly continued following me. The child climbed the steep slope road as nimbly as a squirrel.

Instead, I struggled to follow behind her. The creaking sound from my knees had gotten quite loud.

Had we climbed like that for a while?

Finally, I discovered terrain where eternal snow had accumulated on top of a sheer cliff.

“Here it is.”

“Right.”

I walked around this area while concentrating sequences on my retina.

Just as I was searching so thoroughly that I was practically absorbing even the faintest traces of magic power.

A pure white plant growing in a precarious rock crevice halfway up the cliff caught my eye.

Eternal Snow Ginseng.

The problem was its location. It was growing at the very edge of the cliff’s edge.

I couldn’t use formulas either. When handling magical substances, it’s best not to use magic power if possible. There’s a risk of altering their properties.

“I’ll go!”

Jeong Soon-i stepped forward.

I couldn’t bring myself to stop her.

I needed that Eternal Snow Ginseng, and with my damaged legs, I couldn’t climb the cliff.

Having no choice, I only formed a rope with magic power. I securely tied Jeong Soon-i’s waist to the rock.

“Be careful.”

“I’ve been climbing mountains for years~”

The child climbs the cliff almost crawling. Watching makes me nervous. My mouth goes completely dry.

Crawling slowly. My heart pounds quite hard with each small movement.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

I ran my hand through my hair.

Fortunately, Jeong Soon-i reached the Eternal Snow Ginseng without incident. With her tiny hands, she dug out the soil and snow around the Eternal Snow Ginseng.

At that moment, small stones tumbled down below and Jeong Soon-i’s knee also got scraped.

“Ahhh!”

“!”

My heart exploded once.

“──Phew.”

Jeong Soon-i regained her balance and ultimately succeeded in digging out the Eternal Snow Ginseng without damaging a single root.

Crawling slowly.

She returned to me with turtle-like backward steps again.

“Here!”

The child smiled brightly and held out the precious medicinal herb to me.

“…Thank you.”

I took the Eternal Snow Ginseng held in those cute hands.

“So now you won’t die?”

“There are still a few more left.”

I placed my hand on Jeong Soon-i’s head.

“Thanks to you, I might be able to live.”

Dragon Scale Stone and Red Star Grass remained.

“Let’s go down.”

“Yes.”

I opened the herb book while descending the mountain. The description of Dragon Scale Stone was as follows:

A stone formed when dragon scales that fell from the sky hardened. Found only beneath the roots of great trees struck by lightning, its surface shines purple and is harder than steel.

“A tree struck by lightning…”

“Huh? I’ve seen that before!”

Jeong Soon-i immediately responded to my muttering.

Well, it seemed I would need Jeong Soon-i’s help again this time.

At the ticket office of the platform where Seol Ha-woon arrived. Seo Ji-woo focused on that quiet atmosphere.

What brings you here?

The staff member beyond the glass window has no face.

“They’re eggs.”

Someone answered Seo Ji-woo’s muttering.

“That’s right.”

Kang Hyeon and Lee Jun-ho were beside her at some point. They had come because they said they were bored.

Seol Ha-woon pays with won, has his ticket inspected by the station attendant, and boards the train.

─Seol Ha-woon : Phew….

Looking tired, he sits down and closes his eyes tightly.

We will now depart.

He seems about to sleep along with the departure signal,

Someone taps Seol Ha-woon’s shoulder.

─??? : Shh. Follow me quietly. This place is dangerous.

It’s some man.

“Oh what. Who is that.”

“Haaaam─.”

“Hey. If you’re sleepy, go sleep.”

Lee Jun-ho lay down on the sofa as he was.

He’s already asleep.

─Seol Ha-woon : …Dangerous?

“…I suppose I should.”

Lee Junho lay down on the sofa just like that.

“Not here, you idiot. Go sleep in your own damn room.”

Already asleep.

─Seol Ha-woon : To go to Zone 6.

─Seol Ha-woon : Why are you laughing?

─??? : Yes. You’re new, right? We’ve been on this train for 3 years. If you don’t want to end up like those eggs, hurry and follow us….

Meanwhile, Seol Ha-un follows the man and woman.

─Ilron : After being on this train for 3 years, you naturally come to know. For now, come this way. We’re also looking for that method.

Kang Hyeon opened a bag of potato chips.

“Yeah. They look extremely tired.”

Ilron led Seol Ha-woon to the front of the [Freight Car].

Knock knock. Knock. Knock knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock knock.

When he knocks, the door opens. Inside are many people, not eggs.

─Oh, looks like a newcomer? It’s been really long.

It’s not just a simple freight car. It’s a huge dwelling made by tearing apart and connecting multiple cars. There are designated spaces for children gathering for lessons, a dining hall, a kitchen, and so on.

“Wow what?”

“Why. Why what is it.”

Knock knock. Knock. Knock knock. Knock. Knock. Knock. Knock knock.

─Seol Ha-woon : Are the eggs dangerous?

When I knock, the door opens. Inside, there are many people, not eggs.

─Oh, you must be new? It’s been a really long time since we’ve had one.

This isn’t just a simple cargo car. It’s a massive dwelling created by dismantling and connecting multiple train cars. There are designated spaces where children gather for lessons, a dining area, a kitchen, and more.

Seo Jiwoo’s eyes widened.

Seo Ji-woo was immersed in the situation.

─Ilron : So we should earn another 2 million won in the 5th Zone? We came here to reach the end of this maze. We can’t retreat.

─Ilron : …They’re the natural result of love. It seems like they increased one by one since the population exceeded a hundred. This freight car is a society that’s been around for over ten years.

Kang Hyeon tilted his head.

─Seolhaun: Are eggs dangerous?

─Elon: Yes. Eggs turn people into eggs. When night falls, they begin to act.

Seol Ha-un gazed at him intently and voiced her question.

─Seolhaun: Can’t you just get off when the platform stops?

─Seol Ha-woon : Seol Ha-woon.

─Seol Ha-woon : Let’s hear what kind of help first.

Seo Jiwoo became immersed in the situation.

Seol Ha-woon accepts their plan. He doesn’t seem to have any particular suspicions, but rather the viewers are being extremely suspicious.

─Elon: …It’s a natural result of love. It seems like we’ve been adding one or two people ever since our population exceeded a hundred. This cargo hold has been a society for more than ten years.

-Wow but what about the babies;;

-Would he? Seol Ha-woon?

“Everyone on KakaoTalk is suspicious of those people?”

“Well, that’s understandable.”

The place Elon led them to was some kind of control room.

─Elon: First, your name?

─Seol Ha-un: Seol Ha-un.

─Elon: Mr. Seolhaun, please check the validity period of your ticket. During that time, probably even the eggs won’t be able to touch you… Since you seem to share the same goal as us, may we ask for your help?

─Seolhaun: Let’s start with what kind of help you need first.

─Elon: Yes. We’ve already secured the route information for this train. It only repeats its circulation. It never reaches its destination. The ‘switch’ is the problem…

We need to replace the railway switch.

Seol Ha-un accepts their plan. He doesn’t seem particularly suspicious, but the viewers are actually being extremely suspicious.

-Those guys’ ulterior motives lololol

-You’ll probably go quite high up into the sky

-Whoa but what about the kids;;;

-Maybe they won’t kill the pitiful child

-would you? Seol Ha-un?

“But on KakaoTalk, they’re all suspicious of those people?”

Seo Jiwoo and Lee Junho chuckled at Ganghyun’s words.

“Well, that can happen.”

Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon, who had experienced those people directly, know. That they’re incredibly kind and beneficial to us.

“So this is how they set traps within traps.”

Seo Ji-woo watched comfortably as a Mitamnan cast member. This train would end without incident.

6 PM

Seol Ha-woon advances through the train alone, and the eggs begin their activity.

─Jane : Can you hear me.

Jane speaks to Seol Ha-woon through the radio.

─Seol Ha-woon : I can hear you.

─Jane : First, please keep moving forward… But Ha-woon, aren’t you curious about how the killer appears?

─Seol Ha-woon : I think I have a rough idea.

─Jane : Oh. What do you think?

─Seol Ha-woon : Experience points. A being that invested more experience points in themselves than they could handle. Simply put, Qi Deviation.

Subtitles appear on the screen.

Qi Deviation

Qi Devia-tion

Kill-er

The characters combine together.

“Ah. That’s what it meant?”

Seo Ji-woo’s eyes widened.

─Jane : Ooh~ We were expecting the same thing. You’re smart.

Seol Ha-woon walks down the train corridor and stops in front of a vending machine.

─Jane : What are you doing?

─Seol Ha-woon : By any chance, are there no problems with the items sold here?

─Jane : Uh… No. There are no problems.

Then Seol Ha-woon buys something from the vending machine. It’s ice cream.

“Huh? What’s that.”

“Wow.”

“…That guy likes stuff like that too.”

The reactions of Seo Ji-woo, Kang Hyeon, and Lee Jun-ho are each different, but similar in nature.

The fact that Seol Ha-woon snacks is unexpected in itself.

-Hahahaha no but Jemalopto is so cute

-Hahahaha

-He’s secretly really adorable

-Former UDT who goes around massacring Labyrinth People and you call him cute?

-This human side seems to be a factor in Seol Ha-woon’s popularity

-The leader likes ice cream

─Seol Ha-woon : Let’s continue.

Tap. Tap.

He advances through the train, holding his walking stick in one hand and eating ice cream with the other.

─Jane : Yes. The dining hall will appear soon, so be careful. The way the eggs eat is quite disgusting…

Just then, Seol Ha-woon opens the dining hall door.

Eggs are sitting packed in chairs. The red chunks of meat placed in front of them squirm faintly, and the eggs open their mouths wide in unison.

Riiiiip──-!

Crunch, crack. Crackle!

Seo Ji-woo shuddered.

“It’s definitely disgusting.”

Tap. Tap.

Seol Ha-woon walks among them, when suddenly a thrilling sound rings out sharply.

The camera shows Seol Ha-woon’s view looking at a corner of the train. There are some ‘letters’ there!

These bastards all seem fake.

Oh right. I’m talking to you. I don’t know who you are, but you’re a mage, right? These are letters only mages can see.

‘Those guys’ can’t read this note.

Keep going forward.

“What’s that now.”

“Whoa.”

Seo Ji-woo and Kang Hyeon were practically glued to the TV.

Seol Ha-woon, who had been staring intently at the letters, suddenly asks Jane.

─Seol Ha-woon : Have you ever thought about destroying the train?

─Jane : Destroying it? Yes. Of course. The freight car is connected to the train to begin with. We need the train to escape.

─Seol Ha-woon : How long did you stay in the apartment?

─Jane : Well. I’m not sure.

At the end of the dining car where Seol Ha-woon is walking, there’s an old notice.

[ Train Passenger Precautions ]

● From here on is the VVIP car. Only authorized personnel may enter.

Below it is a sentence scrawled in magic stone in the same way.

Watch out for the freight car bastards! They have a fucking strong obsession with life. You might become part of the train too.

Seol Ha-woon looks ahead again. At the entrance to the VVIP car, two eggs in uniform are standing.

─Jane : To get to the conductor’s room, you have to go in there. They only let VVIPs in…

Seol Ha-woon closes his eyes for a moment. The camera closes up on him.

─Seol Ha-woon : …It should be possible.

As if figuring something out, Seol Ha-woon enters a nearby bathroom and sits in a toilet stall.

In that bathroom too, there’s a new note.

If there’s someone reading this, if there’s really a ‘person’ here, whoever the hell you are, don’t trust anyone on this train.

My companions keep turning into eggs right now. The eggs are one thing, but those freight car bastards are also fucking suspicious as hell. These bastards seem to know jack shit about the maze.

“Wait, what? Weren’t the people in the freight car nice people?”

Seo Ji-woo grabbed her head as if confused.

“That’s exactly why don’t be fooled.”

Lee Jun-ho, who had woken up at some point, also focused. Kang Hyeon swallowed and nodded.

“There’s a reason why Mitamnan is popular…”

─Seol Ha-woon: ….

Seol Ha-woon stares intently at that note. Meaningful sound flows, and just as the three explorers are about to immerse themselves in a situation they don’t understand.

──Enjoy your train journey with AMOS WAY too!

“Hey! This is really crazy-!”

“Ah what the!”

“Are you kidding me, no! This isn’t right!”

The three people each grabbed the back of their necks with different expressions.

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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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