Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 324

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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 324

CASE MoMo(1)

These days, as Mitamnan reaches its final stages. YouTube clips still surpass hundreds of millions of views, short-form platforms worldwide are flooded with Mitamnan content, and all kinds of flights are concentrated on Seoul, South Korea.

Mage Yoon Hwa-rim occupied quite a large portion of various communities, SNS, and portal sites. The controversy over her unauthorized use of Seol Ha-woon’s turret, A.K.A Seol Turret, was being amplified and reproduced into all sorts of sensational articles.

These were schemes to ride on Mitamnan’s popularity and aim for views.

“…What should Hwa-rim do.”

Lee Si-ah was worried. It wasn’t without reason, as public attention seemed to be attacking Yoon Hwa-rim. Light fans were actually doing just that.

It’s funny to discuss what’s light and what’s heavy, but whatever.

Ding-

Just then, a familiar alarm rang on Lee Si-ah’s smartphone.

“Oh?!”

A new post had been uploaded to Seol Ha-woon’s Instagram!

She reflexively opened the app.

@Seolhaun Hello, this is Seol Ha-woon. First, there’s something I’d like to convey. Currently, quite a few articles regarding the spell turret are being reported without going through fact-checking processes. However, the turret was not created through my unique spell. It’s a type of loot created by consuming ‘experience points,’ which is one of the systems of that labyrinth. The reason I left the turret there was because it no longer had utility value for me after moving to the next area.

It was an Instagram post written directly by Seol Ha-woon.

The production team seemed to have given permission too. Well, unlike during the Cart Labyrinth, there’s nothing that can be done with editing at this point.

Lee Si-ah took a screenshot while reading and transferred the full text to the community.

It was the most reliable way to get to the trending posts in real-time.

…Explorer Yoon Hwa-rim collected the turret I left behind. If she hadn’t done so, it would have been abandoned there in the first place.

She also invested her own magic power, time, experience, and knowledge to repair and modify the turret. She directly advanced it to be compatible with her own cart.

I don’t blame her for that. I don’t think of it as theft either. Rather, since it’s a proper spell research activity as a mage, as the so-called ‘original author,’ I find it very gratifying and proud.

The attempt to create something better based on the original. Such recreation doesn’t hurt me. It’s only welcome and appreciated.

And then, the next feed uploaded right after.

“Whoa.”

The entire spell blueprint of that turret was made public.

“Is it okay to do this?”

Even setting aside that he released everything for free, looking at it, it’s incredibly complex. Some geometric forms are spread out like a spider web, terrifyingly intertwined.

@Seolhaun This is the spell structure of the turret I manifested using experience points as a medium. I greatly respect the efforts of Mage Yoon Hwa-rim, who understood, analyzed, and recreated this.

Seol Ha-woon wrote a post that was very much like him. It wasn’t emotional advocacy, but a clear statement of position based on logic.

Comments poured in like rain.

-As expected, Seol Ha-woon’s class…

-Wow shit but he just openly releases the whole spell like that;; Fucking generous guy lololol

-This guy really has no hesitation lololol Just does it if he wants to, rams into it if it’s shitty.

-I knew he’d do this lol So cool

-So refreshing

-He’s really a new type of character lololol

-Lololololol wow amazing

-Did his pride consume his brain? If he sold that spell for money, it’d really be worth hundreds of millions

-Divide and conquer tactics don’t work on Je Mal-ol at all.

-Uh hyung just thought the controversy was shitty so he just released everything for free~

-Lololololololololol

-Seol Ha-woon doesn’t care at all but the fans were making more of a fuss lol

-That side is really making a big deal out of it haha

“…”

In the end, we’re the ones who get criticized, but it can’t be helped. It’s because of the large population.

-That’s what makes it more shitty. Ha-woon is too magnanimous, so Yoon Hwa-rim looks more hateful.

-Seol Ha-woon himself says it’s fine but look at them trying to nitpick again lololol

-You think Mal-ol would do that without thinking? It’s all calculated.

-Still, from the viewers’ perspective, it just looks like Yoon Hwa-rim got it easy.

-Would Je Mal-ol blame others and lose face in the first place lol He’s just pretending not to care.

-He summarized it like this. Really cool.

-Anyway, controversy over! Bang bang bang!

-But why is he defending her? Is there something between them?

-These haters anyway tsk tsk

-Won’t this affect the voting if Seol Ha-woon does this?

-Lolol Seol’s behind-the-scenes power is amazing haha Does he want to take Yoon Hwa-rim to the debut group?

-What, is the person above crazy?

Anyway, this should quiet down the controversy.

But then.

│Holy… Seol Ha-woon came to an acquaintance’s funeral hall shit│

Suddenly, another new post appeared. It shot up to trending posts in an instant.

In the attached photo, a man in a black suit was captured from a distance, quietly finishing his condolences and coming out.

His facial features are distinct even from afar.

Anyone can see it’s Seol Ha-woon. Not just the long hair, but also the walking stick.

-Wow shit it’s really him

-What? Suddenly what funeral?

-Where did you see this? Who is the poster’s acquaintance?

-Wow wow wow

-They say he came and went at dawn when there were no people, worried it might cause disruption..

-What is it. What kind of relationship?

-Don’t know. The deceased was apparently the founder of some real estate company

-Did Mal-ol borrow money before?

-What connections

-I’m curious if it’s a connection from his active days

-The suit fit is insane…

-May the deceased rest in peace. Still, Seol Ha-woon has loyalty.

“…Wow.”

It feels weird to admire someone’s funeral hall photo, but Seol Ha-woon in a suit is a rare sight. Except for CFs, this might be almost the first time. The jet-black suit makes his cold atmosphere stand out even more.

│Posting a few more pics of Ha-woon in all-black suit I got from an acquaintance lol│

Just uploading the closest shots I could get

-Fuck thank you

-Wow..

-The quality is amazing

-This guy is mysteriously handsome lol Kang Hyeon and Lee Jun-ho have completely different vibes

-For real, just mature

-Anyone can see he’s an adult

-Ah damn so is he getting eliminated this time or not Ha-woon you damn Ha-woon

-Just taking photos and the atmosphere is insane

Lee Si-ah stared blankly at the photo for a moment, then suddenly turned her head to look at her desk.

The ‘Seol Ha-woon Gold Rookie Card’ in a frame. This card even has Seol Ha-woon’s handwritten magic power signature engraved on it.

A weak smile leaked out.

“Hehehe.”

This card isn’t just simple merchandise. It’s definitely a treasure with magical effects.

Since placing it as interior decoration, she hasn’t had a single sleepless night. Just lying down makes her fall asleep smoothly, and her insomnia disappeared. Sleeping well every day has changed her daily condition.

Anyway.

“Today’s the day.”

Starting today for 3 weeks, the final live broadcast ticketing begins every single day.

Lee Si-ah had prepared everything.

She opened the official Labyrinth Exploration NaN website and checked her newly bought wired keyboard and mouse. With all wifi sharing stopped, she concentrated the network solely on her desktop.

It’s cutthroat ticketing.

While waiting for the final broadcast… that is, the live broadcast, there wasn’t much for me to do. Lazing around. Just lounging.

I’m not doing any training or anything to adapt to 5th level magic power, just waiting for my personal variety show ‘Seol’s Three Meals’ to air soon.

Meanwhile, all the explorers returned from the Memory Labyrinth. Some explorers left for psychological treatment, and some kids left on trips calling it vacation.

@IMhaejun Delicious pork cutlet. One bite and, whoa! The tenderloin melted in my mouth!

Im Hae-jun seems to be going around the country eating at various famous restaurants as soon as he came out.

@YUUN This is Yoon Hwa-rim. I’m sorry for causing you worry…

Yoon Hwa-rim also posted a long statement on Instagram. Roughly content saying ‘Sorry for causing trouble, Explorer Seol Ha-woon gave permission but I’ll act more carefully from now on’.

“There’s no real need to be sorry though.”

While browsing Instagram scrolling down, just then.

Ding-

[Labyrinth Exploration NaN All Cast Notice]

A notice text came from the production team.

I’m resting well, so why again.

[Vacation will proceed as scheduled, but please gather at the ‘TWA Corporation’ headquarters lobby by 3 PM this Wednesday.]

[This is a schedule related to explorer scanning and modeling.]

I sat up at that moment.

“It’s MoMo.”

It’s the scene where MoMo gets created.

Face scanning and modeling. Explorers wearing tight suits with sensors all over their bodies, taking various poses in front of dozens of cameras, something like that.

As I’ve mentioned quite a few times, 「MoMo」 is a game based on real explorers.

In other words, not just me, Seo Ji-woo, Kang Hyeon, and Lee Jun-ho, but almost all active explorers registered in the Explorer Association database appear as character cards in the game.

Most go through this 3D scanning process and are reborn as digital clay models with very high synchronization rates.

This is exactly that schedule.

“…I’m nervous for the first time in a while.”

I get to participate in the game that made me who I am.

Wednesday. I arrived at TWA Corporation’s lobby.

Other explorers had already arrived too.

“Hyung.”

“Master~”

Kang Hyeon and Im Hae-jun waved at me.

“But what kind of game is it supposed to be?”

At Im Hae-jun’s question, I shrugged pretending not to know.

“Who knows.”

“I’ve never heard of this company either.”

Kang Hyeon said.

TWA is extremely familiar to me, but it would be unfamiliar to the other guys.

One, two. NaN’s explorers gathered in the lobby.

Exactly at 3 PM, staff members in suits came out and guided us.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Lee Hyeon-kyung, a director at TWA Company. Everyone, this way.”

The explorers followed her. The atmosphere was somewhat quiet.

I heard some kids haven’t finished psychological treatment yet. Everyone seems gloomy.

“This is the place.”

I expected face scanning, but it was a space full of capsules.

“Everyone please enter these capsules. Real-time modeling and ability scanning will proceed.”

Whirr. The capsule opened.

I sat inside it.

Whirr. As the lid closed, a voice flowed in.

[Please close your eyes.]

I closed my eyes briefly.

Whooooo─

A rumbling like machinery operating. A floating sensation as my body slightly lifted.

[Please open your eyes]

I opened my eyes.

“…Huh?”

A completely different world was spread out in front. It was an endlessly stretched hologram space with a grid pattern.

Just moments ago I was definitely inside a capsule.

I repeatedly clenched and opened my hand. The sensation remained the same.

─Nice to meet you.

Blue light sparkled in the hologram’s empty space as an artificial intelligence voice was heard.

─We are rendering a virtual environment for more precise data scanning.

Swoosh. The grid pattern under my feet changed to blue grass, and a blue sky appeared above my head.

“Fascinating.”

I bent down and touched the grass. It felt exactly like the real thing.

[Objective: Complete Quest]

“Hmm?”

Suddenly a status window appeared before my eyes, and a dark cave materialized in the distance.

They called it Ability Scan, so I guess it’s this kind of game format.

I walked toward it, tap, tap, tapping my walking stick.

─Scanning…

─Unique Trait Generated: Left Knee Permanent Disability [Disability]

─Movement Speed Penalty Applied

“…Seriously.”

I wonder if it’s really necessary to scan even something like this, but this level of realism is MoMo’s charm.

‘MoMo’ creates countless variations of character cards based on a single explorer.

For example, if I’m the base

rare grade cards like 「True – Seol Ha-woon」, 「Open – Seol Ha-woon」,

and various versions like 「Active Days Seol Ha-woon」, 「Short-Haired Seol Ha-woon」 would exist.

If it were Seo Ji-woo, it would be something like 「Unlucky Seo Ji-woo」, 「Male Seo Ji-woo」, 「Magic Power Mastered Seo Ji-woo」.

Users form teams based on these cards’ settings, compatibility, and combinations, then explore labyrinths, dungeons, and fields to acquire resources.

I stopped walking in front of the cave.

Before rashly entering, I needed to understand the interior first. I activated 「Gitburmi」 to observe and scout inside.

─Scanning…

─Skill Data Generated: ???

It seemed like it didn’t know the skill name, so I told it directly.

“Gitburmi.”

─Skill Data Generated: Gitburmi

I sent Gitburmi in first to explore the interior.

What I observed inside through the skill was a stream flowing through a vast underground cave, intricately woven structures, and one massive warship anchored there.

It was a bizarre landscape. It seemed to be some kind of localized labyrinth.

“So it’s making cards.”

In the process of clearing this labyrinth, the data of the mage ‘Seol Ha-woon’ would be copied and transplanted into character cards.

“Phew.”

I took a deep breath for a moment.

Probably depending on my performance today, the initial stats of my card appearing in the game would be determined.

If the performance is good, it benefits me too.

「MoMo」 is a game that will be as big a hit as NaN, and in terms of longevity, it might even last longer than NaN.

The term ‘MoMo society’ even emerged in Harvard University economics terminology.

Anyway, if the character card Seol Ha-woon becomes performance-wise highly praised, it means it would greatly help my recognition too.

So, I was quite nervous.

I thought it would be a simple process of just scanning faces or something.

“This is interesting.”

‘MoMo’ was indeed a project with a scale far beyond my imagination.

No wonder it was a game I was once crazy about.

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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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