Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 321

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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 321

HERO(7)

The Jeokseong Herb, which could have become a major ‘incident’ for the Korean Peninsula, was concluded with Lee Won-nam’s suicide.

I recovered the Jeokseong Herb from the corpse of Lee Won-nam’s wife in the basement of the building. I also respectfully collected the other corpses and laid them on the floor, then burned them along with the red mycelia using magic power.

Lee Won-nam also rested eternally there.

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the mycelia, we couldn’t bury them while maintaining the corpses.

Afterwards, I gathered the villagers and vigilante members in one place and explained the whole story.

“…Ah, yes. Is that so?”

“Oh, I see~ Such a thing happened.”

“We just did as he told us to…”

They understood reasonably well.

“Thank you for understanding.”

It seemed like they were more afraid of me than understanding, but there wasn’t much difference.

“Ha, hahaha! Thank you, what thanks!”

“Rather, w-we should be grateful!”

Thanks to that, I could start manufacturing the Life-Connecting Pill with peace of mind.

I measured all the ingredients precisely according to the records in the medicinal herb book Tae-woo left behind. I made juices from Jeokseong Herb, frost dew, moonlight grass, and eternal snow ginseng, mixed the liquids that sparkled like magic power, then poured them into dragon scale stone.

The Life-Connecting Pill was complete.

However, since it needed time to mature, I participated in village repairs in the meantime.

My magic power was almost depleted so I couldn’t do anything grand, but first I gathered the chickens wandering nearby and built a poultry farm. I found an uncontaminated underground water vein and dug a clear well. I laid small waterways to bring water to the barren fields.

I fixed abandoned tillers and installed swings and such in the open ground so children could run and play.

Thanks to this, the residents quickly came to call me ‘Teacher Seol.’

“…Haah.”

Anyway, I somehow survived.

After finishing today’s work, I headed to the lakeside near the village.

There, Jeong Soon was sitting with Badu-gi. The two cute figures from behind, gazing blankly at the water surface, were quite adorable.

“What are you doing.”

At my voice, Badu-gi wagged his tail first, while Jeong Soon only glanced back at me.

I sat down next to Jeong Soon.

The child asked somewhat sullenly.

“Are you leaving now?”

I nodded.

“Soon, I’ll have to go.”

In the basket next to Jeong Soon, quite a lot of fish had been caught. She seemed to have decent talent as an angler.

“…”

Jeong Soon remained silent with both hands propping up her chin, and I quietly stayed by the child’s side.

“Will we be able to meet again?”

A question asked in passing, pretending not to care, pretending to have no particular thoughts.

I smiled.

I suddenly had this thought.

This era is 75 years before my present time.

It’s a very long time. Even more so in this era where average lifespan is much shorter than modern times.

But.

“If you live well for a long, long time, being good and working hard…”

The possibility of us meeting again wouldn’t be nonexistent. I couldn’t tell Jeong Soon my spoilers, but probability always penetrates time and space.

“You never know.”

“…You never know?”

“Yeah.”

I took out a small bracelet from my chest.

Made by polishing magic stones, it contained my magic power and formulas.

It’s like a kind of protective charm.

If she wears this, her blood circulation will probably improve a bit, and her magic power affinity will increase slightly too. It might help prevent various diseases in the future as well.

“Here.”

I handed the bracelet to the child.

“Keep it with you.”

I sincerely wished for all my good fortune to dwell in this bracelet. I hoped that this child who suffered from war, that ridiculous misfortune, could at least achieve some mean reversion.

My wish mixed with magic power and seeped into the magic stone, soon giving its rim a gentle bluish light.

“Woooow…”

Jeong Soon looked at the bracelet with the face of someone who had discovered a jewel.

“This, is it mine?”

I personally put the bracelet on Jeong Soon’s small wrist.

“Yeah. It’s a gift for you.”

I hoped this insignificant gift could be a small comfort to the child moving forward.

Clatter- Clatter-

Inside the main broadcast, in the swaying train. Seol Ha-woon stands quietly with his eyes closed.

Lee Si-ah looked at him and calmed her pounding heart.

What’s changing is not the train but the scenery.

The scenery outside the train window passes by, and Seol Ha-woon’s monologue flows on.

The internal shaking is merely a sophisticated device to deceive us.

“…Huh really?”

So the train hasn’t been moving this whole time?

-Wow what

-This train was stopped the whole time?

-Holy shit

-Ah not showing the outside scenery was foreshadowing

-Right, there wasn’t a single scene showing outside the train

That was also the reason they failed.

Magic power emanating from Seol Ha-woon rises through the bathroom’s ventilation duct.

Since this train wasn’t running in the first place, derailing was impossible from the start.

Wriggling. The magic power advances. It goes down the cramped ventilation duct and reaches the engine room hidden beneath the train.

─Seol Ha-woon: …Found it.

The engine that’s not operating and has stopped. Seol Ha-woon’s magic power seeps into it.

I don’t know what kind of action takes place inside the engine, but.

Thump.

Thud.

Thud.

The engine came back to life. The stopped gears meshed together with grinding sounds.

-But how does Seol Ha-woon’s magic power move around like an octopus?

-He really handles magic power like his own hands

-He’s just fucking cool as a person

-Wow.. his magic power control is insane

-Honestly I’m jealous of his talent..

Kuuuuung!

The engine was completely reconstructed.

Clatter-! Clatter-!

A new vibration occurred in the train.

The stopped train was finally moving!

─Seol Ha-woon : …Not yet.

Next, Seol Ha-woon extends his magic power to another place. The camera follows the flow of that magic power again.

Shyuuuuuung─

The magic power instantly passed through all the cars of the train and reached,

─Jane : Ilron, what’s happening?

The freight car of NPCs engulfed in flames.

─Jane : It’s not hot at all.

─Ilron : …I’ll explain later. First, hide the children.

Adults including Ilron, and children trembling with fear. In the air where they were having their conversation.

Ssssssssss─

Seol Ha-woon’s magic power appeared and drew a blueprint.

─Ilron : What the….

Ilron discovered it and looked closely.

─Ilron : Sa-hyeong! Please check this out!

The bearded Sa-hyeong who looked like an engineer rushed over and adjusted his glasses.

─Sa-hyeong : This is, an engine?

─Ilron : …Engine.

Ilron nodded resolutely, apparently understanding Seol Ha-woon’s intention.

─Ilron : Let’s go out.

─Jane : Now?

─Ilron : Yes. The eggs probably won’t be hostile to us anymore.

“That’s right!”

Lee Si-ah also clapped her hands.

Seol Ha-woon had succeeded in deceiving this entire train.

─Ilron : Everyone follow me!

The NPCs kicked open the door and came out with Ilron.

─Ilron : That bastard, we need to find Seol Ha-woon!

They ran around the train shouting for Seol Ha-woon.

─Ilron : Everyone, move quickly!

Eldia-level acting. A recent slang term that replaced Oscar-level acting.

─Ilron : Hurry! We need to find him quickly and kill him!

The eggs didn’t antagonize such NPCs either, and the NPCs pretended to look for Seol Ha-woon while collecting parts to build an engine according to the blueprint.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

While the train with the restarted engine shook with thuds, back to Seol Ha-woon’s perspective.

The moment he walked through the inside of the train and opened the door to one car.

─Seol Ha-woon : …Hmm.

Inside was full of egg ghosts.

Kraaaaaaah!

Countless eggs bared their teeth and rushed at Seol Ha-woon, and Seol Ha-woon closed his eyes.

His face was shown in close-up.

Kwaaaaang─!

The moment the camera pulled back with some loud roar.

All the eggs were stuck to the walls on both sides of the train.

It was Seol Ha-woon’s telekinesis.

-Wow hahahaha

-??

-What is this

-???

-Holy shit that’s insane

-Shit is he Magneto?

-Hahahaha

-Hahaha wow

-Moses much?

-Hahahaha

-He’s crushing them with pure magic power..

-Wait why is Seol Ha-woon’s mage class so overpowered?

-The mana class is fucking insane lmaooooo

Class? Must be mage terminology. I’ll have to look it up later.

Tap. Tap.

Seol Ha-woon walks leisurely between the eggs.

Tap. Tap.

He enters the nearest bathroom and lets out a low sigh.

─Seol Ha-woon : Traction motor. Power supply device. I need blueprints for two parts.

He sends magic power through the ventilation duct again, and the camera follows the movement of that magic power.

Traction motor, power supply device. He finishes copying the blueprints of the two machines and delivers them to the ‘freight car’ in the same way.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!

Meanwhile, the eggs had swarmed in front of the bathroom.

─Seol Ha-woon : …Hah.

Seol Ha-woon sighs and closes his eyes tightly. The eggs try to force the door open, but it won’t budge since it’s firmly blocked by telekinesis.

─Seol Ha-woon : ….

Seol Ha-woon remains unshaken, quietly calming himself.

Clatter- Clatter-

Feeling the swaying of the moving train.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang bang!

Enduring the life-threatening struggle of the eggs.

Push!

Suddenly the NPCs’ battle cry erupted.

Crash!

The eggs were sent flying. Soon the bathroom door opened and the freight car NPCs armed with steel pipes and wooden planks appeared. They pushed the eggs back forcefully.

-They’re here

-Ah shit took them long enough

-These bastards

-hahahaha

-Phew

-Almost had a heart attack

-So damn late

-Shit my heart

-Phew

─Ilron : Over here!

Ilron calls to Seol Ha-woon, and Seol Ha-woon joins him while leaning on his walking stick.

─Seol Ha-woon : Did it work?

─Ilron : Yes. We made the engine. The other parts too.

─Seol Ha-woon : Then… Ah, my knee.

Seol Ha-woon clutches his knee. One of those occasional frail old man moments from Seol Ha-woon.

Snap!

Anyway, when he snaps his fingers, all the fires on the train die down at once.

-Wow so even this fire was deliberately set to deceive the train

-shivering

-Wait handling formulas is just straight up cheating what the hell?

-He really controls magic power freely

-I’m so sad ㅠㅠ

-Je Mal-ol just keeps evolving day by day.

─Seol Ha-woon : Listen carefully. Soon, the connection between the freight car and the train will be severed.

Seol Ha-woon talks about how to sustain them.

Actually, it’s not about how to sustain them.

Only if ‘they’ can overcome this train will the follow-up team, that is, other explorers, be able to cross this place, and when the explorers clear the maze.

These NPCs will also naturally disappear.

─Seol Ha-woon : Then you won’t reset even when you reach your destination. You’ll break free from the framework. From then on, you’ll become the new train and….

Seol Ha-woon pauses for a moment, seeming to think about something, then smiles faintly and says this.

─Seol Ha-woon : …just carry my younger siblings to the next platform.

His transparent smile is captured on screen for a moment. Not too long, not too short, just passing by.

That alone is enough.

-Whoa;

-Whoa hahahaha

-Look at this dialogue lol

-ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Look at Jemal-ol’s expression

-This guy just has charisma

-Whoa

-He said.. younger sibling

-Wow hahahaha

-No way ㅠㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-He really was thinking about the kids all along

-Leader of Mitamnan, Earth’s representative explorer, damn Ha-woon hyung!!

-I believed in youㅠㅠㅠㅠ

-Whoa from Seol Ha-woon’s mouth..

-It’s even more amazing because he’s the last person you’d expect to say that

-This is the ideal of a T-type

-Fucking awesome just lol

-Mal-ol has grown up.

“Ah…”

For Lee Si-ah, that line just now was too touching.

Even though it’s just one line, the lingering feeling is incredible. I want to replay it.

─Seol Ha-woon : You guys go back to the freight car. If you stay here, you’ll be reset.

But suddenly, the atmosphere is flowing in an ominous direction.

─Ilron : Then what about you…?

─Seol Ha-woon : This train is also a killer, so I’m going to the end with this bastard.

Seol Ha-woon sweeps back his hair fluttering in the wind.

Looking at the whole picture, my survival is merely secondary.

─Seol Ha-woon : The plan is already complete.

That voice from the preview comes out.

Find the path, make the path. Build a bridge that the follow-up team can cross safely.

─Seol Ha-woon : Whether I can endure or not is just an option.

Bang! A loud sound erupted from the train.

If that final cornerstone must be myself, there’s no reason to refuse.

A large friction occurred at the junction connecting the freight car and the train.

─Seol Ha-woon : Go. Hurry.

─Ilron : ….

Ilron and the NPCs nod silently and turn to the other side.

That is the purpose of the advance team and at the same time.

“Ah wait.”

The freight car completely separated from the train.

Kwazzzzzzzk!

Seol Ha-woon watches the freight car moving away from inside the train.

This is the significance of the advance team.

Then, he chuckles and turns around.

On the opposite side of him, eggs are everywhere. They stretch out endlessly beyond the screen.

-Whoa shit

-Ha-woon hyung

-I’m so sad ㅠㅠ

-Captain don’t go

-Seol Ha-woon’s guaranteed first place scene

-Don’t tell me he’s getting eliminated?

-No, elimination isn’t the problem, if they cut it here I’m going after the production crew

-If they really cut it here I’m setting fires

“No way.”

Just as Lee Si-ah was gradually feeling ominous.

Platform

─Seo Ji-woo : We’ve arrived~

Seo Ji-woo’s party all got off the bus together. They stood on the platform and stretched.

─Im Hae-jun : Still, it’s not scary since there are many people.

The platform’s atmosphere is quite eerie, but Im Hae-jun seems to feel safe among the people.

It’s a puppy characteristic.

─Im Hae-jun : That’s why the more party members-

Seo Ji-woo, who had been glaring at Im Hae-jun, suddenly extends a wire and catches Im Hae-jun’s ankle.

─Im Hae-jun : Aaaaaaaah─! Aaaaah! There’s, there’s something here! Aaaaah! Noona! Aaaaaaaah───!

Keke keke keke. Seo Ji-woo laughs secretly, while Kate, Kang Hyeon, and Lee Jun-ho examine the platform closely.

The panoramic view of the platform shrouded in fog is shown broadly once.

…No way.

Right now, at this moment, the most ominous and terrifying thought blooming in Lee Si-ah’s mind.

As the camera slowly rises upward.

“No!”

──To be continued next week

“Aaaaaaaaaahhhhh!”

Lee Si-ah let out a scream.

—————
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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