Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 47

—————
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 047

Obvious Melody(1)

The Field Stage, Situation Labyrinth proceeded quickly. Kang Hyeon’s team finished in just 2 attempts, Seo Ji-woo’s team also finished in 3 attempts, and Ryu Yeon-hwa also completed the Situation Labyrinth in 3 attempts. Only our team used up all 6 attempts.

Instead, we received difficulty adjustment. According to the subsequent judgment results, the difficulty of [Plaza] was A+.

The on-site audience of the Stage gave their ratings and left, and 96 explorers stood on the empty stage.

Now it was time for the ‘mentor evaluation’.

I’m exhausted to death.

“Team 1. Please come forward.”

Yoo Ji-in said.

Lee Jun-ho. Kate. Kim Woo-hyeon. Lee Jong-soo. Kim Du-gyeom. Ryu Wei. Jung Min-gi. Me.

A total of eight people stepped onto the stage. The mentors at the judge’s seat quietly looked at us.

It seemed like they had a lot to say, and also seemed like the opposite.

First, warrior mentor Kim Yoon-jun picked up the microphone.

“…Plaza was the most difficult labyrinth. With two S-tier and three B-tier members, the difficulty seems to have been adjusted accordingly… Lee Jun-ho?”

“Yes.”

Lee Jun-ho stepped forward with a tense face. Unlike usual, he definitely looked anxious. He had caused quite a grand incident after all.

“And Seol Ha-woon.”

I also took a step forward.

Thud! The walking stick made a slightly loud sound. It couldn’t be helped.

My leg was severely injured, so I had to rely more on the walking stick.

“First, I’ll ask Seol Ha-woon. Was the final 6th attempt something you discussed together?”

At that moment, Lee Jun-ho’s eyes trembled. I looked at Kim Yoon-jun and answered.

“Yes. It was a somewhat rough method, but I think it was unavoidable. Just standing around in a daze would only get us pushed around. Since we needed a much more aggressive approach to take control, we carried it out together.”

“The radio communication content seemed a bit different though.”

“We prepared for eavesdropping.”

Then Kim Yoon-jun’s eyebrows twitched.

“Eavesdropping?”

“Yes.”

Kim Yoon-jun, who had been staring intently at me, smiled slightly.

“…You’re thorough. That’s the correct answer.”

In labyrinths, ‘bosses’ are mostly non-human entities. Detecting radio frequencies is easy for them.

“The final boss definitely showed signs of picking up frequencies. That was wise.”

Next, DK picked up the microphone.

“…Well. You’ll only use this method in labyrinths, right?”

“Yes. Such situations don’t occur in reality in the first place.”

DK also nodded.

Next, archer mentor Kim Ji-an took the microphone.

“I’d like to ask Kate…”

She asked Kate various things about her aptitude as a Destroyer, and afterwards the mentors gave various feedback, but there weren’t many comments directed at Kim Du-gyeom.

Because he hadn’t been active.

Because I had erased him.

The expression on that rotting bastard’s face was quite satisfying to see.

As the feedback was ending, Yoo Ji-in spoke.

“Next are the scores combining the ratings voted by the on-site audience with our mentors’ evaluations.”

[ Kate 8.8 ] [ Lee Jun-ho 8.7 ] [ Kim Woo-hyeon 8.4 ] [ Ryu Wei 8 ]

[ Jung Min-gi 7.3 ] [ Seol Ha-woon 8.8 ] [ Kim Du-gyeom 6.8 ] [ Lee Jong-soo 7.5 ]

“These scores will be reflected in future tier recalculations.”

I smiled. Kim Du-gyeom’s score was even more satisfying than my own score.

6.8. The lowest score. Kim Du-gyeom seemed to have trouble managing his expression as his lips and face trembled.

“Congratulations. Everyone return to the dormitory.”

Before leaving, I looked at Yoo Yul at the judge’s seat. Yoo Yul also met my eyes. She nodded expressionlessly.

We had made a promise before this Situation Labyrinth.

I was ready for Second Refinement.

* * *

On the way back from the Stage to the dormitory. My left leg had almost no sensation, so I was walking only with the strength of my walking stick.

Lee Jun-ho came out from behind a tree. Had he been waiting for me? He just stood there quietly, only moving his lips.

I swung my walking stick first.

“If you have nothing to say, get out of the way.”

“…Ahem.”

Lee Jun-ho coughed and scratched the back of his neck.

“Well… I’m grateful that you… covered for me. And I’m also curious about the reason.”

“I did wake up thanks to you.”

“…Is that so?”

Lee Jun-ho sighed with a somewhat worried expression for a while.

“I’m a bit concerned about how it’ll be broadcast. Was it… ugly?”

“Not to the point of being ugly.”

Of course, desire is inherent in Lee Jun-ho. It’s the reaction to talent. He can kill anyone and burn anything. He’s a man like fire. Closer to a fire demon than a fireplace.

I told him.

“If you keep rejecting it, you’ll break down.”

“…What?”

“You know it too.”

Lee Jun-ho’s expression darkened. Probably, Lee Jun-ho also knew his own flaws. They would be too clear to ignore.

“Were you like this too?”

That question made me ponder for a moment.

In the past, what kind of human was I when I stood on the battlefield?

“I might have been worse than you.”

All problems occur when desire exceeds the self. Whether destruction, murder, or revenge.

When the desire to desperately do something devours oneself, at least I myself become unable to stop.

Someone, or the world, must stop it.

“Just acknowledge the darkness within you. You can only control it if you acknowledge it.”

The moment you reject it, control becomes impossible. Desire that explodes from being forcibly suppressed devours oneself in an instant.

Only by accepting the inherent imperfection and creaking reason can one develop the ability to control oneself.

“You’re more dangerous than I was back then. Because you’ll become much stronger than I was back then.”

Strength brings many things.

However, one must not become intoxicated by it. Fire intoxicated by desire will burn not only the surroundings but also oneself.

“…”

Lee Jun-ho quietly turned around. It wasn’t the path to the dormitory.

He seemed to be planning to take a walk.

* * *

Late dawn.

Returning to the dormitory, Kate turned on the radio as usual. It was an ordinary radio from a channel called EMA.

[ Hello everyone. In this deep night, sharing this dawn together… ]

Kate quietly closed her eyes.

[ Here’s the first story. It’s about something that happened at a convenience store today. ]

Magic codes hidden within everyday language.

Kate received the radio DJ’s syllables as magic power and reassembled them. These were the contents she would ‘receive’ about today.

[ There was no part-timer at the convenience store, so I was looking around… ]

Kate has another purpose.

The reason why a talent from America’s wealthy elite, one of North America’s most distinguished noble families, participated in an East Asian audition program wasn’t simply to gain popularity or to have her potential as a mage recognized.

[ The storage room door was open. So… ]

──Unexpected individual detected.

To uncover the secrets lurking at the bottom of “Labyrinth Exploration.”

[ Yes~ That was an interesting story. It would certainly be confusing if something like that happened at a convenience store. ]

──Possibility of difficult Labyrinth control exists.

She scribbled with a pen while listening to the radio. It was a sentence translating the magic code into English.

[ In life, things can go this way or that way~ ]

──Seol Ha-woon.

The name Seol Ha-woon.

Then, the order that followed.

──Dangerous variable. Elimination required.

Kate turned off the radio. She sipped her teacup and settled into the sofa. The sensation of the luxurious fabric was cozy.

Whoosh. She burned the paper with the decoded message.

“…Seol Ha-woon.”

The family wants Seol Ha-woon eliminated. For them, who don’t usually interfere much with individuals, this was an unusual command.

Does this mean Seol Ha-woon is that dangerous? Kate couldn’t understand it yet, but the family’s will must be carried out.

Tap. Tap.

She tapped the table with her pen, contemplating the method of ‘elimination.’

* * *

Late at night.

Kang Hyeon was watching a video. It was the strategy process for the Situation Labyrinth, specifically the [Plaza]. Having obtained the video for study purposes, he was already on his third viewing.

His observation target was Seol Ha-woon.

Kang Hyeon watched Seol Ha-woon’s methods. Seol Ha-woon had shot and killed a child amid the chaos Lee Jun-ho had caused. He made a decision that any other ordinary person would never choose.

He was definitely someone who wouldn’t hesitate to use any means necessary. Someone who would pay any sacrifice to complete a mission. Someone who could abandon the small for the greater good.

Someone who knew what was right and what was important.

Seol Ha-woon was reflected in Kang Hyeon’s empty eyes.

He smiled without realizing it. A strange joy settled in his twisted lips.

He might be one of my kind.

He thought this without reason.

* * *

The day after the Situation Labyrinth ended. Fortunately, today was a rest day.

“Growing well, aren’t you~?”

I touched the Snow Flower that had sprouted.

It was a kind of handling. I thought it would grow better if it got used to my touch.

After doting on the Snow Flower for about 5 minutes, I sat on the sofa. I tried to suppress my tension with deep breaths.

Episode 3 was about to air soon.

Ding!

[Lee Mae-jun: Hyung, episode 3 is airing soon! Our heroics will be shown hehehe!!]

I hope so. I pray that heroics will be shown. Not that damn devil’s editing.

[ Kang Hyeon: Looking forward to episode 3 ]

Surprisingly, Kang Hyeon also sent a message.

[ Kate: I’ll watch episode 3 well. I think you’ll be the protagonist. ]

Kate too, wait, why are they all like this? Did they all agree to message first or something?

Anyway.

┌───「Labyrinth Exploration NaN」 ───┐

The Mitamnan logo appeared on screen, and episode 3 began airing.

The first scene was right before entering the Labyrinth. It was Team A4’s waiting room.

─Lee Jong-soo: …Aren’t we trusting the escort team too much?

─Kang Hyeon: A4 and B12 are one team. It’s not just A3 as a team.

After various conversations in the conference room, the cargo team entered the Labyrinth first.

─Kang Hyeon: Transport team. We’ve secured the cargo.

They infiltrated the Orc’s Cave and successfully found the cargo, then the perspective switched to the escort team.

Im Hae-jun and I could be seen walking through the forest.

─Im Hae-jun: Then what should we do!

─Seol Ha-woon: Let’s move first.

This was the important part from now on. If my image gets distorted here, my life is over.

─Im Hae-jun: Mr. Seol Ha-woon. I’ve been trying to say this for a while, but I wasn’t sure if I was mistaken so I stayed quiet. Why do you keep speaking informally to me?

Im Hae-jun tries to engage in a power struggle, but Seol Ha-woon just glares at him silently. Im Hae-jun quickly loses his spirit.

This editing feels somewhat unsettling too.

I glanced at the real-time chat.

-He’s really unlikeable;

-For real, kids who speak informally to people’s faces are never normal

-Being a know-it-all is his daily routine

Meanwhile, the entire escort team arrived at the center of the forest.

─Seol Ha-woon: Give me your arrow.

Before starting the escort, Seol Ha-woon enchants his teammates.

─Im Hae-jun: What, what are you doing?! It’s broken!

─Seol Ha-woon: It’s not broken, you fool.

When he imbues Im Hae-jun’s ternium arrow with a spell arrow, the real-time reactions are quite a sight.

-Won’t that break later?

-Exactly. It’ll probably get destroyed by that fake spell;;

What kind of enchant does a 4-month mage think they’re doing lololol

Anyway, he imbued spells on all team members, and then.

─Seol Ha-woon: Then I’ll climb up here.

Seol Ha-woon climbs the tree.

But his climbing form looks ugly even to me.

-What kind of frog is that?

-Still, he manages to climb up somehow..

-With legs like that, how is it even climbing up there lol that’s amazing?

“…Indeed.”

Seol Ha-woon somehow reached the top.

Soon after, Kang Hyeon’s briefing was transmitted via radio.

──Transport team. Cargo secured.

Immediately after, the perspective switches to Kang Hyeon’s cargo team.

Yoon Hwa-rim confidently climbed into the driver’s seat first.

─Yoon Hwa-rim: Everyone get on!

The cargo cart moves forward with a rumble. The speed is quite fast.

-Wow, Yoon Hwa-rim’s cargo is fast.

-She’s a real elite. But there was an ex-soldier who ignored such an elite??

-That guy’s an idiot lol

-These guys will finish easily? Even if one person trolls hard, Kang Hyeon is fucking SS-tier, and Yoon Hwa-rim is S-tier level too.

Graaaaaaah──-!

Then orcs swarm in, and the cargo team smoothly defends while advancing, but at some point.

The entire cargo cart comes to a complete stop.

-?

-??

-What?

-???

Question marks appeared in real-time.

When the camera showed fireballs and other shamanic magic filling the screen, the viewers finally realized.

-Looks like a shaman?

-It’s an orc shaman;;

-Wow shit, the difficulty is really high

-Isn’t a shaman pretty tough?

-lol isn’t Jujutsu Kaisen a bit too much

─Lee Jong-soo: What about the cart?!

─Yoon Hwa-rim: The cart won’t move! There’s shamanic magic on the wheels!

Thanks to this, the cargo transport team’s situation is desperate.

In dramatic terms, it’s a crisis just before the climax.

─Kang Hyeon: I’ll find the shaman.

─Yoon Hwa-rim: Th-then what about us?!

Orc hordes swarm from all directions like zombies, a moment that makes even me, who has experienced it all, become immersed.

──That won’t be necessary.

A voice echoes through the radio.

It’s me, Seol Ha-woon.

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