Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 43

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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 043

Believer(3)

Returning to the dormitory, I lay on the bed and thought.

What would happen at the [Plaza]?

The Situation Labyrinth was tomorrow, and Kim Du-gyeom would probably move to his advantage.

I decided not to make assumptions like “if it’s like what I saw before the regression──”.

Too many things had changed so far. The most dangerous element in executing operations isn’t new threats. It’s variables that pop up from familiarity. It would be easier to just make my head a blank slate.

In that regard, the Plaza’s difficulty had a high probability of drastically increasing. All the Mitamnan I’d experienced so far had been like that.

It was right to think that situations far beyond Kim Du-gyeom’s and my capabilities would come, and because of that, rather than establishing operations while talking with a crazy bastard like Kim Du-gyeom, it would be more comfortable to coordinate from behind as the other seven moved however they moved.

Knock knock-

“?”

A knocking sound. A visitor.

I got up from the bed and opened the door. Kate was standing in front. She looked perfect even late at night.

“…What’s the matter?”

“I came to talk. May I come in?”

This was my first time receiving a guest.

I stepped aside for now. She took off her shoes, came in, and sat at the table.

Should I serve coffee or something? While I was pondering, Kate asked.

“Do you perhaps find Kim Du-gyeom suspicious?”

It was a strange question. I sat across from her with a bag of snacks.

Potato chips. You know, those potato chips where preferences are divided between blue and green. I’m on the green side.

“Well…”

I tore open the center seal of the snacks and placed them on the table.

“I don’t trust Kim Du-gyeom.”

“I feel the same way. I can’t completely trust Kim Du-gyeom either.”

Kate picked up and ate a potato chip.

“He guided Lee Jun-ho toward other options, then chose them himself. Of course it’s a trivial matter, but someone who’s purely good wouldn’t act that way. People who present goodness as their strength are usually not good.”

Kate was quite cold-hearted like this. However, this probably wasn’t her true inner thoughts. She had come to ‘mediate’. She was someone who tried to move people, pretending to agree with opinions while somehow drawing out cooperation.

“What do you want to say?”

I asked Kate. Kate responded with a question instead of an answer.

“Why do you hate Kim Du-gyeom so much?”

There couldn’t be any reason for hating Kim Du-gyeom.

Just like how that bastard had been tormenting others, crushing the weak.

“Well. Would there be a reason when one person hates another?”

Ah, if I had to give one.

“Just because it’s fun?”

A furrow appeared between Kate’s brows.

“That’s a petty thrill.”

What’s a thrill? Does it mean something similar to excitement?

I responded casually.

“That could be.”

Kate ate three or four potato chips at once.

“That wasn’t even an answer.”

Then she stood up. She must have been displeased with my answer.

Kate was someone who hated waste. She probably thought there was no need to spend time on someone with no room for persuasion.

“Try asking Kim Du-gyeom too.”

I added a word to her as she was about to leave.

“What he thinks about someone who hates him for no reason.”

“…”

Kate quietly went outside.

* * *

Gangwon Province, the Live Concert Hall of 「Mitamnan」.

Lee Si-ah arrived there. The line was incredibly long. There were 4,000 live audience members alone.

“Phew…”

Actually, Lee Si-ah had thought about it a lot. She had succeeded in getting tickets, but Seol Ha-woon, who had somehow become Lee Si-ah’s top pick, was currently in a very fallen state.

His words are right. His words are right.

Beyond getting neurosis, Lee Si-ah had almost completely cut off the internet for the past three days.

“Here. This is your entry bracelet. Since it’s standing room, you can move around freely. Please take a tablet too, it might take a while but you can freely go to the bathroom.”

“Yes.”

She received the tablet and put on the bracelet.

Today, Lee Si-ah planned to see Seol Ha-woon directly. To find out exactly why she had become obsessed with him, she was determined to either detach her feelings or reattach them – one of the two.

She entered the stage.

The space in front of the main stage was divided into eight sections, with one monitor in each area.

Lee Si-ah stood at the edge of the front row. She waited while browsing communities on her smartphone.

[ Anyone going to today’s Mitamnan as audience? ]

[ Anyone who succeeded in ticketing?? ]

[ On my way to receive Kang Hyeon’s blessing.. ]

Before long, the interior darkened. Rather majestic music rose from the backstage.

Beep-

The smartphone also turned off. It was the pre-announced anti-spoiler magic wave.

Soon, Yoo Ji-in appeared.

──Labyrinth Exploration NOW AND NEVER. We welcome the live audience members.

She walked across the stage in idol costume, receiving brilliant lighting. She is pretty. Though there are quite a few industry insider rumors that her personality isn’t great.

──Nice to meet you. I’m Yoo Ji-in, representative of the National Scouter.

Are you all ready to face your explorers?

Yoo Ji-in induced responses with various comments. The audience’s reaction was enthusiastic.

──Then, what you need to do is simple. Just watch the explorers and give them evaluations. You all have the tablet PCs we distributed, right?

Lee Si-ah held up the tablet PC. Yoo Ji-in explained the stage’s process.

──When the labyrinth conquest begins, important events will be broadcast on this main monitor. Meanwhile, the eight sub-monitors will be thoroughly from the explorers’ individual POV (Point Of View). You can watch them alternately and give ratings.

Everyone, please move comfortably to the position of the explorer you want.

Lee Si-ah nodded. So that’s why they said she could move around freely.

──Also, the Situation Labyrinth is entirely fictional. The Labyrinth People appearing inside are all products of magic, so please don’t get too immersed. Blood, filth, and other cruel scenes will mostly be filtered, so don’t worry.

Rapid-fire precautions that sounded like reciting insurance terms.

──Well then. Now.

Yoo Ji-in wore a meaningful smile. Lee Si-ah’s heart also trembled.

──I will introduce the 96 explorers.

The bottom of the stage opened.

Whirrrr… Amid the mechanical operating sounds and the theme song of “Mitamnan” playing, all 96 explorers appeared.

Explorers standing with their respective weapons at their waists, on their backs, or gripped in their hands.

Lee Si-ah looked at only one person among them.

He was a conspicuous person. He had to be. He was the only one with long hair, and the only one with a walking stick.

A man who seemed to embody the stereotype of a wizard she had once seen in comics or movies.

Lee Si-ah looked at Seol Ha-woon.

Suddenly, his head tilted slightly.

Their gazes met.

Her heart pounded.

…Was it her imagination?

* * *

10 minutes before the opening.

Staff members were busily moving around and shouting beneath the stage.

“Everyone please get on the platforms!”

Since I’m ranked 96th, I’m at the very end.

“We’re starting the opening soon!”

─Labyrinth Exploration NOW AND NEVER. We welcome the live audience.

Yoo Ji-in’s voice carried through the wall, and the 95th-ranked person next to me was sweating profusely with an extremely nervous expression.

The sweat might splash on me.

“We’re going up! Everyone manage your expressions! Expressions! Please make your most confident face!”

Whirr. The ceiling opened.

The platform rose above it. Slowly, but surely.

This was the moment of first revealing ourselves to the public as participants, not viewers, of “Mitamnan”.

Waaahhh───

Cheers I’d never heard in my life rushed into my ears. Glow sticks waved like waves in the distance, and tremendous lighting illuminated us.

It was slightly awkward. We weren’t idols or anything.

I just maintained a neutral expression and looked at the audience seats. I made eye contact with some woman wearing glasses.

──From now on, your explorers will enter the Labyrinth.

Yoo Ji-in’s voice suddenly rang out loudly.

──This is the first team.

Then all the lights went out one by one. Everything around turned pitch black.

──Warrior Lee Jun-ho.

A spotlight descended simultaneously with the roll call. Only Lee Jun-ho’s figure on stage was brightly revealed.

Waaahhhhh!

Enthusiastic cheers rang out. It was firepower befitting the 1st place.

──Archer Kate.

Kate was the same. She smiled and waved at her fans.

──Mage Kim Woo-hyeon.

Next Kim Du-gyeom, Ryu Wei, Jung Min-gi, Lee Jong-soo, and so on…

──Mage Seol Ha-woon.

The reaction to my turn was subtle. There were cheers, but it seemed like there was some mockery mixed in.

Clap clap clap. I heard some applause.

It was the woman with glasses I had just made eye contact with.

I chuckled. I just found myself laughing.

──Team 1. Enter the Labyrinth!

Clusters of magic power light enveloped us.

[ Objective: Resolve the situation ]

Team 1 entered the Labyrinth.

* * *

First attempt.

Kim Du-gyeom, who entered the situation Labyrinth, checked the timer in the air.

[ 10 : 00 ]

There were exactly 10 minutes. The plaza, packed with people, already had no room to step.

──Everyone! Do you remember what I told you at ■■■! Do you remember when I said I would protect ■■■ from you!

Listening to the echoing speech, Kim Du-gyeom moved to the agreed-upon area. His assignment was the northeast direction. It was a suitable position for activity.

─I’ll check personnel placement.

Kate’s radio transmission came through the earphone he had put on in advance.

Every time I hear it, Kate really has a pretty voice. If this goes well, maybe I can try something.

─If you see any risk factors, please brief us. I know it’s individual competition, but let’s try to finish it in one go if possible.

“Of course.”

Kim Du-gyeom answered kindly and moved around casually-

──Everyone!

“Ugh.”

Noisy. Did that politician boil and eat his vocal cords?

Kim Du-gyeom clutched one ear while quickly looking around.

“Huh?”

Then he stared at somewhere as if he had discovered it by chance. He glared at that place with narrowed eyes.

“Could that be?”

The abandoned building he had kept an eye on beforehand.

“I should go check it out!”

Kim Du-gyeom quickly ran forward. Pushing through the crowd—he paid special attention to his running form too—he arrived in an instant.

“…Bodyguards?”

There were two bodyguards in front of the building. Kim Du-gyeom hid behind a tree and muttered.

“No. They’re not bodyguards.”

This wasn’t acting alone, but explaining the situation. For the audience who would be watching him right now.

“Disguised as bodyguards…”

The bodyguards’ uniforms were subtly different, and most importantly, they weren’t communicating. If they were real bodyguards, communication and reporting would be essential in a situation like this. Since you never know what variables might occur. At the very least, they should be touching their earphones.

“They’re enemies.”

Kim Du-gyeom nodded seriously and gripped his sword sheath.

At times like this, a manga-like performance was necessary.

Kneeling on one knee, charging forward as stylishly as possible, then sword draw.

“Hup!”

Having subdued the two bodyguards in an instant, he climbed the stairs.

The rooftop of this building. A position where the entire plaza could be seen at a glance. In other words, the most advantageous place for sniping the congressman… there was…

“…”

Kim Du-gyeom stopped blankly.

Whoooosh. Wind rushed in from the open sky. His hair fluttered as if dancing.

On the rooftop he had worked so hard to reach, a familiar face was already there first. To Kim Du-gyeom, it was quite a disgusting visage.

“…You’re late?”

Seol Ha-woon.

He smiled while sipping his coffee cup.

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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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