Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 40

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 040

Day of Peace(3)

[Labyrinth Exploration NaN, Episode 2 viewership 19.5%… doubled from Episode 1’s 10.3%]

[Brand reputation ranking, Labyrinth Exploration NaN reaches 1st place after just 2 episodes]

[Achieved global OTT 1st place…]

These days when the flames of Labyrinth Exploration NaN are growing fiercer by the day.

After finishing filming with Kang Hyeon and Im Hae-jun, I visited David’s Magic Bookstore that night.

“Old man.”

“…Huh? What is it.”

David looked at me while spreading cleaning tools all over the counter.

“A celebrity has come?”

“Ahem…”

I cleared my throat awkwardly.

“How’s business these days?”

Thanks to you, more people come than before. What brings you here again?”

“Ah, it’s nothing major. I was wondering if you could get me some items.”

“Items?”

“Yes.”

I scratched my cheek. It seemed like I was always asking this old man for favors.

“A flower pot and mana soil. Preferably with cold attributes if possible.”

Mana soil is literally soil that contains magic power. Well-aged mana soil like wine is not common. Because it’s a natural product that cannot be mass-produced.

“Wait a moment.”

David went into the storage room. After some clattering sounds, he came out with a small bundle and a flower pot.

“Cold soil. And a flower pot made of mana fiber.”

“How much would all this cost?”

“About 3,000.”

30 million won. My eyes nearly popped out.

“…What. Isn’t that a rip-off?”

“Hey. Do you know what my industry credibility is like?”

“Still though…”

“That means it’s top quality.”

David stroked his beard. His forearms and biceps bulged.

“The soil has had magic power accumulating under eternal snow for almost 50 years, so it’s worth about 3-4,000, and the flower pot holds the soil’s magic power tight so it can’t escape. This one’s worth 1,000 too. 3,000 for both together is a discounted price.”

“Isn’t there anything cheaper?”

“I only deal with top quality items.”

“…Then can I buy on credit?”

I shamelessly stepped forward. David narrowed his eyes as if incredulous.

“Don’t you get appearance fees?”

“No. I don’t get appearance fees. Ah, how about I give you this?”

I took out the goblin teacup from my bag. I had been using it quite well as a coffee pot substitute. I’ll give it to you with tears in my eyes.

“Temperature control teacup. You got it as loot from Labyrinth Exploration NaN, right?”

David recognized it at a glance as expected.

“I guess you watch the show?”

“I can give this to my granddaughter. I’ll count it as 1,000.”

“Why is it only worth that much. It’s so useful when camping. It even has the Labyrinth Exploration NaN premium attached.”

“That’s why it’s 1,000, you fool. 1,000 is already generous. Items like this that require knowing how to handle magic power aren’t that expensive. Regular people can’t use them.”

“…What if I add my autograph?”

“Then 300. Actually negative.”

“Ah, are you kidding me.”

The old man chuckled.

“‘You’re absolutely right.’ Your image is negative. Haven’t you shed your military persona yet? You should have been more kind in your persuasion.”

“…I can’t say much because it’s a spoiler, but you’ll understand when you watch the next episode.”

The old man chuckled.

“Take the soil and flower pot. I’ll cut exactly 1,000, so pay back 2,000 later. Instead, get me an autograph from that Kang Hyeon guy or whatever.”

“I guess your granddaughter is a Kang Hyeon fan.”

“That’s right.”

I gratefully received the soil and flower pot, but it was a loss from the old man’s perspective. Even I think the goblin teacup isn’t that expensive an item.

After thinking, I took out a coin from my pocket.

“Um, this.”

“…What is it?”

“It’s a lucky coin.”

I placed it on the counter.

This coin increases luck by 0.2. It’s a very minimal number for me, but it might not be for this old man.

David Han is definitely a strong person. The world of the strong is much more vulnerable to variables than people think. Life and death can be reversed by the smallest mishap.

Actual close combat between monster-like high rankers rarely exceeds 3 minutes.

“If you keep it, luck will come. It’s a gift.”

“…It does look like something special. Alright. I’ll keep it.”

The old man chuckled and put the 【Lucky Coin】 in his front pocket.

* * *

The vacation was over. Returning to the dormitory, I immediately went to the dining hall to eat. The Korean food here is incredibly delicious.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one with this thought, as several people were already there.

First, Kate.

She, who looks like European nobility, likes Korean food. She was also one of the debut team members before my regression.

Suddenly, could Kate be a suspect?

Thinking about it, it’s not impossible.

She has the most astral background among the Labyrinth Exploration participants.

As you can tell from her shimmering golden hair like pure gold, jewel-like blue eyes, a face without even traces of wrinkles despite her young age, and solid physique, she invests hundreds of millions annually in self-care.

She’s from an incredibly wealthy family. Rich enough to easily acquire the broadcasting station IONet with their financial power.

If the future Black Call was caused by hiring a mage, Kate could actually be a prime suspect.

Next, Lee Jun-ho.

He’s currently eating LA galbi in a corner of the dining hall, but shouldn’t be excluded from suspicion.

Lee Jun-ho has strong destructive tendencies. He debuted in 2nd place but still wandered around the Mercenary District, Underground City, and Slums. As his skills as a warrior improve, his pathological sadistic and masochistic tendencies might worsen.

I said to the dining hall staff.

“…Please give me one more tteok-galbi.”

I brought bibimbap and tteok-galbi to my tray and sat down. This looks delicious.

“Ah, I’m so hungry~!”

Someone made their claim in quite a loud voice. I turned to look that way. Seo Ji-woo was coming in.

“I’m starving to death~”

As she said this and our eyes met, she spun around and went right back out of the dining hall.

“…?”

What’s with her. Is this some new kind of aggro.

As I tried to focus on my bibimbap again, this time Lee Jun-ho was looking at me.

“What.”

“….”

The guy who silently shook his head focused on the LA galbi again.

I always think about it, but human relationships are incredibly difficult to understand and exhausting.

I can’t figure out what everyone is thinking.

* * *

After the meal, I returned to my room and first loosened the soil in the flower pot. It was definitely fine soil with magic power that I could feel. The color was slightly white too, somewhat resembling snow.

The reason I bought this soil even while going 2,000 in debt was for the 【Snow Flower】.

【Snow Flower】◆ Overview: A flower containing the power of snow ◆ Grade: Rare ◆ When consumed, cold resistance increases by 1~3.

There’s a secret to flower bud-type items like this.

Namely, if you plant and grow them, they actually grow.

Of course, to cultivate them, you need a proper flower pot, soil, and care. Here, the flower pot and soil are sufficient conditions, and the most important factor is care.

In [MoMo], characters with evil karma couldn’t make flowers bloom in pots. Because they neglected them.

Of course, I don’t know if [MoMo]’s knowledge applies to reality too, but it has so far.

“…you need to grow well, okay?”

I placed the snow flower on top of the mana soil.

“Aww, so pretty.”

It’s still just a flower bud, but soon it will become a seed and seep into the ground, growing into a complete flower with a stem.

I hope it grows well.

Next.

I checked [MoMo]’s inventory.

【Completely Precious Candy】◆ Overview: A completely precious candy that cannot be commonly seen. ◆ Grade: Rare ◆ When consumed, the mind and body stabilize and stamina and magic power recover rapidly.

“What the hell is this.”

It’s obviously a dud. Of course, it was about time for a dud to come out…

“No wait, hold on.”

I read the effects again.

‘The mind and body stabilize and stamina and magic power recover rapidly.’

Not just the body, but the mind stabilizes too.

This might be good to use during refinement?

Come to think of it, that’s right.

I have to do Second Refinement someday. I think I should do it, but I keep putting it off.

Because it hurts.

Even I, who got shot whenever I was bored and overcame total disability, am afraid of refinement.

“If I do it while sucking on candy…”

It might be manageable.

Since there are even three of these, if I think of it as receiving Second and Third Refinement rather than receiving candy, it’s not a dud but a jackpot.

Ding ding.

An announcement came down from NaN.

[ A banquet will be held for the thirty-three explorers who succeeded in the Survival Labyrinth. ]

[ The thirty-three who received this message, please gather at the banquet hall by 5 o’clock. ]

5 o’clock means 30 minutes from now.

They’re telling us to come right now.

“Flower. I’ll be back, okay?”

I’m going to boil and eat it once it’s fully grown anyway, but until then I should treat it kindly.

“Baby~ take good care of the house~”

I greeted the snow flower and went outside.

* * *

The 33 survivors arrived at the banquet hall. Each person’s nameplate was placed on a long table.

“Everyone please take your seats~”

Then Yoo Ji-in appeared. Dressed in a tailcoat, she smiled elegantly and sat at the head seat of the banquet hall.

I also took my seat in front of the nameplate that read [Seol Ha-woon]. Seo Ji-woo was next to me.

Seo Ji-woo approached while constantly clearing her throat with “ahem, cough cough.”

“The mentors will come too, but there’s nothing particularly to give feedback on regarding the Survival Labyrinth, so don’t worry too much. Let’s just eat together. This is also one of the success rewards.”

While Yoo Ji-in was speaking, Seo Ji-woo kept shaking her legs. Does she need to use the bathroom or something?

When our eyes met, she flinched and forcibly twisted her gaze away. She’s completely restless.

“Just sit still.”

“…What, what’s it to you. Just look ahead.”

I have no idea why she’s acting like this. When did she say thanks while giving me the mana socket? Does she have bipolar disorder?

Just then, the mentors appeared. DK, Kim Yoon-jun, Yoo Yul, Kim Ji-an. The 33 survivors welcomed them.

Mage mentor Yoo Yul sat across from me. She asked.

“Seol Ha-woon. You went to see Kim Se-jin?”

“Yes.”

“Seems like you learned something interesting.”

Seo Ji-woo perked up her ears.

“…Yes. I feel like I’m growing as a mage, but if I may ask.”

I casually asked Yoo Yul.

“Could you lend me the gem string?”

Yoo Yul frowned with one eyebrow.

“After finishing the first one, you should rest for 6 months.”

“I think I can do more. If you could just lend it to me…”

With the gem string and mana amplification plus the Completely Precious Candy, I might be able to break through as early as tomorrow.

Then the food came out. It seemed to be a course meal, a strangely shaped appetizer.

Yoo Yul said.

“Let’s eat first. It’s langoustine tomato consommé.”

What’s langoustine and what’s consommé?

Anyway, I took a spoonful and it melted in my mouth.

“!”

My eyes widened greatly.

It’s a taste I’ve never experienced in my life, something I couldn’t even imagine. How can food be like this?

Most of the other explorers had similar expressions to mine.

Except for Seo Ji-woo.

“….”

Seo Ji-woo wasn’t even eating and kept glancing at me.

“What are you looking at?”

“…That bracelet. You’re wearing it. You said you didn’t need it.”

She seems to be talking about the mana socket.

“Want it back?”

“Your outside and inside are different… Your outside and inside are really different…”

Seo Ji-woo muttered strange words while taking a sip of the appetizer. At that moment, her face completely changed. Like a character in a cooking manga who ate heavenly delicacy, she froze with a “whoa!” expression.

It’s a stun state.

I let out a hollow laugh and looked at Yoo Yul again.

“Mentor. That Gem String….”

Yoo Yul clicked her tongue while pausing from eating her food.

“…You’re quite stubborn. I’ll lend it to you after the next Labyrinth is over.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“It’s not about thanks. You’ll have to try it to know. How ridiculous you’re being-“

“Whoa!”

Suddenly, a loud sound came from beside us. It was Seo Ji-woo.

In her excitement, she swept the plate into her mouth.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————